Jim Boulter

I felt that this book made a compelling enough argument very early on then spent chapter after chapter backing it up. Very academic in that way, and very long. DNF but I didn’t hate the content just the way it was presented, not as good as Graeber’s other books.

Good book

A book tackling just about every serious topic under the sun without feeling too serious and while genuinely providing interesting commentary that doesn’t just feel cringy.

It touches on relationships of all kinds, change in people, mental illness, suicide, parenting (and pregnancy/abortion to some extent), gun violence, radicalization of homophobia on the internet, abusive relationships, physical disability, healthcare in America, it’s all there.

And yet it’s a book that reads positive and feels exciting and hopeful most of the time. It has moments of support and love and forgiveness to match those of betrayal and falling out and violence and death.

It felt wordy at times, but honestly I really did enjoy it. The characters were all believable and deep. Recommend overall, 4.5/5, though it feels that may be a bit high but it was just such a thrilling and deeply thought provoking ride.

This book felt like a chaotic mess that needed far more editing and a much stronger plot. Would not recommend. A disappointment compared to her other books and considering the setting and main characters feels like they could have been so much better.