Audrey J T

Truly Enlightening

Revisado: 07-01-24

I have listened to almost every book I can find on this topic, but this one was really something else. It was thorough and engaging and truly shocking on so many levels. I wish that more people were brave enough to engage in this kind of content. I appreciate that the author has been so self-sacrificing in sharing this information.

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Not very scientific, tone is fear mongering

Revisado: 09-27-23

Although this topic is really important to me, I just couldn't finish this book. It's not heavy enough on scientific facts, and it's clear that it's coming from someone that doesn't get outside much. The advice to skip washing and using sunscreen because unless you're rolling around in the dirt or outside in the sun for more than 30 minutes, you don't need it, overlooks the millions of us who do get dirty, either at our jobs or at our hobbies! Having hair that smells like horse poop is just not an option. Why not instead recommend a brand that is free from chemicals and preservatives which might be harmful? I have found one.

Of course it would be lovely if our foods did not have pesticides! Okay then, analyze the cost of an apple if pesticides were removed from the food chain. Give us some concrete information. Also, some of the asides in the book just don't make sense. One that I particularly remember when addressing food was "pass the corn chips" in a sarcastic way. What a weird choice. Corn chips include corn, oil, and salt. You don't want to go after a Big Mac?

As someone with multiple environmental injuries and allergies, I still felt like this book was too broad to recommend to anyone. He promises alternatives, but I think I personally have more solutions for a greater audience of people, just based on my own experiences. That's not great.

And I have to tell you, humanity in general smells terrible. You've really got to let off that, "nobody smells that bad" thing. Some of us have to work near others.

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esto le resultó útil a 17 personas

Didn't want to stop listening

Revisado: 07-06-23

Rarely do I come across a book that I desire to keep reading even after I'm done working for the day, but this book really drew me in. Every adventure was beautifully described, intense, and vivid. Jill is the bad*ss that I hope to be in my next life lol.

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Enjoyable, Insightful, Useful

Revisado: 07-06-23

I really liked this closer, vulnerable look at Dan's life. I think it holds potential to reach a large audience to help change people's perspectives on their lives and make small improvements to enjoy each day. At times, the book reads a little bit like a self-help a book, but thankfully it lacks the structure many of those books do, instead using Dan's own experiences as his platform for reflection. Dan has made ideas like practicing gratitude especially accessible and provides resources to help. I listened to this all in one day, and it was a really lovely day. I plan to buy his other book as well.

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Not a fan of it being god-centered

Revisado: 06-30-23

As someone who has been subject to religious abuse, I don't want to hear that the answer to becoming a badass ultimately lies in finding whatever version of God you want. It was too distracting. I hardly made it through any of the book at all because of so many references back to this being the core. ugh.

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Good listen, but listeners, please consider

Revisado: 08-20-22

I liked this book and found most of it to be relatable, Whitney is very much herself in her storytelling. I agree with others who say that it's not oriented like a traditional memoir, so you should be prepared for that.

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Whoa.

Revisado: 10-05-18

It's pretty horrible to admit that one of the first things I thought before reading this book was what kind of people could these children have possibly become, being products of both the nature and nurture of Fred and Rose West? Mae West answered that question for me with such self-awareness and grace, a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit and the ability of very victimized people to embody tremendous beauty. Mae's account makes no excuses whatsoever for the actions of her parents, and she dives into the grittiest material, bravely facing all of it: the trajectory of her parents' lives and their truly appalling actions, her own relationship with her parents, her siblings, her daughter, herself. West is remarkably reflective. If you like true crime stories, you will enjoy this, but the book embodies much more than your typical crime ctory ever could. I read a lot of books and don't remember most of them, but I think I will always remember this book, and that is really saying something. Just...WHOA.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Honest and Heartbreaking; not for the suicidal.

Revisado: 09-14-18

I found this book both good and bad; good for anyone seeking to understand suicide’s impact on families, good for family members or friends of the deceased, bad for those of us who are regularly suicidal.

I decided to listen to the book after hearing Adam on Marc Maron’s podcast, and I’m not sure if I’m glad I did or not. I realized pretty quickly upon listening that I had met Lydia once. We went to CC at the same time, overlapping slightly. She worked for the same small student newspaper the year after I had nearly brought the whole publication down with an epically poor decision. And Lydia and I had other things in common: we both had a psychotic breakdown in our twenties; we both empathized with roadkill, loved animals, enjoyed dark humor and morose topics, and embraced suffering a little too much (I’m still alive, and unfortunately still do all of these things); we both floated aimlessly after earning an expensive degree from an exclusive private college. And although Adam does not say so directly for whatever reason, we both suffered with bipolar (Adam’s descriptions of Lydia’s mania and depression seem to fit a bipolar diagnosis very well). The surprise that I had seen this bright and beautiful girl around campus, and the familiar knowing of her psychological torment sent me reeling.

What I liked about this book was Adam’s captivating storytelling ability and his earnest retelling of his feelings surrounding Lydia’s life and death. His openness brought me to tears many times. His struggle to metabolize his sister’s death and find its appropriate place in his own life broke my heart. His conclusions in his own process are understandable and evoke incredible empathy.

What I didn’t like about this book was that the very same conclusions have the ability to speak some lies to tormented minds. Why should I hang on in this life if I could be as free as a bird, knowing and free, in the next? Why should I hang on if it is destiny that I should fail? Why should I see a psychiatrist if all they can do is toss a bunch of drugs at me and see what works? It creates a problematic runaround for those of us with mental illness.

As someone deeply acquainted with psychological torment, emotional anguish, and physical pain, I would like to suggest that, rather than Lydia NEEDING to do it, that she FELT she needed to do it in that moment. Rather than viewing Lydia’s life as the path of a strange and beautiful child ending in a tragically poetic way, the reality may have been that a unique and beautiful woman simply tapped out, a prize fighter forced to fight for hours on end, doped up with sleeping pills. A quick and poor decision by an otherwise often erudite woman. It is also okay to appreciate the bright star this girl was, and still accept that, as I have discovered, finding the right drug combination can allow us to experience more good moments than bad, can quiet--at least a little bit--the manic noisiness banging around in our minds, can allow us to keep relationships without destroying them, can keep us f*cking alive in the end.

The main reason that I am writing this review, and the reason I hope the author actually reads it, is that his future children and his sister’s children may encounter mental illness, and his framing of this traumatic event in his life will likely shape the way they come to understand their own mental health. Psychiatrists are mostly useless, but mood stabilizers can be LITERAL lifesavers. ;) We bipolar people are often infuriating and require much patience, but we’re not destined to die by our own hand, even if we are destined to wrestle with the idea forever.

Thank you, Adam, for an impactful story I think I’ll always remember. Few writers have the bravery to examine their hearts to such a degree. It was memorable any way you slice it.

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esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

relatable and hilarious

Revisado: 08-17-18

I am not an immigrant, an actor, nor a comedian, not even a watcher of Silicon Valley, but I found Jimmy O. Yang's book to be extremely funny and relatable. After hearing Jimmy on the Marc Maron podcast, I thought his book would probably be entertaining. It exceeded my expectations. I listened to it all in one long work day, and it was a great day with lots of out loud laughs. Thanks so much for sharing your story, Jimmy. I will be sure to look for the next one.

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Fascinating and educational

Revisado: 08-23-17

Very interesting book with solid research. Readers who questioned "so was it all a hoax?" after listening have missed the incredible depth and nuance of the story. I learned a lot about multiple personality disorder and gained a greater understanding of the mental health system.

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