I had no idea how much this book was going to resonate with me. This made me feel understood, valued, and energized. It's so comforting knowing that tI had no idea how much this book was going to resonate with me. This made me feel understood, valued, and energized. It's so comforting knowing that there are other people like me who are introverted, highly sensitive and/or empathic changing the world every day.
I love that the quiet and often overlooked behind-the-scenes work of researchers, inventors, record-keepers, librarians, educators, artists, mentors, friends, and connectors are championed here.
Phew, so many quotes to transcribe!
A few tidbits: -- Nonviolent campaigns were twice as likely as violent campaigns to achieve their goals -- In order to secure major political change, at least 3.5 percent of the population must actively participate in protests -- The surest way to ensure that you have a reserve of compassion and empathy for others is to attend to your own feelings. -- Recovery time for people-related stress is very long compared to milder forms of stress -- The more challenging aspects of being highly sensitive may diminish as we age, and the ability to appreciate beauty and connect spiritually increases with age. We take things less personally, experience less hurt, and more easily forget negative experiences as we age. -- A 2018 study found that 35 percent of American adults have a low level of trust in others -- Relational activism - supporting and encouraging a person already involved in a cause -- Start in listening mode -- Interacting face-to-face with an out-group reduced prejudice 94 percent of the time -- Reading fiction consistently leads to greater empathy -- Record keeping promotes accountability, counters corruption, and protects human rights -- 14 million adults in the United States do not have access to a bank account or financial institution -- Invest in one-on-one relationships, small group teaching, facilitating trainings, writing curriculum, designing presentations, offering consulting services, or creating websites -- Scholarly and academic publications are much less focused on policy recommendations than they were 100 years ago -- The average paper in a peer-reviewed journal is read completely by no more than 10 people -- There is little to be gained for scholars who submit an op-ed to a popular newspaper or give presentations to the general public -- In 1993, the NRA successfully lobbied for Congress to cut off government funding for any activity that might promote gun control; this was finally revoked in 2019...more
I don't love "green" books that focus heavily on let-me-convince-you-that-the-world-is-falling-apart plots. I'm already convinced.
Rather, I prefer ecI don't love "green" books that focus heavily on let-me-convince-you-that-the-world-is-falling-apart plots. I'm already convinced.
Rather, I prefer eco-minded books that are easy to browse and balance actionable steps paired with solid reasoning. This was the perfect example of both.
Big takeaways - 1. Size & shape matters just as much as what it's made of - the sorter needs to be able to identify the material and sift it out effectively. 2. Avoid tanglers at all costs! 3. Avoid contaminants - esp. food & grease - at all costs! 4. Stuff made from one material (like aluminum cans) is more likely to be recycled than those made of mixed materials (like frozen food boxes coated to protect them from condensation). 5. Aluminum currently subsidizes most plastic and glass recycling because the source material is more expensive than the recycled material. So if you're going to preference buying (and recycling!) one material, it should be aluminum. 6. Don't flatten bottles! It makes it hard for the sorter to identify it as a bottle. 7. Remove shrink sleeves from bottles before tossing them in the recycling bin. Or better yet, buy a "naked" bottle. 8. Avoid green plastic bottles. These are harder to recycle. 9. Paper coffee cups have coatings that make them impossible to recycle. 10. The only way to create a reliable end market for plastic is to mandate the use of post-consumer recycled content for new plastic products. In other words, we need governments to require the right thing, because the free market won't.
I will never tire of these. I am so fascinated by books that can so perfectly encompass the human experience that I have an entire bookshelf devoted tI will never tire of these. I am so fascinated by books that can so perfectly encompass the human experience that I have an entire bookshelf devoted to them, and this one earned its place on that shelf.
For fans of StoryCorps, and for fans of humans in all their many iterations....more
Jason Reynolds is maybe the only person alive who could have written this adaptation. He has a way of propHeavy and dark, yet powerful and uplifting.
Jason Reynolds is maybe the only person alive who could have written this adaptation. He has a way of propelling you forward and making you feel like anything is possible, despite all prior evidence to the contrary. I wish this book existed 20 or 50 or 100 years ago....more
Phew, this book could really use a few well-placed numbered lists. Lots of dense paragraphs are not my favorite. But it did act as a decent "dummies" Phew, this book could really use a few well-placed numbered lists. Lots of dense paragraphs are not my favorite. But it did act as a decent "dummies" guide for things like how deep to plant a shrub and how much mulch to use. ...more
(I am a sucker for this-is-what-my-work-looks-like books, and this-is-what-it-means-to-be-human booksThe best sales pitch for therapy I've ever read.
(I am a sucker for this-is-what-my-work-looks-like books, and this-is-what-it-means-to-be-human books. This was a stellar combination of the two. Also, be prepared to cry.) ...more
A well-written - and more importantly, an extremely relatable - book about climate change. I am now - for the first time - serioRead this. Right now.
A well-written - and more importantly, an extremely relatable - book about climate change. I am now - for the first time - seriously considering a vegan diet. "Choosing to eat fewer animal products is probably the most important action an individual can take to reverse global warming—it has a known and significant effect on the environment, and, done collectively, would push the culture and the marketplace with more force than any march."
“It is dangerous to pretend that we know more than we do. But it is even more dangerous to pretend that we know less.”...more
A somewhat intriguing expose on the destructive nature of obsession. Though I'm not sure that I can say I enjoyed this book, since my main emotions whA somewhat intriguing expose on the destructive nature of obsession. Though I'm not sure that I can say I enjoyed this book, since my main emotions while reading it were annoyed, disappointed, or just plain baffled. I will never understand how a bunch of privileged white men can feel so entitled to something they do not deserve that they'll blatantly break laws, spend exorbitant amounts of money, cheat their friends, and steal from the world's bank of knowledge. And all for the love of fly tying. A hobby! A silly, stupid hobby! Yeah, I said it. Give me a break, dudes. ...more
Nothing exceptional, but I love cats and love living with cats and can easily imagine myself writing very similar tales (ahem...tails?) about my own cNothing exceptional, but I love cats and love living with cats and can easily imagine myself writing very similar tales (ahem...tails?) about my own cats. So I guess there's a sort of comfort in this book that made me choose to pick it up and keep reading.
I mostly didn't finish because there was a waiting list on the library copy and I wanted to start reading next month's book club book....more
I rarely stumble upon this NPR series when flipping channels on the radio, but every time I do it pulls me in. This compilation had the same power. A I rarely stumble upon this NPR series when flipping channels on the radio, but every time I do it pulls me in. This compilation had the same power. A more polished but just-as-honest version of the Storycorp series....more
Gmorning, this book awaits you. Find it, devour it.
Gnight, this book is now a part of you. Be grateful. And tomorrow, share it with someone you love.Gmorning, this book awaits you. Find it, devour it.
Gnight, this book is now a part of you. Be grateful. And tomorrow, share it with someone you love.
(Full disclosure: I have never read, watched, or listened to Hamilton. This fact did not in any way tamper my pure enjoyment of Gmorning, Gnight!.)...more
Having never followed her Instagram account, this was a nice introduction to Mari Andrew's art and life musings. I appreciated the casual nature of thHaving never followed her Instagram account, this was a nice introduction to Mari Andrew's art and life musings. I appreciated the casual nature of the illustrations and the way that her thoughts were laid out into unexpected lists and categories.
Though there was a lot I could relate to here, I have heard this story/POV before. Young woman tries to make her way in the world, struggles with loss and heartbreak, and becomes more herself through travel, self-discovery and journaling with oh-look-at-me-I'm-adulting exposition. I'm less interested in the concept of how to be an "adult" than I once was. Because it really just means learning how to "be." And there is no prize of adulthood because there is not end to that process. Ah, well, I'm just being grumpy. It was good and held my attention and I liked hearing about her travels. So what am I complaining about? ...more
I wake up every day and try to be a slightly better person than the day before, despite the overwhelming evidence that life is hard and unfair, and - I wake up every day and try to be a slightly better person than the day before, despite the overwhelming evidence that life is hard and unfair, and - at times - so perplexingly rewarding. My favorite authors can ascribe words to that phenomenon, and Kelly Corrigan is one of them.
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