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thefriendlyabyss's reviews
116 reviews
The World As It Is: Inside the Obama White House by Ben Rhodes
5.0
I’ve read many stories on the Obama presidency, from staffers to rivals to accounts from the man himself. None of them have felt as personal or authentic as this one.
Rhodes somehow captures a whole generation’s feelings on the man himself and the verdict is that it’s complicated.
He feels frustration at Obama’s imperfections yet grapples with how much weight has been put on this mans shoulders, arguably more than any other president to date. He admires and is inspired by Obama but also wrestled with what it’s like to devote 8 years to an all consuming job that can often feel like your pushing a boulder uphill during an earthquake.
The book is raw, personal, and exotic due to Rhodes’ unique position as deputy speechwriter as it relates to foreign policy. Anecdotes of their adventures abroad pepper the book highlighting the universality of the human struggle, the need to speak truth to power, and the quiet grappling of our collective history.
I highly recommend this book.
Rhodes somehow captures a whole generation’s feelings on the man himself and the verdict is that it’s complicated.
He feels frustration at Obama’s imperfections yet grapples with how much weight has been put on this mans shoulders, arguably more than any other president to date. He admires and is inspired by Obama but also wrestled with what it’s like to devote 8 years to an all consuming job that can often feel like your pushing a boulder uphill during an earthquake.
The book is raw, personal, and exotic due to Rhodes’ unique position as deputy speechwriter as it relates to foreign policy. Anecdotes of their adventures abroad pepper the book highlighting the universality of the human struggle, the need to speak truth to power, and the quiet grappling of our collective history.
I highly recommend this book.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
5.0
This book came highly recommended and for good reason. I’ve recently started writing with the aim of making a career out of it and this book is just what I needed. Funny, insightful, and honest, King offers loads of lessons learned over his decades long career. Some of them obvious, some not so much, all of them are honest and authentic.
It’s hard to pin point the laws of success but it’d be hard to argue that this book lays out some of those keys that can be widely applied across fiction writers of all types. For any up and coming writer this booms is great and well worth the read several times over.
It’s hard to pin point the laws of success but it’d be hard to argue that this book lays out some of those keys that can be widely applied across fiction writers of all types. For any up and coming writer this booms is great and well worth the read several times over.
War on Peace: The End of Diplomacy and the Decline of American Influence by Ronan Farrow
4.0
This books starts slow, but really picks up the pace and grabs your interest. Farrow’s wry humor, frank analyses, and poignant anecdotes weave a complicated story into simple ideas that are all connected.
US foreign policy is becoming increasingly militarized, and Farrow gives us the inside scoop as to why. This intelligent book is a must-read for foreign policy fans.
US foreign policy is becoming increasingly militarized, and Farrow gives us the inside scoop as to why. This intelligent book is a must-read for foreign policy fans.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
4.5
The book is a wonderful read. Documenting life in Johannesburg at the tail end of Apartheid, Noah gives us many little insights into the struggles and little victories of his family and people at large. At time quite humorous and at other times harrowing, Born A Crime oozes with an authentic vignettes of characters overcoming the odds and accomplishing far more than they could’ve ever imagined made possible only by the steadfast support of a parent or loved one who believes in them.
Redemption Song and Other Stories: The Caine Prize for African Writing 2018 by The Caine Prize for African Writing
3.0
On the whole, this collection of short stories is wonderful. Each one delves into intriguing aspects of the variety of African life across the continent.
I do wish some of the stories continued instead of ended. A few of them seem to end in the middle of the climax without a resolution. Also there are some words and phrases that will be unfamiliar if you are not knowledgeable about life in Africa.
All that being said, this is a really solid collection and definitely worth a read.
I do wish some of the stories continued instead of ended. A few of them seem to end in the middle of the climax without a resolution. Also there are some words and phrases that will be unfamiliar if you are not knowledgeable about life in Africa.
All that being said, this is a really solid collection and definitely worth a read.
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King
4.0
My first foray into Stephen King. Overall an interesting read. It’s easy to see why King has gotten the acclaim he has over the years. Some of the stories work better than others. I’d say “1408” and “Riding The Bullet” are the cream of the crop here, but there are other good moments all throughout the book. Definitely recommend if you enjoy King.
Contagious: Why Things Catch on by Jonah Berger
4.0
Jonah Berger’s book is a must read for anyone beginning in marketing. The book is filled with intuitive anecdotes and examples and surprisingly obvious truisms that are only apparent after he explains them to you.
Most people think ideas and content that catches on is just happenstance or chance, but Berger proves that true or at least outlines that theirs way more thought and logic behind these trends than we think. This is a fun easy read that will leave you more informed by the end.
Most people think ideas and content that catches on is just happenstance or chance, but Berger proves that true or at least outlines that theirs way more thought and logic behind these trends than we think. This is a fun easy read that will leave you more informed by the end.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
4.0
This is a classic book that’s worth the read. There are plenty of thrilling moments in the book that keep you entertained and engaged. The book is very atmospheric and the inspiration for Blade Runner comes across quite clear. Dick is a master and if you haven’t checked this out you totally should.
Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
4.0
Wonderful book consisting of seven soulful stories about men and their relationships with women. Each one feels unique yet infinitely relatable in some way and theirs a quiet pastel quality to them that can pierce right to the heart. Would definitely recommend.