I finished Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. One of the best books i've ever read, it made me see the world and our society from a totally new perspective. I'm gonna start reading Homo Deus also from Yuval and i hope this book be as good as Sapiens

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Just two chapters shy of finishing it. An interesting read to get a general idea of human history, but definitely over-simplified. The author goes into demagogy way to often for the book to be called 'scientific'. It is pop-science, really.

But nevertheless, it's an interesting book, and although it has its weak parts, it gives a decent overview of human history.

Semiosis, by Sue Burke as recommended to me in the last recommendation thread. And I liked it! I thought it was really cool, the way the plot doesn't depend on one single person but generations of people instead. A really unusual way to write a book!

And also, Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind, by Yuval Noah Harari, which... after the first 30% dragged on and on and on and became less interesting the more I read. I finished it, because I did want to know the content, but to be honest, why this book is so revered by everyone (New York Bestseller List and some prize), I can't tell.

This week I'm currently on How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, which is actually worth a read and very concise. The concepts to get along with people come quite naturally to me (and I suspect a LOT of people), but it's also easy to forget them when you're angry/sad/just bothered by something/normal. It's good to have this book as a reminder!

Hope you're having a good week!

Last week I finished

Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond and started

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

I really didn't intend to go on an anthropology binge, that's just how my library reservations happened to come up this time!

Finished: Towers of Midnight, by Brandon Sanderson and A Memory of Light, by Brandon Sanderson. The thirteenth and second to last book and the fourteenth and last book in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Robert Jordan wrote the first 11 books, and Sanderson wrote the last three based on Jordan’s extensive notes after his untimely death.

Towers of Midnight depicts events leading up to the Final Battle, as the forces of good attempt to unite and prepare to battle the Dark One and his evil minions. The forces of good are not all good, though. This is where The Wheel of Time differs from The Lord of the Rings. In order to fight a greater evil, the forces of good must overcome sharp differences that in the past seemed irreconcilable.

A Memory of Light depicts the Final Battle and has a huge cast of characters, many of whom do not survive. It has many twists and turns and ties up nearly every loose end from the preceding 13 books. That’s quite a feat!

It’s a satisfying conclusion to a monumental, epic work that makes War and Peace seem like a short story. And yes, it’s fantasy, and it’s also profound. This was actually my fourth time reading the series in six years, so yes, I love it.

Started: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari. Non-fiction survey of the history and pre-history of the human race. I’ve seen it recommended often and I love these kinds of grand surveys. I barely started so I have no opinion of it yet.

Sapiens, a brief history of humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

So far very nice and interesting. He's got a great way of writing complicated subjects into very simple and easily readable texts.

I'm only 50 pages in, still a lot to go!

Still working on Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari but nearing the end. This is a really interesting read, so I'm not sure why it's taking me so long to work through it. In a sense, though, I feel like this is a better approach, as it gives ample time for the information to settle in.

American Philosophy: A Love Story, by John Kaag which is shaping up to be really good...although I'm barely in it, so this may change.

Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck Another that I just cracked, but am really looking forward to. East of Eden is one of my favorite books I've ever read.

The Golden Notebook, by Doris Lessing Yet another that I'm just starting. Hopefully by next week, I'll have more to add than a list of books I've only just begun.

Finished: Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking

Started: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

I just realized I've been reading Brief books lately LOL

Finished: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Started: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

I recently started reading Gaiman, and American Gods wasnt my favorite of his so far (probably The Ocean at the End of the Lane) but its still 5 stars. Sapiens is incredible so far. The writing is amazing, and I think its one of those books everyone should read. I recently rediscovered my passion for reading, and im trying to read a book a week this summer while back from college. These books are making it way easier than I thought

I started and finished All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque. Also finished reading War Trash, by Ha Jin, which I had started several weeks ago before getting derail by some library holds that came through.

Started reading Sapiens, by Yuvai Noah Harari after being on my library waitlist for 3-ish months, and I already find it fascinating. His description of the origins of farming and how homo sapiens use myth-making is very thought-provoking. About 25% in.

Finished His Bloody Project, by Graeme Macrae Burnet.

This is a cleverly put-together book. It recounts an entirely fictionalized triple-murder incident set against the backdrop of a Scottish rural community in the late nineteenth century, featuring an entirely fictional cast of characters with the exception of one real-life individual in the form of the criminologist James Bruce Thomson, but it deliberately – and quite expertly – disguises itself as a true crime reportage to the effect that you constantly have to remind yourself at every turn that it's fictional.

I liked how it's a layered narrative – it's at once a sketch of a feudal crofting community and the power dynamics within against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Scotland; an inverted detective story where the 'who' is a given but the 'why' and the 'how' are the driving force of the narrative; and a glimpse into the prevailing attitudes and notions in the field of criminology of its time. The book juggles all of these through a pastiche of 'documents' strung together: testimonials from people acquainted with the perpetrator, an elaborate life-story and the events leading up to the crime written by the perpetrator himself, a 'scientific' study of the perpetrator by the anthropological criminologist J.B. Thomson, and an account of the trial collated from various sources. The interplay of various perspectives, which compels the reader to question and re-evaluate everything they previously assumed at face value and which emphasizes the fallibility of what one perceives as the 'truth', is sort of reminiscent of Ryuunosuke Akutagawa's short story 'In a Grove' (which is the source material for the cult classic film Rashomon).

Also, I found it mildly amusing how the author opens the preface to the book with an off-hand disclaimer that the reader is free to skip the preface, when it's in fact unlike any conventional preface to a book – it's not an add-on or a supplement; it's a part of the larger narrative and provides context and sets the stage, so to speak. The disclaimer telling the reader to skip the preface at will then becomes a trick of reverse psychology – once you're given the choice to skip reading it, you'd want to read it all the more out of fear of missing out on something of significance. Well played, Mr Burnet.

Currently reading:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari: My first non-fiction since forever and I'm quite taken by it. The author raises some very interesting, thought-provoking and debate-conducive points, and his ability to explicate them in a lucid and engaging manner despite the inherent complexity of the subject matter(s), makes it very readable.

Love in Chakiwara and Other Misadventures, by Muhammad Khalid Akhtar (tr. Bilal Tanweer): I received a free copy of this book during a recent conference on publishing held in New Delhi, and while my instinctive reaction upon receiving it was to judge the book for its title and the flashy pink font on the cover, I was intrigued when I noticed that Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the celebrated Urdu literary giant, has touted it as 'the greatest novel in the Urdu language'. Language barriers have kept me from reading books in Urdu (and a host of other languages), so when the opportunity of reading a critically acclaimed title translated in English presents itself, it's not one to let go of.

Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf

I was looking for something a little more literary after reading a few YA and sci-fi books and this was only $1 on Amazon so I went for it. I loved To the Lighthouse and The Waves and I'm enjoying this one so far. It's a day in the life of sort of thing. Mrs. Dalloway is throwing an awesome party and you get to live inside her head for the day leading up to it. It's set in post-WWI London so there are flashbacks to what upper society was like during the war as well.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

My current audiobook. I didn't do much research about this book before reading it so I'm surprised by how much it's sociology/anthropology. I was expecting more biology/evolution (which is present, but doesn't seem to be the major focus). I'm still enjoying the book, it's just not what I expected.

I finished Everybody, Always, by Bob Goff and am starting Columbine by Dave Cullen and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Finished:

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari - simply fascinating. This one took me a little while to get through (life happened), so feel like that broke some of my flow towards the end. I'll definitely re-read in the near future.

Started:

Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami - felt it was time to revisit this one. Loved it the first time around, really looking forward to reexperiencing it again. Felt it was time as I recently adoped a cat! :)

I really enjoy non-fiction, so i'm reading Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker, with Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert B. Cialdini and Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari sprinkled in between.

I've tried to get into fiction. I recently finished Guards! Guards!, by Terry Pratchett and Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, and though both were highly recommended, it felt like a chore finishing them. Maybe I just didn't get it. I'll keep trying to add a bit of fiction to my reading list.

Yesterday I finished

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

and started

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Finished:

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. It is the last book in the Winternight Trilogy. It's a YA book but accessible to everyone- my mother and aunt both loved it. It was an amazing trilogy- so emotionally satisfying and beautiful. One of my all time favorites. 5/5 stars

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. This was another beautiful YA book that has a really enchanting world. 4.5/5 stars. I loved the main character.

Finishing:

Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin I'm about 90% through and will probably finish today or tomorrow. I'm a big fan of the TV show (was- after that abysmal ending) and I'm really impressed by the world of ASOIAF. The Targaryens are pretty intriguing so I was excited to read it. I've only read half of AGOT and couldn't really get into it since I knew what happened- so I was excited to give this a go and experience GRRM's writing. The stories are quite amazing and it's honestly crazy how many characters are mentioned. It makes the world seem so real. Still it reads as if you're reading a historical account, not a story. It is a very interesting historical account though. I enjoyed it, but it is missing the dialogue. I guess the thing I'm taking away from it is: some people are great, and others... not so much, which by the end isn't wholly satisfying. Still, the book is nicely written and the stories in them are amazing. I would recommend if you're interested in GOT lore or are really into the Targaryens, but I wouldn't just read it if you don't know anything about ASOIAF. 4/5 stars

Trekking Through:

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy I'm about 42% in and started 1.5 years ago (yikes). I am liking the book, it's just hard for me to stick with it- I haven't really read anything of its scale before. I'll go through phases of reading it and then won't touch it for a few months. I think I just need to get myself to read at least one chapter per day, because the chapters are quite manageable. Although it would seem that I'm not enjoying it- I am. I think it's just a lot for me to handle- but I'll finish it darn it!

Started:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Just started this today! I'm pretty excited

Starting Sapiens by Yuval Noah Hariri.

The Grip of It, by Jac Jemc

I finished the first two chapter last night which covers the set up of moving in to the totally-not-haunted house and they're reason for doing so. It's a little unbelievable already. The basement is set up like a murder dungeon with lots of concealed rooms / spaces and they decide it's a great place to live. Hopefully it improves.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

Nearing the end and this is still a ton of sociology/history as opposed to evolutionary history, which I was not expecting, but I'm enjoying. They're just getting in to what allowed for unprecedented economic growth (longer term loans basically). Definitely an easy to follow and interesting read.

Just started Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari. I'm about to begin chapter four, and so far it's been a great book. I'm not yet sure what I'm in for, but the first three chapters do an excellent job of making the reader contemplate what it is to be a human, not necessarily human as in Homo sapiens, but human as in a member of the genus Homo (he makes the distinction very clear).

I finished reading How to Change Your Mind, by Michael Pollan

It was a super eye-opening read for someone who has never thought of the potential for using psychedelics to treat addiction and mental disorders.

I started reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

A little bit controversial due to some assumptions made, I've heard great things about it regardless.

Finished Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Finished:

Annex by Rich Larson

Annex is a dystopian science fiction novel where aliens have killed all the adults and are using children as hosts to breed creatures they can use to take over the world. The premise is ok, the characters are ok, the writing is not great.

Many of the ideas in this book are pretty derivative, imagine the matrix where Morpheus is revealed to be a psychopath, the characters are fairly simple, and the plot is not particularly engrossing.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, I pushed through much further than I would normally but after the second occurence of "on accident" I just couldn't justify reading a book I wasn't enjoying when I have so many books in the queue.

The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh

Witty, smart, quick read.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Not up to par with her other works but worth a read.

Started:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari Sapiens is an extremely well written account of how we as a species got to where we are today. It tells the story of our earliest origins seventy thousand years ago and how we transitioned from hunter gatherer tribes competing against other species, through the agricultural revolution where we learned to cultivate the land, the effect money, religion, and politics has had on our development meant, as well as our scientific advances.

The true genius of the book is the writing style. The information in this book is available everywhere in the form of academic papers and studies. The book however successfully tells an interesting story that not only enlightens the reader, but also enthrals them to learn more whilst not boring them. The book is full of academic references that are all listed at the back.

Harari makes many claims in the book, but what is interesting is he clearly highlights the gaps in our knowledge and is not afraid to tell us that there are things we do not have the answers too yet.

He is also not afraid to challenge us and leave us with an important insight and important question. Whilst we have evolved, it is clear that it has not been for the benefit of the other species that we coexist with on earth, and with all our advances, are we truly happier than we used to be?

Finished:

The Tsar of Love and Techno, by Anthony Marra
This put me in a huge book hangover. This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful, painful books I've ever read...and definitely one of the best I've had the pleasure/pain of reading in ages. This is up there with The Idiot by Elif Batuman on fast becoming my favorite book. Just absolutely mesmerizing and genius storytelling ability and style. I keep trying to tell myself not to aggressively recommend it to everyone I see, but oh man, do I want to. Perfect book.

Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard
This was really good too, but I feel like I enjoyed it slightly less as I started it right after I finished The Tsar of Love and Techno, and of course, it suffered in comparison. It's very smart; I only wish I had the chance to see it in its performance format.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari
This took me over a month to read, but I'm glad for it. There was so much information to take in, that flying through it wouldn't have done it justice. There are pieces from this that I think about everyday, and I've discussed certain theories it proposes quite a few times already. Fascinating stuff.

Reading:

Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck
Still. I know this is good, but due to aforementioned book hangover, everything is going to feel like a dulled version of what it truly is until I recover fully.

The Idiot, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
I love Dostoyevsky, so I don't know how I managed to get this far in life and not read this. I am remedying that now though. And I'm expecting it to be great, because it's Dostoyevsky.

The White Album, by Joan Didion
Again, I don't know how I made it to this point in my life without reading this, as I adore Didion. And of course, I'm expecting this will be fantastic.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

It was a busy week of driving, and I got through Lasso the Wind: Away to the New West by Timothy Egan, Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey, The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, #1) by Craig Johnson, and Gunman's Rhapsody by Robert B. Parker.

Lasso the Wind was by far my favorite, Egan is a great storyteller. Desert Solitaire is a classic, but a little preachy for my taste. I understand his points but I can't quite agree 100%.

Just started Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.

Finished: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Which I enjoyed thoroughly!

Started: Islam: A New Historical Introduction by Carole Hillenbrand

I finished:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. Despite the personal bias, inadequacy of cited sources, and some incorrect information, it was one of the most eye-opening books I've read so far, and Harari is a skilled writer. (This is also my first official non-fiction book.) To not be put off by the three things I listed, one should take this book as Harari's own historical perspective, rather than a scientific book. I loved the exposure to the development of humankind and learning little facts, as well as exploring possible paths of our future. Really interesting and worth the read! (I'm proud that I also finished it in 8 days, whereas normally it would have taken me a couple months due to lack of motivation.)

And I just started reading:

Cosmos by Carl Sagan. Looking forward to this as I'm excited to dive into the realm of science, a distant field to the fiction I've been indulging in for the entirety of my life so far.

Finished:
The Keep, by Jennifer Egan
This is the first of hers that I've read that I didn't absolutely love. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, and the story didn't have a satisfying ending for me, as I "predicted" the twist correctly early on.

Bright Lights, Big City, by Jay McInerney
I absolutely LOVED this. I flew through it, and yes, all of the characters were somewhat unlikable, but it was done so exceptionally well.

A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley
DNF. I made it to about 40% in, before I realized how much my loathing for the main character (and all of the others) was not going to be overcome, and so I decided to quit. It's frustrating as I love King Lear, but this was just not great.

Reading:
The Children, by Ann Leary
About 50% in and loving this. It's so delightfully odd and vaguely creepy.

The End of the Affair, by Graham Greene
My second of his, and I just started it, but I already can tell I will like it better than Our Man in Havana.

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari
Just starting this, but really looking forward to it.

Finished Stiff, by Mary Roach

Started Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari

Finished The Road, by Cormac McCarthy

Really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the relationship between the father and son. I just bought the Border Trilogy so I can't wait to read that.

Started Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari

I am nearly half way through it. So far it has been interesting read and some parts were thought-provoking. I have taken several anthropology and sociology classes in college so most of the stuff he discusses I was already familiar with, but I think I know where he's going with it. Feels like a textbook, but much more pleasant to read and it isn't as dense as I thought it would be.

Just finished Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari

Starting Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Finished The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and absolutely loved the second half of the book (the first half was enjoyable but not as much of a page-turner). It took me a really long time to get through because I kept getting interrupted by video game and comic book binges, but now that I finished it I'm ready to fly through the next books on my list.

I started Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari and find it very interesting. Might get a notebook so I can take notes on some of the more interesting parts, which I've never done while reading before.

A Life Of Crime: The Memoirs Of A High Court Judge, by Harry Ognall An interesting memoir by a retired Crown Prosecuter and later High Court Judge who comments on some of his more interesting or high profile cases (such as the prosecution of Peter Sutcliffe, aka 'The Yorkshire Ripper'). Definitely recommended for anyone with an interest with the British Legal System.

Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari Having finally got around to this after it took international acclaim last year, I'm glad I finally picked it up. Harari has a way of making history interesting and understandable that truly puts everything in perspective, in a way that many other history books, for me at least, haven't.

Red Sister, by Mark Lawrence and Grey Sister, by Mark Lawrence I've always been a fan of Mark Lawrence's other works and have had Red Sister on my To Read list for quite a while. I enjoyed it for what it is - a decent YA fantasy series in an interesting world with interesting characters. My only 'complaint' is that it did feel a bit trope-y at points, however for me, it wasn't enough to ruin my enjoyment of it.

The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion The Rosie Project is an entertaining romance about Don Tillman, a man who likes everything organised properly and to follow the rules searching for love. When he meets Rosie, all the order in his life starts coming apart as he falls for her, with some hilarious results.

When I Was 5 I Killed Myself, by Howard Buten ... just wow! This is definitely one of the best books I've read this year. A truly heartwrenching story about a young boy trying to make sense of his feelings and emotions and raises questions about misunderstandings between adults and the children in their care. Buten manages to expertly write an 8-year old in a way that feels real and not, as is often the case, massively over-simplified.

The World As It Is, by Ben Rhodes I've just started this, but am so far enjoying it. Ben Rhodes was one of Obama's Foreign Policy Advisors and Speechwriters, recounts many of the events that shaped the Obama Administration.

Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami

This was a re-read for me. Upon second reading, this has cemented itself as one of my favourite books ever, I am in a very different place since first reading this. Nostalgic, emotional and with an almost naive romanticism.

​

Sapians by Yuval Noah Harari

Half way through this. Not read a non-fiction book in ages and really enjoying this. I have 21 lessons for the 21st Century lined up after this.

sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari

I can't emphasize how much I am loving this book. Everyone I pick it up, I learn something new/am blown away. I can't believe it took me so long to pick it up.

A monster calls, by Patrick Ness

​

Sapiens, by Yuval Harari

Tales of Pain and Wonder, by Caitlin R. Kiernan

I've been meaning to read Kiernan for a while, and found of copy of this book that was rather pricey, as it's out of print, but worth it so far.

The Fall of Hyperion, by Dan Simmons

The second in the Hyperion Cantos. It's pretty amazing how eclectic Simmons's writing style is. A Winter Haunting and Summer of Night (Seasons of Horror series) are written nothing like the Hyperion Cantos. SoH is like a King series, where the Cantos is like an Asimov space opera.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

1/4 of the way through, been loving this book. Every page has some mind blowing theory or fact. And relays the history of humankind to some of the struggles we suffer through today.

I started Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari and am really enjoying it so far.

almost done with Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.

Gotta finish quick so I can get through Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami and At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft before book clubs.

Finished A Simple Favor, by Darcey Bell. I'm usually generous in rating books but by God this book is just plain stupid. All the characters are unlikeable and the plot is just really convoluted. Would not recommend .

Started Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari because I need my brain cells back.

Finished The Woman in the Window, by A.J. Finn. Underwhelming. Although the book kept me turning the pages, I was left feeling meh and apathetic towards much of the things that went down in the story. Some of the twists and turns were predictable and some that were not-so-predictable didn't really do much for me when they were revealed. It felt like almost all of the intended 'jaw dropping' and 'game changing' revelations were hastily shoehorned into the last few chapters, while the rest of the book read like a meandering exposition with a chock-full of art-house movie references and some unnecessary plot points. Also, I found the writing style/narrative voice unremarkable and occasionally off-putting, with some rather awkward choices of phrasing here and there like 'I unpasted my eyelids' (to refer to the act of opening eyes after a night's alcohol-plus-drug induced sleep) and 'They dance down my throat' (to refer to the act of swallowing pills). I'm all for clever and figurative expression in writing, but instances such as the aforementioned come off as contrived – as if the author was trying too hard to be eloquent and the result ended up being ironically ineloquent.

Started The City of Brass, by S.A. Chakraborti after noticing that it's the subreddit's selection for this month's book club. First time participating in one of these. Here's hoping that I'll be able to stick to the schedule and pitch in during the discussions.

Resumed Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari after a month-long break.

Finished:

The Children, by Ann Leary
This started out great, but quickly turned less so. I found the characters too quirky to function, and I couldn't connect with any of them, nor could I appreciate the choices they made. 2/5

Reading:

The Idiot, by Elif Batuman
I'm only 15% in, but I'm loving this. Captivating storytelling style, and lush writing.

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari
Still only 20% in or so, but a very fascinating read. He has a great way of explaining things that are typically dense in an approachable way.

Tsar of Love and Techno, by Anthony Marra
I've only read the first story, but it was a gut punch of a thing. Very well written, and I'm looking forward to reading further.

Finished: The River of Consciousness, by Oliver Sacks. It was a good book, but I wouldn't recommend it over for any other of Sacks' books, for example The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat.

Started: Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari. So far so good, really enjoying it. I don't think I've heard a single bad word about this book so far... Seems to be a modern classic :)

Finished:

Sapiens: a brief history of humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

I was recommended this by a colleague as a complement to a middle school science curriculum. It is not a science book, and a decent history book. Because it covers all of human history, and is only 400 pages, it gives necessarily shallow treatment to its subjects.

The first half was the most interesting, especially the idea of the invention of fiction. I have long thought about imagination and it’s critical position in human cognition.

The Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain Book 1), by Lloyd Alexander. Someone in this sub recommended it. I'm glad to have listened to that redditor. This book is a gem.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind, by Yuval Noah Harari. I also like this one. It is well written and easy to understand even for a pleb like me.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

There is a whole lot of conjecture going on, but I think this book was pretty great. The book attempts to give a history from the very beginnings of our species, competition with other homo species, hunter gatherer ancestors, ancient civilization, modern peoples and where our species might be headed.

Great if you are looking for broad sweeping ideas about how and why humanity is where it is right now. Bad if you are looking for granular details about any particular part of our past.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

I enjoy this mix of history, sociology, and philosophy. I can't say I agree with every interpretation or opinion, but he sure is knowledgable. This is the kind of book I would have really enjoyed in an undergrad University humanities course.

I finished Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari . One of the most interesting books I've ever read, I really like how the book was structured and easy to understand. Listened to it as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. The last 30% or so weren't as good as the rest of the book, but I'd still really recommend it.

Currently reading On The Come Up, Angie Thomas. I'm halfway through and love it so far, only the beginning is a bit slow (for me) but the writing makes up for it. Probably my most anticipated release this year and so far, it did not disappoint.

Currently reading Spartan Fit!: 30 Days. Transform Your Mind. Transform Your Body. Commit to Grit., by Joe De Sena & John Durant I'm reading this because I needed some fitness/healthy lifestyle motivation, and I loved De Sena's "The Spartan Way". A 100 pages in and in my opinion, this book isn't really necessary if you read "The Spartan Way", and the workout plan isn't for me either. Still a nice read on my phone when I have to pass some time (got it on kindle unlimited).

I'm still reading Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari.

However on my list of of books to start this week is The improbability of love, by Hannah Rothschild.

Finished:

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari

Thanks, Obama, by David Litt

Nothing on the docket right now, maybe a 40k novel to read something less heavy.

Finished:

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari

Lullaby, by Chuck Palahniuk

Started:

Ask the Dust, by John Fante

Still reading Little Heaven, by Nick Cutter, not much left though, around 80 pages. I started Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari because I just wanted to read some nonfiction. It's pretty interesting.

Finished An absolute remarkable thing, by Hank Green which also happens to be my 300th book logged on Goodreads. Now I'm going back to Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari.

Finished Sapiens, by Yuvai Noah Harari. Liked it a lot. Very thought-provoking. There were a few parts that seemed a bit speculative, but overall highly recommend as a pop evolutionary biology/anthropology read.

Started The Secret History, by Donna Tartt and Don Quixote, by Miguel De Cervantes. Read and enjoyed The Goldfinch a couple months ago so thought I'd try out Tartt's earlier novel. Only a chapter or so in.

Got a little bogged down with The Secret History so thought I'd try out Don Quixote and am quite happy with it so far. It's always incredible to me to read humorous stories from so long ago. One doesn't often associate humor with most accounts from history.

I finished: (I'm kind of on a YA/NA fantasy/romance kick right now)

• Cruel Beauty, by Rosamund Hodge. It was a really great retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I loved the idea of the main character being stuck in a crazy house. The setting I felt was very cool. It was a pretty easy read, and perfect if you wanted kind of a fantasy romance with an actual story to it. 5/5 for what it is
• Angelfall, by Susan Ee. This was a fun one. There's a fallen angel and our heroine and the angel have to team up. I loved the main character and the ending was kind of shocking and it changed from an urban fantasy to more of a sci-fi feel. It was okay- entertaining but not amazing. I don't think I'll continue with the series, but I'm glad I read this one. 3.5/5
• Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare. This surprised me. I haven't read a Clare book and I wasn't really interested in her hallmark books, The Mortal Instruments series. I saw the show Shadowhunters and was kind of "meh" by it. I did really like this prequel though. I like how it has a steampunk vibe and takes place in Victorian London. It's got some YA tropes but it was thoroughly entertaining. 4/5
• Soul in Darkness, by Wendy Higgins. I don't know how I stumbled upon this but I actually really liked it! It's a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. I really didn't know anything about it but the story was pretty good for a mythological romance complete with hero's journey. The first half was very reminiscent of Cruel Beauty where the heroine is forced to marry a "monster" and live in a palace. Then the second half is where the heroine goes on a complete hero's journey. All in all it's a love story but as a fan of Greek/Roman mythology it was pretty satisfying. 4/5

Currently reading:

• War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy. I'm actually making headway and I'm just about 10% behind the r/ayearofwarandpeace sub. Loving it, and I'm glad I'm finally reading it consistently.
• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari. It's pretty interesting so far- I'm towards the end of the first major section. I like it, but I find myself turning to other books before reading this one.
• When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi. This has been on my to-read list for a while now. It's a short memoir that I started yesterday. I'm about 40% through and so far it's pretty good. He talks about the philosophy of life and death as a neurosurgeon, and then how he had to face being diagnosed himself as a Stage 4 cancer patient. I can tell it's going to be quite the tearjerker, but his writing is really nice and his thoughts on morality, physicians, ethics, and language are poignant.

Finished:

Paper Princess, by Erin Watt. This was like trashy reality TV. A 17 y/o girl struggling to support herself finds herself having a billionaire rescue her from her life and taking her in as a daughter. He has 5 crazy sons. Everyone is batshit. Chaos ensues. It's actually really entertaining for what it is. Books like this can get boring and repetitive, but this wasn't at all. If you want some chick-lit with crazy alpha male(s) check this out. 4/5 guilty pleasure read for what it is

When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi. This was a quick read. Basically a neurosurgeon is diagnosed with an extremely rare stage IV lung cancer at the age of 36. This story is broken up into 3 main parts: the first is before his diagnoses and why he chose to become a doctor and the moral implications dealing with a lot of death, the second is what he decides to do after he realizes he only has a finite amount of time to live, and the third is an epilogue written by his wife. If it was longer I would have liked it less, but because of it's size it's quite an engaging story mainly from his unique perspective as a neurosurgeon. Still, this is not a book that sheds some light on death, and there's no main takeaway. It was just the story of his experience and figuring out what to do with the time he has left. 4/5

A Curse So Dark and Lonely, by Brigid Kemmerer. Man, what a disappointment. I read a lot of YA and I feel in general I'm pretty lenient with it because I know what to expect. Give me a fun plot and a spicy romance and I'm set. This was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast- a girl is taken from modern day Washington DC and flung to fantasy land where she has to fall in love with a prince by the end of autumn. I was breezing through the first half, but by the second half, it got... not great. The love interest was not interesting, and the world building was horrible. Some parts were cringey? The story was just not good. Which is weird because I was liking it in the first half. I didn't even want to finish it, so I DNFd at 65%. 2/5, the extra star for the first half of the book and the writing is pretty good and keeps you flipping pages

Started Reading:

The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger. Everyone has read this book and I haven't. None of my Goodreads friends have given it 5 stars, but it's the book that most everyone has read, so I'm going to try it.

Continuing:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy

Finished The Undoing Project, by Michael Lewis, finally getting around to Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari

Just finished Educated, by Tara Westover

Starting Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight . Still reading Sapeins, by Yuval Noah Harari