M. Magee

Broad scope of information - great overview

Revisado: 01-19-25

Great book for anyone curious about the subject of reparations.

Succinctly summarizes topics that entire other books are dedicated to: horros of slavery, medical experimentation on Blacks, Jim Crow south, modern inequalities in incarceration rates and police violence, to name a few.

Then sticks the landing with a thorough analysis of what an effective reparations program would look like, and the various means by which a monetary value could be established.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Great detail, both large and small scale

Revisado: 01-03-25

Every bit as good as Ian Toll’s pacific theater trilogy, and that’s the highest praise I can give.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Well told Narrative

Revisado: 12-05-23

Love that this book is not just a history of Polynesia, but also a history of European understanding of Polynesian history. Bit of mystery to the historical narrative that keeps the reader engaged.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Better blog than book

Revisado: 02-13-23

Blame the editor here. There were some fascinating chapters about little known places where Jessica is able to take the reader on a journey not many other authors could. If the scope of this book was cut down so Jessica could go into more detail about those places, the better stories would have room to breath. Furthermore, her entire mission statement is seems to be “I want to promote travel to the forgotten corners of the planet,” so why is so much time dedicated to bars and beaches and food in well traveled countries? Less is more.

As it is, it reads as a “how to visit 195 countries” book, as long as you happen to have an extensive network of social media followers and UN contacts who can be your guides, host you, and cut through bureaucratic red tape. Good for Jessica for building those resources for herself, but how many people in her audience have built equivalent networks?

All in all, these short chapters covering the surface depth of short visits to lots of countries seems like better fodder for a blog than a book. With so few people traveling to so many places, it’s a shame her writing doesn’t linger longer in some of the little known places she loves the most.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Honest, phenomenal

Revisado: 04-12-18

After listening to Harris’s comedy for years, I started to feel like I knew him. To see what addiction does to someone you thought you knew helps immensely to put yourself in the shoes of someone who actually has lost a loved one to addiction.

As un-filtered as Harris presented himself in his celebrity, he was simultaneously a far more flawed, and far better person than most of us ever saw. You’ll find yourself furious with him on behalf of his family, only to forgive him a few chapters later when he makes you laugh, only to feel empty again knowing his specific brand of genius is gone.

Stephanie’s book is beautifully written. Harris’s comedy and honesty is conveyed all too well, making the tragedy of his death more miserable by contrast. But his strengths as a writer are mirrored by his sister, who successfully finds the absurd in the darkest moments.

On an un-emotional note, read dreamland too, which helps to convey the universal scale of the addiction epidemic. The two books complement each other well.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Probably better to read.

Revisado: 10-14-15

What did you like best about A Soldier's Passion for Order? What did you like least?

The book is nothing if not a thorough portrait of Sherman. That's what it promises. That's what it delivers. The author doesn't filter out any details, which made the book a little dense for my taste.

Really not a fan of the voice the performer picked for Sherman. Not sure if there was a historically accurate story behind it, but "old prospecter" isn't the choice I would have made for the voice of the character most quoted throughout a 20 hour book.

What was most disappointing about John F. Marszalek’s story?

I really like Sherman before I read this book (pictured him as a conflicted general doing what he felt was for the greater good). I think it's worth listening to regardless of your opinion on Sherman, but hearing about how balls-to-the-wall racist he was quickly rendered him un-likable.

It's hard to tell if it's the writing or the performance, but for whatever reason I just got the impression that the book was trying to hard to paint Sherman as a good guy. For all the racism, and killing of native american women and children, it seems like whats most pushed on the reader/listener is "Sherman was a likable family man, who was respected by everyone who knew him."

I'm all for showing both sides of a complicated man, but I got too strong a feeling that I was being told I should forgive his shortcomings.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yeah, as long as it didn't glorify Sherman. Sherman was a whole lot of bad things wrapped up in an insecure person, and he revolutionized the way war is made. How have movies not been made about him already?

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona