I used audible to read this book and I thought that was just fantastic. The reader did a great job reading with good cadence the patterns and poetry ...moreI used audible to read this book and I thought that was just fantastic. The reader did a great job reading with good cadence the patterns and poetry throughout the book. (less)
Pretty decent book and worth a read. It was more a commentary on the current state of our society than it was a zombie thriller. That's not meant as...morePretty decent book and worth a read. It was more a commentary on the current state of our society than it was a zombie thriller. That's not meant as a knock, on the contrary I was pleasantly surprised to read some substance to the book rather than just gore. It really got me thinking about society and our current state of affairs and actually had me thinking how I would survive a zombie-pocalypse, or rather, if I would survive.
I was left a little disappointed in the ending, it just felt weak, but the rest of the book is pretty good. The format is interesting, it is a series of interviews giving different perspectives on what happened rather than one story told. I'm undecided if it added or took away from the story line but I give kudos for trying something different.(less)
As a developer, I'm not necessarily looking to start a business that makes millions of dollars. I'm just looking to start/run a business that lets me...moreAs a developer, I'm not necessarily looking to start a business that makes millions of dollars. I'm just looking to start/run a business that lets me work my own hours and live a comfortable life. This book provides some solid advice on starting and running a business by yourself or with a single partner. I think it takes what is practical from "The 4 Hour Work Week" and applies it to starting a small service or product oriented business.
I saw a lot of value from the book on things such as mailing lists and first tier marketing approaches. It also helped instill confidence that you don't need VC funding if you just want to start and run a small business. (less)
A great follow up to Daemon that doesn't dissapoint. I finished this book in a week (which is very fast for me). I listened to it in audio format an...moreA great follow up to Daemon that doesn't dissapoint. I finished this book in a week (which is very fast for me). I listened to it in audio format and I found myself sitting in parking lots and the driveway hanging on to every spoken word. The characters are carried over from Daemon and continue to be developed as you are taken along their quest. Just like Daemon, it's a great tech fiction work and I can't recommend it enough. Read Daemon, then read this. (less)
One of the best books about iPhone development that doesn't have a single bit of code in it (which is a good thing). This book is completely focused ...moreOne of the best books about iPhone development that doesn't have a single bit of code in it (which is a good thing). This book is completely focused on making good design and interface choices when building your iPhone apps. As a developer with very little design skill, I can't recommend this book enough. It takes a practical approach to design that makes it easy to understand design principles and why you need to make certain choices in your app design. Every iOS developer should read this book!(less)
Awesome, awesome, awesome tech fiction book. This book had me hooked from the start and was excellent. I've been looking for a good book since I was...moreAwesome, awesome, awesome tech fiction book. This book had me hooked from the start and was excellent. I've been looking for a good book since I was spoiled by "The Girl With..." series and this satisfied that itch. It was full of awesome tech but not boring. The characters are well developed and you get attached to them. I heard a lot of complaints about the ending of the book but I thought it was great. The ending is obviously a leader into the sequel, Freedom TM, but it had a great twist that makes you question everything you read prior. Do yourself a favor and read this book. (less)
This book was LONG! And that's not entirely a bad thing but I didn't feel like it helped to build up the story at all. I gave this a shot as so many...moreThis book was LONG! And that's not entirely a bad thing but I didn't feel like it helped to build up the story at all. I gave this a shot as so many technologist recommended it but I was left disappointed. It did contain a lot of tech and fun encryption but the story was lacking and the ending was weak.(less)
This book was okay. Nothing spectacular. It was short, which is nice from time to time but it lacked character and story development. It tried to c...moreThis book was okay. Nothing spectacular. It was short, which is nice from time to time but it lacked character and story development. It tried to create suspenseful situations that were as exciting as flat soda. (less)
A fantastic conclusion to the Millenium trilogy. This book was just as great, if not better, than its predecessors. What I loved most was that the b...moreA fantastic conclusion to the Millenium trilogy. This book was just as great, if not better, than its predecessors. What I loved most was that the book wrapped up all of the loose ends from the entire series, something I wasn't sure it was going to have time to do as the pages dwindled down. The character and plot development is superb and at times I found myself almost calling out in excitement as the plot developed. The book did a fantastic job of building your relationship with the characters and investing you emotionally as a reader. The technical parts of the book were believable and not outlandish fantasy. I can't recommend this series enough. It leaves me wanting more and afraid that I will never find another book (let alone series) as compelling.(less)
One of the best books I have ever read. This second book in the Stieg Larson series is even more powerful and compelling than the first. Stieg did a...moreOne of the best books I have ever read. This second book in the Stieg Larson series is even more powerful and compelling than the first. Stieg did an amazing job of pulling you to the edge of your seat and then suddenly switching story lines so that you were constantly wanting more. As the details about a story line built up, so did your anticipation to know more and then suddenly he would switch story lines prolonging the satisfaction of knowing the full story. This kind of writing is powerful and enthralling. I was pulled deeply into the story with all the details, character development and plot twist. I can't recommend this series enough and I'm afraid that any book that I read from this point forward will just leave me wanting for more of Stieg Larson.
One suggestion to readers, do yourself a favor and by this book and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" at the same time. You'll be glad you did so you can finish the series after you finish this book.(less)
This is originally a Swedish book and although it has been translated to English very well, I had some troubles keeping characters straight because of...moreThis is originally a Swedish book and although it has been translated to English very well, I had some troubles keeping characters straight because of the names. But, I generally have a problem keeping characters straight which is one of the reasons I don't read a lot of fiction. But this book was really enjoyable. At times, I felt like it moved slow but really, I was so enthralled, I was constantly waiting to find out more and hear more about the characters. I just couldn't consume it fast enough. There were several story lines that intermingled throughout and eventually combined. The book does a good job of finishing each story by the end of the book but you are left wanting more, wanting to know what the next book will have, and thankfully there are two more books in this series. I can't wait to get the next one.
There was an overall theme carried in the book, that is both obvious and oblivious; at least it was oblivious to me while reading it and then became blatantly apparent when I finished.(less)
This was a really short book with a lot of inspirational and sound advice. It offered examples from the authors experiences as founders of Basecamp a...moreThis was a really short book with a lot of inspirational and sound advice. It offered examples from the authors experiences as founders of Basecamp and Ruby on Rails and how they've kept their company small and employees dispersed and have been very successful in a specific market. They haven't claimed to be anything that they aren't and they do a few things and do them very well rather than being broad generalists. I liked how they encouraged companies to stay small and profitable rather than expanding and sinking, it sounds obvious but everyone has seen a company who has gotten too big too quick and sank themselves. I also like how they weren't afraid to get qualified employees where ever they were and aren't afraid of telecommuting. They are very forward thinking and have built an agile company that is profitable and can respond to change. They are the small ship tacking quickly in the seas.(less)
It was a little slow in the beginning but I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to read and with all the historical facts along the way, you wanted ...moreIt was a little slow in the beginning but I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to read and with all the historical facts along the way, you wanted to believe it was real. He made one of America's greatest heros and Presidents and made him even more admirable. At times you forget that vampires don't exist because the stories and historical events are so descriptive.(less)
This is one of the best books I have read. The book gives step-by-step instructions for getting your company into social media and more importantly, ...moreThis is one of the best books I have read. The book gives step-by-step instructions for getting your company into social media and more importantly, how to communicate with and interact with your customers in a way that is beneficial to both of you. This is a great book to get customers coming to you instead of traditional interruption marketing.
My only complaint is that the book wasn't longer. That's not to say that it was short but rather that I didn't want it to end. It was full of good ideas and techniques for getting the name of your company or product out there.
I knew from the first chapter that this was going to be a book that I would read over and over again. (less)
Very interesting use cases about how companies changed how they appeared to consumers. Sometimes without their own involvement in the cases of Timber...moreVery interesting use cases about how companies changed how they appeared to consumers. Sometimes without their own involvement in the cases of Timberland and Pabst Blue Ribbon. (less)
I was hesitant about this book but it's actually pretty good.
Some will criticize it for being too touchy feely and even I can't help but a...moreI was hesitant about this book but it's actually pretty good.
Some will criticize it for being too touchy feely and even I can't help but admit that as someone who is adverse to physical expressions of emotions, I'm weary of a huggy work environment. Aside from all the hugging, it has some pretty good ideas for making yourself marketable and admired.
One of the points that the book makes is the importance of sharing knowledge. It gives you good steps for gaining knowledge to share as well, encouraging you to read books, actual physical hard backed booked (which is ironic since I was listening to it in audiobook format). Once you have a number of books under your belt, you begin recommending these books to people that you think would benefit from them. You then become a comrade of these people as they find useful information in these resources.
One of the other points that was emphasized in the book that I liked was the sharing of contacts and social network nodes. Introduce people of need to people that supply that need. It's a win-win for everyone involved. This point reinforced ideas introduced to me by How to Win Friends & Influence People
Overall a good book and probably worth a read again when I get into curmudgeon mode. Like I said, a lot of touchy feely concepts and a lot of talk of bizlove and lovecats, that made me uncomfortable but I could see them working in certain situations. The benefit of turning a business relationship into a social relationship is more business and that is clear.(less)
A very intriguing book filled with a mix of pretty solid good ideas and then some really drastic and out there ideas. I'm not saying the drastic and ...moreA very intriguing book filled with a mix of pretty solid good ideas and then some really drastic and out there ideas. I'm not saying the drastic and out-there ideas were bad, they were just extreme or hard to swallow.
One idea from the book that I was particularly fond of was taking mini-retirements all throughout life rather than saving it up until the end when you are too old to enjoy them.
I liked the idea of a "muse" project, one that needs very little oversight but can be a source of income with a little effort up front but then having your involvement taper off while you automate the project/business and still collect the income. I'm not sure that I can come up with one, but I liked the idea of having one.
I also liked his idea of outsourcing certain tasks to personal and virtual assistants. Having them find you jobs, write resumes and cover letters, schedule interviews, perform research and create presentations. It seemed ingenious really.
Some of his work slip streaming tactics seemed a bit reclusive and not really possible if you are in a service based position but that doesn't mean that the techniques couldn't be adapted to most work situations. I may not be able to check email once a week like him, but I couldn't certainly trim it down to twice or three times a day and put off the constant interruption of "new mail" notifications.
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