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senholto's reviews
32 reviews
Our Human Story by Louise Humphrey, Chris Stringer
4.0
Our Human Story is an excellent introduction to aspects of hominin evolution. As a student of Palaeoanthropology, I disagree with minor assumptions, suggestions or points made in the book, but these detract in no way from it. The book is less about nuance and more about the bigger picture.
This book would be a great first book for the potential student of human evolution. It gives one the necessary knowledge to get started.
This book would be a great first book for the potential student of human evolution. It gives one the necessary knowledge to get started.
Human Evolution: A Very Short Introduction by Bernard Wood
4.0
This book is an admirable summary of the many facets of human evolutionary research, from archaeology to palaeoanthropology to archaeogenetics. It was the first book that I read that first introduced me to aspects of hominin evolution and I thoroughly recommend this book to those who wish to study hominin evolution at university.
On Michael Jackson by Margo Jefferson
4.0
There is no doubt in my mind that this book is an unbiased look at the variables that influenced and shaped Michael Jackson. The authors flirts with both sides of various arguements in relation to the infamous 2005 Molestation Trial and it is this the last chapter in the book that should be read as an introduction to this horrible circus of a trial. Especially those who were convinced that Jackson was a predatory paedophile.
The Mind in the Cave: Consciousness and the Origins of Art by David Lewis-Williams
4.0
This was the required recommended reading for the modules "Archaeological Theory" when I was at the Sligo Institute of Technology studying Applied Archaeology. This was an excellent book and provided a great deal of food for thought. For those who despise speculation, this book may not be for you. The use of ethnographic sources helps build a picture of what might have been.
Britain: One Million Years of the Human Story by Rob Dinnis, Chris Stringer
4.0
Excellent introduction to the archaeology of the last million years in Britain. As an avid enthusiast of hominin evolution I can point to a plethora of statements which could misinform the reader, but given the target audience, there will be no requirement to list them here. But I will make mention of one. When discussing why we have found so few sites prior to 500,000 years ago, the author relies far too heavily on the assumption that "there are far fewer actual archaeological sites". This may only be partially true. There is no doubt that discovery bias may explain why there not many discovered sites. This criticism represents the length I gave to go to to find issues with this work. You will not find nuance here. Read another more detailed book for that.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin's brilliant idea to today's epic theory by New Scientist
4.0
The book is a very accessible for the general public. A great introduction to various aspects of evolution and importantly current debates. The book is very genetics heavy (towards the end, in particular), which I did not find terribly interesting. The same can be said for the debates regarding the discussion of what drives altruism. But this is just a personal preference, not a criticism of the book.
Sin City Vows by Zuri Day
5.0
This book is complete trash.
But I loved it. The ridiculous names, the absurd conversations, the hundreds of sex scenes, the abrupt resolutions that in the normal world would take years to achieve, I love it all. It's derivative and regurgitates many tired tropes, enjoyable for all that.
Trigger-warning: There's an insane amount of sexual objectification in this book and many others in the Mills & Boon series. Which was kind of refreshing. At the time of reviewing, there is much shaming of the act of objectifying the physical characteristics of a person and while much literature today (particularly the mainstream hits, excluding 50 Shades of Gray), there will always be a place for objectification of the male and female figure in literature.
I loved the Michael Jackson reference of MJ Live Concert. But this puzzled me somewhat as the Cirque concert in Las Vegas is entitled MJ One.
And finally, there are brief references to world geography, which is not something I've seen before in these novels and quite refreshing.
Overall, great book for all its flaws.
But I loved it. The ridiculous names, the absurd conversations, the hundreds of sex scenes, the abrupt resolutions that in the normal world would take years to achieve, I love it all. It's derivative and regurgitates many tired tropes, enjoyable for all that.
Trigger-warning: There's an insane amount of sexual objectification in this book and many others in the Mills & Boon series. Which was kind of refreshing. At the time of reviewing, there is much shaming of the act of objectifying the physical characteristics of a person and while much literature today (particularly the mainstream hits, excluding 50 Shades of Gray), there will always be a place for objectification of the male and female figure in literature.
I loved the Michael Jackson reference of MJ Live Concert. But this puzzled me somewhat as the Cirque concert in Las Vegas is entitled MJ One.
And finally, there are brief references to world geography, which is not something I've seen before in these novels and quite refreshing.
Overall, great book for all its flaws.
St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography by Philip Freeman
4.0
Much like the book entitled "Discovering Saint Patrick", this book takes the reader on a journey through archaeological and documentary evidence of Ireland's most iconic saint. There is much we do not know, much that has been fabricated but let that not take away from the wealth of knowledge we have pieced together about the times the welshman lived in. This book was very easy to read and follow. I was particularly happy to see the only translated certified letters in the saints own words, at the end of the book.
Pleasure Games by Daire St. Denis
5.0
Books like these get a reputation and for good reason. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining read, mindless and poorly written though it may be.
Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track by François Allard, Richard Lecocq
4.0
This book is nothing short of incredible. Treat it more as a reference book though, as it can be a hard slog to read from start to finish.
The authors have a habit, however, of injecting their own opinion on the music. Some songs are not even discussed. Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997) was given short shrift, all because the authors disapproved of the remixes. As a curator of knowledge of the music, it was incredibly insulting that this should happen.
That said, the majority of fanmade books are inherently opinionated. This is just another example of that.
The authors have a habit, however, of injecting their own opinion on the music. Some songs are not even discussed. Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997) was given short shrift, all because the authors disapproved of the remixes. As a curator of knowledge of the music, it was incredibly insulting that this should happen.
That said, the majority of fanmade books are inherently opinionated. This is just another example of that.