Jayne

Didn't finish it. Too much about God which I hadn't realised would feature so heavily from the description. Found it a bit condescending in parts. If you have the inclination to pick through the exercises you may find it useful. I don't.

A rather odd book about the Planets that bounces between Science and the Humanities. There are facts about the Solar System but they're interspersed with bits of poetry, myth, music and things like astrology which is a little jarring. It's attempt to lace together various approaches to each planet provides a more holistic introduction to them. It wasn't what I was looking for but it may be for others.

I enjoyed this overall. It entwines Buddhist philopsophy with the life of a cat living with the Dalai Lama. I did side-eye a few times however. I listened to the audiobook but found having an obviously male narrator for a female cat an odd decision. The author narrates but sometimes it's better for a performer to step in. A few points around cat-care and minor errors like calling English Universities "ivy league" stood out. I found the chapter about the Dalai Lama not being vegetarian strange. He eats meat because his Doctors told him to eat it for his health. Vegetarianism nowadays (and in 2012 when the book was written) is becoming easier and more accessible. He (HHDL) has urged people to attempt it/reduce meat consumption. It felt overly simplified. Perhaps this book is better for people wanting a light introduction to Buddhism instead.

Reads as an introduction to the subject and lacks depth being so short.

Struggled with the style of writing of this. I found it had a distancing effect that made the book hard to get into. It follows 6 members of the ISS across one Earth day or 16 orbits. The fact not a lot happens is thematically on point but makes for slow going. It's very calm and reflective. In a different mood maybe I would have enjoyed it more.