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lifepluspreston's reviews
784 reviews
Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic
5.0
Algospeak by Adam Aleksic--Fascinating and important, this book by a linguistics-loving TikTok creator aims to explain everything you never considered about the omnipresent algorithm and its influence on language. From appropriation to Deaf creators to the Flanderization of individuals and identity, every page of this short book drips with knowledge and insight. It's rare that I read a nonfiction book where every chapter brings something thought-provoking to the table, but Aleksic really cooked here. At its height, this book explores conformity through the lens of linguistics, studying how otherwise niche turns of phrase seep into the "chronically offline" culture. I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone intrigued or bewildered by the attentionmaxxing algorithm. Two thumbs up.
The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji
4.0
The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji--Renowned for basically reviving the murder mystery genre in Japan, this book is simultaneously a love letter to the golden age of detective novels and a bold step forward. The story focuses on a murder mystery fan club that chooses to spend a weekend at the site of a notorious murder. It's written well, jumping between the travails of the mystery club and the events of the original investigation. I really appreciated the ending, as multiple genre tropes are turned on their head. Thumbs up.
The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (And How I Got Out) by Tina Nguyen
4.0
Jennifer Government by Max Barry
4.0
Jennifer Government by Max Barry--I don't remember where I saw this book recommended, but it was fun! If you're looking for hard-hitting satire, this fits the bill. It's about a hypercapitalistic American privatized empire. The government is neutered in favor of megacorporations that run the world. I was trying to figure out why the big tech companies weren't all that represented in the companies panned here, like McDonald's, PepsiCo, Nike, the NRA, and more. Then I realized after reading that the book was written and published in 2002. So from that metric, it's pretty solid! The book is a little too on the nose for my tastes. By the time you've read fifty pages, you get the gist of the remaining story. But it's still witty and a fun read. Thumbs up.