actuallyitsember's reviews
97 reviews

The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

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adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I've enjoyed every Robert Greene book I've read, but this one might be my favorite. He has such a talent for marrying great storytelling with valueable insights around humanity.
In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie by Cora Harrington

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informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.5

I really enjoyed this. It's quick and light with just the right amount of detail to make each point and explain each topic in a clear and memorable way. I can tell this will be a great reference as well.
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by James A. Robinson, Daron Acemoğlu

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

This was drier and more drawn out than was needed to make the point.  If this were 1/2 the length, it would be a much better read, but I'm more of a social behavior girly than a history girly, so it wasn't engaging for me the way it may be for someone else. Some parts were interesting, nonetheless, and you certainly had plenty of opportunity to mull over the theory the book presents. 

At the end of the day, I wish I had looked for and read an abridged version instead. 
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

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hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Most of what this book laid out was in line with my preexisting beliefs, but it clarified some things and reminded me of other things I had moved to the back burner of my mind. An easy read that would be great for people just getting into managing their finances 
Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour by Dita Von Teese

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funny informative lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.75

This was a fun read, and I even gleened some helpul self care tips.
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as If Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss

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adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

It can be really hard to find a way to bring multifaceted solutions and empathy to the negotiating table in a way that is actually productive in the end and this book outlines some great tools to do just that.  I didn't find this to be over or under written, but just right for cairity, an easy and worthwhile read, for sure. 
Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thompson Ford

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I really enjoyed exploring history and social anthropology through the the lens of fashion and vice versa. This book was well written and ceaselessly interesting. 
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Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I'm glad I picked this book back up when I did, because it brought a lot of my work place values to front of mind. Deep work is a really valuable concept and this book pays out a decent ground work for how many might achieve it.
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer

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adventurous funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

This wasn't the most captivating book I've ever read, but it was pretty good and I was invested by the end. I definitely learned a good few things about memory from this book, but I have no real experience trying to trick my memory into working better, so who knows. Enjoyable, at least.
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Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van Edwards

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adventurous funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.75

This book was fantastic. I'd highly recommend it to anyone trying to be better with people, even if you feel like you know the basics that are in a lot of books. Vanessa is good at going deeper than that and making you think about and understand things that might seem inconsequential at first glance. She also discusses the challenge of overcoming sexist, racist, and homophobic biases, which I really appreciated. 
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