Very John-Grisham-ish but with more profanity. Still enjoyable enough fluff to get through household chores. A little too much explaining to dumb audiVery John-Grisham-ish but with more profanity. Still enjoyable enough fluff to get through household chores. A little too much explaining to dumb audiences who can't connect dots or infer anything logically on their own. Last of all, I wish that people (especially editors) would continue to differentiate between nauseous and nauseated. I guess a multitude of illiterate bloggers and other would-be writers have used nauseous wrongly for so long, we all just threw in the towel, and now "nauseous" is used interchangeably with nauseated. Not unlike the confusion over "antisocial" and "asocial". Sigh....more
Some really great info here, though I didn't agree with some of the points in how they related to relative truth - a term never used, but certainly daSome really great info here, though I didn't agree with some of the points in how they related to relative truth - a term never used, but certainly danced around. For the most part, Oliver does a first-rate job explaining some basics about Islam and makes some really interesting points that are worth consideration (i.e. where are the 5 pillars in the Qur'an?). I'd recommend this very secular approach to anyone who has interest in learning about the Qur'an. It's been over 20 years since I've read the Qur'an, so it was insightful to have this synopsis....more
Lots of really good quick-checks to what to do when you come across "information" online, how to evaluate it, etc.Lots of really good quick-checks to what to do when you come across "information" online, how to evaluate it, etc....more
Super great class! Golbeck is comprehensive, very informative, and conversational. She's easy to follow. I really appreciated her offering her own preSuper great class! Golbeck is comprehensive, very informative, and conversational. She's easy to follow. I really appreciated her offering her own preferences, but explaining that personalizing your data access is very subjective. She goes through the pros and cons of strict and loose data protections, the utility, pros, and cons of the dark web, etc. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone, since it's a topic that concerns absolutely everyone - whether or not you've ever been on social media or ever had a smartphone. By virtue of being connected with people who are, and their having your contact info, everyone has a presence - even if it's only a piecing together of indirect info....more
Shorter than expected, but there was a ton of really informative material. Polk does a great job sticking to the facts and science versus the ethical Shorter than expected, but there was a ton of really informative material. Polk does a great job sticking to the facts and science versus the ethical or political debate around addiction. Polk has a great conversational tone and is clear and concise in his delivery. Super easy to follow, and enjoyable to listen to. It made the learning a pleasure! And, as I always say - so fun to be able to listen and absorb without worrying about note taking or test taking!...more
Again - Strout is a really gifted writer. But this is way too smutty, full of f-bombs, and then the transgender shout-out to please the audience and lAgain - Strout is a really gifted writer. But this is way too smutty, full of f-bombs, and then the transgender shout-out to please the audience and let them know how "woke" she is. I made it almost half-way through - but no more Strout for me. It's a pity, because she sure can write people amazingly well....more
Really well written and thought out by such a young author. It's a lot more interesting than just the crime or bio - it's also an exercise in reflectiReally well written and thought out by such a young author. It's a lot more interesting than just the crime or bio - it's also an exercise in reflection and self-awareness. It's surprisingly long and brings you through a lot of different emotions....more
Started this on audiobook 10/18/24, but couldn't do it. I want to hear his voice in my head. Also, it's snippets and thoughts and doesn't have the samStarted this on audiobook 10/18/24, but couldn't do it. I want to hear his voice in my head. Also, it's snippets and thoughts and doesn't have the same cohesiveness without the visual in front of me. Hitting the pause button until I can pick up the actual book.
11/12 - restarted the written book. Still couldn't do it. So many people mentioned I don't know, and it's all written in snippets - just kind of a stream of thought. It just couldn't hold my interest, which was a shame to me, because I really like Alan Rickman....more
Wow. Although I could have done without the few random f-bombs, Strout really can write. This reads a lot more like a non-fiction memoir than a fictioWow. Although I could have done without the few random f-bombs, Strout really can write. This reads a lot more like a non-fiction memoir than a fictional story, and because of the detail and random bits woven into the story, I have to wonder how many of them are facts that are woven into a fictional story. Strout is one of the best contemporary writers I've come across. She is an exceptionally gifted story teller. This is an enjoyable and interesting story, but more than that, it's extremely thought-provoking. There is so much to unpack here! It'd be a great book for a discussion in a classroom or a bookclub....more
Wow. I have never cared for politics, and I've never been registered as anything but Independent. A friend of mine was reading this, and I asked her aWow. I have never cared for politics, and I've never been registered as anything but Independent. A friend of mine was reading this, and I asked her about it. She wasn't a Liz Cheney fan before reading it either, but she said it was a very good, very informative book. I knew next to nothing about Liz Cheney before reading this, but I have to say that she's won me over. I don't agree with all of her politics, but she lays out a very clear, concise, methodical, factual argument against January 6th, and I greatly appreciate and admire what she did to stop Donald Trump. I had no idea what all was at stake and am much better informed about House procedures and how they relate to the Constitution. All her claims are fully cited and therefore can be verified by any reader who cares to do it. She also requests verification for certain things - including watching specific hearings that took place. I would strongly recommend this book to any American in particular. It's a very important book....more
Fun, quick read that took me forever to get ahold of, but I read it on my phone, because it’s so short, and I’m traveling. Not a whole lot going on, bFun, quick read that took me forever to get ahold of, but I read it on my phone, because it’s so short, and I’m traveling. Not a whole lot going on, but fun. Also, it was the only one in the series I’d not yet read.
Merged review:
Fun, quick read that took me forever to get ahold of, but I read it on my phone, because it’s so short, and I’m traveling. Not a whole lot going on, but fun. Also, it was the only one in the series I’d not yet read....more
This was really interesting but more difficult to understand than Hawking's others I've read. It's not because of bad writing. His writing is excellenThis was really interesting but more difficult to understand than Hawking's others I've read. It's not because of bad writing. His writing is excellent. The concepts are very difficult, and because several unknown/unfamiliar-to-me ideas comprise one concept or theory, I can't focus on all the newness at once. Even in my ignorance, I managed to enjoy this book. It's fascinating material, and it definitely helps me to enjoy it more knowing that I'll never have to memorize it for an exam or for execution in a work environment!...more
Another very interesting book from Wohlleben. I guess this was his first, though I read another book of his first. I really appreciate his emotional aAnother very interesting book from Wohlleben. I guess this was his first, though I read another book of his first. I really appreciate his emotional approach and his willingness to present theories and points of view with which he disagrees, as well as posing questions (and answering them) against his own theories. I particularly appreciated the epilogue. This was an interesting book, and you can see his growth as an author between this book and the one I read first (which he wrote later). So many things to consider and digest in the information he provides....more
This was a really interesting book to listen to. I really enjoyed it a lot. I learned lots about animal food chains and also was amused by the moral aThis was a really interesting book to listen to. I really enjoyed it a lot. I learned lots about animal food chains and also was amused by the moral arguments posited about "good" and/or "bad" animals and what would constitute this. I was vastly amused when Wohlleben (who identifies himself as an atheist in this book) says if you believe this, you must believe in a Creator who had a finely tuned and in-balance design and that this Creator has made the world perfectly balanced to our needs.
It never ceases to amaze me that the very people who have the best understanding (scientists) of the complications of the evidence around us are the first in line to insist upon atheism. Do any scientists ever bother trying to calculate probabilities of this all occurring? And yet, we live in such a world......more
This was a surprisingly enjoyable book. While I don't pretend to understand everything Hawking wrote in it, I was pleased at his attempt to make the mThis was a surprisingly enjoyable book. While I don't pretend to understand everything Hawking wrote in it, I was pleased at his attempt to make the material as layman as possible. It was super informative and though-provoking. I was also surprised at the respect he showed theists. He even quoted the Bible a few times, which definitely surprised and pleased me.
He makes a lot of really great points in a very respectful way and seems perfectly happy to provide his perspectives and the reasons behind them without being at all troubled by differing perspectives or insights.
The one thing I found a bit double-standard comes from this statement: "If information were really lost in black holes, we wouldn't be able to predict the future, because a black hole could emit any collection of particles. It could emit or a working television set or a leather-bound volume of the complete works of Shakespeare though the chance of such exotic emissions is very low."
Hawking cites several reasons and theorems to support his atheism, but what is never addressed (other than in the quote cited above) is the law of probability. There are infinite complexities on this planet that render the possibility of their happenstance beyond incalculable. How are we to swallow and overlook these incomprehensible probabilities that far surpass the likelihood of a black hole spewing out the works of Shakespeare.
The afterword from Hawking's daughter on this audiobook was really touching. It was also very sad. Despite a loving family relationship, it's clear that Hawking has managed to influence his daughter that God doesn't exist. I find that tragic on so many levels.
All that said, I enjoyed Hawking's book enough and learned plenty to make me want to read his other books for the laypeople. Science has never been my forté, but Hawking has encouraged m to learn more. ...more
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