Second in the series and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Excellent premise and interesting characters. If you like crime, check it out -- but read Second in the series and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Excellent premise and interesting characters. If you like crime, check it out -- but read the first in the series first!...more
This is an amazing story beautifully written. A wonderful testament to the power of education to change the way we look at the world -- depending, of This is an amazing story beautifully written. A wonderful testament to the power of education to change the way we look at the world -- depending, of course, where that education comes from. There's a type of education that is going on in Tara's home life but the nature of education changes when she manages to get away from home and obtain an education free from the oppressive belief system of fundamentalism and fanaticism. An excellent read!...more
M W Craven is my new favourite crime writer. I thoroughly enjoyed The Puppet Show. It was a solid, straightforward, well-written narrative with an intM W Craven is my new favourite crime writer. I thoroughly enjoyed The Puppet Show. It was a solid, straightforward, well-written narrative with an intriguing premise and plot. I'm around halfway through his second book and enjoying it even more than this one. It's great not to have an alcoholic detective (although Washington Poe does have some other baggage!). And his teaming up with a female analyst who has some underdeveloped social skills works really well. A very good read....more
A fascinating read. A therapist talking about her clients and how she approached therapy while describing her own therapy with a therapist, is a freshA fascinating read. A therapist talking about her clients and how she approached therapy while describing her own therapy with a therapist, is a fresh approach that is full of insights about how people approach life, trauma, relationships, and self-knowledge. A very enjoyable read....more
This book is brilliant! Presented with impeccable, potent logic, Rauch presents an incisive analysis of the poor thinking that plagues the issue of frThis book is brilliant! Presented with impeccable, potent logic, Rauch presents an incisive analysis of the poor thinking that plagues the issue of free speech in society. If you're interested in this topic, and what threatens to undermine this fundamental human right, and how we need to think about it clearly, it's a must-read....more
This was an incredibly enlightening book. It was also shocking. I had no idea of the extent that bias occurs in the collection of data, the research uThis was an incredibly enlightening book. It was also shocking. I had no idea of the extent that bias occurs in the collection of data, the research using the data, and the application of that data to solving problems and designing innovation in the real world. It's as though, as the title of the book suggests, women are completely invisible. I will never look at research data, or the world, in the same way again. This is a must-read for women and men. We need to speak out about this. Fight with women, who are forced to live in a world designed for men and where women must constantly be made to feel out of place. Get this book. Read it. And resist, object, speak up. After reading this book, the world is a different place for me and I hope I never forget the lessons I have learned in reading it....more
By no means perfect but it is refreshing to read a no-nonsense approach to living a good life that avoids most of the platitudinous nonsense of so mucBy no means perfect but it is refreshing to read a no-nonsense approach to living a good life that avoids most of the platitudinous nonsense of so much self-help advice these days. Of course, this book is, despite its author’s claims, also a self-help book. But it certainly takes a different approach, and not only because of the frequent appearance of the word f*ck. (By the way, after about a third of the book, the use of this word gradually diminishes and the the writing becomes a little more serious — but not too much!) The essential message of the book is that we are constantly bombarded by messages from outside of ourselves to “give a f*ck about just about everything. These messages come from marketing, social media, society, friends, parents, peer groups, tv, movies, books — the list goes on and on. Fulfilling all these demands to give a f*ck about everything are overwhelming and impossible to achieve. And if we try to achieve them all we’ll end up spiralling into some very unhealthy ways of living and being. The answer is to decide for ourselves what we truly value and decide to remain rigorously focused on giving a f**ck about these things. That’s it. Well … not quite, of course. That needs to be fleshed out. And Manson does that in an easy to read, entertaining style that makes for a quick read — at least quicker than it will take to implement this “counter-intuitive approach”. I can detect elements of Stoic philosophy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and a few other philosophical and psychological perspectives behind the ideas in this book. But technical language is nowhere to be seen. This book is written for Everyperson and provides lots to chew over despite the easily digestible recipe. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is tired of the cliched approach of much self-help. The ideas in this book, if taken seriously and applied in living, can be liberating and empowering. And even if you are already knowledgeable about the ideas in the book, check it out. It’s always worth exploring things we already know in ways we haven’t considered before. This book is certainly worth giving a f*ck about despite its few flaws....more
The Silent Patient is a book that follows a woman who has been mute since she shot her husband five times in the face. The story is told from two persThe Silent Patient is a book that follows a woman who has been mute since she shot her husband five times in the face. The story is told from two perspectives: Theo Faber, a psychotherapist who becomes obsessed with finding out why she did it; and from the point of view of Alicia Berenson, the woman who is accused of the murder.
The characters in The Silent Patient are incredibly well developed. Theo is a very flawed individual who is struggling with his own demons, while Alicia is a complex character who is haunted by her past. The story is suspenseful and twisty, and I was utterly captivated by it. The pacing is perfect, and the ending is stunning.
I highly recommend The Silent Patient to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers. It's a truly brilliant book that will keep you guessing until the very end. The Silent Patient is a masterfully crafted thriller that I highly recommend.
Lukianoff and Haidt's book offers a scathing critique of the "coddling" of American students, accusing universities and other institutions of caving tLukianoff and Haidt's book offers a scathing critique of the "coddling" of American students, accusing universities and other institutions of caving to demands for protection from offensive or hurtful ideas. The book has provoked strong reactions from readers, with some praising its fearless examination of a critical issue and others dismissing it as reactionary and tone-deaf. Lukianoff and Haidt are both experienced observers of the American university scene, and their book is sure to spark lively debate among students, educators, and parents.
As I've indicated above, the book is written from an American perspective, and so Lukianoff and Haidt's analysis of the "coddling" of American students may not be directly applicable to the situation in other countries. Nevertheless, the book provides a thought-provoking examination of the pressures that students are under to conform to increasingly narrow definitions of what is acceptable and politically correct. And hints of this can be seen in universities outside of America to varying degrees.
After the introduction, the book is divided into four parts.
Part I discusses "Three Bad Ideas" that Lukianoff and Haidt say are being promoted on campuses: the Untruth of Emotional Reasoning, the Untruth of Us Versus Them, and the Untruth of Fragility. Part II looks at the historical roots of these ideas, tracing them back to the Sixties and Seventies.
In Part III, the authors explore the "Bad Ideas in Action" on campuses today, looking at the rise of "safe spaces," "trigger warnings," and "microaggressions." Finally, in Part IV, Lukianoff and Haidt offer their vision for a more open and tolerant campus culture.
Overall, I found The Coddling of the American Mind to be a well-argued and provocative book. Lukianoff and Haidt offer a compelling analysis of the problem, and their proposed solutions are sure to generate debate. The writing is clear and accessible, and the book is well-researched and footnoted. Whether you agree with their conclusions or not, The Coddling of the American Mind is sure to challenge your assumptions about the state of higher education today. I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the current state of the American university but will also be of interest to anyone concerned about the state of free speech and open inquiry in our society more generally....more
The scientific concepts in this novel are interesting but the style of the novel completely bored me. The descriptions of the neuroscience are so det The scientific concepts in this novel are interesting but the style of the novel completely bored me. The descriptions of the neuroscience are so detailed and there is so much of it that the narrative arch is completely lost. I suspect this story will be of most interest to those who are interested in the science concepts rather than the story. I gave up on it.
*I was given a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program....more
A pleasant read with an intriguing premise. I didn't feel overly engaged with the characters or invested in the story. I felt there needed to be more A pleasant read with an intriguing premise. I didn't feel overly engaged with the characters or invested in the story. I felt there needed to be more tension and suspense. It's an ok read.
*I was given a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program....more
This was a solid read but didn't have enough tension for my liking. One thing that bothered me was that Locklear, the detective, was identified as a NThis was a solid read but didn't have enough tension for my liking. One thing that bothered me was that Locklear, the detective, was identified as a Native American but there was nothing that I could see in the story that made that background significant. Until the author told me that part way through the story, I didn't even realise it. Apart from that identification, little is revealed about Locklear's Native American background -- at least not as I remember it. I would have liked Locklear's character filled out a bit more and have the cultural background of Locklear influencing the perspective he brings to the work he does. Maybe I am missing something here -- not sure. I'd be interested in hearing from others who have read this book on their views of this aspect of the novel. I also thought making him an alcoholic was a bit clichéd. Overall, though, it was a pleasant read.
*I was given a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program....more
An ok story that taught me quite a bit about the way the UN works in decision making. The big flaw, for me, was the unexplained premise that a decisioAn ok story that taught me quite a bit about the way the UN works in decision making. The big flaw, for me, was the unexplained premise that a decision made under force would be binding. I would have thought that any decision made under force would be considered invalid. Why I should believe this premise was never made clear so it undermined the believability of the story. The characters are interesting and the plot moves along at a reasonable pace and there are some tense moments. Worth a look given its unique setting and its focus on international relations and tensions....more
This book should be mandatory reading for any parent raising daughters. And every male, parent or not, should read it as well. It's one of the clearesThis book should be mandatory reading for any parent raising daughters. And every male, parent or not, should read it as well. It's one of the clearest and constructive statements of what it means to be feminist and the advice the author gives to parents -- and all of us -- is profound. It's short, to the point, but a delight to read. And put into practice or as a shared perspective in society it has the potential to make the world a safe and nurturing place for our daughters as the grow into adults. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED....more
Loading...
