Janet
A thorough and wide-ranging biography of an amazing scientist - one I had never heard of. A man who already, in the early 19th century, saw the devastation that humans can have on ecosystems. In fact he was the first to describe and understand what an ecosystem is. Also politically prescient noting at the time the evils of slavery and the appalling treatment of indigenous peoples by colonial powers.
Really enjoyed this book although it took me a long time to read it. I read it in three stages over 18 months. I knew nothing about John Adams before I stared and learned a lot about the man. Thomas Jefferson didn't come out of the book very well though.
Everybody should read this book. There is an incredible amount of information and the author makes clear that our economic and political systems are at odds with our humanity. We can and should change the rules of the game. Otherwise we are ultimately doomed.
An amazing woman: A journalist and anti-lynching activist. An indefatigable campaigner for justice. Depressing read though - so much violence and injustice.
Found this book fascinating - I love history but find the typical history book quite dry but not this one. I learnt a lot about the founding of America - not the cut and dried simple story that is learnt in elementary school. It probably helped that I had read the John Adams biography by David McCullough first mind, as that filled me in with an awful lot of facts that I was ignorant of.
Not sure how to rate this. I got hooked on the book very quickly but was disappointed in the ending.
Interesting book although not a quick read. The sort of book that makes me wish I was smarter than I am.
Fascinating - detailed enough to be interesting yet brief enough to not lose my attention.
Oh my god what a breath of fresh air! This book should be required reading. It is a well-argued book for reason, rationality and skepticism and a wonderful advocacy for science but his compassion and desire to understand others shines throughout. This book is as necessary now as it was when it was written and unfortunately given human nature I think it will always be relevant.
PS For American readers I love Sagan's idea that the Pledge of Allegiance should be directed to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights instead of to the flag and the nation as it is when the President takes his oath of office.
Loved it! History at its best - all about the characters and events of the summer of 1927. Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Henry Ford, Prohibition, the birth of the “talkie” movies and much, much more - Bill Bryson brought it all to life.
This book is set in Chile and China in the 1800's and then California during the gold rush, places and times I knew nothing about so it was interesting to read. The main protagonist is a strong female character which I always enjoy - I get frustrated when I read books where I don't like any of the characters!
Someone saw me reading this book and recommended The House of the Spirits by the same author so that is my “to read” list now.
As I read the book I was continuously wondering how it was going to end.
Interesting book to read - especially as I have just read a brief bio of Margaret Sanger. The book puts a very human face on women's health issues and their right to control their own bodies and hence lives. Extremely frustrating to know that we still have to defend these rights nearly 150 years later
Just reread this for a second time in preparation for reading the companion book “A God in Ruins”. I forgot how much I enjoy this author and I enjoyed this book more the second time around.
Read it right after Code Name Verity - both set in the same time period. I enjoyed it but not as much as some as Kate Atkinson's other books and I preferred Code Name Verity.
As someone who was born 2 years later than the author, grew up less than thirty miles from her (albeit in a city and in a different class), and moved to the States three years after her, the beginning of the book really resonated with me. But the whole book is good. My main take on her thesis is that “all people matter” and as a society we have to make sure that no one gets left behind.