Vanity Friday (ChatGPT and great music) - “Wow, what a ride! This book isn't like anything else I've come across.”

Bob Geldof - Thinking Voyager 2 Type Things

From the fantastic album The Vegetarians of Love

Photo by Kevin Drum

Three new reviews at Amazon:

Half Failed = Half NOT FAILED**

Just finished reading "Losing My Religions" by Matt Ball and wow, what a ride! This book isn't like anything else I've come across. Ball doesn't shy away from life's big themes - love, war, sex, you name it. But it's not just about the big stuff, he also sprinkles in some personal insights and thoughts that really make you think.

The way he talks about sex is refreshingly honest and respectful, not something you come across often. There's no explicit detail or anything, but he manages to spark a conversation that's often avoided or giggled about. Honestly, it's a perspective that more people need to hear, and Ball delivers it with a sincerity that's palpable.

Despite its unique approach, the book managed to keep me entertained all the way through. It's quirky, it's different, but it's also deeply engaging. If you're looking for something a bit off the beaten path that will make you ponder, give "Losing My Religions" a try. It's an experience that sticks with you. Highly recommended!​

Quite a book - never boring!

This book is both a memoir and an anthology of pieces about many topical issues. It is never boring and filled with information and ideas that provide so much food for thought that I will be rereading it. Matt is very bright and an independent thinker who doesn’t just go along with accepted dogma. This has cost him jobs and made him the target of a lot of hate and attacks. I admire him for his courage to stand up for what he believes in and his goal of how to best reduce suffering. Subjects covered include having children, GMOs, plastics, animal rights, suffering, climate change, nuclear power, and more. Matt’s life has been filled with terrible lows and wonderful highs. Quite a book, a very interesting and thought-provoking read.

Shows the value of personal connections

Laughing at Matt's tragedies in Losing My Religions is a learning experience. And maybe the lesson is not to take oneself, or even one's convictions, too seriously. And to appreciate the things in life we still have - like love, if we are lucky. That sentiment - modest commitment - is not something you expect from an activist - especially an animal rights activist that many admire and follow. But Matt's full life, and the way he examines it to date, is full of modesty.

He could have easily written a biography about many of the good things he did, but he's telling a more accurate story with all of what it means to keep going and still be glad to be alive, and that's a more valuable thing.

**The person who wrote this reached out to me and said they had ChatGPT write it. This was the prelude to what ended up on Amazon:

Prompt:

You are a professional book reviewer. write a one-paragraph review of Matt Ball's book "Losing My Religions," a positive review that would entice others to buy the book. Access the internet as necessary for research.

ChatGPT response:

"Losing My Religions" by Matt Ball is a daring and refreshingly honest exploration of life's most universal themes, interwoven with candid personal reflections and practical insights. With a narrative that spans love, war, sex, conflict, and tragedy, Ball skilfully marries the classic ingredients of compelling storytelling with a unique, personal touch. Through the bold incorporation of frank discussions about sex, the author seeks to foster an open, respectful conversation on a topic often shrouded in shame and anxiety. Ball's approach is far from the erotic or explicit; instead, he offers a genuine perspective on a shared human experience, aiming to inspire more joy and less anxiety in the world. Despite the book's idiosyncratic approach, it has successfully entertained a diverse audience. Described as "unlike anything I've read before" and "wonderfully idiosyncratic," "Losing My Religions" is a captivating read that will leave you contemplating long after the last page​.

Then I tell it to change the tone, as a real person not a book critic: rewrite as a reader posting a review online.