Take a photo of a barcode or cover
tracithomas's Reviews (1.05k)
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
I like Amanda Montell a lot and her audiobooks are really great. She is smart but doesn't feel inaccessible as an author. This book is really just about the ways our brains convince us of things and how that shapes how we see the world (sunk cost fallacy, confirmation bias) etc. I learned a lot of little things but I think the overall thesis was a little unclear to me. I enjoyed it, though.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Hanif is such a talented writer and so earnest and heartfelt. He it thoughtful and sees the world in a way that I never could/have. I love reading his words and this book is no exception. This is a more challenging read than previous ones for me, it is slower, and more fluid and like poetry than straight prose. There is a lot going on and mostly it works but sometimes you have to trust Hanif and go with it. And while I do love basketball you do not have to watch/know/like basketball to like this book.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
I loved this book. I knew a bit about Pete Rose but this book puts it all on the page. Well researched. Wild story. A great time.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book generally but had some issues specifically with arguments that were made and who in fact this satire was calling in/out. It is an easy and quick read but there are some sticky questions in it for sure. A solid debut.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
I liked a lot of these poems especially the ones that were about the singer and the ones that repeated them or style.
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a 10/10 no notes book. Holy shit. This is a masterpiece and the reason that classic retellings exists. It is subversive, smart, daring, and supremely executed. This is a fucking book!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I really liked this grief memoir. It is told in a choppy vignette style the way grief feels and the way grief books are often written. While the story is sad and the author obviously destroyed over the sudden loss of her husband the book doesn't feel too/overly devastating. I think it is lovely tribute to her husband and her relationship and to her own ability to keep on.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
I really struggled with this book. Baldwin's circular writing style really got me caught up, especially in the first essay. I never found my rhythm and couldn't exactly say what that essay was about. The second one was much more my style and speed. He's no doubt a great writing and sections were so good and clear and powerful, other parts were not.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this book at face value. It is informative and well reported. I listened to the audio and was all in on the narrator and overall experience. However, this book feels borderline racist. A lot of the opinions and writing about the Sherpa people made me double take. I also wasn't wild about how so many of the sources were Everest guides. It felt clear that they wanted to promote their businesses and say its not too crowded and everyone belongs on the mountain. The author was also pretty hard on people who chose not to be interviewed for the book (mainly Jon Krakauer and a alpinist named Nims). So yes, I enjoyed reading the book as a glimpse into a world I know nothing about, but wish parts had been very different.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Some really interesting stuff here with past and future generations, home and belonging. She also does cool formal stuff with the way poems are constructed. The ghazals were my faves.