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DNF. Just didn't grab me like The Vorrh did.

probably more fun for Umberto to write than for me to read

love the style. chews on some heavy ideas but is never condescending, expresses immense frustration but has a certain humour behind it

wooden writing and an underexplored premise, but a great atmosphere at certain points

a bit dry, to me. interesting last chapter on the very loose relationship between quality and success

“You only see a shadow. That’s the only way you know it’s there, by the shadow on the ground.”

so simple and sensitive in its storytelling, so intricate and artful in its thinking. effective as a travelogue to an extent I've never seen - reading this feels like being on a trip and talking to UFO watchers yourself, every new idea fitting in perfectly, revealing a little more of the hidden pattern. also insightful American ethnography, clearly articulating ideas at which not much other writing I've seen has been able to take more than wide potshots. very very good

this reads like a book-length version of that "dumbass leftist" post I wish I could find where the guy's like "I dunno, man, I'm not like a scientist or anything but it seems fake as hell that we can't afford houses for everyone". not a criticism, I love that post

DNF. I get it, you're very educated, congratulations

you can't go home again, and thank god for that

interesting as a literature review and asks some productive questions

honest and blunt: lawyers are only making things worse

strange, sparse, menacing