librarymouse's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

About a third of the way through this book, having googled David Starr Jordan, I was ready to finish this, as a hate reader if need be. Jordan was, without question, a horrible man. The atrocities he inflicted upon the world with his promotion of eugenics outweigh any good he may have done as a scientist by multiple orders of magnitude. Seeing Lulu Miller's hero worship of the man was off-putting, the more I learned of him. However, I ended up really enjoying this book as I read on, as Miller explores her own life alongside Jordan's, she brings along the reader. We learn of the atrocities he's committedin the same order she did while conducting the research for this book. It's still hard to have the hero worship of the young Jordan, with his love of stars and rescy jokes, when faced with the knowledge of his role in the American Eugenics movement.

Jordan's hands-on malicious acts, like his touring endorsement of eugenics and the possible murder by poison of his benefactor are completely bonkers. I am constantly amazed that people Revere him, while simultaneously understanding, as I, too have been in awe of the young man he once was.

This book breaks down every facet of Jordan, from his political, religious, and social beliefs; to his family life, addressing each idiosyncrasy with data driven research.

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mirto's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

If I could give this 6 stars, I would. Brilliant book. I would even say Lulu Miller created a whole new genre. Memoir, biography, essay, nature book, history book, sociology, psychology, murder mystery, whatever, you name it. Made me feel so many things, all at once. I learnt a lot, from science to giving myself the life I want. Why Fish Don't Exist will stay with me forever.

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emhunsbaker's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative slow-paced

3.75


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klfgasaway's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious slow-paced

4.5

Life’s library 2021

I do enjoy a good exploration of metaphors in science. It did seem a bit meandering in how the author reached her conclusion, but it it wasn’t too expansive. I’m not sure how I feel about her portrayal of David star Jordan over the course of the book. On the one hand, I think waiting to reveal his support of eugenics and his strangeness is what lent structure to the book and honestly we are talking about a white man with power at the end of the 19th century. Statistically speaking, he was probably going to have at least one highly problematic world view. She also did do a pretty good job of being chronological with his life. 

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