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A good and extremely informative read about the female computers at NASA who were behind a lot of the theory behind space flight, and were integral to getting rockets into space and to the moon.
I did enjoy reading about these women, but I did find some of it extremely heavy going with a lot of the information being around maths and science. But it was a lovely read to find out more about the women who have been hidden for so long and not had the credit and recognition that they deserve in the history books.
I will say, that this may be one of the only times that I have actually preferred the film to the book. And I think that might have been because it flowed better as a story rather than how Margot Lee Shetterley presented the facts. I think the film showed just how much the women had to endure with segregation and made it a lot more shocking than reading it in the book. While it was shocking in the book the extent of things, I don’t think it quite hit as hard as seeing it on screen.
But overall, a very interesting book if you want to learn more about how these women helped shape space travel as we know it today.
  
The Joe Rogan Experience
The Joe Rogan Experience
Comedy
9
7.8 (33 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
Informative (2 more)
Great guest on all sorts of topics
MMA devoted episodes
What needs to be said about a pod that has over 1000 episodes??
I've been a fan of Joe Rogan for almost twenty years. His stand up comedy is some of the funniest shit I have ever heard. So naturally I become a fan of his podcast as well. Listening to Joe's chemistry with his guests and how well and articulate he speaks makes people forget he's also a full time color commentator for the UFC. The man has a wealth of knowledge at his Beck and call and he shows that. Keeping up with conversations involving astrophysicists, doctor's and Eddie Bravo(insert laugh track here).
His devotion to the pod can give listeners three to four new episodes a week. The vast library of episodes have something for everyone, including but not limited to comedians, doctors, fighters and other sports figures. Joe keeps the listener intrigued and involved and wanting more. Even if it's a goofy episode involving pod regulars and Fighter and the Kid podcasters Brian Called and Brendan Shaub, where the guys do nothing but drink, smoke weed and watch fights. They never just talk about the fights... They cover a wide variety of topics that are both serious and hilarious.
Ear candy for those who want to be informed...or misinformed... Depending how serious the episodes are.
Great podcast. In my top 5 for life.
  
The Demon Next Door
The Demon Next Door
Bryan Burrough | 2019 | Crime
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Narrator too upbeat (0 more)
Informative but no depth
When audible originals offered this book up as part of their two free originals a month program, I just had to snag it. One of the weird quirks I have is that I hate mysteries, but I LOVE true crime. This 2 hour and 45-minute novella was right up my alley. When I was looking for something short to listen to, I decided that this something different than the romance books that I'm currently reading.

The information in this novella was interesting and well researched but still lacked depth. Most of the information that was presented in this book felt glossed over. One of the things I thought Bryan Burrough was exceptional at was not being too graphic about the crimes. Unfortunately, it seems that that lack of detail was present throughout the entire book. I would have loved to see more information about the background of the individuals and the town itself.

Something else that felt off in this audiobook was the narration. Steve White is an excellent narrator, but I don't feel that he was the right choice for this book. His intonations seemed to be too upbeat for a true crime novel about rape and murder. I would have preferred a more somber tone & his voice did not do this book justice.

All in all, this was an okay book. The details were interesting, but I wish that there would have been more depth to it.
  
EE
Engineered!: Engineering Design at Work
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Engineered! by Shannon Hunt is a great children’s non-fiction book. The book is clear, informative, nicely illustrated, detailed, and logically structured. From the Mars Rover to 3D printing to helping a herd of caribou and more, Engineered! dives into nine stories of modern engineering. Kids will learn about the engineering design process from defining the problem to sharing your solution with the world.
Each story highlights the key components of the design process, taking kids on the journey through different types of engineering (aerospace, biomedical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, civil, geomatics, computer, and environmental) from seeing a problem to creating effective solutions to implementing their ideas. Coupled with great illustrations, Engineered! is sure to be a favorite of any budding engineer!

There is a lot of information crammed onto each page (some pages easier to read than others, due to text size, background colour, and minimal spacing between lines of text). However, this is also works to an advantage, as there's a lot to take in on each page, with full pages of busy geometric-style illustrations. Each time you look at the images you'll be sure to find something different!

There is a helpful glossary at the end, which is useful to look back on if necessary, as there certainly is a lot of information to take in.

I received this ARC from Kids Can Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
  
Atlas of Adventures: Wonders of the World
Atlas of Adventures: Wonders of the World
Lucy Letherland, Ben Handicott | 2018 | Natural World, Reference, Travel
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
beautifully illustrated pages (1 more)
"find and seek" at the end of the book
Latest in the best-selling "Atlas of Adventures" series
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

"Atlas of Adventures: Wonders of the World" is the latest in the best-selling "Atlas of Adventures" series by Ben Handicott with illustrations by Lucy Letherland. The series is a set of colorful atlases marketed for children. Each of the 96 beautifully illustrated pages contains short informative and fascinating statements about the wonder. The book is divided by continent "showcasing the globe's most impressive landscapes, iconic buildings and evocative antiquities from both the modern and ancient worlds". Many of the wonders are those you would expect to find but it includes a few surprising ones too.

At the end of the book, there is a cute and enjoyable "find and seek" of many of the pictures presented throughout the book.

This book is larger than a normal hardback book. Its dimensions are 11.2 x 15 inches which would help to be able to read the statements. The series is available as a hardback. Reading it as an e-book was difficult because the book needed to be shrunken to screen size.

It is highly ranked on Amazon for sales in both the "Geography & Cultures > Travel" and "Science, Nature & How It Works > Mystery & Wonders" categories as of 12/11/18.