Book Review- Natasha Leggero's The World Deserves My Children

Thank you to Libro FM for providing me with an audio arc of Natasha Leggero’s The World Deserves My Children.

Full disclosure, I accepted this audio arc without knowing anything about the author. I had not heard of her previously and just thought the premise of her memoir was appealing. Leggero is a comedian and her memoir is read by her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even more so listening to it told by Leggero. She’s funny, very funny and listening to her voice was probably better than if I had read the physical version of the book. She has a keen sense of timing and perfect delivery, plus her voice is very animated, adding to the comedic effect.

Leggero writes about her decision to have children when she was in her forties. She froze her eggs when she was younger “just in case” she changed her mind about having children. Although she makes it clear that while this was a wise decision, it wasn’t foolproof. It was still very touch and go as to whether or not she could get pregnant. Leggero discusses the pros and cons of waiting, mostly the pros in that she was happily married and in a place of financial security when she finally decided to have kids. However, she also talks about general ideas of having kids when the world is such a messy place and the environmental problems are only growing worse. There is conflict in this decision.

I grew to really like Leggero. Not only is she hilarious, but she has a interesting perspective on many topics. I felt that she was relatable and engaging. I will definitely seek out some of her stand up specials to see if her comedy acts are as good as The World Deserves My Children.

Book Review- Jon Meacham's And There was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle

Thank you to Libro FM for an audio arc of Jon Meacham’s And There was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle.

Historian and journalist Jon Meacham does a deep-dive into the life of the sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Meacham details how a man of humble beginnings was able to make inroads with power circles, including marrying the upper-class Mary Todd Lincoln, and gaining the esteem of important people to boost his political aspirations.

And There is Light is an absolutely fascinating presidential biography. Prior to reading Meacham’s work, I knew a fair bit about Lincoln. I think most American’s do, as we spend a lot of time learning about the Civil War in school. However, I think the timing of this book is very relevant, as there are clear parallels to the state of the country during Lincoln’s time and our present situation. Lincoln’s greatest presidential challenge was to try to bring together a country divided on ideological lines and even more so, after the war had ended.

We may be at a precipice right now. I actually listened to this book months ago and have not had time to write the review. I didn’t even realize, until typing this paragraph, that former President Trump is hours away from his arraignment in Florida. This is historic, yet also deepening the divide. And There was Light made me consider how we move forward after a major event, such as the Civil War, when tensions are still high and people still don’t agree. Is it even possible?

I had not previously known about Mary Todd Lincoln’s heath struggles, especially with mental health. The intimate details about Lincoln’s family life added an interesting layer to the biography. And There was Light is a well-rounded portrait of a man, who just happened to go on to make history. I recommend this for anyone interested in presidential biographies or American History.

Book Review- Spencer Schneider's Manhattan Cult Story

Thank you to Libro FM for an audio arc of Spencer Schneider’s Manhattan Cult Story: My Unbelievable True Story of Sex, Crimes, Chaos, and Survival. The audio book is narrated by Austin Rising.

Young, professional, and successful Spencer Schneider was recruited to joined a cult called “The School.” Initially, “The School” seemed to be a self-help style class that was attended by rising stars in fields such as law, medicine, and finance. The attendees were hand-selected for this secretive program and they were told that they were not only lucky to have been picked, but to keep it a secret from everyone in their lives. Through psychological manipulation, Schneider believed that this was a benefit to his life and not a cult, even though he noticed more sinister aspects of the organization as his involvement grew deeper.

Former actress, Sharon Gans was the head of “The School.” She could be a harsh critic and formidable character that had her followers catering to her every need, including providing labor for construction on her properties, and fearing upsetting her. There were many rules to follow and a single misstep could have followers ousted from the organization. Gans even orchestrated marriages and divorces within group members, separating children from parents in the process. She was often cruel to her followers, yet maintained control over them.

A member of the cult for several decades, Schneider details how he became trapped and what ultimately gave him the courage to leave. He shares how educated and successful people could become involved in a cult, showing how no one is immune from psychological manipulation.

I found Schneider’s memoir to be fascinating. This was my first time hearing about this particular cult and I love anything true crime. It’s interesting to note that although Gans has died and a lawsuit was filed against her estate by former cult members, a form of “The School” is still active.

I wish I had read the book, rather than listening to the audio version. I did not care for the narrator, especially when he did women’s voices. It was very grating and distracted from Schneider’s writing. I recommend Manhattan Cult Story, just not the audio book version.