The hottest Book review Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

Book Review: Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth

Theory Matters • 5 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🚌 Education Book review Philosophy
  1. Limitarianism discusses limiting consumption and extreme wealth to save the planet and address resource distribution issues
  2. The book presents arguments against extreme wealth but fails to provide solid first principle reasons for wealth limitation
  3. It criticizes the book for weak arguments, lack of rigorous first principles, and challenging style, suggesting it falls short in justifying its position on limiting wealth accumulation
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The Edge of the Map

Cosmographia • 179 implied HN points • 11 Nov 22
📚 Literature Book review Travel Writing
  1. The post discusses a book called 'The Lost Pianos of Siberia' about a two-year quest for historic pianos in Siberia by writer Sophy Roberts.
  2. The content is restricted to paid subscribers only, indicating exclusive access to certain posts or materials on the platform.
  3. The post is by M. E. Rothwell on the cosmographia.substack.com platform, providing insights into unique stories and quests.

After Cybernetics and Ghosts

gen yeet • 39 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
📚 Literature Book review Novels AI Artificial Intelligence Writing
  1. The piece reviews three novels with machine-generated text, praising 'Do You Remember Being Born' for its compelling narrative about an aging poet collaborating with AI.
  2. The author discusses past essays on large language models, noting a shift in their view from tools to potential threats based on tech companies' profit-driven motives.
  3. The Italian novelist Italo Calvino's idea of a 'literature machine' that could create poems and novels independently of human personality is explored, highlighting the concept of writers as writing machines.

Why is Neal Stephenson Obsessed with Hogs?

Litverse • 199 implied HN points • 21 Jul 22
📚 Literature Sci-fi Author analysis Book review Themes
  1. Hard sci-fi like 'Termination Shock' can sometimes focus too much on scientific accuracy and logic, losing the balance between facts and feelings.
  2. Neal Stephenson's work, while ambitious and curious, may benefit from tighter editing to make it more accessible and impactful.
  3. Feral hogs are a real and dangerous threat, with significant impacts on the environment and human health, representing a menacing consequence of our actions.

Book Review- Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
📚 Literature Book review Personal Development
  1. The book 'Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life' is reviewed in the post, prompting readers to think about what brings them happiness and purpose.
  2. Feedback from the audience is crucial for improving newsletters and content, even when experiencing growth and success.
  3. It's important to acknowledge personal biases when reviewing content, as individual perspectives can influence interpretation.

expat in Paris | must reads

Tumbleweed Words • 63 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
📚 Literature Fiction Author Book review Themes Writing Style
  1. Discovering new authors in unexpected places, like bookstores, can lead to transformative reading experiences.
  2. James Baldwin's work in 'Giovanni's Room' delves into themes of love, despair, and societal expectations, providing a deep and impactful exploration of the human condition.
  3. Baldwin's writing style combines poetry, sharp observations, and social commentary to create a powerful narrative that resonates with readers across generations.

My 30 Shades: A Kinky Biography

cruiseandpaul • 40 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Memoir Book review
  1. My Thirty Shades: A Kinky Biography is a sexy and humorous memoir with thirty erotic stories.
  2. The book offers a fun and flirty reading experience with different ways to enjoy it.
  3. Recommended for sharing intimate details with a best friend and as a smooth jazz read for lonely nights.

معرفی کتاب برای کسانی که تصمیم به شروع شغل دوم و یا تغییر به مسیر کارآفرینی دارند

DiGiTalk Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Workplace culture Personal Development Book review
  1. Traditional career paths are becoming less common, people are increasingly looking towards non-traditional work arrangements.
  2. Focus on finding a job that meets your basic needs and allows you to pursue interests outside of work for greater happiness and satisfaction.
  3. Self-awareness is crucial in finding a job that is 'good enough' for you, considering values, priorities, and personal goals.

Reading Guide: The Bell Jar

salondao • 19 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
📚 Literature Analysis Author Book review Writing Style
  1. The author discusses the impact of reading classic novels in nurturing the mind and body.
  2. Plath's 'The Bell Jar' is praised for its deep exploration of personal trauma, mental illness, and treatment.
  3. The novel sheds light on historical perspectives of medical institutions and prompts questions about modern therapies.

Book Review: “Do You Talk Funny?” by David Nihill 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 19 implied HN points • 30 Dec 22
📚 Literature Book review Humor Public Speaking
  1. Emperor penguins are the tallest and heaviest penguins but are not as tall as imagined, at around 110 centimetres high.
  2. Children see the world with everything seemingly too big; having reference points helps understand size.
  3. The book 'Do You Talk Funny?' by David Nihill is practical, humorous, and emphasizes storytelling for memorable public speaking.

Nabokov's Lolita

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 15 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
📚 Literature Book review Author analysis Writing Style Literary Analysis Short Stories
  1. The reviewer finds Nabokov's Lolita to be beautifully written but struggles with the content.
  2. Despite difficulties with Lolita, the reviewer still recommends reading Nabokov's other works, particularly his short stories.
  3. Readers interested in writing well are encouraged to learn from Nabokov's writing style.

Henry Grabar's "Paved Paradise" is a Masterpiece

Exasperated Infrastructures • 9 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🎭️ Culture Book review Urban planning Transportation Cities Society
  1. Henry Grabar's book 'Paved Paradise' is likened to important urban planning works and sheds light on the impacts of parking policies.
  2. The book discusses the significant role of parking in shaping urban landscapes and the conflicts it has spurred.
  3. Through vivid storytelling and real-life characters, 'Paved Paradise' explores the complexities of parking policies and advocates for safer streets.

Michael Lewis, FTX and Effective Altruism as a MacGuffin

Machine Learning Everything • 2 HN points • 16 Oct 23
💼 Business Cryptocurrency Book review Interview Narrative
  1. Effective altruism was portrayed as a MacGuffin in the story, being emphasized but ultimately devoid of real significance.
  2. Solving puzzles was an underrated skill that brought success, as seen with SBF at Jane Street.
  3. The portrayal of effective altruism and altruistic actions in the narrative did not match up, highlighting a disconnect between intentions and actions.

Contemplating New York: In a City With Everything, What Do You Want?

Arjun’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 22 Sep 23
📚 Literature Book review City life Character analysis Themes
  1. Moving to New York can be overwhelming with temptations and responsibilities, especially for young adults.
  2. The novel 'Bright Lights, Big City' captures the essence of New York City through the protagonist's struggles and temptations.
  3. The book highlights the conflict between who the protagonist wants to be and who he really is, showcasing the allure, challenges, and self-discovery in the city.

Big Data and the Entertainment Industry

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 04 Sep 16
💼 Business Entertainment Data Analytics Digital economy Book review
  1. The book 'Streaming Sharing Stealing' by Mike Smith and Rahul Telang offers valuable lessons in the digital economy, particularly in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of understanding and utilizing data properly.
  2. Entertainment executives often made critical errors due to not trusting data analytics for decision-making, relying instead on outdated assumptions and untested suppositions.
  3. Studies, like Sandra Barbosu's research, show that big data can provide valuable insights to industries like movie studios, helping them predict box office success and avoid producing movies that underperform.

The reviews are in!!!! NYT is raving about EXTREMELY ONLINE

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Book review Internet culture
  1. The book 'Extremely Online' received a glowing review from The New York Times, calling it a terrific history of the online creator economy.
  2. The book has been named among the best books to read this fall by The New York Times and Town & Country magazine.
  3. Various publications have praised 'Extremely Online' for its insightful assessment of the ways social platforms have impacted our lives.

May bookclub reveal

The Shift With Sam Baker • 0 implied HN points • 12 May 23
📚 Literature Bookclub Book review
  1. The Shift Bookclub's May reveal features a character named Big Swiss, described as tall, blonde, Swiss, all in white, and a dog lover.
  2. The story involves a transcriber named Greta who imagines meeting Big Swiss until a chance encounter in a park changes everything.
  3. The book is praised for being funny, inventive, sexy, and is being adapted into a TV series by HBO featuring Jodie Comer.

165 pages but no answers

Get Wit Quick • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
📚 Literature Novel Questions Book review
  1. The post discusses a book that consists of 165 pages of questions with no answers.
  2. The Betteridge's law of headlines suggests that headlines in question form usually have a negative answer.
  3. The book highlighted in the post is described as a brilliant piece of work

Book Review: "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness" by Eric Jorgenson 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 22
📚 Literature Book review Wisdom Entrepreneurship Happiness Philosophy
  1. The book 'The Almanack of Naval Ravikant' is a collection of transcripts and tweets by Naval Ravikant, offering insights on life and work.
  2. Naval Ravikant, an entrepreneur with a Buddhist perspective, shares wisdom that broadens perspectives and radiates calmness.
  3. The Almanack provides structured insights thanks to the clear thoughts formulated by Naval Ravikant, freely available to download.

Book Review: “Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder” by Nasim Taleb 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 28 Sep 22
📚 Literature Book review Running
  1. Antifragility, the opposite of fragility, is a concept introduced by Taleb and explored extensively in the book.
  2. It might take some time to adapt to Taleb's style, but the core concept of antifragility is captivating and thought-provoking.
  3. The idea of antifragility can be applied beyond the book - even to personal experiences like exercise routines.

Book Review: 'Mastery" by Robert Greene 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 22
📚 Literature Book review
  1. The book 'Mastery' by Robert Greene provides a framework leading to mastery through sampled biographies.
  2. The study in the book is supported by numerous examples, with only a few redundancies in the content.
  3. Achieving mastery involves more than luck; the book emphasizes the importance of effort and understanding in the process.

Book Review: "The Biggest Bluff" by Maria Konnikova 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 09 Aug 21
📚 Literature Book review Psychology Science Personal Development Storytelling
  1. The game of poker, particularly Texas Hold'em, is compared to the game of life, supported by insights from John Von Neumann and game theory.
  2. The book blends research on learning, decision making, and human behavior with the author's personal journey, emotions, doubts, and humor.
  3. The author's experience of learning poker from scratch, with a world-class player as her teacher, adds an engaging aspect to the book.

Book Review: "The Laws of Human Nature" by Robert Greene 5/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 21
📚 Literature Book review Self-help
  1. Robert Greene's 'The Laws of Human Nature' helps in managing expectations towards people and yourself by recognizing behavior patterns.
  2. The book presents each law with captivating stories from history, making the concepts memorable and engaging.
  3. The instructions in the book not only aid in managing expectations of others but also in self-reflection and overcoming negative behaviors.

Paging Steve Anderson

And It Don't Stop • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
📚 Literature Book review Novel Author Writing Style
  1. The novel "As the Day May Determine" by Steve Anderson features a dominatrix character who shows empathy towards her clients.
  2. The novel also offers a depiction of the changing East Village through the eyes of the author, reflecting on the neighborhood's evolution.
  3. The story line of the novel includes themes of betrayal, miscarriages of justice, and elements resembling murder, making it engaging for readers.