planarlost's reviews
45 reviews

I enjoyed it. My main criticism is that, because this book covers an array of topics and time, it doesn't explore each subject as much as some of his previous books. It felt slightly disjointed in that regard, particularly as the later topics related to the title of the book. When I arrived at the section where Jones tried to connect Medieval universities to modern ones, using the phrase "Medieval 'Woke,'" I found myself for a moment taken out of the work. Using this slang probably dates the book somewhat, and may give some readers a misleading impression of Jones as a person. (Not that I think his argument is invalid, but this heading isn't necessary or even advantageous to the case.)

But in overall standard fashion, it was fun to read, well-written, and informative. It's a nice starting point for its areas, which may have benefitted from a little more depth or fewer ideas.

Some interesting facts, but as others have said, a few things questionable.

Categorizing Elizabeth I as a woman of the Middle Ages is unusual, in my opinion, especially if you believe the Middle Ages to have begun at the fall of Rome and ended at the Renaissance/Reformation. Elizabeth I lived during the Renaissance, not the Middle Ages, the late period of which concluded well before her birth.

As another example, Jeanne d'Arc was involved in many battles, and was wounded in battle on more than one occasion, but she never actually fought with a sword herself (which is not necessarily made clear in this text). That is not to say she didn't live an incredible and heroic life, but the authors mix some fact and legend when discussing her.

And the pop culture references do date the book somewhat, in a bad way (a mention of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline as a married couple being a major example).

Overall, however, still some interesting facts in the book. They discussed at least two people mostly unfamiliar to me. I also can't fault the authors necessarily for not including references as this may have been up to their publisher (sometimes publishers want references and bibliographies removed, even if to the detriment of the authors and their work's credibility).

I loved this book. It is a nuanced, well-written, and engaging take on the history of women in the Viking Age, on par with the likes of scholars such as Judith Jesch. Covers an array of topics, from childhood to adulthood, women of power and of the lower classes. I will read more by this author.

I wanted to learn more about recent Chinese history, and this book came highly recommended in many places. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style. I found the overall narrative engaging and interesting and informative. The book approaches the subject matter with a sort of qualitative case study and interview approach, generalizing where appropriate. If you are interested in China, and recent Chinese history, I would recommend this book.

An interesting read on China's communist party, focusing mostly on recent history. It took me a few pages to get into the writing style, but once I did, I enjoyed it. The book is overall informative with regard to giving you a general sense of the picture it's painting.

"Mao's Great Famine" seems to be well-researched. Frank Dikötter draws from a range of archival sources and individual testimonies, providing readers with an extensive accounting of the devastating famine that plagued China during Mao Zedong's rule. The author's writing style is engaging, bringing the events surrounding the famine to life. One of the book's most valuable aspects lies in the insights it offers into the political and socioeconomic factors that contributed to the more disastrous consequences of Mao's policies and haphazard Great Leap Forward.

However, while "Mao's Great Famine" does appear to be well-researched, I gathered the sense while reading it (even as someone slightly uninitiated to the subject) that it occasionally lacks the nuanced understanding that such a contentious and intricate topic demands. The book's focus on Mao's leadership and the actions of the Chinese Communist Party, while surely important, seems to somewhat neglect broader contextual factors. The book also relies mostly on official records and survivor testimonies. These sources are undoubtedly valuable, but a more diverse range of perspectives could have enhanced the overall narrative. Also, the book occasionally lacks a robust examination of counterarguments or alternative interpretations of the events it discusses, which may be the biggest flaw with the work (overstatement of its thesis).

Regardless, "Mao's Great Famine" by Frank Dikötter is a well-researched and engaging account of a terrible period in Chinese history. The book offers valuable insights into the famine and its underlying causes, but I think that it falls short in providing a truly thorough and nuanced understanding of the complex forces at play. Still, I believe much of what it talks about happened on a fundamental level, so it remains a worthwhile read for those interested in exploring the consequences of Mao Zedong's policies and their impact on the Chinese people.

("The Battle for China's Past" might be a good companion to this book.)

"All That's Wrong With the Bible" by Jonah David Conner is a thoughtful exploration of the Bible's contradictions, absurdities, and other textual problems. Drawing from his background in Biblical studies and his experience as an ex-Christian fundamentalist, Conner offers a compelling case against the notion of biblical inerrancy.

The book meticulously points out instances where different parts of the Bible disagree. Names, numbers, genealogies, even the wording of the Ten Commandments, come under scrutiny. Conner's detailed analysis raises questions about the consistency and accuracy of the Bible.

Not shying away from the morally problematic aspects of the Bible, Conner sheds light on passages that condone polygamy, slavery, genocide, and the killing of innocent children (including the unborn, potentially a moral quandary for modern believers). Instances where the Bible justifies the killing of gay people and the live burning of prostitutes receive particular attention.

Conner scrutinizes prophecies in the Bible that appear vague, non-specific, and even back-dated. Comparisons of language used across different translations demonstrate the questionable nature of these prophecies.

Problems of translation and scribal errors receive due attention as well. The author acknowledges the multiple translations the Bible has undergone, which may have led to mistakes and intentional changes by scribes. Comparisons between original documents and later translations shine a light on such alterations. (This exploration of translations invokes a pertinent argument often made by certain theologians; some claim that skeptics cannot critique the Bible unless they have read its books in their original languages. A possible response from a skeptic could be: how can one believe in the translations if they are not sufficient to be criticized?)

Despite its provocative title and the potential for controversy, Conner invites readers to be open-minded, to further explore the subject matter, and to challenge his arguments. His expertise and commitment to critical analysis provide a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the complexities of the Bible, believers and unbelievers alike. Those of faith may find this book a catalyst for deeper intellectual engagement with their beliefs.

Overall, "All That's Wrong With the Bible" seems to be a well-researched and scholarly analysis of the Bible's flaws. It serves as a necessary contribution to Biblical studies, encouraging readers to question, examine, and understand the text more deeply.

In Jesus, Interrupted, Bart Ehrman reveals the contradictions lurking within the New Testament, which he argues are not even hidden, as they are taught to people like pastors in seminary schools, but simply ignored by laypeople. With sharp analysis, Ehrman exposes the deeply human origins of Scripture.

Turning a critical eye to the Bible, Ehrman unpacks how the text we have today was cobbled together over time. He reveals a book riddled with discrepancies. Stories that contradict each other, told decades or hundreds of years after the events described, split by oral tradition. Forged and altered passages. Gospels attributed to people who didn't write them. Accounts written by authors unknown. The more Ehrman uncovers, the less the Bible seems divinely inspired.

While probably disturbing for some readers unfamiliar with textual criticism, Ehrman's insights are delivered with an accessible touch. He guides general readers through scholarly research that's often dense and technical. The resulting book is a great read; one that will make you completely rethink the Bible as the inerrant word of God. Jesus, Interrupted enlightens as much as it unravels. You'll never read the Gospels the same way again. I recommend to believers, nonbelievers, and those questioning their beliefs.

Bart Ehrman brings New Testament textual criticism to life in Misquoting Jesus. He takes readers on a journey through the centuries, revealing how scribes inadvertently—and sometimes purposefully—changed the biblical text. From misspellings to omitted words, many of the changes were accidental. But others were intentional, as scribes tried to “improve” or harmonize passages.

Ehrman argues we can't know for certain what the original texts said, given the number of changes over time. Many were written decades or hundreds of years after the events they describe, based on oral tradition. This is at the heart of why so many of the Gospels, for example, contain inconsistencies, especially about Jesus, including his acts, life, sayings.

Misquoting Jesus sheds important light on the complex process of transmitting ancient texts, and makes a compelling case that our modern Bibles differ in numerous ways from the original manuscripts. Ehrman helps readers understand how the most influential book in Western civilization has evolved.

I would absolutely recommend this book to believers, nonbelievers, and those questioning. It is always worthwhile to reflect on the validity of our beliefs. Even though Ehrman no longer views the Bible as the sheerly inspired word of God, he does see it as the world's most important book.

I loved this book. I think it serves as a fantastic companion to books like The Tell-Tale Brain by V. S. Ramachandran and The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge. It contains a lot of recent, well-sourced, and fascinating information on brain science and plasticity, and I like Eagleman's conception of the brain being "live-wired" rather than "plastic." I especially enjoyed the sections on the function of dreams, neuroplasticity and aging, and sensory substitution.

If I could give it a 4.5/5 instead of a 4, I would. However, it's closer to a 4 than a 5. My chief point of contention is that when Eagleman steps out of his field (in particular), he sometimes oversimplifies ideas or makes minor mistakes. The first example that caught my attention was the statement in Chapter 12 that "reptiles can't see you if you stand still, because they only register change."

I'm not a herpetologist and I knew intuitively that this isn't accurate. It took me a few minutes of searching online to confirm. Reptiles, at least generally, have sharp vision for detecting movement, important for both hunting and avoiding predators, but they can still detect stationary objects; their visual acuity and processing of visual information just differ from humans, focusing on movement. I believe Eagleman should revisit certain parts of the book, like this one, and make slight adjustments for accuracy. The point he was conveying there would still hold up.

In another section, he mentions that the Clean Air Act, possibly directly, precipitated a significant drop in crime in the 1990s. This is a compelling hypothesis generally supported by evidence outside of the book, so serves as an example of Eagleman branching beyond his domain without getting tangled up. (One might even extend the argument to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970.)

Overall, still a fantastic book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in neuroscience.