The US Review of Books highly praised “XI: A Collection of Poetry on Being Human” written by Andrew Joseph Zaragosa Jr. because this piece “engages readers at a higher level, inspiring a redirection toward living a full and complete life”
Mihir Shah of the US Review of Books commended the author, Andrew Joseph Zaragosa Jr., affirming that the author is “equipped with a background in psychology and mental health counseling, Zaragosa crafts his work to serve simultaneously as a call to seize life by the reins and a fond remembrance of the poet’s own formative years. With life increasingly becoming a fleeting experience, his compilation calls for audiences to slow down, take risks, and appreciate the small moments that form the essence of humanity.”
Since leaving his position as an undergraduate student, Andrew Joseph Zaragoza Jr. has entered the Los Angeles community mental health sector. He was raised in the Gateway Cities and is currently attending California Southern University to get his master’s in psychology. His interests are centered on the arts, healing, and education. He is a multi-talented family man who spends his free time online as a podcast host, musician, brand developer, and graphic designer. He continues to work toward his Personal Legend and self-mastery despite his familiarity with suffering.
The author intends for his readers to be inspired after reading this book. The following are some of the themes in this book: love and relationships, adversity, grit, and humanity. He conveys his understanding through the written word, through poetry and imagery, in a way that makes sense to him based on life experiences. He offers “XI: A Collection of Poetry on Being Human” to remember a moment when he was lost.
The poems, which have a compelling narrative framework, frequently have the effect of speaking directly to the reader, lighting the road in the dark and illuminating the journey down memory lane. For instance, in “Catching Fishes”, the speaker recalls the peace of fishing excursions and contrasts the beauty of the setting sun with images of peacocks in the street and a developing father-son relationship, the memory of which is unlocked by the song that the speaker’s father would always play after school.
Here’s an excerpt from the US Review of Books that highlights:
“While the poems are succinct, the poet’s ability to pace them almost lyrically helps with the energetic flow transferring from one poem to another, connecting all the ones about hope and struggle together like an intricate, inseparable tapestry of the human spirit. In particular, visceral images compare fire with the molten rampage of Pompeii. Similarly, the phrase “if the lights didn’t go out” represents death in “A Play of Pretend.” Ultimately, Zaragoza’s work engages readers at a higher level, inspiring a redirection toward living a full and complete life.”