Reviews and Comments

Brilliant explanation of complex ideas; would have liked a few pictures, looking forward to finding and getting the others in this series.

“To squeeze this artistic organically rounded structure into rectangular frames impedes the self expression of bees.”
Hmm

A story that could have been told in a quarter the length. Well written enough that when I picked up the book I felt like I was entering another world. But it’s one I skim read through, nothing to be gained from circular flowery writing, pages and pages of characters explaining stuff to eachother.
Necrophilia and rape isn’t really my jam either.

Really excellent and straight forward to read.

Astonishingly well written, her experience of spreadsheeting the coronors cases early in her career (before retraining in medicine) was particularly powerful. Challenging without being cynical, this book is essential text for any clinical supervisor or medical professional.

Audiobook. Covers much that I already knew from “the social dilemma” (documentary) and “down the rabbit hole” (NYT podcast).
Powerful first half.
I felt unsure about the second half and reading some reviews here from folk with ADHD I wonder if he simplified too much there.
Enjoyed his voice and pacing, agree with many of his points.
Leaves us with very much of a “what do we do now”? problem though.

Audiobook with nephew.
Not as compelling as only you can save mankind, but does well in terms of being a kids book that takes seriously that kids can understand big ideas.
Now quite dated, feels very 1990s with some awful clangers re: race/sex/sexuality.
The community meeting scene with the squash balls was epic on the audiobook.

Audiobook with nephew on road trip.
In some ways dated, in some ways timeless. Helped that nephew had seen CDs and floppy discs at the museum recently (!)
He (aged 10) was engrossed and insisted we listen to it even after we got out of the car. Great introduction to the late great Terry P.

Would have loved more pictures of the plants in their environment - there were lots of photos of them close up which was great, but getting a sense of where to look for them would be helpful too.
The book really hits its stride once you get to the recipes in the second half. An excellent resource.

Stunning descriptions of nature and extraordinary picture of life before the “great” wars. Surprisingly prescient and relevant. Glad to have read it as an adult as I think I may have only perceived it as moralising when I was a kid.

Goodness me Adam is a real dick. And yet, I read this in one sitting, and was moved by it (mainly because he details the why of how he is). I hope he’s doing okay. As a New Zealander, I hope he comes back here one day too; for some resolution for what happened here in the past.

A gift from my mum for Christmas 2022. At times dense and very location specific (I live in NZ, this recipe book is blissfully set for Devon/Dorset/Cornwall in the UK), it hunkers in for the handmade and the simple. I enjoyed flicking through it and hope that I will be able to enact at least a few of the recipes and crafts. A lovely and gratefully received gift.

Really good and will probably need a re-read.
I think the most exciting concept for me was the seeker rather than the evangelist.
I have felt a deep unease about mission work, and this book helps lay down a path that is hopefully more healthy for all involved.

“It is good, for example, to be reminded that in the New Testament, and in Paul’s theology in particular, both slavery to death in sin and final liberation from death in divine glory are described as cosmic—not merely human.”