Don’t Shoot Your Future by Eric Power

Review by E. Mino (More Than a Review reviewer) 2021

Don’t Shoot Your FUTURE Self by Eric Power is a Veteran’s tremendous story about transitioning from Active Duty Naval Service to civilian life….and folks….it ain’t pretty at first.

As a current service member who lives with a combat Veteran, as I read this book I found myself continuously screaming within, “WHY IS THIS NOT A PROGRAM FOR VETS?!” And if it is indeed real, why is this inaccessible to all Veterans? Living with a combat Veteran presents an ugly suitcase of trauma that, often times, never gets unpacked – it’s bulging at the seams and is packed so tightly that one day, the seam breaks, and it comes flying open with all its contents exploding like debris in a dirty bomb. This book is about just that and more. It’s about the explosion, the recovery, and the triumph of everything that encompasses transitioning from military to civilian life.

As I read this book, I found myself unable to put it down – and when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. This book resonated with me as a service member and having a tightly knit circle that includes other service members and Veterans. It tells the story of Honorable Military Service that included several deployments to combat theatres. The most important thing this book does though, is address the elephant in the room for nearly all transitioning military service members, combat deployments or not….and that elephant is….well it’s not just one thing…let’s just say the room is full of elephants and this book opens the door for all of them.

I would 150% recommend this book to any current or former service member. Yes, it does have the “self-help” vibe to it, but not in your stereotypical way. The book addresses these topics in a mentor/mentee style, so as not to make the reader feel attacked at their own deficiencies, as many self-help books I feel do such. It also sheds light on the commonalities (the elephants) Veterans share and more importantly, how to overcome them.

I would also recommend this book to anyone who would like an insider’s look into the life of a Veteran and the very real struggles they face. This story is not a one-off – these events, especially the internal demons the Veteran faces at the beginning of the story, are the events that most Veterans experience. This book really sheds light on the issues Veterans face and the lack of resources that exist to them. It also tells a wonderful story of the unbreakable bond formed between the Veteran and his mentors – who give him more than money could ever buy.

Considering this book includes a protagonist that is a Veteran, there is a significant amount of strong language, but not to the point that it takes away from the story (keep in mind, this is coming from a current service member though). There is no sexual content, but there is some physical violence as well as verbal/mental violence. Truthfully, the book requires the physical, verbal, and mental violence because it is the tell-tale of most service members on some level. There is enough action in the book but not so much that it is overwhelming or so little that I became bored at any point reading it. “Don’t Shoot Your FUTURE Self” was very easy to read and I will be reading it again frequently because it provided a significant amount of guidance and insight that can be utilized by anybody (civilian or military) who has a Veteran or transitioning service member in their life. 

Donna Feyen

Founder, MoreThanaReview

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From: Alyssa Longo <alyssa@farrowcommunications.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2021 7:01 AM
To: donna@morethanareview.com
Subject: Active Combat Vet & Mental Health Advocate Shares Inspirational Novel Filled with Life-Changing Advice for Veterans & Their Families

Good Morning,

Are you interested in reviewing or featuring the new book Don’t Shoot Your Future Self? Veterans face incredible challenges after leaving the military. From coping with mental health issues like depression and PTSD, to finding employment, re-establishing relationships, and more – readjusting to civilian life is not easy. As an active combat veteran, Eric Power knows the sacrifices and struggles of civilian veterans. A powerful story of self-discovery, this inspirational book shares the keys to overcoming some of the greatest challenges in business and in life for a promising future. As the Coronavirus surges forward, we have seen an increase in mental health conditions among all Americans. The wisdom and insights in this book are more timely and relevant than ever before. 

***Author Eric Power is available for interviews, articles, or to provide commentary on this topic.

***Copies of Don’t Shoot Your Future Self are available in hard copy upon request or you can download the digital version HERE. 

Are you interested?

-Alyssa 

REQUEST FOR BOOK REVIEWS:NEW BOOK OFFERS HOPE & WISDOM TO STRUGGLING VETERANS “Don’t Shoot Your Future Self”-An Inspirational Novel Filled with Life-Changing Advice for Veterans & Their Families-Veterans face incredible challenges after leaving the military. From coping with mental health issues like depression and PTSD, to finding employment, re-establishing relationships, and more – readjusting to civilian life is not easy. After putting their lives on the line in service of our country, veterans deserve more support than what they are getting.Fortunately, a new book from recent military veteran, Eric Power can help.  ABOUT THE BOOK:As an active combat veteran, Eric Power knows the sacrifices and struggles of civilian veterans. As a mentor and a self-development student, he also knows the keys to overcoming some of the greatest challenges in business and in life.Power shares his success principles as he takes you through the challenges of David Little, a veteran facing personal and career challenges. Follow along as David meets his mentor, Ralph Power, who helps him discover his self-worth and shows him how to build life-changing relationships. “Don’t Shoot Your Future Self” is a powerful story of self-discovery anyone can use to turn today’s obstacles into a promising future. -Release Date: December 28th, 2020 -Publisher: Waterside Productions -ISBN-13: 978-1-951805-22-7 (print edition) -ISBN-13: 978-1-951805-23-4 (ebook edition) -Pricing: $16.95 (paperback)“Don’t Shoot Your Future Self” is available for purchase on Amazon HERE.  WHY YOU NEED THIS BOOK: Blurring the lines between fiction and nonfiction, “Don’t Shoot Your Future Self” is a powerful story that shines light on the unique challenges veterans face after leaving the military.The statistics on veteran mental health are horrific. According to a 2020 report, roughly 17 veterans die by suicide each day in the US. This means meaning more veterans die by suicide every two days than were killed in action last year! This staggering statistic is why “Don’t Shoot Your Future Self” rings true to 24 million veterans around the world who have some type of personal struggle after returning home. As the Coronavirus surges forward, we have seen an increase in mental health conditions among all Americans. The wisdom and insights in this book are more timely and relevant than ever before. Through the fictional story of “David Little”, the book not only gives veterans motivation and encouragement, but it also provides them with a pathway for transitioning to post-military life. Of course this personal development is a must-read for military veterans, but it also appeals to non-veterans because it offers timeless and universal business and success principles applicable to all people. This book is a valuable resource for military families or anyone with loved ones in the service. It offers a glimpse into the reality of the veteran experience and readers can learn more about what their loved one is going through and how they can help.Whether you are a veteran or not, “Don’t Shoot Your Future Self” is an unforgettable story about life, relationships, and the power we all have to create a lasting imprint on the people we meet and know. ABOUT THE AUTHOR, ERIC POWER:Eric Louis Power is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and social activist dedicated to helping military veterans and their families achieve a better quality of life. Power served honorably in the US Navy reaching the rank of Petty Officer First Class and serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Southern Watch. Power has a total of seven deployments, with 3.5 years in Active Combat zones. He is the founder of For Veterans By Veterans, a nonprofit that provides assistance to homeless vets, and he is the founder and CEO of Veterans Disability Help, LLC, a firm that manages VA disability claims and helps disabled veterans get the benefits they deserve. Since 2012, Power has been responsible for redirecting over 2.1 Million dollars a month recurring from the VA, back to the veterans in regard to their VA disability claims. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:https://veterandisabilityhelp.com