An energetic and readable summary of a simply ruinous two-week period that hit Chicago in July 1919. Krist starts this history with a spectacular blim...moreAn energetic and readable summary of a simply ruinous two-week period that hit Chicago in July 1919. Krist starts this history with a spectacular blimp crash (not a typo), before pulling back the camera and introducing us to the politicians, reporters, and other historical figures who would make their mark on Chicago. As he comes back to July of 1919, Krist weaves in a missing-child story that feels up-to-date in its breathless and constant coverage, a transit strike, a race riot, and the battles of political machines that arguably exacerbated each.
Where City of Scoundrels falls short is primarily in living up to its own goals. While these events certainly had their impacts, Krist never really makes the case that these events caused Chicago to be its modern self in a meaningful way, except to argue at the end that certain politicians would or would not have been in office, and therefore modernization plans would have gone differently. While this doesn't detract from Krist's accomplishment in pulling together a very interesting piece of history, it does feel a little disappointing.
An interesting and fairly comprehensive overview of the history, science, and politics behind that eternal frustration of dieters everywhere, the calo...moreAn interesting and fairly comprehensive overview of the history, science, and politics behind that eternal frustration of dieters everywhere, the calorie. What we know about the calorie, it turns out, isn't half so interesting as what we on't know, and why. Marion Nestle and her co-author, Malden Nesheim, explain the difficulties in measuring both inputs and outputs of calories, and then the further difficulties of both turning that into useful information and getting people to act on that useful information.
While they acknowledge the pressing problem of under- and malnutrition worldwide, and the frustrating fact that the world manufactures enough food to cure those problems, Nestle and Nesheim are primarily interested in the American story: why do we eat so much more than we used to? Why is the state of package labeling the way it is? Why are calories only listed on light beers, and not other forms of alcohol? The answers to these questions are wrapped up in politics, society, culture, and (occasionally) science, past and present.
Why Calories Count is an extremely useful book if you want to be a more educated consumer of food in America. And why wouldn't you want to be?(less)
As shop-worn as the trope is, I wish that The End of Money had a question mark at the end of its title, at least in spirit. In fact, the title belies...moreAs shop-worn as the trope is, I wish that The End of Money had a question mark at the end of its title, at least in spirit. In fact, the title belies one of the central difficulties of the project Wolman endorses: what the book is about is the end of cash, as in physical bills and coins, not the end of money, as in a medium of exchange. That the topics are confused in the book's title speaks to how deeply entrenched cash is in societies throughout the world, and the intense difficulty of dislodging it completely.
The book takes the form of a travelogue, which doesn't add a lot to the book; while Wolman speaks with some interesting people, he doesn't really suss out any major differences in the countries he visits to validate the expense account. The major observation he makes on this front is that, in some cases, less-developed countries can adopt technology faster than fully-industrialized countries--for example, the cell phone. This is an observation that has been made before, and I wasn't convinced it justified the leaps being made.
Finally, Wolman does not exactly give the pro-cash camp a lot of credit. The first chapter opens with him speaking to an apocalyptic evangelical Christian, who worries that a cashless society represents the "Mark of the Beast" from Revelation. Which, okay. It isn't until the final chapter that he brings up the very legitimate questions of privacy, data security, and payment integrity, and then those concerns are blown off with "it's mostly criminals who care about people not knowing how they spend their money," and "we'll figure it out," respectively. Neither of these responses is likely to satisfy somebody raising these questions.
One wonders whether this book would have been better at a third of the length and released as a Kindle Single. As it is, the topic deserves a more comprehensive treatment.(less)
A really fascinating book, the arguments of which should be considered by anybody interested in having children. Overall's argument is based on two im...moreA really fascinating book, the arguments of which should be considered by anybody interested in having children. Overall's argument is based on two important and underserved principles: first, that the burden of justification falls on those who *want* to have children; and second, a recognition that childbirth (and, frankly, childrearing) calls for a lot more from women than it does from men. It's incredibly refreshing just to see in writing the statement that not wanting to have children is, itself, a sufficient justification for not having children. While Overall ultimately comes down on the side that having children can (and often is) ethically justified--and she should, as she has children herself--she takes on and critiques many of the common justifications for having children effectively.
Other chapters deal with interesting ancillary questions to the main line of argument: overpopulation, children with genetic impairments, and even the argument (rejected by Overall forcefully) that having children can *never* be ethically justified. Whether you intend to have children or not, it's worth reading Overall's survey of the ethical literature and hearing out her arguments.(less)
An interesting, at times inspirational, but uneven look at entrepreneurship in the Internet age. Guillebeau is an unabashed cheerleader of small busin...moreAn interesting, at times inspirational, but uneven look at entrepreneurship in the Internet age. Guillebeau is an unabashed cheerleader of small business as a pathway to freedom, and his personal story (as well as some of the people profiled) is truly impressive. For those who are able to find a passion they can extract money from, The $100 Startup provides evidence that it can be done.
However, the book's methods seem to open it up to a major selection-bias problem. That is, he issued surveys and interviewed people with already successful small businesses. Which is great, but we never hear from people who failed. Maybe these tactics worked for this group of people, but how many people tried the same things and ended up deeply in the red? Sure, there's no obligation to be everything to everybody, but this struck me as a major hole in presentation.
So, in summary: an interesting and quick read, which I'm sure contains some helpful advice for people looking to strike out on their own, but I can't help feeling like there's something missing.(less)
A fast-moving noir thriller with style to spare. Mara Cunningham is an appealing protagonist, who manages to keep her head even when she's in way over...moreA fast-moving noir thriller with style to spare. Mara Cunningham is an appealing protagonist, who manages to keep her head even when she's in way over it. Too Close to Miss sends her on a ride through Boston, uncovering the details of the attempted murder of her lover (and the successful murder of his wife and son). Too Close to Miss is an exciting and engaging debut novel, worth reading both by fans of the genre and those who would like to give it a try.(less)
In his conclusion to the "Complete World Knowledge" trilogy, Hodgman creates a work of dark comedy of the highest order. Mixed in among Hodgman's whim...moreIn his conclusion to the "Complete World Knowledge" trilogy, Hodgman creates a work of dark comedy of the highest order. Mixed in among Hodgman's whimsical made-up history is a story of the end of the world that is (surprisingly) genuinely moving, while also managing to be laugh-out-loud funny every other page or so. (And these are not large pages.)
Hodgman's debt to post-apocalyptic literature generally (and Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," which he calls out in the book and has mentioned in interviews) is evident throughout. Fans of the genre will find much to appreciate here. This is a worthy conclusion to one of the most impressive works of comedy in recent memory.(less)
A very quick read and an entertaining diversion. Thwaites is an engaging writer, and his project--to build a toaster from scratch, from materials obta...moreA very quick read and an entertaining diversion. Thwaites is an engaging writer, and his project--to build a toaster from scratch, from materials obtainable within his native Great Britain--is an interesting one. That said, the book seems to lack a little heft; while a concluding chapter accurately notes the externalities that we fail to price into "disposable" household products, it doesn't flow naturally from the rest of the book. Instead, what we get is an engaging look into a somewhat extreme hobbyist's project.
Think of this as an abbreviated "Omnivore's Dilemma" for the product-design set. Worth checking out if you're interested by the premise.(less)
To the extent that most contemporary Americans even know the name of James Garfield, it is probably because he shares it with a cartoon cat. Perhaps s...moreTo the extent that most contemporary Americans even know the name of James Garfield, it is probably because he shares it with a cartoon cat. Perhaps some dimly remember him as one of the "other two" assassinated presidents. Or maybe you saw the Sondheim musical Assassins and remember that Charles Guiteau gets the best song in the show. Regardless, Garfield is by and large a forgotten man in American history. And yet he became as one of the most universally beloved men in the late 19th century. Destiny of the Republic does an excellent job of explaining why.
The life of James Garfield is truly compelling; born in the American frontier, literally dirt-poor, he nonetheless managed to secure his education and become a respected intellectual, a Congressman, and eventually a highly reluctant candidate for President. The story of the 1880 Republican Convention, a gripping chapter here, is probably worth a book on its own.
But the real meat of the book begins just a few months into Garfield's presidency, when Garfield is shot by the aforementioned Charles Guiteau, who succeeded at life in only two things: bumming money off of people and killing Garfield (yes, spoiler alert, Garfield dies). The injured president then finds himself at one of the final beachheads of the war that defined modern medicine: between the pioneering sterilization procedures of Joseph Lister and the American medical establishment that refused to accept that Lister was correct. Without spoiling too much of the book, it is probably safe to say that Garfield would have been much better off in the UK. Finally, we see Alexander Graham Bell, internationally famous from his invention of the telephone and looking for a new project, desperately hoping he can help save the president.
Destiny of the Republic is a fascinating look into an too-forgotten era of American history. Highly recommended.(less)
An engaging and insightful (and brief) history of a fraught and difficult topic: if (as we have generally accepted in modern society) it is a proper g...moreAn engaging and insightful (and brief) history of a fraught and difficult topic: if (as we have generally accepted in modern society) it is a proper goal of the government both to oppose racism and support freedom of expression and association, what is the proper approach when those values come into conflict? Bleich is up-front that he has not attempted a systematic survey of the United States and Europe in reviewing these questions, but his anecdotal evidence is nonetheless presented with insight, particularly in explaining some of the historical reasons why the U.S. is--at least on its face--more tolerant of racist attitudes than many European countries. In surveying the history of laws against racist speech, Holocaust denial, and hate crimes, Bleich provides a useful and readable survey.
The book is not without its flaws. Most significantly, Bleich seems to set up something of a false dichotomy between those who are "pro-freedom" and "antiracists"; while his distinction is useful at points, it weakens his underlying argument about the tension between these values by suggesting that the majority of actors are firmly planted on one side or the other. And, like many social science books, the "Conclusions" chapter is unsatisfying in that it doesn't really take the stand promised in the introduction.
But these flaws are minor. This is a useful and well-written survey, and worth reading if you are interested in the law behind civil liberties in European and American society.(less)
A fascinating series of essays on the nature of photography, and the way it can reveal (and obscure) truth. While the bulk of this book was available...moreA fascinating series of essays on the nature of photography, and the way it can reveal (and obscure) truth. While the bulk of this book was available on the New York Times website as a series of essays, the layout and presentation work here is truly impressive. Morris's writing is lucid and compelling, and his ability to coax information from interview subjects is rightfully revered.
As Morris takes the reader from the Crimean War to the Civil War by way of (among other places and times) Abu Ghraib, he reminds us of the special power that imagery has over us. Precisely because of that power, Morris's investigation into these landmarks of documentary photography is required reading for any consumer of news in the modern day. Which is to say, everybody.(less)
A worthy successor to Moneyball. Keri tells the entertaining story of how the Tampa Bay (nee Devil) Rays got a new ownership group of investment banke...moreA worthy successor to Moneyball. Keri tells the entertaining story of how the Tampa Bay (nee Devil) Rays got a new ownership group of investment bankers and baseball fanatics, who led the team within a few years from the league's laughing-stock to a World Series contender. It lacks some of the detail of Moneyball, since the Rays leadership is significantly more secretive than Billy Beane was, but enough comes through to make it an interesting read. For baseball fans, I'd recommend it just for the first few chapters (about pre-Rays baseball in Tampa and the bumbling management of the original team).
Not a must-read if you don't like baseball, but if you do, and you want to know how the Rays all of a sudden became a force to be reckoned with, strongly recommended.(less)
An initial confession: this title made me think of the Rod Stewart song "Some Guys Have All The Luck" any time I started reading it. So now that's stu...moreAn initial confession: this title made me think of the Rod Stewart song "Some Guys Have All The Luck" any time I started reading it. So now that's stuck in your head, too. I ultimately found the book frustrating, although I'm still not that sure whether that was the fault of the authors or the subject matter.
Ultimately, I think enjoying Those Guys Have All The Fun requires you to already know the history of ESPN, or at least to have a pretty solid understanding of the sports world and sports media world of the last 30 years. If you're not interested in ESPN (either as a piece of media fascination or more generally as a sports matter), you won't find a lot to enjoy here. There is certainly some comedy here, but the thing I remember most from the interviews was people rehashing 15-year-old grudges, and not particularly entertaining ones at that.
If you want to save yourself 700 pages, here's the gist of it: ESPN was built and run by some smart people, some less-smart people; some competent, some less-competent; some nice, some unpleasant; some talented, some untalented. If you like sports-media gossip, you'll enjoy this, but if you're not in that narrow field, I can't really recommend it.(less)
A somewhat disappointing conclusion to an excellent trilogy. Perhaps this is just the result of Collins having to tie everything up; being forced to m...moreA somewhat disappointing conclusion to an excellent trilogy. Perhaps this is just the result of Collins having to tie everything up; being forced to make those decisions necessarily implies closing interesting doors. But while the first two books of the trilogy contained moments of genuine surprise, the big twists in Mockingjay feel much more telegraphed. The positive interpretation of this is that it's simply a use of dramatic irony, but it comes off as simply revealing too much, too soon.
Katniss is still a compelling and well-drawn character, and the action set-pieces are well put together. You'll want to read Mockingjay to get to the trilogy's well-earned conclusion, and you should read the trilogy, but it's hard not to feel like there's some lost potential here.(less)
I wanted to love The Bullpen Gospels, I really did. Dirk Hayhurst comes of as a nice, decent, smart guy. But something about this book just doesn't qu...moreI wanted to love The Bullpen Gospels, I really did. Dirk Hayhurst comes of as a nice, decent, smart guy. But something about this book just doesn't quite click for me. The "day in the life" chapters are worth a chuckle, but there are really so many variations on "and then a guy in his 20s said/did something vulgar and absurd" before it starts getting old. And where the book tries to make a point, it takes a bit of a sledgehammer to it. I could have gone for less dick jokes and a lighter touch. I think there's the soul of a really great book here, but I don't think this is the book.
Maybe what this really means is that I would be a miserable wet blanket in a professional clubhouse. And maybe I'm docking the book a star for that. Is that so wrong?(less)
There is, to be sure, a glut of general-audience behavior economics/psychology books on the market. But Ariely stands out as an author for two reasons...moreThere is, to be sure, a glut of general-audience behavior economics/psychology books on the market. But Ariely stands out as an author for two reasons: first, he largely relies on research he performed (and to his credit, is generous with praise to colleagues and students). Second, he has an engaging writer's voice, using self-deprecating humor to great effect. The chapter on online dating is particularly fascinating, and probably worth the price of admission alone. The Upside of Irrationality is a pretty quick read, and most people will find it interesting and engaging, if not life-changing. Worth picking up.(less)
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