I downloaded this essay collection a year ago when I attended a work training, and felt like I was being over-explained to by the men presenting a class (I asked a few questions, so it might have also simply been that I was one of the only ones that seemed engage enough to pay attention and hence they directed everything directly to me). I finally ended up reading it in February/March time frame because I was feeling slightly ignored by a different set of men in relation to some planning efforts at work.
It’s a rather short collection, only nine chapters and many of them are short. I can’t say it made much of an impression. They were enjoyable enough to read in the moment, and addressed some interesting topics since some of these had been written in response to certain events and published before.
While I enjoy the occasional essay collection, I think my biggest problem tends to be that they end up feeling shallow and superficial to someone already aware of certain issues and topics. I spend enough time on the internet where I already have read articles that address many of these topics. When I read a book, I tend to want to go deeper, and while essay collections are a nice compilation of issues, they don’t always go deeper into the issue to the point where I feel like they are really giving me more information. Every once in a while, there is a thought or comment that adds a new perspective but overall, it feels like I’m reading something that is a rehash or an example of preaching to the choir.
Now, I may have had a different reaction if I had written this right after finishing the collection but I think my general impression is the same, I simply would have been able to add more detail about the essays and their topics. I do still love the title, though.