I read this after Daring Greatly, so I think I didn't learn as much new stuff as I would have otherwise. Some good points and a quick read, though.I read this after Daring Greatly, so I think I didn't learn as much new stuff as I would have otherwise. Some good points and a quick read, though....more
Some old information, some new. Definitely a good look at the evolution of the human body (and bodies in general) and how it relates to our current liSome old information, some new. Definitely a good look at the evolution of the human body (and bodies in general) and how it relates to our current lifestyle. Light-hearted, filled with anecdotes, jokes, and silly diagrams, this book is good for just about anybody....more
This is an excellent overview of our current systems of agriculture and food. Instead of simple rules like "Eat organic!" or "Buy local!" this is a muThis is an excellent overview of our current systems of agriculture and food. Instead of simple rules like "Eat organic!" or "Buy local!" this is a much more integrated view of everything, and how we can start thinking about food and farming in a more complete way. ...more
I've often complained that people are too busy, and that they take pride in their inability to make time for _______. This book is a beautiful argumenI've often complained that people are too busy, and that they take pride in their inability to make time for _______. This book is a beautiful argument for doing less but better, not for trying to cram as many projects/activities/events/whatever as possible into every minute of every day.
I listened to the audiobook, but I think the book-book version might be more helpful because of some of the formatting -- the use of tables, figures, etc. I still got the main points, so maybe it doesn't really matter.
The author does get repetitive about some things, but overall I really enjoyed the message and methods to implement restructuring your time, tasks, and mindset....more
The author sounds very stuck in her way of thinking, and the style of writing was very grating. Everything was about childhood trauma (except for the excerpt that said it wasn't all about childhood trauma, really...just the rest of this chapter and the next and maybe some more throughout the book). There was a whole lot of shock factor -- she would start talking about a client, then all of a sudden drop "sexual abuse" all over the description and talk about childhood trauma. In one case, she talked about a former classmate who was teased, but who was getting better and moving on, and then -- bam! -- btw, he committed suicide.
I have no tolerance for this kind of writing. Especially since this is in a book about highly sensitive people, you'd think she would know better than to pull that.
Don't recommend. If you want to know about introversion and sensitivity, Quiet is a much better (and more helpful) book....more
This book provides a very in-depth overview of microbial growth kinetics in various conditions. It starts off with a history of the field, which is esThis book provides a very in-depth overview of microbial growth kinetics in various conditions. It starts off with a history of the field, which is essential to understanding the rest of the book. The first time I tried to read it, I skimmed the history, and this basically killed my ability to interpret anything more advanced.
While very mathematical (the focus is quantitative characterization of all systems), the text is organized and explained sufficiently to bridge a gap between theoretical and experimental scientists....more
This might have been better for a non-scientist, because it was pretty basic and only superficially covered the issues of GMOs. The argument was more This might have been better for a non-scientist, because it was pretty basic and only superficially covered the issues of GMOs. The argument was more "this is how we feed people" and less "these are the consequences." When potentially negative impacts were considered, some were quickly dismissed because "they could happen, but they haven't." Other impacts were, again, a little superficial. The last couple of chapters (the "future directions" section) were okay but not as great a discussion as I would have liked....more
If you're looking for a brief discussion of thyroid function and problems, followed by a LOT of information on how to generally be a healthy person, tIf you're looking for a brief discussion of thyroid function and problems, followed by a LOT of information on how to generally be a healthy person, this book is for you.
But that book is not for me. A lot of the information is what I already know, or what I'm not interested in. To the author's credit, the discussion of various management strategies was fairly objective and well-researched, and I REALLY appreciate the divergence from the "eat less and exercise more" camp!...more
A good reference book, but fairly specific to pasture-raising. I'd like to look into that some more when I have the space (and don't live in a desert.A good reference book, but fairly specific to pasture-raising. I'd like to look into that some more when I have the space (and don't live in a desert...), but for now it's not as applicable :/...more
I've heard a lot about Joel Salatin, though this is the first book of his that I've read. I'm not sure it was a great choice, but I'm glad I read it aI've heard a lot about Joel Salatin, though this is the first book of his that I've read. I'm not sure it was a great choice, but I'm glad I read it anyway. I'm interested in farming. Salatin makes it seem like a very, very, very frustrating venture in ways I never thought about. Discouraging, but good to know.
I expected to not agree with him on many points, as he strikes me as a very opinionated, extremist person. The ranting-and-raving style definitely plays into that. I'm not sure I trust all his facts, and he cites an awful lot of anecdata, but he does have some pretty convincing arguments. And there are some things we've apparently agreed on all along, such as the abuse of anti-microbials in... well, just about everything. Microbes are good! Salatin agrees!
Some things that struck me in particular:
"...in our Greco-Roman Western compartmentalized systematized fragmented individualized disconnected parts-oriented worldview, our culture views life as fundamentally mechanical. It is interchangeable parts. It is a rearrangement of protons, electrons, and neutrons. It's a huge Tinker-toy set, or a big box of Legos. It contains no mystery. No ethics. No morality. Respect is not necessary. ... This is why for much of my life now I've been trying to undo my westernized damaged brain by tempering it with some Eastern holistic community-based, we're-all-relatives connected kind of thinking. A culture that views animals and plants as inanimate piles of protoplasmic structure to be manipulated however cleverly hubris can imagine to manipulate it will view its citizens the same way. And other cultures the same way. Our respecting and honoring the pigness of the pig, therefore, creates the ethical and moral framework upon which we respect and honor the Maryness of Mary and the Tomness of Tom."
Did not expect this, honestly. But I feel like it's a fairly accurate description of our mindset, at least in the sciences.
Which brings me to...
"Science is not objective. I know, in the theoretical sense science is objective. You run the experiment, measure the results, record the data, and analyze it with no bias. The problem is, we are biased beings. Every one of us. We come to a situation with predetermined ideas. How many times have people looked at the same data and come away with two completely different interpretations?"
SO TRUE. Thanks for saying it like it is, because more people need to be aware of the biases in science. Right, it does try to be as objective as possible, but it's never going to be completely objective. It just can't be, because we're human, and it's just human nature to be invested in the experiment. Some people are better at divorcing expectations than others, maybe. But overall, bias is a huge problem.
Anyway. Recommend for anyone interested in returning to a normal food system or curious about the whole local food movement....more
A very interesting book on cooperation, especially as it pertains to humans and how we are similar/different from other social animals. The scientificA very interesting book on cooperation, especially as it pertains to humans and how we are similar/different from other social animals. The scientific evidence is a bit superficial but sufficient to prove the points; the opinions are usually well-argued. The writing is dry and repetitive but thought-provoking nonetheless....more
I kind of want to learn how to hunt now. Seriously. If I said that to my 10 year old self, I would have thought I was crazy. But I can totally understI kind of want to learn how to hunt now. Seriously. If I said that to my 10 year old self, I would have thought I was crazy. But I can totally understand the empowerment of hunting your own food -- of knowing and acknowledging where it came from, and that it died so you could live.
Also, some of the recipes sound amazing. Having them at the end of each chapter really tied up the anecdote nicely....more
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