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decaf Jess



★★★★

How to Survive in Ancient Rome by L.J. Trafford 

out December 30, 2020
ISBN: 9781526757869

A spritely hop through deep and heavy history of ancient Rome, touching on several different topics with a lightness that will irritate the hardcore history crowd and delight casual readers. As someone with a light-to-moderate interest in ancient Rome (as in, I'll watch a documentary, but it's unlikely I'll read a book larger than this) it was just enough to keep me entertained and give me a handful of fun facts to spout off when there's a lull in conversation.

(Like, did you know ancient Romans washed their clothes in pee? Fun.)

Also, I laughed out loud many times.

Recommended for people who like to breeze through some miscellaneous nonfiction now and then.

arc received from the publisher for review
★★★★

A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears) by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling

out September 15, 2020
ISBN: 9781541788510

There were several instances while reading this that I laughed out loud and had to tell my husband about it. There were also several instances where I skimmed pages at a time because I was growing disinterested.

Packed full of ursine-pun-laced schadenfreude, this reads like a cross between a journal article and a standup act. It tells the story of the growth and (inevitable) dissolution of a libertarian settlement in New Hampshire. To put it simply and use a metaphor from Parks and Recreation -- the town would have worked if everyone who showed up was a Ron Swanson...



...but instead, they got a lot of Jean-Ralphios. (And hippies and sex offenders.)



In sum: living in a government-free utopia sounds great until you realize that no one is filling potholes, repairing bridges, putting out house fires, or controlling the surprisingly out-of-control bear population.

A fun read that could've benefited from more aggressive editing. Still recommended.


arc received from the publisher for review
★★★★★

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

out June 23, 2020
ISBN: 9781631495731

Instead of venerating a first century Palestinian who said things like "Blessed are the meek/merciful/peacemakers," American evangelicalism has adopted as its ideal the swaggering, aggressive, thrice-married John Wayne, the author argues.

At the center of the author's argument is the idea that American evangelicalism has become indelibly tainted by a machismo toxic masculinity that is harmful to women and men alike and has distorted the Gospel to fit its narrative of strongman (white) dominance. Dominance, aggression, and violence are considered something holy and God-given rather than sinful temptations to be wrestled with, allowing fertile ground for other sins to thrive, such as abuse, hubris, and corruption. The book eloquently argues this point by walking through a history of these strongmen and the way they have channeled or manipulated well-meaning believers into providing them outsized resources to enrich themselves and their friends and grab power for themselves.

It reads easily and quickly and is clearly well researched and sourced. Recommended for readers who want to get a better understanding of why the religious right rallies around its favorite issues but seems much less interested in the issues that Black churches and progressive Christians are interested in like racial justice, de-escalation of war, or alleviating poverty. Also recommended for people from evangelical backgrounds (positive or negative) who are trying to understand the differences between cultural evangelicalism and the actual teachings of Jesus Christ.

arc received from the publisher for review
★★★★★

Sugar Detox in 10 Days: 100+ Recipes to Help Eliminate Sugar Cravings by Pam Rocca
out May 5, 2020
ISBN: 9781646117529
Paperback: $15.29 / Kindle: $6.99

I let this book sit for a while before looking at it because I thought it was going to be some punitive kale-based diet, and the last thing I wanted to do in the middle of a pandemic was punish myself. However, the sun is out today, I'm feeling good, and I figured it was time to look at it.

It is actually a helpful cookbook of tasty-looking sugar-free recipes designed to help you cut down on processed sugars. I skipped the intro (does anyone read the beginning of cookbooks or are all authors just shouting into the void there?) and went straight to the recipes and I am not disappointed!

I already have most of these ingredients, and it looks awesome. It has earned a spot on my bookshelf.

Highly recommended for folks who like food but wish they ate less sugary garbage.


★★★★★

One-Pot Vegan Cookbook: 125 Recipes for Your Dutch Oven, Sheet Pan, Electric Pressure Cooker, and More by Gunjan Dudani
out May 19, 2020
ISBN: 978-1646116560
Paperback: $15.29 / Kindle: $6.99 / Free on Kindle Unlimited

This vegan cookbook seems like it was written by a real human with a family and a job.

I read a lot of vegan cookbooks. I'm not vegan, but I try to cook with less meat than I used to. Often in vegan cookbooks, recipes call for bizarre, expensive ingredients you have to special order online, and the food tends to be unfilling and unsatisfying and the sort of thing you suffer through as penance while the rest of your family eats a box of mac and cheese.

Not so, here! These recipes seem flavorful and savory, the kind of thing a family will happily sit down to eat together. I plan on trying some of these soon, and will add it to my personal collection.


★★★★★

Simple Superfood Soups by Pamela Ellgen
out April 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1646114702
Paperback: $8.98/ Kindle: $0.99 

I appreciate when a cookbook teaches me some things!

Excellent information for creating broths and savory soups, and the kind of recipes that are easily tweaked to fit what you have in the kitchen. I'm sure to get a lot of mileage out of this one.

These cookbooks were received free from Rockridge Press to review. If I didn't like them, you wouldn't be hearing about them.
★★★★★

Hashimoto's Diet for the Newly Diagnosed: A 21-Day Elimination Diet Meal Plan and Cookbook by Daphne Olivier

out May 26, 2020
ISBN: 978-1646117505
Paperback: $16.99 / Kindle: $9.99 / Free on Kindle Unlimited

I have Hashimoto's Disease, and I can attest that your body experiences a lot of capricious highs and lows. (Well, not really highs -- more like normals and lows.) Your diet can affect this, and when I eat a lot of junk, I feel like absolute garbage -- exhaustion, brain fog, body aches, depression, anxious thoughts.

This book is good for those newly diagnosed who are trying to figure out which foods make them feel like garbage the most so that you can avoid them. It has easy recipes with ingredients you can find at the store, and a helpful guide to when to make them and when to eat them. Elimination diets can seem intense. It's a huge list of items you can't eat, and it can feel like the only thing you're allowed to eat that won't make you feel bad is blueberries and cauliflower.

These guides make it more manageable, less intimidating, and the fact that the author is a real medical professional helps.

Hang in there, Hashimoto's folks. Once you figure out your triggers, you can cut down on them. (I still eat a bit of breads/tortillas, dairy products, the occasional fast food. Learn how much you can handle.)

arc received from the publisher for review

★★★★★

Easy Thyroid Diet Plan: A 28-Day Meal Plan and 75 Recipes for Symptom Relief by Emily Kyle

ISBN: 978-1646116652
Paperback: $12.49 / Kindle: $9.99 / Free on Kindle Unlimited

I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK.

I have Hashimoto's Disease and I basically feel like crap anytime I eat something that tastes good, so I am very excited to try these out. They look like real food and it's written by a dietitian so you know it's legit. Stew, meatballs, jerky, crackers... yes please.

Thank you, world.

arc received from the publisher for review
Every Drop of Blood: Hatred and Healing at Abraham Lincoln's Second Inauguration
★★★★★

Every Drop of Blood: Hatred and Healing at Abraham Lincoln's Second Inauguration by Edward Achorn

An immersive look at the world surrounding President Lincoln's second inauguration March 4th, 1865. As someone who has read several books about Lincoln's presidency, I was pleasantly surprised to learn some new things, and topics are covered with a mix of solemnity and humor.

Also, I laughed out loud at the chapter discussing how Vice President Johnson showed up at the inauguration incredibly drunk and launched into an hour-long diatribe, horrifying Republicans and thrilling Democrats.

arc received from the publisher
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