Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

85 reviews

skudiklier's review

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book was really good! I had kind of weird expectations going in that made me wary of it, but by the time I got about halfway through I couldn't put it down. It goes a lot of places and has so many really important ideas. I'd definitely recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Racism, Murder, Death, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, Child death, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Homophobia, Body horror, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, and Confinement

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Eugenics, forced sterilization, r slur And mild/moderate people being eaten by animals

massivepizzacrust's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

This book is a journey and the less you know going into it the better in my opinion. The writing style is addictive and funny, the emotions are real and the ideas are complex. One of my favorite reads of the year.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Murder

catherineclark's review

emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Racism

slynn's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Self harm, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Rape, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, and Murder

spiderwitch's review

informative slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Murder

valerlance's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I expected a biography full of taxonomy. Surprise! This book contains some of what I expected, but it's also a memoir and a philosophy text and even (for just a chapter or so) a murder mystery! I loved it so much!!! I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which is read by the author herself and includes a wonderful, tender surprise after the epilogue.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Child death, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Rape, and Racism

There's a lot of discussion of eugenics

falfy's review

funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

I was hesitant about halfway through, but I *really* enjoyed the last half, the ending especially. This one will last with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Racism

Minor: Rape

quinwithonen's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

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, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Mental illness, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Car accident

thewordshaker's review

dark informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

What an unexpected book! Lulu challenges assumptions and belief in her quest for hope and purpose, without deluding herself on white lies to tell herself. 

Part memoir, part recounting of ichthyologist history, the book comments on the short coming of science and scientists as well as explaining the misunderstood. 

I feel some of the topics covered here should have come with a warning. Lulu talks about suicide, rape, and forced sterilization with an occasional warning to not be squeamish - but being squeamish or sensitive to these subjects is only human and also based off of experiences. It may come from a place of trying to protect her vulnerabilities but it is wrong, and it made the book an uncomfortable reading, and why I chose not to give it 4 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Trafficking