Amazon Customer

Relatable Content for Ex-Fundy Escapees

Revisado: 02-12-24

As someone who left behind a fundamentalist evangelical upbringing, this memoir is relatable in ways that, though painful, help me feel seen. If you have ever gone through the long leaving of an abusive (any kind of abuse—emotional, sexual, physical, financial, etc.) relationship or community, following Tara through the final third of the book feels like watching one’s own slow unraveling of the situation until the reality of the situation stands before you, undeniably butt naked.

Tara’s descriptions of how it felt to enter the larger world knowing so little of its history or how things like test-taking, doctors, or grant applications worked hit for me. It’s the first time in writing I’ve found someone affirming the utter lostness I felt (and still sometimes feel) upon emerging into a world I knew so little about and yet because of my age was supposed to have a sense of mastery for navigating.

Thanks, Tara. I see you.

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One of the Most Valuable Books of my Lifetime

Revisado: 06-17-23

Stolzoff articulates thoughts I’ve been mulling for almost a decade and a half as I’ve ground my way through school, work, more school, ladder climbing and prestige accumulation… only to find myself overworked, underpaid, and feeling one dimensional about my life. In the arts there is a tendency to over-identify with our art and art making as our whole identity. I’ve never felt comfortable with that and now I better understand why. As I make critical decisions about next steps, I’m no longer framing them as career choices only. I want to be making choices around creating a more diverse life and therefore a more diverse identity, instead of continuing to chase the prestige economy. It’s uncomfortable to recognize my addiction to and identity limited within achievement. But the first step is to recognize there is a problem… so here goes.

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Practical and Pleasurable

Revisado: 10-15-22

Vandercam weaves practical strategies and thought-provoking questions with anecdotes that help concepts stick. The anecdotes provide context, which seems to matter for my brain. I also appreciate that she included a working artist as one of her anecdotal examples. I haven’t found much in the way of realistic advice for artists in the time management sphere.

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The story outweighs the poor editing

Revisado: 08-10-22

Pros: true stories and a relatable struggle with student debt. I also appreciate that the author speaks to the reality of the struggles of student debt and how her grad program failed to be worth the time, money, and effort. I value her clarity regarding both the privileges and disadvantages of her positionality.

Cons: the not-so-great audio editing is a disservice to the story. The narrator mispronounces/swaps words a couple of times. Would be curious about ways to weave the activism work more deeply into the story as now it reads as a bit tangential or as an afterthought.

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Ok, but some content and editing issues

Revisado: 08-04-22

The writing is fine as is the performance. Erin is blunt and informative. I dropped only three stars because the editing needs a redo (there are a number of places where the story cuts mid word) and because of how the author denigrates fat people and patrons with disabilities.

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Always a Good Time!

Revisado: 04-24-22

Always love a good story from JVN—but admittedly, I’m biased. I credit him with helping expand my worldview every time I read or see his work. Thank you for being YOU, JVN!

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So This is Why!

Revisado: 02-09-22

I always wondered why Movement and exercise in conjunction with my gym community and dance classmates felt like cornerstone habits in my life. This book is giving me the boost I need to make time for those things again despite the overwhelming intensity of graduate school.

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Tough truths I’d rather know now (or, a DIY guide to building your own Trojan horse)

Revisado: 01-17-22

As a young woman in the workplace this books rings painfully true. As much as I appreciated the validating stories and examples of gender discrimination, it still took me a bit to come to terms with the fact that this IS the world I live in. But! I am grateful for Vanek Smith’s practical guide on how to face down gender discrimination and move forward anyway. At least now I know how to build my Trojan horse.

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Serving Bad Ass B*tch JVN Realness

Revisado: 08-30-21

Serving Bad Ass B*tch JVN realness in all her many and several queenly parts (that would be *all* the parts) as ONLY JVN can.

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