perfect_leaves's reviews
452 reviews

Thank you, Tiller Press, for the review copy.

I'm torn on how to review this book. On the one hand, Sound Bath /does/ deliver on its promise to talk about the therapeutic effects of sound baths and suggests methods for having our own sound baths. However, the book spends more time focusing on Auster's life. We learn about her relationship with music, how she got into the field of sound meditation, and what she exactly she does for a living. There are ample plugs for her sound bath album and for her guided meditation practices. In fact, there are swaths of pages dedicated to testimonials from customers. The one or two testimonials that focused on the experience (not the product) might have fit, but glowing praises of Auster and her work made me question the intention of this book.

I'd love to try a sound bath because I'm quite sensitive to sound and I've long been interested in the sonic experience, but I don't think this book would have convinced me to try one if I didn't have the background that I do. I would have loved for Auster to go more into sound baths themselves. I'm giving the book three stars for the information it does provide, but taking off stars for the marketing effect.

I was expecting this book to have a bit more substance. I thought it'd either be a guide to forest bathing, or a book about the benefits of forest bathing (there are many). The book is full of quotes and images. The quotes were pretty meh, but the images were absolutely beautiful. Seeing as there is still a positive effect on your health when you look at pictures (there are studies on this), I'd still recommend the book, especially if you don't have access to actual forests. I'd suggest buying this as a coffee table book.

Why Do I Feel Like an Imposter is an excellent handbook on Imposter Syndrome (although the author argues that it's not a syndrome at all; rather, it's a natural part of human behavior). I frequently struggle with IS and in the past, I used to let it get the better of me, but with therapy (and LOTS of constant reminders to myself) I've more or less overcome it. The thing I like about this book is that it doesn't lump everyone into a single category. It breaks down IS according to population: men at work, women at work, parents, teens, students, etc. Each chapter focuses on a particular group and discusses the "symptoms" of their version of imposter syndrome, gives theories about how it came to be, and suggests exercises for convincing yourself that you're not an imposter. If you're not sure what kind of imposter syndrome you have, or if you think you have multiple kinds, Why Do I Feel Like an Imposter can help you. The book can also help you support others by pointing them in the right direction.

The only drawback to this book is that if you've already done a basic search on Imposter Syndrome, the information in the book may not be new. Still, I recommend it because the organization allows you to easily flip to the right section depending on who you're mentoring.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me for an advance copy of the book to read and review.

In New Kings of the World, Bhutto takes us on a tour of the three cultural phenomena that are poised to overthrow the US's worldwide intellectual dominance. Although US music and fashion still maintain a large share of the market, youth populations in other areas of the world struggle to reconcile the disconnect between popular culture and their own cultures. K-pop, dizis (Turkish dramas) and Bollywood provide a solution to the problem by allowing people to consume media with themes and values more similar to their own. From Shah Rukh Khan fan clubs in South America to dizi viewing parties among the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon these "New Kings of the World" are a solid middle ground, and in many cases, they're an example of how other countries can create entertainment industries without abandoning their traditions.

Bhutto's book was well-written and informative. She includes interviews not only from those making the media but also from those consuming it. Because the situation is not black and white, Bhutto explains the politics surrounding the different forms of media, debunking the notion that "west is best" while also listing reasons some people might still believe that it is.

I would like to give New Kings of the World a higher rating, but while illustrating the relationship between culture and religion, Bhutto writes that Muslims talk to God /through/ the Prophet or other intermediaries such as saints. This is not only incorrect, it's a grave sin in Islam. I'm not the person who believes in one particular version of Islam, but there are certain things that are expressly forbidden and talking "through" someone is one of them. This passage made me doubt the validity of the research, but enough of the information lined up with my own research that I trust the book overall and I even recommend it to others.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

I was quite disappointed by Indistractable. Having heard so many glowing things about the author, I expected Indistractable to provide some new and unforgettable insight. Instead, I got a few hundred pages of largely intuitive information packaged in pithy phrases.

Does the book do what it promises? Yes. It suggests methods for reducing distraction in your life so you can be more productive and more engaged. But for someone who watches Thomas Frank, Matt D'Avella and John Fish on YouTube, and as someone who has read Atomic Habits, Indistractable did not add anything to my life. In fact, there is a significant overlap between the two books.

I'm rating the book three stars because it /did/ tell you how to reduce distraction and because the information might be helpful to someone who it totally new to the world of productivity. At the same time, the book does not live up to its hype. At least Indistractable is short. You can finish it in one brief reading session if you're ~indistractable~ while doing it.

Kicking Financial Ass is a summary of several financial resources bundled into one convenient book. For people who have been improving their financial literacy and working towards early retirement, the tips may not be new, but they're good reminders. Dumont has clearly read some popular finance books, and he even references Mr. Money Mustache's blog. The thing that sets this book apart is the detailed look at both the US *and* Canadian markets. Dumont's book is far more inclusive than the average finance book, and he's always sure to say that if you don't live in North America, you should look at his guidelines, then see what you can do given the laws and markets in your own country. This is the main reason I rated the book so highly, but I took off a star because, at the end of the day, the information is not particularly new.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book to read and review.

Eat Your Vitamins is an A - Z guide of the nutrients people need and where to get them. Davis includes the benefits of each nutrient, the symptoms of deficiency, recommended daily intake and some recipes. In addition to the amount of the featured nutrient, the recipes also include information you might find on a standard nutrition label (such as sodium, fiber, carbs, etc) even though these nutrients all explained individually as well. Where possible, Davis mentions both vegan and non-vegan sources of the vitamins, and specifies when vegans should consider supplementation.

My biggest takeaway from Eat Your Vitamins is that it's remarkably easy to get full servings of each vitamin and mineral without any special pills. Unless you have certain digestive issues or allergies or dietary considerations that prevent you from eating certain categories of food, simply eating a variety of fruits and veggies throughout the week should be enough to keep you healthy. In theory, you can get all the vitamins you need from one or two plant-based meals per day (this depends on the specific plants and the serving size, of course). Diet Culture has us believing that pill bottles are better than what God and mother nature gave us. It's time to change that.

I'm knocking off one star because the book was a little dry, but I suppose that's because it's meant to be a straight-forward guide more than a "fun read."