Karen Chiang
A short but insightful book I sped through in one afternoon. Although not a book that answers questions, it is one that asks a lot of insightful ones. Made for contemplating longer, sometimes troublesome relationships and maybe could even help reframe what role love plays in our lives.
Nice little read from an influencer accompanied by beautiful photos (taken by the author). Though written in her late twenties, it shows her maturity. Helps introduce younger people to minimalism and vegetarianism - but seems a bit self indulgent.
I would say this is one of those books that are like vegetables - not very palatable at times, but can be really good for you. Whether you're amping up to lean in or stuck in some kind of slump, Marie will drag you out of that muddy swamp and infuse with you starry-eyed hope and motivation. If you are allergic to mainstream positivity and pinterest quotes, I would advise you to proceed with caution. But if you are able to put your cynicism aside for an afternoon, I think you'll really appreciate the stories (so many of them) and the hope her worldview brings.
I stumbled into this book at the library but I'm so lucky that I did! As a yoga teacher and a self-practitioner this book held all the tools and encouragement you need to create and maintain a self-practice. Really does what it says on the can. Unlike most workout books, this one is worth keeping on your shelf and keep going back to.
Marked it as read but it's really more of a reference book - you can pretty much skim it back to back within one hour.
It wasn't as relatable as the first book, so much like the author's own perspective while transcribing this book, there is a sense of distance even when reading her first-person dialogues.
This book is heavier, harder to wrap your head and heart around, but it's also very real. It reminds us that we don't need to justify our emotions, our depression, or even our weaknesses. We always have a choice put our focus on the greater parts of ourselves, which sit side by side to our perceived shortcomings.
Extremely useful book that holds a lot of knowledge. Hard to chew through... but worth it.
Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and the refreshing writing style. Felt like I was watching a pink panther movie! I suppose it's more like human observations through a light detective plot? Heartwarming, although it did not reel me in as much as it just made me curious and want to find out how it ends.
“How can you get very far,
If you don't know Who You Are?
How can you do what you ought, If you don't know What You've Got?
And if you don't know Which To Do Of all the things in front of you,
Then what you'll have when you are through Is just a mess without a clue
Of all the best that can come true
If you know What and Which and Who.”
A charming book that made me smile and chuckle. Easily one of my favourite books - for both getting to know Pooh and the Way.
Quickly went through it in about 3 hours give or take. Didn't really chew through her sentences in detail this time, more skimming as I wasn't too familiar with the geographic or cultural settings of Dublin and London.
The style is consistent with Exciting Times in that it explores the emotional frustration that comes with being in your twenties, exploring your sexuality and navigating adulthood. Also the need to stomach the character's flaws in failing to expressing their feelings outward and suffering the consequences of that — except this time we actually get it from their perspectives in first-person inner monologue.
If you like beautiful people where are you (I do), then this is similar but pales in comparison.
Absolutely devoured it all - the longing, meekness, devotion, dysfunction, hurt, and everything in between left unsaid. Call me a hopeless romantic but this is the book made just for us.
I hope everybody has a Will in their lives!
Perfect airplane read that captured my attention for five hours. It started off so relatable for anxious people (and so well written too) and slowly unravels into some unhinged territory - but you can't help sympathizing with the main character too. Mental health is talked about so much but this is another read that can help you FEEL it.
PS love a straight forward romantic story. Love Cliff
It was good at the beginning and then it started to feel like I'm sitting in a never ending lecture. It's like trying to learn how to play basketball by attending a blow by blow talk on how to flex your wrist joints or improve your jump steps. Unfortunately it felt repetitive, theoretical and uninspired. There are many, many great philosophers that came before him and vivid storytellers that came after. This was neither. Not that this is a judgement on the author's own journey, which is beautiful and transformative and great but a 5 hour read on meditation and the last chapter on how he wants the world to be changed (which was decidedly and unexpectedly political) is not what I signed up for.
“He hadn't wanted to admit how incredibly lonely he had been the last few weeks, tromping around by himself, looking at everything but never feeling like he was touching anything.”
An incredible little number that showed, not told. Through a breadcrumb trail of sights and senses, the book let the reader piece together how easily people come together and fall apart, how fragile the human heart is, and truly how primal our filial devotion can be.
Really interesting book that completely upends mainstream perception of food, diet, and eating. It's also beautiful that at the end of the day, we just have to eat mindfully and wholly so that our bodies can do the job it's evolved to do.
He does acknowledge that this is merely a glimpse into the roots of our cravings and obesity problem. I'd be interested to learn more about the specifics of HOW we can fix the cravings. Beautifully written and plotted so one page effortlessly leads to the next, which is rare for books on this kind of usually dry topics.
I also wonder what the author's thoughts are on veganism.
Stay away from processed food!!
An illuminating book on addiction and how we can take steps to find balance. Especially a good follow-up to the book The End of Cravings.
Really more of an essay (written for PORT Magazine) but it was just the right dose of existential, traumatic inner rambling one needs in that length. Between mundane moments and intense memories, Dolan illustrates trauma through her signature writing style— which only lightly traces over plot but digs deeply into how small details of life weaves into moments and then into days.
“I never used a hairbrush. You just had to brush again the next day.”
There's a sense of emptiness and powerlessness she creates in so few words. A great bite-size Dolan read.
As the plane descends in the dark into Hong Kong, I greedily finished the final few pages of Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart. (It may also interest you to know that the seat belt sign switched off during the second post-credit scene of Eternals on my out-bound flight... serendipity?) “Heartbreaking” “Fascinating” were adjectives printed on the cover but I found myself not entirely clearing the bars despite trying hard to.
Of course, the visceral moments of grief were indeed gut-wrenching. But when blended with the difficulties of navigating a third-cultured identity, almost seemed too stereotypical — perhaps even spoiled.
On one hand it was a beautiful, raw encounter that would resonate with a lot of halpus or overseas-educated Asians. On the other hand, perhaps it was heartbreaking for some other reason — to witness the facets of filial piety and generational trauma manifesting as “too little too late” in Asian kids.
My favourite thing about the read: it totally made me fall in love with Korean food again, the same way watching David Chang cook with his umma did.
PS one thing that really bugged me was that Myeongdong Kyoja was described two times — but only one mentioned the name. Why?
Edit: read other 1-star reviews to sooth my chicken-self and would also agree that it was kinda boring and her husband seemed like a bit of a convenient tool for her (unless a lot of other things have gone unmentioned). Yes memoirs are not really for other's judgement but I can't really see why it's so highly rated.
Another tear-jerker... One that took about an hour to get through but will leave an imprint in your heart.
I found myself wanting to get to the end, to know how Josie's story goes and whether she has a happy ending. So I suppose the book was successful in making readers invested in the characters. But there are a lot of unexplained context which I found disorienting. Such as the Sun, being lifted, slow fade, seeing the world through boxes. Resistance and guns? Perhaps the details are meant to be blurry as a literal illustration device. Nonetheless it was an enjoyable read that leaves a feeling lingering in your heart.
I was skeptical going into the book as I specially started it to see if the book really does what it says on the cover.
I was half right. While there were some inspiring moments and interesting exercises, and I truly admire Jessica's grit, I couldn't fully understand the value of this book.
It feels like one long blog post or e-book. It might have even started that way.
Like she said, you're not for everyone. So I guess this isn't for me!
It's a quick, fun little adventure but it reads like a movie script (one's watered down from an actual book), and for what it's worth I think all the scenes lend themselves very well to Hollywood magic. The take-home message is little preachy but I didn't mind it so much because the story moved quickly enough.
Overall, enjoyable but not for those seeking something deep.
Simply a stunning book. Translated from Korean to English, the book manages to tell a completely different kind of coming-of-age story around friendship, love and emotions—unique to a boy who can't comprehend any feelings.
A gem I'm so glad to have discovered. A beautiful read.
Some solid advice and tips here. No fluff, but would like more examples on how to use it beyond validating business ideas.
Really comprehensive and readable introduction to Taoism, Buddhism and Zen Buddhism from a historic point of view. It also does a great job explaining the viewpoints and philosophies, in particular of Zen Buddhism. Will re-read and refer to often.