itaiana's reviews
15 reviews

Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression by Iris Gottlieb

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

Seeing Gender is a rather elucidating book. A must read for everyone,  whatever you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or not. 
Having said that, it's important to note that even queer people sometimes are not familiar with the wide range of terminology to identify their own community.
The book goes over historical facts and also brings some interesting insights when talking about Intersectionality (one of my favourite ideas beig discussed). 
There are only two subjects that in my opinion were poorly or badly explored, and they are, respectively: 
1 - the biological influence on gender roles and
2 - sex work x survival sex.
Overall, a good, easy to read book with beautiful illustrations, riveting information and some alarming statistics. 

Frida: A biografia by Hayden Herrera

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Frida's life story is more than you can expect for. Bold, authentic, captivating and talented.  Details of her childhood and upbringing are vastly explored in this biography. Some of her paintings elements are explained, giving the reader the opportunity to have a deeper understanding over them. Childhood, family, teenager years, school, first love, friends,  art and Diego, everything is present on the book.
On the other hand, some parts put a biased emphasis on her relationship with Diego and that means she would use her health condition to get his attention, undergoing unnecessary surgeries to keep him by her side. Something to be read with a pinch of salt (to say the least, given all the health issues she faced since her teenage years).

Being Elvis: A Lonely Life by Ray Connolly

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

###SPOILERS###
Once you start reading it, you cannot let it go. It's truly a biography, not a pretense one. In every page, telling his life story since his childhood in Tupelo to his imprisonment in Graceland, Memphis. His prescribed drugs addiction and attraction to pretty young girls. The beautiful relationship with his mother and toxic one with Colonel Tom Parker. It is a must read book.

Delusions of Gender: The Real Science behind Sex Differences by Cordelia Fine

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

Gender stereotypes are definitely a society construction. Reading this book gives you a new point of view regarding anything and everything. It's even harder to laugh, smile, or even smirk at daily sexist jokes. But the point is, you start realising them at a different and deeper level. I could learn a lot from this book but missed a kind of conclusion at the end, as it looks like it begins and ends with the same statements. 

Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. the United States of America by Howard L. Bingham, Max Wallace

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Awe-inspiring.  Knowing  Ali was a boxer and 3 times winner of the heavyweight belt is surface level information.  Ali was a believer. And that's the information this book gives to you: a believer, generous and determined man.

O Mito da Beleza: Como as Imagens de Beleza São Usadas Contra as Mulheres by Naomi Wolf

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.25

A new perspective is given to everything when you start reading this book. Tv ads, movies, interviews, magazines and even female conversations among friends.
Totally understandable it might be a superfluous reading for younger generations, being considered outdated, however, not for my age range I'd say.

Marighella: o guerrilheiro que incendiou o mundo by Mário Magalhães

2.75

Book sticks to a repetitive cycle of information and abandons the more personal sphere of Marighella's life. 

Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsay

informative inspiring medium-paced

3.75

Entertaining.  Informative.  Easy to read. 
It keeps your interest from the beginning to the end. 
<Endured an absolute awful childhood and succeeded through hard work and persistence.>
Sexist speech spotted in a few lines.

Mulheres que Correm com os Lobos by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

slow-paced

2.0

The author has a point,  however, she takes far too long to make it.
I'd say it could be more concise to keep the readers interested in her message.

Comunicação não violenta by Marshall B. Rosenberg

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.0

Light-hearted,  written in an unpretentious manner. The book contains a clear and highly important message that challenges you to reevaluate the way you use your words. Additionally,  it encourages you to look for the hidden messages behind the way people talk to you.