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This was such a delightful little history. I don't think anyone would disagree that the written English language needs a makeover. Sadly, every attempt to make this happen over the last few centuries has only added more inconsistent and nonsensical rules. I loved learning about Caxton's and his Flemish assistant's influences on English (thanks a lot for the silent Es and Gs). I learned some fun new-to-me Chicago history about McCormick, the Trib, and the White Sox, I didn't see that coming when I pickedup this book! And it re-inforced this feeling that I often get when reading history books, that when one single influential guy gets a hang up about something, he inevitably makes it everybody else's problem too. Lookin' at you Sir James Pitman, Noah Webster, and Benjamin Franklin. Highly recommend.

We could have had it so good. Instead this country decided to cut off its nose to spite its face.

As others have said, if you disliked Harris, you'll find plenty to dislike about her in the book. If you liked Harris, you'll find plenty to like about her in the book. I liked Harris. But mainly what I got from this book is how much she cared. Days after her loss/return to California she volunteered to distribute food for wildfire victims. If I'd gone through what she went through I would simply not leave my bed for probably weeks. But it shows the degree to which she GENUINELY cares about this country, the people who live here, and that it means something to be a public servant.

I so wish even 1/2 of the things she discusses caring about in these short extremely accessible essays made it into her campaign, into people's televisions. Winning a 107 day campaign was such a long shot, but she made it so far, and reading this book made me happy that I voted for her. And it motivated me to vote in my local elections the day after I finished it because it reminded me that there are people who run for something because, like her, they might actually care.

This had every Robert Langdon/Dan Brown trope I was looking for:
✅ European country/history/mythology
✅ Pioneering woman in STEM side-kick
✅ Friend/Romantic interest on the verge of making a world-altering discovery/paradigm shift
✅ A conspiracy that goes ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP
✅ Explosions
✅ ELI5 explanations of extraordinarily complex scientific and mythological phenomena
✅ A world in which academic professors of ultra-niche fields of study are world-renowned and famous

The plot was not as intricately complicated as former books in the series, which I think was actually a great improvement. Despite this, it still had a twist I didn't see coming. The ideas were super interesting and I found myself googling A LOT of the topics. It made me want to visit Prague. The only downsides of this were:

Not my favorite Hercule Poirot, but it's still Agatha Christie, and it's still quality, and it's SUCH A FAST read, great little novella. She still was able to pull one over on me, even though I've read so much of her work. Very enjoyable.

I'm new to R.F. Kuang (yes I've been living under a rock, I guess), and this did not disappoint the high expectations her readers set for me.

This book was equal parts entertaining, escapist, reflective, educational, and trope-y. I learned so much about paradoxes and mathematical concepts that are usually way over my head, and made them so fascinating that I willingly started looking them up to learn even more. I've never been interested in math in this way, it was so cool. And I couldn't stop telling my partner all about it.

I enjoyed following the two protagonists through hell on their adventure to rescue their dissertation chair. It illuminated everything wrong with higher ed (from the toxic levels of competition and work/life balance to the undue pride of becoming 'prestigious' through putting up with narcissist professors). It reminded me that I love adventure books where each new obstacle shines a light on the characters' flaws and strengths and life lessons.

I really can't gush about this book enough, so I'll stop here before I can't stop at all. Read this book.