Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life

This book ended up being nothing like I thought but everything it needed to be. It’s almost a simultaneous biography and autobiography plus numerous history and science lessons. I’m not the biggest fan of biographies generally, and I definitely thought this would be more more science, less people, but it really was a wonderful blend of both. Significantly darker at times than I ever would’ve guessed, I’d recommend looking at the trigger warnings before hand. While it isn’t graphic, it does cover some disturbing parts of American history and some harsh moments of the perspective of a very depressed person. However, most of the darker moments were wholly necessary, in my opinion. The writing is great and the tone is so engrossing for a nonfiction book. There was a distinct moment where I said out loud, “Oh this just took a turn!” And when asked if it was a good or bad one, I said, “Morally, a bad one. Entertainment wise, definitely a good one.” I have so many thoughts that I’ll wait to burden my book club with, but if I were to parabolize this story, I’d say, nothing matters and so everything matters. There is no grand scheme, so every person and creature and moment is meaningful.

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andreaah's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the few books that has made me cry in public

when she interviews the victims of forced sterilization

Well handled overall
Can’t recommend enough, especially to anyone who enjoys the natural world or science in general

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jillyclaire23's review against another edition

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fast-paced

5.0

I’m speechless. Wow. I love the logic of this book. It’s a beautiful long essay allegedly about fish but actually about finding purpose and meaning in life. Definitely a heavy read but ultimately so realistically hopeful. It is so lush and full of facts - not just a bunch of generic motivational cliches, which I appreciate. The twists and suspenseful writing kept me intrigued. Such a rewarding read. The thesis the author comes to at the end is so beautiful it made me tear up!

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stoolboom's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

It’s all there in the epilogue for me, which of course wouldn’t have packed the same punch without everything that came before. Maybe there’s a metaphor in there.

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lotsaplots's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

A truly beautiful book that is also informative and interesting. The author lyrically intertwines her personal story with the story of a scientist who studied fish. It is both a story of taxonomy and a search for meaning.

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bluegrayvealey's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

In the top of my 2024 reads!

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jraley_writes's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

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