Read Books This will provide a list of the books I've read with a brief review. Users are blocked, contact me for access. I welcome discussions, but I'm tired of spam.

June 19, 2009

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution–and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman

Filed under: Science — Randolph @ 4:39 pm

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. FriedmanI was disappointed overall, Thomas Friedman is too long-winded. I felt like he made his point, but had to keep driving it home for too many pages.

His analogies strike me as weak and often pointless. In one chapter he referred to an effort as the equivalent of 1,000,000 Noahs in order to stress its difficulty. Then repeatedly refered to ‘leaking arks’. The analogy had no other significance – aside from religious symbology.

His understanding of human nature seems weak at times, too. He only devotes a few pages to explaining to the green resistance why global warming is real. He seems to trivialize their position without providing any new proof of climate change.

He further goes to explain how the new technology to deal with our environemntal problems will be inevitably good for the companies, and how we will eventually pay lumber companies not to cut wood, and how concrete is bad for the environment without ever discussing what we’re oging to replace as new building materials.

He does have a lot of good information and ideas, though. But it seemed overly difficult to read this book to get to them. And I don’t feel he has provided any real insight as to how to address them. But he is avidly pronouncing that we cannot continue business as normal.

I don’t think he will reach the ears he needs to reach. Only the already-green public is likely to pick up this book.
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I wrote this yesterday, upon rereading it, I feel its accurate but overly negative. I did enjoy most of the book and value the information I got out of it. Most of my complaints are about the presentation. Overall, I would prefer Al Gore’s books and writing style.

Chad Carpenter Presents Tundra In Full Color by Chad Carpenter

Filed under: Humor — Randolph @ 4:36 pm

In Full Color by Chad CarpenterI like Chad’s sense of humor.

June 4, 2009

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Filed under: Science — Randolph @ 3:12 pm

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm GladwellThe book discusses people at the extreme ends of society, and what events lead to that position. He makes the point that luck and timing are far more important than skills and knowledge.

It was an interesting read and the author makes some good points. But I suspect he is cherry-picking his data. Some of his assumptions didn’t seem reasonable, although the arguments ultimately didn’t rely heavily on them. however, it makes we want to see some raw data.

I think he goes to an excess in denying personal ability and interest in the drive toward success. But he drives a good point home that they can’t be all important as we are lead to believe.

May 9, 2009

The Tao of Bada Bing: Words of Wisdom from The Sopranos by David Chase

Filed under: Uncategorized — Randolph @ 2:55 pm

The Tao of Bada Bing: Words of Wisdom from The Sopranos by David ChaseIt is ok. About what you’d expect. Lots of excerpts in dialog form from the tv series with minor points of philosophy.

May 8, 2009

Until Proven Guilty by J.A. Jance

Filed under: Uncategorized — Randolph @ 4:34 pm

Until Proven Guilty by J. A. JanceIt started well and ended well, but the middle was a bit long. The woman in red had several plot points start to develop but disolve in a few pages, so pointed to some critical involvement. The mystery wasn’t solved by the main character, but solved itself around him. I almost stopped reading in mid-book. But the ending enticed me, I might read the next one and give it another shot.

May 5, 2009

CMMI: Improving Software and Systems Development Processes Using Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI-DEV) by Ralf Kneuper

Filed under: Technical — Randolph @ 2:59 pm

CMMI: Improving Software and Systems Development Processes Using Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI-DEV) by Ralf KneuperThis is one of the few technical books that I’ve read cover-to-cover, so will be included in this list. The book provides good coverage of the individual version of the CMM.

April 24, 2009

Ties That Bind by Phillip Margolin

Filed under: Favorites,Mystery — Randolph @ 3:09 pm

Ties That Bind by Philip MargolinThis is the first Amanda Jaffe novel.

I found it an enjoyable read and one to recommend. The elements all tied together well and there are some good surprises.

April 17, 2009

The Map of Innovation: Creating Something Out of Nothing by Kevin O’Connor

Filed under: Technical — Randolph @ 3:04 pm

The Map of Innovation: Creating Something Out of Nothing by Kevin O'ConnorI was a little disappointed, as I felt it was not about innovation as much as a business primer. The aspects regarding innovation were less than I had found from other sources, although he found a good way to deal with it on his terms.

As a primer for starting and managing your own business, this seems a good primer. It covers a lot of material at a good level for someone new to the game. Given his approach to the innovation side, I have to wonder how much is left out. It has plenty of anecdotes from his experiences, both good and bad, that help drive his points home. I have to wonder how much of his success is due to the general economic climate of the 90s, as the book did not convince me that he had anything special.

The book is interesting, and I would consider it a valuable read for anyone trying to start his own business without having an MBA.

April 13, 2009

Desert Heat by J.A. Jance

Filed under: Mystery — Randolph @ 2:57 pm

Desert Heat by J. A. JanceThis is the first Joanna Brady book. It was decent, not great. Still, the series looks promising.

read in late 2008.

April 6, 2009

A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel (Armand Gamache Novel) by Louise Penny

Filed under: Mystery,Series — Tags: — Randolph @ 4:31 pm

The Murder Stone by Louise PennyAn Inspector Gamache mystery, the murder weapon is a toppled statue

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