Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Los peces no existen by Lulu Miller

36 reviews

rorikae's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.0

'Why Fish Don't Exist' by LuLu Miller is an engaging nonfiction book that moves between Miller's desire to find meaning within her own life and her exploration of the life of David Starr Jordan. As Miller learns more about Jordan's life, she unravels a man that though known for his accomplishments, such as his work as a taxonomist and as the first president of Stanford University, has incredible flaws and terrible views about the world. The way that Miller uncovers these discoveries about Jordan's life are engaging as we slowly come to learn more about this man and his descent into eugenics. 
This is a hard book as Miller discusses her struggles with mental illness and searching for meaning but it ultimately has a very hope filled conclusion. Miller presents a way to reframe how we see the world that has helped her find meaning and I found it to be very moving. She challenges the reader to look beyond what we take for granted to see how assumptions and even taxonomies can get in the way of discovering the beauty and complexity of life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Car accident

bookpunhere's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Infidelity and Sexual assault

vlntnmz's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism

kelseyland's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

An incredibly moving and thought-provoking book about the problems with making assumptions and attempting to reduce the complexity of life to neat, orderly narratives. The way in which Miller first introduces and then problematizes the subject of the book (David Starr Jordan, a taxidermist and eugenicist) is fascinating, as is the way she weaves in details about her own existential crisis. This book is intense at times (see content warnings), but also breathtaking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Infertility, Self harm, and Sexual violence

Minor: Confinement, Rape, and Murder

jeanneerin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, and Car accident

Forced sterilization, eugenics, depression, Trump, Confederate statues, Proud Boys

ddeskin's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective

5.0

Incredible book. Wove together personal memoir, biography, pop science, and history into an extremely captivating story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Infertility, Mental illness, and Sexual violence

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

Additional mentions of eugenics. The author deals with all topics with grace and is careful to contextualize and add moral implications.