books, videos, articles, things that shape my brain

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books, videos, articles, things that shape my brain -

curated consumption

Reading log

2025 Reads

Jul 10 ✦✦✦✦✦

Again nothing bad to say… every part of this book made me want to read more. I found the Wallfacer concept in this book to be super interesting. I was in suspense the entire way through all the way up until the very end. I think the ending was very nicely executed.

Jun 22 ✦✦✦✦✦

Classic book, has lots of twists and turns that made this a super engaging read. It started a bit slow for me, but towards the end I think I read the last half just in one sitting in Kijitora. Very good way of tying in concepts and dilemmas that are so relevant to today’s world in a sci-fi setting.

Jun 11 ✦✦✦✦✧

I admit I read this because I saw an edit on TikTok about the movie set to “Sidelines” by Phoebe Bridgers (heartbreaking song.) I enjoyed that this was easy to read while also being poignant and packed with complexity. Very solid read but also very sad and very real.

Apr 27 ✦✦✦✧✧

An exploration in how little tiny choices impact the whole of our lives. While we wish we could do things differently, you’ll always win and lose some. Really easy to read, kind of dragged on for a bit longer than needed. Overall, feel good and a nice read for being on transport.

Apr 22 ✦✦✦✧✧

A dense sci-fi romance to get your brain in high gear. This is definitely a book that needs a good two reads before you can really appreciate it. I read this book entirely on the train in Italy. There were some very poignant parts. Maybe it was the jetlag, but some parts made my brain feel like a pea.

Apr 5 ✦✦✦✦✧

9/12 ✦✦✦✧✧

A library recommendation from my boyfriend. This one is a thinker. The book follows a priest grappling with his religion as he, and many others, are being persecuted for it. Lots of ambiguity and very little right or wrong.

Mar 21 ✦✦✦✦✦

I feared this one would make me weep and it did. ON A PLANE!!! very digestible and poignant short stories from the author's life. a mix of bittersweet, heartwarming, and feel-good. these really are some precious days.

Feb 9 ✦✦✦✦✧

Wholesome book. Intergalactic craziness while still retaining a very human quality to it. Very heart-warming read that will leave you smiling. I expected more action tbh, but I’m happy with this amount because action makes me anxious.

Feb 2 ✦✦✦✦✧

I grabbed this at random from my library end cap, super solid read! This book explores the wolf as a symbol of fear, telling stories of safety, coexistence, and conservation. I really enjoyed this, it kept me on my toes and told a variety of interesting tales.

2024 Reads

Nov 20 ✦✦✦✦✧

Not my usual genre of book, stole this one from my sister briefly. Still, was difficult to put this one down. Easy to follow, and very interesting characters in this book.

Nov 8 ✦✦✦✦✦

I love love love this genre of short stories. Complex and bite-sized explorations of language, connection, ethics, and more. If you used to watch Vsauce as a kid you’d like this book. (Unrelated, listen to “On the Nature of Daylight” by Max Richter)

Oct 30 ✦✦✦✦✧

I was supposed to read this with my boyfriend, but he finished it in two days (me two weeks). This one really just makes you ponder... Lots of action and surprise in here.

Oct 12 ✦✦✦✦✦

This one had me on the edge of my seat. I needed to KNOOOWWWW. I finished this book in the span of 2 days I believe. This book emanates nostalgia, yearning, and reconnection. Lots of mystery, but set around fairly ordinary people/lives which makes it all the more poignant.

Oct 8 ★★★★☆

Lots of good character and world-building. At times a bit hard to follow (i am terrible at remembering names of characters). Lots of heartwarming moments, and strong themes of community, coming together, and how seemingly long-gone pasts affect our current day.

Jun 20 ★★★★☆

9/8 ✦✦✦✦✦

Got really good as it went on. Especially fascinating was the last part that talks about how high stress situations can cause us to zone in on gut instincts and biases. Another classic Malcom Gladwell banger, I could talk about this one for a bit.

Apr 30 ★★★☆☆

Guys do I just not get it?? I need to read this book again I believe. I think my mind needs to be on a higher plane to understand this book. Brb trying again, earnestly going to try again

Mar 20 ★★★★☆

IMO started slow but then really picked up. the most fascinating parts of this book were the stories about inspiring people told through the lens of how they were raised. if you need a book to light a fire under your you know what, this is the one. (made me cry also)

Feb 24 ★★★★☆

Cult favorite classic design book (= if you want to build products, you should probably read this book. i quite enjoyed the way that the topic of “human error” was discussed in this book. after reading this book you’ll likely start to notice design decisions (both good and bad) all around you. makes life more fun.

Feb 14 ★★★★★★★

A perspective-shaping book. For all my transportation and mobility lovers out there. this one is such a cool read. dives into the psychology of how we drive, cultural traffic norms, how roads are designed, and some of the issues that plague our roads. sleeper pick, sounds boring but actually is incredibly fascinating.

Jan 18 ★★★★☆

thank you to the sidewalk library by my apartment for giving me this book! always love a good psychology read. this one gives you a look into why your inner voice exists and what it's good (and not so good) for. gives you a very handy list of tips for how to manage your voice at the end of the book!

Jan 12 ★★★★★

very very very very wholesome book. it's about a friendship between a giant octopus and an old lady. literally nothing could go wrong, very feel good book centered around community and friendship and everything happy

Jan 3 ★★★★★

oh god! a rollercoaster of a book. probably not most people's main takeaway, but this book makes me want to work on cool stuff and build cool things with my friends. hard to put down, very fun book to read.

Jan 1 ★★★★★

Jul 27 ✦✦✦✦✦

how are our everyday choices and thinking shaped by defaults? are there other ways, besides financially, to define value in society? an interesting read that reshapes the way you think about the future as a collective. our future can be abundant and we are not doomed!

Also really loved this book in the series. The introduction of the new characters in each book and how this history passes through centuries was very engaging. Honestly the ending left me a bit sad, but also was not surprised.

This is like three body’s more optimistic and feel-good counterpart! I really really loved how they incorporated science into this book – it was woven in incredibly thoughtfully. Although the writing style wasn’t exactly up my alley, I had a great time reading this. very easy to get through.

I didn’t feel like these stories hit as hard as Stories of Your Life and Others. Some felt pretty brief and inconsequential. I didn’t think many of them felt particularly novel, and the concepts and storylines I’ve heard through other means before.

Some of my favorite creators

I’ve digested much of my favorite content through YouTube since I was a kid. I have learned more than I’d like to admit on there! So here are some of my favorite creators: