Michelle L

Worth the listen

Revisado: 01-02-25

I think she could have gone deeper n most of the topics. I definitely hope consideration is given to a second edition. Even though this is from 2002, many statistics that were presented as current, were as old as 2015 and outdated. There are much more relevant updated stats available and I hope that’ll be included in the next edition.

All that said, this is a good introduction to intersectionality, if needed, and to the purpose behind the title, which was/is valuable.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A topic so interesting has never been made so boring.

Revisado: 03-05-24

Absolutely terrible performance. No one talks like that - except maybe William Shatner performing Rocket Man. And at least if William Shatner narrated this book, it would have been fun and entertaining. This performance is just awkward and painful. I had to look up her podcast (even though I hate it when books are just a really long infomercial for the author’s other products) because I am still having trouble believing she has a podcast AND was allowed to narrate her own book. It’s astounding. And a little embarrassing. The only thing that carries this book are the (again, unfortunately long and drawn out) factoids about databases and how they do and don’t work together. There are also a few cases that were interesting. Yup. The databases were the most interesting points of interest, folks. And some cases that were interesting enough to stand on their own, despite her writing. And that’s the thing that makes it worse - how painfully boring the writing is! How this woman managed to take a topic so absolutely fascinating and turn it into a cringy, teeth-grinding migraine of a book is an absolute mystery. Please please for the love of all things holy, do not ever take two paragraphs and an entire two minutes of my life to describe that you went to the airport, got on a plane, flew somewhere, got off the plane, took a rideshare, got to the hotel, did some research and went to bed. Oh, I’m sorry. Is this a tedious review? I promise it’s still more interesting than the author, her life as it’s documented in this book, and her lack of storytelling ability. Just because you’re talking about spreadsheets doesn’t mean you have to write like a spreadsheet. The absolute tedium readers endure to get through this book is insulting. No one cares that the lab assistant preferred to communicate via Facebook messenger rather than text. If you are going to describe someone, do them the professional favor of a modicum of effort. He was bald. She had brown hair and wore a lab coat. Nothing brings the scene to life more than someone named Jody who was as tall as you and stood to your left. Readers/listeners, if you really want to know about the subject and are drawn to this book, maybe the tedium will be cut if you read it instead . of . listening. to the author. put weirdly . long . and . awkward pauses at . every . possible … opportunity.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Just okay. There are wildly better options for your time

Revisado: 09-04-23

The absolute ONLY original piece of this book is the idea to call your yard or property an ark. Sure, calling it an “ark” is cute, but it’s not enough by itself. I expected more. There are other books of the same length and topic - giving your outdoor space back to nature - that discuss stewardship much more deeply and with more attention to the whys and how’s. Also, Mary talks down to the reader throughout the entire piece and assumes everyone who doesn’t have a native-species-first garden is shallow and blind to the real world and obsessed with what their neighbors think of their yard, which is grating and untrue. Author pessimism and judgement aside, Mary unfortunately centers herself and the “ark” term, rather than the important concepts - distractingly so. I agree that community is important but put all that social media and hashtag stuff at the beginning and/or end. Half way through, Mary Reynolds jarringly promises to repost as many posts as possible that use her ark hashtag, like it will somehow help convince people to adopt her ark verbiage. I found it trite and disappointing. Especially when she unnecessarily and distractedly self-promotes throughout the book. Just add a chapter about marketing and spreading the word and leave it at that. And if you really are building community and not trying to center yourself as a wannabe savior, then encourage people to post each other’s posts about their gardens and ark progress. You dont have to make it all about you. This book is nothing but a promotional tool for Mary and her effort to rebrand the “ark” for environmental-first gardening and landscaping. This has already been a huge topic, long before Mary Reynolds came along. If you wanna call it an ark and read this book, that’s fine. It’s got it’s own momentum alongside other, better communities and efforts. Choose what resonates for you. But please start with the many other books that are more educational, better informed, less propagandized, and wont talk down to the reader.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña