This edition is the enduring original text, updated with the author’s own revisions, a foreword by his granddaughter, and with a new introduction by National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward.
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. First published by Scribner in 1925, this quintessential novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.]]>
He so wanted to be loved and with Daisy, and he felt like the only thing separating him and her was his lack of money. She waited around for him, but in the end he waited just a little too long and she did what so many of us do in life, she settled for someone else.
Daisy’s life was tragic as well. Born into a higher class family. Her only occupation was going on date after date and dancing and talking. She lived safely within the confines of her protective class, where women just need to look pretty and not cause too much commition.
The whole period, set in the mid 1920’s was a tragic time as well. The war had ended in recent memory, and little was talked about it in the book. People were consumed with getting what they wanted and having it now.
Not so much is different between that era, and today. I wonder if they, society's engineers have noticed this trend for the easy life after war. I definitely do not long for a time of war. But it does seem like there is more meaning in life when you have to work for it, and there is resistance. Where things don’t come as lightly as they did the characters in The Great Gatsby. Something was deeply tragic about the emptiness the characters felt. They had everything they could ever want. Tom had Daisy, and still he wanted other women, and took them as well. Daisy, was not happy with her life and was willing to throw it away because a better option appeared to present itself. Only later did she retreat into the safety of her higher status and her status quo, when life became a little to real and she was momentarily faced with consequences of her bad choices. Daiy had no character and though she was pleasing to the eye, and nice to be around. She was an empty person.
The emptiness in Gatsby was disillusioned by the emptiness in her. He believed that he wanted Daisy and that she would make him happy. But I believe the emptiness in him recognized how well she concealed the emptiness in herself, and he wanted that. He did aim to become a more interesting person to complete his emptiness. He pursued all the trappings and the illusions in order to get her. But what she was was nothing of his imagination.
Gatsby never figured it out either. F.Scott Fitzgerald did though. He paints the picture of perfect loneliness and seemingly haunting solitude in the end. The close sections of the book take a poetic turn and he begins to describe what Nick Carraway imagines what must have been Gatsby last thoughts were, before he was shot to death. He describes this imagined perspective in the most ethereal way. The picture he paints transcends the body and he takes us to the reader to a place of sad hope, but he takes us there in a beautiful way. You can feel the sadness and grasping for what could have been and the timelessness and tranquility of life.
But I don’t imagine that Gatsby had any great insight before he was shot, or any deep contemplation. He did not lie in the pool and look contemplatively up through the trees and consider what a “grotesque thing a rose is�. He had no deep internal dialogue except his overwhelming desire to be loved by what he imagined was a beautiful person.
I imagine Gatsby felt it was his obligation to enjoy the pool one time before summer was over because that is what you do when you have a beautiful estate with nice things. You enjoy them and then you find meaning and purpose in enjoying the,
The only beautiful person we should imagine ourselves being loved by is the person we should seek to become. Not to impress or to elevate ourselves in society. But to find ourselves interesting and to limit the longing to become something we are not to have someone else love us. It is a wonderful thing to be loved, but it is infinitely more wonderful to love oneself and love others.
]]>
author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
name: Jason
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1925
rating: 3
read at: 2016/07/25
date added: 2016/07/28
shelves:
review:
Just finished reading the Great Gatsby. It is a tragedy. Gatsby was a tragic person.
He so wanted to be loved and with Daisy, and he felt like the only thing separating him and her was his lack of money. She waited around for him, but in the end he waited just a little too long and she did what so many of us do in life, she settled for someone else.
Daisy’s life was tragic as well. Born into a higher class family. Her only occupation was going on date after date and dancing and talking. She lived safely within the confines of her protective class, where women just need to look pretty and not cause too much commition.
The whole period, set in the mid 1920’s was a tragic time as well. The war had ended in recent memory, and little was talked about it in the book. People were consumed with getting what they wanted and having it now.
Not so much is different between that era, and today. I wonder if they, society's engineers have noticed this trend for the easy life after war. I definitely do not long for a time of war. But it does seem like there is more meaning in life when you have to work for it, and there is resistance. Where things don’t come as lightly as they did the characters in The Great Gatsby. Something was deeply tragic about the emptiness the characters felt. They had everything they could ever want. Tom had Daisy, and still he wanted other women, and took them as well. Daisy, was not happy with her life and was willing to throw it away because a better option appeared to present itself. Only later did she retreat into the safety of her higher status and her status quo, when life became a little to real and she was momentarily faced with consequences of her bad choices. Daiy had no character and though she was pleasing to the eye, and nice to be around. She was an empty person.
The emptiness in Gatsby was disillusioned by the emptiness in her. He believed that he wanted Daisy and that she would make him happy. But I believe the emptiness in him recognized how well she concealed the emptiness in herself, and he wanted that. He did aim to become a more interesting person to complete his emptiness. He pursued all the trappings and the illusions in order to get her. But what she was was nothing of his imagination.
Gatsby never figured it out either. F.Scott Fitzgerald did though. He paints the picture of perfect loneliness and seemingly haunting solitude in the end. The close sections of the book take a poetic turn and he begins to describe what Nick Carraway imagines what must have been Gatsby last thoughts were, before he was shot to death. He describes this imagined perspective in the most ethereal way. The picture he paints transcends the body and he takes us to the reader to a place of sad hope, but he takes us there in a beautiful way. You can feel the sadness and grasping for what could have been and the timelessness and tranquility of life.
But I don’t imagine that Gatsby had any great insight before he was shot, or any deep contemplation. He did not lie in the pool and look contemplatively up through the trees and consider what a “grotesque thing a rose is�. He had no deep internal dialogue except his overwhelming desire to be loved by what he imagined was a beautiful person.
I imagine Gatsby felt it was his obligation to enjoy the pool one time before summer was over because that is what you do when you have a beautiful estate with nice things. You enjoy them and then you find meaning and purpose in enjoying the,
The only beautiful person we should imagine ourselves being loved by is the person we should seek to become. Not to impress or to elevate ourselves in society. But to find ourselves interesting and to limit the longing to become something we are not to have someone else love us. It is a wonderful thing to be loved, but it is infinitely more wonderful to love oneself and love others.
]]>
I was surprised to find that the idea of innate ability is a myth. It was also helpful and insightful to read why world class athletes choke and why a novice can’t choke.
This book explores the gap between the innate and the acquired talent. It should be required for anyone who hopes to separate themselves from the pack and be wondering how to do so.
Four and stars, because it got a little boring at the end and seemed to venture into a somewhat political and biased and unnecessary social commentary. Would have been useful and insightful in 1950.
]]>
author: Matthew Syed
name: Jason
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/11
date added: 2015/08/10
shelves:
review:
A good book. Well written and deeply researched. To be honest, at first I thought it was merely a clone of Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. The main premise of the book being that expertise is not derived from genetics or innate ability, but rather from practice and lots of it. In fact 10,000 hours of it. I was happy to see rather quickly that the author quickly and thoroughly acknowledges Gladwell's work. This story I thought took a rather different direction and added to the conversation of what separates experts from the ordinary. And I thought the distinctions were communicated clearly and concisely. In fact I find myself judging a book's ability to communicate an essential idea to me by how easy I can narrate what I learned from it to someone else. I took great pleasure in sharing the stories, anecdotes and lessons learned from this book with others.
I was surprised to find that the idea of innate ability is a myth. It was also helpful and insightful to read why world class athletes choke and why a novice can’t choke.
This book explores the gap between the innate and the acquired talent. It should be required for anyone who hopes to separate themselves from the pack and be wondering how to do so.
Four and stars, because it got a little boring at the end and seemed to venture into a somewhat political and biased and unnecessary social commentary. Would have been useful and insightful in 1950.
]]>
Born in the small city of Thal, Austria, in 1947, Arnold Schwarzenegger moved to Los Angeles at the age of twenty-one. Within ten years, he was a millionaire businessman. After twenty years, he was the world’s biggest movie star. In 2003, he was elected governor of California and a household name around the world.
Chronicling his embodiment of the American Dream, Total Recall covers Schwarzenegger’s high-stakes journey to the United States, from creating the international bodybuilding industry out of the sands of Venice Beach, to breathing life into cinema’s most iconic characters, and becoming one of the leading political figures of our time. Proud of his accomplishments and honest about his regrets, Schwarzenegger spares nothing in sharing his amazing story.]]>
If you consider yourself a serious student of success then this is a MUST READ. Put partisan politics aside, humble yourself and get this book. It is worth the investment of time and money.
One of the biggest things I took from reading this was exaclty easy success comes to those who work diligently, and work their ass off. We live in an amazing country that gives us great opportunities to work hard and become more. This is a great story of an immigrant from Austria who came to America, become the worlds greatest bodybuilder, world class actor, and effective governor of California.
What an amazing story of an amazing man. ]]>
author: Arnold Schwarzenegger
name: Jason
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2015/07/16
date added: 2015/07/16
shelves:
review:
I am literally a fan now of Arnold. To be honest I did not like him very much before I read this book. He has an amazing memory of the extraordinary events that make up his fantastic life.
If you consider yourself a serious student of success then this is a MUST READ. Put partisan politics aside, humble yourself and get this book. It is worth the investment of time and money.
One of the biggest things I took from reading this was exaclty easy success comes to those who work diligently, and work their ass off. We live in an amazing country that gives us great opportunities to work hard and become more. This is a great story of an immigrant from Austria who came to America, become the worlds greatest bodybuilder, world class actor, and effective governor of California.
What an amazing story of an amazing man.
]]>
The Greatest Salesman in the World is a book that serves as a guide to a philosophy of salesmanship, and success, telling the story of Hafid, a poor camel boy who achieves a life of abundance.]]>
author: Og Mandino
name: Jason
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1968
rating: 5
read at: 2015/06/24
date added: 2015/06/24
shelves:
review:
excellent book for anyone. if you want to elevate your game, this is a must read.
]]>
author: Homer
name: Jason
average rating: 3.68
book published: -700
rating: 5
read at: 2015/06/07
date added: 2015/06/07
shelves:
review:
This story is nearly 3000 years old. I believe it has more than earned it's five stars. What a great story. I hope to read it again and again. Odysseus is a great hero and I am looking forward to having him join my counsel.
]]>
In his mid-twenties, Dave Asprey was a successful Silicon Valley multimillionaire. He also weighed 300 pounds, despite the fact that he was doing what doctors recommended: eating 1,800 calories a day and working out 90 minutes a day, six times a week.
Ěý
When his excess fat started causing brain fog and food cravings sapped his energy and willpower, Asprey turned to the same hacking techniques that made his fortune to “hackâ€� his own biology, investing more than $300,000 and fifteen years to uncover what was hindering his energy, performance, appearance, and happiness. From private brain EEG facilities to remote monasteries in Tibet, through radioactive brain scans, blood chemistry work, nervous system testing, and more, he explored traditional and alternative technologies to reach his physical and mental prime. The result?Ěý TheĚýBulletproofĚýDiet , an anti-inflammatory program for hunger-free, rapid weight loss and peak performance.
Ěý
TheĚýBulletproofĚýDiet Ěýwill challenge—and change—the way you think about weight loss and wellness. You will skip breakfast, stop counting calories, eat high levels of healthy saturated fat, work out and sleep less, and add smart supplements.
Ěý
In doing so, you’ll gain energy, build lean muscle, and watch the pounds melt off. By ditching traditional “dietâ€� thinking, Asprey went from being overweight and sick in his twenties to maintaining a 100-pound weight loss, increasing his IQ, and feeling better than ever in his forties.Ěý TheĚýBulletproofĚýDiet Ěýis your blueprint to a better life.]]>
I would recommend reading this book and getting some of the better points from it. Watch the Joe Rogan video on his opinion of mycotoxins and Dave Asprey's book.
I dug into this idea a little bit that you can only get good quality without mycotoxins from the Bulletproof coffee that Dave Asprey sells, and I have not done enough research either way, in fact I haven't really done any research except for testing it in my personal system. But I have been adding Butter to my Starbucks coffee and cutting out Wheat and I feel great.. so for what it's worth. Read the book, watch the Joe Rogan Video. Email me if you would like a copy of my notes. I will email them to you.
Jason
[email protected]]]>
author: Dave Asprey
name: Jason
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2015/04/25
date added: 2015/04/25
shelves:
review:
Being Generous with 3 Stars. This book could have been written in 5 Pages with a supplemental infographic to illustrate which foods/ingredients are "Bulletproof", "Suspect, and "Kryptonite. These are Dave Asprey's classifications of food, BulletProof foods being the best for you and causing the least inflammation. Pretty much the idea of this book is that certain foods cause increased levels of inflammation and that is the root of most disease.
I would recommend reading this book and getting some of the better points from it. Watch the Joe Rogan video on his opinion of mycotoxins and Dave Asprey's book.
I dug into this idea a little bit that you can only get good quality without mycotoxins from the Bulletproof coffee that Dave Asprey sells, and I have not done enough research either way, in fact I haven't really done any research except for testing it in my personal system. But I have been adding Butter to my Starbucks coffee and cutting out Wheat and I feel great.. so for what it's worth. Read the book, watch the Joe Rogan Video. Email me if you would like a copy of my notes. I will email them to you.
Jason
[email protected]
]]>
author: Sam Walton
name: Jason
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2015/04/19
date added: 2015/04/19
shelves:
review:
Do not under estimate this book. If you are a manager or in leadership, an entrepreneur of a start up or you want to grow an existing organization, this is a MUST read. Will keep on my shelf and refer to it for a long time.
]]>
The authors explain how the confluence of three seismic changes - the internet, mobile, and cloud computing - has shifted the balance of power from companies to consumers. The companies that will thrive in this ever-changing landscape will be the ones that create superior products and attract a new breed of multifaceted employees whom the authors dub 'smart creatives'. The management maxims ('Consensus requires dissension', 'Exile knaves but fight for divas', 'Think 10X, not 10%') are illustrated with previously unreported anecdotes from Google's corporate history.
'Back in 2010, Eric and I created an internal class for Google managers,' says Rosenberg. 'The class slides all read 'Google confidential' until an employee suggested we uphold the spirit of openness and share them with the world. This book codifies the recipe for our secret sauce: how Google innovates and how it empowers employees to succeed.']]>
author: Eric Schmidt
name: Jason
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2015/04/08
date added: 2015/04/08
shelves:
review:
Caught my attention easily in the bookstore, good marketing and placement..pretty much what you'd expect. Top Googlers pontificating how wonderful and innovative they are.. Guess some could argue rightfully so. Will read again for organizational anecdotes but it's not a classic.
]]>
author: Shad Helmstetter
name: Jason
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2014/09/27
date added: 2014/09/27
shelves:
review:
Powerful. I think we already know this, but this book has some powerful exercises that will help you program your self conscious. You are what you constantly tell yourself.
]]>
Lewis was in the room with the A's top management as they spent the summer of 2002 adding and subtracting players and he provides outstanding play-by-play. In the June player draft, Beane acquired nearly every prospect he coveted (few of whom were coveted by other teams) and at the July trading deadline he engaged in a tense battle of nerves to acquire a lefty reliever. Besides being one of the most insider accounts ever written about baseball, Moneyball is populated with fascinating characters. We meet Jeremy Brown, an overweight college catcher who most teams project to be a 15th round draft pick (Beane takes him in the first). Sidearm pitcher Chad Bradford is plucked from the White Sox triple-A club to be a key set-up man and catcher Scott Hatteberg is rebuilt as a first baseman. But the most interesting character is Beane himself. A speedy athletic can't-miss prospect who somehow missed, Beane reinvents himself as a front-office guru, relying on players completely unlike, say, Billy Beane. Lewis, one of the top nonfiction writers of his era (Liar's Poker, The New New Thing), offers highly accessible explanations of baseball stats and his roadmap of Beane's economic approach makes Moneyball an appealing reading experience for business people and sports fans alike. --John Moe
]]>Side note: Interesting. I was one of the people who had a negative response to the idea of this book and thought I knew what it was about from the few trailers of the movie I had watched ( I have not even seen the movie). In the Afterward Lewis talks about this phenomenon of people judging this book, most times negatively, without having read it. Baseball is an American TRADITION. Regardless how much you know about baseball or not, we are all effected by the tradition in different ways. I would venture to say we all have some level of respect and fondness for the game. When we perceive that this book is going to attack the tradition we become defensive, hence the phenomenon of people, such as myself, giving this a negative review. I was wrong. It was a powerful reminder for me to read something before I come to a conclusion. That lesson is why I gave it a Fourth Star. This changed my life and how I need to stay open minded.
Well written and informative. I will definitely be looking at the game in a different light and see if I can spot the next undervalued Jason Giambi for my Fantasy League 1st base replacement.]]>
author: Michael Lewis
name: Jason
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2014/08/12
date added: 2014/08/13
shelves:
review:
Moneyball is well written, a little dry sometimes in the points it makes,and the points are made more than necessary. However the writing was very good. Michael Lewis does an excellent job breaking this subject down for those of us not familiar with baseball's finer points (me).
Side note: Interesting. I was one of the people who had a negative response to the idea of this book and thought I knew what it was about from the few trailers of the movie I had watched ( I have not even seen the movie). In the Afterward Lewis talks about this phenomenon of people judging this book, most times negatively, without having read it. Baseball is an American TRADITION. Regardless how much you know about baseball or not, we are all effected by the tradition in different ways. I would venture to say we all have some level of respect and fondness for the game. When we perceive that this book is going to attack the tradition we become defensive, hence the phenomenon of people, such as myself, giving this a negative review. I was wrong. It was a powerful reminder for me to read something before I come to a conclusion. That lesson is why I gave it a Fourth Star. This changed my life and how I need to stay open minded.
Well written and informative. I will definitely be looking at the game in a different light and see if I can spot the next undervalued Jason Giambi for my Fantasy League 1st base replacement.
]]>
A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.
"To Kill A Mockingbird" became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film.]]>
author: Harper Lee
name: Jason
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1960
rating: 5
read at: 2014/07/18
date added: 2014/07/18
shelves:
review:
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a great story line. Makes you appreciate the transition between childhood and becoming an adult, and how our view of the world changes as we get older.
]]>
author: Brian Tracy
name: Jason
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1989
rating: 3
read at: 2014/07/10
date added: 2014/07/10
shelves:
review:
Good Book. Nice Tips. It would have sufficed to read summarized notes of the authors ideas. Great Plan/ Tips. The one thing that I am have a challenge with these kinds of books is they give you so many steps to do while you are reading it. It would take a month to do all the activities. A great book should be able to be condensed into three great ideas. Otherwise it's too much. I enjoyed the beginning and the end most of all. I will review this book in the future.
]]>
"Whether you are just getting started or a veteran in the business, "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" is the step-by-step handbook for seeking excellence in your profession and in your life."
--Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator, #1" New York Times" bestselling series "Chicken Soup for the Soul"
"This book presents a new paradigm for real estate and should be required reading for real estate professionals everywhere."
--Robert T. Kiyosaki, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"
"The Millionaire Real Estate Agent "explains: Three concepts that drive production Economic, organizational, and lead generation models that are the foundations of any high-achiever's business How to "Earn a Million," "Net a Million," and "Receive a Million" in annual income
]]>
author: Gary Keller
name: Jason
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at: 2014/06/20
date added: 2014/06/23
shelves:
review:
I enjoyed this book. It made me believe that this is possible. It has a very detailed plan and great tips. Will read this again and again
]]>
This book also helped me clearly define my goals and why I want to achieve them
Darren Hardy is a great mentor. Get this book if you are serious about growing and becoming better.
]]>
author: Darren Hardy
name: Jason
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2014/05/30
date added: 2014/05/30
shelves:
review:
Excellent book. This is not a motivational book, it's an actional book. I have really noticed major gains in my time and in my steps towards achieving my goals since I allowed myself to listen to Darren Hardy on YouTube.. and to think I almost turned it off!
This book also helped me clearly define my goals and why I want to achieve them
Darren Hardy is a great mentor. Get this book if you are serious about growing and becoming better.
]]>
Find the best listing prospects
Win over "For Sale by Owner" sellers
Earn the seller’s trust
Work an unrealistic price down to market
Arrange the final agreement
Anyone who’s serious about real estate can take charge with Mastering the Art of Selling Real Estate.]]>
author: Tom Hopkins
name: Jason
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at: 2014/05/22
date added: 2014/05/22
shelves:
review:
I enjoyed this book. It took me almost a month to read at 1 hour a day, but I got through it. This was a powerful addition to my plan for success. Five Stars.
]]>
Drawing from 45 years in the area of thinking, reason, the will, memory, intuition and imagination, Bob Proctor talks you through how to realise your inner-millionaire.]]>
author: Bob Proctor
name: Jason
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2014/04/30
date added: 2014/04/30
shelves: success
review:
This was a great book. It was full of powerful anecdotes and examples to teach, encourage and remind that we get out of life what we think about and what we focus on. Great ideas in this book. Will read again next year.
]]>