This is one of those rare non-fiction books that is simultaneously informative and revelatory. The name Robert Moses was vaguely familiar to me and, iThis is one of those rare non-fiction books that is simultaneously informative and revelatory. The name Robert Moses was vaguely familiar to me and, in my wildest imagination, never realized that this man single-handedly shaped the entire future of transportation and eco-environment of New York City and, in some ways, the entire urban United States. There is no question he was a tyrant and a quasi totalitarian dictator who had an agenda that was devoid of a desire for wealth but one who's ultimate desire was power. The book is too filled with vignettes that ended up shaping the transportation problems of New York to describe here. However, I will relate one which is so heinous and calculating that it reveals both his evil brilliance and solipsism. When he designed the "Parkways" of New City, he required the overhead cross streets to be six inches lower than the height of the city buses, thus, effectively removing them from the public transportation system. His rationale was that the "Parkways" were not meant for public transportation but were meant for a leisurely cruise by the family car out for a weekend drive. This order effectively eliminated all use of these thousands of miles of roads to be used by public transportation and has contributed to the choking traffic both into and out of the City. This book confirms the old addage that "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". This is an incredibly great book that should be on the top 100 of everybody's "best list"....more
This is a superb book and one that should be required reading for every human being. Instead of reading some of the drivel (classics) in high school, This is a superb book and one that should be required reading for every human being. Instead of reading some of the drivel (classics) in high school, kids should read about the single most important element in life, water. There is something enigmatic about our attitude about water. Our attitude about water is something akin to the old song line, "you only really appreciate something when you lose it". This book is not a polemic or screaming about yet another crisis. Although water is becoming a crisis, his point is educational. He talks about every aspect of water. I especially like the parts in which he described the chemistry and physical uniqueness of water. One fact about water that absolutely blew me away: Every molecule of water that is on the Earth has been here since its formation. We neither add nor subtract water. It just gets moved around. We are so spoiled regarding water in the US especially in the part in which I live. He points out the confusion in our minds about water. The author compares our 24/7 water accessibility with the supply in India. In most Indian communities, even the wealthy ones, water is only available one or two hours a day. In some parts of India, an entire day is consumed (mainly by school aged girls) walking to a distant water supply and carrying it back on their heads. For us, water is virtually free and we waste it with impunity. People complain about a dollar a month increase in the cost of water supply while they remain silent about a 10% cable TV charge. Is it really necessary to flush our solid waste with purified, chemically treated potable water? Suffice it to say that after reading this book, my head was straightened out and I now turn off the water when brushing my teeth. I liked this book so much, I read it twice. It was better the second time....more
This is a great book and should be mandatory reading for all school and/or college students. I am on my third reading and I learn more each time. TherThis is a great book and should be mandatory reading for all school and/or college students. I am on my third reading and I learn more each time. There's too much information to get on one reading. Bryson has a particularly effective manner of translating very complex information into easily understandable language. I am really enjoying the section on his explanation of quantum physics and finally have a slight understanding of what its all about. I can't imagine what those early physicists thought when they first understood the strangeness of the theory. When Bryson explained that when we sit on a chair, we're really not touching the seat but are sitting about one angstrom above the seat material, a bell went off in my mind and everything fell into place....more
Excellent mystery/thriller although the premise was somewhat strained. I particularly liked the cat and mouse approach of the protagonists. I did findExcellent mystery/thriller although the premise was somewhat strained. I particularly liked the cat and mouse approach of the protagonists. I did find the reason why the hero did what he did confusing: was it for love or gratitude. The existential howl at the end was very powerful and reminded me of a Jean Paul Sartre philosophy. ...more
I guess I'm in the minority about this book. I found the parts about professional tennis life interesting but the rest of the book seemed like one conI guess I'm in the minority about this book. I found the parts about professional tennis life interesting but the rest of the book seemed like one continuous whine. Agassi must be a manic depressive. He is so moody that he must be impossible to live with. Here's a kid who came from nothing, his father made him become a wealthy famous star and all he can do is complain. Until he met Stefanie Graf, he seemed totally unappreciative of all the luck that he had in life. His description of his relationship was hard to believe. How could anyone be so oblivious to a fading marriage and not even want to try and fix it? Although he is a philanthropist for inner city children, he comes across as a petty, revengeful person who keeps saying he hates tennis but really doesn't. He thinks its cute to say shocking things like that. I found the detail about each tennis match tedious and, for non tennis fans, really boring. I guess he thinks that by being totally honest about his life that somehow his petulant behavior will be forgiven. But calling tennis officials, "csuckers" is forgivable behavior since he has had such a "hard life" and he's such a poor,misunderstood person. I have news for Andrei, everybody's life has its difficulties and cursing at innocent officials is unacceptable behavior for a professional. Even at the end of the book, when he supposedly had an awakening and a rejection of his self-absorption, he still shows his solipsism but cutting off his young child's hair. Arg!!! Stefanie Graf must be a saint. I actually had a better opinion of Agassi before I read the book. I have a very low opinion of him now. I couldn't wait to finish the book....more
This book was terribly disappointing. So many books have been written about Mickey Mantle that I wondered why another one was just published. The authThis book was terribly disappointing. So many books have been written about Mickey Mantle that I wondered why another one was just published. The author claimed to have new unwritten revelations about the "Mick's" character. The author's claim to fame was an interview that she had with Mickey Mantle in 1983 in which he "took liberties" with her that she didn't feel comfortable revealing at that time. Thus, the book was a classic bait and switch. The big revelation in the book was that he put his hand up her skirt. Whooooo! the shame of it all. Everybody knows that Mickey Mantle was an alcoholic, foul-mouthed misogynistic jerk who could hit the hell out of baseballs. This book was a bore and a struggle to finish. If anyone is looking for a good sports hero book, I recommend, "Ted Williams, the biography of an american hero by Leigh Montville. Now there's a book that reveals the motivation behind a stars behavior. This book seems to imply that Mickey was sexually abused by his half sister but spends so little time with this shocking revelation and does so little tying the incident with his behavior that it almost feels like a footnote....more
This is a spectacular book. I read 100 books a year and this is definitely in the top 10. It is very, very well written and, in some ways, it is like This is a spectacular book. I read 100 books a year and this is definitely in the top 10. It is very, very well written and, in some ways, it is like a mystery. The way the book is written, we follow the stream of research and clinical medical treatment over 150 years. It's like feeling around in the dark for a bomb that we know will go off. It is simultaneously horrifying and compelling. I am a doctor and think I am compassionate towards my patients. This book increased my compassion 10X. What surprised me the most was the politics involved in attempting to cure a disease that potentially affects everyone. Surgeons want to cut and oncologists want to drug. They each have their turf and don't want to give it up. The fact that 50% of all men and 33% of all women will get some form of cancer before they die is a very sobering one. The section on the evilness of the tobacco industry was particularly illuminating. I can't put the book down and will truly be sad when it is finished....more
This book is simultaneously repulsive and fascinating and I loved it. I never suspected that so much information about cadavers existed. I listened toThis book is simultaneously repulsive and fascinating and I loved it. I never suspected that so much information about cadavers existed. I listened to the audible version and the reader was very good. She had a sardonic tone that captured the writers tone completely. There were parts of the book at which I laughed so hard it was painful. Come on, forming a mind picture of a corpse farting has to be high on the list of unexpected events. The chapter of all the ways that are used to test the validity of death was really good. Taking a red hot poker and shoving it up a corpses butt is very visceral. I was particularly interested in the section on how to dispose of corpses. I never realized the variety of options and particularly liked the idea of composting. What a great idea. Planting my body and growing a plant over it. Now that's recycling You can't be squimish and enjoy this book so beware....more
This was a really good read. It is truly a cautionary tale. How can one group of passionate moralists convince an entire country to delegitimize what This was a really good read. It is truly a cautionary tale. How can one group of passionate moralists convince an entire country to delegitimize what they absolutely love? This story should be considered a mystery. The fact that such disparate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the suffragette movement joined forces is astounding and only goes to prove that you can fool all of the people some of the time. The book reveals the ugly side of politics and shows the folly of trying to legislate morality....more
I guess I'm in the minority about this book but I found it very, very slow moving and boring. All of the background information of the first half of tI guess I'm in the minority about this book but I found it very, very slow moving and boring. All of the background information of the first half of the book was really tedious and added little to the ultimate twist. I found The Miernik Dossier to be the same so I assume this must be McCarry's style. If we use LeCarre as the gold standard for this genre, this book is lead....more
If you read this book, you must be prepared to be terrified. I mean really terrified. The premise of the book is that the economic theories of Milton If you read this book, you must be prepared to be terrified. I mean really terrified. The premise of the book is that the economic theories of Milton Friedman have been absorbed by fascist governments and they, including the Bush Administration, has used crises to rob us of our freedoms. In combination with the bizarre theories of a Canadian psychiatrist who experimented with drugs and deprivation to "shock" his patient's into normal behavior is terrifying and even more terrifying when I found out that the CIA adopted his theories completely. I know the tendency of many people will think that this is just left wing liberal propaganda but Naomi Klein presents such a fact based case that its truth is undeniable. When I found out that our government has farmed out as many government functions to the private sector as they have, my jaw dropped open. The premise that private enterprise will always be the most cost effective way of conducting business has been shown to be a lie. ...more
When it comes to geologic historical books, you can't beat Simon Winchester. In this book, he weaves the social history of Indonesia and geology. I haWhen it comes to geologic historical books, you can't beat Simon Winchester. In this book, he weaves the social history of Indonesia and geology. I had a vague idea about plate tectonics and tsunami's but after this book, I felt like a first level black belt. Wow, what a shock to find out that the supposed solid terra firma upon which I stand is a rolling boiling inferno ready to blow at any moment....more
A really good detective novel that keeps your attention. DeMille's writing is better than most writer's of this genre. The premise of the story was a A really good detective novel that keeps your attention. DeMille's writing is better than most writer's of this genre. The premise of the story was a little thin and tended toward pop psychology but the portrayal of the difficulties of women in the armed forces overcame that....more
This is a superb historical book. After reading this book, I completely understand how our Country has reached the horribly polarized state in which iThis is a superb historical book. After reading this book, I completely understand how our Country has reached the horribly polarized state in which it now exists. That Richard Nixon's inferiority complex was one of the core roots of this division was a revelation to me. It also reminded me of the "civil war" in which the country found itself during his Presidency.
The author goes back to the roots of Nixon's family tree to lay the groundwork for the book's premise and makes his argument convincingly. I encourage any person who really wants to know the historical basis for the political crisis in which we all exist. ...more
A beautifully written book. All sentances are like poetry. The description of the land and people as the author travels from China to the MediterraneaA beautifully written book. All sentances are like poetry. The description of the land and people as the author travels from China to the Mediterranean sea is wonderful and the way he interweaves it with history is great....more
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