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clay1st's reviews
57 reviews
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
4.0
Nice and comprehensive little story about the history of humanity but I disliked the base assertion that all worldviews were fundamentally misguided until we discovered the western scientific method and now we can finally /know/ things to be true within degrees of certainty. I'm no science basher but I thought this underlying narrative harmed the writing in the second half. Also the futurism section at the end of the book is laughable.
I listened to a book by Jeremy Lent (the patterning instinct) immediately afterwards and surprisingly similar but overall, much better.
I listened to a book by Jeremy Lent (the patterning instinct) immediately afterwards and surprisingly similar but overall, much better.
Woman in the Wilderness: A story of survival, love & self-discovery in New Zealand: A Story of Survival, Love and Self-Discovery in New Zealand by Miriam Lancewood, Miriam Lancewood
3.0
It pains me not to write a glowing review for this book because of my huge admiration for Miriam and her way of life. I truly hope to spend some time living 'in the wilderness' myself someday...
I hope she doesn't give up and writes more - I may still read her next one. With that in mind:
Very large parts of this book are descriptions of natural scenery that Miriam walks past in the course of her life 'in the wilderness'. The problem is that this prose is very repetitive and has a very strange and awkward overuse of the adjectives. The simplicity of her prose and descriptions compliments a message about simple pleasures of her natural lifestyle. However, I preferred her writing hinting at the complexity and richness of life regardless of lifestyle circumstances... but sadly these moments were few and far between and, in my opinion, were watered down not amplified by the amount of detailed but basic descriptive prose which read like quite mundane journal entries.
I would still recommend reading this book to someone already interested in the topic or Miriam, but I wouldn't recommend it to most people.
I hope she doesn't give up and writes more - I may still read her next one. With that in mind:
Very large parts of this book are descriptions of natural scenery that Miriam walks past in the course of her life 'in the wilderness'. The problem is that this prose is very repetitive and has a very strange and awkward overuse of the adjectives. The simplicity of her prose and descriptions compliments a message about simple pleasures of her natural lifestyle. However, I preferred her writing hinting at the complexity and richness of life regardless of lifestyle circumstances... but sadly these moments were few and far between and, in my opinion, were watered down not amplified by the amount of detailed but basic descriptive prose which read like quite mundane journal entries.
I would still recommend reading this book to someone already interested in the topic or Miriam, but I wouldn't recommend it to most people.
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow
4.0
Good story about the struggle to report on the sexual predator, H Weinstein. Starts to shine a light on the wider power structures that protected him (and, presumably, others like him) for so long. Also, how are NDA's even legal?... I want to hear what happened to the women who broke them.
Also it's mildly interesting to consider Farrow's role from a psychodynamic perspective......
Also it's mildly interesting to consider Farrow's role from a psychodynamic perspective......
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
3.0
This book reads a lot like Mr Bryson read 10 books and spliced them up to make one of his own. It has a faux organising-motif of moving from one room of the house to another but really it's very disorganized and bounces around from topic to topic. Particularly disorienting is the lackadaisical manner in which different time periods are hopped between.
There's no thesis or intellectual discussion just a long list of things other people have said and done.
3 stars perhaps a little harsh because I did really enjoy the discussion of cute house-related etymology which I (and probably you too) hadn't heard before.
There's no thesis or intellectual discussion just a long list of things other people have said and done.
3 stars perhaps a little harsh because I did really enjoy the discussion of cute house-related etymology which I (and probably you too) hadn't heard before.
The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge, and India's Quest for Independence by Anita Anand
5.0
I listened to this as an audiobook read by the author and can thoroughly recommend it, I was gripped!
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre
5.0
I listened to this as an audiobook read by the author which I can thoroughly recommend.
This book is just so good. So many little insights into the world of cold war spying that are fascinating, hilarious and sometimes mildly terrifying. The true story of Oleg Gordievsky is so full of twists and turns you could say it practically tells itself, regardless Ben Macintyre does a fantastic and definitive job.
This book is just so good. So many little insights into the world of cold war spying that are fascinating, hilarious and sometimes mildly terrifying. The true story of Oleg Gordievsky is so full of twists and turns you could say it practically tells itself, regardless Ben Macintyre does a fantastic and definitive job.
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan
5.0
I've given this book five stars to reflect my enjoyment of it, but it is certainly not for everyone.
I have only a little surf experience myself but I would say that, some practical experience of surfing is essential to enjoy and understand this book.
It's a proper memoir, no plot or over-constructed narrative, just a man looking back at his days and recounting the narratives as they appear to himself, looking back.
It's hard to say why else I enjoyed it so much, but, I did!
I have only a little surf experience myself but I would say that, some practical experience of surfing is essential to enjoy and understand this book.
It's a proper memoir, no plot or over-constructed narrative, just a man looking back at his days and recounting the narratives as they appear to himself, looking back.
It's hard to say why else I enjoyed it so much, but, I did!
Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris
3.0
Sam tried to do too much with this book and ultimately ended up not drawing a cohesive picture of spirituality without religion - let alone a guide.
He spends large chunks of the book shadow-boxing american/conservative/christian ideas, e.g. debunking the idea that near-death-experiences support christianity.
I liked what I read, and if it had been part 1 of three of a much longer book that actually tied ideas together (e.g. altered states, spiritual experiences, experience of self, eastern philosophies, gurus, dzogchen, etc) and provided some more practical advice to warrant the use of the word guide (especially when he touts all the way through that a valid approach to spirituality CAN be primarily practical) then I would have been happy.
The ultimate slap in the face was that just when you're itching for some more practical insights from Mr Harris he hits you with criticality of the ole' Dzogchen Master-student dialectical relationship which is something ultimately out of reach for (almost) all readers.
Dear Sam, don't give up yet, please write the 2nd and 3rd part - the world needs it.
He spends large chunks of the book shadow-boxing american/conservative/christian ideas, e.g. debunking the idea that near-death-experiences support christianity.
I liked what I read, and if it had been part 1 of three of a much longer book that actually tied ideas together (e.g. altered states, spiritual experiences, experience of self, eastern philosophies, gurus, dzogchen, etc) and provided some more practical advice to warrant the use of the word guide (especially when he touts all the way through that a valid approach to spirituality CAN be primarily practical) then I would have been happy.
The ultimate slap in the face was that just when you're itching for some more practical insights from Mr Harris he hits you with criticality of the ole' Dzogchen Master-student dialectical relationship which is something ultimately out of reach for (almost) all readers.
Dear Sam, don't give up yet, please write the 2nd and 3rd part - the world needs it.
Surprisingly Down to Earth, and Very Funny: My Autobiography by Limmy
4.0
I listened to the audiobook and can recommend it.
Surprisingly touching and personal autobiography of Brian Limond. Certaintly entertaining, but not hilarious, I didn't feel like it was meant to be. Well worth a read if you're a fan.
Surprisingly touching and personal autobiography of Brian Limond. Certaintly entertaining, but not hilarious, I didn't feel like it was meant to be. Well worth a read if you're a fan.