Joseph's Updates en-US Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:54:03 -0700 60 Joseph's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Rating867942232 Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:54:03 -0700 <![CDATA[Joseph liked a review]]> /
³Ò²¹±ôá±è²¹²µ´Ç²õ by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
"A snide and candid story about humans and their unfortunately large brains.

The main story line takes place in Ecuador in 1986 where it follows what will be a small group of people who intended to climb aboard the Bahía de Darwin for "the nature cruise of the century" to the Galapagos islands. The original nature cruise plans are thwarted by war. Yada, yada, yada, things are much different a million years later.

The premise of the book is imaginative, and the storytelling form was quite novel (pardon the pun). The main story line that takes place over just a day or so crawls along at a snail's pace. It felt like 70% percent of the book is backstory about each new character as they are introduced. Another 25% of the book is foreshadowing about the following million years. As the book goes on, you even realize that the narrator is also a character with his own back story. I found Vonnegut's way of telling this story entertaining enough, but I also wondered the whole time if I would eventually grow tired of it. I didn't, but I may have came close.

Ultimately this books is a satire mainly about the absurdity of the human condition as it currently stands. Our large brains, which we have long assumed to be a good thing, may not be well suited for survival, especially on the Galapagos islands.

I think Vonnegut as a writer is great. He makes me proud to be from Indiana, mostly because he was so proud of being from Indiana. This book, however, I found to be merely good.
I recommend this book if you already like Vonnegut and want to read more. If you haven't read much Vonnegut yet, there are better books to start with. "
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Review7656368486 Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:54:03 -0700 <![CDATA[Joseph added 'Galapagos']]> /review/show/7656368486 Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Joseph gave 2 stars to Galapagos (Paperback) by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
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Review7576421359 Sat, 17 May 2025 08:43:25 -0700 <![CDATA[Joseph added 'Report from the Interior']]> /review/show/7576421359 Report from the Interior by Paul Auster Joseph gave 2 stars to Report from the Interior (Hardcover) by Paul Auster
Enjoyed the child’s eye second person memoir, really enjoyed his descriptions of films that affected him as a child; couldn’t stomach to finish the third act where he strings together some old letters.

I understand the appeal of having something done with all of those old papers; I understand him not having a clear memory and relying on those letters and I understand that perhaps he published the letters aware of how pretentious and obnoxious his young adult writing was but making us read it with out a balanced narrator to step in just made it yuck.

DNF :( ]]>
Review7523410361 Sun, 27 Apr 2025 11:46:53 -0700 <![CDATA[Joseph added 'The Time Machine']]> /review/show/7523410361 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells Joseph gave 3 stars to The Time Machine (Paperback) by H.G. Wells
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Review7446029266 Sat, 29 Mar 2025 17:43:13 -0700 <![CDATA[Joseph added 'How to Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics']]> /review/show/7446029266 How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan Joseph gave 4 stars to How to Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics (Hardcover) by Michael Pollan
Micheal Pollan wrote about one of the most fascinating topics I believe exists and potentially one of the most important -psychedelics- and to the best of his ability he tries to write about them objectively which most voices on the subject don’t even try. How can one be objective when tossed into infinity?

As a result it has been difficult to find the line between neuroscience and spirituality. Pollan does his best to tow this line, to unite the contradictions and to demystify the abstract world while pushing science out of materialist comfort zones.

If you’re looking for what most people interested in psychedelics are which is weeeeiird and zany out of this world ravings, this isn’t the book for you (don’t worry there’s plenty of material out there, Terrence McKenna should have more than enough) If, however you want a relatively simple non-fiction read that talks about the history, the culture, the science, and the implications of some drugs then check it out! ]]>
Review7407081694 Sat, 15 Mar 2025 23:27:38 -0700 <![CDATA[Joseph added 'As I Lay Dying']]> /review/show/7407081694 As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner Joseph gave 4 stars to As I Lay Dying (Paperback) by William Faulkner
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Review7401510968 Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:49:42 -0700 <![CDATA[Joseph added 'Trip: Psychedelics, Alienation, and Change']]> /review/show/7401510968 Trip by Tao Lin Joseph gave 4 stars to Trip: Psychedelics, Alienation, and Change (Paperback) by Tao Lin
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UserChallenge62795588 Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:48:20 -0700 <![CDATA[ Joseph has created a challenge to read 30 books in 2025. ]]> /user/show/132384954-joseph 11627
Joseph has read 3 books toward their goal of 30 books.
 
Create your own 2025 Reading Challenge » ]]>
Rating818488974 Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:47:30 -0800 <![CDATA[Joseph liked a review]]> /
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
"Interesting, perfect for all the thinking about running I’ve been doing, however hate the moments of Murakami talking about young women"
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Review7255332393 Sat, 25 Jan 2025 09:36:47 -0800 <![CDATA[Joseph added 'Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals']]> /review/show/7255332393 Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman Joseph gave 4 stars to Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (Hardcover) by Oliver Burkeman
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