pjdas1012's review against another edition
5.0
"Well, that. That was something. Was it not? The difference between life and death. Did that not count for something?"
A science reporter investigates the life of David Starr Jordan as she seeks to answer a question in her own life: How do we cope with Chaos? This book is unlike anything I have read before. It combines elements of memoir with biography with investigative journalism. And it is spectacular. I had no expectations prior to picking up this book, and I certainly did not expect to be tearing up consistently throughout. The core question of this book really is: What is the meaning of life? How do we go on living in the face of our own insignificance? To answer this, the author looks to the life of David Starr Jordan, a man who was passionate about studying fish. As she charts his life as well as her own, I was moved and experienced a gamut of emotion. It's a book that can make you look at the world in a different way. And it is one of the best books I have read this year.
A science reporter investigates the life of David Starr Jordan as she seeks to answer a question in her own life: How do we cope with Chaos? This book is unlike anything I have read before. It combines elements of memoir with biography with investigative journalism. And it is spectacular. I had no expectations prior to picking up this book, and I certainly did not expect to be tearing up consistently throughout. The core question of this book really is: What is the meaning of life? How do we go on living in the face of our own insignificance? To answer this, the author looks to the life of David Starr Jordan, a man who was passionate about studying fish. As she charts his life as well as her own, I was moved and experienced a gamut of emotion. It's a book that can make you look at the world in a different way. And it is one of the best books I have read this year.
dckathleen's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
A book about taxonomy and seekinh inspiration in the face of personal failures...and also murder, eugenics, and proving that the category of fish isn't accurate. Oh, and a very flawed hero.
CW for self harm.
CW for self harm.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
rebhlee's review against another edition
4.0
This book was part science history, part self-help, and I would consider it more creative-non-fiction than non-fiction for the liberties / speculation with which the author spins certain events. Nevertheless, it was very evocatively written, with such a distinct voice & vulnerable personality. I found the writing compelling.
I thought the book did a graceful job of taking us through the life of a fascinating, and ultimately deeply problematic individual. I was woefully ignorant how widespread the destructive and contemptible history of eugenics was in the United States, and I am grateful to be able to learn about it through this book.
I did find the metaphors a little heavy handed. I think the book committed the same grievance it meant to unfold, that putting too much meaning in human categorization could be at best self-illusional and at worst, ruinous. I'm also not convinced that fish don't exist and that this debate comes down to semantics.
In the end, any book that challenges the structures and conventions I hold onto to make me feel more comfortable is a worthwhile read.
I thought the book did a graceful job of taking us through the life of a fascinating, and ultimately deeply problematic individual. I was woefully ignorant how widespread the destructive and contemptible history of eugenics was in the United States, and I am grateful to be able to learn about it through this book.
I did find the metaphors a little heavy handed. I think the book committed the same grievance it meant to unfold, that putting too much meaning in human categorization could be at best self-illusional and at worst, ruinous. I'm also not convinced that fish don't exist and that this debate comes down to semantics.
In the end, any book that challenges the structures and conventions I hold onto to make me feel more comfortable is a worthwhile read.
xtinee's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this book was a rollercoaster. I started out thinking the book was about one thing and by the end it really wasn't about that thing at all. Once I gave up on trying to understand what the book was about I actually decided that I really liked it.
I think that the author wrote in a way with absolutely no foreshadowing which is pretty rare in a book and added to the shock of all the different places this story went. I would go into this with no expectations or no summary of what its about and hopefully enjoy the rollercoaster.
I think that the author wrote in a way with absolutely no foreshadowing which is pretty rare in a book and added to the shock of all the different places this story went. I would go into this with no expectations or no summary of what its about and hopefully enjoy the rollercoaster.
pjcarlino's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
This book is a biography of the divisive figure Robert Starr Jordan as well as a memoir of the author. Unique and informative.
binnybeenreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
oh my god the answer is people.
leseine's review against another edition
4.5
fantastic. i don't even know how to go about rating this. I have not read anything like it. The memoir, the science, the random things that'll rattle around in my head. just wow.
chickenmomchapters's review against another edition
3.0
Pacing was weird in this book. The last chapter and epilogue saved this book for me and are probably 5 star worthy by themselves.
“When you give up the stars you get a universe. So what happens when you give up the fish?”
“When you give up the stars you get a universe. So what happens when you give up the fish?”