Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This particular book made me forget that I was reading about actual events. I was so immersed in the story. JFK & Jackie are fascinating people & their life together makes them all the more intriguing. This book isn't just about the assassination, but the years, months, & days leading up to that fateful day in November. Both for the Kennedy family & the Oswalds. I found myself at times, thinking, "No don't do that." Or, "Yes, listen to your gut & your advisors & cancel that trip." Almost hoping that somehow it would turn out differently, but knowing full well how it was going to end.
Despite knowing the end before even cracking the book open, I was hooked from the very first word. It is rare to read a non-fiction book that reads like a spy novel & political thriller. That's what makes the reader forget that the events really happened. It doesn't falter into all the conspiracy theories or speculation on the events leading up to it. It is remarkably well researched & based on the countless records, videos, transcripts, & documents from the era. This is a must read for anyone, even if you aren't fascinated with the Kennedys as I was.
Dr Richard Shepherd, as one of the UK’s top forensic pathologists, has performed over 23,000 postmortems; that’s a lot of dead bodies! Fascinated by cracking the puzzle of what killed each one this book covers a whole host of unusual cases. Clearing up many misconceptions of the world of forensic pathology we get a great insight into a job few people could stomach.
As he covers many interesting cases we get a unique behind the curtain look into some famous murders and disasters. Shipman, Stephen Lawrence, the Hungerford massacre, the Marchioness disaster, he is even involved in Diana’s inquest. The look into the very difficult area of the death of babies shows a complicated area where everything is not as black and white as we’d like it to be.
His single minded quest for the truth and the very distressing nature of his work takes a toll on his mental health and family life. Although not as fascinating as the cases themselves it’s important to cover this, bring into sharp focus the debt society owes to those willing to surround themselves in such a grim profession.
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8.0
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'Michael Lewis could spin gold out of any topic he chose ...his best work ...vivid, original and...
To be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death
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The Complete Alice: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There
Lewis Carroll and John Tenniel
9.0
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The Complete Alice, including both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass...
The Emperor of All Maladies
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Winner of the Guardian First Book Award 2011 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Non-fiction 2011...
Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Your Daily Brain: 24 Hours in the Life of Your Brain in Books
Jun 24, 2019
I dont usually read non-fiction books, but Im a science geek at heart and couldnt resist requesting a copy of this in return for my honest review.
It was definitely an interesting read. I loved the humour within the writing, and the combination of complicated scientific terms along with more simplified ones. It was easy to understand for the most part, and I hope I can truthfully say that Ive learned something over the past two days from reading this.
Due to my habit of reading books at the speed of light, I dont think the information in this book has sunk in as much as it could have. I personally found it a little hard to follow sometimes, though it was definitely better than skimming a textbook.
This is aimed at an older audience in my opinion, but I was still fascinated by what I read. A lot of it was information that Id never even considered learning. The effect having a child has on a mans brain? I can honestly say that it has never crossed my mind.
I did enjoy this book, even though I sped through it and am probably a little too young to fully appreciate some of the references. Id say Your Daily Brain deserves a strong 3.5 stars, maybe edging up near 4.