I had this book on my Audible for over a month, hoping to make progress and eventually complete it. Although the prose was undoubtedly well-crafted anI had this book on my Audible for over a month, hoping to make progress and eventually complete it. Although the prose was undoubtedly well-crafted and the humour was entertaining, I found the writing redundant and unnecessarily lengthy. The story failed to capture my interest, and I struggled to stay invested. Ultimately, I don't believe continuing to read this book would add value to my intellectual existence. I abandoned it after listening for five hours out of 25 hours....more
This book is one platitude after another and lots of "non-rules" ("non-" because, apparently, Zen is a "non-everything"). Sit this way (but don't), feThis book is one platitude after another and lots of "non-rules" ("non-" because, apparently, Zen is a "non-everything"). Sit this way (but don't), feel this way (but don't), do this way (but don't), "kill the Buddha". Religions are only interesting to me because they are a cultural aspect of people, but this book is only for those who already know about this practice and want to make it a lifestyle. It was boring for me because, instead, I was looking for anthropological hints....more
I'm not a therapist, so this book was not meant for me. However, I wanted to read it because I trust Gabor Mate, quoted in the foreword.
I read a few I'm not a therapist, so this book was not meant for me. However, I wanted to read it because I trust Gabor Mate, quoted in the foreword.
I read a few chapters and then put it down because it's all about Jungian concepts and spirituality. I cringe every time I read hippy-sounding words like "sacredness".
This book sounded like, with psychedelics, everything is left to the experience. I understand this in a way; the patient doesn't know what's in their unconscious, and the practitioner doesn't either. But then, the book says the practitioner should go for a trip with the patient to ensure they trust them. This idea is too hippy for me.
I'm finishing up my 8-year psychoanalysis journey, and I understand why people would prefer the psychedelic + therapy solution; it sounds more powerful and faster, but I feel it also attracts sketchy practitioners and DYI. I hope more psychoanalysts study how to work with psychedelics instead of Jungian hippies....more
I wanted to read this book as part of my pride month reading list, but half in, I decided to put it down. I diThis book is not deep; it's emo galore.
I wanted to read this book as part of my pride month reading list, but half in, I decided to put it down. I didn't do it earlier because of all the great reviews I've read, including one in the NYT, and because it was adapted to a stage play by Harold Pinter.
I appreciate the interesting genre mix (fairy tale, natural realism, Gothic novel, Victorian story), the page-turning power of its flowy prose and the technical command of narrative devices; however, the story is only voyeuristic entertainment reflecting how we see trauma nowadays.
In this novel, trauma is exposed, stripped out of its intimacy; it is like porn to sex - it is trauma porn. All characters and the story are only there to give life to the main character's pain.
Even in The Guardian, I saw reviews saying A Little Life is traumatising. I thought of Gabor Maté's new book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture. A book, a play, or a movie might trigger you, but it is not traumatising. This is an example of how the word trauma and its concept are mis and over-used nowadays. A Little Life adds to this trend.
Ultimately, this book is by an author who, because of her traumas, enjoys and wants to be edgy and bold, giving punches in the stomach to her readers because a novel (and a life) with hope is vanilla....more
I thought this book would be more personal, more about the people and less about the mere facts; plus, I didn't like its prose. I read some articles aI thought this book would be more personal, more about the people and less about the mere facts; plus, I didn't like its prose. I read some articles about it and realised that the style would not change later in the book, so I decided to abandon it. Anyway, the author says that everything has been reported instantly, and that's how it is still working for the Black Lives Matter movement. I believe a more comprehensive book will come out eventually, with interviews and personal stories and deeper introspection in the movement. In the meantime, it better we follow Twitter and Facebook on the matter....more
A friend of mine suggested I read this book, but it is not for me. It is one of the many self-help books out there, which is not the way I improve in A friend of mine suggested I read this book, but it is not for me. It is one of the many self-help books out there, which is not the way I improve in life. I prefer to build my own personality from the inside and not following external techniques....more
I started reading it because my friend was all over it, but I abandoned it immediately. It is one of the many unsustainable diets that are good for peI started reading it because my friend was all over it, but I abandoned it immediately. It is one of the many unsustainable diets that are good for people with specific health problems, not for the general public. Too many rules, too many restrictions, it is not sustainable and it could lead to orthorexia. I believe in the thermodynamic laws that explain energy balance and macro composition. Then, of course, if you have a condition or are stressed, this might contribute to weight loss or gain. ...more
Didn't buy this book, probably it's my ex flatmate's who left it behind. Sarted to read it this afternoon, felt soon irritated because of the poor wriDidn't buy this book, probably it's my ex flatmate's who left it behind. Sarted to read it this afternoon, felt soon irritated because of the poor writing, similar to the one of some tabloid magazines. Abandoned after a couple of hours.
Then, before putting this book down, I went to see if I was the only one. I read Warwick's review and I agree with him. I'm glad I didn't spend too much time on this title....more
I read this book after my doctor told me about epigenetics and I wanted to know more - I should have asked him to give me some titles. I am not a scieI read this book after my doctor told me about epigenetics and I wanted to know more - I should have asked him to give me some titles. I am not a scientist and knowing that the author had a valuable background (I was not aware of Google Scholar yet), I thought I could trust him. But then I started to see a few red lights (also in his YouTube videos - enormous flags) and I realised Lipton was taking science into another realm, a rather lysergic one. I am sorry to give this book just one star because I don't think Lipton is a charlatan; I, instead, have the feeling that he strongly believes in what he preaches, and I can see his passion and genuine attitude towards his followers. However, I cannot give more than one star to someone that is anti-vax. I think that this book and his theories will be great for hippies that apply quantum physics to yoga to justify their delusional approach to the universe. I know three quantum physics Ph.D.'s, none of them know the other two, one is French, the other Irish, the other one German. I separately asked them what they thought about the implementation of their discipline into the yoga "philosophy". They all rolled their eyes, laughed, and said "Don't get me started". ...more
I found this book on a bookshelf in the flat where I lived when I was in London. My flatmate was an intelligent and cultured Australian archaeologist I found this book on a bookshelf in the flat where I lived when I was in London. My flatmate was an intelligent and cultured Australian archaeologist and I thought it was hers (I don't think it was after I attempted to read it!). I started it and it was not bad at the beginning, it was nothing deep, just a page-turner, but I was fine for what it was - an entertaining book. Then, the scenes started to be about dangerous situations and it was like the main character was the (white) hero in India; when the scenes were calm, instead, the narrative was a sappy ball of cheap philosophy. For these reasons, I decided to abandon the book after a hundred pages. ...more
Yes, abandoned. Not because it was bad. I liked the story and the prose style, but I constantly get distracted because it doesn't excite me. Plus, it Yes, abandoned. Not because it was bad. I liked the story and the prose style, but I constantly get distracted because it doesn't excite me. Plus, it is too long, and I want to read other stuff that gives me more intellectual wonder than sci-fi entertainment. I am reading the Litcharts summary, though and will watch the movie ;-)...more
I read this book because all my single girlfriends read it and they all found a partner. I laughed at myself when I downloaded it because I don't normI read this book because all my single girlfriends read it and they all found a partner. I laughed at myself when I downloaded it because I don't normally enjoy this kind of cheap psychology methods interspersed with some Buddhism. It is well written and some stories are nice to hear, but I refused to do the exercises. The 1-star is not because it didn't work, but because I don't like this extra-feminine, yoga-like, semi-spiritual type of books. I prefer psychoanalysis. ...more
I have always been very sporty and fit, I have always eaten a normal Mediterranean diet rich in all the macros and micro-nutrients. Since I have movedI have always been very sporty and fit, I have always eaten a normal Mediterranean diet rich in all the macros and micro-nutrients. Since I have moved to England and then to Australia where I live now, I started to be surrounded by fad diets, superfoods and lots of marketing bullshit. One of the things I liked about this book is that it doesn't follow any of the above-mentioned gimmicks and I agree with many of the concepts it outlines, such as:
- if you restrict yourself, you will, soon or later, overcompensate - an impending restriction or diet leads to overcompensating beforehand - if you deprive yourself of pleasurable food, you will end up craving it - we might be biased and like food that we actually do not enjoy because it is supposedly healthier - social media accentuate unrealistic expectations of beauty - thin doesn't mean healthy and overweight doesn't necessarily mean unhealthy - orthorexia is the main problem with diets
However, I do not agree with the following:
- Diets do not work Diets do not work if they are unsustainable and not based on science. If someone is obese, they need a diet and a programme; if you are overweight, you need to go on a diet, a sustainable one. It's like exercising. You need a programme and you need to review it all the time, change it and adjust it - Diets impose restrictions Diets are not necessarily about restrictions, they can be a guideline, a general reference; from there, as in everything, we can break the rules sometimes - Foods are not morally good or bad True, food cannot have a moral connotation, but I do not agree with being okay eating everything; it is good to choose the most natural food possible and what is morally bad can be the company producing and/or supplying the food (MacDonald's and co) - Junk food is okay Yes, but once in a while, if you really want to break the rule or nothing better is available - but no way MacDonald's is better than a burger bought at the local farmers market! - All diets are a fad Most of them are and they are a marketing gimmick, but, for example, the Low FODMAPs diet (which the author quickly mentions as a fad) is not a fad at all, and it is a temporary elimination challenge of three weeks max after which you should reintroduce the various categories of foods to see what causes IBS symptoms, such as bloated stomach, headaches and nausea. - We overeat to compensate for what we have restricted before Yes, maybe, but it is not so logical and mathematical. If you haven't eaten cake for ten years, you won't have to eat cake every day for ten more years (or whatever) before you don't crave cake anymore.
Finally, the thing that I really hated about this book is that it is a "fuck it" diet, but IT IS STILL A DIET, it is a programme. People that binge and/or restrict don't have a good relationship with food not because of some physical ancestral reasons, it is because dysfunctionalities are symptoms of something deeper. Traumas need to be detected, addressed and resolved with a psychoanalyst or a psychologist, not with fad diets, yoyo diets or fuck it diets. The relationship with food and with ourselves will get better hand by hand; in the meantime, it is important not to blame famine, flight or fight, hormones and so on. Those are just hooks and excuses. If you are okay with yourself, even PMS won't be so symptomatic anymore, IBS flareups won't be so frequent and also autoimmune inflammation will decrease.
Luckily I am not bulimic, but I am an emotional eater and I used to make up for my chocolate binge sessions with strenuous and very long cardio exerciLuckily I am not bulimic, but I am an emotional eater and I used to make up for my chocolate binge sessions with strenuous and very long cardio exercises. I read this book out of desperation because I was in therapy (I still am) but I couldn't stop with this behaviour. I looked for something to listen to about this type of eating disorders and I found this book. I couldn't finish it, it is dangerous! I hope girls won't believe that eating disorders have nothing to do with psychology and that they won't want to see a therapist. So wrong. Avoid this book if you suffer from eating disorders and, instead, go to a dietitian with a psychological approach....more
Stay away from this book. Lots of unscientific/ not evidence based nonsense. I'm embarrassed I've read almost half of it.Stay away from this book. Lots of unscientific/ not evidence based nonsense. I'm embarrassed I've read almost half of it....more
I read this book after my friends raved about it for so long. I couldn't finish it. I watched some of Tolle's chats with Oprah as well. I cannot standI read this book after my friends raved about it for so long. I couldn't finish it. I watched some of Tolle's chats with Oprah as well. I cannot stand this man. My gut feeling says there is something sinister in this man. He speaks so much about himself, and then we should be selfless? This is what I see in yogis as well - the spiritual ones (usually men) brag about their enlightenment; the flexible ones (usually women) show off their fit body in sexy activewear. I read a couple of chapters before giving up. I thought it was not even well-written and his talks on TV are a patchwork of Buddhism and Christianism, very theoretical and judgmental. It looks like you should be this zen person all the time, floating in the present, but, at the same time, grounded and mindful. Not practical at all, and very NewAgey. ...more
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