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richardiporter's reviews
488 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
3.0
Diamonds in the rough here, though like wealth of nations there is a lot of rough. Best done on audiobook cranked up speed.
This helped me better understand other books I was reading around the same time
-Red rising series (clearly)
-Stormlight archive (subtly)
-Anatomy of Fascism
Concepts:
History and political thought in general
Ayn Rand especially
Eugenics generally
Trouble spots:
Slavery
Sexism
This or that no in between
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Want to understand the Vietnam war better?
Want to understand Marines better?
Want to understand war better?
Read this book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
5.0
Learn much more about:
-how poverty works
-historically
-present day
-how bad it can be: there are large numbers of Americans including children who suffer poverty as bad as many in other “poor nations”
-how the impoverishment of others benefits you
-how the American welfare state helps the wealthy over the poor
-how we have created divisions between the poor and the wealthy and those in between
-how bad the effects of poverty are on the people
-how we can end it
-spoiler alert: it’s by stopping the giveaways to the wealthy, and instead helping the most poor
4.0
Inclusive political institutions lead to inclusive economic institutions. Extractive political institutions lead to extractive economic institutions. All of these are self reinforcing. They lead to self reinforcing loops and spirals.
Historic contingencies emerge and the balance of institutional power nudge the likely direction the power will break further. At these tip points individuals with power can further nudge the direction of the spiral.
The authors set this up as their answer to any of the competing great arc theories, geographic or cultural (as exemplified in guns germs and steel and the like) or racial determinism or naked great man theory.
Dense and thorough, likely best on audiobook. Strong explanatory value but with fairly simplistic policy implications:
Generally the right answer is more inclusion.
Examples abound.
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Like all great sci fi it is obviously about its authors present and recent past. In this case the Vietnam war, and also about stretching the readers mind in unique ways through reasonably plausible future possibilities. The technology is as always the backdrop for human relationships and societal organization.
The feature of relativistic time perception allows for multiple human societal touch points and deeply enhances the isolation of combat veteran to levels otherwise impossible.
How might society go wrong?
How might it go right?
How might we stumble into war accidentally? (Like most of the time)
How can you ask a man to be the last to die for a mistake?
How can you ask him to order others to?
5 stars. Loved it, recommend it to others, will likely re read.
Graphic: Violence and War
Minor: Rape and Medical trauma
5.0
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“You’re so right. Golden son was amazing. Pierce brown goes so hard
What if… game thrones set in space. But also dune, also expanse, also starship troopers. Also obvious self referential and not at all corny or tongue in cheek Roman. And knights.
And he pulls it off!!
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Death of parent