Please Note:  I received an advance audiobook copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

With her acclaimed New York Times bestseller (and Reese's Book Club pick) Fair Play, Eve Rodsky began a national conversation about greater equality on the home front. But she soon realized that even when the domestic workload becomes more balanced, people still report something missing in their lives--that is, unless they create and prioritize time for activities that not only fill their calendars but also unleash their creativity.

Rodsky calls this vital time Unicorn Space--the active and open pursuit of creative self-expression in any form that makes you uniquely YOU. To help readers embrace all the unlikely, surprising, and delightful places where their own Unicorn Space may be found, she speaks with trail blazers, thought leaders, academics, and countless real people who have discovered theirs everywhere--from activism to artistic endeavors to second careers.

Rodsky reveals what researchers already know: Creativity is not optional. It's essential. Though most of us do need to remind ourselves how (and where) to find it. With her trademark mix of research based, how-to advice and big-picture inspirational thinking, Rodsky shows you a clear path to reclaim your permission to have fun, manifest your own Unicorn Space in an already too-busy life, and unleash your special gifts and undiscovered talents into the world.

Review:

I have not read the author's previous book on household inequity, Fair Play, It had to do with how much more of the domestic work women often do at home than their partners.  I think this is an important topic, as we all can see by how women were much more affected by the COVID pandemic than their male partners.  Find Your Unicorn Space Eve Rodsky's latest book, is about finding time to pursue your interests.  She makes a good case for why this is important and not a luxury.  I appreciated her practical tips for having conversations with one's partner in order to get free time to do this.  She also wrote about how we can identify what our passions are.  This may seem unnecessary, but as many people put their needs last after their kids, this was actually really useful.

What I didn't appreciate was the author's assumptions that everyone reading this book is a heterosexual woman with a male partner, who has kids.  This really limited the appeal of the book for me. She also seems to scold people who say they don't have extra time in the day.  She makes the case that you can always find time for these pursuits.  But, if someone is struggling financially, in poor health, or working over 40 hours a week, they easily may not have time for anything other than sleep. There are also cultural challenges that some people may face that make doing creative things very difficult.    

What I Liked:

I did like that the book shows how people need to bee creative.  Much as we think this is a luxury, we should realize that it is necessary for a fulfilling life to finds ways to be creative.  While some are lucky enough to combine their passion with something that pays, most of us do not have that.  By finding creative outlets, whether it be cooking wonderful meals for our families, or studying a language, we will have more satisfying lives.  

The author does a good job of describing the differences between seeking happiness, and seeking fulfillment in life.  While happiness is an emotion that comes and goes, fulfillment is deeper and longer lasting.  I really appreciated these distinctions.  Too often, we are told we need to be happy, and if we're not, something is wrong with our lives.  But, happiness comes in waves.  Just because one isn't happy at every given moment  doesn't mean their life is on the wrong track. 

The book also had practical tips for having constructive conversations with your partner about what both of you need.  Getting time to pursue your interests is a two-way street.  If your partner is taking time to work on their interests, you need to get equal time.  The author points out though, that these conversations can be emotionally charged if not handled carefully, and with mutual respect.  

What I Didn't Like:

One of my pet peeves is when someone (like a celebrity) moans about how hard it is to be a mother, only to learn that they employ a cook, a housekeeper, and a nanny!  Oh cry me a river.  They do not have it hard.  This book is like that.  There are many examples that the author uses of having to negotiate with her husband about him taking on more of the household chores and childcare so she can have her creative time.  But, from the acknowledgement at the end of the book, she does employ a nanny.  Leaving out this key detail makes her lose some credibility with me, as a reader.  

The author does concede that every study she sites on the workload inequities that women face are based on cis gender, heterosexual couples.  Maybe there haven't been any studies done with other types of households.  But this narrows the audience for this book.  Single parents, gay couples, etc. are completely shut out.

She also (very briefly) acknowledges that it's more challenging to be creative when you're having trouble making ends meet.  But then she gives examples of women who are able to do this, even though they a struggling financially.  Way to put pressure on women, Eve!  These examples, in my opinion, are themselves, unicorns.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  December 28, 2021

Author:  Eve Rodsky

Genre:  Self-Help

Audio Publisher:  Penguin Random House Audio

Narrator:  Eve Rodsky

Audiobook Length:  8 hours, 52 minutes

Print Publisher:  G.P. Putman's Sons

Print Length:  336 pages

Source:  Penguin Random House Audio

Review Format: Audiobook 

Recommendation:  While this book does offer good tips to create time for creativity, it also reeks of privilege.  I think this would be a good library read.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

From the co-creators and co-hosts of the Peabody- and Pulitzer-nominated podcast comes this unflinching, illuminating view of prison life, as told by presently and formerly incarcerated people.

The United States locks up more people per capita than any other nation in the world--600,000 each year and 2.3 million in total. The acclaimed podcast Ear Hustle, named after the prison term for eavesdropping, gives voice to that ever-growing prison population.

Co-created for the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX by visual artist Nigel Poor and inmate Earlonne Woods, who was serving thirty-one years to life before his sentence was commuted in 2018, Ear Hustle was launched in the basement media lab of California's San Quentin State Prison. As the first podcast created and produced entirely within prison, it has since been globally lauded for the rare access and perspective it contributes to the conversation about incarceration.

Now, in their first book, Poor and Woods present unheard stories that delve deeper into the experiences of incarceration and share their personal paths to San Quentin as well as how they came to be co-creators. This unprecedented narrative, enhanced by forty original black-and-white illustrations, reveals the spectrum of humanity of those in prison and navigating post-incarceration. Bringing to the page the same insight, balance, and charismatic rapport that has distinguished their podcast, Poor and Woods illuminate the full--and often surprising--realities of prison life. With characteristic candor and humor, their portrayals include unexpected moments of self-discovery, unlikely alliances, and many ingenious work-arounds. One personal narrative at a time, framed by Poor's and Wood's distinct perspectives, This Is Ear Hustle tells the real lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Review:

I have listened to the podcast of Ear Hustle (prison slang for gossip) for several years, and really appreciate what the podcast is trying to accomplish.  The podcast is made inside San Quentin State Prison, in the San Francisco Bay Area.  With raw language and topics ranging from food and music, to lockdowns to prison sex, this is an authentic portrayal of prison life.  It is it challenging to listen to at times, but it certainly opened my eyes as to the very human lives of those paying for their misdeeds.

This is Ear Hustle is the story of how the podcast came into existence.  It chronicles the lives of the two main creators of the podcast, artist Nigel Poor, and now former inmate Earlonne Woods.  I liked this book because of the honestly of the creators.  These are not saints, and they work hard to make sure that this is not a story filled with complaints or asking for pity.  They are just showing us on the outside how prison affects not only the offender, but their families as well.  But be warned:  there is a lot of raw, explicit language and descriptions of violence in this book.  If you have been a victim of a violent crime, I would think this might be a trigger, and you should not read  it.  But for others, I highly recommend this book.  

What I Liked:

Audiobook Narrators:

I really think if you want to read this book you should listen to it as an audiobook.  This book is narrated by the two hosts of the Ear Hustle podcast.  Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods have a wonderful rapport that I think would be tough to understand by just reading the words off the page.  Trusting others in prison is hard  and their easy banter masks years of work learning about each other, and understanding each other's motives. It's a really fascinating working relationship.

Impact of Prison on Families:

Regardless of how one feels about people in prison, one has to feel compassion towards the family members of the incarcerated.  While the children, partners, and parents of prisoners did nothing wrong, they are still paying the price of the prisoners poor life choices.  There's a lot of anger, guilt, and sadness playing out in these family dramas.  I was riveted by the stories of visiting loved ones in prison.  It's not a simple process, and families have to jump through a lot of hoops in order to spend any time with their people in prison.  It's especially hard on children.  I really felt for the mothers who have to bring their kids to a prison in order to see their fathers. 

Humanity of Prisoners:

Generally speaking, the hosts of the podcasts do not share how their interviewees got to prison.  While their goal is not to gloss over the crimes that were committed, they feel that divulging that information would cloud the interview.  I agree.  The podcast and book simply show what prison life is like.  It's up to the reader to identify with the prisoners humanity, or not.  I would say that prisoners do pay a heavy price for their crimes.  Loss of any control on their lives, restrictions on how they spend their day, and limited access to their families are just a few of the ways the prisoners lives have changed.  But prison can also bring order to the chaotic lives of the prisoners, which some find helpful so they can reevaluate their life choices.  

What I Was Mixed About:

While I liked the book very much, I felt like something was missing from the topics in the book.  There is only one section on the impact of crime victims.  Yes, I know that this book is focused on the prisoners.  But I would have appreciated some acknowledgment of how their crimes have impacted the victims of their criminal activity.  I know this is not the goal of the book, and that is why it was mostly left out.  But, if I am being honest with myself, it would have made it easier for me to connect with the prisoners if I knew they understood and had remorse for how they hurt their victims.  

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  October 19th, 2021

Authors:  Nigel Poor & Earlonne Woods

Audio Publisher:  Random House Audio

Audio Length:  10 Hours, 18 Minutes

Narrators:  Nigel Poor, Earlonne Woods,  & Lt. Sam Robinson

Print Publisher:  Crown Publishing Group

Book Length:  304 Pages

Genre:  Non-Fiction

Recommendation:  This is a hard-hitting account of life in prison and gives valuable insights into the challenges that inmates face.  I highly recommend this book.

Snow melted, flowers bloomed, insects droned, deer bred.  Years passed, or minutes.  "I lost grasp of time," Knight said.  "Years were meaningless.  I measured time by the season and moon.  The moon was the minute hand, the seasons the hour hand."  Thunder cracked, ducks flew, squirrels gathered, snow fell.