Book Reviews

When Breath Becomes Air
Written by Paul Kalanithi

Anyone reading this journal would be able to ascertain that my life forever changed in 2014. Since then, I've been on a quest, often hopeless, in trying to understand and come to terms with my father's unexpected death from esophageal cancer. It is not easy watching a loved one suffer, physically and emotionally, as the toll of their fate approaches. But I was but a bystander. The inner conflict and fear the patient feels is an altogether different realm of reality, one that is rarely documented in such raw, exquisite form. This autobiography details that struggle as author Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon, details his life pre- and post-cancer diagnosis. This is definitely not an easy read – I was teary throughout most of it, the weight of its words weighing on me for days – but certainly a life-changing one. 

Favourite line: the last paragraph of this book sits profoundly in my mind and heart as a reminder that the moments in between matter more than we can ever fully comprehend. 

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I Hate To Leave This Beautiful Place
Written by Howard Norman

The title of this book is what originally drew me in; it references an Inuit story the author transcribed years previous about a man who is turned into a goose and forced to fly south, leaving the home and family he loves behind. But its five chapters are also a broader examination on how life doesn't travel from point A to point B, but rather contain a whole world of impudent detours, unbridled perplexities, degrading sorrows, and exacting joys that can befall a person in a single season, not to mention a lifetime. 

Favourite line: "And the story contains, with the philosophical generosity characteristic of Inuit spoken literature, and without necessarily spelling it out, a meditation on what the world requires of and imposes on an individual attempting to live a dignified existence, and how that person comes to knowledge of him- or hersel through indelible experience."

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Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?
Written by Timothy Caulfield

The short answer is yes. This book explores a variety of modern day beauty and health myths, and relates them back to the influence celebrity culture has on society. From the illusion of celebrity authority to the illusion that anyone can be a celebrity, everything is covered. I found it interesting that the book, covering issues and concerns typically relating to the female gender, was written by a man.  

Favourite line: "The off the cuff comment from Gwyneth that she has the occasional smoke because the indulgence helps her to look vibrant ... is so ludicrous (and, from a public health perspective, so harmful) that it is hard not to be a bit angry with the actor, particularly as she has set herself up as the paragon of healthy living."

Book Reviews

Year of Yes
Written by Shonda Rhimes

After reading this book, I feel that Shonda Rhimes and I could be best friends. We are similar in a number of ways: type A, obsessive, workaholic, control freaks who value independence and recognition for our achievements. We also share similar outlook in regards to topics like patriarchy and marriage ("[It] is a financial partnership. Marriage has nothing to do with love. Love is a choice we make every day."). And, over the course of a year, after having an epiphany, both of us decided to refocus and walk a different path. For Shonda, the revelation came after someone commented on how she never said yes to anything, choosing instead to burrow herself in her career while her personal affairs collected dust. This book details how the simple act of opening one's self up to possibility has an echo effect on the universe that can reverberate for a lifetime. 

'Year of Yes' is a well-written, highly engaging piece that I recommend. 

Favourite line: "I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart. I am talented. I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I work really, really hard. Don't call me lucky. Call me a badass."

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Here
Written and illustrated by Richard McGuire

'Here' is a graphic novel with a truly original, genius concept: its pages tell the story of a corner of a room and of the events that have occurred in that space over the course of hundreds of thousands of years. It's truly fascinating and afterwards I couldn't help but wonder about the narrative of life that has occurred in my own periphery. 

Book Reviews

M Train
Written by Patti Smith

I bought this book after hearing it was about loss and consolation. The book does touch on these subjects in a somewhat non-linear way, leading the reader through a narrative that, at times, felt like a dreamscape of random sequences. While it may not have been as direct as I had hoped, 'M Train' did evoke the inescapable desire to wander (physically and mentally) that is felt after the death of a loved one. From a purely aesthetic point of view, I loved the paper used in the book and appreciated the design notes at the back pertaining to its construction. Nothing can replicate the tactile quality of a greatly crafted piece. 

Favourite line: "It's not so easy writing about nothing."

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H is for Hawk
Written by Helen Macdonald

This book is also about loss but the subject is secondary to an appreciation of nature and all its wild majesty explored through the relationship between author and 'Mabel', a hawk she aims to tame through the art of falconry. Like 'M Train', I felt the narrative of this book was dense on detail and nuance to the point where it detracted from the content. I am in the minority though; this book was on numerous "best of" lists for the annum 2015. 

Favorite line: "Memory and love and magic. What happened over the years of my expeditions as a child was a slow transformation of my landscape over time into what naturalists call a local patch, glowing with memory and meaning."

November Book Recommendations

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Written by Elizabeth Gilbert

I've reached a point in life and career where my confidence and trust in instinct guides everything I do. Experience sharpens the blade. It has taken many (many) years of failure and self-doubt to reach this stage of nirvana though. I wish I had taken the time to read a book like this when I was first starting out and constantly comparing myself to others; Elizabeth Gilbert's advice to create just for the sake of self purpose (not wealth, prestige or any other ego-stroking distraction) is truly what it's all about. The only part of this book I didn't like was when the author talked about creative pursuits not mattering as much as, say, being a health care provider or accountant. I argue: art, whether through written word, imagery or song, has the ability to educate, influence and touch the soul in a way that is incomparable … and invaluable to life. 

Favorite line: "Most of all, though, he asked his students to be brave. Without Bravery, he instructed, they would never be able to realize the vaulting scope of their own capacities. Without bravery, they would never know the world as richly as it longs to be known. Without bravery, their lives would remain small – far smaller than they probably wanted their lives to be."

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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Written by Mindy Kaling

Whether describing embarrassing incidents from her childhood, sharing insight gained after suffering self-esteem issues during adolescence, or writing about her curious experiences post-achieving fame and success, Mindy Kaling speaks with a relatable, engaging voice that I felt was somewhat more sophisticated than some of her peers. The book is part memoir, part sharing of knowledge gained through living an exceptional life that all started with simply believing in one's self and working hard to actualize ambition. 

Favourite line: "Getting professionally beautified was all that I dreamed about doing when I was an asexual-looking little kid. That's because my parents dressed both my brother and me according to roughly exactly the same aesthetic: Bert from Ernie and Bert."

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Yes, Please
Written by Amy Poehler

A friend of mine recommended this book, describing it as a memoir by a strong, funny female that I would probably appreciate. I admit to being somewhat indifferent to Amy Poehler and most SNL alumni, skimming over a portion of the copy relating specifically to this and her early improv days. However, her advice on achieving and maintaining success was entertaining and relevant to any profession. Success is never about luck, it's about extremely hard work, and it's refreshing to hear someone be honest about that.  

Favorite line: "Decide what your currency is early. Let go of what you will never have."

July Book Recommendations:

Modern Romance
Written by Aziz Ansari

I should have read this book before reading 'Spinster', as they unintentionally combine to form cause-and-effect in regards to why people choose to remain single. 'Modern Romance' discusses the unique challenges of singledom in the twenty-first century from meeting people online to the psychological effects of communicating via text and how the quest for our soul mates has led to a dysfunctional belief that passionate love is better than companionate love. My favourite part of the book examined the culture of romance in three distinct regions: France, Argentina and Japan, which appears to be going through a love crisis that even the government is taking action on. 

Favorite line: the section on "Hey" texts, as it's about time someone talks about how annoying and impersonal they are. 

To purchase this book, click here. 

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Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
Written by Barbara Demick

Of all the books I've read and recommended on the topic of the totalitarian regime of North Korea, this is by-far the best. I would even state it's one of the best books I've ever read on any subject matter. The engrossing narrative that Barbara Demick crafts focuses less on politics and more on first-person perspective (obtained through interviews with numerous defectors) on what it is actually like to live in the hermit kingdom completely cut off from the rest of the world. From the innocence of falling in love with someone from another class to the shocking survival methods during the arduous march and beyond, this is an eye-opening, thought-provoking and ultimately tragic tale of evil allowed to reign in the 21st century. 

Favorite line: "The night sky in North Korea is a sight to behold. It might be the most brilliant in Northeast Asia, the only place spared the coal dust, Gobi desert sand, and carbon monoxide choking the rest of the continent. In the old days, North Korean factories contributed their share to the cloud cover, but no longer. No artificial lighting competes with the intensity of the stars etched into the sky."

To purchase this book, click here. 

June Book Recommendations:

Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own
Written by Kate Bolick

A woman never really realizes her worth in society until she reaches her thirties. It seems ridiculous in this day and age, but I can attest that if one is not paired up or producing children by this time, all other achievements reached in life are secondary. So many of our pop culture tropes of the unmarried female are, sadly, steeped in realities that harken back to bygone times. 'Spinster' delves into this history, exploring the lives of several inspirational women that went against the grain while also offering commentary on what it's like being a single woman in the 21st century. It made me feel better about choosing a life devoted to myself (and my dog, Monty). 

Favourite line: "I will send you a note later about the specific difference between those writers who possess the natural confidence that is their birthright, and those fewer writers who are driven by the unnatural courage that comes from no alternative. It is something like this – some walk on a tightrope, or continue to walk, even after they find out is it not there."

To purchase this book, click here. 

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India Becoming
Written by Akash Kapur

It's an exciting time in world history. As new economies take flight and conventional world influence is transitioning from being traditionally western to eastern-based, ripples of metamorphosis are extending across the globe. India is such a country experiencing the revolution first-hand; this book paints an intriguing portrait of how the rapid, all-encompassing change is affecting the average citizen (for better or worse) from challenging the caste system to modernizing romance to the pressures of finding and keeping quality employment. An excellent, informative read. 

Favourite line: ""This really sums up the change in modern India," he said. "Everyone has a great sense of what the world owes them, not what they owe the world."

To purchase this book, click here. 

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Citi 60 Tokyo: 60 Local Creatives Bring You The Best of the City

I picked this book up awhile ago in preparation for my upcoming trip to Japan (one week away!!!). I normally get DK but just couldn't resist this: TOKYO + DESIGN & ART & ARCHITECTURE = a travel guidebook that feels like it was made just for me. The information presented on the city is quite extensive with lots of compelling photography and QR codes that link to further digital content. Design details are impressive such as paper selection and a cover wrap that folds out into a beautifully illustrated map of the the world's biggest city. Let's go! 

Favorite line: I like everything about it and now want to hunt down versions of other cities I appreciate. 

To purchase this book, click here. 

May Book Recommendations:

WHO'S YOUR CITY: How the creative economy is making where to live the most important decision of your life
Written by Richard Florida

Traveling to Seoul made me contemplate my life. I definitely feel at home in the megalopolises of the world; their energy and palpable ambition is contagious. As I start to consider reinventing myself, the question that looms over my head is "where"? The possibilities are endless … but which city/region would make a perfect match for my personality, expectations and career?

It was by chance (perhaps fate) that I came across this book in Chapters Indigo and it helped answer all of those questions. Richard Florida writes about how choosing the place we live is the single most important decision we make in life, profoundly impacting our career paths, social networks, family and lifestyle choices, wealth, and overall happiness. The book is a great resource to understanding trends in globalization, civic economics and demography, and how the theory of where we live doesn't matter simply isn't true; today it matters more than anything. Upon completion and taking a quiz on whosyourcity.com, I realize that Vancouver and Montreal are probably my urban soul mates. Food for thought for those who seek more out of life and the places they reside. 

Favourite line: "The fact that many musician friends who had successful careers in Austin have since moved to NYC or L.A. is not some random coincidence; those are the places to be if you really want to excel. It's not easy. On the contrary, there you're competing with the professionals. But that's just it. The people I know who moved there were up for that challenge. Austin was no longer a challenging place for them, so they moved to places where they were forced to rise to the occasion."

To purchase this book, click here. 

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CULTURE CRASH: The Killing of the Creative Class
Written by Scott Timberg

Whereby Richard Florida's tome talked about the soft power influence that creative-types impart and why it matters to a city or region, this book counters it with an analysis on how societal shifts have made it nearly impossible for those same people to reasonably earn a living. From designers and writers to musicians and architects, the trend towards devaluing the work of right-brained professionals shows no sign of abating. The author argues the consequences of "Fiverr" culture and how skilled artistry in all forms should be accessible (and thus, hopefully, appreciated) by all rather than a luxury to few. 

Favorite line: "But food is not art. Both begin by addressing the senses, but that is where food stops. A good risotto is a fine thing, but it isn't going to give you insight into other people, allow you to see the world in a new way, or force you to take inventory of your soul."

To purchase this book, click here. 

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RED NOTICE: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice
Written by Bill Browder

My fascination with modern Russia shows no sign of fading. Red Notice is a thoroughly engrossing tale about the economic opportunity that presented itself after the fall of the Soviet Union, the era of oligarch rule in the years immediately after, and the completely lawless, inhospitable and demoralizing current state of affairs as led by President Vladimir Putin. After the calculated theft of more than $230 million in taxes by Russian government officials is uncovered and exposed (amongst other crimes), things really start to get terrifying including the torture and murder of a lawyer attempting to stand up for his country and the suspicious death of another individual that dared speak out. With the passing of a U.S. bipartisan bill in 2012 targeting those responsible, the book ends on a somewhat positive note although it's not much consolation when one considers everything that has happened since. 

Click here for more background on this story. 

Favorite line: "Russian stories don't have happy endings. Russians are familiar with hardship, suffering, and despair – not with success and certainly not with justice. Not surprisingly, this has engendered in many Russians a deep-seated fatalism that stipulates that the world is bad, it will always be bad, and any attempt to change things is doomed." 

To purchase this book, click here. 

April Book Recommendations:

WITHOUT YOU, THERE IS NO US: My Time With the Sons of North Korea's Elite
Written by Suki Kim

Not a lot is known about the mysterious land of North Korea. The few visitors/tourists that travel to the hermit kingdom get a very regimented, limited frame of reference, one that is pre-approved and paints the nation and its dictatorial leadership in the most flattering light. Author Suki Kim spent six months there under the guise of being a Christian English teacher employed at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), academic home of North Korea's young elite. In this book, she speaks candidly of the monotony of day-to-day life, the motivations of the Christian missionaries who were her colleagues, as well as the naive, auspicious nature of her beloved students. One definitely gets a sense of the claustrophobic environment in this oblique country; it's hard not to feel paranoid that someone is also watching you while reading this. 

Favorite line: "One by one, they rushed up to me to ask the same things. The news consumed them. The story of how a boy wizard had only been an abstraction for them, and they could not believe that they would actually get to see a movie based on it. For them, the lure was not so much the storyline, of which they knew virtually nothing, but the fact that the rest of the world had seen and loved it, that it was a true blockbuster. This unexpected chance to join the Harry Potter bandwagon made them feel included in a world that had always been denied to them."

To purchase this book, click here. 

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WHERE BEARS ROAM THE STREETS: A RUSSIAN JOURNAL
Written by Jeff Parker

Western media has painted modern Russia as a lawless, corrupt society led by a ruffian. This book implies that the portrayal isn't entirely false (the general motto of the country could be "not legal, but fair") but that there's so much more to its enigma than we know. What is life like for the average Russian – a group of people forced to pave their existence through omnipresent crisis and upheaval? Well, they're not entirely different from anyone else in the world just trying to get by with perhaps an added emphasis on consuming alcohol in quantities that have decreased the average life expectancy and a habit of "duality", a phrase which the author uses to describe the Russian wont of sending conflicting messages.

The most interesting part of the book for me was reading about the treatment of women in this militaristic society that nurtures and encourages the macho, crude, aggressive male stereotype. With eleven million more females than males in the Russian population, this has led to an imbalance of power and equality that trickles down from competition to securing a mate to police response on domestic violence incidents which aren't viewed as a violation of human rights. 

Favorite line: "Soviet schools forced kids to memorize the great Russian poets, especially Pushkin. I have often wondered what good it's done them. You cannot expect many farmers in Mississippi to quote Whitman, while you can expect every farmer in Krasnodar Krai to recite you a verse of Pushkin or to pick their favourite from among Chekhov, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. Surely there must be some appreciation for language and for beauty, and there must be something worthwhile in the fact that there are all of these texts that the whole nation shares – poems, fairy tales, great social novels, absurdist short stories … all these shared prisms to see the world through. And yet, in comparison with the stability of the West, with our lack of shared literacy reference points, everything in Russia is governed by degrees of chaos. Is there something about wide-scale appreciation for art that leads to chaos?"

To purchase this book, click here. 

March Book Recommendations:

WILD: FROM LOST TO FOUND ON THE PACIFIC COAST TRAIL
Written by Cheryl Strayed

The release of the film piqued my curiosity about 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed. The tale follows a narrative that mirrors my own recent circumstance: unexpected loss of a parent from cancer, dealing with the aftermath of grief, depression and the "art" of distraction, and experiencing a robust desire to find one's self through travel and adventure. Cheryl's journey took her on an 1,100 mile hike following the Pacific Coast Trail which extends from California to Washington State in the western United States. Though inexperienced (and naive), she was determined and combated record snowfall, snakes, bears and gathering Deadheads to successfully complete the trek. If nothing else, the book was incredibly inspirational. 

Favorite line: "The father's job is to teach his children how to be warriors, to give them the confidence to get on the horse and ride into battle when it's necessary to do so. If you don't get that from your father, you have to teach yourself."

To buy this book, click here. 

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THE REAL NORTH KOREA: LIFE AND POLITICS IN THE FAILED STALINIST UTOPIA
Written by Andrei Lankov

North Korea has always fascinated me; Its history a narrative rife with corruption, criminal activity and importunate bravado far exceeding rank. This book documents the hermit kingdom's troubled past and even more tragic present, from the machiavellian antics of Kim Jong-Il and the famine of the 90s to the reign of his son Kim Jong-Un and their development into a nuclear state. The author, a Russian scholar and university professor who has lived in North Korea and now resides in Seoul, also theorizes several solutions for reunification that may present themselves in the future (none of which will be easy or, unfortunately, avoid further conflict). 

Favorite line: "Visitors and richer Pyongyangites – some 10 to 15 percent of the new middle class – can feast on numerous delicacies in a multitude of posh private and semi-private restaurants that have sprung up around the city in recent years. Most new restaurants have private rooms, which are used for the closed banquets of the bureaucrats and the new rich. In some case, they do not limit themselves to gastronomical pleasures but double as elite brothels. For the average North Korean denizen, the upmarket restaurants are prohibitively expensive, dinner costing some $5 to $10 (excluding alcohol). To put this into context, the average monthly salary of a university professor now equals some 80 cents." 

To buy this book, click here. 

February Book Recommendations:

CURTAINS: ADVENTURES OF AN UNDERTAKER IN TRAINING
Written by Tom Jokinen

A bit of a morbid topic, this book, written by a former CBC producer who left his media gig to become an apprentice undertaker, is an insightful (and even entertaining) glimpse into the modern funeral industry. If you have ever been curious about what happens when you cease to exist, this book may provide some very detailed answers. At least in regards to your physical form. 

I personally found the subject of marketing tactics fascinating … in an era when the popularity of cremation has drastically cut into profits and the threat of having a multi-generational family trade being driven out of business by one of the big corporates from Texas constantly looms, the industry has had to get creative. In one of the, er, more interesting examples of this, a funeral home in Winnipeg has started offering loved ones the opportunity to observe the cremation process in a special viewing area. If this provides closure to some, then who am I to judge?  

Funerals, alas, are for the living and not the dead. 

Favorite line: "Cemeteries and funerals, the way French historian Philippe Ariés see it, are social constructs to keep nature … separate from a civilized life of flat-screen TVs and microwave chapatis. We evolved, beautifully, from monkeys into Type-A control freaks with a system (government, laws, religion, organized labour and technology) designed to overcome [it]. And for the most part, we pulled it off. There are only two weak spots where chaos sneaks in, wild, wet and savage, reminding us we're doomed animals: sex and death. So we devised taboos to deal with the former, to take away its power, and ritual to weaken the chaotic impact of the latter." 

To buy this book, click here. 

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BEING MORTAL: MEDICINE AND WHAT MATTERS IN THE END
Written by Atul Gawande

Continuing with the uplifting theme of death in my book recommendations for the month, 'Being Mortal' initiates a vital conversation that is absent in modern society: that of the lack of knowledge and dialogue surrounding end-of-life care. By examining the limitations (and failures) of modern medicine, author Dr. Atul Gawande, exposes how healthcare can – and should – do better to promote a life of meaning vs. a life of simply existing. 

I wish this book had been published a year earlier. 

Favorite line: "The problem with medicine and the institutions it has spawned for the care of the sick and the old is not that they have had an incorrect view of what makes like significant. The problem is that they have had almost no view at all. Medicine's focus is narrow. Medical professionals concentrate on repair of health, not sustenance of the soul."

To watch the PBS Frontline documentary on Being Mortal, click here. 

To buy this book, click here. 

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THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE: THE UNLIKELY RISE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN
Written by Masha Gessen

A number of recent hard-hitting documentaries on Russian President Vladimir Putin intrigued me to pick up this book by journalist Masha Gessen, whom, it would seem, has risked her own safety to expose the criminal underbelly that currently governs the nation. 'The Man Without a Face' paints a chilling portrait of espionage, assassination and corruption on a massive scale that is not only permitted but encouraged by those in power. This is not a work of fiction. 

Propaganda comes in many forms. And while this book might be perceived as an embellished tale originating from the western sphere of influence, recent history suggests that critical examination and commentary on this man is merited.

Glasnost and perestroika are missed. 

Favorite line: "If anyone in Russia or outside had cared to pay attention, all the clues to the nature of the new regime were there within weeks of Putin's ascent to his temporary throne. But the country was busy electing an imaginary president, and the rest of the Western world would not begin to doubt its choice for years to come."

To watch a CBC Fifth Estate documentary on Vladimir Putin, click here. 

To buy this book, click here.