Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Self-help, minimal woo

Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol by Ruby Warrington

by Leave a Comment

Overall I loved this book, especially because I want Ruby Warrington to read me everything. This takes a look at sobriety through the lenses of wellness, marketing/capitalism, culture, and social justice — an approach I found super-accessible and non-judgemental. There are a few spots that veer into the woo too much for my liking, but it is nonetheless a very solid manifesto for non-absolutist sobriety. Of special note was one of the later chapters when Warrington probes how sobriety might fit into social justice.  It […]

Knives out

Under the Knife: A History of Surgery in 28 Remarkable Operations by Arnold Van De Laar

by 1 Comment

I would imagine it is difficult to write a book on any topic you’re an expert in; making something you’re so well versed in accessible to the average reader while having something new to say seems like a difficult needle to thread.  Van de Laar rises to the challenge; Under the Knife skillfully discusses famous surgical cases that lead to innovations in the field along with sidebars about health – surgical instruments, describing positions medically – to get the layman up to speed. However, the […]

Clinically proven? Maybe not just for me

The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness by Mark Williams

by Leave a Comment

I am not sure how to review The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness by Mark Williams along with John Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal and Jon Kabat-Zinn. I probably should back up and start with, I have not finished this book and I am assuming I might not finish it. I could not get past the fact that the introduction section is long. As well as repetitive and even a bit condescending at times. Had I started this book at the beginning […]

Please Mary, may I have some more?

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach

by Leave a Comment

Gulp is my second Mary Roach book (I’d previously read and loved Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers) and is a thoroughly entertaining trip through our digestive systems. I do have digestive issues of my own, which no doubt heightened the appeal of this book to me, but as it’s so interesting and entertainingly written, I expect those whose stomachs don’t kick off regularly will also find something to enjoy. Gulp takes you through the whole process – from smell (which actually provides us […]

You Can’t Hate Yourself Into Health

The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy by Caroline Dooner

by Leave a Comment

Earlier this year I’ve reviewed a book about disordered eating and mentioned that eating disorders were common in my profession. After reading that book, I did what any smart person does; I read the comments on the internet! Really! There are some useful subreddits about disordered eating and intuitive eating, and many of those mentioned actor/creative Caroline Dooner’s The F*ck It Diet. I honestly dismissed the book because of its trendy use of f*ck in the title. It felt like it was screaming, “This isn’t your parents’ […]

“I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this.”

Brainstorm by Suzanne O'Sullivan

by Leave a Comment

I’ve made reference to this phenomenon several times, but there are artists and art I love so much I’ll love knockoff versions of their work too. As a Radiohead fan, I’ll listen to their non-union UK equivalents on the regular (looking your way, Coldplay and Travis). I’ve never met an iteration of Groundhog Day I didn’t love; guess which episode of Supernatural was my favorite. I really liked Brian Azzarello’s run on Wonder Woman even if he owes Neil Gaiman royalties for that style. And […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo