5 comments about Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street.

1. When I bought the book, I expected it to be a funny narration of the wall street life in 80s. And the first 70-80 pages kept me quite entertained. Well written and funny ! Its the second half of the book which becomes more rhetorical with a dull narration of the events and developments on the Wall street. Perhaps my expectations from the book were unrealistic. I would recommend Monkey Business if someone wants to have a real laugh at the wall street world.



2. Much of what Lewis' writes about is true. Particularly as a trainee investment banker you are thrown in and expected to know how financial markets work. I have been a banker for 20 years and can only now confidently say I know half of what I am talking about. Mind you most clients I talk to really don't have a clue - another anecdote that Lewis brings to life. This is a great read for those with insight or interest in the Wall Street set, fast paced and so funny because its true. On top of it all, it offers great insight into an interesting part of financial history, much of which has parallels to the 2007 Credit Crisis - happy reading



3. I thought this would be more interesting. I still haven't finished the book and I bought it over 6 months ago. It's just dry. If you've ever worked on the floor of an actual exchange this is like kissing your sister. I have a totally different view of trading in the 80's and institutional trading isn't it



4. This is a great book. I mean, everyone else says so, so they can't be wrong. Yes, I want a job on wall street.



5. OUTSTANDING!! This is the single best book I've ever read for learning the basics of life in a Wall St. investment bank. Very accessible and humorous, yet informative as well.

5 comments about An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness.

1. Redfield Jamison gifted the world with her memoir about bipolar which targets the disorder from two angles: the professional and the personal. Story is always profound and powerful, and I greatly appreciated her commitment to honesty of what it means to live with bipolar. She truly combined the best of two worlds - the world of truth and the facts about bipolar, juxtaposed against her own story.
   
   Possibly the most eye-opening part of the book is her struggle with lithium, and she covers the pros and cons, and wonderfully illustrates the lifesaving effects of the drug. Although she explains the many side effects and the disadvantages of the drug, she also reveals how many times it has saved her life...for better or worse.



2. I bought this book like most people, because I was told it was great. Nothing could be more remote from the reality of the book. Let's see why.
   
   For one, Kay is an over-achiever. Despite the fact that some people could classify me as one, I know it's not the reality of most people with bipolar, although she keeps on repeating it over and over.
   
   For two, the poor woman lives in a world that doesn't exist: perfect childhood, perfect lovers, perfect friends. Of course there is something that she either doctored up or didn't have the courage to admit.
   
   For three, the scene of her in lingerie in her bathroom cutting her veins after sex - I'm sorry - it's ludicrous. During most of her "psychotic episodes" she is much more together than I am in a bad day LOL
   
   But the thing that really yucked me out is how she said that love is what saved her and - especially - how she rationalized the fact that her husband didn't want children from a mentally ill wife.
   
   The only point I could relate to was her missing her productive, happy highs which - again - aren't what most bipolars experience.
   
   In short, her book could be written by Danielle Steel if it wasn't that Danielle Steel did write a book on her late son who did have bipolar, and did a spectacular job. Read that one instead!



3. I bought this book because I was listening to an Abnormal Psych podcast, and three of the episodes dealt with the book. I haven't listened to those yet, but I did just finish the book.
   I found it to be well written, easy to read (despite the occasional need for a dictionary), and most of all : it explains how the disease works and what it feels like without being too scientific about it, and with giving insight into what it feels like to be manic/depressive.
   It's got a lot of (her) personality poured onto the pages.
   I know no one with manic-depressive illness, I've never really read anything about it, but I feel as if I have a good bit of understanding now.
   I found it very interesting to read that the Lithium side effects are very similar to what someone with cfids goes through (obviously minus the manic/depressive episodes and mood swings).
   The "severe and prolonged depression" part got really emphasized in the book which after the 10th time had me sigh a "yeah, I got it the 5th time", but maybe that was because she wanted to make it really clear that this was not the usual kind of low-serotonin depression.



4. This is the most "on key" book I have read about an unquiet mind. Jamison's depiction of the disease is easy to read and to the point. If you want an informative read, don't let this one slip away. It is a must have.



5. As newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I was initially drawn to the title of the book, because "An Unquiet Mind" was what I felt I had. I am not a stupid person, by any means, but I did not feel like the author spoke to me personally about bipolar disorder or her experiences with it. The author uses clinical language and words most people would have to look up in Webster's Dictionary to understand. I feel as though the author's intended audience are her colleagues in academia. I was insulted by the author's use of the term "madness" in describing bipolar disorder, as I do not feel that I am mad, or ever have been. I do not think I have suffered from the illness to the degree that the author has, but she did not make herself or her experience with the disorder seem human like or real to me at all. In some ways, the author almost seems to have a romantic type fascination with bipolar disorder, and I see nothing even remotely romantic about having this disorder. A truly good author has the ability to be on the same level as her reader, and bring them into the story being told. I did not feel that way while reading this book, and I wasn't able to connect on a level with the author in which she made herself seem vulnerable or to which I felt some sort of empathy for her or her illness; and since I too have bipolar disorder, I find that to be one of the most important reasons why I cannot recommend this book. Come down to Earth, Ms. Jamison; that's where you will find the rest of us.

5 comments about Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs.

1. As soon as I received this book I could not put it down. It took all I had not to jump to the last page to find out how Johnathan's salmon trip ended. Normally a book has to "catch" me within the first chapter, this book "caught" me in the first paragraph!
   
   It was so much more than I expected, a wonderful and honest look into the lives of the Hillstrands and what they love to do. A must read by all!
   
   My only gripe is it wasn't long enough!
   
   I want to know when Book number 2 of the series will be out...lol!



2. "Time Bandit" is a fantastic read - whether you're a fan of "Deadliest Catch" or not! It gives you an inside look into the lives of these brave men, what they've endured, and how they've become the best in the business. Their stories made me laugh and cry. Their struggles with life and death kept me engrossed and unable to put the book down! "Time Bandit" was endearing, edgy, and enlightening. The Captains Hillstrand did a fantastic job, and I can only hope they'll consider doing another book one day.



3. I read this book in about 4-5 days. I just couldn't put it down. It really brought me into the minds of the Brothers, what the life of a fisherman is like. if you are a fan of the show Deadliest Catch,this book is a must read.



4. I bought this book the day after it came out. I was waiting very patiently for this to come out. I read it cover to cover in approx. 1 1/2 days. I just couldn't put it down. It is excellent. I watch the show, Deadliest Catch, and have all 3 seasons of the DVD's, so it was natural to buy this book. It is an easy read, and even though there are a number of situations that were on the show, it is nice to read what was going on behind what they were doing. I absolutely loved the book. I didn't even look at the pictures while I was reading, I looked at them after I was through reading the book. There are some things that were mentined in the book that I did not know about Capt. Johnathan and Capt. Andy.



5. I bought this book because I am a big fan of Deadliest Catch. As is usually the case with television, one only gets a small slice of what life is like on a crab boat in the Bering Sea in the worst conditions conceivable. I was hoping for a much more detailed introspective from the crab fisherman I felt I had gotten to know somewhat by watching the show. What I got was so much more.
   
   Not only does this book offer an engrossing perspective that is real enough to make you sea sick, but it also provides quite a bit of background information that helps you understand what gives these brave men the grit that they so obviously possess.
   
   The Hillstrand brothers are obviously not writers by trade, and that shows in places, but I found that the conversational tone added to the feeling that these guys were right next to me, laughing it up over a cold one and nudging me with their elbow as they shared a harrowing tale of the sea. What a wonderful experience!

5 comments about Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure.

1. 
   This is a great project. Sum up a life in six words. Some are funny, some poignant, some clever, all concise.
   
   I teach a writing class and plan to give this assignment to my students. There is much to be said for a simple, well-worded story.



2. I've read the book through twice now, and I still find fresh bits of wisdom and newly amusing memoirs. My only wish is that Smith Magazine gave a teeny bit of insight into the authors themselves (even as an Appendix). Because of the glimpse into two writers' lives during the Prologue, their memoirs have had the most impact for me...and it makes you realize how much complexity and meaning six simple words can carry.
   
   Since 6-word memoir submissions are still being accepted at www.smithmag.net, I wait with anticipation for the next volume. Thank you for a read that will never collect dust on my book shelf.



3. This book really made me think about putting my life into a six word memoir. There are so many cute ones - one of my favorites was (seventy years, few tears, hairy ears)



4. I read a review of this book in The New Yorker; it convinced me to buy the book. I am NOT disappointed. You can read it straight through, but it is also one of those books you can just pick up and read a few pages --great for guest room or bathroom! I have also showed it to many friends, and we have made a game of creating our own 6-word memoirs, and those of others we know--a lot of fun and conversation as a result of this book. I bought copies to send to faraway friends, too.



5. I read it and thought about so many of the memoirs. Some really told a story and some left you wondering, but it is well worth the reading time.

5 comments about Storming Las Vegas: How a Cuban-Born, Soviet-Trained Commando Took Down the Strip to the Tune of Five World-Class Hotels, Three Armored Cars, and Millions of Dollars.

1. Well researched and written. The author does a good job of not glorifying the bad guy, and gives the victims real faces. The only disappointment of the book- and the author certainly tried to uncover the truth, is what was Vigoa's actual military background? Perhaps one day we'll find out.



2. To be fair, John Huddy had somewhat of a slam-dunk on his hands with this under-told story. Even so, his writing and thoughtfulness took it to a level it wouldn't have reached in less capable hands.
   
   Huddy, a former police and crime beat reporter found an amazing story that had been downplayed by casinos and Las Vegas papers because of the potential for negative impact on their business. For a little longer than 24 months at the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s, several Las Vegas armored cars and big-time casinos were robbed in a manner that was clearly planned by someone with a knowledge of weapons and tactics well beyond that of the average criminal. Furthermore, they were bold - done right on the strip in broad daylight.
   
   Huddy tells the story of these heists and the law enforcement effort to solve them in a gripping, nearly fiction-like narrative style that keeps you almost frantic to find out what happens next. To achieve this effect, Huddy has spent an obviously huge amount of time researching the story first-hand, talking at length with those who were involved.
   
   The finished product is the tale of a man born in Cuba and trained by the Soviet military who ends up in the United States under questionable circumstances and turns to his military training to earn an illicit living in Sin City. In this case, truth truly is stranger than fiction.
   
   Huddy deserves credit for painting an even-handed portrait of the men who committed and solved the crimes, resisting the urge to just give in to stereotyping. Beyond that, Huddy finishes with a thoughtful analysis of who our Cuban anti-hero might truly be, and who he might not be. All in all, Huddy has found a great story and done it full justice with his treatment.
   
   Highly recommended for anyone who likes non-fiction crime stories. An action-packed descendant of "In Cold Blood", by Truman Capote.



3. A good read if your DVD is broke, you ran out of beer, and your main squeeze ran out the door with the toothless pizza delivery man.
   
   But come on. These super crooks wouldn't have lasted a day if the mafia still ran Las Vegas. Instead we have the morally and intellectually stunted super capitalists in charge like Steve Weenie (at least I think his name is weenie). Will the incompetent cops catch the incompetent crooks while the brain dead rich guys snooze on? It's a page turner.



4. A must read for anyone who visits "The Strip". You will easily recognize virtually every location described by the author in this book. He documents an amazing story in startling detail. You will be fascinated by his descriptions of events that most of us would never imagine could actually happen at these famous locations on "The Boulevard".



5. 
   I bought this for my husband, but as we travel around I have enjoyed listening to it immensely. Very good story.

No comments about Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter.

5 comments about Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation.

1. This book had to have been written while Cokie was doing Coke. It is all over the place. The chapters are misaligned with the text, ie: Abigail Adams personal tidbits preceded the chapter bearing her name. Here and there scattered throughout the book were interesting facts, however, the book rambled so much I am shocked it was published by a journalist!



2. In general, I've found Cokie Roberts' book, "Founding Mothers" to be an interesting if not fascinating work: she has done an excellent job of digging into the frequently ignored role of women in the development of the American Republic during the revolutionary era; and has presented her findings in an easy to read and thought provoking narrative, structured as a series of mini-biographies of each of her subjects - most (but not all) of whom were prominent in the society of the time: women like Martha Washington, wife of George Washington; Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams; Peggy Shippen, wife of the traitor Benedict Arnold; and Kitty Green, wife of General Nathaniel Greene.
   
   Building mainly upon the correspondence each of her subjects exchanged with their husbands, families and friends, you get a real sense of what life was like at the time: the challenges these people faced as war ravaged their homes, and the homes of those they loved; how frustrated they were with the complete lack of consideration that the political system and society of the time had for women; their hopes that this new country would turn a new page and allow women a voice in the political arena; and how they sought to influence the men they knew and loved, most of whom had major roles in the revolutionary effort.
   
   While I find this book to be a very informative and interesting read, I get the impression from time to time that Ms. Roberts is stretching a bit to present the points she wishes to make. Some of the evidence she presents is a bit thin, and the arguments she makes based on that evidence sometimes goes beyond what I feel is reasonable. On the other hand, as Ms. Roberts herself says: women and their contrbutions to the cause simply were not valued, and so often were not preserved at all, or are very hard to track-down. So, I cannot fault her on this point, and feel that even when individual statements might go beyond the evidence, the central themes of the book are definitely clear, and compelling.
   
   These women were strong, intelligent, creative, interesting people. Cokie Roberts does a great job of helping us learn who they were, what their lives were like, and how contributed to the building of the American Dream. Great book!



3. "Founding Mothers" tells the story of women, famous, not so famous and obscure, who contributed to the founding of the United States. In this, as in her other works, Cokie Roberts has told an excellent story.
   
   Some of the women, such as Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, we know well. Others, including Mercy Otis Warren and Eliza Pinckney, are mothers and wives of lesser known men, who influenced the crucial roles their sons and husbands played in the early Acts of the American Pageant. Some, such as Molly Pitcher, are so obscure that their actual identity is not known with certainty.
   
   This book is divided into sections pertaining to the Revolution, the writing and adoption of the Constitution and the establishment of the National Government. Some of the subjects, such as Martha Washington, play roles in more than one section.
   
   This book is well written and presents its stories so as to hold the reader's interest, regardless of whether the story is familiar or not, and central or peripheral to the development of the nation. I am always suspicious of books in which the author tries to make the subjects into something that they are not. I do not think that Ms. Roberts tries to do that in this book. Her renderings of the activities of the Founding Mothers are very believable. She seems to keep their involvement and influence, as significant as it is, within plausible limits. As readers of my reviews are aware, I have read several books about this era of our history. (See my Listmania Lists, "The Story of the American Revolution" and "Founding Presidents.") "Founding Mothers" presents, in an enchanting fashion, a perspective of the history largely absent from other books.



4. Great ability to make these stories fascinating. Much info this Revolutionary Era buff did not know. The Women were great! I still do not understand why men were so fearful of giving Women the vote and the right to own property of their own. The book relates their stories effectively and with humor.



5. I made the dreadful mistake of trying to read this book. Are we honestly to be expected to take a work of history by Cokie Roberts seriously? I don't know why anyone would take her political commentary seriously, much less whatever she tries to pass off as history. There are plenty of serious studies of women in early America that do not feature this books flaw's. I suggest you turn to any of those. This book is poorly written. It seems to have no major theme or argument. It has absolutely no documentation, meaning that it is impossible to tell where the information actually came from. Give me a break!

5 comments about The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.

1. The colors of Tibet come alive, and Dharamsala rocks (quite hilariously) into clarity. Iyer brings us into the orbit and inner sanctum of the 14th Dalai Lama -- possibly the last in a long line of Dalai Lamas -- and creates a profoundly thoughtful, intelligent, skeptical, provocative and moving portrait of the most beloved spiritual leader of our time and also a breathtaking bird's eye view of what has become of Tibet and its people in the last 50 years.
   
   The thing that's rare here is the perspective and intellectual honesty: Although he has known the Dalai Lama for thirty years, Iyer isn't a student, a follower, or even a Buddhist pracitioner. There are no overwrought feelings or needless demonstrations of somber respect, or attempts to please a big daddy figure. Iyer asks the hard questions -- has the Dalai Lama done enough for his people? -- and guides us perceptively through a rich assortment of encounters with the spiritual leader, both public and private, while skillfully revealing to us the wild projections we cast upon the smiley icon of Tibet.
   
   I can't imagine a more deliciously highbrow yet gentle-hearted portrait of anybody, much less a human being who has come to play such a huge role in our imaginations but of whom we know (and expect) so little.
   
   Pico Iyer's books are all so good -- I hope you've read The Lady and The Monk -- that I am reluctant to say this is his best work yet, but I feel it is.



2. Iyer has spent years interviewing the Dalai Lama, going along with him on his travels to the West and to Japan, as well as interviewing those close to and critical of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala,India the home of Tibet in exile. Viewed as a god and as the leader of a nation now occupied by China, this book explores the pressures upon this man who teaches non-attachment, no-self and peace while his people live under the yoke of a brutal oppressor. This is a fascinating look at this holy man's public and private personae. The author states that he is not a Buddhist. I couldn't help but wonder how he felt about Buddhism and since he is not a Buddhist what drives his fascination with the Dalai Lama. These questions remain unanswered.



3. To a skeptic steeped in Western tradition, the Dalai Lama is a puzzling figure. A celebrity created and exploited by the media? A shrewd politician? A religious icon transcending strife and ambition?
   How "authentic" a spokesman is he for Buddhism, for Tibet?
   
   The almost simultaneous visits of the Pope and the Dalai Lama in the U.S. invite comparison. The Pope, obviously, addresses himself primarily to Catholics of any nationality or ethnicity. His speeches are circumscribed by Catholic doctrine, although he attempts to reach out to other religious faiths.
   The audience of the Dalai Lama, on the other hand, is meant to include everybody, regardless of religious affiliation. He does not try to convert people to Buddhism.
   
   Pico Iyer, by birth and education a wanderer between East and West, is uniquely suited to shed some light on the problem. His close relationship with the Dalai Lama gives him easy access, his journalistic training allows him to keep a certain distance. He clears away some of the misconceptions: the Dalai Lama is not a mystic; not a "living deity". His word is not gospel - he encourages debate and criticism. He emphasizes selflessness and compassion, the interconnectedness of all human beings. But what foreigners are usually drawn to is the exotic, spiritual side of Tibetan Buddhism - the images of skull-headed creatures riding monsters and of strange, copulating deities.
   Iyer attempts to reconcile these different aspects: the rational and the irrational, the daylight side and the nighttime side, as he puts it, of Tibetan Buddhism. And he gives us a taste of some of the divisions inside Buddhism, of competing factions (such as the followers of Shugden) and rival candidates put forward as incarnate lamas.
   
   The Dalai Lama insists that he is a "simple monk", a student as well as a teacher. Meditations, prayer and reading take up most of his day. But his rigorous training in Tibetan philosophy does not serve him well when he is confronted with tourists eager for a spiritual adventure, or impatient youths seeking a fast and efficient way to enlightenment. Therefore his message has to be watered down to what often sounds like simple tenets you might find in a Boy Scout manual. You could even buy a T-shirt displaying purported sayings of the Dalai Lama....
   
   Iyer's vivid description of Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, puts you right in the middle of the rather chaotic goings-on, and you understand that the vision of a "global village" is still far from reality. When the Dalai Lama admonishes the displaced Tibetans to "build a home within" he knows it's an idea that is hard to implement; and it is not made easier by the hippies and drifters crowding the scene.
   
   There is growing tension between the Dalai Lama's message of non-violence and increasing restlessness among younger Tibetans who are calling for political action. As I write this, the Chinese government has received emissaries of the Dalai Lama, who advocates "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet. A glimmer of hope for the Tibetans?
   
   "The image of the Open Road speaks for a perpetual becoming" writes Iyer. His own struggle for peace and clarity is reflected in these pages - an attempt, as he sees it, "to bring the Dalai Lama out of Tibet and Buddhism and into the larger community of ideas and thinkers".



4. Mr Iyer provides a tender, yet seemingly detached view of the Dalai Lama himself and the context in which he lives and has to try to balance his spiritual and political duties. Very insightful and without some of the spiritually breathless language that sometimes obscures accounts of the leader of the Tibetan people. Eminently readable!



5. This book is ok. I feel the author could have written in a more personal manner about the Dalai Lama then about his own interaction with him. I feel he was talking about his own feelings instead what the Dalai Lama is really about.

5 comments about The Apostles.

1. Excellant reading material. This book helps one know the Apostles and the Holy Father and understand the meaningful value throughout Scriptures. This is a book to read more than once in order to absorb and retain all it contains.



2. The Apostles by Benedict XVI is a collection of some of the General Audiences given by Benedict XVI which deal with the origins of the Catholic Church (the full title of the book is The Origins of the Church, the Apostles, and Their Co-Workers). The book provides a look at the founding of the church by Christ and an examination of the apostles and some of the important early figures within the church. Because it is a collection of general audiences the book lacks the sort of opening or conclusions that one would expect from a typical book; however, the collected audiences hold together very well.
   
   Readers are given an excellent taste of the Pope's brilliant analysis. This book is great for Catholics who do not read a lot of theology. The Pope's books, generally speaking, are not beach reads and require a lot of time and thought; however, the subject matter in this book is presented in a much simpler fashion making it an excellent choice for those who aren't used to reading theological works. A simple style is not the same thing as simple minded though, so even veteran readers of theology will find this book to be enjoyable.
   
   This book will make a great addition to any Catholic's personal library, whether that library is a whole room of books or a single shelf.



3. Pope Benedict is a difficult read. He is a deep thinker and uses long words with lots of consonants to make his points. This volume, however, is easier than most of his writings and is a clear and concise description of the Apostle and a few major disciples mentioned in the Bible. He makes a special point to note prominent female disciples. He doesn't argue the contradition where St. Paul praises Phoebe the "deaconess" yet later refuses the women of Corinth the right to teach. I would have loved to hear his words on the matter as I have read Protestant authors explain Paul's letter as being for specific Churches and not to be taken generally for all Churches.



4. This book is excellent. It is a compliations of many of the Pope's Wednesday audience messages related to the Apostles. It is a must buy if any person interested to know the "portfolio" of all the apostles.



5. Having read that Benedict XVI was a scholar and theologian, The Apostles was unexpected. This book adds nothing to the field of scholarship on the apostles. It's a puff piece to substantiate authoritarian dogma.

1 comments about The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom.

1. There are 2 facets of Simon Winchester's work that make him one of my favorite authors. Firstly, he brings amazing players in History forward that I very often have never heard of. Secondly, he makes reading History tremendously fascinating. The latter should be a given, how can our past be anything but fascinating? The reality is that History books can be painful to read.
   
   Noel Joseph Terrence Montgomery Needham is the subject of Mr. Winchester's 19th work, sound familiar? Not to me. However by the end of the book I look forward to seeking out more about this man as Mr. Winchester has a knack for catalyzing a reader's interest well beyond the book he offers. Professor Needham was a astonishing man who filled his 94 years with remarkable travels, eccentric behavior and a decision so poor the reader will ask was he a fool or a knave? (Question posed by the author)
   
   What is not in dispute is the marvelous history of China Professor Needham documented through first hand investigation over thousands of miles traveled in China (many in war time) and the decades of research that followed. The only other historian that comes to mind as being so single minded in his pursuit of a subject is Sir Martin Gilbert and his decades long work on Sir Winston Spencer Churchill.
   
   The work is also timely as it coincides with China's re-entry as a focal point for the world. China's existence is best measured in millennia and her scientific contributions when listed are nearly as long and often pre-date conventional wisdom on who was first with a given invention. Think you know where printing was first documented, suspension bridges first built, how about the compass, blood circulation or perhaps a flame-thrower?
   
   China's recent history is no indicator of its fantastic past and the latter may more likely be an indicator of what is yet to come. This is another great read by a wonderful author who never disappoints.