mdwyg's reviews
315 reviews

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery by Sam Kean

informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

The Nocturnal Brain: Nightmares, Neuroscience, and the Secret World of Sleep by Guy Leschziner

challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead

reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts

Caesar's Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us by Sam Kean

informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction by Judith Grisel

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach

informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Excrement, Vomit, and Medical content

The Bear by Andrew Krivak

reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Slow but beautiful. 

Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker

funny medium-paced

4.5

Gets deep into computer coding at the end, with several good laughs along the way. 

I tried to put “math” as a content warning but StoryGraph wouldn’t let me. 

The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Uncovering Secrets, Reuniting Relatives, and Upending Who We Are by Libby Copeland

informative slow-paced

3.5

Interesting and well researched; the throughline story (Alice’s) was particularly engaging, and while the sidetrails helped give scientific and ethical context, I at times found myself skimming once the essential point was clear (mainly because I wanted to get back to Alice’s mystery). As an amateur genealogist myself, and as someone who has also contributed spit, the privacy issues were thought provoking.