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brendamn's reviews
364 reviews
Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O'Neill
4.0
I am sure no one is more frustrated than Tom O'Neill that a project so intensively researched with countless interviews conducted and documents scoured ultimately ends somewhere that is a bit unsatisfying. What he has uncovered is astounding, and he succeeds in proving that the popular understanding of Manson Murders is inadequate.
The problem for me though, is how much of what he has revealed is viable and how much is just noise? Most of it truly is suspicious, and without question there is a lot being covered up. Though with there being so much we do not know, I feel like there are a lot of places where it truly is just speculation and coincidence.
Just because things don't quite add up in one place is not proof enough that it is due to the intent to deceive or obscure the truth. With some of the people he interviews, I do think sometimes they truly just did not know enough to give him the answers he was looking for. Sometimes the connection just isn't there, no matter how attractive it is to think that there is deception at play.
He is very self-aware in conceding how conspiratorial his leads and investigates sounds, and a lot of what he uncovers truly isn't just unfounded conspiracy. He does produce real results. All the same, I do think he uncovers a number of convincing theories that feel to hold deeper implications, but ultimately do not.
There is so much we still do not know, and maybe never will. But thanks to Tom O'Neill, we now know a hell of a lot more.
The problem for me though, is how much of what he has revealed is viable and how much is just noise? Most of it truly is suspicious, and without question there is a lot being covered up. Though with there being so much we do not know, I feel like there are a lot of places where it truly is just speculation and coincidence.
Just because things don't quite add up in one place is not proof enough that it is due to the intent to deceive or obscure the truth. With some of the people he interviews, I do think sometimes they truly just did not know enough to give him the answers he was looking for. Sometimes the connection just isn't there, no matter how attractive it is to think that there is deception at play.
He is very self-aware in conceding how conspiratorial his leads and investigates sounds, and a lot of what he uncovers truly isn't just unfounded conspiracy. He does produce real results. All the same, I do think he uncovers a number of convincing theories that feel to hold deeper implications, but ultimately do not.
There is so much we still do not know, and maybe never will. But thanks to Tom O'Neill, we now know a hell of a lot more.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
4.0
Neil Gaiman never fails to deliver, I trust I could pick up any book of his and not be disappointed. The world building of Neverwhere draws you in with ease, and quickly immerses you completely. I will eagerly await the follow up novel it seems he has in the works, which is strange for myself. I don't often feel compelled to read follow up novels of any fantasy series, though this ended up being a rare exception.
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
4.0
Perdido Street Station contains a rich mix of ingredients typical to fantasy and sci-fi novels. Magic, artificial intelligence, demons, parasitic bodysnatchers, steampunk, and plentiful species like garuda, various mythical humanoid species and others that currently escape me. It is something normally I'd find too unwieldy, though it all came together quite nicely due to Miéville's talent for world-building.
I would best describe this book as an intersection of fantasy and horror. It feels similar to Clive Barker's Weaveworld and I suppose Stephen King's series The Dark Tower. The plot followed the typical hero's journey narrative battling unstoppable and supernatural foes.
The thing I disliked most was how the main subplot concluded, the one the book ended on. So incredibly unsatisfying. Yeah, I get the reason why it wrapped it up that way, but it'd have been best in my opinion to not write him as an unredeemable character. Despite it ending on a bad note, it was still a quite enjoyable and unique read.
I would best describe this book as an intersection of fantasy and horror. It feels similar to Clive Barker's Weaveworld and I suppose Stephen King's series The Dark Tower. The plot followed the typical hero's journey narrative battling unstoppable and supernatural foes.
The thing I disliked most was how the main subplot concluded, the one the book ended on. So incredibly unsatisfying. Yeah, I get the reason why it wrapped it up that way, but it'd have been best in my opinion to not write him as an unredeemable character. Despite it ending on a bad note, it was still a quite enjoyable and unique read.
The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity--And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race by Daniel Z. Lieberman, Michael E. Long
4.0
Though this is the first introduction of mine to the significance and inescapable influence that dopamine has in life, I couldn't imagine a better introduction to it than this book. It is ever present in almost every thought and action in our lives.
The first few chapters covering sex, desire, and aspirations I felt were spot on. Incredibly educational and presented in a very accessible manner. Though as it went on I thought it to be a bit reaching. Yes it has its own part to play on politics, early human migration, and mental illness, though there are many other factors present that have greater influence on those areas of the human condition. Though in the end the book is a about dopamine, the focus of the book does not concern any other factors at play.
I felt the significance of dopamine was over exaggerated and not the all powerful force it was portrayed to be in those scenarios. I got the impression the authors had the aim of covering a wide variety of subjects to highlight how dopamine plays its part in all aspects of life. I am not arguing that it is not, but that there may have been better areas to explore or expand upon such the topics in the earlier chapters.
What really hit this thought home for me was when it dived into apocalypse end of the world scenarios. I don't think I am being unfair to say that it won't be dopamine that ultimately is what will be to blame in the ultimate undoing of the human race as we know it. Yeah, dopamine will play its own part, though it would be far down the list of things worth considering when dealing with the end of life as we know it.
I still think it is an essential read for understanding of human behavior and why we desire what we desire despite these criticisms. I do concede as well I have my own shortcomings on how the human brain works. Ignoring the reservations I hold, the book does excel in all other areas of the content it covers.
The first few chapters covering sex, desire, and aspirations I felt were spot on. Incredibly educational and presented in a very accessible manner. Though as it went on I thought it to be a bit reaching. Yes it has its own part to play on politics, early human migration, and mental illness, though there are many other factors present that have greater influence on those areas of the human condition. Though in the end the book is a about dopamine, the focus of the book does not concern any other factors at play.
I felt the significance of dopamine was over exaggerated and not the all powerful force it was portrayed to be in those scenarios. I got the impression the authors had the aim of covering a wide variety of subjects to highlight how dopamine plays its part in all aspects of life. I am not arguing that it is not, but that there may have been better areas to explore or expand upon such the topics in the earlier chapters.
What really hit this thought home for me was when it dived into apocalypse end of the world scenarios. I don't think I am being unfair to say that it won't be dopamine that ultimately is what will be to blame in the ultimate undoing of the human race as we know it. Yeah, dopamine will play its own part, though it would be far down the list of things worth considering when dealing with the end of life as we know it.
I still think it is an essential read for understanding of human behavior and why we desire what we desire despite these criticisms. I do concede as well I have my own shortcomings on how the human brain works. Ignoring the reservations I hold, the book does excel in all other areas of the content it covers.