Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - De ce peștii nu există

Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

De ce peștii nu există by Lulu Miller

84 reviews

confuzzledsheep's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

2.0

If you are not a biologist, or even yet a Taxonomist, and want to reflect deeply on one's own sadness in the story of the author and David Starr Jordan, then this may be helpful for you. As a depressed biologist who's been long disillusioned with the myth of a Sole Genius Scientist and has already had many of the discussions within this book, I will rate it as passing. I found this book lacking in detail on David Starr Jordans life that I expected it to have- furter discussion of the problems with the Holotype model of taxonomy, the sheer brutality of scientific discovery during the time period. This book touches on those, but never gets as deep as it could.

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satsumaorange's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

5.0

Oh lord, this is the book I needed to read at this point in my life. Miller walks you through a journey out of hopelessness, out of meaninglessless, out of loss. The road of this journey is extensively scientific, relentlessly analytical, and reverent of the world around us. I was brought to tears many many times throughout this book, both from personal experiences with losing love, and from that near-universal human experience of wondering "What's the point of it all?"
Miller brings scientific history, philosophy, and the remarkable life of David Starr Jordan together to restore hope in a life well-lived on this humble planet of ours. She encourages curiosity, wonder, and critical thinking as the antidote for the all-encompassing existential dread.
This was definitely one of the best books I read in 2023. It came to me exactly when I needed it. It might not be for everyone, if your brain doesn't work in the analytical way mine does, but I truly enjoyed the journey.

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emmettdakool's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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greywolfheir's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

2.5

So many gems of truths people aren't talking about enough wrapped in so much terrible writing and juvenile explanation.

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meganelizabeth's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

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inthemoonlight's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I genuinely have no words for much this impacted me. It is truly beautifully and completely done.

My only warning would be to look at any trigger warnings if that's something that would impact you. I personally went in blind, not even knowing what it was about, and did not realize how dark things would be. Vital to talk about, but still potentially triggering nonetheless.

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fridayreads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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librarymouse's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

About a third of the way through this book, having googled David Starr Jordan, I was ready to finish this, as a hate reader if need be. Jordan was, without question, a horrible man. The atrocities he inflicted upon the world with his promotion of eugenics outweigh any good he may have done as a scientist by multiple orders of magnitude. Seeing Lulu Miller's hero worship of the man was off-putting, the more I learned of him. However, I ended up really enjoying this book as I read on, as Miller explores her own life alongside Jordan's, she brings along the reader. We learn of the atrocities he's committedin the same order she did while conducting the research for this book. It's still hard to have the hero worship of the young Jordan, with his love of stars and rescy jokes, when faced with the knowledge of his role in the American Eugenics movement.

Jordan's hands-on malicious acts, like his touring endorsement of eugenics and the possible murder by poison of his benefactor are completely bonkers. I am constantly amazed that people Revere him, while simultaneously understanding, as I, too have been in awe of the young man he once was.

This book breaks down every facet of Jordan, from his political, religious, and social beliefs; to his family life, addressing each idiosyncrasy with data driven research.

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marshark's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

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pipn_t's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.0

This was an alright book that I despised deeply when it became clear it was a biography and not a science book. I guess it’s a good example of why you shouldn’t read books based on a cool title. Did not enjoy nor come to care about the man being biographies at all. The title subject of the book was tacked on at the end. Didn’t appreciate that the author was trying to convert me to her nihilistic worldview, if I’m using the right word. Content warning for extended discussion of eugenics.

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