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xcinnamonsugar's reviews
199 reviews
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
3.0
This was a quick and enjoyable fairytale with decent world-building. Not sufficiently engaged by the main characters to read the sequel/s though.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
sad
slow-paced
5.0
One of the most emotionally intense books I’ve read in a long time. I recommend it, but fair warning that finishing this book requires serious commitment. There are multiple mentions of abuse and self-harm, although the author did a good job of telling a story about surviving trauma without veering into the lane of trauma porn. At its core, this book is a story about love in all its forms: friendship, familial, romantic.
Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams (3rd edition) by Tom DeMarco, Tim Lister
fast-paced
Concise, conceptually well-organised and easily digestible. It clearly identifies the problems of corporate structures that hinder productive technical work, although some of the proposed solutions seem a little far-fetched/utopian. The informal style of writing makes for an easy listen, sometimes the humour can be a little cringey.
Not Without Us: Perspectives on Disability and Inclusion in Singapore by Dan Goodley, Meng Ee Wong, Xuansong Victor Zhuang
A very worthwhile read. This collection of essays on disability in Singapore covers a wide variety of topics. From an academic exploration of the linguistics of standard vs localised sign language in Singapore, to first-person accounts of neurodivergent individuals and caregivers describing the challenges of navigating daily life.
One recurring observation that stuck with me was how problematic the narrative of a disabled person who "overcomes challenges to succeed" is. More often than not, it effectively reinforces the mindset that an individual's value is tied to their economic productivity, and success is measured by assimilating into mainstream society.
One recurring observation that stuck with me was how problematic the narrative of a disabled person who "overcomes challenges to succeed" is. More often than not, it effectively reinforces the mindset that an individual's value is tied to their economic productivity, and success is measured by assimilating into mainstream society.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
adventurous
slow-paced
3.0
This book started out really promising, and then completely spiralled. I enjoyed the sci-fi elements, and its commentary on interplanetary politics, human behaviour, societal norms and organised religion. Unfortunately, this eventually devolved into increasingly misogynistic and homophobic rhetoric. There's literally a quote that reads "Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it's at least partly her own fault". It's such a pity because the book did have some fascinating ideas, and I can appreciate the zaniness of a cult classic. But overall this had a little too much toxicity.
Broken Money: Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better by Lyn Alden
informative
This book is an excellent entry point into understanding the value of Bitcoin as a decentralised currency. The first half of the book focuses on explaining the evolution and limitations of traditional finance, from barter trade to gold-backed currency and finally the fiat money we use today. While an increasingly centralised system improves the efficiency of transactions, it also consolidates power into the hands of state actors that the general public is now at the mercy of. Enter Bitcoin. The second half of the book does a deep-dive analysis on various subjects from energy usage to how proof-of-work gives it an "unforgeable costliness". I'll admit many of the technical details went over my head, but I liked that the writing was clear in emphasising the core principles of what makes a form of money inherently robust.
Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait by Tan Siok Sun
informative
A detailed account of GKS' life, from his childhood upbringing to his work in the ministries of defence, finance and education. Readers get a close-up POV of landmark events in Singapore's history, such as conversations that transpired amongst key actors during the merger and eventual separation of Singapore and Malaysia.
This man got a LOT done in very little time. From building an army from scratch to establishing Singapore's own currency and managing it. Also interestingly, as early as 1967, GKS observed that the local education system was not encouraging students to be creative, and ran the risk of producing "economic foot-soldiers".
Compared to other international biographies, this book was a very clinical recount of GKS' professional life, interspersed with several quotes. There were some elements in the book that I felt were kept deliberately vague.
This man got a LOT done in very little time. From building an army from scratch to establishing Singapore's own currency and managing it. Also interestingly, as early as 1967, GKS observed that the local education system was not encouraging students to be creative, and ran the risk of producing "economic foot-soldiers".
Compared to other international biographies, this book was a very clinical recount of GKS' professional life, interspersed with several quotes. There were some elements in the book that I felt were kept deliberately vague.
Dark Wire: The Incredible True Story of the Largest Sting Operation Ever by Joseph Cox
informative
slow-paced
2.0
The subject matter of this book is incredibly fascinating, and I generally enjoy reading books written by journalists on niche subjects and events.
With a story like ANOM's, however, I feel like the "good versus evil" narrative was taken too much at face value, and the writing style felt repetitive and almost corny at times. There were many rote observations of what rooms looked like and what people said. Any moral calculations by authority figures were assumed to be correct, and any lines that they declared they would not cross was assumed to be so.
Wiretapping is understandably a very ethically complicated and controversial subject to address, and by not asking the tricky questions, I feel like it made the book feel rather one-sided, almost like a brag story.
With a story like ANOM's, however, I feel like the "good versus evil" narrative was taken too much at face value, and the writing style felt repetitive and almost corny at times. There were many rote observations of what rooms looked like and what people said. Any moral calculations by authority figures were assumed to be correct, and any lines that they declared they would not cross was assumed to be so.
Wiretapping is understandably a very ethically complicated and controversial subject to address, and by not asking the tricky questions, I feel like it made the book feel rather one-sided, almost like a brag story.
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby
5.0
An incredibly insightful and humorous autobiography, Ten Steps to Nanette has some profound observations on how the stories we tell about ourselves often conflate with our actual recollection. It's so beautifully written, with nuanced perspectives articulated thoughtfully.
On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
DNF, but no major complaints. I think there are more engaging books out there on the subject, and that probably speaks to the incredible impact this book has had on encouraging an open conversation on dying with dignity.