false 64 73 73 true 5653940 read 0 true 182793 currently-reading 0 true 182792 to-read 23 false 4123049 book-i-ve-finished-in--09 2 false 4291791 books-i-abandoned-in-09 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56493313 to: Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: No Schedules, No Meetings, No Joke--the Big Idea That's Already Transforming the Way We Work (Hardcover) by Cali Ressler
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
I'm really conflicted on this one. On one hand, I think ROWE is a completely revolutionary concept and this book is the best thing you can read to get up to speed on it. However, I think this book also takes an overly simplistic approach. The constant phrase throughout the book was "as long as work gets done" with very little attention given to the quality of the work or whether the "work getting done" is truly the optimal outcome. I also question how well ROWE works in big companies vs. small companies. That wasn't addressed at all. Overall, a good book and worthwhile read but rather than re-hashing the same point over and over again there should have been a deeper look at ROWE (and especially ROWE-related issues). ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56493033 to: Robert Kennedy: His Life (Paperback) by Evan Thomas
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
For the most part I really enjoyed this book on Robert Kennedy. I'm fascinated by the Kennedy years and this was the first book I have read that focused on RFK, a man who I think might be even more interesting of a person than his more famous older brother Jack. The only thing that was a bit strange about this book was that there was so little about the JFK assassination but that's likely because so much has already been written about the book and because the focus was RFK, not JFK. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55269028 to: Super Crunchers: Why Thinking-by-Numbers Is the New Way to Be Smart (Hardcover) by Ian Ayres
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
While a lot of this book was stuff that I was somewhat familiar with (e.g., A/B and multivariate testing) there was enough new materials and insights in here to make this a highly-recommended read. We're moving more and more into a data-driven culture and the people who understand that will be at a big advantage over those who don't. In other words, avoid reading Super Crunchers at your own peril. :) ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53862117 to: The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World (Hardcover) by Steven Johnson
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
Mixed feelings on this one. It's really two books in one. The first being a very detailed account of the cholera epidemic in London in the mid-1800s. The second being a very insightful look at how maps, crowdsourcing, urban density and geo-tagged content are changing the way we live. The second part was maybe the last 10-20% of the book and it was fascinating. I wish there would have been more of that. The first part was good but really detailed at times. Less of that and more of Part 2 and this would have been an even more excellent read. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53861826 to: The Shangri-La Diet: The No Hunger Eat Anything Weight-Loss Plan (Paperback) by Seth Roberts
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
I've read a ton of diet and nutrition books and have learned to be disappointed with most of them. So I didn't come into this one with high expectations. But Roberts blew me away. Now whether the Shangri-La Diet is the cure-all for the global obesity epidemic, I don't know. But I do know this, it fundamentally changed how I feel diet and nutrition. Although I'm not convinced that Seth's diet is the healthiest option out there I think it's a fantastic way to help transition someone to more sustainable diet and I'm glad to have stumbled upon this one. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53861505 to: Obama: From Promise to Power (Hardcover) by David Mendell
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
I've read Audacity of Hope so I was curious as to how this one would differ. I think it's a little more "balanced" portrayal of Obama and the juiciest parts are where Mendell talks about some of Barack's more idiosyncratic behaviors. I definitely felt is was a good complement to Audacity and is great for anyone who is interested in a little more detail around Barack's earlier years. Guessing Mendell has a follow-up in the works as well! :) ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53861272 to: Revolutionary Road (Paperback) by Richard Yates
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
I definitely enjoyed this one. It's a fabulous cautionary tale about the woes of suburban life and seems well ahead of its time. The early part of the book was amazing, the ending merely good. But on the whole it was great to finish the book and then watch the movie on the same plane flight! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48642961 to: Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years (Hardcover) by David Talbot
bookshelves: book-i-ve-finished-in--09
One of my favorite books of the last several years. Took a while to get through it but well, well worth it. I do feel like the book but be little bit pro-Kennedy but it wasn't bad. If you love history or politics you should definitely consider reading this one. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46715101 to: The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual (Paperback) by Rick Levine
bookshelves: books-i-abandoned-in-09
Ground-breaking when it was written but hasn't aged well. The premises are still strong but the fact that this book reiterates them over and over gets tiresome. Dropped this one 1/3 of the way through. ]]>