A thrilling, in-depth expose on the multi billion dollar tech start up Theranos. I had heard bits and pieces of this story when Theranos was initially outed but I was blown away by this thorough examination of the deception, secrecy, and manipulation that built a silicon valley tech company valued at its peak at 10 billion dollars. Days after finishing I still cannot stop talking about this book and I recommend it across the board to anyone and everyone. So if you haven’t read this one yet, bump it to the top of your list. I mostly listened to the audio version…
Browsing CategoryNon-Fiction
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
This is a quick, entertaining non-fiction read perfect for those who feel a bit stuck or lost in their lives. I always appreciate an author who will be very candid about their struggles and who also inspires me to live a better life. Rachel Hollis is the CEO of the wildly popular website “The Chic Spot”. She is an incredibly driven, self made woman whose grit and sheer determination have made her the successful woman she is today. In her memoir Rachel is brutally honest about the trials and failures that have helped shape her life paradigm. Told in the…
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
It’s no secret that I am a dedicated disciple of Gretchen Rubin. Her book “The Happiness Project” changed my life more than any other book in the past couple of years. And she’s done it again with her newest book “The Four Tendencies”. Have you ever wondered why you can readily meet the expectations others have for you but can’t make yourself stick to a regime you set for yourself? Or why you’re completely bent out of shape over a last minute change to plans? You may be an Obliger or an Upholder (respectively). Or maybe you’re a law only…
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
In my opinion “gripping” and “non-fiction” don’t usually fit together. Like if you hear “sophisticated” and “changing a baby diaper.” Just – no. Unless Kate Middleton is changing the diaper (doubtful – that’s what the Head Nanny’s nannies are for). But I recently discovered a non-fiction read that is gripping. “Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Grann is a thoroughly researched and horrifying tale of the true crime that plagued the Osage nation in the 1920s. I had no subject matter knowledge of the events of this book when I started. I’m remorse to admit that while I was disappointed with how events unfolded I…
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
If you’re looking for a non-fiction or memoir that’s engaging, informative and witty, you’ll find it in Lab Girl. Hope Jahren, a botanist and multiple scientific award winner, chronicles her career and life in this memoir/non-fiction hybrid. The chapters alternate between engaging information about plant life (and the similarities to human life) and Jahren’s personal struggle with paranoia, her stoic upbringing, and most importantly-being a woman scientist. I loved (and appreciated) how accessible the subject matter was, Jahren writes in a such a way that science gives way to poetry and occasionally humor. I laughed out loud many times while reading…
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Did everyone else besides me read this when it came out? I feel like I’m soooooooooo late to the party. I think my sister has even read it multiple times. When it was published I was in my early twenties and life was good. I was a college student with basically no responsibilities except to take classes and live life to the fullest. I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say I was very happy back then. I certainly didn’t think I needed to read a book about being happy. And honestly, I wouldn’t say I’m unhappy now,…
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
This is by far the best book I read in the month of September. I picked it up because I wanted to connect more presently with reality and I was so pleased how perfectly it hit the mark. This book is equally educational and compelling. Anne Fadiman’s work is a tragic tale of a small Hmong child who, while being treated by the American medical system, becomes brain dead by the age of four. The book explores the clash of two dynamic forces, the Hmong culture/belief and western medicine, and how Lia Lee’s permanent condition was a direct result of…
Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance
A magnificent memoir, the best I’ve read in years. Since its publication in September of 2016 “Hillbilly Elegy” has been in the spotlight for its in depth look into the lives and minds of the poor white of Appalachia and the Midwest. This memoir has been referenced to exhaustion as a tool of understanding why so many from the Rust Belt and Appalachia turned out to vote Trump into office. I’ll admit, that was my primary aim for reading this book. But those looking for straight forward answers about voters backing Trump will be disappointed. This memoir never mentions…