Can’t Even, How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation
Written by Anne Helen Petersen
Born in 1980, I am what’s referred to as a “geriatric millennial”. On one hand, it was the perfect time to grow up; my childhood was highlighted by an independence that seems lacking with today’s helicopter parenting and it was also one of the greatest eras for toys. In addition, I got to live my teen years without the pressures of social media. On the flip side though, as an adult I will never be able to pay off my mortgage on one income in less than a decade (like my father did); degrees mean nothing in terms of building a stable, fairly compensated career; obtaining a pension can be as elusive as winning the lottery; and, branding your person is normalized and often expected. Human beings are not commodities though. My generation’s existence is punctuated by turbulent economic conditions that only seek to benefit the already affluent and a lifestyle increasingly defined by burnout. This book does a great job of explaining the reasons as to why we’ve arrived at this point. While conditions seem unyielding, the book did make me consider how much I choose to participate.
Favorite line: “Faced with the prospect of working themselves into the ground on their own — and excelling — or working themselves into the ground while also doing all the work for the family as their careers are stymied at every turn, it’s no wonder that so many Japanese women are opting out: of marriage, of motherhood, or the idea that womanhood requires either.”
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
Written by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt
We drive down a city’s streets. We walk in the shadows of her skyscrapers and tree canopy. But do we notice all of the small, often hidden, details of the places we live and visit? The 99% Invisible City explores these minute curiosities. The book was interesting but could be improved with photography rather than stylistic illustrations.
Favourite line: “Animals are unlikely to see a return of the world as it was before cities, highways, and dams anytime soon, but for their part humans cannot just plow ahead with development and expect wildlife to cope. In some cases, the best approach may be simply for humans to get out of the way, but people need to understand that cities and nature are all part of the same ecosystem and that proactive strategies will be needed to help various species survive in a human-centric world.”
Alone on the Wall
Written by Alex Honnold with David Roberts
Alex is an American rock climber famous for his free-solo climbs, a form of rock climbing without any safety apparatus such as ropes, harnesses or other protective equipment. His most famous ascent was at El Capitan at Yosemite National Park which was filmed for the award-winning documentary ‘Free Solo’. Alex is an interesting figure with unparalleled athletic prowess but this book barely digs into his motivations. It’s more technical than inspirational. I couldn’t finish it and recommend the doc instead.
Pixar Storytelling
Written by Dean Movshovitz
A very slim book that doesn’t really aid with or inspire effective storytelling. There are much better books on writing to improve your craft.
On the Road
Written by Jack Kerouac
I thought ‘On The Road’ would inspire a renewed sense of wanderlust for when this pandemic ends … instead, it reminded me of the worth of my time and to use it on pursuits of value. This book, about the exploits of a group of counterculture pseudo-intellectuals traveling America in the forties, is considered a classic by some. But its stream of consciousness writing is terrible to navigate and most of the narrative presented needs to remain in the past (or in a time capsule deep, deep, underground). The prose here is nothing to celebrate or romanticize.