Peak Picks & Reviews

We’ve been led to assume that the mind is a wellspring of ideas, creativity, and knowledge, but action creates thought, and this is why design and products that make intuitive sense to people emerge when we put our bodies, and not just our brains, to work. Introduction  Simon Roberts’ The Power of Not Thinking: How Our Bodies Learn and Why We Should Trust Them is a compelling exploration of the overlooked capabilities of the human body in learning and decision-making. Rooted in anthropology, neuroscience, and philosophy, the book argues for the importance of " embodied knowledge "—the intelligence we acquire through physical experience and practice. In an era where artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making dominate discourse, Roberts reminds readers of the immense value of intuitive, body-led understanding. His work is a call to balance the cerebral with the corporeal, showing that true intelligence integrates the mind and the body in tandem. Synopsis  The book ...

We’ve lost our way and there’s no one to ask for directions. Introduction  Marieke Lucas Rijneveld’s The Discomfort of Evening (translated by Michele Hutchison) is a haunting and deeply evocative exploration of grief, trauma, and the disintegration of a family after an unimaginable loss. Winner of the 2020 International Booker Prize, this debut novel offers an unflinching portrayal of a young girl's descent into a chaotic inner world, shaped by her family’s inability to cope with the death of her brother. Set in the stark landscapes of rural Netherlands, the novel examines themes of loss, religion, and the fragility of human connections, all through the eyes of a child whose perspective is both innocent and disturbingly raw. Synopsis  The novel centers on Jas, a ten-year-old girl growing up in a devoutly religious farming family. Her life takes a dramatic turn when her older brother, Matthies, dies in a skating accident—a tragedy that fractures the already fragile bonds of her...

Marriage was her identity document, her passport to a world wider than home. Introduction  Celestial Bodies, the Man Booker International Prize-winning novel by Jokha Alharthi, offers readers a compelling glimpse into the lives of three generations of an Omani family. A narrative woven with poetic prose and stark realism, the novel explores themes of tradition, love, societal transformation, and the legacy of slavery in Oman. It also juxtaposes personal struggles with broader societal shifts, offering a nuanced portrayal of a nation in flux. Through alternating perspectives, Alharthi’s storytelling captures the tensions between the old and the new, the individual and the collective, and the personal and the political. Synopsis  Set in the fictional village of al-Awafi, Celestial Bodies chronicles the lives of sisters Mayya, Asma, and Khawla, alongside their extended family. Mayya, the eldest, submits to an arranged marriage despite harboring a secret love. Her journey is marke...