Now that it is after Christmas I can write my review. Because I MET MICHELLE WHILE I READ THIS BOOK! I was one of less than 500 lucky people to be ablNow that it is after Christmas I can write my review. Because I MET MICHELLE WHILE I READ THIS BOOK! I was one of less than 500 lucky people to be able to get tickets for her afternoon event at the Tattered Cover in Denver. She held my hand, and I told her how much she inspires myself and my cousin, and she told us to hang in there, which was exactly what we needed to hear after this shitstorm of a year. I gave the signed copies to my Mom and cousin for Christmas, but I got to meet her!
The book is fantastic. It's well written, and intimate, and honest, and wonderful. I can't wait until she writes another. I love her....more
What does it take to get your daily cup of coffee in your hand? A lot. A.J. Jacobs goes on a quest to thank a thousand people involved in delivering hWhat does it take to get your daily cup of coffee in your hand? A lot. A.J. Jacobs goes on a quest to thank a thousand people involved in delivering his daily cup of Joe's Coffee. He starts with the barista, and works his way through the owner, to the logo designer, to the people guaranteeing purity in water and food inspection, to truck drivers. He talks to pallet makers, steel manufacturers, the designers of the cup lid and java jacket, all the way down to the people picking the coffee cherries.
This is my first book by Mr. Jacobs, but not the first one I've been interested in. It's a very short book, so it won't take you long to read. It was an interesting and enjoyable read, that makes you think about what it takes to get each and every one of our daily conveniences. It is good practice to be reminded to be grateful for the little things, and how much work it takes to get those little things to us. ...more
I have been a huge Daily Show fan since the Craig Kilborn days. So when Trevor Noah was announced as Jon Stewart's replacement, I found out as much asI have been a huge Daily Show fan since the Craig Kilborn days. So when Trevor Noah was announced as Jon Stewart's replacement, I found out as much as I could about him. I watched the documentary about him (You Laugh, But It's True) on Netflix and I got tickets to his first US tour. I had been meaning to read his book for some time, and was planning on getting to it this year since my goal for the year was non-fiction books. And then someone picked it for book club. Yay! Trevor is a fantastic storyteller. His book is topically arranged, as he talks about religion, time with his father, school, his attempts at romance, his life of minor crime, and home life. These sections all span several years, and aren't really chronological, so it can be hard to figure out what piece fits where, but they make a picture of a fascinating life. And the overarching presence in the book is his mother, Patricia. She is a force of nature, who guided Trevor through a difficult and often dangerous childhood. Trevor's love of his mother and grandmother are evident throughout the book. I really appreciated learning about apartheid, and life under it and in its shadow. Prejudices didn't go away when it ended; it will probably take decades to escape its impact. Overall Trevor has written a fabulous story of an incredibly improbable life, and I am looking forward to his next book. ...more
Madeline Albright has a better understanding of fascism than most people. Having escaped Nazi controlled Czechoslovakia as a child, and then fled the Madeline Albright has a better understanding of fascism than most people. Having escaped Nazi controlled Czechoslovakia as a child, and then fled the new communist government after the war, she then spent her life in the diplomatic corps, working to make the world a better place. This book doesn’t give a definition of fascism, because fascism takes many forms. But we are given examples, from Hitler and Mussolini to Hugo Chavez and Kim Jong-il. The tactics taken by repressive government regimes are reemerging in the 21st century, and the only way we have a chance at avoiding another round is be understand and recognizing how fascism begins. An incredibly timely and important read....more
When I was in high school in Nebraska my family took a summer camping trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. This would have been the summer of 199When I was in high school in Nebraska my family took a summer camping trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. This would have been the summer of 1998 or 1999, I can’t quite remember which. I remember enjoying both parks a great deal and being in awe of the Tetons. Sadly, the only wildlife I remember seeing was a grizzly that was running on the side of the road while we were in a traffic jam. He was being chased by a tourist with a camera. I don’t remember if we were told about the Wolf Project. Now that I live in Colorado I have been hoping to go back to Yellowstone. Reading this book makes me want to go back even more.
Mr. Blakeslee tells the story of the reintroduction of wolves to the environment which humans eliminated them from in the early 20th century. Blakeslee tells the story of several memorable wolves after the reintroduction, but the story focuses on the story of Oh-Six, an alpha female born in 2006. The pack she would lead occupied a valley near the road in Yellowstone, making observation of her family incredibly easy for the wolf watchers. But not everyone was happy about this return to the natural status quo. As the wolves reached a relatively stable level, hunters, ranchers, and politicians in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho worked towards making hunting wolves that left the park legal. Inevitably, these two forces would meet.
Blakeslee does a fantastic job, thanks to the incredible notes of National Park Ranger Rick McIntyre and his team of wolf watchers, telling us about the lives of wolves. It is a surprisingly emotional and dramatic work, and I am thrilled to have read it. He presents the side of the hunters, ranchers, and politicians without judgement, but there is markedly less empathy for the arguments they put forth. Or perhaps that is my emotional read of it. It is high time that we go about righting the wrongs that we have committed on our natural landscape and wildlife, as much as we reasonable can. After all, they were here first....more
Hello. My name is Kristy, and I have been angry for a long, long time. If I had to put a number to it, it'd be about 19 years. For reference, I'll turHello. My name is Kristy, and I have been angry for a long, long time. If I had to put a number to it, it'd be about 19 years. For reference, I'll turn 36 next month. There are many things that have contributed to my rage, but 19 years ago was the beginning of my social and political awakening from my upper-middle class sheltered life. But I didn't call it anger then. It wasn't until the last 2 years that I have acknowledged the near constant state of rage that has become my new norm. I feel other things as well; I love my friends and family, and experience joy and sorrow. But there is a constant undercurrent of rage. Rage at injustice, and inequality of all kinds, of intolerance for people who are different, and have been traditionally marginalized in our country. For a few months after the election of President* Trump I was nearly immobile with sorrow. My life plans had been overturned, as I had just interviewed for a job in DC the week before the election, but all of a sudden all the jobs I had been interested in were gone. I didn't feel like myself again until the Women's March (I attended the Boston event), and I have been in a constant state of angry protest since then. I attended the protests against the travel bans, and the March for Science, and I had my picture taken at the March for Our Lives earlier this year. https://denver.cbslocal.com/photo-gal...
Ms. Traister, feeling the need of the various movements, wrote this book in 4 months. She makes some reference to historical instances of and treatment of women's anger, but she focuses on the current situation. She covers how Michelle Obama and Hillary had to temper their anger to seem appealing, the double standard for women and anger in general, the Women's March, the Me Too movement, teacher strikes, and other protests that have become so common these days. She talks about women who have been so moved by anger that they run for office to change things. I love that she is intersectional in her analysis and feminist theory, because that is the only way the movement can move forward. I knew some of what she discussed, but I learned much as well. This is a book I will come back to, and buy a copy of in paperback, when I expect there will be new material. I will continue to be mad, and to try and change things, even when it feels hopeless....more
An excellent companion to Rebecca Traister's Good and Mad. Ms. Chemaly uses numerous studies to show how repressing anger impacts women on physical anAn excellent companion to Rebecca Traister's Good and Mad. Ms. Chemaly uses numerous studies to show how repressing anger impacts women on physical and psychological levels, how expressing anger hurts women professionally and personally, and how harnessing women's anger can bring monumental social change. This is a very timely book, and should be widely read. Angry women unite! It's time to kick some ass....more
Jennifer Palmieri worked in the Bill Clinton White House. She worked for John Edwards. She worked for President Obama. And she was on Hillary's 2016 cJennifer Palmieri worked in the Bill Clinton White House. She worked for John Edwards. She worked for President Obama. And she was on Hillary's 2016 campaign communications team. She uses these experiences, along with the deaths of her close friend, Elizabeth Edwards, and her older sister Dana, to give advice to the first female President of the United States, whoever and wherever she may be. We need to embrace our own stories, strengths, and experiences, and differences instead of constantly trying to imitate men. While our stories and lives have not been told, they are just as American as male experiences, and we have contributions to make. Personal, and emotional, this quick read will both make you cry, and give you some sliver of hope....more
Jenny Lawson struggles with extreme depression and anxiety, self-harm issues, an invisible illness (rheumatoid arthritis) and chronic pain, among otheJenny Lawson struggles with extreme depression and anxiety, self-harm issues, an invisible illness (rheumatoid arthritis) and chronic pain, among other issues. She also has a wicked sense of humor, even if it isn't always to my taste. I haven't read her first book, and I might go back and read it some day, but not right now. I found this to be about half funny. As I said, her sense of humor isn't always mine, though I know people who would like it. There were several pieces that I identified with a lot. Ones that dealt with anxiety, imposter syndrome, chronic pain from an invisible illness, failures and constantly feeling like you need to justify your existence. The one on the Spoon Theory was great. (If you don't know what Spoon Theory is, see here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_t...)
I would rate it 3.5 stars. I rounded down because I listened to the audio book and (I feel terrible saying this) her voice grates on me. I'm sorry, Jenny. It's nothing personal.
**Update** I read this for a book club at a local bar/brewery. A couple people loved it, a couple peopled hated it, most of us were in the middle. But everyone liked it more after talking about it. So it makes for a good discussion book....more
Part travelogue, part history and geography lesson, part political philosophy. Kaplan drives across the country, observing small, often dying towns acPart travelogue, part history and geography lesson, part political philosophy. Kaplan drives across the country, observing small, often dying towns across the country, and discusses how the geography of the United States has impacted our philosophy and approach to international politics. He discusses slavery, Native American issues related to western expansion, empire and imperialism, the role of the American military in world politics, and American exceptionalism.
There are some interesting parts of this book. I think if he had focused more on the travelogue part and talked to people in small towns instead of making assumptions it would have been a better, if very different book. I don’t think his world political analysis holds up in a world with Trump as President*. I also think his discussion of imperialism is naive at best, if not willfully ignorant or blind. I do think the geography of the United State has shaped much of our history and attitude, but it is the history part of this that makes sense, and not his application of it modern politics. ...more
We all know the White House is currently full of conniving, back stabbing people who are trying to control a toddler with access to nuclear weapons. TWe all know the White House is currently full of conniving, back stabbing people who are trying to control a toddler with access to nuclear weapons. This time the stories come with the weight and validity of a couple of Pulitzer Prizes and a history of bringing down administrations. But let's not kid ourselves, Trump is no where near as smart as Nixon. Woodward's book about the election and first year and a half of the Trump White House doesn't have a ton of things we didn't know (except for the bit about staffers taking papers from his desk). But it's a lot easier to believe it from him than from tabloid writers. He mostly lets the players do the talking for themselves, and there seems to be very little of his own thoughts or observations in it. And honestly, that and the book's editing are the weakest points. It badly needed to be better organized and put together. I realize he was still writing 2 months ago, but nothing would have hurt to work on it another month. 3.5 stars, rounded up....more
Not a bad book, but rather repetitive. Dr. Brewer shows how his research in to mindfulness and meditation can help break all kinds of bad habits, fromNot a bad book, but rather repetitive. Dr. Brewer shows how his research in to mindfulness and meditation can help break all kinds of bad habits, from smoking, to drinking, to smart phone use, to eating. He also includes things we don't think of as addictions or bad habits, like love and overthinking. ...more
This book is not a rose-colored glasses look at the world. It is a factual look at the world. Because the things that make the news are usually bad, aThis book is not a rose-colored glasses look at the world. It is a factual look at the world. Because the things that make the news are usually bad, and sensational, and out of the ordinary, it is easy to think that things are terrible and getting worse. For so long I have heard the world described as developed and developing. East and West. Us and them. But the world is more complex than that. And after decades and decades of work and development much has improved, but we hardly hear about that improvement. It is too hard for us to think of the world as improving when so many things are still so messed up. In this book the Roslings show us a way to make sure that we get past our ingrained way of looking at the world to make sure that we are seeing it clearly. Things can be both bad and better. Certain habits aren’t culturally African or Islamic, they are more closely tied to income. Culture changes. Sometimes slowly, but it changes.
There is still much work to be done in the world, but this book gives me hope that we can change things for the better. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. ...more
In 1978 Colorado Springs' first black detective successfully infiltrated the KKK.
Yes, you read that right.
This is something that we couldn't pull offIn 1978 Colorado Springs' first black detective successfully infiltrated the KKK.
Yes, you read that right.
This is something that we couldn't pull off today, with social media being what it is. But in 1978 Detective Ron Stalworth was the voice, and with the help of a couple of white undercover officers, they infiltrated the Klan to the point that Ron was the top choice for new local leadership. They rooted out Klan supporters in the Army, Air Force, and NORAD, and prevented domestic terrorism events in the city. Stallworth was even David Duke's personal police escort when he visited the city.
The story is great, but the book is more than a little repetitive, and the timeline seems to jump around. It's not the best written book you're going to read this year. But it's a great story, and Ron Stallworth is a credit to every organization he has worked for. I'm glad the story is finally being told, and I look forward to seeing the movie this fall. ...more
A quick and dirty summary of the Trump/Russia scandal. He touches on all the major points and players. If you don’t want a major time investment this A quick and dirty summary of the Trump/Russia scandal. He touches on all the major points and players. If you don’t want a major time investment this is a good start. Personally, I would suggest Russian Roulette. I think he’s got a fair bit of bias against Comey and Obama, and that it isn’t really justified. And since I am listening to the audio I am knocking off a full star for his narration. It is juvenile and hurts his credibility. ...more
Rarely do I say that you need to read a book a certain way. But I will say that this book absolutely should be listened to, if possible. Read by LevarRarely do I say that you need to read a book a certain way. But I will say that this book absolutely should be listened to, if possible. Read by Levar Burton, with recordings of King's speeches and civil rights songs.
Clayborne Carson pieced together this autobiography using Stanford University's collection of King's personal writings, and at the behest of Coretta Scott King. As much as I have read about the struggle for civil rights, there were parts of King's fight that I didn't know much about. This was an incredibly moving book, and should be required reading for everyone. Yes, this is obviously an incomplete picture of the man, as we all usually treat ourselves to the best terms. He was a flawed man, but a great leader nonetheless. ...more
This book is not in any way about modern American politics. At the same time, this book is absolutely about modern American politics.
In his book, HetThis book is not in any way about modern American politics. At the same time, this book is absolutely about modern American politics.
In his book, Hett breaks down how democracy died in the Weimar Republic. Starting with how the end of WWI established Weimar, Hett shows how prejudices, bitterness, longstanding rivalries, fear, and a refusal of facts lead to the rise of Nazism. Hitler and his flunkies worked these feelings with aplomb, manipulating their way in to reach, and then killing the last few people who stood in the way of power.
This book is both a history and a warning. There are disturbing parallels to modern events and political figures. Some quotes sent chills down my spine. We are separating families. We are stripping citizenship. We are marginalizing certain groups. We have a government controlled by blatant liars who demonize the press and the opposition.
If they want to not be compared to Nazis than they need to stop acting like them....more
There will probably be another chapter or two by the time the paperback comes out. Which is another layer of disturbing on top of the layer cake of raThere will probably be another chapter or two by the time the paperback comes out. Which is another layer of disturbing on top of the layer cake of rage and disturbing shit that is this book. And I paid pretty close attention during the election.
This book covers a lot. The execution of anti-Putin Russians (in Russia and abroad) going back to 2006. The expulsion of Russian spies in 2010, which inspired the show The Americans. Trump's attempts, including during his Presidential bid, to build a hotel in Moscow. His relationship with Russian and Russian friendly eastern European oligarchs. The infamous golden showers incident, the 2013 Miss Universe pageant, and the rise and fall of his various criminal advisers. The complex and multifaceted Russian hacking and social media disinformation campaign. And through the book is the thread that Putin and Russia worked very hard to help him and damage Hillary. And there is still so much more that we don't know.
So, if you support the current American administration congratulations: You're a Russian stooge.
Alan Lightman uses his summer home on a remote island in Maine to ponder science, consciousness, evolution, nature, and some religion and philosophy. Alan Lightman uses his summer home on a remote island in Maine to ponder science, consciousness, evolution, nature, and some religion and philosophy. The musings are personal and interesting, though they were a little more science oriented than I expected. It was an interesting read, but not overwhelmingly enlightening....more
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