This was a fun listen on audiobook. The true story of this very prolific art thief was wild to read. The author tends to repeat himself a lot (did youThis was a fun listen on audiobook. The true story of this very prolific art thief was wild to read. The author tends to repeat himself a lot (did you know the thief would go out and steal art 3 out of 4 weekends a month??) but other than that, an entertaining ride. It was interesting to think about how much of the story is true, and how much of it was the thief being pretentious and giving a lofty reason for his thefts....more
Everything I thought about MLM's were substantiated by the author and while nothing was a revelation, it was still an entertaining read. I liked that Everything I thought about MLM's were substantiated by the author and while nothing was a revelation, it was still an entertaining read. I liked that Paulson recognized her amount of privilege and there is a large dose of white lady wokeness in this, but the anecdotes and pettiness made it worth it....more
This was alright as a work bookclub read. In the beginning, it addressed the issue of burnout being framed as more of a personal issue instead of it aThis was alright as a work bookclub read. In the beginning, it addressed the issue of burnout being framed as more of a personal issue instead of it actually being a societal issue that requires systemic change. But also, I don't know how many books and think pieces I can read about burnout without feeling jaded and burned out about it.
I read this via audiobook and it was actually kind of nice. I liked the little musical interludes and the "patriarchy, ugh" bits a lot....more
What a honker! I went through this slowly in audiobook form and I think this is the way to go. Have it on in the background while you're doing menial What a honker! I went through this slowly in audiobook form and I think this is the way to go. Have it on in the background while you're doing menial chores or driving. Lots of places for long pauses to digest.
I read Odell's previous book, How to do Nothing and had to stop halfway because it wasn't really resonating with me, but this one was the exact opposite. It had lots of historical context about the concept of time and how it's tied to capitalism and oppression. At first, I wasn't a fan of the framing of the book, but I grew to like it and loved how it tied the different chapters together....more
A little tabloidy, but y'all, rich people are wild. I couldn't believe what I was reading in the first 10 pages. Then it got more outlandish.A little tabloidy, but y'all, rich people are wild. I couldn't believe what I was reading in the first 10 pages. Then it got more outlandish....more
Nopety nope nope. I wasn't planning to read this, but then I found that JR Moehringer wrote this, and since I liked Tender Bar and the Agassi memoir hNopety nope nope. I wasn't planning to read this, but then I found that JR Moehringer wrote this, and since I liked Tender Bar and the Agassi memoir he wrote so much, I thought I'd give this a try. I read part of the beginning, got bored and at the advice of others, jumped forward. Even then, I couldn't really get into the book.
If I suspended my belief and pretended I was reading a novel, it went more easily, but because I was listening to the audiobook and Harry himself was narrating it, I could only suspend my disbelief so much. The writing was fine, and the personal anecdotes were okay, but I just couldn't get over the general icky feeling I got when reading it. While he does a lot to point out some of the privilege he had, it just doesn't cover all the things wrong with the royal family.
Even Meghan Markle couldn't entice me to finish reading this....more
Hilarious as always, but also more serious and depressing in some parts. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Amber and Lacey, and that is probablHilarious as always, but also more serious and depressing in some parts. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Amber and Lacey, and that is probably the best way to read this book. The songs they made up as kids really were something when re-enacted by the sisters in this reading....more
I loved the long, winding descriptions of music pieces in here. The writing walks the line between being too technical and being too full of flowery iI loved the long, winding descriptions of music pieces in here. The writing walks the line between being too technical and being too full of flowery images. There were some passages that were the most accurate representations of how listening to music makes a person feel.
What I didn't love were the more autobiographical parts. Maybe this is just a thing I have against a lot of memoirs, but all people and names mentioned mostly blended together for me, especially when characters from the past reappeared in later chapters.
The first half of the book was interesting because the family dynamics and juggling all the lessons and costs associated with Serious Music in a regular family was full of drama. But as the Denk moved forward in time, I became less invested in his story maybe because his young adult self annoyed me. To his credit, he does write about how lucky he was in the opportunities he had, but the way he reacted in some of the later passages was cringe-worthy.
The length of this memoir went a bit too long for me, especially the later half. I thought it could have benefitted from more strict editing to compress some of competitions because they all melted together by the time I got to them.
Despite all my complaints, I was glad to have picked it up. I wouldn't have read it on my own, but my spouse seemed to really enjoy it, definitely more than I did, but I did like *some* parts of it. I sometimes just have a lower threshold for male whining and navel gazing than some people....more
Successful white male author has opinions on writing.
Okay, I only read the beginning and the "On Writing" section after I got bored with King's musingSuccessful white male author has opinions on writing.
Okay, I only read the beginning and the "On Writing" section after I got bored with King's musings about his life. This was fine, but I was surprised so many people recommended this as a book to read if you're writing. It has a few gems in it, and it's probably just me, but it's hard to filter through all the fluff. To his credit, King does say to take all his advice with a grain of salt and he's only writing about what works for *him*.
I think I'd like this book more if in the sections where he mentions good writing, he has more examples from women authors to pull from and not the usual roster of white dudes. He does mention some famous women who write, including my favorite gothic novel, Rebecca, but those are more exceptions....more
You know I love a celebrity memoir, but this one was unfortunately a miss for me. I listened to the audiobook and even with Constance Wu narrating herYou know I love a celebrity memoir, but this one was unfortunately a miss for me. I listened to the audiobook and even with Constance Wu narrating her own words, I just kept getting bored. I stopped about a quarter of the way in, once I realized I was fast-forwarding more than I was actually reading....more
Once upon a time, last week, I thought it would be great to be a librarian. I love libraries, reading, talking about books, recommending books, etc. WOnce upon a time, last week, I thought it would be great to be a librarian. I love libraries, reading, talking about books, recommending books, etc. Well, this brutally honest recounting of what it's really like to be a librarian was exactly what I needed. I love that it delves into the specifics of what type of space a library is, the history of libraries, and all the invisible things that privileged patrons like me never think about when we step into a library....more
Thrift store find! I liked the breakdown of this book. While I skipped all the exercises, the advice about writing scenes that move the story forward Thrift store find! I liked the breakdown of this book. While I skipped all the exercises, the advice about writing scenes that move the story forward was useful. Definitely a good read if you're trying to write a plotty book....more
This book is an anthem to all that feels wrong in the world. I picked this off the library's shelves based on the cover alone, not knowing much about This book is an anthem to all that feels wrong in the world. I picked this off the library's shelves based on the cover alone, not knowing much about it and I'm so glad I did. As someone educated in the west and taught that capitalism was what brought innovation and extended people's lifespans, it was eye-opening to read that it wasn't always that way and capitalism doesn't have to be the way the world is.
The first half of this book is historical, depressing, and shows that if we continue this trajectory into the future, there will likely be no future for humans, which is a terrifying thing if you have kids. But the later half offers a ray of hope and alternatives to the path we're currently on....more
This was fine. I read the first few chapters and skimmed the rest. The basic idea is even if there's nothing drastically wrong in your life and you'reThis was fine. I read the first few chapters and skimmed the rest. The basic idea is even if there's nothing drastically wrong in your life and you're feeling kind of meh, go out and do something. Connect with people in your community, spend time with your family, do that exercise class you've been putting off, etc. You're welcome now you don't need to read the book.
I had issue with the point the author was trying to make that a lot of people are feeling drained and depressed now because they just haven't been taught that hardship and difficulties are a part of life, as compared to the boomer generation who all knew how to struggle (I'm paraphrasing). I'm sorry, but times are really tough right now with the pandemic, inflation, everyone being overworked and underpaid, and oh yes, the country going further into the garbage thanks to boomers.
She's also shortsighted about people turning inwards in times of stress. I don't think she addresses introverts and their need to replenish energy lost by going out and mingling....more
I love everything Sarah Jaffe writes, so when I found out she was writing about the issues of privilege and race around parenting, I was excited. ThisI love everything Sarah Jaffe writes, so when I found out she was writing about the issues of privilege and race around parenting, I was excited. This book is a fantastic intro to big-idea things to think about around childcare, school (private/public/charter), college, and even talking to your kids about money. I love that it brings up questions and issues, but also finishes each chapter with concrete things that readers can do to address these issues. No, the solutions proposed won't solve all our systemic issues, but hey, at least it's a start.
I also appreciated the last chapter, where Jaffe wrestles with her own thoughts and unease about writing this book....more
Oof, this book. Don't let the title mislead you. Part autobiography, part non-white centered views on growing up in the US. Even if you're not a parenOof, this book. Don't let the title mislead you. Part autobiography, part non-white centered views on growing up in the US. Even if you're not a parent, this book could be read as a guide to parent yourself. It's short, tense, and full of cutting onion moments....more
This is really good for readers like me who don't come from a physics background. There's enough science and details involved, but it doesn't require This is really good for readers like me who don't come from a physics background. There's enough science and details involved, but it doesn't require intimate knowledge of complex mathematical equations. I love that it first defines what "possible" means if you're a physicist versus an engineer.
The little cartoons and asides keeps the reading interesting and not as dry. I read some of this to my 8 year old and she enjoyed it as well. Some of the answers for later questions can be repetitive but only because the author did such a good job explaining concepts in the earlier chapters....more
Yikes, this book is full of Real Talk about the state of work and people's feelings about it. I mean, just look at the title of the book and really thYikes, this book is full of Real Talk about the state of work and people's feelings about it. I mean, just look at the title of the book and really think about it. The introduction has this gem:
There is a sense of overwhelming precariousness, in work, in matters of money, and in culture generally; a feeling of being kept in suspense which appears like a law of nature, rather than something human-made.
On a finer detail, while I'm fairly social at work, I always felt a degree of antagonism towards team building exercises. The idea of forced socialization makes me want to run away. Southwood explains this feeling perfectly:
The same can be said for "huddles" and "teambuilding" exercises, which paradoxically promote an individualized workplace in which informal social contact is compulsorily directed towards formal corporate goals, rather than work being a mere setting for social life....more
This caught my eye from my local library (whoever buys books for that library has impeccable taste) as one of those productivity hack books and I admiThis caught my eye from my local library (whoever buys books for that library has impeccable taste) as one of those productivity hack books and I admit to checking it out to hate-read it. I was pleasantly surprised that this is kind of an anti-productivity book and a really good read. One caveat is that it talks about things from a privileged, white collar/knowledge-worker, point of view, but this knowledge-worker found it really insightful.
We mostly read things to reaffirm our world-view and reading this is no different, but I liked how philosophical this book got. Sometimes, when I get overwhelmed with stuff at work or just general things going on, I look into the night sky. Seeing the stars and realizing how small and inconsequential we are in the grand scheme of the universe is calming because it puts into perspective what nothing-burgers most of our problems actually are. Reading this book is kind of like that....more
Ted Chiang said in an interview that people's fears about AI and technology isn't really about AI or technology, but more about those things in a capiTed Chiang said in an interview that people's fears about AI and technology isn't really about AI or technology, but more about those things in a capitalist system. I think about that all the time. I recommend this to everyone who's disillusioned about how capitalism uses technology to screw everyone over.
As someone who has worked most of her career in startups, I spent the first half going, "Oh no, Wendy. No!" I almost quit reading it, but I'm glad I pushed through. The first half is less a cautionary tale and more of a setup of the author's mindset before their awakening.
The next quarter of the book was about the awakening, which is worth reading, but even better is the last quarter, which answered my question of "Okay, everything is crap and we need to burn it all down, but how???" Liu proposes many different solutions and avenues for further research on how to build a better system.
And yes, I recognize the irony of writing this review on a platform owned by one of the biggest capitalists ever....more
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