Lilly F.

Odd formatting and dry narration

Revisado: 11-21-23

This book goes right over my head. Jargon is used without immediate explanation. The author tends to paint the whole picture for a few pages, then give a brief explanation of the many terms used in the following page. If you you're learning something new, it's more useful to have to steps explained in action. At least, that's how I learn. This is the first out of a dozen self helps books I've read that doesn't explain terminology at the same time it's presented. I'm sure this format is fine for people with good memories. For someone with ADHD, not so much. Judging by the other reviews, the content itself seems to be good, and I wish it was in a format that was easier to digest.

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Gripping

Revisado: 10-06-23

Jill's story was gripping and heartfelt. I'm confused by the negative reviews claiming that she left out negative things about her family. She retold everything from her point of view. I like how she didn't paint anyone to be a villain, but instead shined a light into the mysterious darkness, showing how everyone actually was- warts and all. She didn't hold back about her trauma or the fact that her father financially exploited her.

I especially enjoyed the parts about pregnancy and motherhood. As a young mother myself, I deeply related to those struggles and triumphs. I'm not sure if this was ghost written, but the two parts where her life was in danger had me on the edge of my seat. It's an interesting book even if you aren't interested in the cult of IBLP. I recommend this book to those who are mothers, enjoy interesting memoirs, want a different perspective on the show, and those with family trauma.

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Even better than Saving Simon

Revisado: 01-23-23

Many reviewers complain about how Kat's personal life is the main subject and the animals are secondary. This is true, however, most exaggerate the percentage of love story vs. animals. I just listened to it, so it's fresh in my mind. The book is about 60% Katz's love life/midlife crisis and 40% animals. If that would bother you, then skip this one. I find Katz to be an odd duck, so I enjoy reading about his life. Without spoiling the story, I'll just say there's a particularly entertaining trip to the Alamo.

Frieda's backstory is both heartbreaking and inspiring. If you're a dog lover, she will leap out of the book and steal your heart. If you've ever felt misguided, lost, and misunderstood, then you'll relate to Frieda. Katz is a complicated and somewhat troubled man, which bleeds through in his earlier work. This story isn't like that. It's short, sweet, and to the point with few contradictions and less pontificating. Katz sets out to accomplish (spoilers) and does an excellent job. In my opinion, this is his best book.

The narrator Katz chose for his books does a good enough job. He choked up and nearly cried during one of the sad parts in Dog Days. He also choked up in the opening chapter of Saving Simon. His emotional performance in those parts almost made me cry and I'm no crier. My only complaint is that he mispronounces words that most people can pronounce properly. I would like to think that a professional narrator would be superior at pronunciation and would put in the effort to look words up if he was unsure.

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Great info- subpar narration

Revisado: 03-19-22

The content is so informative. Unless you're known by everyone as the local dog expert, you need this book. It should be required reading for every dog owner. The narrator is a bit dry and has odd diction. I'm still giving it five stars because it's that useful. I'm going to get the physical book next so I can refer to it as needed.

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Informative

Revisado: 01-10-21

This is an informative book about how American schools are failing boys. The statistics are correct and it's an interesting and alarming read. It was surprising to learn that many feminists are against single sexed schools when they've been shown to benefit both boys and girls. It was even more surprising to learn that some of them oppose recess when it also benefits all children. Sommers is highly intelligent, an excellent persuasive writer, and a wonderful activist. It's a shame that she's been smeared by the mainstream media as an enemy of feminism when she is one of the few who truly care about both women's and men's issues. The review ends here unless you want to read my rant about how not all women are inherently disinterested in mechanics.

My only problem with the book is Sommers' confidence that girls just aren't interested in hard sciences and mechanics. This is purely anecdotal, but as a child I was never given mechanical toys or junk to disassemble and tinker with. As an adult, I took an aptitude test to join the military. My highest score was in the mechanical section. I was surprised and intrigued.

I got slated for a medical job (not my choice) but I was still thinking about that test score. I started tinkering with things on my own like most young boys do. I discovered that I'm not only good at it, but find it engaging and relaxing. Maybe if more girls were given the opportunity to disassemble mechanical objects, then they would discover that they like it. Several years later, one of my favorite hobbies is watchmaking. I was an awful administrative medical technician, by the way. It turns out that not all women are organised, good at paperwork, and can stand sitting at a desk all day.

The age old question- is it nature or nurture? As a woman who enjoys watchmaking, FPS video games, camping, fishing, reptile keeping, cute shoes, and getting my hair highlighted at the salon, it's a jumbled up mishmash of both. Impossible to untangle. I would have gone my entire life without knowing that I had a knack and enjoyment for mechanics if it weren't for a coincidental test result during my adulthood. Who's to say that many other women aren't the same way?

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Engrossing but...

Revisado: 12-30-20

This is a very interesting story told from a unique perspective. My only issue with this book is with Ms. Dreger herself. She comes off as pompous and chastising, yet describes herself as naive and humble. The wise man knows what he does not know, and Dr. Dreger certainly doesn't. She has surprisingly little insight for an academic and self proclaimed intellectual. Ms. Dreger is also hypocritical at times. The most blatant example is her derision of people who refuse to research both sides of a topic, yet she does exactly that.

For example, she mischaracterizes Chronic Lyme Disease as a complete fabrication. This is despite the fact that research shows the symptoms are due to either permanent physical damage from the spirochetes, autoimmune dysfunction, or both. (Yes, CLD is a misnomer and the condition should be renamed as soon as the exact etiology is found.) Dreger falls into the trap that thoughtless mass media consumers do-- believing that CLD is nothing but hypochondriacal (mostly female) patients being preyed on by greedy doctors who always push harmful long term antibiotics on them.

For a feminist, she sure was quick to believe scientifically unsupported journalism about how sick women are nothing but stupid and hysterical victims. Are there predatory doctors and misguided patients? Sure, but it's not as black and white of a situation as the media paints it. I expected more of someone who considers herself a truth seeker. That wasn't the only topic Alice gave her uninformed opinion on either.

If you listen closely, you'll find many disconnects between what Dreger claims to believe, actually believes, claims she would do, and actually does. My last example is that she decries postmodernism, yet her world view is clearly molded by it. I can't decide whether that one is due to her poor insight or hypocrisy. Either way, it doesn't look good. I'm disappointed that this academic who I looked up to as a brave truth seeker, intellectual, and honest person is not who I thought she was.

If you know nothing of Dreger and just want the juicy details of the Bailey scandal, then look no further. Despite my issues with Dreger, I can still admit that this book is highly entertaining. Narrator Tavia Gilbert is great as always.

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esto le resultó útil a 19 personas

Very informative!

Revisado: 12-16-20

Do you struggle to understand what the heck your doctor is thinking and why he does the things that he does? Is it difficult to get doctors to take you seriously and understand your symptoms? Are medical stories and psychology interesting to you? Are you a doctor who wants to improve your diagnostic and communication skills? If any of the above interests you, then get this book. My only complaint is that some of the stories go on too long after you already understand what the author is getting at.

The narration is fine and I don't know why so many people are hung up on it. The narrator is easy to understand, speaks at a good pace, and conveys emotion properly. He has an old fashioned trans-atlantic accent which I find interesting. You don't hear it too often. The narrator was probably chosen to match the age of the author who is also an older gentleman. Overall, it's an interesting and informative read.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Not for me

Revisado: 07-20-19

I loved Dana's website, so I was surprised that I didn't like the book much. Most of the book was repetitive and vague. Maybe I was expecting too much, but this book wasn't for me.

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esto le resultó útil a 12 personas

Poor examples and rambling

Revisado: 03-09-19

The author gave many examples which are only applicable to men. This is strange because most self help readers are actually women. To think he would use gender neutral examples. For example, if I were writing a self help book aimed at both genders, I wouldn't give an example about my tampon wrapper loudly crinkling in the women's restroom because the men would be unable to relate to it.

I could not relate to his urinal story. I just had to go off of what men have told me about their bathroom experiences. Ironically, most men I've spoken with think the unspoken bathroom rules are ridiculous and that a closeted gay man must have come up with them.

He also rambled on with ten or more examples when his point was already made clear. Why was his father never mentioned in the parenting stories? It's amazing how even psychologists project. He clearly had an absent father, which is a shame because my father instilled all of the guilt in me and not my mother. The narrator was monotone and boring to listen to. It's much more entertaining when the narrator has a personality.

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