Birddogs

Micro Reviews for All Essays

Revisado: 02-04-22

I quickly realized that some essays were written better than others, and decided to break down my review into micro-reviews. I missed some, but tried to review most individual essays (not the poems). Overall, I think it might be best to find a summary of each of the essays and read the ones that you find interesting… These essays cover a wide range of topics, and my opinion is to focus on learning and taking action on the climate subject you feel the most passionaite about. The average of all of my reviews landed at just above 3 stars. Hope this is helpful.
**Essay 1** - 1/5 Not a unique story, uneventful and not the best intro essay (actually had to take a break)
**Essay 2** - 5/5 informative and warmly narrated
**The big picture** - 5/5
**Indigenous people and Mother Earth** 4/5 - engaging narration and provides an insightful look into the needed cohesion between indigenous people and the modern world. However, call to actions are bit intangible outside of “consult with native peoples.”
**A handful of dust** 5/5 - Fascinating look into the futile efforts of humanity attempting to control natural climate to reverse the damage done by generations past. A gloss over of the fragility of climate of Mother Gia.
**November** - 4/5 What is emergent strategy - what is a single human’s role in mankind’s emergent strategy against climate change? Reminded me of sci fi “one-mind” stories
**On fire**- 2/5 Generic summary of the climate crisis with a focus on the youth climate change calls to action…. So yes, of course Greta is mentioned here.
**Litigating in a time of crisis** - 3/5 scrappy climate fighters can make a big change (in court if scrappy = legally trained lawyer)
**Beyond Coal** - 5/5 A comprehensive covering of the progress we have made in removing coal plants and the work that still needs to be accomplished.
**Collards are just as good as kale** - 1/5 Not actually about collard greens vs kale. About black farming and environmental justice in the American south. A bit too generic to be interesting. Highlights a few black women leaders in climate action.
**the politics of policy** - 4/5 There was an opportunity to make this an woven story of Detroit communities impacted by toxicity in the air and climate policy…. But it leaned too heavily on the latter. Lightly touches on the blue new deal.
**A green new deal for all of us** - 4/5 Policy is power and policy needs to include underprivileged people.
**Truth be told** - 5/5 Climate change from the perspective of a journalist who tried writing neutrally from both a liberal and conservative media source. Interesting to see American’s apathetic response towards climate writing no matter what political lens it was coming from
**Heaven or high water** -5/5 best in the book, expertly narrated and an engaging story (not a lecture like some of the others)
**Buildings designed for life** - 5/5 Yes to the message here! Especially US architecture… our giant rectangular and unchallenged skyscrapers are not truly challenging to design or engineering… let’s make our buildings and cities green.
**Catalytic Capital** - 4/5 Sure, can get on the bandwagon of this messaging… capitalism can forge the path to the green economy. But at its very core, if the greenhouse economy continues making rich people richer faster than the Greene coming can…. Than we are all screwed. I’ve been trying to get my parents (upper middle class) to buy an electric vehicle for years.
**Mending the Landscape** 2/5 - Like reading a PowerPoint presentation on landscape design. Also a little self-praising.
**At the intersections** 2/5 repetitive
**Under the Weather** - 3/5 A but depressing…
**Adaptive mind** - 1/5 Easy to drone this one out… not engaging and preachy.
**A field guide for transformation** 3/5 - Are any CEO’s reading this book?? If not, you can probably stop because it only matters if a few people decide they don’t want their children living in a burning planet.
**Like the Monarch** 3/5 the US needs Latino (immigrant) disaster recovery to clean up our own climate messes. Also explores how climate change is impacting how animals and humans immigrate around the world.
**community is our best chance** - 1/5 A personal story that doesn’t quite expand to the bigger picture

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

An Epic

Revisado: 10-14-21

Every year I attempt to read an “epic,” last year was “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William Shirer, and this year was “The Crusades.” The story and characters certainly performed at epic standards, and the narration steadily guided me through 25+ hours of Thomas Asbridge’s in depth historical summary of the crusades. Covering views from both sides (invaders and invadees), and even views from both sides from throughout history (as the perception of the crusading events fluctuated greatly with time), the novel captures a comprehensive look at these unique calls to arms / calls to defend a “holy land.”

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Heartwarming Adventures

Revisado: 07-29-21

Top quality narration will keep you engaged through the entire length of the book. The author has a skill for engaging the reader in the smallest details of the Count’s daily life in the hotel. Truly enjoyed this read.

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Hard to follow narrative

Revisado: 07-25-21

My review is based upon to storytelling capabilities of the author (not how he talks, but the actual flow and narrative of the novel). I feel the chronology of events is not expertly stitched together, and the characters in the beginning of the novel are difficult to follow and quickly forgotten as we progress through time in “Fantasy Land.” The second half of the novel was easier to keep up with simply because I recognized more players.

Pay attention or you will quickly lose track of the story (which is one worth reading).

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A Must Read

Revisado: 04-23-21

Educational and thrilling, this book roots you in the time and place of the 1893 World Fair and the horrors that haunted the city at that time. Extremely well read, I looked forward to my nightly listen everyday.

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Great retelling

Revisado: 03-28-21

An engaging retelling of Greek mythology you can’t pass up. There is something traditional about listening to the stories being told, which is how they must have original been shared so many years ago.

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Save your time

Revisado: 03-06-21

Just another generic self motivation self help book touting strategies for self improvement you have heard a million times (probably from a middle school inspirational speaker). The narration is over enthusiastic and joyless.

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Excellent Narration

Revisado: 02-21-21

I’ve been wanting to read The Jungle for a few years now, as it was not part of my literary requirements throughout my middle and high school education. I’ve spent many hours, days at this point, with Grover Gardner narrating classic after classic. He does it again and leaves nothing to be desired in the reading of the The Jungle.

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Great story

Revisado: 01-25-21

The story of the 1996 Everest expedition was very informative and sad. Lots of details and explanations. Would night recommend.

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