pickMost of this wasn‘t earth shattering news to me, but it was a good reminder that we all need to be intentional in cultivating better communication skills. Skills that allow us to actively listen to others, encourage deeper conversations, and let others know that they are valued and seen. It‘s a positive message and an easy read.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️ The role of stories in everyday life and how they can negatively affects us. Psychological warfare, propaganda, misinformation. We tend to treat fiction as politics. So many slippery slopes. Nothing much positive here, but a quick, interesting read.
pick“In the United States, we treat fiction as politics—and vice versa.“
A fascinating short history of psychological warfare, which is intensely relevant today. The Native American histories of being disappeared, sometimes over and over, was particularly interesting.
I was disappointed in the final chapter though, which offered several idealistic solutions with no ideas on how to implement them.
so-soNot too much to say about this. I found it (mostly) interesting and easy to read. Oddly, although I‘m not really one for art appreciation, I remember that chapter a bit more than some of the others (also the online review chapter, but that may not be a surprise considering I am writing a review to post online…!).
pickOne of the best books I read so far this year. I understand why I had to wait 10 weeks for my hold to come in on Libby! Brooks combines personal anecdotes with other people's stories and observations to show how we can deepen our connections with people, whether we know them or not. In this day and age, where divorce rates are high, work is hybrid, learning is online, and politics divide, this book is especially relevant 🧩🎧
pickA heavy read with a lot to unpack. We are so incredibly steeped in propaganda that reality can genuinely feel questionable, it's no wonder we are witnessing an ever increasing surge in conspiracy theories. Newitz research is always impressive and the work here is deeply important but proceed with caution if you are prone to existential dread - it can all feel so overwhelming.
so-soThere were some interesting bits (struggling to come up with an example) but I was mostly bored
pickThis was a bit repetitive and could be a bit slow in places, but it was really interesting and I learned a lot. I think it‘s a great introduction the intersection of psychology and anthropology.
Main take away: People are emotional creatures who are group focused and republicans are way better at appealing to that than democrats.
3/5 read for a dense psychological look at human behavior and American political habits
