Tony M

Given all that's happened this year, this book was a really welcomed read. It started strong, drawing evidence from evolution and human history. In the middle chapters, Bregman critically analysed a number of past social experiments and theories which argue for humanity's aggressive nature and explained why they are flawed. While this was the majority of the book, it started to drag and was less interesting than his discussion of human goodness as an evolutionary trait. That said, the epilogue rescues the book, matching the thoughtfulness of the first chapters. Bregman offers "10 rules to live by" and each of these are insightful, intelligent and highly relevant for the current times. My favourite? "Don't punch nazis". But you'll have to read the book if you want the details. Overall, a solid read, you won't be dissapointed.

Not the best. The book is really small (no larger than a hand). The tiny font size and excessively wordy paragraphs make it difficult to read. However, the explanations were relatively clear and recipes were satisfying (but nothing exceptional). Overall, a fairly mediocre cookbook - there is probably better out there, but you probably won't be disappointed with this.

Average. Some of the recipes are good, but most feel uninspiring - I only really like around 5% of the entries.

Incredible. Left me feeling so full and empty at the same time.

Excellent. I made a few dumplings already and they were all delicious. Easy to follow, lots of entries, great variety. Recipes require a lot of ingredients, but once you build up a pantry it becomes highly accessible.

[DNF @ 30%] Overall, I found the book quite boring and struggled to invest myself in the characters. I couldn't bring myself to finish it, despite trying hard. That said, the writing is packed with sassy and witty one-liners which would be great for anyone looking for a light, comedic read.