bamboobones_rory's reviews
433 reviews

This is a sequel to the original NVC book and I think it's better because it gives more specific examples, including role play dialogue from workshops, that match real life conflicts that people have. The original NVC book has short dialogue examples to show the point but don't sound like how people talk. The examples in this are much more practical.

There are also entire chapters on conflict, anger, and parenting. 

A fun and campy pulp fiction DS9 mystery! I loved the hilarious and true-to-the-show dynamic between Odo and Quark. Some campy bits read more like kink dynamics and sexual in a tongue-in-cheek way. Side plots with Sisko, Kira, O'Brien and Jake & Rom. Bashir and Garak join as well. Writing is what it is for a pulp fiction adventure, reads more like fanfic- but really well-written fanfic. The author clearly knows and loves the characters and has fun with them. 

This is a collection of many authors and speakers and so this is hard for me to review since it's so many voices and different writing styles. Overall, the stories and discussions are about important emotional work about shame and trauma from many Black writers and speakers. 

Some parts were very difficult for me to listen to, which were parts about abuse and assault. Because some of the topics brought up difficult and painful feelings, I am not rating the book with a number of stars, to avoid bias. I think the stories and discussions around shame and Black experiences of shame, therapy, and emotions are important and that is a valuable book. But if I rate it from 0-5, I think I will be biased to rate it lower because of feeling emotionally triggered by topics, which is my own shit, and not about the quality of the writing or importance of the topics. It was emotionally a lot but I'm glad I read it.

I am writing this review to say- this book has important stories to tell, but it is emotionally intense at times, and heavy reading. I listened to the audiobook, and many of the stories are told by the author of that story, which is a great experience, to hear the emotion in their voice from their own story. 

If you liked Unlearning Shame by Dr. Devon Price, you will like this book. If you like Brene Brown's lectures but think her stories are super unrelatable, you will like this book. (Brene Brown does research on shame and vulnerability but her life stories are not relatable to most people I know)

i want to make so many men read this

A glance into the life of lab academia through a career memoir of 20 years, with beautiful science writing inbetween. Features 80 work weeks, lab workers living in a car or in the lab, lack of funding, deep bonds and friendship between lab partners, sexism, dealing with mental health crises, and the joy of unlocking the secrets of nature. 

I read this twice and while there are simplifications, it's a beautiful and practical approach to how to change solving conflict and hurt in our carceral society that avoids difficult conversations and emotions.