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meganstreb's review against another edition
2.0
I just didn't get on with this book.
The Guardian review described this book as "Adam Curtissy", which feels exactly right.
The premise is probably from a good place, and there's some interesting ideas, but it rambles in a slightly self-indulgent way on a thousand different current societal ills.
I would have much preferred a long form article. Some great ideas, and the last chapter does link some of them together well, but overall felt like a slog to get through.
The Guardian review described this book as "Adam Curtissy", which feels exactly right.
The premise is probably from a good place, and there's some interesting ideas, but it rambles in a slightly self-indulgent way on a thousand different current societal ills.
I would have much preferred a long form article. Some great ideas, and the last chapter does link some of them together well, but overall felt like a slog to get through.
mikecross's review against another edition
3.0
Started out very good, linking what you thought could not be linked. But then wandered at the end and never pulled it all together. A lot of potential missed.
pamiverson's review against another edition
4.0
How politics have shifted from being dictated by facts and thoughts and now are propelled by emotions. Trump is the culmination (we can hope) of this process, but it’s been building for decades. Examples from other times and countries as well. Written in 2018.
thelauramay's review against another edition
10% and DNF - a disappointing book. It certainly hits all the buzz words, and it absolutely addresses concerns we're facing, but it uses consistently outdated research to do so. He has a lovely manner of writing, but this was a waste of my time.
ziki's review against another edition
4.0
il libro perfetto da regalare a tutt* quell* a cui volete bene ma che sono ancora convinti che la soluzione al “populismo” si possa trovare nella fede nella “tecnica”.
ps perché nei libri di accademici ciccia sempre fuori l’ubi?
ps perché nei libri di accademici ciccia sempre fuori l’ubi?
tcranenj's review against another edition
5.0
A big picture attempt to explore today's social, political, and technological anxieties. If you like your nonfiction interdisciplinary and multilayered, Nervous States is in your wheelhouse. While I'm not sure I learned anything new factually, Davies's convincingly combined ideas about human physiology, Enlightenment epistemology, 20th century culture and counterculture, big data, and current identity politics to tell a story of who and what advanced Western societies have become. Nervous States defies easy categorization which I'm sure is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. Some readers may dislike the lack of a narrower focus in service of a more limited argument, but I enjoyed this book's wandering path. Definitely one that's going to linger for awhile.
soavezefiretto's review against another edition
3.0
Remind me of using a pencil next time. I feel like this was so full of information confirming vague intuitions I've been having, but I lost most of it by reading it distractedly on buses or waiting for a call and whatnot. Hence the three stars, which would probably be four if I had actually managed to absorb all this book has to offer. Very relevant and enlightening (is that a word?).
sophronisba's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting and thought-provoking book, but a little short for Davies to argue his case. The entire scope of political history is difficult to cover in 272 pages. Davies wants to examine the tension between democracy and human emotion, and the increasing tendency of voters to dismiss expert analysis for their own knee-jerk reactions. It's a fascinating and suggestive premise, but the book should have been twice as long to adequately make the case.
niallharrison's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
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