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crybabybea's reviews
250 reviews
They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
Just lovely. Nobody is doing culture writing like Hanif Abdurraqib. He speaks to the soul of music lovers everywhere, but is especially unique because of how his experience mirrors that of the younger millennial/older gen z group who grew up half online then transitioned to fully online, experiencing the era of emo and the commercialization of rap and the cultural shifts that reflected the genres.
I'm still convinced Abdurraqib will be remembered as one of our generation's greatest writers. He has a great skill in being able to view events as a whole and pinpoint specific emotions, and is able to weave together emotional reflection with cultural commentary, providing an experience unique to his own worldview but still relatable enough that any reader can find a bit of themselves. He provides an intimate look into things that are often not talked about, the uncomfortable emotions and difficult memories that try to stay buried. And, as reflected by his additional notes provided in the audio version, he is able to revisit the same thoughts and deepen them further as things change.
His writing is obviously poetic and beautiful, but he is able to toe the line between making grand metaphorical observations without coming across as pretentious or inaccessible. He makes his writing relatable, and is able to verbalize very human experiences that many of us struggle to face and put into words.
This one for me was marginally less enjoyable than A Little Devil in America, because it was a bit more disjointed. It certainly had ties throughout, and still felt tight enough to not be distracting or overwritten, but I enjoyed some essays more than others because of it. I also felt like it didn't have the interactive feeling that really made A Little Devil in America shine for me. Of course, this is Abdurraqib's first essay collection and I read them chronologically out of order, so it's to be expected.
I'm still convinced Abdurraqib will be remembered as one of our generation's greatest writers. He has a great skill in being able to view events as a whole and pinpoint specific emotions, and is able to weave together emotional reflection with cultural commentary, providing an experience unique to his own worldview but still relatable enough that any reader can find a bit of themselves. He provides an intimate look into things that are often not talked about, the uncomfortable emotions and difficult memories that try to stay buried. And, as reflected by his additional notes provided in the audio version, he is able to revisit the same thoughts and deepen them further as things change.
His writing is obviously poetic and beautiful, but he is able to toe the line between making grand metaphorical observations without coming across as pretentious or inaccessible. He makes his writing relatable, and is able to verbalize very human experiences that many of us struggle to face and put into words.
This one for me was marginally less enjoyable than A Little Devil in America, because it was a bit more disjointed. It certainly had ties throughout, and still felt tight enough to not be distracting or overwritten, but I enjoyed some essays more than others because of it. I also felt like it didn't have the interactive feeling that really made A Little Devil in America shine for me. Of course, this is Abdurraqib's first essay collection and I read them chronologically out of order, so it's to be expected.
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
dark
emotional
tense
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
2.75
LOVED the horror but this book was really hard to stay interested in for some reason that I can't quite put my finger on.
The body horror is top tier, grotesque and twisted and creepy and descriptive. I liked how the horror served as a metaphor for a lot of things, and the monsters fit really well into the world that Andrew Joseph White built.
The characters are interesting enough, with main character Benji's internal dialogue very sympathetic and unique. He had a realistic struggle with internalized shame and moral purity.
At times I felt the actual world lacked any depth and a lot of things weren't explained as much as I thought they would be. Personally I felt like we didn't spend enough time with the cult? Like the majority of the book is Benji's deconstruction away from the cult and that's fine, but I felt like it was missing an element of internal struggle that would have made it feel more realistic.
The writing had a very choppy, Tumblr style that I wasn't the biggest fan of. It felt like it lacked description (except for the horror bits which were well done) and was just kind of annoying to read. I think it does fit the book but just wasn't for me.
The ending didn't hit at all for me, because we spent time away from the cult characters, their involvement at the end just felt rushed and a bit unbelievable. I did like seeing Benji's arc and his acceptance of who he was, and realizing what true family looks like.
Also, I think that I'm just maybe not interested in religious horror, and I can't connect very well with deconstructing narratives. I think if you like that kind of thing this is really great. It felt similar to Parable of the Sower at times, and the religious messaging was reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale.
The body horror is top tier, grotesque and twisted and creepy and descriptive. I liked how the horror served as a metaphor for a lot of things, and the monsters fit really well into the world that Andrew Joseph White built.
The characters are interesting enough, with main character Benji's internal dialogue very sympathetic and unique. He had a realistic struggle with internalized shame and moral purity.
At times I felt the actual world lacked any depth and a lot of things weren't explained as much as I thought they would be. Personally I felt like we didn't spend enough time with the cult? Like the majority of the book is Benji's deconstruction away from the cult and that's fine, but I felt like it was missing an element of internal struggle that would have made it feel more realistic.
The writing had a very choppy, Tumblr style that I wasn't the biggest fan of. It felt like it lacked description (except for the horror bits which were well done) and was just kind of annoying to read. I think it does fit the book but just wasn't for me.
The ending didn't hit at all for me, because we spent time away from the cult characters, their involvement at the end just felt rushed and a bit unbelievable. I did like seeing Benji's arc and his acceptance of who he was, and realizing what true family looks like.
Also, I think that I'm just maybe not interested in religious horror, and I can't connect very well with deconstructing narratives. I think if you like that kind of thing this is really great. It felt similar to Parable of the Sower at times, and the religious messaging was reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Sexual violence
The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty by Simon Baron-Cohen
informative
medium-paced
3.25
First of all, the title for this felt a bit sensationalized. It's not necessarily about "the science of evil" as I expected, but really about how different types of empathy are measured and the research that has gone into empathy. Because of this, the writing is very scientific, which might be inaccessible to some readers. As a casual reader, I did feel like some parts really droned on or like the author got a bit lost in complicated terminology. The information and details were of course relevant but at times hard to keep up with as somebody who is not a scientist but is actually a slightly dumb person trying to learn more.
Reading in 2025, a lot of information did feel outdated. BUT in spite of that, I feel like I have to acknowledge that Simon Baron-Cohen's work is incredibly influential to how we understand personality disorders and autism in 2025. I didn't realize going into this that he and his colleagues invented the EQ, which is still used to diagnose specific disorders and to understand differing empathy levels in people with certain disorders. This research was still new in 2011, and in 2025 is still being researched further, so of course some things felt a bit outdated, or some ideas felt not fully realized.
With all that being said, I do still feel like this book was worth the time, although it wasn't mind-blowing or perspective-shifting, Baron-Cohen still presented some interesting ideas that helped paint a larger picture in understanding psychology. I think understanding empathy as a nuanced, sliding scale is really important in changing how one views the world as a whole, and in understanding people's ability to change. I agree with the general idea that labelling people as "evil" does more harm than good, and takes away from actual nuanced discussions that could be taking place.
I also have to say I was really surprised by the abolitionist ending. After everything talked about in this book, the author took a very firm stance against heavy punishments such as the death penalty, and also talked about alternatives to prison when it comes to people who suffer from empathy-impairing disorders, even if those empathy impairments lead to horrible crimes taking place. In 2025 this opinion is still controversial so I was certainly impressed to see a hard stance taken in 2011.
Reading in 2025, a lot of information did feel outdated. BUT in spite of that, I feel like I have to acknowledge that Simon Baron-Cohen's work is incredibly influential to how we understand personality disorders and autism in 2025. I didn't realize going into this that he and his colleagues invented the EQ, which is still used to diagnose specific disorders and to understand differing empathy levels in people with certain disorders. This research was still new in 2011, and in 2025 is still being researched further, so of course some things felt a bit outdated, or some ideas felt not fully realized.
With all that being said, I do still feel like this book was worth the time, although it wasn't mind-blowing or perspective-shifting, Baron-Cohen still presented some interesting ideas that helped paint a larger picture in understanding psychology. I think understanding empathy as a nuanced, sliding scale is really important in changing how one views the world as a whole, and in understanding people's ability to change. I agree with the general idea that labelling people as "evil" does more harm than good, and takes away from actual nuanced discussions that could be taking place.
I also have to say I was really surprised by the abolitionist ending. After everything talked about in this book, the author took a very firm stance against heavy punishments such as the death penalty, and also talked about alternatives to prison when it comes to people who suffer from empathy-impairing disorders, even if those empathy impairments lead to horrible crimes taking place. In 2025 this opinion is still controversial so I was certainly impressed to see a hard stance taken in 2011.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Rape, Violence, Murder
Minor: Confinement, Torture
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Completely perspective shifting, this book will change the way you view pretty much every world event, both at home and abroad. I had to keep double-checking that this book was actually from 2007. Reading it post-COVID, post Trump re-election is certainly an experience.
I liked Naomi Klein's use of metaphor, though it might not work for others. Using the act of shock therapy, historically used to torture and mentally break patients and political adversaries alike, Klein explains how corporations and politicians use shock and awe to take control of crises and disasters for their own profit. She does well to keep the thread of metaphor throughout the book without becoming overbearing or repetitive.
Klein uses multiple real-life examples to prove her theory; the USA's involvement in political coups, 9/11 and the war on terror, Katrina, Palestine, pandemics, etc. I appreciated that she kept the approach broad, without getting too lost in details. Her writing is to-the-point and accessible.
The Shock Doctrine fills in so many gaps, and answers questions that one might have when reading other books. It answers a lot of "whys" (hint: the answer is always greed). Because of this, I found it to fit in well with other reads, specifically Dark Money, Blowout, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine, The New Jim Crow, and many more. Definitely a foundational text that further proves that oppressive systems cannot be undone without undoing the system of capitalism from the bottom-up.
I liked Naomi Klein's use of metaphor, though it might not work for others. Using the act of shock therapy, historically used to torture and mentally break patients and political adversaries alike, Klein explains how corporations and politicians use shock and awe to take control of crises and disasters for their own profit. She does well to keep the thread of metaphor throughout the book without becoming overbearing or repetitive.
Klein uses multiple real-life examples to prove her theory; the USA's involvement in political coups, 9/11 and the war on terror, Katrina, Palestine, pandemics, etc. I appreciated that she kept the approach broad, without getting too lost in details. Her writing is to-the-point and accessible.
The Shock Doctrine fills in so many gaps, and answers questions that one might have when reading other books. It answers a lot of "whys" (hint: the answer is always greed). Because of this, I found it to fit in well with other reads, specifically Dark Money, Blowout, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine, The New Jim Crow, and many more. Definitely a foundational text that further proves that oppressive systems cannot be undone without undoing the system of capitalism from the bottom-up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Mental illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Colonisation, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
I love this book for what it is and the things it tries to accomplish, but my actual reading experience wasn't particularly enjoyable.
The shining star is obviously the characters. I'm a fan of character-driven narratives so I found this bit to be extremely enjoyable. We spend a lot of time in the characters' heads, and M.L. Wang balances the different perspectives well, so by the climax of the book you feel entirely connected to the characters and their inner workings. I enjoyed the character arcs of the main cast and the critiques that they represented. Having a badass female main character bogged down by traditional gender roles and filial expectations finding her way back to herself was a fresh concept and her story was beautifully told. I especially appreciated that she was both a mother and a warrior, and that she appreciated the women around her despite them having different strengths than her own.
Besides the characters though, I think this book suffers from some issues being self-published. Of course I can't fault the author for that, but I would be lying if I said my reading experience wasn't affected.
The prose needed a lot of editing, there were multiple instances of repeated words within paragraphs, run-on sentences, and paragraphs with repeat sentences explaining the same thing with different verbiage.
On top of the prose, the overall plot just needed a lot of tightening. The pacing is incredibly slow (even slower than most character-driven narratives), and sometimes bogged down by over-explanation and a lot of telling of emotions. The pacing really falls apart after the main climax of the story, which happens around 60%. The final parts of the story are showing the quiet aftermath of the climax, which is perfectly fine and an interesting approach, but Wang also shoehorns in some chapters that really had no business being there. I also foundthe repair between Misaki and Takeru to be pretty unbelievable and a little too quick, especially when compared to the relative slowness of the rest of the book.
The world-building wasn't my favorite. The magic system is pretty standard, and I kind of felt like M.L. Wang couldn't decide on a time period. Like she wanted the drama of having a samurai, feudal Japan style story but she also wanted the convenience of having phones, vehicles, planes, and bombs. It really affected my enjoyment of the main climax and also my overall immersion as a whole. Felt a little clumsy and not quite fully fleshed out. There were some other little annoyances like completely inventing words for simple terms but then also using real-life Japanese terms in other places? Like new words for everything that has to do with time... why? Writing 80% of the dialogue in italics to show dialect... why???? It was pretty awkward and really made it feel like a fanfiction.
For the record I DID sob my eyes out at the main climax. I somehow unintentionally timed reading this and The Rape of Nanking at the same time which I think elevated the experience.
I will say the foundation is extremely strong, M.L. Wang's talent shines even through the issues I had with the actual line craft. And her character work is definitely superb. Now that she's kind of blown up I would love to see her rewrite this with a publishing team as like a trilogy or something.
The shining star is obviously the characters. I'm a fan of character-driven narratives so I found this bit to be extremely enjoyable. We spend a lot of time in the characters' heads, and M.L. Wang balances the different perspectives well, so by the climax of the book you feel entirely connected to the characters and their inner workings. I enjoyed the character arcs of the main cast and the critiques that they represented. Having a badass female main character bogged down by traditional gender roles and filial expectations finding her way back to herself was a fresh concept and her story was beautifully told. I especially appreciated that she was both a mother and a warrior, and that she appreciated the women around her despite them having different strengths than her own.
Besides the characters though, I think this book suffers from some issues being self-published. Of course I can't fault the author for that, but I would be lying if I said my reading experience wasn't affected.
The prose needed a lot of editing, there were multiple instances of repeated words within paragraphs, run-on sentences, and paragraphs with repeat sentences explaining the same thing with different verbiage.
On top of the prose, the overall plot just needed a lot of tightening. The pacing is incredibly slow (even slower than most character-driven narratives), and sometimes bogged down by over-explanation and a lot of telling of emotions. The pacing really falls apart after the main climax of the story, which happens around 60%. The final parts of the story are showing the quiet aftermath of the climax, which is perfectly fine and an interesting approach, but Wang also shoehorns in some chapters that really had no business being there. I also found
The world-building wasn't my favorite. The magic system is pretty standard, and I kind of felt like M.L. Wang couldn't decide on a time period. Like she wanted the drama of having a samurai, feudal Japan style story but she also wanted the convenience of having phones, vehicles, planes, and bombs. It really affected my enjoyment of the main climax and also my overall immersion as a whole. Felt a little clumsy and not quite fully fleshed out. There were some other little annoyances like completely inventing words for simple terms but then also using real-life Japanese terms in other places? Like new words for everything that has to do with time... why? Writing 80% of the dialogue in italics to show dialect... why???? It was pretty awkward and really made it feel like a fanfiction.
For the record I DID sob my eyes out at the main climax. I somehow unintentionally timed reading this and The Rape of Nanking at the same time which I think elevated the experience.
I will say the foundation is extremely strong, M.L. Wang's talent shines even through the issues I had with the actual line craft. And her character work is definitely superb. Now that she's kind of blown up I would love to see her rewrite this with a publishing team as like a trilogy or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt by Madeline Pendleton
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Just what I expected from Madeline's book. Ironically read this at a time where they are under a lot of fire on TikTok and it made me like them more.
I liked the way this was structured, a memoir chapter followed by a related financial advice chapter. It helped break up both parts of the book so each chapter felt new but cohesive. The memoir bits were truly heartfelt and vulnerable (in the audiobook it sounded like Madeline was tearing up a few times), while the financial bits cut to the chase and provided helpful advice that isn't often shared. I found a lot of information was already covered on their TikTok and podcast, so I didn't learn as much as I expected, but I still appreciated the financial advice for what it was, and enjoyed the memoir part of the book a lot.
The summary describes this as "no-bullshit", which I agree with. Madeline is very up-front about the fact that she thinks the system is broken, and we have to do what we have to do to get by. She talks about how the system is designed to hurt people and keep them in debt, and helps the reader understand that having financial instability or making "poor spending choices" aren't faults of the individual, but instead an inevitable consequence of capitalism. And, while Madeline is an outspoken communist, the book didn't come across as preachy or trying to "get you on her side", so to speak.
The last bit about their business was inspiring, although I have no plans of being an entrepreneur of any sort, it's nice to see that something different is possible.
I liked the way this was structured, a memoir chapter followed by a related financial advice chapter. It helped break up both parts of the book so each chapter felt new but cohesive. The memoir bits were truly heartfelt and vulnerable (in the audiobook it sounded like Madeline was tearing up a few times), while the financial bits cut to the chase and provided helpful advice that isn't often shared. I found a lot of information was already covered on their TikTok and podcast, so I didn't learn as much as I expected, but I still appreciated the financial advice for what it was, and enjoyed the memoir part of the book a lot.
The summary describes this as "no-bullshit", which I agree with. Madeline is very up-front about the fact that she thinks the system is broken, and we have to do what we have to do to get by. She talks about how the system is designed to hurt people and keep them in debt, and helps the reader understand that having financial instability or making "poor spending choices" aren't faults of the individual, but instead an inevitable consequence of capitalism. And, while Madeline is an outspoken communist, the book didn't come across as preachy or trying to "get you on her side", so to speak.
The last bit about their business was inspiring, although I have no plans of being an entrepreneur of any sort, it's nice to see that something different is possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Classism
Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood by Trixie Mattel, Katya
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.25
Just fine, I didn't find it particularly funny but it was in line with Trixie and Katya's normal humor. Many of the jokes were either too niche (my fault because I'm not really a Drag Race fan) or felt like bland millennial humor (no offense to my lovely millennial friends). As others have said, the conversational chapters feel more authentic and entertaining especially read via audiobook.
The book itself is satirical and irreverent, making fun of traditional 50s housewife magazines, something that totally fits into Trixie and Katya's personas. But, I felt like the satirical style held this back from having anything of substance. Thinking about something like Dear Girls by Amy Wong, for example, this book lacks moments of vulnerability or any introspections into the authors' life. I felt like they tried to offer a "look behind the persona" but it didn't go far enough to be meaningful.
Still fun if you are a fan of Trixie and Katya, but nothing crazy that I gained anything from. I do think that this would be more meaningful or interesting to young queer kids who may not have an in-person queer community to connect with as the "guide to life" moments had an endearing (even through the parody) tone.
The book itself is satirical and irreverent, making fun of traditional 50s housewife magazines, something that totally fits into Trixie and Katya's personas. But, I felt like the satirical style held this back from having anything of substance. Thinking about something like Dear Girls by Amy Wong, for example, this book lacks moments of vulnerability or any introspections into the authors' life. I felt like they tried to offer a "look behind the persona" but it didn't go far enough to be meaningful.
Still fun if you are a fan of Trixie and Katya, but nothing crazy that I gained anything from. I do think that this would be more meaningful or interesting to young queer kids who may not have an in-person queer community to connect with as the "guide to life" moments had an endearing (even through the parody) tone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Beautiful and experimental, In the Dream House pushes the boundaries of memoir. Because of this, it might not work for everybody, especially if you aren't a fan of overly poetic writing. The majority of the book is written in second-person perspective which may also be off-putting to some people, but I think in this case it works so well.
Carmen Maria Machado seamlessly blends in other genres, pulling from fairytales, horror, and gothic works to create a haunting and uncomfortable depiction of her experience in an abusive relationship. Because of the more abstract writing, it doesn't go super in-depth into the events that unfold, and Machado doesn't spell out her emotions and internal reflections as obviously as you might be used to from other memoirs. In the Dream House perfectly captures the feeling of a dream-like state. Some chapters felt almost dissociative, like we were silent observers floating above Machado's head but unable to warn her of the danger she was in. It was certainly a unique and gorgeous reading experience, but at times left me feeling disconnected, which is the opposite of what I look for in memoir. At the same time, many chapters were written with such clarity and raw emotion that I couldn't help but feel tightness in my heart and a pit in my stomach.
Admittedly, some of the more metaphorical chapters flew straight over my head, and I didn't really grasp the "Dream House" metaphor until I was a good chunk of the way into the book. I think this book requires careful analysis and deserves a slow reading experience. I read it in tandem (audio + ebook at once) which helped keep my focus and allowed me not to get too lost, but I think reading this on audio alone might be a bit confusing. The chapters give the feeling of demanding reflection, and even as I was reading there were several moments I had to pause, reread, and really try to understand the connections Machado was trying to draw.
I would be remiss to not address the fact that representation of abuse in queer relationships is lacking, which is dangerous for young queer people who may not realize what abuse looks like because their relationships don't mirror the heteronormative ideas and cliches society projects onto us. Especially realistic depictions of emotional/mental abuse that don't involve outright physical trauma (in both hetero and queer relationships alike) are missing in media. This is something that Machado attempts to address by bravely and vulnerably sharing her own story, and I think In the Dream House will go down as a classic and important addition to queer nonfiction.
Carmen Maria Machado seamlessly blends in other genres, pulling from fairytales, horror, and gothic works to create a haunting and uncomfortable depiction of her experience in an abusive relationship. Because of the more abstract writing, it doesn't go super in-depth into the events that unfold, and Machado doesn't spell out her emotions and internal reflections as obviously as you might be used to from other memoirs. In the Dream House perfectly captures the feeling of a dream-like state. Some chapters felt almost dissociative, like we were silent observers floating above Machado's head but unable to warn her of the danger she was in. It was certainly a unique and gorgeous reading experience, but at times left me feeling disconnected, which is the opposite of what I look for in memoir. At the same time, many chapters were written with such clarity and raw emotion that I couldn't help but feel tightness in my heart and a pit in my stomach.
Admittedly, some of the more metaphorical chapters flew straight over my head, and I didn't really grasp the "Dream House" metaphor until I was a good chunk of the way into the book. I think this book requires careful analysis and deserves a slow reading experience. I read it in tandem (audio + ebook at once) which helped keep my focus and allowed me not to get too lost, but I think reading this on audio alone might be a bit confusing. The chapters give the feeling of demanding reflection, and even as I was reading there were several moments I had to pause, reread, and really try to understand the connections Machado was trying to draw.
I would be remiss to not address the fact that representation of abuse in queer relationships is lacking, which is dangerous for young queer people who may not realize what abuse looks like because their relationships don't mirror the heteronormative ideas and cliches society projects onto us. Especially realistic depictions of emotional/mental abuse that don't involve outright physical trauma (in both hetero and queer relationships alike) are missing in media. This is something that Machado attempts to address by bravely and vulnerably sharing her own story, and I think In the Dream House will go down as a classic and important addition to queer nonfiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood
The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II by Iris Chang
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.75
If you've read any review for this book you know it's disturbing, disgusting, and horrible to read. But the stories being shared here are so important and there are many lessons to learn.
Firstly, I have to commend Iris Chang's tireless research. She and those that assisted her did so much work to make sure the events in Nanking were told with accuracy and clarity. She had to utilize documents and interviews from 5 different languages! She did not leave any stone unturned, even taking time to talk about those that tried to help during the massacre. I learned later that it was she who uncovered the journals of John Rabe, and she contributed a legendary amount of information to research about Nanking.
Secondly, I appreciate the fact that, while this book did not spare details about the atrocities experienced by the people of Nanking at the hands of the Japanese imperial soldiers, the book wasn't filled to the brim with horrific event after horrific event. Chang takes time to showcase what she's taken away from her research beyond the knowledge and much-deserved acknowledgement of the victims.
She extends to us a warning -- of the dangers of imperialism, dehumanization, propaganda, authoritarianism, and cultural hegemony.
In doing so, Chang bravely calls out the Japanese government and all those complicit in not only the events of Nanking but the subsequent propaganda campaign to erase the evidence, something that caused her to receive death threats and endless streams of hate mail.* To this day, the Japanese government still denies its actions in Nanking, the hundreds of thousands of victims, and thousands of trafficked comfort women from China (and many other countries not mentioned here). Even in the rare cases that the events are admitted, they are endlessly justified and defended by ultra-nationalists.
Chang's meticulous research and empathetic viewpoint make this book, as unenjoyable as the content is, accessible and deeply powerful.
*This book made me look into Iris Chang's life a little more, and what I learned was moving to me so I wanted to share it here. Beyond this book, Chang was an incredibly powerful activist for the plight of the Chinese victims of the war, and Chinese American issues in general. Seven years after this book was published, she (TW)took her own life due to stress and depression, which was partly brought on by the horrible, horrible things she had to research. Chang lived and died by her passion and love for Chinese people everywhere, and knowing that makes this book feel even more powerful.
Firstly, I have to commend Iris Chang's tireless research. She and those that assisted her did so much work to make sure the events in Nanking were told with accuracy and clarity. She had to utilize documents and interviews from 5 different languages! She did not leave any stone unturned, even taking time to talk about those that tried to help during the massacre. I learned later that it was she who uncovered the journals of John Rabe, and she contributed a legendary amount of information to research about Nanking.
Secondly, I appreciate the fact that, while this book did not spare details about the atrocities experienced by the people of Nanking at the hands of the Japanese imperial soldiers, the book wasn't filled to the brim with horrific event after horrific event. Chang takes time to showcase what she's taken away from her research beyond the knowledge and much-deserved acknowledgement of the victims.
She extends to us a warning -- of the dangers of imperialism, dehumanization, propaganda, authoritarianism, and cultural hegemony.
In doing so, Chang bravely calls out the Japanese government and all those complicit in not only the events of Nanking but the subsequent propaganda campaign to erase the evidence, something that caused her to receive death threats and endless streams of hate mail.* To this day, the Japanese government still denies its actions in Nanking, the hundreds of thousands of victims, and thousands of trafficked comfort women from China (and many other countries not mentioned here). Even in the rare cases that the events are admitted, they are endlessly justified and defended by ultra-nationalists.
Chang's meticulous research and empathetic viewpoint make this book, as unenjoyable as the content is, accessible and deeply powerful.
*This book made me look into Iris Chang's life a little more, and what I learned was moving to me so I wanted to share it here. Beyond this book, Chang was an incredibly powerful activist for the plight of the Chinese victims of the war, and Chinese American issues in general. Seven years after this book was published, she (TW)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Cannibalism
Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI by Madhumita Murgia
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
An important book that showcases the human side of AI. I really appreciated Madhumita Murgia's dedication to telling personal stories that show all the nuances of AI.
I feel like in online spaces, discussions about AI are very black-and-white; most people will tell you AI is inherently evil and any of its uses are wrong and immoral. While Murgia doesn't necessarily argue that AI is morally good, she does try to widen the scope, posing AI as a tool that can be used for good and bad, and that we as humans need to recognize its limitations and dangers in order to use AI ethically.
Although Murgia does show us the bad side of AI -- those being exploited, policed, and targeted by AI programs -- there is a lot of hopefulness in her writing too. She shows how people are fighting back against AI systems, and that change is possible. On top of that, Murgia tries to show that AI is not a quick fix for human issues; humans need to put in the effort to create systems that benefit their decision-making, not as an easy way to replace humans in the equation. Choosing to showcase different human experiences with AI sold this message well.
In her writing, Murgia tackles complex & nuanced situations with grace and writes them accessibly, with enough human empathy that they don't feel like a lecture. She explains the ideas of data colonialism, AI capitalism, and the codependent relationship between humans and AI systems (hence the title). The issues talked about are so vast that they could each have their own book written about them, so I was impressed at Murgia's ability to condense mass amounts of information into something digestible and interesting. She is incredibly well-informed, and it's clear this book is the result of passionate investigative journalism and a desire to do good.
However, this does mean that the scope is quite large, favoring a look at the macro with small glimpses into micro issues. If you are looking for an all-encompassing overview of the issues perpetuated by AI systems, this might not be the book for you. BUT if you want an interesting, if sometimes simplified, overview to broaden your understanding of AI as a global system, this book serves that purpose well.
Though I’m not sure AI or mass collecting data will ever be fully ethical, it’s clear that AI is something that is here to stay, so books like this are incredibly important for getting to the root of issues and understanding AI’s limitations, so hopefully things can be made better in the future.
I feel like in online spaces, discussions about AI are very black-and-white; most people will tell you AI is inherently evil and any of its uses are wrong and immoral. While Murgia doesn't necessarily argue that AI is morally good, she does try to widen the scope, posing AI as a tool that can be used for good and bad, and that we as humans need to recognize its limitations and dangers in order to use AI ethically.
Although Murgia does show us the bad side of AI -- those being exploited, policed, and targeted by AI programs -- there is a lot of hopefulness in her writing too. She shows how people are fighting back against AI systems, and that change is possible. On top of that, Murgia tries to show that AI is not a quick fix for human issues; humans need to put in the effort to create systems that benefit their decision-making, not as an easy way to replace humans in the equation. Choosing to showcase different human experiences with AI sold this message well.
In her writing, Murgia tackles complex & nuanced situations with grace and writes them accessibly, with enough human empathy that they don't feel like a lecture. She explains the ideas of data colonialism, AI capitalism, and the codependent relationship between humans and AI systems (hence the title). The issues talked about are so vast that they could each have their own book written about them, so I was impressed at Murgia's ability to condense mass amounts of information into something digestible and interesting. She is incredibly well-informed, and it's clear this book is the result of passionate investigative journalism and a desire to do good.
However, this does mean that the scope is quite large, favoring a look at the macro with small glimpses into micro issues. If you are looking for an all-encompassing overview of the issues perpetuated by AI systems, this might not be the book for you. BUT if you want an interesting, if sometimes simplified, overview to broaden your understanding of AI as a global system, this book serves that purpose well.
Though I’m not sure AI or mass collecting data will ever be fully ethical, it’s clear that AI is something that is here to stay, so books like this are incredibly important for getting to the root of issues and understanding AI’s limitations, so hopefully things can be made better in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Medical content
Minor: Slavery, Colonisation