Reviews by Kate Duncan and Charlie Hale

BOOKS

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

CAROLINE CRIADO PEREZ, PENGUIN

From cars designed around the body of a “Reference Man” to speech recognition software trained on recordings of male voices, this book uses data to expose a male-biased world. Campaigner and writer Caroline Criado Perez has put together an exhaustive dossier on data-based gender inequality, arguing that the lack of “big data” on women renders half of the world’s population invisible. Perez demands urgent action through a powerful force: facts and figures. Invisibility takes many forms, both subtle and ubiquitous, but what is odd about women’s invisibility, Perez argues, is that women are not a minority, yet they live in a society built around men. This is a man’s world, we learn, because those who built it didn’t take gender differences into account. And while it’s difficult to read this book without an overwhelming sense of frustration and outrage, Perez does not bash a male-dominated society; hers is a campaign to reveal the true and profound effects the data gap has on women’s lives. CH

Joy at Work

MARIE KONDO & SCOTT SONENSHEIN, MACMILLAN

The decluttering guru, Marie Kondo, is back with a work-focused approach to tidying up. In her latest book, Kondo teams up with organisational psychologist Scott Sonenshein to tackle the mess on your desk, in your inbox and within your professional schedule. Kondo’s philosophy remains the same: kick the clutter and you will create a joy-filled, balanced and inspiring environment. Order in your work life, Kondo argues, creates confidence within you to create the career you want. In her signature accessible style, the tidying expert delivers easy-to-implement steps that particularly shine within the sections on digital clutter. An excellent read for office workers, students and anyone whose digital life is in need of good Kondo-ing! CH

F*ck No!: How to Stop Saying Yes When You Can’t, You Shouldn’t, or You Just Don’t Want To

SARAH KNIGHT, HACHETTE

Are you a people pleaser? Overachiever? Pushover? Or simply have an inescapable case of fear of missing out (FOMO)? Following the success of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, Sarah Knight brings you her spunky self-help book on how to stop saying “yes”. Knight invites you to identify with one of her four “Yes Men,” (or perhaps you’re a mix), before employing her signature blunt wisdom to tackle why you’re saying yes, when really you mean no. Jammed with examples and hilarious anecdotes, Knight doesn’t just persuade her reader that saying no is as easy as it sounds, she ensures that you won’t lose any sleep over turning people down. Expect quirky humour, endless creative ways to say no and a whole lot of putting yourself first sass. CH

Wild Heart Sunseeker

TAMS, SELF-PUBLISHED

“Milky swirls of gold and crimson sprawled across the sky, as if a pot of paint had tipped over with no beginning or end,” are some of the first words you’ll read in author Tams’ book, Wild Heart Sunseeker. You might be familiar with Tams’ illustrations and musings in WellBeing. If you’re not, turn to page 160 to see some of her gorgeous work which, luckily for you, has been extended into her first book. In the introduction, Tams shares how her love for stories, poetry and quotes began at a young age and dedicates Wild Heart Sunseeker to her mother. In it, you’ll find a collection of illustrations and musings, each offering a warm and colourful reminder to share your “soul stories”, as Tams calls them. She invites you to sit in stillness, flesh out your feelings and look for the moments when words might fall out of your mind and onto paper. For it’s in those moments, Tams reminds us, that you “remember the beauty of your own light.” KD

CARDS

Cards for Calamity: Helping You to Navigate Life After Disaster

MCNAUGHTON & WILLS LTD

“By disasters we mean wildfire, hurricane, earthquake, flood, drought, tornado etc.”, reads the back of the Cards for Calamity box. It would be fair to say that Australia has experienced its share of disaster over the last two years, and no doubt many of you could well use this little box of cards comprising tales, tips and tricks to help guide you through life after disaster. The cards are designed to be used as prompts for self-reflection and inner healing, as well as to help you understand a shared experience by encouraging conversations and connection with others. Some cards include questions such as “What could emerge in me, my life and my community as a result of this experience?”, while others include practical tips and ones to soothe unfamiliar emotions. There are quotes and miniature stories from disaster survivors, illustrations, scientific facts covering stress hormones and adrenaline and helpful titbits from the people who have come out the other end of disaster. CH

PODCASTS

The Peter Attia Drive

Want to know more about nutritional biochemistry, ageing, memory, fertility, weight loss and more? In one of the most comprehensive health podcasts on the airwaves, The Peter Attia Drive takes a deep dive into the world of wellness. For Peter Attia, a trained physician and the founder of the Attia Medical practice in the United States, no topic is off limits: fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, COVID-19, cancer, mental health, mindfulness and much more. In the weekly podcast, Attia and his stellar line-up of guests teach you how to think critically about longevity and what it means to be truly “well”. With guests like Sam Harris, David Epstein, Rhonda Patrick and Tim Ferriss joining, you get to learn from the very best — all from the comfort of your own home. KD