Andrew Benesh > Recent Status Updates

The chapter about the Legion felt a little thinner than the chapter on the Phalanx, but that seems to be due in part to greater variation in the legion. I do wish there were diagrams to better communicate the organization.

The chapter describing the organization and basic practices of the phalanx was thorough and practical; I appreciate Cole's measured considerations and open acknowledgement of differing views.

I really like how the intro and chapter 1 present information in a way that recognizes that parents reading might have a lot of confusion and fear. The book isn't sigmatizing, but offers gentle and firm guidance. The practical suggestions are excellent, as is the discussion of challenges for gender variant but non-transgender boys.

I really like Myke's approach in the preface and first chapter; I'd had some reservations that my limited ancient knowledge would be a barrier, but he's put me at ease. The writing style is very conversational, and it honestly feels like listening to Myke talk at conventions - which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Done! I love the resolution of the Trespasser conflict. The first half of that conflict have me serious concerns, but the payoff was excellent. The resolution with Caldecott was equally satisfying, though I want more of that story.

The final sequence leaves me wanting a book 7, of Miriam sharing her knowledge and giving us a chance to see her in a truly new role.

And now the plot has really come full circle. It's interesting how generally good everyone Miriam is surrounded with is, even when she doesn't like them. The final showdown with Caldecott and the Trespasser feel imminent. The medium is a really weird, but intriguing character. I love how the relationship with Evelyn has progressed. I'm mixed on the new mythology, but it makes sense; I just wish we'd had more sooner.

I'm hoping we get more Wren than just a Trespasser cameo. I like the new doctor. Screwing up the FBI dealn seemed inevitable, but it went better than I thought. The jumps between "now" and "then" have got my mental timeline a little off, for the then, but it's overall holding together.

I've never read so much about In and Out Burgers in a book before.

I'm digging the subtle (Zhe) and not so subtle (Steve!) gender inclusiveness. The bird bomb was awesome; I like how Chuck differentiates bird experiences. The Christmas song may be my favorite Miriam Black moment. It's silly, but it bothers me that the Glock had a safety.

The power transfer is a really clever plot device. In both confirm and bothered by the Trespasser's future ability to control Gabby; I suspect it's not as Miriam thinks. I actually really like Rich; he's a refreshingly honest character in a series full of deceptions.

I love the Star Wars joke.

I like how closely this picks up from the prior book. Chuck's writing style and spectacular profanity do not disappoint. The Trespasser's new abilities are interesting. The nods to early books are effective at seeing the tone. Miriam's preoccupation with the baby is really well written, and the cynical lens feels right. I'm curious if we'll see Wren again; that story feels incomplete. I'm happy to see a Gabbyb again.

Done! I appreciated the resolution with the Molte, and the disillusionment with Lance. I wish we'd seen more of Kari and her father reconnecting.

I get Sverre, but I still really don't like him. I feel like there's some foreshadowing with Kari's dreams and hunting, but I can't nail it down.

I feel for Erling. It's clear the man has had a horrible few years, and is on the brink of losing everything. It doesn't matter how much we see the internal strife of the SS officer, he's just shitty. I wish we had some insight into Lance, but I get how that would change Kari's story.

The way the author parallels sexual and social vulnerability, and makes Erling's isolation profoundly real, is making this read sooner emotionally challenging. Still, I'm happy they saved the horse. I fear eventually this will shift from tension and suspicion to outright conflict with the Nazis.

Kari is making concerning choices.

The conclusion does a good job of summarizing the key points from the book, and the opportunity for structural change to improve minority health care. the connection to other legal theories and precedent was particularly helpful for a non-lawyer reader.

Chapter 9 provides a much clearer legal plan than Chapter 8, with solid reasoning and workable language. The negligence liability model seems appropriate, but I do worry about making policy primarily social science research derivative. Still, the proposals seem solid. The rest of the book is a conclusion and notes; I'll have to explore those later.

Chapter 8 provides a good case for structural changes using a public health model. I wish the proposed legislation would be more explicit - it's one thing to outlaw unconscious racism on paper, and another to do it in practice. Given the courts unfortunate retreat from acknowledging discrimination, I worry about whether such a law could be passed or enforced.

Chapter 7 presents the data I've been looking for the whole book - interventions for reducing implicit bias and their effectiveness. I appreciate the application to the stage model, but wish we were given more real world applications of each type of interventions. Perhaps that's Chapter 8.

Chapter 6 is a remarkably comprehensive literature review of how implicit bias leads to undertreatment by physicians and treatment non-compliance and attrition on patients.

Chapter 5 does a good job of addressing how unconscious bias manifests during a clinical encounter, and provides some tools for combatting it. The criticism of attempts to place responsibility on patients was well executed. The attention to fibroids in this and the preceding chapter is a good illustration of intersectional issues.

I like the model, but I felt a lot of that chapter just repeated summaries of studies that had already been discussed, making it a bit of a slog. I'd like to see more model application, and discussion of strategies for using the model to improve care. Hopefully that's coming soon.

I'm not sure exactly when or why I picked this up, but the premise seems interesting. It feels very "coming of age and learning difficult truths about yourself and your family"-ish.

Done! The rest is footnotes! The conclusion's critique of tech industry philanthropists was well grounded, but I wish the piece on civic engagement was more practical. I'm going to have to give real thought to how best to use this knowledge.

The chapter on disaster infrastructure and its interaction with social infrastructure highlights some great projects, but seems sidetracked in historical events. Still, it's good stuff.

I appreciated the depth of the discussion of historical racism in pools, and it's attempts to circumvent desegregation laws. I wish there been more time on the "how" of building community groups that join rather than reinforce schisms.

I'm all of 5 days into playing the Bass. This book is quite helpful so far.

I really enjoyed this chapter's attention to human needs across the lifespan, and how effective infrastructure can meet these. I frequently see complaints about how kids spend all day attached to screens, with willful ignorance of the lack of safe and engaging alternative spaces. The benefits to seniors in reducing social isolation and physical decline are profound.

I love the author's love of libraries. I wish we'd gotten more on designing schools and colleges to foster greater connection, and appreciated the critique of fraternities as hazards to larger social infrastructure. I felt like the treatment of Minerva was waffling; the author clearly sees the problems but feels caught up in the romance and privilege of it.

The third chapter provides a strong demonstration of health disparities, and highlights quality research showing how implicit bias leads to poorer patient care in controlled settings. I appreciated the authors attention to factors that can reduce this effect - particularly knowledgeable self correction and the possible influence of more integrative care systems.