Jobs' story intersects & defined my life in so many crazy ways. Even worked with many people in the book. Def found it fascinating, in many ways inspi...moreJobs' story intersects & defined my life in so many crazy ways. Even worked with many people in the book. Def found it fascinating, in many ways inspiring, in many ways sad.
Worth reading, but I can't say the book is well written. (less)
In this case the tv show was much better. This is still a good book but the tv series does a much better job of taking you there, both emotionally and...moreIn this case the tv show was much better. This is still a good book but the tv series does a much better job of taking you there, both emotionally and physically. I was hoping the book would add depth or nuance but the show covers everything in the book and with more depth and nuance. (less)
Dark humor and sincere camaraderie overcomes the bleak but thrilling adventure of two young men avoiding execution in the freezing citywide morgue tha...moreDark humor and sincere camaraderie overcomes the bleak but thrilling adventure of two young men avoiding execution in the freezing citywide morgue that was Leningrad during the German siege.
Besides being a great page turner, it was another in a long line of books that makes me infinitely grateful and reflective on the charmed and comfortable life I enjoy. (less)
It's astonishing what some people, too many people, have endured and survived in their life. It's simultaneously depressing and inspiring.
A ...moreIt's astonishing what some people, too many people, have endured and survived in their life. It's simultaneously depressing and inspiring.
A well told memoir by a classic, stoic English gentleman. It's cold and factual for most of the book, but that sets the record straight and helps you stay clear headed as you follow a soldier's persevering attempt to stay clear headed in the most twisted and unimaginable circumstances.
Then after the war, as he looks back at a lifetime of unhealed and unspoken nightmares it resolves in a very tender and touching reunion that helps lift the spirits somewhat - it helps knowing that the little humanity that was expressed in those dark days had a lasting and life altering effect.
It's hard to read at times, but I'm extremely glad I did. If nothing else, it helps me be supremely grateful for the life I enjoy and thankful to the people who have stood up to tyranny and hate.(less)
Funny sweet and a little bitter. Great light read. Really liked the scattershot format. I especially appreciated it because she's a home town girl and...moreFunny sweet and a little bitter. Great light read. Really liked the scattershot format. I especially appreciated it because she's a home town girl and i loved all the local references she made. (less)
I really appreciated how the book was both objectively factual and emotionally revealing. It really showed the deep personal struggles, denial, and st...moreI really appreciated how the book was both objectively factual and emotionally revealing. It really showed the deep personal struggles, denial, and strange brew of contradictory ideologies that were polarizing people on the international stage. The access Martha Dodd unwittingly gained thru her indiscriminate romancing also reveals the internal deceits, paranoia and calculated savagery of the Reich's inner circle.(less)
Last 1/3 is thrilling but takes too long to get the guts of the story. Devil is much better. Learning about Marconi is really interesting and I would ...moreLast 1/3 is thrilling but takes too long to get the guts of the story. Devil is much better. Learning about Marconi is really interesting and I would rather have read more details about the science of radio than the endless often tedious exposition on Crippen's dull existence. The two stories never really connect in an interesting way like they did in Devil.(less)
Explains really clearly why Montessori is such a natural and superior way for kids to learn. While demonstrating over and over why standard schooling ...moreExplains really clearly why Montessori is such a natural and superior way for kids to learn. While demonstrating over and over why standard schooling is so unnatural and such an abysmal failure.
After reading this book you'll find yourself wondering how anybody could tolerate standard schooling and why all schools don't adopt the Montessori method.
One criticism I have is that some of the examples he offers and arguments he makes can sometimes be a bit simplistic or biased. (less)
Interesting to know, fascinating parallels with the internet, but the writing is completely wooden and lazy - it's essentially just a collection of ev...moreInteresting to know, fascinating parallels with the internet, but the writing is completely wooden and lazy - it's essentially just a collection of events along with a few related anecdotes. It's like a high school report in book form.(less)
wow!! This makes Jaws look like a Disney feel good story. The research and details of the people, times and places takes you there. At first it's a ni...morewow!! This makes Jaws look like a Disney feel good story. The research and details of the people, times and places takes you there. At first it's a nice slow build up but then it becomes simultaneously terrifying, truly terrifying, and fascinating! A book I will never forget. It was especially fascinating since I grew up in the area and went to some of those exact beaches and towns.(less)
Meh. I hate comics. This is the first comic novel I've ever read. It did nothing to increase the appeal of the genre for me.
Fairly convent...moreMeh. I hate comics. This is the first comic novel I've ever read. It did nothing to increase the appeal of the genre for me.
Fairly conventional and tedious story of a dysfunctional family. Only really interesting thing was seeing life from the POV of a child living with a closeted gay father.(less)
Just the kind of book I love - historic non-fiction thriller.
I will say, there probably was a little too much historic waxing about the ar...moreJust the kind of book I love - historic non-fiction thriller.
I will say, there probably was a little too much historic waxing about the architects and their travails, while the thrills were a bit spoiled because the punches were always telegraphed in advance.
Nevertheless, it took me there, to that time and place. And I'm really glad it didn't fetishize the killings - it attempted to explain the killer's thinking without glorifying it.
It was also a really interesting companion to another recent read "Conquering Gotham: A Gilded Age Epic: The Construction of Penn Station and Its Tunnels" - which features several of the same characters and similar subjects.(less)
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the backstage setting and seedy underbelly of circus life during the heyday and the great depression. The story was p...moreI really enjoyed the atmosphere, the backstage setting and seedy underbelly of circus life during the heyday and the great depression. The story was pretty engaging, but a bit too sentimental.
The scenes at the nursing home were trite and pointless. It was jarring and annoying whenever it switched back to the nursing home, killing the momentum and the atmosphere. I just started skipping over those rude interruptions.
I did like the setup in the prologue - that helped me get through some of the sappier stretches. I just wanted to find out what the story was behind the incident described at the start. Very clever. And I was happily rewarded with a satisfying, unexpected result.(less)
This book was particularly interesting since I grew up in the Main Line neighborhood where Cassatt lived and of course spent a fair bit of time going ...moreThis book was particularly interesting since I grew up in the Main Line neighborhood where Cassatt lived and of course spent a fair bit of time going up to NYC through those very tunnels into Penn Station.
For some reason, I seem to have a some strange kick for reading books on history, shipping, pioneering, and the New York region.
I really wish there was a video that would show exactly how the tunnels were dug out. It's not all that clear from the descriptions in the book.
Other than that, I really got a good feel for the people, personalities, events and forces at work. It's pretty astonishing to learn how massive projects like this came to be.(less)
Enjoyable read about and by the first solo circumnavigator of the globe. It was turn of the century, as steam ships were taking over the waterways. I ...moreEnjoyable read about and by the first solo circumnavigator of the globe. It was turn of the century, as steam ships were taking over the waterways. I had just read a book on Cook, so this was an interesting follow-up to see how much changed and how much hadn't.
If I hadn't just read the Cook book (heh) then I probably wouldn't have found this book all that interesting.(less)
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