aecorsilva's reviews
109 reviews

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

Boys and Girls by Alice Munro

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Animal death, and Misogyny

The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can't Cure Our Social Ills by Jesse Singal

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

this book does a high-quality job of exploring how poorly-designed studies can, when reported on poorly and which play into preexisting attitudes, end up as popular ideas taken as gospel even when they're proven to have little to no effect, with devastating results on criminal justice systems and mental illness treatment in the military. one central thing i loved about the book is that it doesn't shy away from detail: it goes in depth about all of the statistical and scientific tricks researchers can use. 

however, it does get quite repetitive: jesse singal is one of those people who spends too much time on twitter and has all his statements misinterpreted constantly, so in his writing now he'll repeat himself to cover all bases or add nuance that at times seems unnecessary. this really isn't a big deal, although when it coincided with the more boring chapters at the end of the book (which looked at entire disciplines and were just generally more dry) it was kind of annoying. still, it's an excellent book that i think everyone should read, and i especially enjoyed the chapters on superpredators, power posing, and grit in the military.

Women vs Hollywood: The Fall and Rise of Women in Film by Helen O'Hara

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual assault

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

emotional funny hopeful relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Self harm

Dubliners by James Joyce

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter by Isabel Fall

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

I'm sorry, but it was just so slow and boring... IDK, just could not get into it. Shame, because it's apparently about a lot of social issues I'm interested in.

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku

challenging funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Read upon recommendation from a woman at the Sydney Jewish Museum. This book is gorgeously written, with passion and care exuding from every word. If you only have time to read one book, read this one, for it is full of emotion and rich in its lessons. I don't feel right rating it, but it is beautiful.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, and Genocide