emberlesage's reviews
88 reviews

Fabric: The Hidden History of the Material World by Victoria Finlay

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I expect I'll reread this one. There was so much interesting story and information to absorb.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Suicide and Medical content

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible by Tamsen Webster

4.0

The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self by Nicole LePera

adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

Such a good thorough check in on my healing journey and some good guidance to keep moving forward. 

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Henry L. Roediger III, Peter C. Brown, Mark A. McDaniel

adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I'm going to be recommending this to so many people. 

I was a little worried this would be to data heavy and unpleasant to read, just based on the way it was reccomended to me, but it was written in a way that was enjoyable and easy to follow. 

It's really great to get a clearer understanding of why I'm good at learning so I can actually help other people, and maybe get even better at it myself. 

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I was worried because I usually see mutual aid talked about in a way that is either extremely vague or extremely unforgiving, that this book may not provide action information for someone in my position, but it was actually very good. 

Dean described how mutual aid differs from government and non-profit organizations in a way that I could easily see and point out the effect of in my own town which is obviously super helpful in discussions with others

He also covered more inclusive methods of 'leadership' and work/life balance. I have always had a hard time with this, as I want to take on a collaborative style of group leadership, but had a hard time imagining what that could actually look like functionally. Dean really laid it out and made it easier to picture the goal.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Highly recommend to literally everyone, but should be required reading for parents, teachers, & social workers. 

Dressed: A Philosophy of Clothes by Shahidha Bari

adventurous challenging reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

I would recommend this even if somebody wasn't particularly into fashion. It explores mortality, sexuality, violence, religion, and so many other themes through the lens of clothing and in doing so brings up some great perspectives and makes you think.

A pleasure to read.