Sierra
I both love and hate this book. I really wanted to love it, as someone who loves horses and folklore, but unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. It took me 3 weeks to get through the first 2/3 and then I finished the final 1/3 in a day. It began too slow for me, with too uncertain a setting in time and place and plot-driving character decisions mistifying me in annoying ways, before ramping up and enthralling me for the final 1/3, and finally ending too quickly without satisfying me - just as it had finally commanded my attention. For me, this book was a lot better in theory and in retrospect. Which eats at me, because this book could have been one of my favourites with a few tweaks. But it is what it is and so I'm left with this love-hate longing that is as poetic as this annoyingly disappointing-good book.
On a side note, if you're not from the UK, I would recommend reading with some form of UK accent; it improved the experience for me. The setting is very British Isles coded, from the geography, to the sheep, to the tea, and their seemingly Welsh or otherwise British Isles-inspired tradition that I won't spoil. I was a third into the book before I had enough data to deduce it is a fictional place located off the coast of a country in the real world, somewhere in the 20th century. I do wish the writer had made the setting more clear earlier on because when I began, I assumed it was a completely made-up world and this didn't allow me to settle into the book as quickly as I would have liked.
I both love and hate this book. I really wanted to love it, as someone who loves horses and folklore, but unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. It took me 3 weeks to get through the first 2/3 and then I finished the final 1/3 in a day. It began too slow for me, with too uncertain a setting in time and place and plot-driving character decisions mistifying me in annoying ways, before ramping up and enthralling me for the final 1/3, and finally ending too quickly without satisfying me - just as it had finally commanded my attention. For me, this book was a lot better in theory and in retrospect. Which eats at me, because this book could have been one of my favourites with a few tweaks. But it is what it is and so I'm left with this love-hate longing that is as poetic as this annoyingly disappointing-good book.
On a side note, if you're not from the UK, I would recommend reading with some form of UK accent; it improved the experience for me. The setting is very British Isles coded, from the geography, to the sheep, to the tea, and their seemingly Welsh or otherwise British Isles-inspired tradition that I won't spoil. I was a third into the book before I had enough data to deduce it is a fictional place located off the coast of a country in the real world, somewhere in the 20th century. I do wish the writer had made the setting more clear earlier on because when I began, I assumed it was a completely made-up world and this didn't allow me to settle into the book as quickly as I would have liked.
I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors ignore the causes of the socio-economic and political problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating these problems (though neoliberalism, colonialism, etc.) in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north as if it's only a problem "over there" and are a bit racist. They make a big deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this has nothing to do with solving the problem. They describe muslim women in a patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves. They also more broadly describe women whose stories are featured in the book as if they're characters. I can only assume this was either intended to humanize them or as a stylistic choice, but regardless it's often uncomfortable. I would only recommend this book for someone who has a morbid interest or needs a reality check on the state of women's "equality" today because holy shit some of the things you will read in this book are beyond words. If they did one thing right with this book, it's that you will be angry.
I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors ignore the causes of the socio-economic and political problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating these problems (though neoliberalism, colonialism, etc.) in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north as if it's only a problem "over there" and are a bit racist. They make a big deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this has nothing to do with solving the problem. They describe muslim women in a patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves. They also more broadly describe women whose stories are featured in the book as if they're characters. I can only assume this was either intended to humanize them or as a stylistic choice, but regardless it's often uncomfortable. I would only recommend this book for someone who has a morbid interest or needs a reality check on the state of women's "equality" today because holy shit some of the things you will read in this book are beyond words. If they did one thing right with this book, it's that you will be angry.
As someone who didn't think a think book about human biology would be that entertaining, this book blew me away (with one exception). It is written so fluidly with humour and is the perfect balance of covering all the important parts and systems of the body with fascinating facts, historical anecdotes and context, and practical information (with one glaring exception I will explain) so that it never becomes dry. It was absolutely a 10/10 for the majority of the book. My one criticism is that, despite writing a chapter dedicated to eating and frequently mentioning chronic diseases for which the main contributor is poor diet, the author grossly ignores the role of food in health and any real tangeable advice on this matter. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity are all known to share the main contributing factor of diet and all come up multiple times throughout the book (though the author does focus on obesity disproportionately). Despite this, the most that is said about what one can do to avoid these terrible, often deadly conditions is the same vague thing you might hear from anyone off the street: don't eat too many calories, too much fat, salt, or sugar, eat more vegetables and fruit, and a SINGULAR, indirect reference to not eating too much meat (with absolutely no indication at all on how much might be too much). If you want the latest science on living a long, healthy life and preventing and reversing today's top killers, I highly recommend How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger or even just visit his incredible non-profit site, NutritionFacts.org for free videos and transcripts with accessible information on thousands of nutritional topics. Bill Bryson evidently did not want to rock the boat and provide the "hard truth" of life-saving information by saying just a little more in just a little more of a direct way and instead wrote a book anyone can read without feeling much personal discomfort (unless you are obese or have any fat you feel uncomfortable with, because he keeps going on about that). So, I would definitely recommend this book, but would just say it essentially has nothing at all to say about the current science on practical human nutrition and you can and should look elsewhere for that essential information.
As someone who didn't think a think book about human biology would be that entertaining, this book blew me away (with one exception). It is written so fluidly with humour and is the perfect balance of covering all the important parts and systems of the body with fascinating facts, historical anecdotes and context, and practical information (with one glaring exception I will explain) so that it never becomes dry. It was absolutely a 10/10 for the majority of the book. My one criticism is that, despite writing a chapter dedicated to eating and frequently mentioning chronic diseases for which the main contributor is poor diet, the author grossly ignores the role of food in health and any real tangeable advice on this matter. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity are all known to share the main contributing factor of diet and all come up multiple times throughout the book (though the author does focus on obesity disproportionately). Despite this, the most that is said about what one can do to avoid these terrible, often deadly conditions is the same vague thing you might hear from anyone off the street: don't eat too many calories, too much fat, salt, or sugar, eat more vegetables and fruit, and a SINGULAR, indirect reference to not eating too much meat (with absolutely no indication at all on how much might be too much). If you want the latest science on living a long, healthy life and preventing and reversing today's top killers, I highly recommend How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger or even just visit his incredible non-profit site, NutritionFacts.org for free videos and transcripts with accessible information on thousands of nutritional topics. Bill Bryson evidently did not want to rock the boat and provide the "hard truth" of life-saving information by saying just a little more in just a little more of a direct way and instead wrote a book anyone can read without feeling much personal discomfort (unless you are obese or have any fat you feel uncomfortable with, because he keeps going on about that). So, I would definitely recommend this book, but would just say it essentially has nothing at all to say about the current science on practical human nutrition and you can and should look elsewhere for that essential information.
I both love and hate this book. I really wanted to love it, as someone who loves horses and folklore, but unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. It took me 3 weeks to get through the first 2/3 and then I finished the final 1/3 in a day. It began too slow for me, with too uncertain a setting in time and place and plot-driving character decisions mistifying me in annoying ways, before ramping up and enthralling me for the final 1/3, and finally ending too quickly without satisfying me - just as it had finally commanded my attention. For me, this book was a lot better in theory and in retrospect. Which eats at me, because this book could have been one of my favourites with a few tweaks. But it is what it is and so I'm left with this love-hate longing that is as poetic as this annoyingly good-not good book.
On a side note, if you're not from the UK, I would recommend reading with some form of UK accent; it improved the experience for me. The setting is very British Isles coded, from the geography, to the sheep, to the tea, and their seemingly Welsh or otherwise British Isles-inspired tradition that I won't spoil. I was a third into the book before I had enough data to deduce it is a fictional place located off the coast of a country in the real world, somewhere in the 20th century. I do wish the writer had made the setting more clear earlier on because when I began, I assumed it was a completely made-up world and this didn't allow me to settle into the book as quickly as I would have liked.
I both love and hate this book. I really wanted to love it, as someone who loves horses and folklore, but unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. It took me 3 weeks to get through the first 2/3 and then I finished the final 1/3 in a day. It began too slow for me, with too uncertain a setting in time and place and plot-driving character decisions mistifying me in annoying ways, before ramping up and enthralling me for the final 1/3, and finally ending too quickly without satisfying me - just as it had finally commanded my attention. For me, this book was a lot better in theory and in retrospect. Which eats at me, because this book could have been one of my favourites with a few tweaks. But it is what it is and so I'm left with this love-hate longing that is as poetic as this annoyingly good-not good book.
On a side note, if you're not from the UK, I would recommend reading with some form of UK accent; it improved the experience for me. The setting is very British Isles coded, from the geography, to the sheep, to the tea, and their seemingly Welsh or otherwise British Isles-inspired tradition that I won't spoil. I was a third into the book before I had enough data to deduce it is a fictional place located off the coast of a country in the real world, somewhere in the 20th century. I do wish the writer had made the setting more clear earlier on because when I began, I assumed it was a completely made-up world and this didn't allow me to settle into the book as quickly as I would have liked.
I both love and hate this book. I really wanted to love it, as someone who loves horses and folklore, but unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. It rook me 3 weeks to get through the first 2/3 and then I finished the final 1/3 in a day. It began too slow for me, with too uncertain a setting in time and place and plot-driving character decisions mistifying me in annoyingways, before ramping up and enthralling me for the final 1/3, and finally ending much too quickly without satisfying me just as it had finally commanded my attention. For me, this book is a lot better in retrospect and as a subject of thought and fan art I think than the actual experience of reading most of it. Which eats at me, because this book could have been one of my favourites with a few tweaks. But it is what it is and so I'm left with this love-hate longing that is as poetic as this annoyingly bad-good book.
On a side note, if you're not from the UK, I would recommend reading with some form of UK accent; it improved the experience for me. The setting is very British Isles coded, from the geography, to the sheep, to the tea, and their seemingly Welsh or otherwise British Isles-inspired tradition that I won't spoil. I was a third into the book before I had enough data to deduce it is a fictional place located off the coast of a country in the real world, somewhere in the 20th century. I do wish the writer had made the setting more clear earlier on because I kept assuming it was a completely made-up world in an equivalent to the middle ages and this didn't allow me to settle into, and begin accepting, the world as quickly as I would have liked.
I both love and hate this book. I really wanted to love it, as someone who loves horses and folklore, but unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. It rook me 3 weeks to get through the first 2/3 and then I finished the final 1/3 in a day. It began too slow for me, with too uncertain a setting in time and place and plot-driving character decisions mistifying me in annoyingways, before ramping up and enthralling me for the final 1/3, and finally ending much too quickly without satisfying me just as it had finally commanded my attention. For me, this book is a lot better in retrospect and as a subject of thought and fan art I think than the actual experience of reading most of it. Which eats at me, because this book could have been one of my favourites with a few tweaks. But it is what it is and so I'm left with this love-hate longing that is as poetic as this annoyingly bad-good book.
On a side note, if you're not from the UK, I would recommend reading with some form of UK accent; it improved the experience for me. The setting is very British Isles coded, from the geography, to the sheep, to the tea, and their seemingly Welsh or otherwise British Isles-inspired tradition that I won't spoil. I was a third into the book before I had enough data to deduce it is a fictional place located off the coast of a country in the real world, somewhere in the 20th century. I do wish the writer had made the setting more clear earlier on because I kept assuming it was a completely made-up world in an equivalent to the middle ages and this didn't allow me to settle into, and begin accepting, the world as quickly as I would have liked.
I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors ignore the causes of the socio-economic and political problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating these problems (though neoliberalism, historical colonialism, etc.) in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north as if it's only a problem "over there" and are a bit racist. They make a big deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this has nothing to do with solving the problem. They describe muslim women in a patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves. They also more broadly describe women whose stories are featured in the book as if they're characters. I can only assume this was either intended to humanize them or as a stylistic choice, but regardless it's often uncomfortable. I would only recommend this book for someone who has a morbid interest or needs a reality check on the state of women's "equality" today because holy shit some of the things you will read in this book are beyond words. If they did one thing right with this book, it's that you will be angry.
I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors ignore the causes of the socio-economic and political problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating these problems (though neoliberalism, historical colonialism, etc.) in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north as if it's only a problem "over there" and are a bit racist. They make a big deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this has nothing to do with solving the problem. They describe muslim women in a patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves. They also more broadly describe women whose stories are featured in the book as if they're characters. I can only assume this was either intended to humanize them or as a stylistic choice, but regardless it's often uncomfortable. I would only recommend this book for someone who has a morbid interest or needs a reality check on the state of women's "equality" today because holy shit some of the things you will read in this book are beyond words. If they did one thing right with this book, it's that you will be angry.
As someone who didn't think a think book about human biology would be that entertaining, this book blew me away (with one exception). It is written so fluidly with humour and is the perfect balance of covering all the important parts and systems of the body with fascinating facts, historical anecdotes and context, and practical information (with one glaring exception I will explain) so that it never becomes dry. It was absolutely a 10/10 for the majority of the book. My one criticism is that, despite writing a chapter dedicated to eating and frequently mentioning chronic diseases for which the main contributor is poor diet, the author grossly ignores the role of food in health and any real tangeable advice on this matter. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity are all known to share the main contributing factor of diet and all come up multiple times throughout the book (though the author does focus on obesity disproportionately). Despite this, the most that is said about what one can do to avoid these terrible, often deadly conditions is the same vague thing you might hear from anyone off the street: don't eat too many calories, too much fat, salt, or sugar, eat more vegetables and fruit, and a SINGULAR, indirect reference to not eating too much meat (with absolutely no indication at all on how much might be too much). If you want the latest science on living a long, healthy life and preventing and reversing today's top killers, I highly recommend How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger or even just visit his incredible non-profit site, NutritionFacts.org for free videos and transcripts with accessible information on thousands of nutritional topics. Bill Bryson evidently did not want to rock the boat and provide the "hard truth" of life-saving information by saying just a little more in just a little more of a direct way and instead wrote a book anyone can read without feeling much personal discomfort (unless you are obese or have any fat you feel uncomfortable with, because he keeps going on about that). So, I would definitely recommend this book, but would just say it essentially has nothing at all to say about the current science on practical human nutrition and you can and should look elsewhere for that essential information.
As someone who didn't think a think book about human biology would be that entertaining, this book blew me away (with one exception). It is written so fluidly with humour and is the perfect balance of covering all the important parts and systems of the body with fascinating facts, historical anecdotes and context, and practical information (with one glaring exception I will explain) so that it never becomes dry. It was absolutely a 10/10 for the majority of the book. My one criticism is that, despite writing a chapter dedicated to eating and frequently mentioning chronic diseases for which the main contributor is poor diet, the author grossly ignores the role of food in health and any real tangeable advice on this matter. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity are all known to share the main contributing factor of diet and all come up multiple times throughout the book (though the author does focus on obesity disproportionately). Despite this, the most that is said about what one can do to avoid these terrible, often deadly conditions is the same vague thing you might hear from anyone off the street: don't eat too many calories, too much fat, salt, or sugar, eat more vegetables and fruit, and a SINGULAR, indirect reference to not eating too much meat (with absolutely no indication at all on how much might be too much). If you want the latest science on living a long, healthy life and preventing and reversing today's top killers, I highly recommend How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger or even just visit his incredible non-profit site, NutritionFacts.org for free videos and transcripts with accessible information on thousands of nutritional topics. Bill Bryson evidently did not want to rock the boat and provide the "hard truth" of life-saving information by saying just a little more in just a little more of a direct way and instead wrote a book anyone can read without feeling much personal discomfort (unless you are obese or have any fat you feel uncomfortable with, because he keeps going on about that). So, I would definitely recommend this book, but would just say it essentially has nothing at all to say about the current science on practical human nutrition and you can and should look elsewhere for that essential information.
