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nquinlan's reviews
207 reviews
The Billionaire's Apprentice: The Rise of The Indian-American Elite and The Fall of The Galleon Hedge Fund by Anita Raghavan
informative
medium-paced
2.0
While I really like the concept of the book, I didn’t love the writing style (how many times does something need to be described as “tony”) and I struggled to engage with the narrative as fully as other similar reads- the points felt too small, rather than focused on themes they read, to me like a layout of a court case that you hear of in the end.
Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not sure how I feel about this book. I really enjoyed the writing, felt a strong connection to the characters, but had a hard time with the end.
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A beautifully written story that keeps you engrossed.
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Inspirational book, with a lot of great suggestions. Not my favorite style of writing, but definitely engaging.
How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
An interesting and thoughtful look into people, knowing yourself, and others. Nothing was wildly new/out-there but the author's willingness to explain the basics concretely was nice.
The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
A fun look into a very fortunate life.
The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World - and Us by Richard O. Prum
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
It felt like the book tried to be a memoir, pop-science non-fiction, and a strong scientific argument. I found myself wishing it had picked the first two, leaving out some of the deeper explanation of hypotheses and counter-hypotheses. The author would dedicate a great deal of time to claims and scores that he felt countered scientific narrative while breezing past some other claims which felt at times as shaky.
Despite all that, I learned a lot, enjoyed it and have already felt myself considering sexual selection more frequently when someone asserts "this is why X species does Y."
Despite all that, I learned a lot, enjoyed it and have already felt myself considering sexual selection more frequently when someone asserts "this is why X species does Y."
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
4.0
A whirlwind book chronicling the thefts of a wildly successful thief. Great for a rainy day, stuck inside.