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nicoleswanson's reviews
227 reviews
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed: Revised Edition by Jared Diamond
3.5
While the information contained in this book is fantastic, there’s something about the delivery which made it a slog.
There’s no doubt that the author did impeccably thorough research and presented it in an understandable format. But it’s about as digestible for me as a block of wood. Maybe it’s the run on sentences full of dates which leave my head spinning, or the many lists. When terminology like “an assortment of household artifacts were uncovered” he instead lists a dozen different items. Thorough, but perhaps too much so for me.
I will probably read more of his books, because he’s good and thorough and they’re usually on important topics. But I’ll steel myself to do so incredibly slowly, a chapter here and there while having other books on hand for lighter entertainment.
There’s no doubt that the author did impeccably thorough research and presented it in an understandable format. But it’s about as digestible for me as a block of wood. Maybe it’s the run on sentences full of dates which leave my head spinning, or the many lists. When terminology like “an assortment of household artifacts were uncovered” he instead lists a dozen different items. Thorough, but perhaps too much so for me.
I will probably read more of his books, because he’s good and thorough and they’re usually on important topics. But I’ll steel myself to do so incredibly slowly, a chapter here and there while having other books on hand for lighter entertainment.
Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer
5.0
This was, strangely, a refreshing book about serial killers. The way that the author approaches the subject is with a considerable amount of humanity. She seems to try very hard to avoid sensationalizing the crimes and to point out when it was done in their time. The women aren’t romanticized but they also aren’t made out to be demons- indeed, the author is careful to remind us that doing so is a way of excusing murder. If a murderer is inhuman than how can we have ever expected humanity of them?
Given a couple years for the details to grow foggy I’d happily read again, and definitely recommend.
Given a couple years for the details to grow foggy I’d happily read again, and definitely recommend.
Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
4.0
Well written and a compelling case (cases).
I liked the three different povs even if I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the narrators. Probably not something I’ll read again as it was missing something- it just didn’t grip me the way it seemed like it should have given the subject matter- but worth reading once.
I liked the three different povs even if I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the narrators. Probably not something I’ll read again as it was missing something- it just didn’t grip me the way it seemed like it should have given the subject matter- but worth reading once.
Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things by Chuck Bryant, Josh Clark
4.0
This was enjoyable, and felt just like a podcast. The authors write in exactly the voice they speak in (and it helps that they narrated).
A nice assortment of snippets of info, deep dives into niche topics, with plenty of rabbit holes the reader can scurry off into if they feel so inclined.
Probably won’t read again, but will recommend to friends
A nice assortment of snippets of info, deep dives into niche topics, with plenty of rabbit holes the reader can scurry off into if they feel so inclined.
Probably won’t read again, but will recommend to friends