I actually finished this a while ago but just getting round to reviewing it. I listened to it on audiobook which was great, at some points I was soI actually finished this a while ago but just getting round to reviewing it. I listened to it on audiobook which was great, at some points I was so interested I didn't want to get out of the car. (There are a few graphs which you miss, but they are described well enough.) Coming from a medical background I thought I was already fairly clued up about sleep and its importance. But there was so much I learnt - turns out that not getting enough sleep increases your risk of almost everything - none of it good. There are so many dramatic facts and statistics in this book (which all seem to be properly verified) that it seems mad that sleep isn't better valued. Since finishing this book I've definitely made more of an effort to prioritise sleep... and may have become a bit paranoid about not getting enough. It was especially interesting, and incredibly depressing, to learn about how society has developed against the sleeping needs and patterns of different groups. For example, teenagers have an altered circadian rhythm, naturally wanting to stay awake later at night and sleep longer into the day. This is in complete contrast to the early start time of schools, potentially limiting the potential of adolescents and making them vulnerable to mental illness. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, and there are SO many important people (policy makers, educators, large employers) that should be reading it....more
I have to say I didn't really get this or enjoy it. It follows the lives of three women, focused around sex and desire. Which sounded great! However,I have to say I didn't really get this or enjoy it. It follows the lives of three women, focused around sex and desire. Which sounded great! However, it is primarily focused on how their lives have been controlled and influenced by men. I was hoping to hear inspiring stories from strong women. Instead, there was a big focus on physical attractiveness and trying to make themselves desirable. Maybe this paints an interesting picture of gender inequality, but it didn't leave me feeling particularly good. It felt very narrow, and actually (even though the author spent years on this) quite shallow. The only story I found truly touching and eye-opening was Maggie's, who became involved with her high school teacher and had a subsequent court battle. The lack of belief that people had in her story highlights a real problem with the the legal system and justice for women who are the victim of sexual crimes. But apart from that, I didn't take much from it. It was recommended by a friend who found it very powerful, but sadly I can't say the same....more
This book was recommended at the start of my public health studies in Liverpool! It's been on my shelf for a while, and I'm glad I got round to it. ItThis book was recommended at the start of my public health studies in Liverpool! It's been on my shelf for a while, and I'm glad I got round to it. It provides an interesting account of medical conditions from the 19th century, as well as some of Liverpool's less glamorous history.
McGann narrates the story of his Irish-Liverpudlian ancestors using health as the main "antagonist". Each chapter is based on a broad medical problem, or malady, such as pestilence, trauma and necrosis. As someone who likes gory historical medical details, some of these were quite good! But it did get a little dry and info heavy in places. The family stories were lovely and some of them even brought me to tears (saying goodbye to the lost twins.. oh my...).
I wouldn't say it was a particularly exciting or gripping book, but it is a lovely memoir for both his past and future generations. ...more
I listened to this on audiobook, which just didn't work for me. It wasn't gripping enough to hold my attention. However, it was perfect for listeningI listened to this on audiobook, which just didn't work for me. It wasn't gripping enough to hold my attention. However, it was perfect for listening to in bed at night... interesting, but not interesting enough to keep me awake. This obviously meant I kept falling asleep and missing bits, and would have to re-listen the next night, only to find I'd already heard that bit after all.
So some chapters I probably covered at least three times. And there's a chance that I missed some entirely. All I know is that I reached the end, and I'm not in a hurry to go back.
I really liked Sapiens, it was very educational, interesting, and full of expertise. But 21 Lessons was just too rambling (maybe a particular problem with audio format). I was expecting it to be crammed full of new information. And there were definitely some interesting ideas, concepts and philosophical insights in here. But they were way too padded out with his own musings and opinions. Apart from meditation, I would struggle to pin down any of the lessons that could be taken from this.
I think maybe I would have got more out of a paper copy, but as it stands my overwhelming thought is "glad that's done". It all just felt like a bit of a struggle to reach the end. I might, however, keep using it as a nightly podcast....more
"Accept you're just some perfectly ordinary woman who is going to have to crack on"
My aunt gave me this and I loved it! Ok it wasn't the most"Accept you're just some perfectly ordinary woman who is going to have to crack on"
My aunt gave me this and I loved it! Ok it wasn't the most intellectual book on feminism and yes it was essentially Caitlin Moran shoving her opinions down your throat. But I didn't care because I found her opinions funny, relatable and relevant. Really enjoyed it and gave me a lot to think about too....more
As a junior doctor I would be quite scared to work for Henry Marsh. But he is clearly an incredible surgeon and a remarkable writer. I couldn't putAs a junior doctor I would be quite scared to work for Henry Marsh. But he is clearly an incredible surgeon and a remarkable writer. I couldn't put this book down and made myself travel sick reading it. Despite being at the bottom of the hierarchical level I could relate to a lot of his feelings in this book (which are incredibly personal and honest). I would recommend this to everyone, whether in the medical field or not....more
This was a really interesting and amusing book! I haven’t read anything by Jon Ronson before but really enjoyed his sense of personality that cameThis was a really interesting and amusing book! I haven’t read anything by Jon Ronson before but really enjoyed his sense of personality that came through. I recognised a lot of his traits as my own; for example when he reads a psychiatry diagnostic book and immediately diagnoses himself with 12 conditions. We also apparently share a fascination with psychopathy. The idea that 1% population could be psychopaths, superficially delightful and charming, yet entire devoid of empathy and morals – well, it’s a terrifying thought. They sound more like cold-blooded robots than human beings. But can we learn to spot them? And even if we do... what do we do then?
Ronson explores these questions and many more, with an interesting look at when madness “sells” and when the media start to consider it “too mad”. He is self-deprecating about his profession and his own feelings about people giving answers that were too normal to be interesting. At the same as reading this I had also started ‘Cracked: Why Psychiatry is doing more harm than good’ by James Davies which overlaps in places. The controversial topics they both touch on include the increasing number of psychiatric diagnoses and the rise of “epidemics”, such as childhood bipolar disease, and giving psychiatric labels to normal personality variants. On both a personal and professional level I think this is a really important issue.
I’m not entirely sure what the overriding message is here – that perhaps it isn’t as black and white as “being a psychopath” or “not a psychopath”? This is well illustrated through a man named Tony – who claims to be a perfectly sane person trapped in the high-security psychiatric hospital Broadmoor. He scores very highly on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, but does this justify potentially locking him up forever...? I was glad Ronson followed his story throughout the book. It would be interesting to know what has happened to him since... ...more
I've finally finished!!! It feels like I've been reading this book forever. I find it quite hard to enjoy non-fiction as I don't normally find itI've finally finished!!! It feels like I've been reading this book forever. I find it quite hard to enjoy non-fiction as I don't normally find it "fun" to read, and it was the same with this book, so I couldn't read it all at once. Instead I've read a chapter here and there over the last few months which has worked great.
I think I enjoyed the first chapters the most about ancient humans and the rise of homo sapiens. And there was concepts that I loved, such as the immense power of telling stories and getting people to believe in them; "No one was lying when, in 2011, the UN demanded that the Libyan government respect the human rights of its citizens, even though the UN, Libya and human rights are all figments of our fertile imaginations." These were the parts that caught my imagination the most, but I found the whole book interesting. For example the gender gap throughout history, How Europe Took Over Almost Everywhere, capitalism and the rise of the banks (and how a bank actually works).
It IS still a factual book, and I did find it heavy going in places. Sometimes I was just reading to reach the end of the chapter so I could go to sleep. But I definitely got a lot out of it and am glad that I persevered! I feel like I learnt a lot of interesting facts and ideas and would recommend this for anyone wanting to learn more about human history....more
It has taken me quite a while to read 'Wild Swans' and it hasn't been easy. The first half of this book I found really heavy going; it was tooIt has taken me quite a while to read 'Wild Swans' and it hasn't been easy. The first half of this book I found really heavy going; it was too political for me and felt impersonal. But I forced myself to keep going because after so many pages I didn't want to give up! Like many people I felt it got much better after the second half, when Jung Chang begins telling her own story and memories, and it became much more personal.
This book has taught me a huge amount about China and it's shocking recent history (and I felt very naive for knowing so little beforehand). It is very frightening and upsetting reading at times... in fact, most of the time. The story of communist China is also a very powerful story about human nature, how easily we can be influenced ("brainwashed") , and how important it is to stand up for what we believe is right. It would be wrong to say I ENJOYED this book because mostly it is very depressing; but I'm glad I stuck with it....more
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