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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
an interesting, short book that really dives into the problems that we face in our world today, especially as a result of the pandemic. elif shafak makes some really great points, and expresses herself beautifully, while also giving us some snippets of her life, her story, and her views. a quick yet compelling read.
Both the title and the blurb sound excellent, however, I don't feel that's what I got.
Like others have said: it felt quite simplistic, one sided, lacking, not providing anything new or concrete, a bit feeble, and, dare I say, young?
But to try and write some more constructive/critical thoughts: For me I think it started to fall apart right when the author writes the following quote in comparison to Rilke's, 'who, if I cried out, would here me among the human hierarchies?'. And herein lied the issue for me- because the book just proceeds on as if that is the question- whereas Rilke's was prescient for his time, this is the one prophetic for now... but it's not. Rilke's is equally, if not more prescient now. So, Shafak goes on addressing this issue... but there's no real argument as to why she thinks that this is the issue. This is marketed as a book to help the world, but reads like a books of thoughts, musings, and maybe an opinion piece. The Anxiety section was the best, I found, and there was one (barely highlighted) actionable step, backed by evidence, reasonably framed and presented. I wanted more of this. I did not get it.
Further issues I found in that there were a fair few quotes, quoted as they were seemingly in line with what Shafak is arguing for, no? Well, I'm not sure about that. In a few cases, I was familiar with the source material of the quotes, and the way they were included in this text could be construed as misleading. Not in the sense that the quote was in support of (for e.g.) 'yes' while Shafak was for 'no,' but that, the quotes were kind of just talking about different topics/were having different conversations. Now, that in and of itself need not necessarily be an issue- it's not like the book is really arguing for one isolated political ideology or viewpoint or stance, etc. after all- but I don't think enough space was held (or explanation given) as to what these quotes were originally talking about, so they seem to be included in support of her ideas. I think potentially the quotes also highlighted the lack of the rest of the book. If there were no quotes, this could have just been a simple work (absolutely nothing wrong with a simple work), but perhaps the quotes highlighted the conversation that (I think) Shafak intended this work to enter into, but I don't believe it fits. I think I got more out of the quotes than any of the rest of this book.
Paradoxially, this felt more like some things that Shafak wanted to share- after listening intently to the cries of the world- than the sharing of some hard fought over, honed, and precious wisdom that the world would benefit from hearing.
To sum up, I feel that this content would have much better been shared in a book about the importance of books and stories. There were some really nice moments, but no actionable truths, no revelatory proposals, nothing I couldn't really get out of an instagram caption. I can't help feel like I've been sold something in a sell-able package. I unfortunately feel that I will forget at least 90% of this book, which is a shame, because the parts that I will remember, I wanted more of. There is an earnest and intelligent soul behind the words, but the book just seemed to miss what it was aiming for. It would've been a 2, except in a non fiction I cannot deny the author's grasping of the scope of the subject matter, so it's a 3 for that, but a 2 for the opinions delivered on the subject.
Like others have said: it felt quite simplistic, one sided, lacking, not providing anything new or concrete, a bit feeble, and, dare I say, young?
But to try and write some more constructive/critical thoughts: For me I think it started to fall apart right when the author writes the following quote in comparison to Rilke's, 'who, if I cried out, would here me among the human hierarchies?'. And herein lied the issue for me- because the book just proceeds on as if that is the question- whereas Rilke's was prescient for his time, this is the one prophetic for now... but it's not. Rilke's is equally, if not more prescient now. So, Shafak goes on addressing this issue... but there's no real argument as to why she thinks that this is the issue. This is marketed as a book to help the world, but reads like a books of thoughts, musings, and maybe an opinion piece. The Anxiety section was the best, I found, and there was one (barely highlighted) actionable step, backed by evidence, reasonably framed and presented. I wanted more of this. I did not get it.
Further issues I found in that there were a fair few quotes, quoted as they were seemingly in line with what Shafak is arguing for, no? Well, I'm not sure about that. In a few cases, I was familiar with the source material of the quotes, and the way they were included in this text could be construed as misleading. Not in the sense that the quote was in support of (for e.g.) 'yes' while Shafak was for 'no,' but that, the quotes were kind of just talking about different topics/were having different conversations. Now, that in and of itself need not necessarily be an issue- it's not like the book is really arguing for one isolated political ideology or viewpoint or stance, etc. after all- but I don't think enough space was held (or explanation given) as to what these quotes were originally talking about, so they seem to be included in support of her ideas. I think potentially the quotes also highlighted the lack of the rest of the book. If there were no quotes, this could have just been a simple work (absolutely nothing wrong with a simple work), but perhaps the quotes highlighted the conversation that (I think) Shafak intended this work to enter into, but I don't believe it fits. I think I got more out of the quotes than any of the rest of this book.
Paradoxially, this felt more like some things that Shafak wanted to share- after listening intently to the cries of the world- than the sharing of some hard fought over, honed, and precious wisdom that the world would benefit from hearing.
To sum up, I feel that this content would have much better been shared in a book about the importance of books and stories. There were some really nice moments, but no actionable truths, no revelatory proposals, nothing I couldn't really get out of an instagram caption. I can't help feel like I've been sold something in a sell-able package. I unfortunately feel that I will forget at least 90% of this book, which is a shame, because the parts that I will remember, I wanted more of. There is an earnest and intelligent soul behind the words, but the book just seemed to miss what it was aiming for. It would've been a 2, except in a non fiction I cannot deny the author's grasping of the scope of the subject matter, so it's a 3 for that, but a 2 for the opinions delivered on the subject.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
One of the most relevant, eloquent, and mindful essays about the whirlwind of negative emotions that 2020 managed to seed in all of us. I needed to read this months before I knew it existed.
No sé si es porque estudio sociología o qué pero me ha contado cosas ya sabía y un poco vacío el libro la vd, me esperaba algo más
Little but powerful. Pursue wisdom and knowledge, not information.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
A breath of fresh air and sanity in very troubling times.
Pertinente. Actual. Necessário.
Não é, de todo, uma leitura que me tenha transformado, mas levantou muitos temas que, com mais recorrência do que gostava, ignoro e normalizo no meu dia a dia. Ansiedade, capitalismo e falta de empatia rondaram a maioria das páginas deste livro.
Desafiou-me a refletir sobre o que leio, com quem me falo e a minha própria individualidade.
Sublinha a necessidade de ouvir minorias, de aumentar a empatia e do conhecimento que precisamos para alcançar, de uma forma coletiva, uma sociedade menos narcisista e mais aberta.
Acima de tudo, é um livro muito humano que, apesar de bastante consistente na abordagem de temas complexos e que causam algum desconforto, deposita esperança e luz na evolução da sociedade .
Não é, de todo, uma leitura que me tenha transformado, mas levantou muitos temas que, com mais recorrência do que gostava, ignoro e normalizo no meu dia a dia. Ansiedade, capitalismo e falta de empatia rondaram a maioria das páginas deste livro.
Desafiou-me a refletir sobre o que leio, com quem me falo e a minha própria individualidade.
Sublinha a necessidade de ouvir minorias, de aumentar a empatia e do conhecimento que precisamos para alcançar, de uma forma coletiva, uma sociedade menos narcisista e mais aberta.
Acima de tudo, é um livro muito humano que, apesar de bastante consistente na abordagem de temas complexos e que causam algum desconforto, deposita esperança e luz na evolução da sociedade .
So good I read it from the library and then bought a copy! Will be re-reading and highlighting! Such a powerful little book and I would recommend everyone read it!
Nothing to object to here, but nothing new or revelatory either.