Scan barcode
saadamansayyed's reviews
34 reviews
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.75
Atomic Habits is one of the best-written self-help books I have read. The issue with self-help books is that it is difficult to rate them until you apply the learnings from them into your daily life and even then, since correlation does not equal causation, it is kind of hard to judge them. Therefore, what I feel about the book is basically just gut feeling, a look at how it's written and how well it delivers its advice and my internal balderdash detector looking for nonsense (surprisingly common in self-help books, "The Secret" being a good example).
The book is terrifically written, highly practical, and is really really good at giving analogies and examples that make sense. However, there are some stories where the strategies mentioned are a case of the classic fallacy of correlation = causation. Also the book feels like a massive advertisement for James Clear's own website, Habits Academy, etc.
The book is terrifically written, highly practical, and is really really good at giving analogies and examples that make sense. However, there are some stories where the strategies mentioned are a case of the classic fallacy of correlation = causation. Also the book feels like a massive advertisement for James Clear's own website, Habits Academy, etc.
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
A poignant exploration of her fight for women's education, culminating in her October 2012 shooting in a school bus, and the traumatic aftermath that followed. Malala's memoir is unabashedly Malala in its spirit — full of honesty and youthful optimism. This updated version includes an update preface and an interview in the appendices.
While people may have different personal opinions about Yousafzai, one thing is clear — her courage and her determination for her purpose is worthy of being inspired of. In spite of all that was done to her and said to her, Malala used her voice for the cause of peace and education.
The book takee us all the way back to 1969, when Ziauddin Yousfazai, Malala's father, school owner, educational activist and her greatest mentor, was born in Shangla. Chronicling her father's early days followed by her (then seventeen-year) life, the book takes you to the beautiful lands of Swat, once known for their magnificence and which were turned into terrible places to be by the miltiant violence in the area.
The book uses simple language to tackle difficult subjects, doing so with maddening elegance and a sense of honesty. The book needs some work on pacing, but when was real life paced perfectly?
While people may have different personal opinions about Yousafzai, one thing is clear — her courage and her determination for her purpose is worthy of being inspired of. In spite of all that was done to her and said to her, Malala used her voice for the cause of peace and education.
The book takee us all the way back to 1969, when Ziauddin Yousfazai, Malala's father, school owner, educational activist and her greatest mentor, was born in Shangla. Chronicling her father's early days followed by her (then seventeen-year) life, the book takes you to the beautiful lands of Swat, once known for their magnificence and which were turned into terrible places to be by the miltiant violence in the area.
The book uses simple language to tackle difficult subjects, doing so with maddening elegance and a sense of honesty. The book needs some work on pacing, but when was real life paced perfectly?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Genocide, War, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. by Robin S. Sharma
medium-paced
2.25
The 5am Club is the generic example of, and a bad exemplar for, all kinds of self-help books. With incredibly castle-in-the-air advice that is stripped of its already-dubious illusion of reality due to its novel-inspired frame story, the book manages to be terribly written and generic. There are some good lessons, and as somebody who wakes up at 5:30 each day due to school, it is great to wake up early, not so great to put on it the bet for your mastery.
The book is uninspired and uninspiring, and in trying to appeal to the broadest of possible target audiences, it fails to be a serious recommendation for any. While I do not feel the book is complete and utter garbage (I would gladly say that for other books), I would not recommend this book due to its sheer uselessness.
The book is uninspired and uninspiring, and in trying to appeal to the broadest of possible target audiences, it fails to be a serious recommendation for any. While I do not feel the book is complete and utter garbage (I would gladly say that for other books), I would not recommend this book due to its sheer uselessness.
A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity by Nicole Valentine
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
The story was good, but the prospect hadn't hooked me much. Sorry, not sorry
Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy by Joshua S. Levy
4.0
The book, to be fair, is a great Sunday read, for older children. Let's discuss the characters first. Jacksonville Graham is shown as the main character of the story, a seventh-grader (eight-grader in the sequel), who embarks on this epic adventure. He is shown to be the cool kid. Apart from him, Arizona B, his best friend is just as good. However, the part right before they engage the light speed engine towards earth is a little screwed up.
I could sum it up as:
"An epic inspired guide to space adventures. One of the best debut novels you can write."
I could sum it up as:
"An epic inspired guide to space adventures. One of the best debut novels you can write."
The Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit
4.0
I read this book a few months ago in e-book form on getepic.com.
First things first, the character of Dr. Petra Coronado is just beyond my fantasy. The character has brought literal goosebumps to me.
The search for the mysterious organization, NEBULA is not a major or focal part of this book, but it seems like it is a three-month-long memoir of Cruz Coronado.
The characters of Sailor, Lani, Emmet, Renshaw, and others are mainly recurring.
But the story itself is amazing. And with the realistic feel its association with the National Geographic Society is also evident.
The book was thoroughly enjoyed by me. I feel that I should go to Explorer Academy one day.
---
WHOOPSIES:
I thought a lot about what went wrong with the book.
And here I come. It is how important or subtle the character of Dr. Petra is.
Because, after Cruz, only Dr. Petra is one of the more vital characters.
----
CONCLUSION:
Amazing sci-fi read, could add more character contribution by the larger set of characters.
First things first, the character of Dr. Petra Coronado is just beyond my fantasy. The character has brought literal goosebumps to me.
The search for the mysterious organization, NEBULA is not a major or focal part of this book, but it seems like it is a three-month-long memoir of Cruz Coronado.
The characters of Sailor, Lani, Emmet, Renshaw, and others are mainly recurring.
But the story itself is amazing. And with the realistic feel its association with the National Geographic Society is also evident.
The book was thoroughly enjoyed by me. I feel that I should go to Explorer Academy one day.
---
WHOOPSIES:
I thought a lot about what went wrong with the book.
And here I come. It is how important or subtle the character of Dr. Petra is.
Because, after Cruz, only Dr. Petra is one of the more vital characters.
----
CONCLUSION:
Amazing sci-fi read, could add more character contribution by the larger set of characters.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
3.0
James and The Giant Peach is an amazing story by Roald Dahl. My first try on a classic [I'll qualify Matilda, The BFG as well for classics], I loved it [or maybe partially].
First things, I'm not a huge classics fan. I happen to love more of contemporary or sci-fi/ steampunk rather than the ancient/classics one.
I might say, though, that I loved the story. Especially the humor which was in it. The rivalry between the Earthworm and the Centipede is very, very entertaining.
The Ladybug and Spider might be, the better halves of Aunt Spikey and Aunt Spongey [sorry but I love poking at 'em].
While the silkworm and glowworm should be given good roles, eh, still good.
Uhm, I'll say that the umpteenth time I read this, why does he accept those things????
There is quirky [a:Roald Dahl|4273|Roald Dahl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1311554908p2/4273.jpg] humor and those extra-quirky illustrations by [a:Quentin Blake|146|Quentin Blake|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1357194118p2/146.jpg]
Now, time for some things I partially kinda-sorta hated.
I did not like the Mexican joke. I disliked the ending because, wouldn't you know it, a ladybug marries a human.
But still, good book, not the kind of book you except from [a:Roald Dahl|4273|Roald Dahl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1311554908p2/4273.jpg].
First things, I'm not a huge classics fan. I happen to love more of contemporary or sci-fi/ steampunk rather than the ancient/classics one.
I might say, though, that I loved the story. Especially the humor which was in it. The rivalry between the Earthworm and the Centipede is very, very entertaining.
The Ladybug and Spider might be, the better halves of Aunt Spikey and Aunt Spongey [sorry but I love poking at 'em].
While the silkworm and glowworm should be given good roles, eh, still good.
Uhm, I'll say that the umpteenth time I read this, why does he accept those things????
There is quirky [a:Roald Dahl|4273|Roald Dahl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1311554908p2/4273.jpg] humor and those extra-quirky illustrations by [a:Quentin Blake|146|Quentin Blake|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1357194118p2/146.jpg]
Now, time for some things I partially kinda-sorta hated.
I did not like the Mexican joke. I disliked the ending because, wouldn't you know it, a ladybug marries a human.
But still, good book, not the kind of book you except from [a:Roald Dahl|4273|Roald Dahl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1311554908p2/4273.jpg].
Swami And Friends by R.K. Narayan
5.0
Amazing book. Read several times. totally worth it. Nothing much to say.
A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy
3.0
The plot is quirky and quite good, but I'm not a huge fan of the Canadian writing style.
The book does not leaves us wanting for more, but a plot completion at the end.
Good work by Cassidy.
The book does not leaves us wanting for more, but a plot completion at the end.
Good work by Cassidy.
How to Be a Person: 65 Hugely Useful, Super-Important Skills to Learn Before You're Grown Up by Catherine Newman
5.0
Quick self-help book for preteens and young teens, worth a quick read by children of *all* ages.