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seaglanz's reviews
173 reviews
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy
5.0
I listened to Vivek talk on Brene Brown’s podcast and was super intrigued by the concept of loneliness as an epidemic being prioritize as highly as the opioid crisis by the Surgeon General. As I expected, I also loved the book!
I really respected the depth in which he used science, first hand anecdotes, history and real data to present his ideas, but kept it super approachable. I gained a lot of insight from his knowledge and would say this is a must read.
I really respected the depth in which he used science, first hand anecdotes, history and real data to present his ideas, but kept it super approachable. I gained a lot of insight from his knowledge and would say this is a must read.
Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker
4.0
Really great read for the current times we’re in. Pinker uses hard stats and historical evidence that the world isn’t going to shit. A nice break from the saturated era of negativity and doom in the public media today. Learned a lot, but most importantly would put it down with a slightly better perspective every time I read it.
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal
4.0
Really interesting insight into how we go about animal testing all wrong. As you might assume, we're not smart enough to know how smart animals are - and Frans de Waal does a good job explaining not just why, but how we can improve. Very enjoyable! Big downfall was how boring the narrator was on the audible version.
The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman by Margot Mifflin
3.0
I expected this to be better than it was. The historic story is interesting, but the writing is bland and there’s really no heart in it. The whole time there was more I wanted to know. How did she feel being tossed back and forth between worlds? Was she conflicted by how great she felt her time with the Mojave was compared to how ill she spoke of them on her book tours?
Maybe that level of self reflection or vulnerability isn’t available to us and lost in history. Which makes me think I may have preferred this book as a “based on a true story” piece than pure non-fiction. I guess I just wanted more story.
Maybe that level of self reflection or vulnerability isn’t available to us and lost in history. Which makes me think I may have preferred this book as a “based on a true story” piece than pure non-fiction. I guess I just wanted more story.
You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy
5.0
This was an easily digestible book, I wizzed through it. But, what I enjoyed most was that it kept me thinking about my actions on how to be a better listener beyond the pages. It’s inspired me to journal to reflect on my habits, make changes in my interactions, and discuss the ideas with others. I’d like to think I’ll forever continue to get better at listening, and this book sparked some change in me.
Intimations by Zadie Smith
5.0
A quick, but powerful read reflecting on our current world state. I was expecting this to be a little bit too self-serving like a series of social media posts or blogs. Instead, it was much more thought provoking and tastefully delivered.
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition by Marc Reisner
4.0
As an east coaster living in California, this book was wildly informative of the history and current state of the arid west. Some parts were pretty dry politics, but overall it was incredibly eye opening and interesting. I highly recommend it to anyone, but especially those who have transplanted themselves to California, Arizona, and Colorado. This kind of history should be general knowledge taught in schools to boost a generation built on the conservation efforts that must become our norm.
Grand Union by Zadie Smith
2.0
I felt like this collection was a solid “fine” when I was expecting much greater from Zadie Smith. This is my first introduction to her work, and I expected better. It just fell short for me.