Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
Why I have it: Continuing the theme of Ayelet Waldman’s A Really Good Day.
Summary: Explores the use of psychedelic drugs for treating mental illness and for changing our ‘worldview’.
Other scientists are using psychedelics in conjunction with new brain-imaging tools to explore the links between brain and mind…
I’m thinking: Yes – it was the ‘brain and mind’ bit that got me.
Stasiland by Anna Funder
Why I have it: Because seriously, how have I not read this?
Summary: Funder tells extraordinary tales from the underbelly of the former East Germany.
I’m thinking: Yes.
A Better Death by Ranjana Srivastava
Why I have it: Came across it in palliative care reading.
Summary: Explores what it means to ‘die well’ (essentially, be prepared to contemplate our your mortality and to broach it with loved ones).
Somehow, amid all the advances of drugs and technology, medicine forgot to allow for people to die.
I’m thinking: Yes (but it will be for my work reference shelf rather than leisure reading).
Stasiland is excellent, definitely one to read!
I was completely hooked by the sample and suspect it is one I will buy before my year of testing samples is over (I normally wait until the end of the year and choose 15 samples that I really, really want and then buy the books… sometimes I can’t wait!).
I’m interested in palliative care professionally too, so A Better Death sounds good.
I keep meaning to read more about East Germany so I’ll be really interested to hear how you get on with Stasiland!
A Better Death seems almost like a reference book – it’s clearly set out and the kind of text you might dip into rather than read from start to finish.
I’ve read Funder’s novel, All That I Am, and love it. Still can’t quite believe I haven’t read Stasiland. Given our recent trip to Germany, I’m thinking I should buy it for my husband, for his upcoming birthday, and then just nab it straight away – that’s okay, isn’t it?
Perfectly OK 😀
My husband is currently reading the Michael Pollen and seems to be really enjoying it. I may even nab it off him when he’s finished.
He’s coming to Melbourne in July – planning on hearing him speak.
I picked up the Michael Pollan book when I saw it on a price-drop list. It does sound fascinating!
What is this ‘price drop list’ you speak of?!
I’m on all sorts of email lists for ebook price drops – kindle daily deals, Riffle, BookBub
Right… I have done one or two of those before but then unsubscribe because I get inundated with messages!
I’m really bad at getting around to reading all the non fiction I buy with great enthusiasm. So I’ll pass on these
Stasiland, yes. Not just important, but memorable.
(And infinitely better than All That I Am)