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"A thought-provoking story offering readers plenty to reflect on. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!"
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
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"The power is within you to create change in yourself and in the world when you live authentically. This is the message Vanessa expressively shares in gorgeous prose. Human is a captivating read that touches your mind, heart, soul, and will leave you forever transformed."
Annie Cathryn, Bestselling Author of “The Friendship Breakup”
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"Human is a captivating story of hope and resilience, punctuated by universal truths…I highly recommend Human!"
Lisa Pinnock, Bestselling author of Women, Let’s Rise
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"Impressive. A very refreshing read. I love the raw honesty. It takes a lot of courage to delve deep like Vanessa.”
Cara Wolf, CEO of Ammolite Analytx
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"This piece reminds you of the importance of truly living... I truly appreciate and commend the author for taking us through such an authentic and vulnerable journey."
Will Tang, Chief Revenue Officer at FrontFundr
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"If you’re looking for a relatable and raw exploration of humans in our society, then Human needs to be on your TBR list."
thefitatlanticbibliophile
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"Dark and authentic, this book takes us through a quiet battle of a human’s mind with its own disappointments and cynicism. The light came at the end, but we all know this fight will never end."
Ha Nguyen, Vice-President at McRock Capital
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"Ferlaino touches on the nuances of human nature that exist but are often left silent... Masterful and eloquent work that will resonate with our own experiences and remind us of who we want to be."
Melissa Hazen, Clinical & Research Audiologist, The Hospital for Sick Children
The power of inner healing to shape humanity
"A thought-provoking story offering readers plenty to reflect on. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!" - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Second place at The Bookfest 2022 Awards in Self-Help/Transformation.
Healing is ongoing; it never ends.
It’s a journey of turning inward, shedding, and creating space for the true Self to thrive.
Through empathy and compassion we become more human to ourselves. When we break free from the things that are holding us back, we can step forward into the full power of our being to reconnect with ourselves and those around us — because our lives are intertwined in more ways than we know.
In less than 100 pages, award-winning author, Vanessa Ferlaino, offers a fresh perspective on healing. There are no tips or prescriptions in this book. Instead, in her signature rhythmic prose, she shares in-depth revelations of trauma, pain, loss, and love. She divulges the many ways our lives are connected, while gently exposing the nuances of the human condition.
“This book is not about my story,” she says. “It's about the power of inner healing to shape all of humanity.”
This book reminds you that turning inward is about more than just you — it's about all of us. Human will inspire you to take your healing journey to the next level; by being more human to ourselves and each other, we can change the world.
Together, we can heal for humanity.
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023
It is unexpectedly well masterfully written. I found myself in quite a few situations the author describes with such finesse. We all deal in life with situations that are, most of the time, very unexpected. We have choices. Whatever path we choose might make no sense to others, but we know that sometimes it is the right path we must take for the moment. We should learn to listen and not try to judge because we might not be fully aware of the situation. In the end, why not lend a hand and help if we can? Give ourselves a path in the back and say, "Hey, at least I try to be a good Samaritan." The Book Human makes you think about the different choices we are presented with in life. The name hides a pot of precious stones. A must-read.
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique style, important message
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2021
I loved this book. Written in a unique style much like poetry, the message is subtle and powerful all at once. I particularly enjoy a book that addresses human values and the author does just that through a few short events. It certainly had me thinking! An easy, and yet not so easy, read.
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2022
This book takes you on a journey, and when you connect with it, it takes you through your own vivid experiences. It’s thought-provoking, real, and immersive. I finished this book in one day, once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2021
Format: Kindle
Anytime I read a new book, I feel my inner dialogue throughout my day-to-day life slightly shifting to match the style of writing in the book I am currently reading. While reading "Human," I found myself slowing down and admiring even the tiniest details of my surroundings. A loving glance from my toddler to my husband. The changing hues of the clouds above the mountains at dawn. It felt so good to not only notice at a glance, but to process and admire life's beauty. As I read this book, I also found myself questioning my reasoning behind certain decisions that I have made throughout my life. It was therapeutic to read Vanessa Ferlaino's raw and very real experiences and what she thought about them. If you are a lover of descriptive and meditative memoirs, "Human" is your book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2021
Vanessa Ferlaino's "Human" is a thought-provoking masterpiece! Her perspectives on the human experience will beautifully break your heart and put it back together again. It is simple yet moving; the kind of storytelling that makes you sit back and reflect with a whispered "Wow." Highly recommend it -- a must-read.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Look at Our Motivations, Intentions and Life
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2021
I really loved "Human" by Vanessa Ferlaino-- devouring it in one afternoon while waiting for a flight. I loved her writing style, never identifying the narrator. This left me feeling like I was the woman, the one having this inner turmoil between wanting to help others and actually doing it. I could completely relate to the struggle when she perceived ways she could help others and then missing the opportunity in one way or another. I truly believe we are here on Earth to uplift and help others. Ferlaino's message of love and the inner/outer journey we saw the narrator face is something I believe many of us will face as we come to realize who we want to be.
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021
Format: Kindle
This book grabbed my heart. As the author talks about the incident with the woman in the car and the rage from the man that was with her, I felt that. Much as she did as a bystander. How it put her back into a flashback and she had to remember that wasn’t her situation anymore. As she goes through her own journey, the constant reminder to hold herself in a protective cage or bubble was so relatable. The overall story was heartfelt and honest. She was on a path to find herself and in the process was able to look at what it meant to be human. She’s very right, sometimes we forget to be human. This is a beautifully moving memoir. I truly enjoyed it.
Poetic representation of being
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2021
I wasn’t sure what to think of his book when I first opened it and it started in more of a poetic prose versus straight regurgitation of facts for this memoir of sorts. The rhythm and poetic manor of much of the book is beyond soothing and allows the pages to flow effortlessly one after the other. The author is incredibly descriptive in her writing and it allows for much interpretive imagery. I’ve never actually thought about being “human” in the sense that the author describes here, but it is absolutely spot on!
This book has a great message and will have you wanting to read it again and again as a sort of meditation. If you love memoirs and meditation, then this artistic book is absolutely for you! Knowing how artistic this author is with her writing, I’d love to read many more books of hers.
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2021
Format: Kindle
In the book Human author Vanessa Ferlaino writes “Where Do I Even Begin” and that is how I feel right now after reading it. This beautifully descriptive emotionally raw look into Ms. Ferlaino’s mind is truly a gift. It’s a gift of wisdom and insightfulness to human connections and relationships. The way she writes is very poetic. The rhythm of each passing chapter is like a song being sung. It has crescendos, legatos and dynamics. The concepts and material used in this book are spot on. You can tell that the author took the time to research and gather her thoughts. There is a range of emotions due to her vulnerability through her experiences. I enjoyed the whole story but some key elements caught my attention. The author's fascination with The Women in Black and how she was also trying to help other people but she was second guessing herself and had missed opportunities. I believe anyone who reads this book will be left feeling a little lighter and more appreciative of their own experience and life choices. I would recommend this book to individuals and to book clubs who would like to read something that might emotionally affect everyone and then have a discussion about it. I enjoyed it and would like to read more like it.
5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive work and beautifully reflective read
Reviewed in Canada on July 27, 2021
Human is both devastating and buoyant, both full of despair and full of promise.
Get to know Vanessa and get to know yourself
Reviewed in Canada on August 1, 2021
A brutally honest reflection on the nature of, well, human nature. Vanessa puts everything into her writing and takes you on a journey at once intimate and universal.
Great read-- highly recommend!
Reviewed in Canada on July 25, 2021
Great read! This novel fell under one of my favourite category of book genres. The author provides the main character with an elegiac tone, while also providing a confessionalist writing style— both of which provide a lovely illustration of the character’s thoughts and emotions. Highly recommend.
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, thought-provoking read!
Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2021
This book is a perfect marriage of beautiful, visually descriptive writing and a candid reflection of self and society. It provides a deft commentary on egocentricity and power without laying blame or passing judgment, and underscores the importance of finding compassion and gratitude in our everyday. Truly it is a gift to be able to see and experience the world through this author's refreshing perspective!
5.0 out of 5 stars A thought provoking read
Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2021
The raw emotion and vivid imagery in Vanessa’s literary debut had me hooked right from the beginning. This transformative piece takes the reader on an introspective journey into self-awareness—something I believe to be relevant now more than ever.
Thank you, Vanessa, for sharing your truths and reminding us of what it means to be human.
Reviewed in Canada on July 23, 2021
Human is a powerful, vivid, and gripping narrative on human ignorance as a tool of our own self-preservation. Vanessa Ferlaino poetically captures the many facets of our own ignorance - in darkness, our ignorance can be a weapon, and in light a gift - and acknowledges that our history contributes to our own perception and experience with it. A short read that will stick with you long after.
Highly recommend this book to anyone who is on their journey of discovering their sense of self.
Reviewed in Canada on August 5, 2021
In Human, Ferlaino perfectly captures the daily silent battles and mental conversations we all have from within. Readers follow the author through a series of deep self-reflections on how universal experiences of loneliness, fear, and loss have unconsciously manifested into our mindset.
This novel provides a gentle nudge its readers to introspect and question how their own personal experiences have shaped their worldview. Beautifully written, a must read for anyone who is on their journey of discovering their sense of self.
Highly recommend this poignant tale
Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2021
Human is a beautiful, thought-provoking piece about our collective tendency to ignore what is clear for us to see and to shrink away from the emotions that connect us as human beings. This short read is dense with poignant imagery as Ferlaino invites us to inhabit her life, remarking on all that is around us, both present and absent. The book left me in a very reflective state of mind, inspired to carry her words with me through my everyday life. I highly recommend Human and am looking forward to future works from this author.
Reviewed in Canada on July 25, 2021
"It is in the darkness that I only saw the hope of light.
It is in the hopes of the light that I find the truth.”
In human, Vanessa takes us on a transformative journey towards awareness and truth, away from existential darkness and into light. We are present as she discovers shared themes among her experiences and those of strangers, close friends, and family. Vanessa writes with a clarity that will inspire any reader to reflect on their lives and reframe their way of thinking too.
“Happiness - it is truth.” Thank you, Vanessa, for sharing your truths.
5.0 out of 5 stars Human - A beautiful read.
Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2021
I truly enjoyed this read. Human is beautiful piece of literature. It is so compelling that you can't help relate to some of the situations and feelings explored and detailed by the writer in a very touching and human way. This is a book that incites a self reflection of our our fears, happiness, behaviour, judgments, etc. giving us the opportunity to confront these feelings and realize why are the way we are, what we want to change to live in the moment. I know I will be reading this book again and truly look forward to more reads from this amazing young author.
Vanessa Puts Her Soul Into Human! Great read.
Reviewed in Canada on July 23, 2021
I loved this read. It was a relatable glimpse into someone else's reality. The raw imagery was wonderful and took me into another world, but I found myself reading it as if the experiences were my own. The message is so important: reaching out a hand to those in need, and accepting someone else's when we need it. I really enjoyed how relatable the story was. I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to read more from Vanessa!
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The biggest takeaway is the reflection on gratitude. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in Canada on July 27, 2021
An endearingly visual and descriptively captivating saga of life’s many challenges and that of internal struggle. It’s true that no matter what life throws at you, one should move past them but as fragile as life really is, we are all succumbed to its darkness and act in accordance with our moral compass. Human, covers exactly that and the importance of people that play a huge role in our development as a societal being. The biggest takeaway is the reflection on gratitude as a key element that serves a great purpose despite the strange world we live in. Human, is a reflection and a story that depicts the tribulations of life and how we can be above all that to see a better and hopeful tomorrow.
Reviewed in Canada on August 1, 2021
As a writer, Vanessa is a beautiful soul. Her writing is meticulous and refreshing. She captures each moment so delicately and with dignity. The imagery in the book is captivating -- I felt like I was with her on this journey, that takes you full circle. Her inner dialogue captures the internal struggle that many share -- but only few can so courageously put into words. The “poetic-ness” and the rhythm of her words is both comforting and challenging—the blindness we either choose to see or not, and to act upon or not.
Thank you, Vanessa, for sharing your story, your innermost thoughts, and your point of view! I see you; I hear you and I support you! So much love to you. -D.K.
A true reflection of the human condition in an individualistic society
Reviewed in Canada on August 13, 2021
Human is a poignant look at the construct of society and how individuals move within it. It is a true reflection of the human condition in an individualist society; the constant struggle between self-preservation and the longing for real connection and the fear and emotion that shrouds the interplay between the two. This dichotomy is reflected in the story whether it is the struggle between action and apathy, strength and powerlessness, sympathy and empathy, reality and relativity, darkness and light.
On a technical level, Vanessa’s prose reads like poetry. The descriptive imagery enables the reader to relate to the experiences of the narrator, as the narrator relates to the people and experiences around them. You find yourself taken into the mind of the character and at the same time, the innermost depths of your own soul, a dichotomy that pushes the story forward and leaves you with a reconstructed lens from which to view the world with a greater sense of hope and possibility.
An important book for everyone
Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2021
It’s always nice when a book allows you to escape this world, and enter the world of the author’s, even if that world is painful. The powerful imagery used throughout the book will paint a very real landscape of the author’s pain, and the overcoming of it. The story will captivate all of your emotions, and the vulnerability demonstrated by the author will cause you to not just reflect on the story in front of you, but also on the pain and suffering in your own life, and of those around you. This is an important book, because it serves as a reminder that peace in life can be found when we open our hearts to ourselves, and to others, and the author does a fantastic job of portraying this through her story.
This is a book that I will be rereading at different stages of growth in my life, because it offers valuable insights for everyone, at all stages of life.
Thoughtful and captivating read
Reviewed in Canada on March 1, 2022
Vanessa’s first book is a vulnerable and honest reflection about the impact of human connection. With an empathic voice, “Human” inspires readers to consider our contributions to the collective web we weave.
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!!
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2021
Vanessa shares an extraordinary journey of self and her in depth analysis of critical moments in her past. Her revelations provide the stimulus for readers to engage in their own reflection. Compelling and beautifully written!
In Human, the author shares wisdom and revelations of the human condition, given voice by her poignant descriptions of the things that blind us. By seeing these constructs laid bare, and to see them for what they really are, we can break free from their hold on our lives and embrace a purposeful, authentic reality… Human is a captivating story of hope and resilience, punctuated by universal truths… I highly recommend Human, and look forward to reading more works by this gifted writer!
- Lisa Pinnock, Bestselling Author of Women Let's Rise
In Human, the author shares wisdom and revelations of the human condition, given voice by her poignant descriptions of the things that blind us. By seeing these constructs laid bare, and to see them for what they really are, we can break free from their hold on our lives and embrace a purposeful, authentic reality.
Ms. Ferlaino doesn't shy away from heavy and relevant subject matter. Instead, she deftly explores the existence of light and shadow within us all. The reader is taken on a journey of contrasting themes and their reliance on each other - light and darkness, powerful and powerless. As the author so aptly describes, ""... one can't exist without the other.""
Human is a captivating story of hope and resilience, punctuated by universal truths. One that comes to mind is ""... we only love what we feel we are worth."" So true. And the vivid portrayal of The Woman in Black is permanently fixed in my memory. As she graciously offers her hand to help, we too can learn to follow her lead and open up pathways of love in our own hearts.
I highly recommend Human, and look forward to reading more works by this gifted writer!
- Lisa Pinnock, Bestselling Author of Women Let's Rise"
The book itself is a beautifully poetic telling of the journey of what it means to be human; how we can feel so alienated from those around us, yet have so much more in common with them - if only we’d stop to realize. Human is a creative display of how, at the end of the day, every person we cross paths with can ultimately shape who we are and who we become, and why it’s important to become our true self. The writing itself was incredibly detailed and sophisticated, and the flow was beautiful and easy to follow.If you’re looking for a relatable and raw exploration of humans in our society, then Human needs to be on your #TBR list.
- thefitatlanticbibliophile
The raw emotion and vivid imagery in Vanessa’s literary debut had me hooked right from the beginning. This transformative piece takes the reader on an introspective journey into self-awareness—something I believe to be relevant now more than ever.
Thank you, Vanessa, for sharing your truths and reminding us of what it means to be human.
-S.C.
“With deep reverence for these sacred lands, I acknowledge that I live, work, and play on Robinson-Huron Treaty territory, the traditional lands of the Anishnaabeg, specifically Garden River First Nation and Batchewana First Nation, as well as the Métis People. Together, may we acknowledge, honour, and offer deep gratitude and respect to the people, plant, animal, and land spirits who knew this land we call home, Baawaating, long before us, and who will continue to long after. Please be welcome to take a deep breath in stillness, acknowledging the lands on which you are situated, as well as any and all other nations of first people and true keepers of this land who we may not know the name of today, but invite the opportunity to learn. May we be further invited to extend our land acknowledgements into land engagements, supporting and restoring these lands through responsible citizenship, sacred stewardship, partnership, and advocacy for various movements, including landback motions. Finally, in acknowledging these lands, may we hold space for the collective suffering we continue to witness from colonial violence, colonization, genocide, and oppressive systems still present and active in the world. This includes, but is not limited to, Palestine and its Occupied Territories, Sudan, Congo, Syria, and many more. We also bear witness to the ramifications of colonization, including discriminatory practices, exploitive uses of technology, ecocide, gender-based violence (especially in war zones), the military complex, and the border industrial complex. May our acknowledgements invite us to contribute to transformation and re-worlding. ” — Vanessa Ferlaino
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