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caseyreneelopez's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Maria Popova’s Figuring is a monumental piece of literary art. The language is beautiful, poetic, and lyrical. The coverage and composition are inspiring in revealing the true interconnectedness of people and ideas. Its sheer scope is something of wonder and awe. The expertly crafted interwoven narratives that she presents are nothing short of remarkable. I learned more about people of genius, who have unfairly been sidelined by consensus historians, than in entire courses I’ve taken. Popova's exactitude in this book deftly blends history, memoir, art, science, and literature into an otherworldly experience that traverses five centuries. I cannot recommend this book enough. Its content changed me. I am filled with a strong desire to learn more about the people and ideas in its pages.
caseyreneelopez's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Maria Popova’s Figuring is a monumental piece of literary art. The language is beautiful, poetic, and lyrical. The coverage and composition are inspiring in revealing the true interconnectedness of people and ideas. Its sheer scope is something of wonder and awe. The expertly crafted interwoven narratives that she presents are nothing short of remarkable. I learned more about people of genius, who have unfairly been sidelined by consensus historians, than in entire courses I’ve taken. Popova's exactitude in this book deftly blends history, memoir, art, science, and literature into an otherworldly experience that traverses five centuries. I cannot recommend this book enough. Its content changed me. I am filled with a strong desire to learn more about the people and ideas in its pages.
rebeccazh's review
I really appreciate what Popova is trying to do with this book. Her prose is beautiful and lyrical, and it was fascinating to read about the overlooked/invisible feminist undertones to familiar stories of historical figures. It is also fascinating to see the interconnected, rich and queer web that Popova is weaving. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Hawthorne/Melville, Sophia and the woman she loved (whose name I can't remember right now).
However, the amount of detail is bogging down the book and it is very hard to keep track of the massive amounts of sometimes irrelevant details about a large cast of indistinct characters -- I took a few days break and promptly forgot everything about everyone and couldn't get into the chapter again. This book is maybe for another time.
However, the amount of detail is bogging down the book and it is very hard to keep track of the massive amounts of sometimes irrelevant details about a large cast of indistinct characters -- I took a few days break and promptly forgot everything about everyone and couldn't get into the chapter again. This book is maybe for another time.
hulahoopes's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
finalgirlfall's review
5.0
this book wandered quite a bit for the first third or so--but then popova started to talk about dickinson, and things began to come together. :-)
rebekahjenkins's review
4.0
The part I found the most interesting was about Rachel Carson. But it’s a pretty okay book! Probably more for people who love the famous people mentioned and understand science more than me.