Darryl Cunningham

This is an excellent graphic bio of Ayn Rand, about whom I had a general knowledge but nothing deeper than that, and the effect her philosophy has had on the world, particularly economic and political systems. The author/artist points out several times the paradoxes present in The worldview of Rand and her disciples, and the havoc they have wreaked, particularly the e sonic crisis of 2008. I’ve consumed a lot of media about that event and its aftermath and big chunks of it remain oblique to me, but everything I read makes it a little clearer. This book goes on to describe the current state of politics, particularly in the US and UK, and how screwed we are as the world moves ever right-ward. It analyzes the differences between the right and left, characterizing the left as curious, empathetic and flexible (and diminishing), and the right as, well, everything opposite of those things. Self-serving, accusatory and fearful of change (and growing). While books like this give me insight into the world I’m living in, they also make me angry and afraid, and hopeless. I take heart that such complex stories can be told simply in a graphic format.… (meer)

As someone suffering from long term depression the final chapter of this book was extremely emotional for me to read. The author has put into words & images the difficulty of living with anxiety & depression in a way that doesn't belittle it or say 'I got better so you can too'. He recognises the many dimensions of depression & offers hope not a definitive answer.

The rest of the book is an amazing & educational insight into the world of all mental illnesses in an attempt to highlight awareness & end stigma. This is something everyone needs to read & would be an excellent teaching aid for future generations.… (meer)

Vladimir Putin at heart is a gangster who would have been at home as a character on The Sopranos according to this biography. It's a laundry list of all the murders, false flag operations, political corruption, theft, conspiracies and wars it seems likely that Putin has masterminded in his life from KGB agent to Russian dictator.

The book is a little dry -- caption heavy with static art that mostly consists of floating heads -- but the litany of harm this man has done to the world is still stomach turning. In a dark coincidence, this book was basically published just as Putin began his invasion of Ukraine, so that chapter is missing.… (meer)