Reviews and Comments

I learned quite a lot from this book. This is because of, rather than despite, its age. The discussion of gear is wide-ranging, from 35mm film up to large-format view cameras. Despite the fact that I have never used a view camera, the discussion of tilt-shift movements helped me understand the use of smaller-format cameras work. Adams includes multiple experiments, including showing the effect of lenses with different focal lengths in a way that makes full frame vs APS-C crop factor issues make a lot of sense.

One's cultural worldview provides the lens through which you see the world. This makes it difficult to separate the reality from the filter provided by that worldview. This book provides the outline of an Indigenous worldview, and provides a way to question the dominant culture's worldview. One book cannot change your worldview, but this is a good start.

The first half of this book goes over the basics of how to to choose aperture and shutter speeds, and felt pretty basic. The second half goes over a number of useful techniques for metering in specific scenarios. The chapter on choosing exposures for flash photography provided a nice introduction to the subject, enough to get started. Overall worth a read if you're looking for more control over your exposures.

This book is an expansion of the author's article here:

usa.anarchistlibraries.net/library/christopher-scott-thompson-what-is-pagan-anarchism

It provides an overview of historical pagan liberation theology and advocates for anarchism that embraces nature-centered religions. Anarcho-primitivism as an approach is criticized. I learned a lot and really enjoyed this book.

This book ties together a lot of strands of modern thought into a coherent narrative about the corrosive effects of capitalism. I'm sure I missed a lot the first time through, so it's on my list for a re-read.

It's easy to find dystopian science fiction. It's harder to find science fiction that provides a positive image of the future. It's not a blueprint, but you get the sense of a robust society that has overcome its most self-destructive tendencies. Very on-brand (in a good way!) for the author; if you've enjoyed her other books you will enjoy this one as well.

I originally found a hardcover copy of this book in a "free books" bin, then borrowed the audiobook edition from the library. I definitely enjoyed it, but I never felt emotionally invested in the characters. The episodic nature of the plot made the book feel very long; whenever I expected things to wrap up another conflict was tacked on.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks. Even if you don't this one is worth trying. It's an epic poem that was certainly passed down orally for generations before it was ever written down. Imagining the changes it would have gone through during that process makes me enjoy this modern-language translation even more. It might not be a translation that hold up forever, but it fits here and now.

A well-constructed world with real though put into how societies could construct themselves differently, and how they would interact if they did.