A well-intentioned but underwhelming mishmash of philosophical tidbits and stereotypes.
A self-help guide to happiness that strives to make philosophy relevant to modern teens.
Aldridge mines the lessons of ancient Greek and Asian philosophy for wisdom, describing wisdom that’s focused not on boundless euphoria but on eudaemonia, or “living a good life,” which is achieved through honing resilience and character, embracing balance, and accepting life’s vicissitudes. Along the way, he explores Zen, Cynicism, Socratism, Taoism, Stoicism, Aristotelianism, and Buddhism, showing how these philosophies can help improve critical thinking, well-being, decision-making, resilience, self-discipline, and relationships. Anecdotes explain how these ideas helped Aldridge deal with his own severe anxiety. Each chapter concludes with challenges: for example, the Banana Walk, a therapeutic exercise created by Albert Ellis (who was inspired by Diogenes), which involves walking a banana tied to a piece of string in public as a way of becoming desensitized to fears of judgment. Unfortunately, perhaps due to the impossibility of accurately condensing multiple complex schools of thought in such a short space, the book often oversimplifies philosophical lessons in ways that misrepresent the underlying concepts and promote stereotypes. For example, Taoism feels reduced to spending time in nature, learning to go with the flow, and heeding your gut instinct (a “subtle art that is often neglected in Western culture”). Despite these weaknesses, the book’s overall message—that happiness might best be found in moderation and restraint—is instructive and conveyed in an accessible, conversational style.
A well-intentioned but underwhelming mishmash of philosophical tidbits and stereotypes. (reading recommendations, resources) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9780711297807
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Holler/Quarto
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
Small but mighty necessary reading.
A miniature manifesto for radical queer acceptance that weaves together the personal and political.
Eli, a cis gay white Jewish man, uses his own identities and experiences to frame and acknowledge his perspective. In the prologue, Eli compares the global Jewish community to the global queer community, noting, “We don’t always get it right, but the importance of showing up for other Jews has been carved into the DNA of what it means to be Jewish. It is my dream that queer people develop the same ideology—what I like to call a Global Queer Conscience.” He details his own isolating experiences as a queer adolescent in an Orthodox Jewish community and reflects on how he and so many others would have benefitted from a robust and supportive queer community. The rest of the book outlines 10 principles based on the belief that an expectation of mutual care and concern across various other dimensions of identity can be integrated into queer community values. Eli’s prose is clear, straightforward, and powerful. While he makes some choices that may be divisive—for example, using the initialism LGBTQIAA+ which includes “ally”—he always makes clear those are his personal choices and that the language is ever evolving.
Small but mighty necessary reading. (resources) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-09368-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.
Testa’s connection to and respect for nature compelled her to begin championing animal causes at the age of 10, and this desire to have an impact later propelled her to dedicate her life to fighting plastic pollution. Starting with the history of plastic and how it’s produced, Testa acknowledges the benefits of plastics for humanity but also the many ways it harms our planet. Instead of relying on recycling—which is both insufficient and ineffective—she urges readers to follow two additional R’s: “refuse” and “raise awareness.” Readers are encouraged to do their part, starting with small things like refusing to use plastic straws and water bottles and eventually working up to using their voices to influence business and policy change. In the process, she highlights other youth advocates working toward the same cause. Short chapters include personal examples, such as observations of plastic pollution in Mauritius, her maternal grandparents’ birthplace. Testa makes her case not only against plastic pollution, but also for the work she’s done, resulting in something of a college-admissions–essay tone. Nevertheless, the first-person accounts paired with science will have an impact on readers. Unfortunately, no sources are cited and the lack of backmatter is a missed opportunity.
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22333-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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