I'm a fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and enjoy the Leon Black character. Having a full book of Leonisms is immensely entertaining and JB Smoove is crazyI'm a fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and enjoy the Leon Black character. Having a full book of Leonisms is immensely entertaining and JB Smoove is crazy talented and goes deep into the world of Leon. ...more
Cute allegorical pop culture driven satire. As the title suggests some of the short stories hit their mark and some miss. I listened to the audiobookCute allegorical pop culture driven satire. As the title suggests some of the short stories hit their mark and some miss. I listened to the audiobook and it makes the case for non author read books. Still, entertaining and funny. ...more
Interesting story, but better as a Ted talk/magazine article. The core concept is stretched out and repeated over and over again. Less info aboutInteresting story, but better as a Ted talk/magazine article. The core concept is stretched out and repeated over and over again. Less info about other forms of vision training vs just cross-eyed....more
While the book gets a little insufferable in parts, the core info here is absolutely fascinating and is a good book to read after reading "The HiddenWhile the book gets a little insufferable in parts, the core info here is absolutely fascinating and is a good book to read after reading "The Hidden Life of Trees", which is a much better written and more entertaining book. The author's storytelling craft aside (as it's clumsy), it's another book that will fundamentally change the way you look at plants....more
Smaltzy, contrived, and fantastical, but with a heart of absolute gold, and something really insightful to say about our relationship betweenSmaltzy, contrived, and fantastical, but with a heart of absolute gold, and something really insightful to say about our relationship between ourselves and what we make. Easily overlooked, but still quite a gem. Its faults are easy to overlook and the audiobook is enthusiastically read and produced, which makes for a very entertaining read....more
By far the best book I've read on psychadellics, but even more importantly it goes deep into why these powerful drugs work so well and how the brainBy far the best book I've read on psychadellics, but even more importantly it goes deep into why these powerful drugs work so well and how the brain works. This is a must read book. I listened to the audiobook read by the author which was excellent. ...more
I listened to the audiobook version of this which was read by Hammond. It's a really good look at how a journey through mental illness can affectI listened to the audiobook version of this which was read by Hammond. It's a really good look at how a journey through mental illness can affect everything and everyone in your world. If you think that being famous is fun, this is another in a long line of bios which show that it's anything but....more
When I was 19, my father gave me this book and encouraged me to read it. I eventually read it and enjoyed it, but didn't really understand why myWhen I was 19, my father gave me this book and encouraged me to read it. I eventually read it and enjoyed it, but didn't really understand why my father gave it to me. Now, nearly 30 years later, I read this book and I get it. My heart fills with love, I weep, and sigh, this is the magic of books. Through it I reach back through time, to a time when my father was still alive and understand what he was trying to say to me. What the oceans, rivers, and forest are saying. What surviving hopelessness is saying.
Books can be magical. This one certainly is....more
A more spiritual take on the same themes explored in "The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck". The basic concept, "you aren't just your mind, so don'tA more spiritual take on the same themes explored in "The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck". The basic concept, "you aren't just your mind, so don't get too caught up with its drama" is stretched out into a full-length book. As with many books in this space, The Untethered Soul is fairly repetitive as it takes this core concept and looks at it from a number of different ways.
For the most part, the book is more spiritual than religious, but it does get all "Jesus-y" in the last chapter, which didn't work for me. ...more
A really facinating look at the roles male and female energy play in life. Some great insights into the path towards enlightenment, and how toA really facinating look at the roles male and female energy play in life. Some great insights into the path towards enlightenment, and how to progress beyond the "I". Not a book for snowflakes, Deida takes a fairly raw approach to the topic, which shouldn't offend, but if you are easily offended, you've been advised. Ultimately this is an interesting, entertaining, and captivating book....more
I listened to the audio book version of this, and if you are going to read this book I'd recommend the audio version. Be warned Karley Sciortino has aI listened to the audio book version of this, and if you are going to read this book I'd recommend the audio version. Be warned Karley Sciortino has a valley girl like voice lettered with millennial vernacular, but once you get past that you'll see a smart and insightful woman who has a lot to say and says it well.
Very much like Diablo Cody's Candy Grill, Slutever is a behind the scenes look at the sex industry. Slutever goes a bit deeper, flirting with moments of sexual manifesto, and clear declarations from a generation who is facing fairly dramatic changes in the sexual landscape.
What makes Slutever worth the read is just how insightful it is. From a stellar preamble I think all women should read, to a clear delination of the thought process of getting into sex work, it's all there.
Sciortino cites a lot of modern relationship authors like Ester Perell, Christopher Ryan, and Tristan Taormino, but I won't be surprised to see her join their ranks....more
A book that thoughtfully describes how to navigate more complex relationships is also a fantastic guide for anyone in a relationship. There are soA book that thoughtfully describes how to navigate more complex relationships is also a fantastic guide for anyone in a relationship. There are so many amazing tools in this book to context and work towards happy and thriving relationships.
I listened to the audiobook which was read by both the authors, and is one of the better relationship books I've read....more
This is a crazy good book that will radically change the way you look at trees and forests. I listened to the audiobook version which wasThis is a crazy good book that will radically change the way you look at trees and forests. I listened to the audiobook version which was exceptionally narrated, and I could not put this book down. Who would have ever thought trees would be so captivating. This is one of the better books I've read in a while....more
Ester Perell's Mating in Captivity is one of the best examinations of the landscape of modern relationships, and now State of Affairs looks at theEster Perell's Mating in Captivity is one of the best examinations of the landscape of modern relationships, and now State of Affairs looks at the forces which often tear relationships apart. You don't have to be in a relationship that involves affairs to benefit from reading this book, it's as much about how to openly and honestly communicate in a relationship and ensure its success as how to deal when things go wrong. This book us another strong argument that Estee Perell is one of the most important voices on relationships today. It's an excellently written book and a breakthrough book on this topic. ...more
While I have a lot of respect for Dave Aspry, and I do very much enjoy bulletproof coffee, the book on the Bullet Proof Diet is fairly poorly written.While I have a lot of respect for Dave Aspry, and I do very much enjoy bulletproof coffee, the book on the Bullet Proof Diet is fairly poorly written. Sandwiched between testimonial after testimonial (they get old fast and are littered in almost every chapter) the book spends more time hyping up the diet, rather than just getting to the point. It's like listening to someone talk about how important they are, it gets old fast.
The truth is, the diet could have been presented in just a few chapters. At its core, this is a bio hackers diet, a riff on the ketogenic diet that is centered almost to a fault around the bulletproof coffee. Unless you are someone who is willing to bring your own butter to a restaurant, taking a mountain of supplements, and trying to quantify everything about your body, you are probably much better off looking at The Whole 30 and the Hartwigs book, It starts with food.
Aspray, is a pioneer in the biohacking space and his podcast is a lot better than his book. I was surprised he did not narrate his own audiobook, the narrator does a good job, but given A spray's claim of having 18 more years of life due to hacking his sleep he would have had the time to do his own narration. My advice is to skip the book and just go to Aspry's sire and podcast. Also, do try out the bulletproof coffee, it is pretty amazing. ...more
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which was taken from a talk with the author. This book is good, a little bit out there, but managesI listened to the audiobook version of this book, which was taken from a talk with the author. This book is good, a little bit out there, but manages to stay grounded as it presents the info. I liked how the author draws from multiple faiths to make her points and how clearly she takes you through the energy centers, their origins, and how to approach them.
Was this book life changing? No. But I appreciated the info and how it was presented....more