Ford Warrick Jr

Excellent book. De Waal makes a compelling case that morality has evolved “from the bottom up” by examining the behavior of primates and other animals. I particularly liked that he doesn't just cite scientific facts but draws upon art, anecdotes and his lifetime as a working scientist to explain human nature. It didn't hurt that the author and I share the same problems with the “new atheists.”

I thought the stories were moving and interesting. The author said his goal was to discuss experiences people have shortly before they die and provide hope. I think he succeeded but I would have like to hear more stories from different cultures to see if these experiences of seeing the deceased, going on trips or crowded rooms are familiar independent of culture.

I have no idea why people are rating this book so highly. The mystery was passable but many of the characters were just ridiculous. No adult in the real world would behave like Hazard.

I really didn't like this book and had to force myself to read until the unsatisfying conclusion. Both main characters were unlikable and inauthentic from the start and continue on a downward trajectory of being unsympathetic and contrived. The plot would have been more interesting if Amy had been come off as an actual human being and not a plot device. Amy is a psychopath, a “psycho bitch”, but the author doesn't seem to really understand how a person could be that way. I never for a moment thought I was reading about real people and therefore I was uninterested in what became of the characters.

Laugh out loud funny but also poignant, particularly related to dealing with depression. Brosh's illustrations alone crack me up.

This is honestly one of the best books I have read in years. Haidt makes very convincing arguments for his three main points: 1) intuitions comes first, strategic reason second, 2) there is more to morality than harm and fairness and 3) morality binds and blinds. His writing style is very clear and accessible although I paused several times during the book just to explore some of the many ideas he presents. This book really opened my eyes.

This young adult steampunk is silly, clever and overall just a lot of fun. If you appreciate Victorian manners, fisticuffs, mechanical sausage dogs and an evil genius training school with levels including “discourteous” and “spiteful” this is the series for you.