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Good enough premise that I certainly buy into. There is a larger cultural concept that technology will fix our shortcomings as humans, making us smarter and more interested in democracy along the way. This is patently false and the people interested in this idea are either techno-hucksters or politicians without a sense of history. The big downfall about the text is that there’s something unwound about it. I’m sure I can go back into my highlights and pull a more cohesive write-up but as another reviewer said, this would benefit from a unifying theory and perhaps just improved editing.

I don't want to say too much about the lessons here since it might veer a bit too close to spoiler territory, but there's a really nice build up in the way that it flits through timelines. There's a weaving of a picture of a woman coming to grips with the question of nature or nurture, looking for a way to gain closure in something she has no control over, the migratory path of a bird. A heavy read but well worth it in what you get from it.

It ain't gonna help you do your daily work but it'll provide a bit of perspective when you feel like you're feeling anxious or just burnt out. It's a rare treat.

An easy narrative nonfiction read about the absolutely unhinged nature of American carding industry circa in the hay day of the naughty aughties. The cast is colorful, the story interesting and it’s just a fun ride.

After spending too much time thinking about "manosphere" types (how do they actually manage to sell their snake oil???), I think this might be the right questions to ask about how we help men reinterpret existence in a modern era. I get that it might feel "taboo" to the author (who takes exceptional pains to try being some sort of "centrist" whisperer) but reorienting masculinity (even at the intersection of race) in a healthy way that can make well-adjusted men with support networks just seems to be a no brainer for quite literally everyone.

idk man. it's ufos. what's not to like?

I hate to say it since so many people I respect gushed over this book but boy did I not like it one bit. I think there are good moments, a reasonable premise and I even appreciate the (minimal) lack of connection or closure! There's just so much to dislike that it's frustrating.

There are tender moments that are worth soaking up but the whole thing veers between NPR subscriber NIMBY in Civil War era NYC and whacky dystopia that was entirely unconvincing and absolutely unhinged (which other reviews said felt "all too real". what???). I don't know. Maybe this is a big whoosh and someone will tell me I "just don't get it" but it is what it is.