It’s possible I went into this book expecting something way different, so it turned out not to capture my attention as much as I wanted.
IMaybe a 3.5.
It’s possible I went into this book expecting something way different, so it turned out not to capture my attention as much as I wanted.
I consider myself a perpetually online person but I still couldn’t relate to the way the author experienced her first pregnancy, and her weird fixations with apps and message boards (especially an app called Flo). While I could definitely understand her critique about how capitalism has co-opted even pregnancy in these times (totally speaking from experience here), I just couldn’t get a grasp on the overall intention behind the book. I also thought the parts of the book about the author’s personal pregnancy journey were emotional and very readable, whereas the wider critiques didn’t always come across as coherent.
As someone who had my first child just a couple of years after the author herself did, I thought maybe I would be the perfect audience for this book, but alas I wasn’t. So I’m unsure whom I can recommend it to. The writing is still compelling and doesn’t really get boring anywhere, but just didn’t leave much of an impression once I was done with it. ...more
Lots of information about asexuality, for historical sources to present, with a very important focus on intersectionality and how it interacts with raLots of information about asexuality, for historical sources to present, with a very important focus on intersectionality and how it interacts with racism and cisheteropatriarchy. Did feel a bit academic at times and I needed time to process all the information I was being given. I’ll probably digest this book more if I reread. Not sure I feel qualified to write a review at this time.
Will definitely not recommend it as an absolute beginner text about asexuality. I think one is better off starting with Angela Chen’s Ace and then once you are more familiar with atleast some part of the language around asexuality, you should give this book a try. ...more
I may have heard the name Prabal Gurung before but the first time he made a notable impression on me was when Michelle Obama wore his dress. From thenI may have heard the name Prabal Gurung before but the first time he made a notable impression on me was when Michelle Obama wore his dress. From then, it’s been very cool to see his star rise and it was amazing to see Alia Bhatt make her Met Gala debut with him. So it was very exciting for me to pick up his memoir coz I wanted to know his story.
And this turned out not to be what I expected at all. His childhood in Nepal or later his higher education in India had so much ups and downs, and so many emotional moments that I felt whiplash at times. But the way he motivated himself to overcome the extremely hard times and strive towards achieving his dream is commendable. I found the candidness with which he tells us his life experiences - good, bad and ugly - very refreshing. And particularly beautiful to read was his relationship with his mom, and how much she stood as a rock and made him the kind of person he is today. Equally powerful are his bonds with his siblings, so thoughtful and supportive in all his endeavors.
As I don’t understand the fashion world much, this book gave a small but interesting glimpse into the high end luxury fashion scene in NYC. But the best part for me was the way Prabal decided that being successful wasn’t enough, he had to make use of his success to stand for something, give voice to his community and other marginalized voices, and he did all this despite being advised not to do so.
Overall, at times sad but mostly very uplifting and inspiring story of a fashion icon in his own right, showing a guiding light for future aspiring queer south Asian designers. ...more
Parts of this book were interesting and informative, especially about the different types of AI and how they shouldn’t all be talked abouMaybe a 3.5.
Parts of this book were interesting and informative, especially about the different types of AI and how they shouldn’t all be talked about in singular broad strokes. But I started getting bored about halfway through. Maybe it just wasn’t for me.
I guess the audiobook also didn’t help, the material just isn’t compelling enough to hold my attention through the audio. I also feel my expectations about the book may have been wrong. I absolutely loved Code Dependent, which is an impressive book about the human impact of AI and I guess I thought this would be a deeper extension of that book, which it really isn’t. ...more
The tragedy of a book like this is how relevant it is even 6 years after publication, and might be even years later consideringMore of a 4.5 I guess.
The tragedy of a book like this is how relevant it is even 6 years after publication, and might be even years later considering the backlash against feminist movements across the globe these days. But it’s a compelling and compassionate read about the necessity for women’s freedom (specifically the titular fearless freedom) and not just “safety” that takes the form of benevolent oppression. The author does a wonderful job combining powerful anecdotes with sharp insights, showing the through line between the ultimate goals of patriarchy, racism, sexism and the violence used to uphold all forms of bigotry. On similar note, she emphasizes the need for more intersectionality and solidarity among various liberation movements, because ultimately freedom from oppression is only possible if it is for everyone.
Highly recommend and I’m looking forward to read some more of the books mentioned by the author within this one. ...more
I’m not usually a Strict Scrutiny pod listener though I have checked out a few episodes relevant to my interest. But I have Maybe between a 4 and 4.5.
I’m not usually a Strict Scrutiny pod listener though I have checked out a few episodes relevant to my interest. But I have followed the author on social media and appreciate her insights, so I was very interested in this book.
The book can broadly be divided into categories like Abortion rights, lgbtq rights, voting rights, campaign finance reform and regulatory agency statutes enforcement - she does a wonderful job giving us in easy to understand terms not just the judgements in cases where these very important rights/acts were dismantled by the Supreme Court; the author spends a considerable amount of page time to go back in history to give us a timeline of how this happened. The way these issues were discussed in the zeitgeist before, how the republicans grew increasingly dissatisfied with a changing electorate not in sync with their extreme conservative views, and how they transformed this dissatisfaction and grievance into grooming lawyers, judges and politicians across the country who could one day shape the law of the land in ways that conform to their ideology only - apparently preferring anything other than conservative ideology is discrimination against the oh so poor conservatives. Despite the very grim subject matter of the book, there are pop culture references galore which make for some levity in between (though I didn’t understand most of them) and it’s all explained in a very accessible manner, so it felt immensely readable. The author also does a wonderful job narrating the audiobook herself.
Overall, I think readers who have a background in law might find this book too simple or too indulgent to be relevant to them; however those who have absolutely no clue about what the Supreme Court does or has been doing for the past few years might also find this book a bit dense and information heavy. This is perfect for readers who have some understanding of the functions of the supreme court, what has been happening in the past decade or so in terms of judicial appointments and decisions, and those who want to learn more about this topic so that they can make more informed choices about their voting. ...more
It’s been three years since I’ve read a book by the author but I do follow her on socials and have truly come to appreciate her profound writings and It’s been three years since I’ve read a book by the author but I do follow her on socials and have truly come to appreciate her profound writings and scarily prescient predictions for American politics.
So I was surprised to see that she had written a memoir this year, but I still wanted to check it out. But as you expect from Sarah, this is so much more than just her talking about her life experiences. It’s a memoir, travelogue, forgotten history, an ode to America’s natural wonders, a lament of America’s political climate, the joys and perils of motherhood in an age of impending climate disaster - all wrapped into one profound package. It’s depressing at times and wondrous at others, sad at the decline the author is witnessing across the country, but also joyous about being able to experience the beauty the country still has left to offer, together with her family.
As someone who really is a zero outdoorsy person and hates hiking or even just being too much in nature, this book shouldn’t have been for me but the author won me over with her writing. It’s been a while since I’ve highlighted so many paragraphs in a book. She is a tremendous wordsmith and all her contradictory feelings about America permeate every single word in this book. I don’t know who is the ideal reader is for this book, but if you’re a fan of Sarah’s writing, or belong to a cross country road-tripping family, then you might find something for yourself in these pages. ...more
Contender for a favorite of the year. But that’s understandable because Elie Mystal is knowledgeable and hilarious and can dissect the racist connotatContender for a favorite of the year. But that’s understandable because Elie Mystal is knowledgeable and hilarious and can dissect the racist connotations of the American constitution and various laws across the country like nobody’s business.
If his first book “Allow Me to Retort” was about the constitution, this book is about some of the most horrible state or federal laws in the country which do nothing but discriminate against minorities, make lives harder for marginalized communities and give more money and power to corporations. While I knew about some of them, it was still very interesting (and awful) to get to know in detail about the Hyde amendment which places unnecessary burden on poor women who need abortions, which combined with the global gag rule is ruining lives internationally; the PLCAA which makes it impossible to sue gun manufacturers who liberally market mass murder weapons; and the law which disregulated and privatized air travel which has led to the current airline industry which offers nothing good to the consumers. The discriminatory laws regarding incarceration, lgbtq rights and the religious right’s never ending war on secular democracy are also prominent features in the book.
If you are a civic minded resident of the US - citizen or immigrant - you should read this book. It will educate you and make you guffaw and wallow in despair all the same time, but it’s definitely worth it. ...more
Not sure if the end of the year was the right time to read this book, especially after the disastrous November that we’ve had. More of a 4.5 I think.
Not sure if the end of the year was the right time to read this book, especially after the disastrous November that we’ve had. But I had the audiobook and I just wasn’t in the mood for any SFF book.
Turns out, this was even more rage inducing than our current reality, but it also felt cathartic in a sense. Very informative about the historical origins of the lack of research/care for women’s health issues. So many resonating moments throughout. And also a very well narrated audiobook.
If women’s health or the effect of misogyny in the lack of women’s healthcare is an interest of yours, then this is an unmissable book....more
A love letter to King Khan SRK. I don't think I can review this book except saying it's special, made me feel happy and joyful and nostalgic and all kA love letter to King Khan SRK. I don't think I can review this book except saying it's special, made me feel happy and joyful and nostalgic and all kinds of nice. If you are a fan, don't give this a miss....more
25th anniversary of my all time favorite tv show, a book written by cast members about the behind the scenes of the production and the legacy of servi25th anniversary of my all time favorite tv show, a book written by cast members about the behind the scenes of the production and the legacy of service it has created, and an election looming over our heads - frankly it’s a perfect season for binging The West Wing again for the nth time but I’m in India now and apparently it’s not available to stream anywhere ...more
After reading Sonora Jha’s memoir How to Raise a Feminist Son, I’ve been looking for similar parenting books by feminists and specifically about raisiAfter reading Sonora Jha’s memoir How to Raise a Feminist Son, I’ve been looking for similar parenting books by feminists and specifically about raising boys, so I was very excited to read Boymom. I ofcourse waited until I could get my hands on the audiobook and it turned out to be a very eye opening experience.
The author covers a broad range of topics about raising boys from birth to about college age, talking about - nature vs nurturethe aggressive play and roughhousing among young boys in contrast to more seemingly disciplined girls, the desire of boys to become strong and masculine men leading to less emotional intelligence and vulnerability, how that affects interpersonal relationships in the long term, how screentime and exposure of what’s online leads to both positive and negative outcomes, and the corresponding effects on sexuality, understanding consent, and the rising incel movement. The author mingles her research with the narrative of her own life with her 3 boys of various ages, and how she feels about raising them as a feminist in this world which focuses on such narrowing definitions of what it means to be masculine. I liked how the author is open about her own biases and how it affects her worldview, and how thinking of issues from her son’s POV has her questioning some of her own strongly held beliefs.
While the book is very well researched and has lots of information and thought provoking content that I will need to go back to again and again, it also made me feel scared as a very new boy mom and the thought of raising a strong but sensitive and empathetic boy in this world which seems to be turning more and more divisive everyday has me anxious. Nonetheless, this is an important book that covers the various fraught issues with delicate nuance, that is strongly necessary in our current times when everyone is ready to condemn stuff with a very black and white lens of viewing the world. ...more
While I’ve read a couple of books in the last year about the female reproductive system, the parts and even about periods, this is the first book I’veWhile I’ve read a couple of books in the last year about the female reproductive system, the parts and even about periods, this is the first book I’ve read from a purely gynecological perspective, written by a specialist, and I’m so so glad that I’ll always be able to refer back to this book in the future.
This is written in layman’s terms and is really helpful to women of all ages, from menarche to post menopause. The book is organized in a manner that lets the reader pick the chapters to read which maybe related to the conditions they suffer from or just pick any topic which is of interest to them. The book starts off with the dubious history of how women’s health has been sidelined for ages, how some very breakthrough gynecological procedures came to be, and how even now research dollars invested in finding out about conditions specific to women are very very less.
The second part of the book is a very informative encyclopedia of the various issues women/peope with uteri face including PMS, periods, fibroids, endometriosis, abortion, cancer and more. The author gives a helpful explanation of the various symptoms of each condition, how they can be diagnosed, the detailed procedures involved and pain management, the available treatment options available and how to choose among them. The chapters on birth control and abortion were quite detailed, busting some of the common misinformation about them which even prolife politicians and judges make liberal use of to get their desired outcome. The final part of the book is about how to advocate for ourselves when we meet a healthcare provider, what we can ask and how we can arrive at the treatment that best suits us, and also what to do when the providers don’t take our condition seriously.
Overall, this is a brilliant and one of a kind book that can work as a quick reference guide for everyone, maybe including medical professionals. The author also does a great job of being inclusive of transgender men and non-binary people, dedicating chapters to the importance of gender affirming care and how providers can support such patients. I’m glad I read this and I’m sure I’ll find it helpful for years to come. ...more
This one has been on my tbr since I first realized I was gonna have a baby boy. While I’ve always felt that I’m inadequately mProbably more of a 4.5.
This one has been on my tbr since I first realized I was gonna have a baby boy. While I’ve always felt that I’m inadequately maternal in nature, I atleast want to strive to teach progressive values to my son and I’m always looking for guidance in that regard.
This book might not be an exact how to guide about raising a feminist son but it’s a very thoughtful memoir plus manifesto by the author, telling us that ways she has tried to raise a feminist son, the ups and downs of the process, the failures and introspections and so much more. While I might have felt things were a bit repetitive initially, the book got really engaging as it went on, making me think about so many aspects of parenting I’ve never given a thought to before.
I really liked it overall and I can confidently say that this is a book I’ll be going back to again and again whenever I might need a bit of help, and I’m especially thankful for the extensive resources section towards the end as well as the many books and authors and researchers mentioned throughout the book. A definite must read in my opinion, for moms trying to raise young boys in this day and age. ...more
Absolutely delightful read. And even better full cast narrated audiobook which brings out the tone of this letter collection perfecMore of a 4.5 star.
Absolutely delightful read. And even better full cast narrated audiobook which brings out the tone of this letter collection perfectly. It gave me so much joy throughout, learning about the lives of these almost strangers just connected through their love of books, but the ending did leave me feeling sad and empty. Very heartwarming read overall though....more
To be honest, I'm not sure what to say about this book and the author's life story. All I hope is that she is in a better place and atleast a bit awayTo be honest, I'm not sure what to say about this book and the author's life story. All I hope is that she is in a better place and atleast a bit away from her toxic family members....more
The topic of propaganda is very relevant to our times, even more so in the eve of the election this year. So this is a very timely book More of a 3.5.
The topic of propaganda is very relevant to our times, even more so in the eve of the election this year. So this is a very timely book and I learnt a lot about how propaganda has been used since around WW2 till now, especially during the recent elections. But the various small stories felt disjointed. Also, the issue of propaganda and its connections to the various rising fascist movements across the globe is a very serious threat, and I felt the book was too small to cover the gravity of it. The solutions presented about handling propaganda and misinformation felt rudimentary and don’t inspire too much confidence about the upcoming elections. But overall, still an informative book and can work as a good primer on the topic. ...more
I only picked this up because I got the audiobook from the publisher but it was quite an enlightening read for me, someone who has no clue even about I only picked this up because I got the audiobook from the publisher but it was quite an enlightening read for me, someone who has no clue even about American Christianity, much less the evangelical kind.
The author does a great job starting with her childhood and the kind of life she had growing up, the kind of religious beliefs and values she was taught, the denial of science (especially evolution) which was a cornerstone of the faith, as well as the purity culture and sexual repression. As a journalist, she also interviews fellow exvangelicals who have left the church for various reasons of their own, and it paints a picture of the different kinds of trauma all these people have suffered since childhood.
As someone growing up in India who thought only Indian politics was all mixed up in religion and America was better, the past decade has been a revelation for me and this book is a great step in trying to understand why the purity culture loving evangelicals stand so hard behind the 45th president - how everything they teach their children can be tossed aside temporarily if they feel their political goals can be achieved by supporting someone completely opposite of their faith. It’s hypocrisy at its finest and I’ve come to realize over the years that organized religion is the pinnacle of hypocrisy, everywhere in the world.
While I did learn quite a lot from this book, maybe readers who have grown up American might find all the information here something they already know and nothing new to offer. But I feel people who are in the same position as the author, having lost their bearings after separating from their church, suffering from religious trauma, or even those who are just questioning what has been taught to them since childhood - may find common ground, community and empathy in these pages. ...more
A very hard to categorize book which wasn’t even on my tbr but I couldn’t resist after seeing some reviews floating around. While the parts of the booA very hard to categorize book which wasn’t even on my tbr but I couldn’t resist after seeing some reviews floating around. While the parts of the book which concentrated on Naomi Wolf (the titular doppelgänger) and Steve Bannon weren’t always interesting, all the research the author has done into the historical origins of far right movements like QAnon, anti-vaxxers, J6 insurrectionists etc is very informative.
I also particularly loved the final part of the book which was both about the historical origins of antisemitism as well as the rise of Zionism, and how it has led to the current state of affairs where a genocide of the Palestinian people playing out live on our screens still doesn’t move the western governments to do anything to stop the violence.
Overall, a very interesting book taking a look at how we as a society have arrived at the current juncture in time where everything/everyone is divided and reactionary, and we are having to fight just to ensure humanity and common sense prevails. ...more