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brendamn's reviews
364 reviews
They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent by Sarah Kendzior
5.0
The people who most need to read this book the most are also the same who absolutely never would. Even if they did, they'd find some bullshit reason to dismiss the facts without bothering to verify the footnotes. But whatever, lost causes. For everyone else this definitely is a remarkable exposé on the very real conspiracies of past and present, many of which proving to be one and the same.
She had a very precise prescience when it came to the inevitability of Trump's election and what was to follow. All of which was dismissed outright from everyone she spoke to at the start, because it all sounded ludicrous. And now that we have lived through what she foresaw, yes, these past 7 years or so have proven to be more than ludicrous indeed. Her foresight proved alarmingly correct down to fine detail.
She makes similar predictions in They Knew, and the main question this books leaves me with is how accurate will those predictions be this time around? I am skeptical, but not as quick this time to dismiss it all outright as I might have been if I had been listening to her back in 2016. I am primarily interested in her takes on the grim fate in store for Americans (grimmer than you may think, seriously) as well as how the climate crisis will play out when it truly comes to a head.
Won't get into it here, it is a short book so if this sounds enticing then you are better off hearing it from her than me. All in all we all know we are all screwed and everything sucks, and Kendzior does a remarkable job of showing us that we are even more screwed and everything sucks more than we actually think. You might be confident you already really know this, but for real, it is worse than we think.
She had a very precise prescience when it came to the inevitability of Trump's election and what was to follow. All of which was dismissed outright from everyone she spoke to at the start, because it all sounded ludicrous. And now that we have lived through what she foresaw, yes, these past 7 years or so have proven to be more than ludicrous indeed. Her foresight proved alarmingly correct down to fine detail.
She makes similar predictions in They Knew, and the main question this books leaves me with is how accurate will those predictions be this time around? I am skeptical, but not as quick this time to dismiss it all outright as I might have been if I had been listening to her back in 2016. I am primarily interested in her takes on the grim fate in store for Americans (grimmer than you may think, seriously) as well as how the climate crisis will play out when it truly comes to a head.
Won't get into it here, it is a short book so if this sounds enticing then you are better off hearing it from her than me. All in all we all know we are all screwed and everything sucks, and Kendzior does a remarkable job of showing us that we are even more screwed and everything sucks more than we actually think. You might be confident you already really know this, but for real, it is worse than we think.
The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall
3.0
The conceptual framework that becomes established throughout The Raw Shark Text was compelling and very unique, but I felt like Hall just didn't know how to give it any plausible structure. I got the impression the ending was just a way in order to abandon it, because he ultimately didn't know to make it all make sense. Being intentionally vague here by the way as to not spoil.
The relationship in the book felt really off too. I get there is more to it, but damn dude, chill. You've known her for three days. Author also needs to figure out a way to describe women beyond just how how smokin' hot they are.
Regardless, it was indeed quite a fun ride and it provided a some neat ideas to think into. An unsatisfying yet weirdly still worthwhile read as a whole.
The relationship in the book felt really off too. I get there is more to it, but damn dude, chill. You've known her for three days. Author also needs to figure out a way to describe women beyond just how how smokin' hot they are.
Regardless, it was indeed quite a fun ride and it provided a some neat ideas to think into. An unsatisfying yet weirdly still worthwhile read as a whole.
This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
2.0
It is more flowery and gracefully written than the average book I suppose, but it is without enough depth to claim any greatness when it comes to prose. Though for the reader that would gravitate towards this book in regards to similar ones, it maybe would stand out in that regard.
This is another case where there was a failure on my part to notice that I am not part of the typical crowd that reads these kinds of books. Though while romance is not my forte, that element being the ultimate focus did not actually detract from my enjoyment.
The book's summary and my knee jerk interest in science fiction is what drew me to read this. Its concept was unique enough to draw me to it, and it did end up unfolding pretty well in that regard. It being a short read at least for me in particular though I think ended up being a strength. In the end the science fiction aspect was pretty much just a vehicle for the romantic focus.
If I went into the book with a keener sense of what to expect I probably would not have picked it up. Though having now completed it regardless, I cannot deny it was surprisingly enjoyable despite not being in line with my taste.
This is another case where there was a failure on my part to notice that I am not part of the typical crowd that reads these kinds of books. Though while romance is not my forte, that element being the ultimate focus did not actually detract from my enjoyment.
The book's summary and my knee jerk interest in science fiction is what drew me to read this. Its concept was unique enough to draw me to it, and it did end up unfolding pretty well in that regard. It being a short read at least for me in particular though I think ended up being a strength. In the end the science fiction aspect was pretty much just a vehicle for the romantic focus.
If I went into the book with a keener sense of what to expect I probably would not have picked it up. Though having now completed it regardless, I cannot deny it was surprisingly enjoyable despite not being in line with my taste.
How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur
3.0
What Schur does well with this book is offer accessible explanations to different ethical theories, as well as a view into other philosophical schools of thought through the lens of ethics. For the most part the examples he uses in order to show the strengths and complexities each present are useful and generally on point, but in the end are also what make this not a maximally effective starting point for the topic in general.
Schur has heavily self-inserted himself into this book, and consequentially gives the book a heavy bias. The general conclusions and condemnations he comes to I do agree in the majority of cases presented, but that definitely is not something that would be true for a lot of people. Using cultural and political examples to convey what ethical and unethical behavior looks like quickly marginalizes large swaths of people from benefiting from this book.
It is a good book for those who already have a decent baseline for what ethical behavior looks like, but for those that don't they would just end up pissed of and possibly reject what is being presented to them wholesale. And those people are going to typically be the people who ironically would benefit the most from a book explaining the philosophy of ethics. Maybe we ought not care what those people think (which would be at odds with a large part of Schur's message and intention), but it still does limit the reach of this book's impact.
Schur has heavily self-inserted himself into this book, and consequentially gives the book a heavy bias. The general conclusions and condemnations he comes to I do agree in the majority of cases presented, but that definitely is not something that would be true for a lot of people. Using cultural and political examples to convey what ethical and unethical behavior looks like quickly marginalizes large swaths of people from benefiting from this book.
It is a good book for those who already have a decent baseline for what ethical behavior looks like, but for those that don't they would just end up pissed of and possibly reject what is being presented to them wholesale. And those people are going to typically be the people who ironically would benefit the most from a book explaining the philosophy of ethics. Maybe we ought not care what those people think (which would be at odds with a large part of Schur's message and intention), but it still does limit the reach of this book's impact.
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
4.0
Do not let the hedgehog deceive you, this is a dark and disturbing book containing a good handful of traumatic events. That is the primary thing I feel should be known going in, the plot and everything else is best discovered as you read.
Earthlings explores the pressure to conform and challenges taboos in modern Japanese society. If the reality is as rigid and demanding as depicted in this book, it sounds miserable. It is not the culture I was born into so it is not something I can personally properly assess. Her writing style does feel to over exaggerate things for effect, which proves a strength rather than a detriment, but even with a ludicrous as the tale gets there still is a valid critique you can see at its core.
My main issue was with the ending. It took the tone of the book and dialed it up way too high way in a short span of time. It definitely felt intentional and for many it probably landed well, it just did not for me. It felt rushed, a gradual build up I think would have served better. That is a small issue though and very subjective, everything else was very well executed.
Earthlings explores the pressure to conform and challenges taboos in modern Japanese society. If the reality is as rigid and demanding as depicted in this book, it sounds miserable. It is not the culture I was born into so it is not something I can personally properly assess. Her writing style does feel to over exaggerate things for effect, which proves a strength rather than a detriment, but even with a ludicrous as the tale gets there still is a valid critique you can see at its core.
My main issue was with the ending. It took the tone of the book and dialed it up way too high way in a short span of time. It definitely felt intentional and for many it probably landed well, it just did not for me. It felt rushed, a gradual build up I think would have served better. That is a small issue though and very subjective, everything else was very well executed.