Are you a good judge of character? Probably not, according to Malcolm Gladwell. He takes us on a deep dive into the problems with communication, detailing the ways in which we misjudge the intentions of strangers, or misinterpret their actions. Gladwell highlights an important modern issue to show that the forces underlying our interactions are never as simple as they seem.
Pollan strikes a perfect balance between historical/scientific research and personal anecdotal reporting. The result is a highly engaging series of long essays about three particular drugs and the plants they from which they stem. Bad puns aside, I nearly missed my bus stop because I couldn’t put this book down. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a latte more than I did while reading about Pollan’s abstention from caffeine.
You want it darker? Everybody knows Leonard Cohen’s your man. Not always easy to stomach, the stories in this posthumous collection are full of the raw grit of a young artist finding himself through reflective juxtapositions of love and hate, beauty and ugliness, loneliness and companionship. A fascinating insight into the creative process of a songwriting genius.
If you’re into sci-fi and somehow haven’t read this yet, then do yourself a favor and pick it up. Crisp prose, compelling characters, and a massive complex world full of history that feels bigger than what can fit into one book. I’ll go out on a limb and call it the best space opera since the original Star Wars. It’s probably true. The trilogy is exceptional, but this book also satisfies as a self-contained experience.
