You need to know what you're getting into before starting this book else you won't enjoy it. It's a series of "fun facts" I'd say told in an 3.5 stars
You need to know what you're getting into before starting this book else you won't enjoy it. It's a series of "fun facts" I'd say told in an anecdote format no longer than two pages each. I honestly don't know how trust worthy the sources are since I didn't check. Some stories were more interesting than others too.
I listened to the audiobook which was a plus since Mahnke narrates himself and he makes a good storyteller. However, some writing tropes grew repetitive, especially when it came to the final reveal. Some were unnecessary too and if anything, they would've grabbed my attention more if I knew who am I listening about. The cons is that sometimes my mind wandered and I couldn't stay focused all the time on the audiobook since the story isn't continuous and might have missed some chapters. I don't think all of the stories should've made it to the "cabinet". Others left my memory as soon as the chapter ended. At the same time, I do realise that many stories were about Americans and some stories about people I've never heard of, so of course, it would resonate differently which person depending on their age/national history.
I'm rating it 4 stars because I don't usually listen to podcasts but I do love learning random facts so this book worked quite well for me. Hence, read a bit about this one before starting it because it's not a book that can be read just any time if you usually read fiction, like I do....more
Although this book is written with all readers in mind, I can see why some might not find it useful. However, my work includes interviewing people froAlthough this book is written with all readers in mind, I can see why some might not find it useful. However, my work includes interviewing people from time to time and I always wonder if they’re lying to my face. This book presented some good tips I’ll be trying....more
Truly enjoyed listening to the audiobook, it pulled me out of my audiobook slump! It’s indeed a powerful memoir about accepting and acknowledging one Truly enjoyed listening to the audiobook, it pulled me out of my audiobook slump! It’s indeed a powerful memoir about accepting and acknowledging one true-self. Davis also doesn’t shy away from sharing her ugly childhood details. I’m so glad she became the woman that she is today!...more
One of the reasons why I love reading are the new perspectives and experiences we can go through with the Very powerful story. Audiobook recommended.
One of the reasons why I love reading are the new perspectives and experiences we can go through with the author/characters. However, the extent of their impact, varies. More often than not nowadays, I close a book having taken nothing with me. This wasn't the case here. "Somebody's Daughter" presented me with a new perspective I have never considered before. Ford's father was convinced of a hideous crime and yet she still wanted a relationship with him. I have never before considered how incarnation truly affects the relationship of the person with their parent. Sure, I have read a lot of fiction where one of the parents of the MC was in prison but the way Ford told her story and the fact that is a memoir, hit differently.
As we grow, things start to appear less and less in black and white. What caught my attention here is that Ford wasn't okay with what her father has done, she was also on the receiving end of the same crime, and yet. She still wanted a relationship with her father, she still loved him. I never gave much thought to what the children of perps think of their parents. I always took the survivor/victim's PoV but it's okay if they have people in their lives who still wanted to be involved in their lives all while acknowledging the crime.
So it is a powerful story. It's the reason why I read memoirs because I want "eye-opening" books and unfortunately, while many books are marketed as much, I haven't come across a lot of those. To me, at least, this book gave me a new thing to think about and ponder and if you read it, I hope it will leave something with you too....more
very informative and eye opening but I wish there were more "solutions" rather than mostly numbers.very informative and eye opening but I wish there were more "solutions" rather than mostly numbers....more
This book was very informative, it gave a deeper understanding on what was going during the last few years in the UK. I’m no expert but read this bookThis book was very informative, it gave a deeper understanding on what was going during the last few years in the UK. I’m no expert but read this book for info so i can’t say if he’s right or wrong but I do agree on a lot of what Grey said.
you know, in Lebanon we've been having 6+ hours queues for fuel, now luckily no more than two if with higher prices, and lots of stations have closed but it's Lebanon. To think that the same is happening in the UK. Because of Brexit. A decision the 17.4 million people made (yes, if you know, you know). Well, clearly it's more complex than that but it paints quite a picture, doesn't it?...more
This book was heartbreaking and what Thistle went through and overcame is highly admirable. He is a very strong person and I'm glad he foun3 1/2 stars
This book was heartbreaking and what Thistle went through and overcame is highly admirable. He is a very strong person and I'm glad he found himself after all of what happened in the past. This memoir is raw and Thistle doesn't shy away from the ugly truths.
So my rating isn't regarding his life itself and his experience (needless to say, that would be very high but rating someone’s life is weird so let’s not do that) but rather the book and writing. the audiobook didn't work for me perhaps because of the writing style and narration. It's narrated by Thistle himself so I expected to "feel" more. I didn't. I was mostly detached from the story (except for the parts where I cringed at what happened -bad events- and the ending). I honestly loved the ending and it was my favorite part of the book. I wish it was more elaborate and how he overcame everything instead of his past (which was important but a lot of the time I found myself thinking of the ending -the recovery- instead of the current events).
Nonetheless, it’s a solid memoir just maybe read the book instead unless you’re avid audiobook listener but then again, I am that and it didn’t quite for me. Thistle journey was truly inspiring and anyone looking for powerful memoir on drug addiction & recovery should read it. ...more
Interesting book, didn’t know a lot the accident before reading it (only have heard of it vaguely). I honestly don’t get the thrill of climbing such pInteresting book, didn’t know a lot the accident before reading it (only have heard of it vaguely). I honestly don’t get the thrill of climbing such peaks especially since the fatalities aren’t few. Or at least the extra danger climbers might put themselves through. But hey, don’t worry they’ll pay someone to carry all of their junk! Rtc. ...more
Fine made many valid points and backed them by research and studies. She didn't shy away from providing names in the scientific field and contradictinFine made many valid points and backed them by research and studies. She didn't shy away from providing names in the scientific field and contradicting their findings.
However, the book got repetitive and at one point I just wanted to be done. Interesting sure but that's about it. The audiobook didn't help, the voice quality wasn't very good, not sure if the issue is from my audio or the real thing. It sounded too recorded. The voice also became kinda robotic without being actually that?
While I found it informative mostly, I wish it was shorter and didn't go into such detail sometimes... they just bored me. She did prove society's effect on our gender perception, education, parenting, etc. too. But yeah she could've made the same points in fewer pages (the book isn't long but for such content it is). Nonetheless, the topic she discussed is very important and most of us were guilty of it at some point, at least unconsciously. This book over 10 years old, I wonder what has changed since but I doubt it's much sadly. ...more
A powerful book indeed! I only heard about it recently (I missed lots of 2019 releases) and I knew I had to read it.
It was eye-opening. Like everyone,A powerful book indeed! I only heard about it recently (I missed lots of 2019 releases) and I knew I had to read it.
It was eye-opening. Like everyone, I have heard of the Me Too movement and read about what was happening but to read all of this about a single famous person, is also different. How men in the Hollywood industry abused their power and got away with it. For decades. Especially someone like Harvey Weinstein. It was interesting to read about what was going on behind the scenes. It's also empowering because women who suffered from any famous person can stop being silent and speak out without having to be afraid.
The audiobook narration was good enough so I recommend the audiobook if you're considering reading this book.
My only complaint is that the Christine Ford story in the second part and the Kavanaugh accusation and hearing weren't necessary. At least no in such great detail. I would've preferred the book to be centered mostly on Harvey and maybe other cases summarized. Ford's part wasn't that interesting to me....more
I read this as a reading assignment for a course I'm taking. It gives a general idea of how IL affects our lives. I wish it focused more on the countrI read this as a reading assignment for a course I'm taking. It gives a general idea of how IL affects our lives. I wish it focused more on the countries each of these ways is applied to, instead of centering around the US. I know I can google it but it would've been better to see it directly, to know for example, which countries respect a specific agreement. Then, make comparisons. Many of these only apply to first world countries but they did say that this booklet is relative to the US. ...more
This book was impressive regardless of whether I think it’s completely authentic or not. It was interesting to read about Tara’s life and her family’sThis book was impressive regardless of whether I think it’s completely authentic or not. It was interesting to read about Tara’s life and her family’s weird style of living and doing things. The violence she suffered was inexcusable and it saddens me to know her brother’s wife might be still violated.
The audiobook was nice to listen to and the narration was pretty good. So if you’re considering listening to the audiobook, I’m glad to report it was one of the better ones I’ve listened to.
I do however need to mention that I am skeptical of several incidents, like how they got into many accidents and rarely received any medical assistance yet her mother’s herbs were enough. I also think either Tara is a genius (and not just “very smart�) or her account on her schooling is not accurate. Education is a process that takes place across many years. Even someone smarter than average cannot pass such a test (while many others who went to school failed) having studied so little and only before the exam. I think she received more schooling than she claimed (or is a genius -I’m not an expert but she didn’t feel like one). She was also driving since at least 16, she never said anything about obtaining a driving license -as far as I know. Doesn’t she need official papers to do it?
Still her story was powerful and worth reading even if her life in a Mormon family was more interesting to me than the education part....more
I loved this book! I have a difficult time reading non-fiction but I couldn’t put this one down, I guess because I’m very interested in its topic. I wI loved this book! I have a difficult time reading non-fiction but I couldn’t put this one down, I guess because I’m very interested in its topic. I wish Chasing Chaos was longer, wanted to know more of Alexander’s experience in the field instead of her personal life (this definitely made the book more “fiction like� to me but in this case, and maybe easier to read but I only wanted to know more about the facts, events, programs, and hardships they faced in executing them).
I would recommend this book: 1- if you’re interested in the lives of humanitarian aid workers and humanitarian work and don’t know a lot about it. 2- if you want to become one.
It certainly offered new information -to me- on the lives of aid workers and what they experience. Now I’m trying to find every interesting book on aid work out there. But if you’re experienced and knowledgeable on these matters, you probably won’t enjoy it. This is my first and that’s probably why I found it so fascinating.
I was very curious regarding which NGOs she worked for and her trips after she decided to settle down. I wish she elaborated more on these things....more
It took me a year (rather, 11 months exactly) to listen to this audio... I started the first half while I was painting last year and never got the oppIt took me a year (rather, 11 months exactly) to listen to this audio... I started the first half while I was painting last year and never got the opportunity to finish it. Months later, when I had it on my phone, I continued listening to it but got bored. B-9 and B-12 planes sadly did not interest. Nor the details on his military service. I honestly know nothing about planes, never been in one even, so the technical part bored me. A lot.
Last week I finally made enough progress and reached the ocean part, the story improved considerably. I listened to the audio at every chance I had and finished it rather quickly.
I honestly didn't know who Louis was before starting this book. Back in spring, my dad was watching a movie on tv.. I was watching snippets with him and then wow it's so similar to the book.. WAIT what. Yeah, that's how I discovered it's the same Unbroken directed by Angelina Jolie. And Louis is going to get captured by the Japs. You see, I had the audiobook on my laptop and only knew it's a non-fic biography. It was only last week, when I became invested in the story again, that I googled some things about the book (other than the general google page) and yes I did read some spoilers but are is there a spoiler in a biography? Well if I didn't know the story.. I think yes. I couldn't help it, I wanted to know if Allen will survive too.
Aside from the military part, I loved the story and how it was told. from the beginning to the very last page. It's really beautiful and heartbreaking. This isn't a review, this is just me telling you that this is a well-written story, it makes a good audiobook, the narrator did a good job, the story is popular for a reason, and the book deserves recognition. If you like reading about WWII stories read it. The only difference is that the author did not have to make up the tragedies and hardships that Louis went through as an athlete, the life on the raft, the horrors of the war, the life after the war......more
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