An ornithological true crime heist with a comprehensive history of the devastation mankind has inflicted on various avian speciesOne Sentence Summary:
An ornithological true crime heist with a comprehensive history of the devastation mankind has inflicted on various avian species.
Favorite Quote:
“Initially, the story of the Tring heist—filled with quirky and obsessive individuals, strange birds, curio-filled museums, archaic fly recipes, Victorian hats, plume smugglers, grave robbers, and, at the heart of it all, a flute-playing thief—had been a welcome diversion from the unrelenting pressure of my work with refugees.”
An informative exploration of feathers and humans. The story is as much about the author's awareness and obsession over the feather caper as it is about the actual pilferage and perpetrators.
Reads like true crime featuring the "Czar of the Forest."
This book is a trip into Primorye, a remote area in southeast Russia by the Sea of Japan.Reads like true crime featuring the "Czar of the Forest."
This book is a trip into Primorye, a remote area in southeast Russia by the Sea of Japan.
A tiger tracks a man (/potential poacher) to his cabin, and waits for the man to come home. He is annihilated in one of the most violent deaths by tiger ever recorded.
"To end a person's life is one thing; to eradicate him from the face of the earth is another. The latter is far more difficult to do, and yet the tiger had done it, had transported this young man beyond death to a kind of carnal oblivion."
Sprinkled in among the hunt for the man eating tiger, is a rich history of the land, the people who call it home, and the psyche of the tigers who live there.
Tigers, like sharks, are solitary hunters existing from one kill to the next—exercising abstract thinking in the process.
Vaillant does an excellent job building up the surrounding circumstances to one rogue tiger's streak of what appears to be vengeance, breaking down every element in play from sociology to scientific facts.
"Ultimately, the problem comes down to umwelt; we are such prisoners of our subjective experience that it is only by force of will and imagination that we are able to take leave of it at all and consider the experience and essence of another creature—or even another person."
Overall, I learned a lot from this book and it reminded me of a Russian history class I took in undergrad—except more tiger oriented. The writing is very evocative and atmospheric, almost like you're tracking the tiger alongside the men.
"'She chewed up chainsaws,' he recalled, 'stole a gas can and chewed that up, covered herself in gas. Then she attacked a logger.' With life as difficult as it is in the forest, and with so many other things to focus on, the motive to do things like this is hard to ascribe to anything other than rage, desperation, or insanity—all of which lie well within the tiger's emotive spectrum."
"Stepping gingerly over the ice and plowing through the drifts, there was in its progress something relentless and mechanical: the clouds of steam chugging, engine like, from its nostrils, translucent whiskers laced with hoarfrost from its own hot breath."
***Don't worry—this book is not about killing tigers for fun or sport, it's about tracking down one tiger that went off the rails, so to speak. Valiant does due diligence in discussing the danger tigers face and the steps being taken to preserve and protect the species. He also leaves us with this:
"For tigers to exist, we have to want them to exist."...more
Reads like a cozy kitchen chat with a close friend.
Prior to this book, I wasn't overly familiar with Michelle Obama in general other than the factReads like a cozy kitchen chat with a close friend.
Prior to this book, I wasn't overly familiar with Michelle Obama in general other than the fact she was married to the president and had attended law school.
Becoming fills in all the background, from Michelle's early life in Chicago to the very days in the White House.
One of my favorite autobiographies of 2018, this book is an intimate journey through Michelle's existence. I was surprised to find myself tearing up more than once, the tone is so unaffected, open, and honest.
Entertaining, inspirational, light hearted, and serious — this book has it all. Obama comes across as extremely relatable and down to earth. I had to chuckle at her use of words like "thirsty" and "bougie," no doubt gleaned from her daughters.
These three quotes are probably my favorites, although there are many good ones:
On Barack: "His money went largely toward books, which to him were like sacred objects, providing ballast for his mind."
On friends: "Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses like these, swapped back and forth and over again."
On branding: "If you don't get out there and define yourself, you'll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others."...more
Newsflash: The earth and many of its species are dying and in danger of dying out.
Mildly entertaining (/sad) in regards to Kolbert’s fieldwork and haNewsflash: The earth and many of its species are dying and in danger of dying out.
Mildly entertaining (/sad) in regards to Kolbert’s fieldwork and hands on approach to investigating the sixth extinction. Middle of the road in terms of doomsday books.
One of my favorite books of 2019 — I recommend this one often, alongside his latest book, This is Your Mind on Plants. Looking forward to more MichaelOne of my favorite books of 2019 — I recommend this one often, alongside his latest book, This is Your Mind on Plants. Looking forward to more Michael Pollan!!
*So perhaps spiritual experience is simply what happens in the space that opens up in the mind when “all mean egotism vanishes.” Wonders (and terrors) we’re ordinarily defended against flow into our awareness; the far ends of the sensory spectrum, which are normally invisible to us, our senses can suddenly admit. While the ego sleeps, the mind plays, proposing unexpected patterns of thought and new rays of relation. The gulf between self and world, that no-man’s-land which in ordinary hours the ego so vigilantly patrols, closes down, allowing us to feel less separate and more connected, “part and particle” of some larger entity. Whether we call that entity Nature, the Mind at Large, or God hardly matters. But it seems to be in the crucible of that merging that death loses some of its sting.*
I went into this almost completely blind and was pleasantly surprised.
Betty Ford was a strong, unique woman who What an absolutely lovely biography.
I went into this almost completely blind and was pleasantly surprised.
Betty Ford was a strong, unique woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, especially about women's issues/rights, mental health, sex, and addiction. In the mid 1970s mind you.
She was also one of the first First Lady's to openly sleep in the same bedroom as her husband, which was news to me.
Random Observation: Two weeks ago I first heard about the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" in an impossible game of charades. I had to laugh when it popped up in this book. ...more
“Furthermore, unlike many other great predators of history, from Genghis Khan to the Spanish conquistadors, King Leopold II never saw a drop of blood spilled in anger. He never set foot in the Congo. There is something very modern about that, too, as there is about the bomber pilot in the stratosphere, above the clouds, who never hears screams or sees shattered homes or torn flesh.”
“And yet the world we live in—its divisions and conflicts, its widening gap between rich and poor, its seemingly inexplicable outbursts of violence—is shaped far less by what we celebrate and mythologize than by the painful events we try to forget. Leopold's Congo is but one of those silences of history.”...more
My first Mary Roach book, and definitely not my last.
A warm, even touching approach to a cold subject. This book was incredible, and at times, both diMy first Mary Roach book, and definitely not my last.
A warm, even touching approach to a cold subject. This book was incredible, and at times, both disgusting and humorous. It brought back visits to cadaver labs and that unmistakable smell.
It also made me want to donate my body to science when I die.
Flew through this one, and had my mom and sister read it after I did — they enjoyed it too.
Dry, nerdy, and straight up my alley. Not written for those with only a casual interest, this book reads like an academic dissertation ... with classiDry, nerdy, and straight up my alley. Not written for those with only a casual interest, this book reads like an academic dissertation ... with classic Neil deGrasse Tyson elan.
Compared to the fluffy, broad strokes of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Accessory to War is chock full of factoids as well as space, science, and political jargon.
I wrote my MA thesis on international outer space law and the militarization of outer space with a focus on the US, China, and Russia—all topics this book focuses on, as well as the history and development of space use and cooperation between science and the military.
Important reading, the astrostrategic importance of controlling the ultimate high ground is clearly stressed. As the Chinese defence white paper of 2015 notes, "whoever controls space will control the earth."
Accessory to War dovetailed perfectly with The Making of the Atomic Bomb, both sobering in their message: humans have the power to destroy the world, what are we doing to keep that power in check?
We're already making an absolute mess of outer space, it is amazing (/sad) that humans can enter the vast void of space and clog up low earth orbit it with trash. That's right, space trash is a huge problem.
Full review to come.
"Scientists' urge to collaborate transcends religion, culture, and politics, because in space there is no religion, culture, or politics—only the receding boundary of our ignorance and the advancing frontier of our cosmic discovery."...more
"Feminism is a choice, and if a woman does not want to be a feminist, that is her right, but it is still my responsibility to fight for her rights."
I "Feminism is a choice, and if a woman does not want to be a feminist, that is her right, but it is still my responsibility to fight for her rights."
I respect, admire, and am thankful for Roxane Gay. For her honesty, her words, and her public fight for women's rights.
However, I did not love this book. I was hoping for more feminist related content, suggestions on ways forward, proactive discussion.
Instead, this book is largely devoted to analyzing pop culture, from music, TV shows, and books—and not always in a strictly feminist light.
An alternate title could be: "Bad Feminist: Or, Why I personally like/don't like, and am offended (or not) by many popular forms of entertainment"
Needless to say, I will never be reading "The Help" or any of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" books—but I also wasn't planning on slogging through page after page about why Gay doesn't like them. Or why she still likes some music, even though it's demeaning to women.
Alternate title number two: "Bad Feminist Book Not Really About Feminism"
It's not that bad—not great either—and surprisingly light on the feminism, which I should have probably taken the actual title more literally.
This is a tough one. Roxane bravely lays out the most difficult aspects and history of her life, revealing details that are easier left unsaid, but thThis is a tough one. Roxane bravely lays out the most difficult aspects and history of her life, revealing details that are easier left unsaid, but that so many women can relate with.
It's impossible not to respect, admire, and empathize for Roxane—for everything she's gone through, lives with, and her courage in being so honest, raw, and open with the world. While reading, I felt a wide range of emotions, the two strongest being anger and commiseration.
By telling her story, she is giving voice to the voiceless, and helping to raise awareness concerning the many issues modern society still grapples with. Weight and sexual violence are the main focus.
Roxane has lived a difficult life, and is resilient.
However, this book left me wanting something more. The story is full of information, but, other than spreading awareness of certain issues, there wasn't much ... closure?
Not that my opinion should even matter in judging someone's personal truth. Still, I couldn't give such a harrowing (often depressing) account five stars. It's an important book, and one every woman should read, but it's also hard to say that you love someone's story concerning the worst day of their life—especially when they still struggle from the repercussions, decades later....more
Enlightening, enriching, and inspiring not to accept the patriarchy as the norm. This book looks at the anatomy and power of an~ New Feminist Canon ~
Enlightening, enriching, and inspiring not to accept the patriarchy as the norm. This book looks at the anatomy and power of anger, and how it can be used to disrupt the social power dynamic.
There is so much I want to say about this book, but my best advice is simply: read it.
I've been on a feminist reading streak this month, and Rage Becomes Her is by far the most amazing one I've read ... ever. Although I previously stated Good and Mad was essential reading for 2019, this book is even more powerful, and they make excellent tandem reads.
Are you a woman? Read this book.
"Anger is an assertion of rights and worth. It is communication, equality and knowledge. It is intimacy, acceptance, fearlessness, embodiment, revolt, and reconciliation. Anger is memory and rage. It is rational thought and irrational pain. Anger is freedom, independence, expansiveness, and entitlement. It is justice, passion, clarity, and motivation. Anger is instrumental, thoughtful, complicated, and resolved. In anger, whether you like it or not, there is truth.
Anger is the demand of accountability. It is evaluation, judgement, and refutation. It is reflective, visionary and anticipatory. It's a speech act, a social statement, an intention, and a purpose. It's a risk and a threat. A confirmation and a wish. It is both powerlessness and power, palliative and a provocation. In anger, you will find both ferocity and comfort, vulnerability and hurt. Anger is the expression of hope.
How much anger is too much? Certainly not the anger that, for many of us, is a remembering of a self we learned to hide and quiet. It is willful and disobedient. It is survival, liberation, creativity, urgency, and vibrancy. It is a statement of need. An insistence of acknowledgment. Anger is a boundary. Anger is boundless. An opportunity for contemplation and self-awareness. It is commitment. Empathy. Self-love. Social responsibility. If it is poison, it is also the antidote. The anger we have as women is an act of radical imagination. Angry women burn brighter than the sun.
In the coming years, we will hear, again, that anger is a destructive force, to be controlled. Watch carefully, because not everyone is asked to do this in equal measure. Women, especially, will be told to set our anger aside in favor of a kinder, gentler approach to change. This is a false juxtaposition. Reenvisioned, anger can be the most feminine of virtues: compassionate, fierce, wise, and powerful. The women I admire most—those who have looked to themselves and the limitations and adversities that come with our bodies and the expectations that come with them—have all found ways to transform their anger into meaningful change. In them, anger has moved from debilitation to liberation.
Your anger is a gift you give to yourself and the world that is yours. In anger, I have lived more fully, freely, intensely, sensitively, and politically. If ever there was a time not to silence yourself, to channel your anger into healthy places and choices, this is it."
"Sexism might alter your day, but misogyny and the power behind it will alter your life outcomes and shape the world around you at every level."...more
Initial Thoughts: Overly generalized and vague, you'll be hard pressed to find many concrete "lessons"— although there's a fair amount of astute insigInitial Thoughts: Overly generalized and vague, you'll be hard pressed to find many concrete "lessons"— although there's a fair amount of astute insights and quotable aphorisms.
“In a world deluged by irrelevant information, clarity is power.”
Based on all the rave reviews, I thought at first maybe I had missed something until Bill Gates' 3 star review confirmed my initial opinion.
In fact, the whole book is fascinating—but seems to be built more upon Harari's own opinions, mass generalizations, and factual cherry picking than any hard science or research. Technically, you might argue that all nonfiction books have these same qualities, however, next to books such as The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power which is utterly stacked with backed up facts ... this one pales in comparison.
Instead of "lessons," Harari could easily have swapped in "questions," each of which are addressed/confronted in the 21 chapters:
Part I: The Technological Challenge 1. DISILLUSIONMENT The end of history has been postponed 2. WORK When you grow up, you might not have a job 3. LIBERTY Big Data is watching you 4. EQUALITY Those who own the data own the future
Part II: The Political Challenge 5. COMMUNITY Humans have bodies 6. CIVILISATION There is just one civilisation in the world 7. NATIONALISM Global problems need global answers 8. RELIGION God now serves the nation 9. IMMIGRATION Some cultures might be better than others
Part III: Despair and Hope 10. TERRORISM Don’t panic 11. WAR Never underestimate human stupidity 12. HUMILITY You are not the centre of the world 13. GOD Don’t take the name of God in vain 14. SECULARISM Acknowledge your shadow
Part IV: Truth 15. IGNORANCE You know less than you think 16. JUSTICE Our sense of justice might be out of date 17. POST-TRUTH Some fake news lasts for ever 18. SCIENCE FICTION The future is not what you see in the movies
Part V: Resilience 19. EDUCATION Change is the only constant 20. MEANING Life is not a story 21. MEDITATION Just observe
By the end of the book, Harari has fallen into repetitive religion bashing and his main "answer" / overall summary as a solution ... meditation. Okay ... Now I'm not a fan of organized religion by a long shot, but this last portion gave me strong editorial rant vibes, and, I'm all for meditation—but as a cure all? I guess I just had higher hopes for this book.
"Silence isn't neutrality; it is supporting the status-quo."
It's almost like Harari used up all his academic prowess in Sapiens, with each book moving farther afield from sound research to personal tirades and guesstimations.
Sweeping and almost all encompassing, this is still an entertaining read.
"Questions you cannot answer are usually far better for you than answers you cannot question."
Some things to think about:
"For as the pace of change increases, not just the economy but the very meaning of 'being human' is likely to mutate. Already in 1848 the Communist Manifesto declared that 'all that is solid melts into air.' Marx and Engels, however, were thinking mainly about social and economic structures. By 2048, physical and cognitive structures will also melt into air, or into a cloud of data bits."
"Terrorists are masters of mind control. They kill very few people but nevertheless manage to terrify billions and rattle huge political structures such as the European Union or the United States. Since September 11, 2001, each year terrorists have killed about 50 people in the European Union, about 10 people in the United States, about 7 people in China, and up to 25,000 people elsewhere in the globe (mostly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Syria). In contrast, each year traffic accidents kill about 80,000 Europeans, 40,000 Americans, 270,000 Chinese, and 1.25 million people altogether. Diabetes and high sugar levels kill up to 3.5 million people annually, while air pollution kills about 7 million people per year. So why do we fear terrorism more than sugar, and why do governments lose elections because of sporadic terrorist attacks but not because of chronic air pollution?"
"In the twentieth century, industrialized civilization depended on the 'barbarians' for cheap labor, raw materials, and markets, and it often conquered and absorbed them. But in the twenty-first century, a post-industrial civilization relying on AI, bioengineering, and nanotechnology might be far more self-contained and self-sustaining. Not just entire classes but entire countries and continents might become irrelevant. Fortifications guarded by drones and robots might separate the self-proclaimed civilized zone, where cyborgs fight one another with logic bombs, from the barbarian lands where feral humans fight one another with machetes and Kalashnikovs." ...more
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