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The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
Michael Pollan
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2002
The best
In style and substance this is one of the best books I've read in recent years, as well as one of the most enjoyable. It also broadened my perspective in several areas. I highly recommend.
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Away: A Novel
Amy Bloom
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2008
Adventures Unlimited
I can hear my creative writing teacher and probably Amy Bloom's, "When you don't know what to do next with your character, throw rocks at her."
Lillian Leyb, the heroine of Bloom's "Away," is constantly bruised, but never broken. She endures a pogrom that wipes ...
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The Duchess
Amanda Foreman
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2008
A Modern Woman In The Eighteenth Century
"The Duchess" is the movie tie in version of Amanda Foreman's excellent 1998 biography "Georgiana". Except for the cover depicting Keira Knightley as Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, it is essentially the same book.
Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, Duchess of ...
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Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
Tracy Kidder
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2004
Another living hero
Paul Farmer is to Haiti what Greg Mortenson is to Pakistan. These are the people who best represent the American citizens to the world and I'm sure there are so many out there who do great sacrifice in their personal lives to help others. Besides being a well-told ...
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Midnight's Children: A Novel
Salman Rushdie
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006
WHAT A RUSH(DIE)!
If this book was described by 1001 readers, I think you'd get 10,001 different views of what they experienced. Some knowledge of the history of India & Pakistan before and after independence and the partition will be helpful. Perhaps some "-ism" (magical real(ism), ...
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Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2005
Methods of thinking and mental models worth learning
Every once in a while, someone really intelligent focuses his thoughts on the most valuable skill a human can have--how to think. Nassim Taleb has done an admirable job at just that: not telling us what to think--but showing us how to think in ways we can apply to ...
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When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management
Roger Lowenstein
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2001
When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management
An excellent read & indeed very relevant in today's' times when we see fiascos in the financial markets repeated almost every day. I expect another book from Roger Lowenstein soon on Bear Stearns, Lehman, Merrill Lynch & the state of financial markets (today). God ...
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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
Lisa See
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006
One of the best
Rich in detail and exquisitely crafted, this is an excellent book which I highly recommend, though some parts are rather graphic (footbinding) and are not for the weak of heart.
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Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist
Roger Lowenstein
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2008
Excellent
Well researched, analyzed, and written.
I see why Buffett was silently acceptive in autographing it. Superb job in reporting both analytical economics and personal life. Truth.
I will read more from this author.
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Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions
Christian Lander
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2008
We haven't had any irony here since about, uh, '83 . . And I stopped because I was tired of being stared at.
A better title for this might be: "Ways to ingratiate yourself with white people and get free stuff from them by knowing how to manipulate them through the 150 things they like most."
OK, I have to admit I laughed at this (#103), but I don't like Sarah Silverman ...
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Peony in Love: A Novel
Lisa See
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2008
Favorite Summer Fiction Read
Such a wonderful love story. I wanted to be there and in the moment. It felt so real at times. I wanted to believe in the story so much....that all of it was really possible.
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Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
Alexandra Fuller
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003
great book
An amazing book that brings Africa to life. It is a vivid portrait of a family and a continent in a very particular period. Deserves rereading as there is so much to it.
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Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil
Deborah Rodriguez, Kristin Ohlson
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2007
my view of a good book
Well I really enjoyed this book. The author writes in a way that makes it seem she is talking directly to the reader. She gives many situations that are sad, funny and difficult. She points out how ahrd it is for Afgan women, and all the "rules" they must follow(this ...
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The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
Philip Zimbardo
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2008
Or the Angelic effect?
In 1971 Dr. Phillip Zimbardo joined the likes of Milgram and Munoz as being perhaps one of the most dubious researchers at the edge of psychology. This is because he engaged in a two week experiment to test the reactions of students to being placed in an artificial ...
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Prep: A Novel
Curtis Sittenfeld
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2005
At first, an engaging read in the recollections of Midwestern, middle class, plain Lee Fiora; then, it is verbose and graphic
Lee Fiora is an interesting teenager. She becomes, for whatever reason, interested in attending boarding school. All we know is that she completes the application process independently of outside influences. Lee tells us that she her public high school is not of the ...
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