Welcome to Litsy!

Carl Bernstein‘s (of Woodward and Bernstein fame) exhaustive (perhaps TOO exhaustive) memoir of his early days in journalism at the now-defunct Washington Star newspaper, where he started working as a copyboy at age 16. Covers the dates between 1960-1964) He has a great memory and/or took superb notes—how else could he remember what someone wore or ate for lunch on a specific Tuesday in 1962? Fun read for former/current news hacks like me.

This was Compelling As Heck. Very well written, in a super accessible style (as one would expect from a successful investigative journalist) this is the Long Version of the story of Andrew Wakefield, the once-doctor who fabricated and captilised on fears that Vaccines caused autism-- launching the current era of anti-vax misinformation. Published before current pandemic, this was eerie & informative. #antivaxxers #medicine #malpractice #politics

Before reading this I wondered if Andrew Wakefield was just a bit misguided. I was wrong. The man is a despicable human being who has not only caused so much damage to the health of children and the wider community but has done so for his own gain. The man is not only a fraud but a conniving narcissist. Like so many truly evil people he has preyed on the vulnerable and continues to do so. It‘s a good read but the narrative is a bit choppy at times

I love everything he writes and this was no different. A quick read and a good reminder of how the simple act of gratitude shared with others can add so much good to the world. 🤓 #gratitude #thankful

Quick and quirky read. I‘ve read all of Jacobs books and this one fit with the others. It was interesting to really think about how many different people are involved in buying a cup of coffee. Simple yet profound thought that does lead to a response of gratitude.

Frequently hilarious account of crop circles: their origins, history, and interpretation. Turns out two blokes named Doug and Dave first had the idea one night on the way back from the pub, then produced the first crude circles using an old floorboard and a piece or rope. My favourite bit was the account of Dave being felled, mid-circle, by a frozen lump of poo that had fallen from an aircraft toilet. My favourite ever Fortean book. A classic.

Short, entertaining, and informative. I heard the TED Talk and picked-up the book at the library.

I‘ve been able to get library books by requesting them, and then making an appointment to pick them up in the parking lot for a few months. Today I was allowed IN THE LIBRARY. It felt like Christmas. There are a ton of safety measures in place that I am happy to comply with. The staff is thrilled to have us back. This changed just yesterday and word has not spread, I was the only patron there during my visit.

This is a project-based memoir about gratitude. Jacobs attempts to thank everyone - and I mean everyone - involved in making his daily cup of coffee happen. Nothing mindblowing in this one, and it doesn't get very deep, but the audiobook was a nice, relaxing listen. #nonfiction #memoir #coffee #gratitude

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I just love AJ Jacobs. His lifestyle experiments are so fun and insightful. This short book about thankfulness is from the TED book series which I didn‘t know existed, so I‘ll be checking out more of those. Here, Jacobs focuses on all the folks it takes to make something he and I both enjoy immensely: coffee. It‘s a good reminder to think about the bigger picture and be appreciative for all the things.