Scan barcode
labbyreads's reviews
270 reviews
The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas by G. Richard Shell
informative
medium-paced
3.0
It truly is a framework that they give the user on how to be more persuasive. It's incredibly tactical and helpful.
They break their Woo Process into four "easy" steps. The problem is that each step has many steps. In order to diagnose the best strategy you also need to understand what your personal style is (of which there are five) and you need to understand what channels of persuasion will dominate with your audience (of which they lay out six). That's all before you even get to the pitch.
Like many professional development books, there were plenty of examples here. Many could have easily been cut in the editing process without detracting from the authority with which they were presenting the material.
Overall, I liked this one. The framework alone is reason enough to read this. Even if the only people you're persuading are your spouse to order your favorite for dinner.
They break their Woo Process into four "easy" steps. The problem is that each step has many steps. In order to diagnose the best strategy you also need to understand what your personal style is (of which there are five) and you need to understand what channels of persuasion will dominate with your audience (of which they lay out six). That's all before you even get to the pitch.
Like many professional development books, there were plenty of examples here. Many could have easily been cut in the editing process without detracting from the authority with which they were presenting the material.
Overall, I liked this one. The framework alone is reason enough to read this. Even if the only people you're persuading are your spouse to order your favorite for dinner.
The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I heard this the first time watching the inauguration live. It was heart-wrenching and breathtaking then. Gorman's content, rhymes, and rhythm transfixed me.
She calls Americans to action. In true inaugural fashion, her message of hope transcends the moment and is a warm reminder to all of us to be the light in the world.
I really loved listening to this again. For the short listen, this is one you should really take the time to do. On your dark days, I encourage you to remind yourself to be brave enough to be the light.
She calls Americans to action. In true inaugural fashion, her message of hope transcends the moment and is a warm reminder to all of us to be the light in the world.
I really loved listening to this again. For the short listen, this is one you should really take the time to do. On your dark days, I encourage you to remind yourself to be brave enough to be the light.
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
2.0
This is a short little book (or super quick listen on audiobook) that calls it's readers to live up to four basic principles. These are not complicated principles. I agree that these are things we should all work to be better at.
The author provides good evidence and analysis on society to support his claims. But at times, his analysis reaches over-explaination. This book could have easily have been a blog post (and a short one at that).
That being said, it's not a long book either. For the length of the book, this one is not a bad pick up. Especially if you're looking for easy listening fodder. I listened to the entire thing over two days of just doing chores around the house.
For me the biggest downfall was that it was overly religious. Prior to reading, I didn't know that it would have religious content and was taken aback by some of the scripture.
I can't argue with the truth of his statements. Ruiz is right even if I don't love his evidence or presentation; if you follow all of these agreements, I'd bet that you're a happy person.
The author provides good evidence and analysis on society to support his claims. But at times, his analysis reaches over-explaination. This book could have easily have been a blog post (and a short one at that).
That being said, it's not a long book either. For the length of the book, this one is not a bad pick up. Especially if you're looking for easy listening fodder. I listened to the entire thing over two days of just doing chores around the house.
For me the biggest downfall was that it was overly religious. Prior to reading, I didn't know that it would have religious content and was taken aback by some of the scripture.
I can't argue with the truth of his statements. Ruiz is right even if I don't love his evidence or presentation; if you follow all of these agreements, I'd bet that you're a happy person.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
5.0
<a href="https://labbyreads.com/review/you-cant-spell-love-without-ove">Read Full Review</a>
This one will make you cry.
Ove is an inflexible man. He cares about rules and order. He believes he is surrounded by idiots and bureaucrats ("men in white shirts"). He may be rough around the edges but it's because he really cares. He cares about the little things.
Despite the routine of his life, it is lonely. The loss of his wife and his job left Ove feeling fed up with life and planning to end it all. It's clear that the two loved each other very much.
Although the premise is quite grim, the story is full of heart and humor. There were multiple moments that had me chuckling at Ove's antics or misunderstandings. There are definitely moments that break your heart, but there are also moments that lift it. The story was truly heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
At first, I found the book a bit predictable. In the beginning chapters, it is easy to see how Ove will get along with Parvanah and her children. However, Backman is skilled at taking the story through a surprising path. Although there were some things that I had anticipated early, there were plenty of moments that still took me by surprise.
I loved this book. Seriously, if you haven't read it go pick it up right now. It's so full of warmth and humanity. It's not afraid to be a little grim and to reflect on life and death in real ways. It reminds you to cherish what is most important.
This one will make you cry.
Ove is an inflexible man. He cares about rules and order. He believes he is surrounded by idiots and bureaucrats ("men in white shirts"). He may be rough around the edges but it's because he really cares. He cares about the little things.
Despite the routine of his life, it is lonely. The loss of his wife and his job left Ove feeling fed up with life and planning to end it all. It's clear that the two loved each other very much.
Although the premise is quite grim, the story is full of heart and humor. There were multiple moments that had me chuckling at Ove's antics or misunderstandings. There are definitely moments that break your heart, but there are also moments that lift it. The story was truly heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
At first, I found the book a bit predictable. In the beginning chapters, it is easy to see how Ove will get along with Parvanah and her children. However, Backman is skilled at taking the story through a surprising path. Although there were some things that I had anticipated early, there were plenty of moments that still took me by surprise.
I loved this book. Seriously, if you haven't read it go pick it up right now. It's so full of warmth and humanity. It's not afraid to be a little grim and to reflect on life and death in real ways. It reminds you to cherish what is most important.
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Read Full Review
The Honeys is the story of how Mars is trying to cope with the death of his twin sister. To solve the mystery of what really happened to his sister, he takes her place at the esteemed Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy. He soon discovers there is something more treacherous than hiking trails in the mountains.
From the first page this one was gripping. Honestly, I felt terror in my body reading the start of this book.
Mars' grief of losing his sister is so real. His internal monologue or side conversations with his sister are indicative of anyone who is processing losing a close loved one.
Not only does he nail some of the big emotional moments, but La Sala also takes a lot of care of the small things. All of the details about the bees and the analogy to other characters creating their own hives is really well done.
There is a point between the dynamic opening and the incredible race to the finish that is the third act of this story that it starts to lull and drag.
There is also a sort of Riverdale aspect of the whole book. If this was a TV show, it would definitely show on The CW. Personally, that wasn't a problem for me. I was more than willing to accept the Riverdale of it all, but if that's not your thing proceed with caution.
Overall, this one was a big win for me. It's a lot of what I wanted Mexican Gothic to be, but that ended up weird and with a lot of plot holes. I found the book easy to read and thoroughly entertaining.
The Honeys is the story of how Mars is trying to cope with the death of his twin sister. To solve the mystery of what really happened to his sister, he takes her place at the esteemed Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy. He soon discovers there is something more treacherous than hiking trails in the mountains.
From the first page this one was gripping. Honestly, I felt terror in my body reading the start of this book.
Mars' grief of losing his sister is so real. His internal monologue or side conversations with his sister are indicative of anyone who is processing losing a close loved one.
Not only does he nail some of the big emotional moments, but La Sala also takes a lot of care of the small things. All of the details about the bees and the analogy to other characters creating their own hives is really well done.
There is a point between the dynamic opening and the incredible race to the finish that is the third act of this story that it starts to lull and drag.
There is also a sort of Riverdale aspect of the whole book. If this was a TV show, it would definitely show on The CW. Personally, that wasn't a problem for me. I was more than willing to accept the Riverdale of it all, but if that's not your thing proceed with caution.
Overall, this one was a big win for me. It's a lot of what I wanted Mexican Gothic to be, but that ended up weird and with a lot of plot holes. I found the book easy to read and thoroughly entertaining.
The Emergency: A Year of Healing and Heartbreak in a Chicago ER by Thomas Fisher
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.5
The Emergency: A Year of Healing and Heartbreak in a Chicago ER by Thomas Fisher | Book Review
Dr. Thomas Fisher is an emergency room doctor working on the South Side of Chicago when the city is suddenly locked down as a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has seen firsthand how our country's healthcare system treats many as second-class citizens.
I really love that Fisher interrupts the narrative of his days to write letters to his various patients. They are vulnerable and beautifully written.
In his letters, Fisher explores why many Black and poor people are not offered the same level of care available to those (mostly white) with private insurance. He goes one step further, by including not only the pandemic but also the protests for racial justice that took place across the city of Chicago that summer.
I listened to this one on audiobook, which Fisher reads himself. Listening to his voice made everything - especially the letters - feel so much more empathetic and impactful.
Overall, I like this one. I laughed. I cried. It moved me.
Dr. Thomas Fisher is an emergency room doctor working on the South Side of Chicago when the city is suddenly locked down as a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has seen firsthand how our country's healthcare system treats many as second-class citizens.
I really love that Fisher interrupts the narrative of his days to write letters to his various patients. They are vulnerable and beautifully written.
In his letters, Fisher explores why many Black and poor people are not offered the same level of care available to those (mostly white) with private insurance. He goes one step further, by including not only the pandemic but also the protests for racial justice that took place across the city of Chicago that summer.
I listened to this one on audiobook, which Fisher reads himself. Listening to his voice made everything - especially the letters - feel so much more empathetic and impactful.
Overall, I like this one. I laughed. I cried. It moved me.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Read full review
This memoir was raw and inspiring. Miller captivates her audience with the unvarnished truth of what it is like to wake up and be unsure of what happened to you.
Once the initial shock fades, the trial is re-traumatizing. Her character, thoughts and actions are dissected by the defense and the press. The powerful juxtaposition of the sympathy for Turner's "lost potential" and her condemnation is devastating.
The story remains one of hope and dignity. She stands up for not only herself but victims of sexual assault everywhere.
The only critique I can offer (outside of a trigger warning) is that the chapters are long. The long chapters made the story feel heavy and immersive.
Overall, I really like this one. I highly recommend reading it. In fact, I've already lent my copy to a friend. If you enjoy this story, I highly recommend listening to Believed which is a podcast series that looks inside at how a team of women won a conviction against Larry Nassar.
This memoir was raw and inspiring. Miller captivates her audience with the unvarnished truth of what it is like to wake up and be unsure of what happened to you.
Once the initial shock fades, the trial is re-traumatizing. Her character, thoughts and actions are dissected by the defense and the press. The powerful juxtaposition of the sympathy for Turner's "lost potential" and her condemnation is devastating.
The story remains one of hope and dignity. She stands up for not only herself but victims of sexual assault everywhere.
The only critique I can offer (outside of a trigger warning) is that the chapters are long. The long chapters made the story feel heavy and immersive.
Overall, I really like this one. I highly recommend reading it. In fact, I've already lent my copy to a friend. If you enjoy this story, I highly recommend listening to Believed which is a podcast series that looks inside at how a team of women won a conviction against Larry Nassar.
No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Erin Meyer, Reed Hastings
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Reed Hastings attributes Netflix's innovation and flexibility to the organization's culture built on Freedom and Responsibility. If you're looking to create a similar culture at your organization there are a few key components: talent density and candor. Once you've built up a team at the top of their field and created a culture of candid feedback, then leaders are encouraged to remove the controls and empower their employees.
I liked the joint authoring of the chapters. Meyer brought a balanced perspective as someone outside the Netflix culture.
In theory, a culture built on Freedom and Responsibility sounds like the ideal workplace for most knowledge workers. Still, there are a number of tactics that Netflix employs that could easily become toxic with the wrong individuals.
Each of the book's three main sections covers the same basic components (talent density, candor, freedom) but at different levels. By the time I was reading the last major section of the book, it felt like everything valuable about the philosophy had already been addressed in previous chapters.
Overall, I liked this book but there were a number of chapters that I found downright underwhelming. I recommend picking up Radical Candor instead.
I liked the joint authoring of the chapters. Meyer brought a balanced perspective as someone outside the Netflix culture.
In theory, a culture built on Freedom and Responsibility sounds like the ideal workplace for most knowledge workers. Still, there are a number of tactics that Netflix employs that could easily become toxic with the wrong individuals.
Each of the book's three main sections covers the same basic components (talent density, candor, freedom) but at different levels. By the time I was reading the last major section of the book, it felt like everything valuable about the philosophy had already been addressed in previous chapters.
Overall, I liked this book but there were a number of chapters that I found downright underwhelming. I recommend picking up Radical Candor instead.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
challenging
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
3.5
The 1619 Project is an anthology of essays each arguing through a different aspect of American history and culture and retelling that story based on the racial inequities.
The essays are well researched. At times the poetic writing of the journalists creates a jarring juxtaposition with the brutality and trauma that is depicted throughout the story.
The history here is deep. At times I felt like I lacked the oxygen capacity to go as deep as they wanted me to dive.
Overall, I liked this read. It felt valuable but it was also difficult to motivate myself to read this one. The writing was more historical and therefore rather dry, but the information was rich and detailed.
The essays are well researched. At times the poetic writing of the journalists creates a jarring juxtaposition with the brutality and trauma that is depicted throughout the story.
The history here is deep. At times I felt like I lacked the oxygen capacity to go as deep as they wanted me to dive.
Overall, I liked this read. It felt valuable but it was also difficult to motivate myself to read this one. The writing was more historical and therefore rather dry, but the information was rich and detailed.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was so much better than the first in the series.
A Court of Mist and Fury picks up about three months after the events of A Court of Roses and Thorns. Feyre is planning her wedding but life isn't exactly a fairy tale. She is plagued by the horrors she experienced Under the Mountain.
While romance was a part of the story, the main plot was much more about Feyre finding herself than her finding love. Feyre now understands that war is coming and for the first time the characters around her are empowering her to do something about it.
The sequel takes us to the Autumn Court and even Hybern. The new characters delight and also expand the world that Maas is building with different factions, family feuds, and cultural heritages. I can't wait to see how some of the other characters continue to develop and what other parts of the world we get to see in the rest of the series.
If you're here for the romance, don't worry, there is still plenty of romance. It's flirtatious and fun and sexy. Maybe it's just because Rhysand is more of my book boyfriend type, but I love their relationship so much more than hers with Tamlin.
Overall, I really liked this book. I can't wait to continue on the series. It even makes me retroactively appreciate reading ACOTR more. If you're into fantasy romance with some spice, pick this one up.
<a href="https://labbyreads.com/review/the-darkness-made-me-a-dreamer">Read Full Review</a>
A Court of Mist and Fury picks up about three months after the events of A Court of Roses and Thorns. Feyre is planning her wedding but life isn't exactly a fairy tale. She is plagued by the horrors she experienced Under the Mountain.
While romance was a part of the story, the main plot was much more about Feyre finding herself than her finding love. Feyre now understands that war is coming and for the first time the characters around her are empowering her to do something about it.
The sequel takes us to the Autumn Court and even Hybern. The new characters delight and also expand the world that Maas is building with different factions, family feuds, and cultural heritages. I can't wait to see how some of the other characters continue to develop and what other parts of the world we get to see in the rest of the series.
If you're here for the romance, don't worry, there is still plenty of romance. It's flirtatious and fun and sexy. Maybe it's just because Rhysand is more of my book boyfriend type, but I love their relationship so much more than hers with Tamlin.
Overall, I really liked this book. I can't wait to continue on the series. It even makes me retroactively appreciate reading ACOTR more. If you're into fantasy romance with some spice, pick this one up.
<a href="https://labbyreads.com/review/the-darkness-made-me-a-dreamer">Read Full Review</a>