I think if you found "The Obesity Code" to be too technical or difficult to understand, "Life in the Fasting Lane" will be much more your speed. There are two co-authors with Dr. Fung, and they have a more relatable way of writing and conveying information to readers. I tend to like science and technical stuff, but I enjoyed how easy it was to read and understand the co-authors and their perspectives. Both have worked with obesity and have intimate knowledge of being overweight, so their personal stories helped show how this lifestyle can work for people who have also struggled with their weight.
I thought that some of the information was very helpful, like specifically how to do a longer fast and the recommended frequency of fasts. There was some great information on how to ease into fasting for someone who snacks a lot and has never skipped a meal. I also liked how they talked us through the emotions that we might feel during each day of fasting and possible normal and abnormal side effects we should be looking for. It also reinforced the need for a no sugar, low carb diet, something the Dr. Fung suggests but isn't as focused on in his original book.
The only thing I really wanted more of was specific meal planning suggestions. For example, what kinds of sweets to eat when you are trying to eliminate sugar. In "The Obesity Code," Dr. Fung suggests very dark chocolate, but I was looking for more suggesting like using chia seeds or other things to satisfy a slight sweet craving without taking too many steps backwards. However, I really liked that the fasting lifestyle is so flexible that even if you eat carbs or don't modify meals that much, you can fit fasting into your way of life. I also think that this book doesn't talk enough about daily fasting intervals as something you can do long-term and instead focuses more on 24-72 hour fasts.
I think if you found "The Obesity Code" to be too technical or difficult to understand, "Life in the Fasting Lane" will be much more your speed. There are two co-authors with Dr. Fung, and they have a more relatable way of writing and conveying information to readers. I tend to like science and technical stuff, but I enjoyed how easy it was to read and understand the co-authors and their perspectives. Both have worked with obesity and have intimate knowledge of being overweight, so their personal stories helped show how this lifestyle can work for people who have also struggled with their weight.
I thought that some of the information was very helpful, like specifically how to do a longer fast and the recommended frequency of fasts. There was some great information on how to ease into fasting for someone who snacks a lot and has never skipped a meal. I also liked how they talked us through the emotions that we might feel during each day of fasting and possible normal and abnormal side effects we should be looking for. It also reinforced the need for a no sugar, low carb diet, something the Dr. Fung suggests but isn't as focused on in his original book.
The only thing I really wanted more of was specific meal planning suggestions. For example, what kinds of sweets to eat when you are trying to eliminate sugar. In "The Obesity Code," Dr. Fung suggests very dark chocolate, but I was looking for more suggesting like using chia seeds or other things to satisfy a slight sweet craving without taking too many steps backwards. However, I really liked that the fasting lifestyle is so flexible that even if you eat carbs or don't modify meals that much, you can fit fasting into your way of life. I also think that this book doesn't talk enough about daily fasting intervals as something you can do long-term and instead focuses more on 24-72 hour fasts.
I hate that I didn't love it more because you could hear the passion in the narration, but the non-linear storyline made it really hard to follow alonI hate that I didn't love it more because you could hear the passion in the narration, but the non-linear storyline made it really hard to follow along.
I read quite a few celebrity memoirs, and I have to say, they are rarely as funny or as entertaining as I hope they will be. However, Andrew RannellsI read quite a few celebrity memoirs, and I have to say, they are rarely as funny or as entertaining as I hope they will be. However, Andrew Rannells really managed to make Uncle of the Year: And Other Debatable Triumphs an extremely engaging read.
I was planning on this book being my "filler book" while I read other things, like an in-between read for when I don't have enough attention to focus on my longer books. However, once I picked up Uncle of the Year: And Other Debatable Triumphs, I actually had a hard time putting it down. Each story is amusing and instantly relatable, even to a middle-aged-ish suburban mom like me. I'm not a Broadway superfan (though I actually saw Andrew Rannells in The Book of Mormon), but I still was obsessed with his personal journey told in little bits and pieces throughout the book.
Andrew Rannells is a talented writer and instantly likeable, which made this book both fun to read and also thought provoking. I think this book would be even better in audio (I might get that also) because of how personal and engaging Andrew came across in the book.
Enjoyable from start to finish, Andrew Rannells wrote a very satisfying memoir for his fans and casual readers alike.
I read The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race for a few reasons, one to have some talking points when people say nonsense about vaccines, and another because I always like to have a "respectable" book to talk to patients about so I don't have to reveal that I enjoy alien/human romances...
I think The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race was very informative, even if the storytelling felt a bit all over the place. Even with my science background, I found some of the advances and the amount of science content to be weighty and hard to follow. I can't imagine how hard it would be for the average reader.
I'd imagine that it's pretty difficult to write a cohesive book about this topic, especially since it's all still evolving. However, the story didn't really feel like it was about Jennifer Doudna, but sort of an overview of how we got to the place we are with gene editing.
Truthfully, this book took me over a month to listen to, and though I enjoyed it, I had a hard time retaining much of the knowledge after the fact. Possibly the topic is just too dense for me, and possibly the author had a hard time paring down and organizing some of the facts of CRISPR.
First of all, if you want to read You Can’t Be Serious, I highly recommend getting it in audiobook form. Kal Penn is an amazing, d[image]
*4.5 stars*
First of all, if you want to read You Can’t Be Serious, I highly recommend getting it in audiobook form. Kal Penn is an amazing, dynamic narrator, and such a natural reader that it made this book an absolute pleasure to listen to. Well worth the money or credits, trust me.
I've been a Kal Penn fan for years, and I actually have a few friends in common with him (I can't even put this on my NJ connection, but NJ pride, *woot, woot*, so I was beyond excited to listen to this audiobook. I knew very little about him as a person, other than the fact that he left acting for a time to work in politics.
I think if you are curious about Kal Penn's intro into acting and how he had to work his butt off to make it with the likes of the legions of white, generic actors in the mid-90s, this book will be your jam. Kal Penn really shows the struggles of being Indian and trying to break into show business, but he remains funny and engaging and extremely personable during the whole audiobook. You'll feel like you are long-time friends.
Also, as someone who leans so far left that she could topple over, I loved his segments about working for the Obama administration and what an incredible risk that was for his finally successful acting career. I mean, I'm talking balls of steel, over here. I admire Kal so much for that.
If you are reading this book for an in-depth look or discussion about his sexuality, look elsewhere. He casually mentions his sexuality a few times, and also has a sweet chapter on meeting his boyfriend, which, if I'm being honest, feels more like a Nascar advertisement than anything else. I did find it a bit odd that he deep dove so heavily into his family's reaction to him not becoming a doctor or lawyer and what that meant for him and his family, but really completely skated over their reaction to his sexuality, which must have been also pretty momentous for them. I'm not saying he had to share anything more than he did, but it felt at odds with the tone of the rest of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook. Kal Penn did a fabulous job narrating this story and highlighting more about the inside world of Hollywood and politics during the past few decades.
Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons is a collection of John Paul Brammer's selected advice columns the speak on cultural and racial identity, being queer and smart in an intolerant, rural town, and the pain of love and loss. I could relate, personally, to very few of those elements on a superficial basis, but I felt his words profoundly and I think the book will connect particularly well with queer millennial-aged readers.
Parts of this book are funny and light, and parts of the story make you ache in a bone-deep way. I wanted to reach back in time to hug John Paul Brammer numerous times. Some of the essays made me want more of a conclusion to a particular story, but I was very pleased with what I got.
Narrators just okay. I took away a few interesting tidbits, but this book felt dated (still on the low-fat train) and like it had less science backingNarrators just okay. I took away a few interesting tidbits, but this book felt dated (still on the low-fat train) and like it had less science backing it than other books about fasting. ...more
I happen to love Seth Rogan, and I find him to be both extremely affable and very attractive. What can I say, my upbringi[image]
Incredibly charming.
I happen to love Seth Rogan, and I find him to be both extremely affable and very attractive. What can I say, my upbringing impregnated in my brain an affinity for Jewish men with glasses and good senses of humor? I was hoping that Year Book would be as funny and enjoyable as I was expecting, and I'm happy to report that I was right.
Sure, the book skews a little (okay, a lot) to stories of drug-fueled mishaps, but I enjoyed them, even if I've never been to Burning Man hopped up on acid. I really liked the celebrity encounter stories and stories from Seth Rogan's childhood. But, honestly, the best part was his easy-going and upbeat narrating style that just made everything come alive.
Broken by Jenny Lawson oscillates between a real heart-wrenching picture of what it's like to live with depression and anxiety and an uproa*3.5 stars*
Broken by Jenny Lawson oscillates between a real heart-wrenching picture of what it's like to live with depression and anxiety and an uproariously funny collection of observational and awkward humor. I loved both parts of the book equally, though the writing style and some of the chapters felt repetitive towards the end of the book.
I enjoyed Broken much more than Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things, which I read years ago and considered too one-note. Broken had some of those elements and sections that felt draggy, and I'll admit that I even skimmed a few parts. However, the bright spots of the story overshadowed the less interesting sections.
I couldn't stop laughing while reading a few sections. Like, fully-body laughter, which is rare for a book. The mix between these very funny sections and some really compelling, more serious sections was very effective and made for some moving reading. The parts of the book where Jenny Lawson talked about her struggle with depression and anxiety were very eye-opening for me, and I think it made me understand more about the struggles that people with different mental illnesses go through.
Despite some repetitive sections, I think Broken was a successful and entertaining read.
I've been on a bit of a health and wellness-related audiobook kick in my attempt to revamp my post-pandemic eating habits (thanks, Doritos), a[image]
I've been on a bit of a health and wellness-related audiobook kick in my attempt to revamp my post-pandemic eating habits (thanks, Doritos), and wanted to read more from Jason Fung after The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss changed my life.
The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally is an excellent book for those with type two diabetes or those wanting to prevent diabetes, but it's more like a good jumping off point than a step-by-step guide. I love all of the studies and science talk in the book, though for some it might be a little technical-speak-heavy. I think it's a nice companion to The Obesity Code, though some sections are repetitive.
An engaging an very interesting audiobook. Highly recommend listening to books from this author.
I think the overall message of In Defence of Food is great, but it's very just trust me on this kind of vibe. I'm sure my fact-lover husband would despise it, but it helped remind me of the many ways that food science has failed us. It offers minimal advise in the way of actual advice, but I think, paired with other books I've read, it offers some helpful ideas and reinforcements of things you instinctively know are good sense.
I don't know why I keep doing this to myself. Note to self: stop expecting people who are funny on TV and other mediums t[image]
*bangs head on desk*
I don't know why I keep doing this to myself. Note to self: stop expecting people who are funny on TV and other mediums to have funny books. Just stop.The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl was supposed to be entertaining, but it fell completely flat.
I keep saying this over and over, but you can be a talented, interesting person, but that doesn't translate to a good writer or a good book. It just doesn't. And this book is another example of that fact.
Issa Rae was just not awkward enough for me. If you are billing yourself as super awkward, and teasing your readers about having incredibly zany stories, I expect you to deliver. Instead, having a sort of privileged childhood with a wealthy father and private school upbringing means you have to write one hell of a story to capture readers' attention. Issa Rae didn't. Also, having a whole chapter about weight when you are a conventionally pretty and weigh much less than most women doesn't endear you to readers... just saying. You need to really craft a compelling book if you are going to make those types of things pop.
Also, the way Issa Rae narrated this book was like she was already bored with telling her story. It was so flat. I had a hard time even getting through it, and I debated DNFing at 90%.
While some chapters, like the one about her hair, were compelling, the book made me like Issa Rae a little less than I did before listening to it.
I have a deep love of celebrity memoirs, especially from comedic writers (See: A Very Punchable Face). However, more often than not, they fall flat on their faces (See: My Squirrel Days). Still, I knew that Ben Falcone is a very good script writer, and I was hopeful. I shouldn't have been.
Being a Dad Is Weird: Lessons in Fatherhood from My Family to Yours is extremely unfunny. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be amusing, but it is most assuredly not. I was also expecting some very cute/laughable parenting stories, but even those were dull. I'm a parent, I know how funny kids can be, and I'm sure Ben Falcone's are actually extremely funny, but the stories just didn't hit the mark.
It's hard to negatively review a story that is clearly so personal, but know that I'm not judging Ben Falcone's life or childhood. There are plenty of awesome and interesting people who live amazing lives but it doesn't translate well to a written memoir: this is one of those cases.
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
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