The Lion was one of the best books I have read in this genre. Some unforgettable sub-plots, outstanding beginning, surprisingly non-standard climax anThe Lion was one of the best books I have read in this genre. Some unforgettable sub-plots, outstanding beginning, surprisingly non-standard climax and Corey with his macabre sense of humour. The sequel mostly relies on the last of the previous book's positives. Corey's thinking continues to make the book readable. And Asad remains one of the better developed villains I have read, but the sequel is certainly a few levels below the original.
To start with the plot moves rather too predictably and painfully slowly for most parts despite the imminently enjoyable Corey's musings. The end is stretched and without surprises. And the most outstanding part of the book, the skydive, is no match for the plane landing equivalent of the original. So, overall way better than the average but not par with the original....more
A relatively easy book on a highly esoteric subject. Many great books are written on physical sciences, including complex topics like relativity and sA relatively easy book on a highly esoteric subject. Many great books are written on physical sciences, including complex topics like relativity and superstrings, for non-scientists. The same perhaps does not hold true for DNA and relatied fields, which are perhaps revolutionizing the world more than computer technologies and mobile communication. This book explains some of the topics relatively easily although it has not been sufficiently dumbified. But definitely a good start for anyone wanting to learn the basics of the subject....more
A cracker of a topic. This is not just a vision of what the world may look like a few centuries hence but literally a discussion on what is possible iA cracker of a topic. This is not just a vision of what the world may look like a few centuries hence but literally a discussion on what is possible in science. We are not going to be around to see it so the book provides a great fodder to create one's own impressions of what a human society may look like some time in distant future.
The book is not an easy one, though. Neither does it have any concrete answers. There are many scientific details and surely - like it would be the case for almost any book or article on what may happen in future - there is a lot that is highly subjective and speculative. Still, the book's biggest achievement is marrying science to the vision rather than creating a fantastic world out of sheer imagination.
In the final analysis, the author could have addressed a few other topics like the existence of fifth or sixth or tenth fundamental force, invention of deterministic quantum physics (or understanding of why it appears probabilistic), or some sort of realization of fourth/higher dimensions. But these are just my topics. Everyone will have their own and the author's own list in the book is absolutely superb....more
A great tale of the times. Harry's descriptions of how easy it was to detect such a massive Madoff scandal, its awareness amongst the knowledgable andA great tale of the times. Harry's descriptions of how easy it was to detect such a massive Madoff scandal, its awareness amongst the knowledgable and almost willful disregard by authorities make compelling reading. Yet the book not only becomes too repetitive with a known end but also is needlessly sensationalist at times (excessive fear of life).
Most importantly, the book must be branded incomplete. Unless SEC, or even better, Mr Markopolos, succeed in unveiling some major scams as a result of the events in Madoff case, it is too early to conclude lessons being learnt.
All that said, as the book itself indirectly hints through a senate hearing question, it is written to be made into a movie. The only thing holding back wanna be producers are complete lack of action events, and more disappointingly, zero interaction between the author and Mr Madoff. And of course the fact that evilness of financial swindling is extremely difficult to depict to portray on screen....more
The book starts extremely well and makes insightful great points in early part of the book based on the knowledge of long history, clear analysis of cThe book starts extremely well and makes insightful great points in early part of the book based on the knowledge of long history, clear analysis of cycles and use of logic. In the first few chapters, the book almost had the potential to be the book of the era - a bit like this time is different or black swan.
Yet, all is completely lost soon. The wasted part is the author's desire to tell investors what to invest in over the next few years, positioning it as just another investment advise book, if not a standard industry recommendation report. Worse is when the need to be positive on a few things take over and the book starts developing internal contradictions - all arising out of the need to effectively conclude that all will be almost well and if they are not, that will be because of the errors to be made in future and not because of the path taken so far.
In all, the book not only reduced its own shelf life with the second half asset allocation suggestions but diluted analysis and conclusions for no other reason but to be able to make some investment conclusions....more
The premise is excellent and the book starts off well. However, the standard tendency of such books of the era to bring everyThe book goes off-topic.
The premise is excellent and the book starts off well. However, the standard tendency of such books of the era to bring everything to relativity, quantum physics and superstring theory - may be because of far easier availability of topics in the space - means the book loses its interesting and unique subject quite quickly.
As a result, when it is compared with other books on either history of maths/science or that try to explain cosmology theoretically, it comes up with neither too many new things nor interesting insights. Good introduction for anyone into the first few books on the subject, all that said....more
About the best book on the subject and by a mile. As almost all the other reviewers claim, the initial parts on Newtonian, Relativistic and Quantum scAbout the best book on the subject and by a mile. As almost all the other reviewers claim, the initial parts on Newtonian, Relativistic and Quantum science are so beautifully and novelly explained that they should be made mandatory in any study books on the topic.
The approach continues as the author jumps to explaining a far more complex super-string theory. And here, the simplistic explanations make the theory look highly speculative, fantastic and without much ground/proof. This is certainly not the case and perhaps that's because far more work is needed not just in completing the theory but grasping its real meaning. This does not remotely lessen the utility or interesting style of the book as I strongly believe that there does not exist - at least so far - any simpler explanations.
For anyone interested in cosmology, an absolute must read - ideally multiple times over a few years. Hope the author comes with an update soon....more
To start with, the book is a literary masterpiece. The characters are most real life like that I have seen on book pages in years. Immensely complex, To start with, the book is a literary masterpiece. The characters are most real life like that I have seen on book pages in years. Immensely complex, going through most extraordinary things but still completely normal. The nuiances of dozens of relationships are explained beautifully. All in all, the Lambert family is so lovable, despite deep flaws, that you want it to have that one moment of real bliss - even if over a few pages - before the book ends.
And that's where the book fails. The moment of happiness that one waits for hundreds of pages comes but does not last even a paragraph. The follies and foibles spoil everything before anything was achieved, and may be that's most real life like but it drains any hopes of any hope and inspiration in the book.
If you can overcome the feeling that the book exudes all through, that life is a waste, it is one of the best books you are likely to read on darker and funnier parts of relationships....more
Excellent, reasonably unbiased book which is full of historic linkages and factual presentations of three of the most important nations. It is not easExcellent, reasonably unbiased book which is full of historic linkages and factual presentations of three of the most important nations. It is not easy to talk about three as different as Japan, India and China and it is not easy to even cover even one of them in the most rudimentary fashion in one book, but the author manages his task well while imparting decent insights to experts as well as total neophytes. This is not a book for those looking for theatrics or controversial views. More for those who want to gain some understanding of what today's Asian superpowers up to. Given how little is written about these three compared to relatively less relevant European nations in the global context, the book assumes even more importance....more
Many good books are written to simplistically explain the theoretical revolutions brought about in The first half of the tweNtieth century. Great biogMany good books are written to simplistically explain the theoretical revolutions brought about in The first half of the tweNtieth century. Great biographies are published on the protagonists. But this book is something just different, wonderfuLly different.
Sidestepping relativity is never easy while talking about Einstein. The book manages this. His opposition to Quantum theory is often either trivialised or made ridiculously philosOphical. The book masterfully traverses the landscape.
But the book's biggest achievement is the roles played by so many other luminaries aLong with their background, interpersonal relationShips, rivalries, along with roles played by chance, the sequencing of events that made the era possible as well as the influence of wars.
A must read for anyone interested in either science or scienlists....more
A relatively straightforward book which is reasonably objective (except in the basic assumption of why US/Western views should go unchallenged). The bA relatively straightforward book which is reasonably objective (except in the basic assumption of why US/Western views should go unchallenged). The book is quick although repetitive in tone. Some of the details on China's influence on various policymakers globally are likely to be informative for most....more
Freedom would stay confined in readers' minds long after finishing the book. From this viewpoint, Freedom is an immensely powerful book compared to ThFreedom would stay confined in readers' minds long after finishing the book. From this viewpoint, Freedom is an immensely powerful book compared to The Corrections. In its conclusions, it is a tad more optimistic as well but overall, the book is too critical of everything and without much hope for human enterprise.
That author writes well, has extremely critical views of most worldly developments or human frailties and is particularly chaffed about the state of current affairs is evident throughout the book to the point of being obsessively throughout. To a degree, this should not be too surprising. Where the book fails to rise to the lofty expectations is in either bringing out something new (even if more depressing) or in lifting the Berglund family story through to sufficient number of surprising paths.
The two step forward, one step back style of describing the event timeline is refreshing. As said above, the book ties the ends far better than The Corrections. All the major characters, despite flaws, suffering from self-doubts and indecisiveness, are portrayed much better than in The Corrections. If at all, the book had some more light and positive moments or hopeful outturns, with little less preaching, it could have been far better....more
Refreshing style, novel concepts and of course, Sherlock-ian. The two stories even when a century apart run well parallel. The only weakness, and a biRefreshing style, novel concepts and of course, Sherlock-ian. The two stories even when a century apart run well parallel. The only weakness, and a big one, is that neither of the stories is as captivating as the best of Doyle stories. The climax too is a tad filmy. Yet, certainly worth reading simply the way the plots are intertwined, the logical unravelling and the language....more
The book starts extremely well. But once the basic plot is outlined, the story refuses to move anywhere. A host of characters, their mindsets, feelingThe book starts extremely well. But once the basic plot is outlined, the story refuses to move anywhere. A host of characters, their mindsets, feelings and complications are opened and discussed spottily but without any developments or conclusions. The devilish, scary villains are such only in words but mostly non-players. The biggest fights of the heroes happen in the background over a few page while tennis matches or petty journeys/interactions are discussed over tens of pages. The book concludes in a rather fitting manner - highly incomplete and without answering anything. May be like real-life but one does not need to write stories on events uninteresting....more
The Confession is much better than Grisham's recent novels but not a great legal thriller like his earliest work. The story is fairly straightforward The Confession is much better than Grisham's recent novels but not a great legal thriller like his earliest work. The story is fairly straightforward as laid out in the back cover. The biggest thriller is in the middle section which would glue anyone but the slackening thereafter is not only boring but brings about the question the books of this genre can I'll-afford: what's the whole point? Good characters though. Also much more realistic than most such books even at the cost of the usual feel good....more
The book narrates four disparate historic sagas in interesting details and that's where it has the maximum value. The treatment is uneven - the Papal The book narrates four disparate historic sagas in interesting details and that's where it has the maximum value. The treatment is uneven - the Papal chapters and Vietnam wars are far better read. The main problem is the subject - highly superficial and largely redundant in the selection of stories.
The author could have chosen any from possibly thousands of stories - many more pertinent - to prove the basic theme - the march of follies. The selection seems more driven by the need to inform the readers on episodes less covered which is fine. However, whenever the author moves off events to interpretations to show how various follies shaped history, the book turns repetitive, simplistic and ordinary....more
The pre-war years are not something many like to spend much time on, but the period is critical for anyone trying to derive lessons from the sorry perThe pre-war years are not something many like to spend much time on, but the period is critical for anyone trying to derive lessons from the sorry period of human history. The book clearly reveals how a civil society began to accept and participate in collective barbarism.
The first book provided historical context to this period. The second book shows what most societies can degenerate to in the worst case. We often see that good people do not have enough courage, guile or collective power to resist the evil. We also know that the lunatics are often the most zealous and fanatic. This book is perhaps about the 98% in-betweeners - so to say - about how they can be made to actively or passively participate in mass murders.
The tragicness of this book only surpassed by what comes next but this is not for faint-hearted. The author is less focussed on politics and politicians, which often makes it a macabre read. But another must.
All said and done, anyone who believes that things like this can no longer happen in our world (which may be true) should still read works like this to realize how things can go wrong if we are not careful and on our guards all the time....more
An excellent account of events but that's about it. The book does a good job talking about events that few in our era have really read of and are impoAn excellent account of events but that's about it. The book does a good job talking about events that few in our era have really read of and are important for those who work in finance industry. The events show the basic fragility of fractional reserve banking system and how losses multiply as confidence wanes - the circularity in market-driven systems. 1907 again shows that despite the less sophistication and lack of regulators both basic problems and solutions of financial systems were same even a century ago. The book clearly miserably fails while trying to explain the events and the lessons it holds for future. There are some great books on 1929 - not just because it was a far larger episode but because the lessons drawn by stalwarts like Galbreith, Rothbard, Friedman etc....more
For a variety of reasons, this unique book is perhaps much more important than other books on Third Reich or WW2.
If we do not ever want to see genocidFor a variety of reasons, this unique book is perhaps much more important than other books on Third Reich or WW2.
If we do not ever want to see genocide or state murder perpetuated by a government elected by an educated democratic society, this book is a must. We often forget the blindsides of a democracy not supported by undemocratic basic or constitutionally protected principles. After reading this book, one may be able to realize why everything can not simply be left to majority - there are some basic principals a moral society and its governments have to defend irrespective of the mob wish.
In 1920s' Germany, a society democratically finished off democracy and elected an autocracy. Majority was manipulatively used and shaped to openly perpetuate some of the most heinous crimes ever witnessed by humanity against all kinds of minority.
The details of the book are important to not only learn how a small, openly-criminal clan took the monstrous shape it did. While all three books are excellent, this is the best for anyone trying to learn the most important lessons of the time....more
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