andrewgardner's reviews
90 reviews

How to Piss Off Men: 109 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego by Kyle Prue

4.0

😡 💪🏼 How To Piss Off Men by Kyle Prue 💪🏼 😡 

In this short and not-so-sweet book the author brings us over 100 sayings that will undoubtedly shake the male ego, as it promises! 

This book was so funny and really made my morning. It took me about an hour to read. Great for a bathroom, coffee table, or that boss who enjoys seeing “powerful” men shake as much as you do 😉.

4/5 ⭐️ 

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

5.0

🔥 💍 Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien💍 🔥 

Well, I did it! I read all of LotR for the first time in less than a year! 

I’ve loved this story for years, since the movies came out as a kid, but always found the books daunting. I read “The Hobbit” with a student a few years ago and loved it and have loved these books every time I picked them up. 

Tolkien’s world is so rich with lore and majesty that it is so easy to think of it as real. This is something I often find difficult to overcome when reading fantasy. This third and final installment does that even more so and may be my favorite in the trilogy. 

I know because of Tolkien documentaries I’ve seen that he infused a lot of commentary on war in this story and I truly saw that allegory more in this book than the other two. The action was amazing but also just the characters inner monologues of dealing with the worst evils in the world. I loved every minute. 

I can’t wait to read more about Tolkien and his world. There is so much still being published that I’m excited that I don’t have to leave Middle Earth just yet. Outside of LotR, which Tolkien stories do you like most?

5/5 ⭐️ 

Six Jewish Spiritual Paths: A Rationalist Looks at Spirituality by Rifat Sonsino

3.5

🙏 ✡️ 6 Jewish Spiritual Paths by Rabbi Rifat Sonsino ✡️ 🙏 

“God dwells wherever we let him in.”

I used to think that being a spiritual agnostic/atheist was an oxymoron. As I’ve grown in confidence and knowledge though, I’ve found ways to connect spiritually with the people and the world around me. This book was a quick read and truly gave some practical tips on how I could connect spiritually even further. 

3.5 / 5 ⭐️ 

Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion by Abraham Joshua Heschel

3.5

✡️ 🌟 Man Is Not Alone by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel 🌟 ✡️ 

“God is not hiding in a temple. The Torah came to tell inattentive man: ‘You are not alone, you live constantly in holy neighborhood;’ “

As someone who would still consider myself at the least agnostic, reading a book all about someone trying to convince others that God is real was a challenge. There was a lot to disagree with, naturally, but it was all so beautifully written. 

I was still able to have some takeaways that match with my perception of “God” and found it insightful to learn what others in my community may believe. I like Heschel’s version of a personal God who needs man as much if not more than man needs Him. It was refreshing to read about and made me wish that I believed in it. 

3.5/5 ⭐️ 

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

4.0

🐍 💀 Never Whistle At Night 💀 🐍 

A collection of dark horror fiction short stories by Native American writers that explores themes of colonization, native mythology, and grotesque history. 

I normally don’t like short story collections. I have found that either the stories are too long with nothing having happened or they’re too short. Most of the stories in this collection felt just right for me. Brutal, gruesome, and fantastic horror was on display here with only a couple of the stories falling flat for me. It was interesting to hear about the perspectives of native people in a horror genre and one of my favorite authors, Tommy Orange, writes a piece here!

4/5 ⭐️ 

Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century by Michael Strassfeld

5.0

✡️ 🌼 Judaism Disrupted by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld 🌼 ✡️ 

Judaism is a rich 3,000+ year tradition full of wisdom and spirituality. It has evolved in its history and continues to evolve now (some like me believe). How is Judaism evolving in the 21st century? How can more traditional participants latch onto these changes so we can see the continuation of this practice? That’s what we explore in “Judaism Disrupted”.

This book came to me at the perfect time. Reflecting during the High Holidays this year, I was feeling pretty stagnant in my studies and practice. Since moving last year I’ve been feeling more alone in my Judaism after stopping my conversion process with a local rabbi due to some ideological differences. This book, though, cements and affirms the belief and aspects of Judaism that I knew I was attracted to and puts them in perspective for me as something that is attainable and justified. 

I hope this is making sense. In short, reading this made me feel less alone in my beliefs and outlook. This journey has been 4+ years long and I get discouraged that there seems to be no end in sight that I’ll ever feel “Jewish enough”. But this book makes me think I’m there. I’m part of an ever evolving tradition that is before me, with me, and beyond me. And that’s exciting. My 4 years are nothing in the grand scheme of things. I’ll be fine. 

5/5 ⭐️ worth the read

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

4.0

😭 🤩 Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb 🤩 😭 

Premise: a therapist going through an abrupt breakup seeks out her own therapist and learns about herself and her patients in a new light. 

This book was amazing. The stories inside are funny, heartbreaking, and nerve wracking. Posed as a nonfiction novel-ish, I still found myself highlighting and recording some key thoughts as if it were a self-help book. What I did NOT expect was to grow fond of one of the worst characters I’ve ever read. It’s a testament to the author’s story telling that I was able to feel such compassion for such a hateful person. 

Worth the read. The only reason it’s not a 5 is because I wanted just a tad more of the self help stuff but that’s just me. 
4/5 ⭐️ 

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

3.5

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear
3.5/5 ⭐️ 

I found this book inspiring about half of the time and the other half just seemed like a stereotypical couch on a reality show saying “just DO it!” Although, when the book essentially does say that it’s not aggressively. 

What I liked: the ideas about identity and environmental change affecting how you operate in your “systems”

What I didn’t like: there was no nuance or mention of how habit changing/forming could be different for those with neurodivergent disorders. Sometimes “just DO it” isn’t an option when your brain, trauma, or something else literally prevents you from doing things.

Still took away some things so not a total loss! I can see the appeal just wish there was more practical strategies for a larger net of people to grab onto. 

The Circle by Dave Eggers

3.5

🔋⭕️The Circle by Dave Eggers ⭕️ 🔋

I don’t think I’ve ever read a more unlikable character than Mae Holland. And I think, I HOPE, that was on purpose. She takes being a villain in a dystopian not-so-distant future and brings it to a whole new, way too close to reality, level. 

I found it hard to connect with this book at first which may be fore many reasons, including having just read a lot of fantasy, but I’m glad I stuck with it. I’m frightened by how with just a few tweaks this could easily become a devastating reality. I would LIKE to think there is still enough humanity and dignity left in us to prevent us from truly getting to this level of technological oversight but I can see where in some cases we’re already there. 

Not sure if I’ll read the sequel as this was just so eerie and relatable and I don’t want to become more paranoid than I already am. Lol 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

4.0

🌊 🩵 The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune 🩵 🌊 

I will always regret not reading this book sooner. It had my heart so quickly and I just loved it. 

I wonder how much my past as a teacher has clouded my judgement of this book but I’m accepting it, haha. I really enjoyed the different dynamics each character brought to the story in a way that didn’t seem forced. 

While the writing was beautiful, it was a little “on the nose” in places (to steal a phrase from someone I know lol). But that didn’t diminish the story for me at least! The only part I wish was a little more fleshed out was the romance. I felt like it could have been more gradual but what do i know about romance? Lol

Loved the book and look forward to the sequel!