A very interesting read. Harari make quite a few bold statements (which is not unexpected give the uncertainty of the material) and quite a few assumptions. However, he make many a good points and there is lots of "food for thought". I highly recommend this book, not because I agree or disagree with certain points, but because it makes me think about things a bit differently.
Excellent! If you liked the original novels by Sayers, you will enjoy this one! I plan on reading them all!
The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life by Chris Guillebeau
An excellent book that will inspire even the most uninspired! It's worth reading just see what others do with their time and the many possibilities.
It's difficult to describe this book as it's so dense with information, studies, results and conclusions. It details thinking, fast (intuitive at a glance) and slow (active and thought provoking). There is something for everyone, parents, students, teachers, workers, managers, leaders ... and on and on. I was a bit disillusioned with many of the conclusions drawn in the last chapter and the political nature of it "spin" (or possibly an attempt to "nudge"). However, I realize this is the authors purview and understand fully (just don't agree with the logic/arguments). Other than that one negative comment, the book was awesome - read it and judge for yourself!
A very well written and interesting collection of short stories. They tie together well, making a very cohesive book. Recommended for all and well worth the read.
An uplifting Christmas story typical of Evans. A very quick read and a story that flows nicely. If you're looking for a nice Christmas read, I recommend this book.
A excellent collection of six short stories all related to Christmas. All were well worth the read. I especially enjoyed "Noelle" and "Nice Wheels". The ending of Noelle was excellent. If you're looking for a quick Christmas read, I highly recommend this collection.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
A great Christmas mystery with a fantastic ending. As will all of the Agatha Christie mystery's, the ending will not disappoint. This story ties together very nicely. Highly recommended for the Christmas season.
A great Christmas book that will get you into the season! A quick read that you'll not want to put down. Highly recommend.
A good homage to Wodehouse. Bertie and Jeeves were up to their usual antics. If you like Wodehouse, I'm sure you will like this book also.
An excellent and very readable book. I reminded me a bit of Dostoevsky in its self contemplation. A very good ending that brings the story together well.
An excellent book on a very interesting topic. I enjoyed how Soviet math clubs were presented in the book, very eye opening. Perelman is unbelievable, definitely "made of different dough". He is a product of a system that promoted mathematical pursuit. Absolutely brilliant! In a society in which most can name NFL quarterbacks, how many even know Perelman or can appreciate his intellect? As he says (from his in Latin), "I will go on my own way and let others stick to theirs".
An excellent book with a very interesting theme. Freedom vs. Control. I believe this is a must read for all students as it counters current political trends in America and throughout the world. The only fault I have is that the ending came too quickly.
This is a great book! It reminded me a lot of Kidnapped and Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story takes place in 18th century London and centers about a 12 year old pickpocket. His adventures lead to witnessing murder, imprisonment, escape, friendship and betrayal. It's all there! Garfield's writing, phrasing and choice of words is excellent. His description reminded me a bit of Dickens. The Folio Society edition has a great introduction by Jamila Gavin that, like the book, is well work the read.
A great overview of the US Constitution, its amendments and important Supreme Court decisions. Written in 1963 (and revised in 1968), it provides insight into the minds and views of our forefathers and their descendants. I found many of the Supreme Court decisions and their subsequent opinions very interesting, although only partially quoted. A good overview of the politics involved in the creation of the Constitution was provided. It is interesting to see the power the Supreme Court has in directing political policy. I'm not sure that the founders intended for such a small group of non-representative (i.e. elected and removable) individuals would have such power. Although their ability to enforce their decision is very limited, their ability to steer is virtually unlimited. Even though this book is now 50 years old, I strongly recommend it as it provides many facts, insights and arguments that may be lost in more recent accounts. I highly recommend this book.
Excellent book! Highly recommended to parents, young athletes, students and coaches. Written in 2000 when Jeter was still a young major leaguer, with much of his career in front of him. His lessons and recommendations are useful to everyone. You will certainly get something helpful out of this book regardless of your goals or interests.
Very good book about a young boy's first love with a flirtatious older girl. Setting is 18th century Moscow. All of the characters play their part well with the exception of the boy's father, who is devious and quite unlikable (by me that is). A good twist that was easy for the reader to see coming, but not so easy for the boy. A short book and an easy read.
Brain Maker: The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain–for Life by David Perlmutter
A very interesting book and a great companion to The Grain Brain. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a neurological disorder. I found it enlightening. I believe that transitioning to and then maintaining the recommended diet would be extremely difficult.
I loved this book. Somehow I put it on my reading list (I must have seen it referenced in some other book and it struck a good nerve). In any case, I am glad I did. I think the book is way ahead of it's time, specifically from an independent women perspective. I love books that promote independence, in action and thought, and this book did just that. The characters were first class and the descriptions were excellent. it's a very easy read and very entertaining. I Highly recommend this book - you will not be disappointed.
Anyone remotely interested in Sherlock Holmes should read this book, I highly recommend it. It does a great job of overviewing the "life" of Holmes - in magazines, books, comics, plays, movies, television, societies and whatever else. It's amazing how Holmes is still alive and well. Dundas reveals many of the Holmes connections (e.g. Alfred from Batman played Holmes on television - it's on youtube).
Ok, it's an excellent book about Holmes. However, I found it to be a choppy read as it was very haphazard and scattered about. Also, the author approached being obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch. Next to Holmes, Watson and Doyle, I think that Cumberbatch get the most print. His description of seeing Cumberbatch in a crowd of civilians (his word) is "like finding a baby black panther at your local humane society". The simile is a bit much. I agree that Cumberbatch does a good job uniquely portraying Holmes in the Sherlock series. I also agree that the series is unique, creative and fresh breath of Holmes. However, he's not the next Messiah (neither was Gillette, Rathbone, Howard or Brett). He is merely portraying Holmes - popular today given our standards and minimized attention span.
Dundas becomes a bit to political for me (and likely Holmes) near the close of the book. I agree with his assessment that Holmes would dislike the "anti-Sherlockian thinking" prevalent today. Looking at a more rudimentary example, say weather forecasting - it's interesting that experts come up show more with nearly opposite predictions for the same scenario. I also wonder what Holmes would think of mathematical modeling and the conclusions that are eagerly accepted even after the models have been disproven. Cause, effect and co-incidence are often difficult to pin down, but "fact-twisting theory" is a game played by both sides.
Finally, four pages of acknowledgements are a bit too much. I was surprised not to see a third grade teacher or a distant relative of Doyle (he actually included standing near Benedict Cumberbatch).
I write this not to discourage you from reading the book - by all means I encourage you to read it for yourself. Make your own determinations - In any case I guarantee you will get something out of it. I have a list of things to investigate - Long Live Sherlock Holmes! show less
Ok, it's an excellent book about Holmes. However, I found it to be a choppy read as it was very haphazard and scattered about. Also, the author approached being obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch. Next to Holmes, Watson and Doyle, I think that Cumberbatch get the most print. His description of seeing Cumberbatch in a crowd of civilians (his word) is "like finding a baby black panther at your local humane society". The simile is a bit much. I agree that Cumberbatch does a good job uniquely portraying Holmes in the Sherlock series. I also agree that the series is unique, creative and fresh breath of Holmes. However, he's not the next Messiah (neither was Gillette, Rathbone, Howard or Brett). He is merely portraying Holmes - popular today given our standards and minimized attention span.
Dundas becomes a bit to political for me (and likely Holmes) near the close of the book. I agree with his assessment that Holmes would dislike the "anti-Sherlockian thinking" prevalent today. Looking at a more rudimentary example, say weather forecasting - it's interesting that experts come up show more with nearly opposite predictions for the same scenario. I also wonder what Holmes would think of mathematical modeling and the conclusions that are eagerly accepted even after the models have been disproven. Cause, effect and co-incidence are often difficult to pin down, but "fact-twisting theory" is a game played by both sides.
Finally, four pages of acknowledgements are a bit too much. I was surprised not to see a third grade teacher or a distant relative of Doyle (he actually included standing near Benedict Cumberbatch).
I write this not to discourage you from reading the book - by all means I encourage you to read it for yourself. Make your own determinations - In any case I guarantee you will get something out of it. I have a list of things to investigate - Long Live Sherlock Holmes! show less
Excellent book! Every parent, teacher, coach and human should read this book.
Excellent review of the dig efforts at Rogers Island.
Very good set of Holmes short stories based on radio drama's of the 1940's and 1950's. I think any Holmes fan would find it a good read. Recommend giving it a try.
An excellent overview of the French and Indian war period fort, Fort Willam Henry in Lake George, NY. The author details archaeology efforts that he has lead at the fort and their results. Extremely informative with numerous pictures (of artifacts and of digs). A very easy and worthwhile read for anyone with an interest in the history of the Lake George area and the French and Indian War. Highly recommended!
A very interesting book about a 1758 skirmish in the snow-covered mountains to the west of northern Lake George. The battle was between a group of "American" Rangers lead by Robert Rogers and the French. The Rangers were ambushed, many perished and other escaped via the lake (frozen at the time). This is an interesting account, as the author is a re-enactor and attempted to actually "play out" the battle.
This is a unique form of field research that may uncover impossibilities and support conjectures. The book contains excellent illustrations/maps as to how the battle proceeded and ultimately Rogers escaped.
The author is clearly paritsan to the French and most specifically to their leader that day, Jean Baptiste Levrault de Langis. Langis is credited for his ingenuity, military understanding and general ability. This is contrasted to Rogers, who the author did not see as a stongly as other historians. The book clearly puts Langis on a pedestal (an I agree that by all accounts he was worthy) and is rather critical of Rogers (who certainly had his shortcomings, but by other accounts was a significant addition to the cause). In any case, the book is well worth the read as it provides a great, quick account of a very interesting and unique battle.
This is a unique form of field research that may uncover impossibilities and support conjectures. The book contains excellent illustrations/maps as to how the battle proceeded and ultimately Rogers escaped.
The author is clearly paritsan to the French and most specifically to their leader that day, Jean Baptiste Levrault de Langis. Langis is credited for his ingenuity, military understanding and general ability. This is contrasted to Rogers, who the author did not see as a stongly as other historians. The book clearly puts Langis on a pedestal (an I agree that by all accounts he was worthy) and is rather critical of Rogers (who certainly had his shortcomings, but by other accounts was a significant addition to the cause). In any case, the book is well worth the read as it provides a great, quick account of a very interesting and unique battle.
A very well written, organized and thorough book on the capture of Fort William Henry by the French in The French and Indian War. The book is organized into seven chapters detailing leading up to the war, the importance of Lake George, the fort itself, the French Seige, the "Massacre", the Aftermath and perceptions. I found the details of the Lake and the fort were excellent especially their relationship and importance to the northern geography (Lake Champlain and French forts) and politics (protecting Albany (et. al.) from invasion. The final chapter titled "Perceptions" clearly illustrated how unclear the actual events are documented. The author did an excellent job documenting numerous eye-witness accounts (many contradictory) and letting the reading decide for oneself. Overall, a great overview of the events that unfolded and hghly recommended.
I read Thomas Hardy: Behind the Mask by Andrew Norman earlier this year and it spurred my interest in rereading Jude the Obscure. I had read Jude the first time about 25 years ago. I had recollections of the book, but honestly most were negative. By negative, I do not mean a bad story or a poorly written book, instead, I mean a diffucult story to like. On the second reading (being 25 years older), I appreciate the book much more. Having read all of Hardy, I find this book his most caustic and critical. It is essentially an indictment of traditional (i.e. 19th century religious) marriage and it's inherent pitfalls to individual opportunity and improvement.
The story revolves around Jude and Sue (his cousin) and their relationships, as well as their progressive view on society and marriage. Both Jude and Sue could be considered to be naive (I mean that in a good way) to their detriment. I will not detail the story here, as to not spoil it, but fair warning be given - this is a diffufcult book to digest. As always with Hardy, fate is a major player.
I strongly recommend reading (and rereading this book). The characters are well constructed (especially Arabella, who typlifies much that Hardy dislikes).
Again, Hardy's observations were keen, yet caustic (in an often witty and subtle way). Here are some of my favorite:
- "optional dimples"
- "ready to quarrel with the sun for shining on her"
- "a nest of common place school masters whose characteristic is timid obsequiousness to show more tradition"
- ... not their essential soundness, but their occasional outcomes"
- "... pioneers..." (from page 348 - Part 6, Chapter 3)
- "Their cup of sorrow is now full"
- "The flowers in the bride's hand are sadly like the garland which decked the heifers of sacrifice in the old times!" (wow! this says it all)
Overall, this is a cruel story of opportunities denied by traditions accepted blindly and often contrary to reason. Very thought provoking, it must have been revolutionary when first published. show less
The story revolves around Jude and Sue (his cousin) and their relationships, as well as their progressive view on society and marriage. Both Jude and Sue could be considered to be naive (I mean that in a good way) to their detriment. I will not detail the story here, as to not spoil it, but fair warning be given - this is a diffufcult book to digest. As always with Hardy, fate is a major player.
I strongly recommend reading (and rereading this book). The characters are well constructed (especially Arabella, who typlifies much that Hardy dislikes).
Again, Hardy's observations were keen, yet caustic (in an often witty and subtle way). Here are some of my favorite:
- "optional dimples"
- "ready to quarrel with the sun for shining on her"
- "a nest of common place school masters whose characteristic is timid obsequiousness to show more tradition"
- ... not their essential soundness, but their occasional outcomes"
- "... pioneers..." (from page 348 - Part 6, Chapter 3)
- "Their cup of sorrow is now full"
- "The flowers in the bride's hand are sadly like the garland which decked the heifers of sacrifice in the old times!" (wow! this says it all)
Overall, this is a cruel story of opportunities denied by traditions accepted blindly and often contrary to reason. Very thought provoking, it must have been revolutionary when first published. show less