Curtis Chin is my new author-hero - his "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir," which he superbly voices in the audiobookCurtis Chin is my new author-hero - his "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir," which he superbly voices in the audiobook version, is far more than a memoir. It's an intelligent, fun, loving, and deeply moving trip beyond generations and culture, all of it colored by the politics of cities, cultures, sexuality, and more....more
Edgar’s autobiographical essays demonstrate how essential each of our voices are, no matter who we are. His writing is so courageous, funny, and touchEdgar’s autobiographical essays demonstrate how essential each of our voices are, no matter who we are. His writing is so courageous, funny, and touching, that I pity anyone who can’t relate to his observations about how complex individuals and relationships are.
His writing sure, his memories vivid, he walks us through a life filled with reprimands for he isn’t and little appreciation for who he is. How have we arrived to live in a world angry about who has sex with who, who loves who, who wears what, and who wants to do what with their own bodies?
He doesn’t merely tell us, he shows us how soul-crushing hypocrisy can be. It’s not enough when those close to us say they love us, yet scorn who we genuinely are....more
Her meditation on creativity is equal parts her own experiences, those of others, and society’s evolving relationship to it.
A key point I took away weHer meditation on creativity is equal parts her own experiences, those of others, and society’s evolving relationship to it.
A key point I took away were that their creative careers are best regarded as checker boards, rather than ladders. Another is that happy creatives are flexible, given how art constantly evolves.
Don’t confuse “And Then We Grew Up: On Creativity, Potential, and the Imperfect Art of Adulthood” by Rachel Friedman for a self-help book. However, it indeed helped me see creativity a bit more sanely. Jennifer Rubins did a great job narrating the audiobook version....more
My first week in, and experiencing the magic already! “Write for Life,” Cameron's newest creativity workbook of many, is a scant 6 weeks long, half ofMy first week in, and experiencing the magic already! “Write for Life,” Cameron's newest creativity workbook of many, is a scant 6 weeks long, half of her typical 12-weeks. By the second night after I started it, I awoke at 3am with my eyes seeing differently. Besides other things, Cameron assigns the mainstays of daily writing, weekly outings, and a couple of weekly walks. My, oh, my, I can be so truly grudging about doing them, every single time only to be absolutely blown away by how much they help me. So far they’ve never failed to bring fresh insights....more
Love, family, politics, prejudice, our place in the world... Born to Korean parents who gave her away to anglo parents who raised her among only angloLove, family, politics, prejudice, our place in the world... Born to Korean parents who gave her away to anglo parents who raised her among only anglos, Nicole Chung's experience offers us a chance to ponder. From a practical viewpoint, she shares with it was like for her, first as a child and now as a mother. Relatable to anyone who has ever felt different, known a family, or experienced inequality. Janet Song does a lovely audio narration....more
An honest take on what, from home to work to greater world, it's like for many women today to be moms. In addition to mothers who can relate, Grose ofAn honest take on what, from home to work to greater world, it's like for many women today to be moms. In addition to mothers who can relate, Grose offers a starting point for all of us who don't have kids....more
Race is about skin. Class is about external things that one might be able to hide. Caste goes down to the bones. And America's bigotry -- our inequitiRace is about skin. Class is about external things that one might be able to hide. Caste goes down to the bones. And America's bigotry -- our inequities about skin, gender, age, ability, country of origin -- boil down to caste. It's why those who are downtrodden are often quick to trod upon those in their own groups.
Wilkerson explains all this and it's history in the United States. Did you know that we got so good at teaching people to stomach slavery that Hitler learned from us?...more
Highly educated and wonderfully humble, Kendi details his own struggles with his early prejudices and also details society's history with racism. RaciHighly educated and wonderfully humble, Kendi details his own struggles with his early prejudices and also details society's history with racism. Racism harms everyone and anyone can be racist. Antiracism, fortunately, is the antidote that everyone can learn....more
This is his endearing and thoroughly personal account of what it’s like to strive to do good work and to be a good person. (btw, “blerd” = black nerd)This is his endearing and thoroughly personal account of what it’s like to strive to do good work and to be a good person. (btw, “blerd” = black nerd) He doesn’t pretend he's never misstepped. Instead, he admits his mistakes, and then demonstrates how we can all change — if we want to. The gold is in keeping humble and open-hearted enough to learn from each other while courageously speaking against injustice. Thank you, Kamau, for reminding us!...more
Complete candor about a subject that's scary to talk about. Kendi writes with needed honesty about how difficult raising an antiracist child is, but hComplete candor about a subject that's scary to talk about. Kendi writes with needed honesty about how difficult raising an antiracist child is, but how essential it is....more
Enough for all -- what a concept! By Jones drawing on her own economically challenging childhood, on what she learned globetrotting, on her experienceEnough for all -- what a concept! By Jones drawing on her own economically challenging childhood, on what she learned globetrotting, on her experience serving in the military, and on the wisdom of people like President FDR -- she has come up with an ambitious plan where no one goes without. She not only hypothesizes that, with sober thought and implementation, there's no reason for destitution and loss of self -- she shows us how to achieve such a world!...more
A scientific botanist, she’s also a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation who views plants as important as humans. Her take on how tied we are to MoA scientific botanist, she’s also a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation who views plants as important as humans. Her take on how tied we are to Mother Nature is both clear-eyed and poetically luminous. Earth needs us and we need Earth. We’re abundant in ways we don’t appreciate. If we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us....more
One of his best. Happy-Go-Lucky hits the nail on the head when it comes to showing how things aren't always black or white — that they can lie within One of his best. Happy-Go-Lucky hits the nail on the head when it comes to showing how things aren't always black or white — that they can lie within the confusing rainbow in between. ...more
My review I posted on my blog: “Bright Spots & Landmines,” by Adam Brown, his journey and insights on diabetes. Four months ago, I mentioned I was diaMy review I posted on my blog: “Bright Spots & Landmines,” by Adam Brown, his journey and insights on diabetes. Four months ago, I mentioned I was diagnosed as prediabetic.
“Don’t worry, you won’t develop full-blown diabetes for at least another ten years,” my doctor tried to assure me.
But I do worry. I’m skinny, exercise most days, and eat mostly vegetarian and hardly any processed food. My father ate better than I did and exercised more, yet he got it. His mom was middle-of-the-road, and she too got it. That’s why “just lose weight and eat more veggies” isn't enough information for me.
The initial thunderbolt over, I’m still worrying. Doing my best to learn and experiment, I came across Adam’s outstanding book. He’s had type 1 diabetes since he was 12, in 2002 — which were still the truly dark days of diabetes. We’ve still got far to go with how diabetes is handled, from developing convenient ways to monitor ourselves and learn our bodies, to the basics of insurance companies not being truly stingy with prescribing blood glucose testers and the supplies that go with them.
Okay, chances are that your insulin resistance is perfectly healthy (pardon me while I envy you) — so why am I telling you about his book? Because he and it are amazing! And this comes through in all of his discussions, whether he’s speaking in very personal terms or sharing what he’s learned, always he models how to look at oneself soberly and become a problem solver. He’s a lover of life who demands an un-Polyana pledge to care for oneself, be it physically or emotionally — so that we can be our best for our loved ones and everyone around us, as well as ourselves — win/win and win! In a nutshell, he shows us how to obliterate what doesn’t work for us, Landmines, and amplify what does work for us, Bright Spots. Now that’s the kind of thinking everyone can use....more
I read this book around when it first came out & it so completely altered for the better my relationship to food that I took the course, which was greI read this book around when it first came out & it so completely altered for the better my relationship to food that I took the course, which was great too!...more
Entertaining and candid, Foxx offers a good look at what it takes to become a star. I don't have kids, so I didn't listen to it for parenting advice.Entertaining and candid, Foxx offers a good look at what it takes to become a star. I don't have kids, so I didn't listen to it for parenting advice....more
Massive and wonderful and massively wonderful! I know some about art, but not enough be sure whether this is technically 'end all' -- but I sure enjoyMassive and wonderful and massively wonderful! I know some about art, but not enough be sure whether this is technically 'end all' -- but I sure enjoy thumbing through it. My only wish is that the text wasn't so shiny and tiny. Makes me want to see more and know more about each artist!...more
Julia's honest comics about her transition resonate in ways I wouldn't have gotten with other story telling styles. Supremely brave and optimistic to Julia's honest comics about her transition resonate in ways I wouldn't have gotten with other story telling styles. Supremely brave and optimistic to the max, I wish everyone would read this, trans or not!...more
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