actuallyitsember's reviews
97 reviews

The Practice: Shipping Creative Work by Seth Godin

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

Most of this book aligned with how I already view my creative work, but it bear reiterating. I'm sure any creative, inovator, and/or leader would be helped along by reading this one and it's pretty quick and easy read, so there's very little to lose. 

I may re-read this in the future. 
Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea and Human Life by George Monbiot

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I first picked this up a few years ago and wasn't able to finish it. I realized at some point, that even the first 1/3 of the book had stuck with me and was impacting the way I did things, so, of course, I had to pick up back up and finish it. I'm glad I did. This is a really well written and accessible system for addressing big goals and life changes a little bit at a time. 

I can see why it's so highly recommended and I'm sure I'll wind up re reading it again in the future when I have a new context to apply it to. 
The Little Book of Colour: How to Use the Psychology of Colour to Transform Your Life by Karen Haller

Go to review page

informative lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.75

This book is really more an organized collection of articles. 

I do wish this were more in depth in a lot of ways, especially when some parts referenced things that werent clairified, such as the shade of the colour we should avoid in the psychological section and the design styles that were brought up several times but not explained. I'd also like to see a lot more scientific and histlrical/cultural references. I love a good deep dive.

I did find it interesting that everyone whos color season I know based purely on coloring regardles of whether they dress that way, actuay did fit the personality of their season as described here. Maybe, its a coincidence, but as the author is so passionate about this being the case, maybe she should look into whether our own coloring (not what we wear but our skintone, contrast of features, and whatnot) is influencing our personalities or how else these two things are coming to be in harmony. I would be interested in some research around that.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

This was a really good wholesome read. It's mostly very hopeful and inspiring, which we all need, but some parts are quite sad as well. You can't write about these things honestly without having some parts be sad. 

It reinvigorated my (already extremely present) passion for sustainability and my compassion for all beings, human or not.

I almost cried at the salamander part, but I didn't, so you can't judge me for it. 
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Go to review page

adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

I've always considered myself a 'Renaissance man' and an expert among laymen but a laymen among experts in many fields, so I'm obviously biased to like this book. 

That being said, it's well written and I do think the point being made is objectively valid. I'd certainly recommend this book to anybody remotely interested.
Worn: A People's History of Clothing by Sofi Thanhauser

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book had me captivated and reinvigorated my interest in a project I honestly thought was probably impossible before I read it. 

It's so interesting to be taken through the history of different textiles and the industrialization of apparel production. It was a good mix of overarching history and specific anecdotes. Some parts were really sad, but that's the fashion industry, unfortunately. I definitely walked away wanting to get even more involved in fashion and textiles and to hopefully be part of doing things in a more positive way. 
Mastery by Robert Greene

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

Copywriting Secrets by Jim Edwards

Go to review page

informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

I definitely got some value from this, but you have to be able to apply your own context and a lot of people struggle with that, so it's something to be aware of. Also, it's a little bit of a sales pitch, but I don't mind that much since it doesn't really get in the way of the information.

This book sparked me writing more/different copy, so it was a success.
Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

There are a lot of parts of Paris' story that are painful to read. The list of trigger warnings is long and I teared up more than I would expect to reading such a short book. It was extremely relatable, honest, and insightful, and Paris brought an optimism to it that I know must have been hard earned.  I'd recommend this to pretty much anyone. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings