Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

You’ll Be Examining More Than Just the Chicken and the Egg Here

From Darwin to Derrida: Selfish Genes, Social Selves and the Meanings of Life by David Haig

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David Haig’s From Darwin to Derrida: Selfish Genes, Social Selves and the Meanings of Life is probably not one of the most accessible books that I could close the year on—which is why I decided to make it my second last and not the last review of the year.  David Haig is an Australian biologist and current George Putnam Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. I first came across his work when reading up about genomic imprinting and maternal-fetal conflict. (These subjects are […]

Taking women’s healthcare seriously

Grown Woman Talk by Sharon Malone

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I’ve read Michelle Obama’s books, but it’s usually Barack Obama’s book recommendations that I pay attention to every year. However, I noticed Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy (2024) by Sharon Malone had a glowing recommendation from Michelle Obama. Now that I’m forty-five years old, I’ve become a little more aware of my health and the upcoming challenges that may occur with perimenopause and menopause. I’d rather not get my all of my health information from Instagram, so I thought this book might […]

Psychopaths need love, too

Sociopath by Patric Gagne

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Once again, I was looking for an audiobook to read when I found Sociopath: A Memoir (2024) by Patric Gagne. It sounded unique and interesting, so I put it on hold at my library. Patric Gagne knew she was different from a very young age. She says that no matter how hard she tried to fit in, her classmates could sense that there was something “off” about her. Patric’s mother also sometimes found her difficult to figure out. When Patric’s beloved pet ferret died, her mom was […]

Your past is not an excuse…but it is an explanation

What Happened to You? by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

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I needed another audiobook to listen to on my way to work, and I didn’t have anything in mind. I started browsing my library app to see what was available, and I found What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (2021) by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry. The title is pretty self explanatory, and Oprah Winfrey needs no introduction. Dr. Bruce Perry is a brain and trauma expert. In what feels like a discussion or interview (on the Audiobook, at least) the two […]

As I told the yoga people (derogatory), you can’t meditate your way to new shingles.

Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday

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This was a delightful listen. Jenny Holiday wrote a wonderful romance, and Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton did a great job of bringing it to life. We met Gretchen as Rory’s boss and best friend in Canadian Boyfriend, but Into the Woods works perfectly well as a standalone. Gretchen and Teddy each end up in the woods, literally and figuratively, while putting a pause on their respective lives. Gretchen wants to avoid a midlife crisis, so she’s bought a building and plans to expand her […]

Even rich kids can have a hard time

A Very Private School by Charles Spencer

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An article popped up on my phone about a memoir by “Princess Diana’s brother” about his abusive boarding school days, and I was intrigued. Almost immediately, I put a hold on the Audiobook of A Very Private School (2024) by Charles Spencer. Spencer reads his memoir on the Audiobook, and at first I was a little distracted by his super posh accent. I couldn’t help but imagine what a snob he was. And later in the book when he mentions being the Queen’s godson and having his […]



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