http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/552239 en-US Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:31:31 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 25094074 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:31:31 -0700
If you liked "The Tipping Point"(by the same author), or the similar in tone "Freakonomics" (by a different author) you will like this.

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author: Malcolm Gladwell
name: James
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 05/08
date added: 06/21/08
shelves:
review:
This book didn't seem to have a conclusion or message of any sort. It was an interesting series of short chapters about people making snap decisions and people who study how people make snap decisions. There was a lot of pop-psychology/pop evolutionary biology about why people can make very good (the expert who knows instantly but doesnt' know why he knows) and bad (police in a high speed chase so amped up and aggroed out that they shoot unarmed suspects) snap decisions.

If you liked "The Tipping Point"(by the same author), or the similar in tone "Freakonomics" (by a different author) you will like this.


]]> 23313687 Fri, 30 May 2008 10:59:49 -0700
author: Loeb Classical Library
name: James
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 05/08
date added: 05/30/08
shelves:
review:
I really liked this - it is a sampler of ancient greek and roman literature, with a lot of famous passages from mythology. It also includes the text in the original languages, which was lost on me but probably good for someone who studied classics.
]]> 22664572 Tue, 20 May 2008 21:58:15 -0700
author: Amy Tan
name: James
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 05/08
date added: 05/20/08
shelves:
review:
The book is interesting when it talks about the mother's generation experiences but all the daughter characters are whiny self-interested baby boomers.
]]> 21909456 Thu, 08 May 2008 23:27:20 -0700 This book seemed to mostly be about speculative anthropology of primitive man, or at least the interesting part of it is. There's also a tiresome feminist hero-woman who challenges convention, which bogs it down, but the descriptions of the world and the people are very compelling. Not really sure why it is considered a classic, but I did find myself reading it and caring more about it than I usually do when I read fluffy novels.]]>
author: Jean M. Auel
name: James
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1980
rating: 3
read at: 05/07
date added: 05/08/08
shelves:
review:

This book seemed to mostly be about speculative anthropology of primitive man, or at least the interesting part of it is. There's also a tiresome feminist hero-woman who challenges convention, which bogs it down, but the descriptions of the world and the people are very compelling. Not really sure why it is considered a classic, but I did find myself reading it and caring more about it than I usually do when I read fluffy novels.
]]> 14423942 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:51:05 -0800
author: John le Carré
name: James
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 03/08
date added: 02/02/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 11790347 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:49:09 -0800
author: Gabriel Mesta
name: James
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2001
rating: 2
read at: 01/08
date added: 02/02/08
shelves:
review:
I don't recommend this for anyone who is not a Starcraft fan already. If you are a completist, then it is mildly diverting. Otherwise skip it.
]]> 11790177 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:52:24 -0800
author: Jeff Grubb
name: James
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2001
rating: 2
read at: 05/07
date added: 01/06/08
shelves:
review:
Hrmmm.... teeny bopper Scifi only of interest to people who are already Starcraft fans. Short airport read, mildly entertaining.
]]> 10307840 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:07:12 -0800
author: Tom Veitch
name: James
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1993
rating: 3
read at: 12/07
date added: 12/12/07
shelves:
review:
Yes, it's a comic book. But it's a Star Wars comic that is old-school (no Manga fans need apply, lots of exposition) , about Han, Luke and Leia and is infinitely more satisfying than those crappy new movies.
]]> 9638254 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:33:46 -0800
It's better than the movie - it's well written(sparsely) and evocative. Most of the narrative though, fits the well worn cliches of the marines hammered into us by films like "Full Metal Jacket". It's more tempered by realism here (there is an incident during the narrator's training where a marine drill sergeant who engages in physical violence against his trainees is reprimanded) but of course this type of realistic subtlety didn't make it into the film.

I actually watched the movie with an ex-marine who had been in the Gulf War and he didn't like the movie at all, said it was b.s. Dunno what other marines think.]]>
author: Anthony Swofford
name: James
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 12/07
date added: 12/09/07
shelves:
review:
This is a memoir from a marine sniper who has mixed feelings about his time in service, which included the first Gulf War.

It's better than the movie - it's well written(sparsely) and evocative. Most of the narrative though, fits the well worn cliches of the marines hammered into us by films like "Full Metal Jacket". It's more tempered by realism here (there is an incident during the narrator's training where a marine drill sergeant who engages in physical violence against his trainees is reprimanded) but of course this type of realistic subtlety didn't make it into the film.

I actually watched the movie with an ex-marine who had been in the Gulf War and he didn't like the movie at all, said it was b.s. Dunno what other marines think.
]]> 9638553 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:13:09 -0800
The only bad thing to say about it is that it's too much of a good idea, I doubt anyone could actually read it cover to cover. Maybe a country a day for 288 days?]]>
author: Editors of The Onion
name: James
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 12/07
date added: 12/09/07
shelves: definitely-wont-finish
review:
I was very impressed that they did all the research to find something offensive to say about every country in the world.

The only bad thing to say about it is that it's too much of a good idea, I doubt anyone could actually read it cover to cover. Maybe a country a day for 288 days?
]]> 8049631 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:47:42 -0800 This paints a reasonably well structured picture of the historical King Arthur. I read it more because I was interested in the portrayal of Roman Britain than anything else.

The book is clearly making an attempt at sketching out one possibility of characters upon whom the legend of Arthur would be based. I'm not familiar enough with the Arthurian legends to comment on it thoroughly.

It's well written with a lot of fascinating background on things like the Saxon invasion and Pre-Christain Britain. The author is prone to long descriptions of the English countryside which are meaningless to me.

Worth reading if you are into Roman/Medieval Britain or King Arthur.
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author: Rosemary Sutcliff
name: James
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1987
rating: 3
read at: 11/07
date added: 11/27/07
shelves:
review:

This paints a reasonably well structured picture of the historical King Arthur. I read it more because I was interested in the portrayal of Roman Britain than anything else.

The book is clearly making an attempt at sketching out one possibility of characters upon whom the legend of Arthur would be based. I'm not familiar enough with the Arthurian legends to comment on it thoroughly.

It's well written with a lot of fascinating background on things like the Saxon invasion and Pre-Christain Britain. The author is prone to long descriptions of the English countryside which are meaningless to me.

Worth reading if you are into Roman/Medieval Britain or King Arthur.

]]> 8049691 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:42:38 -0800
Richly written. I recommend it to if you are looking for a challenging read.]]>
author: Kim Stanley Robinson
name: James
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at: 11/07
date added: 11/27/07
shelves:
review:
hrm... an interesting idea that was not quite the book I thought it would be. An alternative history that is really a meditation on identity, rebirth, and the meaning of history. It's also really difficult to follow.

Richly written. I recommend it to if you are looking for a challenging read.
]]> 8050850 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:38:18 -0700 An actual scholarly but accessible introduction to what Zen buddhism actually is without all the new age crap.

If you are curious about what all the one hand clapping stuff is actually about, this is your book.]]>
author: Thomas P. Kasulis
name: James
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1989
rating: 5
read at: 04/96
date added: 10/21/07
shelves:
review:

An actual scholarly but accessible introduction to what Zen buddhism actually is without all the new age crap.

If you are curious about what all the one hand clapping stuff is actually about, this is your book.
]]> 8050630 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:35:07 -0700 Yes, it's a 500 page book about sleep. You do spend one third of your life sleeping so it's worth finding out a little about it.

The elucidation of the benefits and costs of lack of sleep, and concepts like sleep debt, are really eye-opening.

That's the first half of the book. If it ended there, I would give it five stars. The second half of the book was all about various sleep disorders, which while fascinating at first, did drag on for a long time. ]]>
author: William C. Dement
name: James
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 03/99
date added: 10/21/07
shelves:
review:

Yes, it's a 500 page book about sleep. You do spend one third of your life sleeping so it's worth finding out a little about it.

The elucidation of the benefits and costs of lack of sleep, and concepts like sleep debt, are really eye-opening.

That's the first half of the book. If it ended there, I would give it five stars. The second half of the book was all about various sleep disorders, which while fascinating at first, did drag on for a long time.
]]> 8050254 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:26:13 -0700 The classic that so many people are embarrassed to have read. The original bible of schmoozing. Oops, I'm sorry, networking.]]>
author: Dale Carnegie
name: James
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at: 04/01
date added: 10/21/07
shelves:
review:

The classic that so many people are embarrassed to have read. The original bible of schmoozing. Oops, I'm sorry, networking.
]]> 8050249 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:24:59 -0700 This is a very old self help book, basically. It's like Doctor Phil caught in a time warp to the 1940s. Read this on a recommendation, wouldn't pass that on unless you are into self help books - basically everything in here is good sense, and somtimes people need reminding of stuff like this.]]>
author: Dale Carnegie
name: James
average rating: 3.59
book published: 1990
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 10/21/07
shelves:
review:

This is a very old self help book, basically. It's like Doctor Phil caught in a time warp to the 1940s. Read this on a recommendation, wouldn't pass that on unless you are into self help books - basically everything in here is good sense, and somtimes people need reminding of stuff like this.
]]> 8050053 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:20:36 -0700 This is a teenage gender confusion/self discovery book with fantasy novel trappings.

It's fun. The first book in this trilogy, _The Bone Doll's Twin_ is better, but I think this edges out the finale _The Oracle's Queen_ even though I gave them both 3 stars.]]>
author: Lynn Flewelling
name: James
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at: 05/07
date added: 10/21/07
shelves:
review:

This is a teenage gender confusion/self discovery book with fantasy novel trappings.

It's fun. The first book in this trilogy, _The Bone Doll's Twin_ is better, but I think this edges out the finale _The Oracle's Queen_ even though I gave them both 3 stars.
]]> 8049733 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:15:18 -0700 This book is mostly a ghost story with a fantasy background, but it is a very good one.

It delves into Joss Whedon-esque feminist politics a little, but that doesn't get pronounced unitl the 2nd and 3rd volumes. The 2nd and 3rd volumes are less interesting, but solid fantasy fare.

I probably wouldn't have read it had I realized it was the first one of a trilogy, but I am glad that I did anyway.]]>
author: Lynn Flewelling
name: James
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at: 02/06
date added: 10/21/07
shelves:
review:

This book is mostly a ghost story with a fantasy background, but it is a very good one.

It delves into Joss Whedon-esque feminist politics a little, but that doesn't get pronounced unitl the 2nd and 3rd volumes. The 2nd and 3rd volumes are less interesting, but solid fantasy fare.

I probably wouldn't have read it had I realized it was the first one of a trilogy, but I am glad that I did anyway.
]]> 8049590 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:07:31 -0700
author: Steven D. Levitt
name: James
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 10/21/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 7812869 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:10:57 -0700 This is a good teenager oriented fantasy novel mostly of interest to people who have already read _The Bone Doll's Twin_ and _Hidden Warrior_.

It's a good finish to the story started in the first two volumes. Most of the more interesting black magic/gender bender plotlines are in the finished first two volumes, this is a straight forward story about battles for the throne of Skala.

The first book , _The Bone Doll's Twin_ , verges on horror and is the most interesting. This one is merely good.
]]>
author: Lynn Flewelling
name: James
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 10/07
date added: 10/16/07
shelves:
review:

This is a good teenager oriented fantasy novel mostly of interest to people who have already read _The Bone Doll's Twin_ and _Hidden Warrior_.

It's a good finish to the story started in the first two volumes. Most of the more interesting black magic/gender bender plotlines are in the finished first two volumes, this is a straight forward story about battles for the throne of Skala.

The first book , _The Bone Doll's Twin_ , verges on horror and is the most interesting. This one is merely good.

]]>