Steven's bookshelf: read en-US Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:08:10 -0700 60 Steven's bookshelf: read 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Time Almanac 2011 9866726
Highlights include world statistics and countries, astronomy and space, calendar and holidays, health and nutrition, sports results, business, economy, personal finance, the Internet, web-site guide and so much more!

Turn to The TIME Almanac 2011 - Powered by Encyclopaedia Britannica - for more than 1 million answers.]]> 864 Time Inc. 1603201645 Steven 5 bathroom-reading, reference 5.00 2010 Time Almanac 2011
author: Time Inc.
name: Steven
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2011/10/15
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: bathroom-reading, reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Windows Internals, Part 2: Covering Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7]]> 13754792
As always, you get critical insider perspectives on how Windows operates. And through hands-on experiments, you’ll experience its internal behavior firsthand—knowledge you can apply to improve application design, debugging, system performance, and support.

In Part 2, you’ll examine:


Core subsystems for I/O, storage, memory management, cache manager, and file systems Startup and shutdown processes Crash-dump analysis, including troubleshooting tools and techniques]]> 672 Mark E. Russinovich 0735665877 Steven 5 4.53 2012 Windows Internals, Part 2: Covering Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7
author: Mark E. Russinovich
name: Steven
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2020/09/10
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: tech, computer-it-pro, computer-programming-development
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2025]]> 207294294 #1 New York Times Bestseller! Get thousands of facts at your fingertips with this essential sports, pop culture, science and technology, U.S. history and government, world geography, business, and so much more.The World Almanac® isAmerica’s bestselling reference book of all time, with more than 83 million copies sold. For more than 150 years, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for school, library, business, and home. The 2025 edition ofThe World Almanacreviews the biggest events of 2024 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information� byThe Wall Street Journal,The World Almanac and Book of Factswill answer all of your trivia needs effortlessly.Features Special Election 2024: The World Almanacprovides a comprehensive look at the entire 2024 election process, from the roller coaster of the early primaries to state and county presidential voting results and coverage of House, Senate, and gubernatorial races.2024—Top 10 News The editors ofThe World Almanaclist the top stories that held the world's attention in 2024. 2024—Year in Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and the 2024 World Series. 2024—Year in Striking full-color images from around the world in 2024, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports. 2024—Offbeat News The World Almanaceditors found some of the strangest news stories of the year. World Almanac Editors' Time The World Almanaclists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2024. The World at a This annual feature ofThe World Almanacprovides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world. Other More new data to help understand the world, including housing costs, immigration statistics, public schools and test scores, streaming TV and movie ratings, and much more. ]]> 1008 Sarah Janssen 1510780866 Steven 0 currently-reading 5.00 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2025
author: Sarah Janssen
name: Steven
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Windows Internals, Part 2 (Developer Reference)]]> 42038842 912 Mark E. Russinovich 0135462401 Steven 5 4.77 Windows Internals, Part 2 (Developer Reference)
author: Mark E. Russinovich
name: Steven
average rating: 4.77
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2020/06/19
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: computer-it-pro, computer-programming-development, tech
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Solos for the Horn Player With Piano Accompaniment]]> 1634896 Mason Jones 0793554004 Steven 5 music 5.00 Solos for the Horn Player With Piano Accompaniment
author: Mason Jones
name: Steven
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 1993/08/16
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: music
review:

]]> <![CDATA[ISE Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach]]> 60481342 928 Ian Palmer 1260597954 Steven 0 4.33 ISE Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach
author: Ian Palmer
name: Steven
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Data Visualization: Exploring and Explaining with Data (MindTap Course List)]]> 55893977 448 Jeffrey D Camm 035763134X Steven 0 currently-reading 4.50 Data Visualization: Exploring and Explaining with Data (MindTap Course List)
author: Jeffrey D Camm
name: Steven
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> The Day the Crayons Quit 16101018 Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!

Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.

What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Debut author Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers create a colorful solution in this playful, imaginative story that will have children laughing and playing with their crayons in a whole new way. Join in on the fun and games. Find out why the crayons are mad and how Duncan takes care of this dilemma!

Age Range: 3-6+ / Lexile Score AD730L
Edition MSRP: US $17⁹⁹ (ISBN 978-0-399-25537-3)
Manufactured in China]]> 30 Drew Daywalt 0399255370 Steven 4 childrens 4.42 2013 The Day the Crayons Quit
author: Drew Daywalt
name: Steven
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: childrens
review:

]]> Goodnight Already! 20663085
Jory John, author of All My Friends Are Dead, and Benji Davies join together to create this standout hilarious picture book that will make bedtime memorable.]]> 32 Jory John 006228620X Steven 5 childrens 4.07 2014 Goodnight Already!
author: Jory John
name: Steven
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: childrens
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Brenda's Beaver Needs a Barber]]> 41030992

“Brenda's Beaver Needs a Barber� is the fifth of five books that make up Season One.


Sumguyen has always had a thick mane of hair, in the summer of 2016 he decided to grow a beard. Deep into month three he started to look like an armpit with eyeballs.

It was a sultry August night in Old Town Scottsdale as Bimisi and Sumguyen made their way from one bar to another. They took pause to to enjoy the rhythms of a homeless crooner who was soulfully picking his guitar. When Sumguyen threw a five into his tip jar the artist looked up, thanked him with a nod and said, “That is a beautiful beard. My friend Brenda has a beard just like that, but hers doesn’t talk.� A fair amount of beer sprayed from Bimisi’s nose...and just like that they had their subject matter for the final book of Season One.

The five books included in the Reach Around Books Season One Box Set include:

Suzy Likes to Look at Balls Come Swing with Us! Spank the Monkey Lends a Hand Brenda's Beaver Needs a Barber Put Tony's Nuts in Your Mouth!

Through the timeless power of double entendre, Reach Around Books will have the reader in tears of laughter while to any juvenile listener they are completely innocent. If you are offended by humor, don't buy our books. If your kid is offended by our books, that implies they understand terms only found in the Urban Dictionary�...You failed as a parent long before Reach Around Books came into your life.

--Toodles!

]]> 32 Bimisi Tayanita 1946178047 Steven 3 4.37 2017 Brenda's Beaver Needs a Barber
author: Bimisi Tayanita
name: Steven
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/08
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hookers and Blow Save Christmas]]> 56236477 22 Munty C. Pepin 1777225124 Steven 4 childrens, humor 4.50 Hookers and Blow Save Christmas
author: Munty C. Pepin
name: Steven
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/07
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves: childrens, humor
review:

]]> Suzy Likes to Look at Balls 37685678 “Suzy Likes to Look at Balls� is the first of five books that make up Season One.

"Suzy likes to look at balls and if you play a sport, chances are before too long she'll take a look at yours...This book she wrote for you and me just to clue us in, on all the balls that Suzy's seen and where those balls have been."

Somewhere east of Winslow, Arizona as the peace pipe made its rounds through their hastily erected and smoke filled wigwam, two literary mavericks laid plans to change the world...or at least to enlighten those who practice the age-old tradition of “story time�.

Bimisi Tayanita and Sumguyen Bangladesh remember the “story time� of their youth with fondness. Now, years later, with blatant disregard toward the advice they paid an attorney $134 for; they have set out to make those precious moments just before bed every bit as satisfying for dad (or any other reader) as they are for junior.

The five books included in the Reach Around Books Season One Box Set

Suzy Likes to Look at Balls Come Swing with Us! Spank the Monkey Lends a Hand Brenda's Beaver Needs a Barber Put Tony's Nuts in Your Mouth! Through the timeless power of double entendre, Reach Around Books will have the reader in tears of laughter while to any juvenile listener they are completely innocent. If you are offended by humor, don't buy our books. If your kid is offended by our books, that implies they understand terms only found in the Urban Dictionary�...You failed as a parent long before Reach Around Books came into your life.

--Toodles!]]> 32 Bimisi Tayanita 1946178004 Steven 2 adult, humor 3.25 Suzy Likes to Look at Balls
author: Bimisi Tayanita
name: Steven
average rating: 3.25
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/07
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves: adult, humor
review:

]]> Dee's Big Nuts 39217489 26 Mark Thunder 1515326764 Steven 3 humor, adult 4.48 Dee's Big Nuts
author: Mark Thunder
name: Steven
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves: humor, adult
review:

]]> The Evil Garden 9600499 The Evil Garden 32 Edward Gorey 0764958852 Steven 5 childrens 4.34 1997 The Evil Garden
author: Edward Gorey
name: Steven
average rating: 4.34
book published: 1997
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves: childrens
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Visual Thinking: Empowering People and Organisations through Visual Collaboration]]> 31944884
This book will help brush aside misconcepti­ons that may have prevented you using these techniques in your workplace. You don't need Van Gogh's artistic talent or Einstein's intelli­gence to harness the power of visual thinking and make your company more successful.

With the right mindset and the simple skills this book provides you the skills to develop your own signature and style and start gene­rating change by integrating visual communi­cation into your business setting.]]> 144 Willemien Brand 9063694539 Steven 0 4.03 Visual Thinking: Empowering People and Organisations through Visual Collaboration
author: Willemien Brand
name: Steven
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: currently-reading, bathroom-reading, business, insight, writing
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures]]> 15811567
"There is no more powerful way to prove that we know something well than to draw a simple picture of it. And there is no more powerful way to see hidden solutions than to pick up a pen and draw out the pieces of our problem."

So writes Dan Roam in The Back of the Napkin , the international bestseller that proves that a simple drawing on a humble napkin can be more powerful than the slickest PowerPoint presentation. Drawing on twenty years of experience and the latest discoveries in vision science, Roam teaches readers how to clarify any problem or sell any idea using a simple set of tools.

He reveals that everyone is born with a talent for visual thinking, even those who swear they can't draw. And he shows how thinking with pictures can help you discover and develop new ideas, solve problems in unexpected ways, and dramatically improve your ability to share your insights.

Take Herb Kelleher and Rollin King, who figured out how to beat the traditional hub-and-spoke airlines with a bar napkin and a pen. Three dots to represent Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Three arrows to show direct flights. Problem solved, and the picture made it easy to sell Southwest Airlines to investors and customers.

Now with more color, bigger pictures, and additional content, this new edition does an even better job of helping you literally see the world in a new way. Join the teachers, project managers, doctors, engineers, assembly-line workers, pilots, football coaches, marine drill instructors, financial analysts, students, parents, and lawyers who have discovered the power of solving problems with pictures.]]> 286 Dan Roam 1591842697 Steven 0 3.98 2008 The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
author: Dan Roam
name: Steven
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: currently-reading, business, insight, writing
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Is Our Children Learning?: The Case Against George W. Bush]]> 454228 "Is Our Children Learning?" examines the public life and public record of George W. Bush and reveals him for who he is: a man who presents the thinnest, weakest, least impressive record in public life of any major party nominee this century; a man who at every critical juncture has been propelled upward by the forces of wealth, privilege, status, and special interests who use his family's name for their private gain.
A Texan, political analyst, strategist, and partisan, Paul Begala has written a devastating assessment of the Bush brand of politics.]]> 160 Paul Begala 0743214781 Steven 4 politics, humor 3.54 2000 Is Our Children Learning?: The Case Against George W. Bush
author: Paul Begala
name: Steven
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: politics, humor
review:

]]> <![CDATA[I Thought You Little Feckers Were Asleep Already]]> 11479995 38 Scotty Donats 146116463X Steven 4 childrens 4.40 2011 I Thought You Little Feckers Were Asleep Already
author: Scotty Donats
name: Steven
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: childrens
review:

]]> Monsters Eat Whiny Children 7171789 32 Bruce Eric Kaplan 1416986898 Steven 4 childrens 3.59 2010 Monsters Eat Whiny Children
author: Bruce Eric Kaplan
name: Steven
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: childrens
review:

]]> The Selfish Gene 61535
Chapters:
1. Why are people?
2. The replicators
3. Immortal coils
4. The gene machine
5. Aggression stability and the selfish machine
6. Genesmanship
7. Family planning
8. Battle of the generations
9. Battle of the sexes
10. You scratch my back, I'll ride on yours
11. Memes: the new replicators
12. Nice guys finish first
13. The long reach of the gene]]> 360 Richard Dawkins 0199291152 Steven 0 to-read 4.15 1976 The Selfish Gene
author: Richard Dawkins
name: Steven
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1976
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Children Make Terrible Pets 7949530
She calls him Squeaker.

Lucy and Squeaker have the best day ever. Until things start to go wrong...

Do children make terrible pets? What do you think?]]> 40 Peter Brown 0316015482 Steven 0 to-read 4.10 2010 Children Make Terrible Pets
author: Peter Brown
name: Steven
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor (Columbia Business School Publishing)]]> 10454418
Howard Marks, the chairman and cofounder of Oaktree Capital Management, is renowned for his insightful assessments of market opportunity and risk. After four decades spent ascending to the top of the investment management profession, he is today sought out by the world's leading value investors, and his client memos brim with insightful commentary and a time-tested, fundamental philosophy. Now for the first time, all readers can benefit from Marks's wisdom, concentrated into a single volume that speaks to both the amateur and seasoned investor.

Informed by a lifetime of experience and study, The Most Important Thing explains the keys to successful investment and the pitfalls that can destroy capital or ruin a career. Utilizing passages from his memos to illustrate his ideas, Marks teaches by example, detailing the development of an investment philosophy that fully acknowledges the complexities of investing and the perils of the financial world. Brilliantly applying insight to today's volatile markets, Marks offers a volume that is part memoir, part creed, with a number of broad takeaways.

Marks expounds on such concepts as "second-level thinking," the price/value relationship, patient opportunism, and defensive investing. Frankly and honestly assessing his own decisions--and occasional missteps--he provides valuable lessons for critical thinking, risk assessment, and investment strategy. Encouraging investors to be "contrarian," Marks wisely judges market cycles and achieves returns through aggressive yet measured action. Which element is the most essential? Successful investing requires thoughtful attention to many separate aspects, and each of Marks's subjects proves to be the most important thing.]]> 200 Howard Marks 0231153686 Steven 0 to-read 4.29 2011 The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor (Columbia Business School Publishing)
author: Howard Marks
name: Steven
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise]]> 7622395 168 D.P. Ordway 0595434371 Steven 0 to-read 3.70 2008 Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise
author: D.P. Ordway
name: Steven
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Sideways 15781 Sideways is the story of two friends--Miles and Jack--going away together for the last time to steep themselves in everything that makes it good to be young and single: pinot, putting, and prowling bars. In the week before Jack plans to marry, the pair heads out from Los Angeles to the Santa Ynez wine country. For Jack, the tasting tour is Seven Days to D-Day, his final stretch of freedom. For Miles--who has divorced his wife, is facing an uncertain career and has lost his passion for living--the trip is a weeklong opportunity to evaluate his past, his future and himself.

A raucous and surprising novel filled with wonderful details about wine, Sideways is also a thought-provoking and funny book about men, women, and human relationships.
]]> 354 Rex Pickett 0312342519 Steven 0 to-read 3.71 2004 Sideways
author: Rex Pickett
name: Steven
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules]]> 6441753 368 Stacy Perman 0061346721 Steven 0 to-read 3.92 2009 In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules
author: Stacy Perman
name: Steven
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dealing with People You Can’t Stand, Revised and Expanded Third Edition: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst]]> 13381457 304 Rick Brinkman 0071785728 Steven 0 currently-reading 3.77 1994 Dealing with People You Can’t Stand, Revised and Expanded Third Edition: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst
author: Rick Brinkman
name: Steven
average rating: 3.77
book published: 1994
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Windows Internals, Part 1: User Mode]]> 20829236
In Book 1, you'll plumb Windows fundamentals, independent of platform - server, desktop, tablet, phone, Xbox. Coverage focuses on high-level functional descriptions of the various Windows components and features that interact with, or are manipulated by, user mode programs, or applications. You'll also examine management mechanisms and operating system components that are implemented in user mode, such as service processes.

As always, you get critical insider perspectives on how Windows operates. And through hands-on experiments, you'll experience its internal behavior firsthand - knowledge you can apply to improve application design, debugging, system performance, and support.

Planned chapters: Concepts & Tools; System Architecture; Windows Application Support; Windows Store Apps; Graphics & the Desktop; Management Mechanisms; User Mode Memory Management; Security; Storage; Networking; Hyper-V.]]> 800 Brian Catlin 0735684189 Steven 5 4.58 Windows Internals, Part 1: User Mode
author: Brian Catlin
name: Steven
average rating: 4.58
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: computer-programming-development, computer-it-pro, tech, reference
review:

]]> More Tell Me Why 355504 0 Arkady Leokum 0448044420 Steven 5 4.39 1972 More Tell Me Why
author: Arkady Leokum
name: Steven
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1972
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: childrens, culture, education, history, science-math
review:

]]> Adventures of an IT Leader 5416737
This book invites you to accompany new CIO Jim Barton to better understand the role of IT in your organization. You'll see Jim struggle through a challenging first year, handling (and fumbling) situations that, although fictional, are based on true events.

You can read this book from beginning to end, or treat is as a series of cases. You can also skip around to address your most pressing needs. For example, need to learn about crisis management and security? Read chapters 10-12. You can formulate your own responses to a CIO's obstacles by reading the authors' regular "Reflection" questions.

You'll turn to this book many times as you face IT-related issues in your own career.]]> 320 Robert D. Austin 142214660X Steven 5 It is a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities and challenges faced by IT leaders in modern organizations. The book presents a fictional yet realistic portrayal of the life of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) through the character of Jim Barton. Because the book is structured as a novel, it’s an engaging read while providing valuable insights into IT management and leadership. So engaging in that, I would read ahead a few chapters, and I finished it early. I can honestly say that is rare for a college “textbook.�
The story begins with Jim Barton, the head of Loan Operations at IVK Corporation, being unexpectedly appointed as the CIO by the new CEO, Carl Williams. Barton, who has no prior experience in IT, is chosen for his critical perspective on the IT department. The company is struggling with slowing growth and falling stock prices, and Williams believes that Barton can bring a fresh approach to the IT organization.
As Barton steps into his new role, he faces numerous challenges, including gaining the trust of his team, understanding the technical aspects of IT, and aligning IT strategy with business goals. Throughout the book, readers follow Barton's journey as he navigates through crises, makes critical decisions, and learns the intricacies of IT management.
The book emphasizes the importance of effective leadership in IT. Barton learns that being a successful CIO requires not only technical knowledge but also strong leadership skills, the ability to communicate effectively, and the capacity to inspire and motivate the team.
One of the central themes is the alignment of IT with business objectives. Barton realizes that IT should not operate in isolation but must be integrated with the overall business strategy to drive growth and innovation.
The book highlights the unpredictable nature of IT and the need for CIOs to be prepared for crises. Barton faces several critical situations, such as security breaches and system failures, and learns the importance of quick decision-making and problem-solving.
I do wish they would update the book for 2025 to include recent technological innovations such as the ubiquity of IoT, SaaS and cloud services, as well as the emerging AI technologies. At the time of publication, BYOD was the emerging technology. Perhaps a sequel? It did end on a cliffhanger, but I will not spoil it.
The book “The Adventures of an IT Leader� is both a fictional tale that also serves as a “textbook via storytelling� designed for anyone who aspires to have a career in IT leadership. The book’s blend of narrative and practical advice makes it an essential read for current and aspiring IT leaders. There’s a good reason it is still used in many professional business degrees programs.

Originally posted at ]]> 3.77 2009 Adventures of an IT Leader
author: Robert D. Austin
name: Steven
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: textbook, tech, leadership, business
review:
I read the book "Adventures of an IT Leader," by Robert Austin, Richard Nolan, and Shannon O'Donnell � not by choice necessarily, but because it was assigned reading for one of my graduate courses. It is a very novel educational tool in that it is both a “textbook� complete with end of chapter work and reflection exercises, but it is written as a fictional novel � meant to be entertaining as well as educational. It succeeds.
It is a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities and challenges faced by IT leaders in modern organizations. The book presents a fictional yet realistic portrayal of the life of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) through the character of Jim Barton. Because the book is structured as a novel, it’s an engaging read while providing valuable insights into IT management and leadership. So engaging in that, I would read ahead a few chapters, and I finished it early. I can honestly say that is rare for a college “textbook.�
The story begins with Jim Barton, the head of Loan Operations at IVK Corporation, being unexpectedly appointed as the CIO by the new CEO, Carl Williams. Barton, who has no prior experience in IT, is chosen for his critical perspective on the IT department. The company is struggling with slowing growth and falling stock prices, and Williams believes that Barton can bring a fresh approach to the IT organization.
As Barton steps into his new role, he faces numerous challenges, including gaining the trust of his team, understanding the technical aspects of IT, and aligning IT strategy with business goals. Throughout the book, readers follow Barton's journey as he navigates through crises, makes critical decisions, and learns the intricacies of IT management.
The book emphasizes the importance of effective leadership in IT. Barton learns that being a successful CIO requires not only technical knowledge but also strong leadership skills, the ability to communicate effectively, and the capacity to inspire and motivate the team.
One of the central themes is the alignment of IT with business objectives. Barton realizes that IT should not operate in isolation but must be integrated with the overall business strategy to drive growth and innovation.
The book highlights the unpredictable nature of IT and the need for CIOs to be prepared for crises. Barton faces several critical situations, such as security breaches and system failures, and learns the importance of quick decision-making and problem-solving.
I do wish they would update the book for 2025 to include recent technological innovations such as the ubiquity of IoT, SaaS and cloud services, as well as the emerging AI technologies. At the time of publication, BYOD was the emerging technology. Perhaps a sequel? It did end on a cliffhanger, but I will not spoil it.
The book “The Adventures of an IT Leader� is both a fictional tale that also serves as a “textbook via storytelling� designed for anyone who aspires to have a career in IT leadership. The book’s blend of narrative and practical advice makes it an essential read for current and aspiring IT leaders. There’s a good reason it is still used in many professional business degrees programs.

Originally posted at
]]> <![CDATA[Dataclysm: Love, Sex, Race, and Identity--What Our Online Lives Tell Us about Our Offline Selves]]> 22937957
An audacious, irreverent investigation of human behavior—and a first look at a revolution in the making

Our personal data has been used to spy on us, hire and fire us, and sell us stuff we don’t need. In Dataclysm , Christian Rudder uses it to show us who we truly are.

For centuries, we’ve relied on polling or small-scale lab experiments to study human behavior. Today, a new approach is possible. As we live more of our lives online, researchers can finally observe us directly, in vast numbers, and without filters. Data scientists have become the new demographers.

In this daring and original book, Rudder explains how Facebook "likes" can predict, with surprising accuracy, a person’s sexual orientation and even intelligence; how attractive women receive exponentially more interview requests; and why you must have haters to be hot. He charts the rise and fall of America’s most reviled word through Google Search and examines the new dynamics of collaborative rage on Twitter. He shows how people express themselves, both privately and publicly. What is the least Asian thing you can say? Do people bathe more in Vermont or New Jersey? What do black women think about Simon & Garfunkel? ( they don’t think about Simon & Garfunkel.) Rudder also traces human migration over time, showing how groups of people move from certain small towns to the same big cities across the globe. And he grapples with the challenge of maintaining privacy in a world where these explorations are possible.

Visually arresting and full of wit and insight, Dataclysm is a new way of seeing ourselves—a brilliant alchemy, in which math is made human and numbers become the narrative of our time.]]> 320 Christian Rudder 0385347391 Steven 5 tech, insight /book/show/2...)

“Dataclysm: Love, Sex, Race, and Identity � What Our Online Lives Tell Us About Our Offline Selves� by Christian Rudder is a great exploration of human behavior through the lens of big data. Rudder, a co-founder of the dating site OkCupid, leverages vast amounts of data from social media and online interactions to reveal surprising insights about our offline selves. The book delves into how our digital footprints can predict personal attributes, societal trends, and even future behaviors.

The book starts off discussing that there’s several different ways to get data, but that ones that are the most effective run into regulations and privacy issues. Google Trends and other sites likes OKCupid reveal truths about human behavior through proactive searches and actions.

Rudder’s book is divided into several sections, each focusing on different aspects of human behavior and identity as revealed through data analysis. He begins by discussing how data from platforms like Facebook and OkCupid can predict personal characteristics such as sexual orientation and intelligence with surprising accuracy. For instance, the book highlights how Facebook “likes� can be used to infer a person’s traits and preferences.

One of the key themes of the book is the concept of “big data� and its implications for understanding human behavior. Rudder argues that traditional methods of studying human behavior, such as surveys and experiments, are limited in scope and accuracy. In contrast, big data allows researchers to observe behavior on a massive scale, providing a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of human nature.

Rudder also explores the impact of anonymity on online behavior. He notes that people often behave differently online than they do in person, due to the perceived anonymity of the internet. This can lead to both positive and negative behaviors, such as increased honesty and openness, but also cyberbullying and harassment.

The book also examines how data can reveal societal trends and patterns. For example, Rudder uses data to show how language and cultural references vary across different demographic groups. He also discusses how data can be used to track migration patterns and social mobility.

“Dataclysm� is a thought-provoking and insightful book that challenges readers to think critically about the role of data in our lives. Rudder’s writing is engaging and accessible, making complex concepts easy to understand. The book is filled with fascinating examples and anecdotes that illustrate the power of data to reveal hidden truths about human behavior.

One of the strengths of the book is its emphasis on the ethical implications of data collection and analysis. Rudder acknowledges the potential for misuse of data and the importance of maintaining privacy and security. He also highlights the need for transparency and accountability in how data is used.

However, some critics argue that the book’s reliance on data from OkCupid and other social media platforms may limit its generalizability. While the insights gained from these platforms are valuable, they may not fully capture the diversity of human behavior across different contexts and cultures.

Conclusion: Overall, “Dataclysm� is a compelling and informative book that offers a unique perspective on human behavior in the digital age. Rudder’s use of data to uncover hidden patterns and trends is both innovative and enlightening. The book raises important questions about the role of data in our lives and the ethical considerations that come with it.

How Technologists Can Use Lessons from “Dataclysm�

Technologists can draw several valuable lessons from “Dataclysm� to enhance their work and address ethical concerns:

Data-Driven Decision Making: Rudder’s analysis demonstrates the power of data to uncover insights that can inform decision-making processes. Technologists can leverage big data to optimize products, improve user experiences, and drive innovation.

Ethical Data Use: The book emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations in data collection and analysis. Technologists should prioritize user privacy, obtain informed consent, and ensure transparency in how data is used.

Understanding User Behavior: By analyzing online interactions, technologists can gain a deeper understanding of user behavior and preferences. This can inform the design of more personalized and effective products and services.

Addressing Bias: Rudder’s work highlights the potential for bias in data analysis. Technologists should be aware of and address biases in their data to ensure fair and accurate outcomes.

Innovative Applications: The book showcases creative applications of data analysis, such as predicting personal attributes and tracking societal trends. Technologists can explore new and innovative ways to apply data insights to solve real-world problems. By incorporating these lessons, technologists can harness the power of data to drive positive change while maintaining ethical standards and respecting user privacy.

Originally published at: ]]> 3.89 2014 Dataclysm: Love, Sex, Race, and Identity--What Our Online Lives Tell Us about Our Offline Selves
author: Christian Rudder
name: Steven
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: tech, insight
review:
This book was originally published in 2014. I had heard about it from several colleagues and I finally purchased it in 2016. Unfortunately, it sat on my shelf for several years and I just now go around to reading it. I had read a very similar book by an ex-Googler along the similar lines “Everybody Lies� (/book/show/2...)

“Dataclysm: Love, Sex, Race, and Identity � What Our Online Lives Tell Us About Our Offline Selves� by Christian Rudder is a great exploration of human behavior through the lens of big data. Rudder, a co-founder of the dating site OkCupid, leverages vast amounts of data from social media and online interactions to reveal surprising insights about our offline selves. The book delves into how our digital footprints can predict personal attributes, societal trends, and even future behaviors.

The book starts off discussing that there’s several different ways to get data, but that ones that are the most effective run into regulations and privacy issues. Google Trends and other sites likes OKCupid reveal truths about human behavior through proactive searches and actions.

Rudder’s book is divided into several sections, each focusing on different aspects of human behavior and identity as revealed through data analysis. He begins by discussing how data from platforms like Facebook and OkCupid can predict personal characteristics such as sexual orientation and intelligence with surprising accuracy. For instance, the book highlights how Facebook “likes� can be used to infer a person’s traits and preferences.

One of the key themes of the book is the concept of “big data� and its implications for understanding human behavior. Rudder argues that traditional methods of studying human behavior, such as surveys and experiments, are limited in scope and accuracy. In contrast, big data allows researchers to observe behavior on a massive scale, providing a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of human nature.

Rudder also explores the impact of anonymity on online behavior. He notes that people often behave differently online than they do in person, due to the perceived anonymity of the internet. This can lead to both positive and negative behaviors, such as increased honesty and openness, but also cyberbullying and harassment.

The book also examines how data can reveal societal trends and patterns. For example, Rudder uses data to show how language and cultural references vary across different demographic groups. He also discusses how data can be used to track migration patterns and social mobility.

“Dataclysm� is a thought-provoking and insightful book that challenges readers to think critically about the role of data in our lives. Rudder’s writing is engaging and accessible, making complex concepts easy to understand. The book is filled with fascinating examples and anecdotes that illustrate the power of data to reveal hidden truths about human behavior.

One of the strengths of the book is its emphasis on the ethical implications of data collection and analysis. Rudder acknowledges the potential for misuse of data and the importance of maintaining privacy and security. He also highlights the need for transparency and accountability in how data is used.

However, some critics argue that the book’s reliance on data from OkCupid and other social media platforms may limit its generalizability. While the insights gained from these platforms are valuable, they may not fully capture the diversity of human behavior across different contexts and cultures.

Conclusion: Overall, “Dataclysm� is a compelling and informative book that offers a unique perspective on human behavior in the digital age. Rudder’s use of data to uncover hidden patterns and trends is both innovative and enlightening. The book raises important questions about the role of data in our lives and the ethical considerations that come with it.

How Technologists Can Use Lessons from “Dataclysm�

Technologists can draw several valuable lessons from “Dataclysm� to enhance their work and address ethical concerns:

Data-Driven Decision Making: Rudder’s analysis demonstrates the power of data to uncover insights that can inform decision-making processes. Technologists can leverage big data to optimize products, improve user experiences, and drive innovation.

Ethical Data Use: The book emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations in data collection and analysis. Technologists should prioritize user privacy, obtain informed consent, and ensure transparency in how data is used.

Understanding User Behavior: By analyzing online interactions, technologists can gain a deeper understanding of user behavior and preferences. This can inform the design of more personalized and effective products and services.

Addressing Bias: Rudder’s work highlights the potential for bias in data analysis. Technologists should be aware of and address biases in their data to ensure fair and accurate outcomes.

Innovative Applications: The book showcases creative applications of data analysis, such as predicting personal attributes and tracking societal trends. Technologists can explore new and innovative ways to apply data insights to solve real-world problems. By incorporating these lessons, technologists can harness the power of data to drive positive change while maintaining ethical standards and respecting user privacy.

Originally published at:
]]> Animal Farm 170448 Librarian's note: There is an Alternate Cover Edition for this edition of this book here.

A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned –a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.
When Animal Farm was first published, Stalinist Russia was seen as its target. Today it is devastatingly clear that wherever and whenever freedom is attacked, under whatever banner, the cutting clarity and savage comedy of George Orwell’s masterpiece have a meaning and message still ferociously fresh.]]> 141 George Orwell 0451526341 Steven 5 classics, fiction
Although set on a farm with anthropomorphic animals, the book is a commentary on the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. Understanding this allegory can provide insights into historical and political events, including those unfolding today.

Themes like manipulation, propaganda, inequality, and betrayal resonate across time and cultures. They’re relevant not just in politics, but in many facets of life. The book encourages readers to think critically about authority and question those in power. It’s a valuable exercise in analyzing how leaders use language and rhetoric to control people.

1. Power Corrupts � Leaders who gain unchecked power often become corrupt, even if they started with good intentions.

2. Equality Is Difficult to Maintain � While the animals initially seek equality, the pigs gradually establish themselves as a ruling class, showing how social hierarchies can emerge.

3. Propaganda Manipulates the Masses � Squealer, the pig, represents how those in power use propaganda to control and deceive people.

4. Education Is a Tool of Control � The uneducated animals are easily manipulated, highlighting the importance of knowledge in resisting oppression.

5. Fear Maintains Dictatorships � Napoleon uses threats, violence, and fear (through the dogs) to silence opposition and maintain control.

6. Revolutions Can Be Hijacked � The original rebellion against human rule is replaced by another form of tyranny, showing how revolutions can be betrayed.

7. Blind Loyalty Is Dangerous � Boxer’s blind devotion to Napoleon leads to his downfall, emphasizing the risks of following leaders unquestioningly.

8. History Can Be Rewritten � The pigs change the commandments on the barn wall, symbolizing how authoritarian regimes manipulate history to serve their interests.

9. Not All Leaders Have the People’s Best Interests at Heart � The pigs claim to work for the greater good but prioritize their own luxury and power.

10. Apathy Enables Oppression � The animals, despite noticing injustices, do little to resist, showing that oppression thrives when people remain passive.]]> 4.07 1945 Animal Farm
author: George Orwell
name: Steven
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1945
rating: 5
read at: 2023/11/21
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: classics, fiction
review:
Orwell’s satirical novella highlights how power can corrupt, and how revolutions can deviate from their original ideals. It’s a stark reminder that absolute power can lead to absolute corruption.

Although set on a farm with anthropomorphic animals, the book is a commentary on the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. Understanding this allegory can provide insights into historical and political events, including those unfolding today.

Themes like manipulation, propaganda, inequality, and betrayal resonate across time and cultures. They’re relevant not just in politics, but in many facets of life. The book encourages readers to think critically about authority and question those in power. It’s a valuable exercise in analyzing how leaders use language and rhetoric to control people.

1. Power Corrupts � Leaders who gain unchecked power often become corrupt, even if they started with good intentions.

2. Equality Is Difficult to Maintain � While the animals initially seek equality, the pigs gradually establish themselves as a ruling class, showing how social hierarchies can emerge.

3. Propaganda Manipulates the Masses � Squealer, the pig, represents how those in power use propaganda to control and deceive people.

4. Education Is a Tool of Control � The uneducated animals are easily manipulated, highlighting the importance of knowledge in resisting oppression.

5. Fear Maintains Dictatorships � Napoleon uses threats, violence, and fear (through the dogs) to silence opposition and maintain control.

6. Revolutions Can Be Hijacked � The original rebellion against human rule is replaced by another form of tyranny, showing how revolutions can be betrayed.

7. Blind Loyalty Is Dangerous � Boxer’s blind devotion to Napoleon leads to his downfall, emphasizing the risks of following leaders unquestioningly.

8. History Can Be Rewritten � The pigs change the commandments on the barn wall, symbolizing how authoritarian regimes manipulate history to serve their interests.

9. Not All Leaders Have the People’s Best Interests at Heart � The pigs claim to work for the greater good but prioritize their own luxury and power.

10. Apathy Enables Oppression � The animals, despite noticing injustices, do little to resist, showing that oppression thrives when people remain passive.
]]> Nineteen Eighty-Four 61639839 358 George Orwell Steven 5 classics, fiction There’s a reason “Orwellian� became an adjective. The word "Orwellian" is an adjective that describes a situation, idea, or political system that is similar to the works of George Orwell. It can also refer to something that is "Big Brotherish" or reminiscent of the dystopian society in Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

If you have not read Christopher Hitchens' book “Why Orwell Matters" you should. It aims to highlight the enduring relevance of George Orwell's ideas and writings, however, I could imagine how he would be today had he lived to see the Trump and Trump/Musk eras.

Hitchens explored Orwell's thoughts on various subjects, including the British Empire, the Left, the Right, the United States, feminism, and English conventions.

Hitchens� purpose was to show how Orwell's work continues to offer valuable insights into issues of power, truth, and freedom, and why his legacy remains significant in contemporary society.

Now it is 20 years later. For us to understand Orwell is to start with 1984. Of you have not read this in decades, be prepared for the new affect. Some of my favorite quotes, because they are poignant, terrifying, and unfortunately prophetic include:

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

“Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you.�

“Who controls the past,� ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.�

“‘Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.�

“Orthodoxy means not thinking � not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.’�

“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.�

“If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind and if the mind itself is controllable what then?�

And there are many more. I know that some will continue to gaslight and say that we are overreacting, but that in and of itself is a facist tool. Being responsible citizens in a democracy requires us to be vigilant when necessary as the beginning of the United States� Declaration of Independence - “when in the course of human events.�

The Soviet was successful for years using a form of misinformation called “statecraft� which was influenced directly from Orwell’s works. Institutionally sanctioned lying had an official term now.

We must prepare for it now.]]> 4.38 1949 Nineteen Eighty-Four
author: George Orwell
name: Steven
average rating: 4.38
book published: 1949
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

There’s a reason “Orwellian� became an adjective. The word "Orwellian" is an adjective that describes a situation, idea, or political system that is similar to the works of George Orwell. It can also refer to something that is "Big Brotherish" or reminiscent of the dystopian society in Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

If you have not read Christopher Hitchens' book “Why Orwell Matters" you should. It aims to highlight the enduring relevance of George Orwell's ideas and writings, however, I could imagine how he would be today had he lived to see the Trump and Trump/Musk eras.

Hitchens explored Orwell's thoughts on various subjects, including the British Empire, the Left, the Right, the United States, feminism, and English conventions.

Hitchens� purpose was to show how Orwell's work continues to offer valuable insights into issues of power, truth, and freedom, and why his legacy remains significant in contemporary society.

Now it is 20 years later. For us to understand Orwell is to start with 1984. Of you have not read this in decades, be prepared for the new affect. Some of my favorite quotes, because they are poignant, terrifying, and unfortunately prophetic include:

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

“Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you.�

“Who controls the past,� ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.�

“‘Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.�

“Orthodoxy means not thinking � not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.’�

“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.�

“If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind and if the mind itself is controllable what then?�

And there are many more. I know that some will continue to gaslight and say that we are overreacting, but that in and of itself is a facist tool. Being responsible citizens in a democracy requires us to be vigilant when necessary as the beginning of the United States� Declaration of Independence - “when in the course of human events.�

The Soviet was successful for years using a form of misinformation called “statecraft� which was influenced directly from Orwell’s works. Institutionally sanctioned lying had an official term now.

We must prepare for it now.
]]> <![CDATA[DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story]]> 50016865 240 Nancy Duarte 1940858984 Steven 5
This is one of the most professionally useful and relevant reads I have had in a long while. If you work in any kind of product development whether it is at the technical, managerial, or leadership level, this is a worthy read (and re-read, and reference, and re-reference.) It takes the techniques of data visualization to the next level � crafting stories with that data in order to shape strategy and make decisions from that data. There are also many great one-liners, too many to list, but some of the great ones are:

· “Facts aren’t memorable as stories.�

· 3 levels of decisions made from data � discrete, operational, and strategic.

· Craft actions with the best strategic insights.

· Leverage the structure of a story arc � tell the data story as any other story.

· Be your own skeptic.

· Which types of charts are great for exploring and which kind are better for explaining.

· Make insights visually consumable.

· A slide deck is a visual book.

· Data confirms an emotional arc in stories.

The book starts with the topic of understanding the audience. The importance of knowing your audience and tailoring your message to their needs and interests. This ensures that the data story is relevant and engaging. It then moves into crafting a clear narrative. The book outlines how to structure a data story with a beginning (context and objectives), middle (methods and findings), and end (conclusions and implications). This helps in making complex data understandable and actionable. Then it dives into how to use visuals effectively. Duarte highlights the role of visuals in enhancing the impact of data stories. She provides tips on how to use charts, graphs, and other visual elements to support the narrative and make the data more accessible.

There are also many examples in the book that can help product groups understand customer experiences better:

Empathy and Relevance: By understanding the audience's context and what matters most to them, product groups can create narratives that resonate with customers' experiences. This approach ensures that the storytelling is relevant and addresses the specific pain points and needs of the customers.

Highlighting Key Insights: The book's emphasis on crafting a clear narrative can help product groups highlight key insights from customer data. By focusing on the most important findings and presenting them in a compelling way, product groups can better communicate the impact of bad customer experiences and the need for improvements.

Making Data Actionable: Duarte's framework for storytelling helps in making complex data understandable and actionable. Product groups can use this approach to present data on customer cloud experiences in a way that drives action and inspires changes to improve the customer experience.

Visual Storytelling: The effective use of visuals, as outlined in the book, can help product groups present data on customer experiences in a more engaging and impactful way. Visuals can make it easier to identify trends, patterns, and areas that need attention, thereby facilitating better decision-making.

Using "Data Story" principles, product groups can better understand and communicate customer cloud experiences, especially negative ones. This helps make informed decisions to improve customer satisfaction. This is now what I consider the official handbook for technical product customer experience.

And finally, there are free downloadable goodies and resources freely available from the author website.

Originally published at: ]]> 3.97 DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story
author: Nancy Duarte
name: Steven
average rating: 3.97
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/09
shelves: business, insight, textbook, reference, tech
review:
"Data Story: Explain Data and Inspire Action through Story" by Nancy Duarte is a guide on how to transform data into compelling narratives that drive action. If you are involved in a product management role, this book would be very useful in helping you perform better in story reviews, business reviews, insight reports, and anything else involving data-driven storytelling. The book emphasizes the importance of blending data with storytelling techniques to make information more engaging and persuasive. Duarte provides a framework for creating data stories that resonate with audiences by using a clear narrative structure, incorporating visuals, and focusing on the audience's needs and context.

This is one of the most professionally useful and relevant reads I have had in a long while. If you work in any kind of product development whether it is at the technical, managerial, or leadership level, this is a worthy read (and re-read, and reference, and re-reference.) It takes the techniques of data visualization to the next level � crafting stories with that data in order to shape strategy and make decisions from that data. There are also many great one-liners, too many to list, but some of the great ones are:

· “Facts aren’t memorable as stories.�

· 3 levels of decisions made from data � discrete, operational, and strategic.

· Craft actions with the best strategic insights.

· Leverage the structure of a story arc � tell the data story as any other story.

· Be your own skeptic.

· Which types of charts are great for exploring and which kind are better for explaining.

· Make insights visually consumable.

· A slide deck is a visual book.

· Data confirms an emotional arc in stories.

The book starts with the topic of understanding the audience. The importance of knowing your audience and tailoring your message to their needs and interests. This ensures that the data story is relevant and engaging. It then moves into crafting a clear narrative. The book outlines how to structure a data story with a beginning (context and objectives), middle (methods and findings), and end (conclusions and implications). This helps in making complex data understandable and actionable. Then it dives into how to use visuals effectively. Duarte highlights the role of visuals in enhancing the impact of data stories. She provides tips on how to use charts, graphs, and other visual elements to support the narrative and make the data more accessible.

There are also many examples in the book that can help product groups understand customer experiences better:

Empathy and Relevance: By understanding the audience's context and what matters most to them, product groups can create narratives that resonate with customers' experiences. This approach ensures that the storytelling is relevant and addresses the specific pain points and needs of the customers.

Highlighting Key Insights: The book's emphasis on crafting a clear narrative can help product groups highlight key insights from customer data. By focusing on the most important findings and presenting them in a compelling way, product groups can better communicate the impact of bad customer experiences and the need for improvements.

Making Data Actionable: Duarte's framework for storytelling helps in making complex data understandable and actionable. Product groups can use this approach to present data on customer cloud experiences in a way that drives action and inspires changes to improve the customer experience.

Visual Storytelling: The effective use of visuals, as outlined in the book, can help product groups present data on customer experiences in a more engaging and impactful way. Visuals can make it easier to identify trends, patterns, and areas that need attention, thereby facilitating better decision-making.

Using "Data Story" principles, product groups can better understand and communicate customer cloud experiences, especially negative ones. This helps make informed decisions to improve customer satisfaction. This is now what I consider the official handbook for technical product customer experience.

And finally, there are free downloadable goodies and resources freely available from the author website.

Originally published at:
]]> <![CDATA[Getting (More of) What You Want: How the Secrets of Economics and Psychology Can Help You Negotiate Anything, in Business and in Life]]> 24612196
Do you know what you want? How can you make sure you get it? Or rather, how can you convince others to give it to you? Almost every interaction involves negotiation, yet we often miss the cues that would allow us to make the most of these exchanges. In Getting (More of) What You Want , Margaret Neale and Thomas Lys draw on the latest advances in psychology and behavioral economics to provide new strategies for negotiation that take into account people's irrational biases as well as their rational behaviors. Whether you're shopping for a car, lobbying for a raise, or simply haggling over who takes out the trash, Getting (More of) What You Want shows how negotiations regularly leave significant value on the table—and how you can claim it.]]> 288 Margaret A. Neale 0465050727 Steven 4 business, mba I just completed in my graduate study. Second, this was the first textbook I have ever been assigned to where I went back *after* the course was over and finished the two assigned chapters I had missed and actually read the rest of the book.

I thought it would read a little less academic as the cover did not look like a traditional textbook, but it does get a little bit deep in the subject � which is great as it does not have that typical “biz language� and “pop psychology style� you read in business-related books you buy at an airport Hudson News or what they sell at the FedEx Office Center store.

One thing that worries me in general about going deep into the inner workings of negotiation is that there are both interrelated and conflicting factors which can affect negotiations, many of which are purely psychological, so I’m a bit dubious of the research studies� ability to effectively control for all of them and parse out true effect (let alone effect size). However, I have found the book so far to be great at mapping out a structured approach for negotiation preparation.

I like the emphasis on negotiation not just about reaching an agreement but about the dual aspects of negotiation: creating value (“making the pie higher� � see who gets that joke/reference) and claiming value (getting your fair share). I agree that many people, including myself in the past, have missed opportunities to negotiate due to fear, lack of confidence, or simply not recognizing situations as negotiable.

I agree that research and preparation is good. I personally have not really paid much attention to anticipating or understanding the goals of the other party in the past because I worried it took focus off what my goals were.

I agreed with the author’s notions that cognitive biases and emotions can influence decision-making. I think it is really hard to dive really deep into dealing with and mitigating deep-seeded biases in a few pages though. If you find yourself struggling with those biases you may need more help than what could be discussed in this book.

Ultimately, the powers I gained from this book (and most readers will) are:

� The power of alternatives and BATNAs (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement)
� The power of value creation.
� The power of body language.

Originally published at:
Other’s mileage may vary.

The last chapter on auctions was a great bonus read and a bit dangerous for me. The authors discuss the dynamics and strategies involved in auction settings, emphasizing how auctions differ from traditional negotiations including types of auctions, bidding strategies, psychological factors, and practical applications. To be honest, I may be leveraging this chapter the most due to my various collectible pastimes.

Finally, the learning matrices were very helpful tools to keep hold of for future use and guidance. I will definitely be keeping this book handy and referring to it as needed.

]]> 3.77 2015 Getting (More of) What You Want: How the Secrets of Economics and Psychology Can Help You Negotiate Anything, in Business and in Life
author: Margaret A. Neale
name: Steven
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/05
date added: 2025/01/05
shelves: business, mba
review:
I have two confessions to make. First, this was actually an assigned textbook for a negotiations class
I just completed in my graduate study. Second, this was the first textbook I have ever been assigned to where I went back *after* the course was over and finished the two assigned chapters I had missed and actually read the rest of the book.

I thought it would read a little less academic as the cover did not look like a traditional textbook, but it does get a little bit deep in the subject � which is great as it does not have that typical “biz language� and “pop psychology style� you read in business-related books you buy at an airport Hudson News or what they sell at the FedEx Office Center store.

One thing that worries me in general about going deep into the inner workings of negotiation is that there are both interrelated and conflicting factors which can affect negotiations, many of which are purely psychological, so I’m a bit dubious of the research studies� ability to effectively control for all of them and parse out true effect (let alone effect size). However, I have found the book so far to be great at mapping out a structured approach for negotiation preparation.

I like the emphasis on negotiation not just about reaching an agreement but about the dual aspects of negotiation: creating value (“making the pie higher� � see who gets that joke/reference) and claiming value (getting your fair share). I agree that many people, including myself in the past, have missed opportunities to negotiate due to fear, lack of confidence, or simply not recognizing situations as negotiable.

I agree that research and preparation is good. I personally have not really paid much attention to anticipating or understanding the goals of the other party in the past because I worried it took focus off what my goals were.

I agreed with the author’s notions that cognitive biases and emotions can influence decision-making. I think it is really hard to dive really deep into dealing with and mitigating deep-seeded biases in a few pages though. If you find yourself struggling with those biases you may need more help than what could be discussed in this book.

Ultimately, the powers I gained from this book (and most readers will) are:

� The power of alternatives and BATNAs (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement)
� The power of value creation.
� The power of body language.

Originally published at:
Other’s mileage may vary.

The last chapter on auctions was a great bonus read and a bit dangerous for me. The authors discuss the dynamics and strategies involved in auction settings, emphasizing how auctions differ from traditional negotiations including types of auctions, bidding strategies, psychological factors, and practical applications. To be honest, I may be leveraging this chapter the most due to my various collectible pastimes.

Finally, the learning matrices were very helpful tools to keep hold of for future use and guidance. I will definitely be keeping this book handy and referring to it as needed.


]]> <![CDATA[Dugouts and Diamonds: Triumphs and Heartaches with the Texas Rangers]]> 62203290 Heartaches and Triumphs with the Texas Rangers, discloses how Nolan Ryan came to make peace with Robin Ventura, the player who had charged the mound and launched a bloody (and losing) attack on the legendary pitcher.Reeves is the author of Dallas The Legends of America’s Team and Remember the Alamo Bram Kohlhausen’s Epic TCU Comeback. The award-winning sports reporter and columnist at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and ESPN.com, has covered 29 World Series, a dozen Super Bowls and numerous NBA championships and Stanley Cup Finals. In 1987 he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the sale of the Texas Rangers to a group headed by George W. Bush.ADVANCE PRAISE;“Few writers know baseball and people like Jim Reeves, who has produced an intimate and entertaining recollection far removed from other grinding sports franchise histories. The Texas Rangers he portrays are humorous, heroic, and, quite often, heartbreakers. It's all here, from front office wheeling and dealing to zany clubhouse and press box moments; serious superstars to whimsical wannabes. In a 'Delightful.'� � Carlton Stowers, author of Oh Brother How They Played the Game ]]> 262 Jim Reeves Steven 0 to-read 4.33 Dugouts and Diamonds: Triumphs and Heartaches with the Texas Rangers
author: Jim Reeves
name: Steven
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life]]> 44595007
What would be possible if you followed through on your best intentions? What could you accomplish if you could stay focused and overcome distractions? What if you had the power to become "indistractable"?

International best-selling author, former Stanford lecturer, and behavioral design expert, Nir Eyal, wrote Silicon Valley's handbook for making technology habit-forming. Five years after publishing Hooked, Eyal reveals distraction's Achilles' heel in his groundbreaking new book.

In Indistractable, Eyal reveals the hidden psychology driving us to distraction. He describes why solving the problem is not as simple as swearing off our devices: Abstinence is impractical and often makes us want more.

Eyal lays bare the secret of finally doing what you say you will do with a four-step, research-backed model. Indistractable reveals the key to getting the best out of technology, without letting it get the best of us.

Inside, Eyal overturns conventional wisdom and reveals:


Why distraction at work is a symptom of a dysfunctional company culture - and how to fix it
What really drives human behavior and why "time management is pain management"
Why your relationships (and your sex life) depend on you becoming indistractable
How to raise indistractable children in an increasingly distracting world
Empowering and optimistic, Indistractable provides practical, novel techniques to control your time and attention - helping you live the life you really want.]]> 290 Nir Eyal 194883653X Steven 0 to-read 3.71 2019 Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
author: Nir Eyal
name: Steven
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results]]> 75665850 AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Few things will change your trajectory in life or business as much as learning to think clearly. Yet few of us recognize opportunities to think in the first place.

You might believe you’re thinking clearly in the moments that matter most. But in all likelihood, when the pressure is on, you won’t be thinking at all. And your subsequent actions will inevitably move you further from the results you ultimately seek—love, belonging, success, wealth, victory. According to Farnam Street founder Shane Parrish, we must get better at recognizing these opportunities for what they are, and deploying our cognitive ability in order to achieve the life we want.

Clear Thinking gives you the tools to recognize the moments that have the potential to transform your trajectory, and reshape how you navigate the critical space between stimulus and response. As Parrish shows, we may imagine we are the protagonists in the story of our lives. But the sad truth is, most of us run on autopilot. Our behavioral defaults, groomed by biology, evolution, and culture, are primed to run the show for us if we don’t intervene. At our worst, we react to events without reasoning, not even realizing that we’ve missed an opportunity to think at all. At our best, we recognize these moments for what they are, and apply the full capacity of our reasoning and rationality to them.

Through stories, mental models, and more, Parrish offers the missing link between behavioral science and real-life outcomes. The result is a must-have manual for optimizing decision-making, gaining competitive advantage, and living a more intentional life.]]> 284 Shane Parrish 0593086112 Steven 0 to-read 4.16 2023 Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results
author: Shane Parrish
name: Steven
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Art Of The Long View: Planning For The Future In An Uncertain World]]> 247891
In The Art of the Long View, now for the first time in paperback and with the addition of an all-new User's Guide, Peter Schwartz outlines the "scenaric" approach, giving you the tools for developing a strategic vision within your business.

Schwartz describes the new techniques, originally developed within Royal/Dutch Shell, based on many of his firsthand scenario exercises with the world's leading institutions and companies, including the White House, EPA, BellSouth, PG&E, and the International Stock Exchange.]]> 272 Peter Schwartz 0385267320 Steven 0 to-read 3.79 1991 The Art Of The Long View: Planning For The Future In An Uncertain World
author: Peter Schwartz
name: Steven
average rating: 3.79
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The graphic story of the American Presidents]]> 61612157 543 David C Whitney 0385111452 Steven 5 history 5.00 The graphic story of the American Presidents
author: David C Whitney
name: Steven
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: history
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The story of America in pictures]]> 11283117 512 Alan C. Collins Steven 5 history 4.17 1953 The story of America in pictures
author: Alan C. Collins
name: Steven
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1953
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: history
review:

]]> Idea Man 10804037 By his early thirties, Paul Allen was a world-famous billionaire-and that was just the beginning. In 2007 and 2008, Time named Paul Allen, the cofounder of Microsoft, one of the hundred most influential people in the world. Since he made his fortune, his impact has been felt in science, technology, business, medicine, sports, music, and philanthropy. His passion, curiosity, and intellectual rigor-combined with the resources to launch and support new initiatives-have literally changed the world. In 2009 Allen discovered that he had lymphoma, lending urgency to his desire to share his story for the first time. In this classic memoir, Allen explains how he has solved problems, what he's learned from his many endeavors-both the triumphs and the failures-and his compelling vision for the future. He reflects candidly on an extraordinary life. The book also features previously untold stories about everything from the true origins of Microsoft to Allen's role in the dawn of private space travel (with SpaceShipOne) and in discoveries at the frontiers of brain science. With honesty, humor, and insight, Allen tells the story of a life of ideas made real.]]> 368 Paul Allen 1101476451 Steven 5
I was initially most interested in his formative years from childhood to the early days of personal computing and Microsoft. Paul Allen's love for programming began at an early age. He met Bill Gates at Lakeside School, where their shared interest in computers laid the foundation for their future partnership at Microsoft, highlighting Allen's role in conceiving the idea and recruiting Gates to join him. I like how he revisited both the positive and negatives aspects of their personal and professional relationship even acknowledging his own shortcomings. The older I get, the more I understand that reflection of this type requires decades of distance. He also “nerds out� a lot in those chapters which I found to be one of my favorite parts of the book.

But after Microsoft, beyond the Microsoft chapters, each chapter serves as a separate tome relating to the other passions, projects, and ventures including investments in sports teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, as well as founding the Allen Institutes for Brain Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Cell Science even spending an entire chapter on a pleasantly surprising topic: Hendrix. Allen was a fan of Jimi Hendrix and played the guitar, even forming a “supergroup� of famous people who also happened to be musician hobbyists.

The health struggles were a little difficult to read in 2024. As many know, Allen was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2009, which brought a renewed sense of urgency to his life and work. His battle with cancer is a poignant part of his story. You read it and are really rooting for the guy in spite of knowing the outcome.

I also appreciated his humility, especially discussing his personal and professional failures. Subtlety, you get the impression that he lost his chance with the love of his life. And in business, not all of Allen's ventures were successful. He faced significant losses, including an $8 billion setback on a bad cable TV move.

Overall, "Idea Man" is an honest and inspiring account of Paul Allen's life, filled with lessons on innovation, resilience, and the complexities of personal and professional relationships.

Originally published at: ]]> 4.02 2011 Idea Man
author: Paul Allen
name: Steven
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/21
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves:
review:
There’s no doubt, I am a fan of Microsoft history. Going into 2025; Microsoft is about to celebrate a major milestone - 50 years. Couple that with a huge backlog of Microsoft-related historical and biographical unread books that remain in my Kindle and on my bookshelf - "Idea Man" by Paul Allen made sense to finally get around to reading. While he has passed on, there’s no doubt his legacy and the permanent marks he has made all across society. “Idea Man� is an easy-to-absorb memoir that delves into the life of the co-founder of Microsoft satisfying both the technical reader and the not so technical.

I was initially most interested in his formative years from childhood to the early days of personal computing and Microsoft. Paul Allen's love for programming began at an early age. He met Bill Gates at Lakeside School, where their shared interest in computers laid the foundation for their future partnership at Microsoft, highlighting Allen's role in conceiving the idea and recruiting Gates to join him. I like how he revisited both the positive and negatives aspects of their personal and professional relationship even acknowledging his own shortcomings. The older I get, the more I understand that reflection of this type requires decades of distance. He also “nerds out� a lot in those chapters which I found to be one of my favorite parts of the book.

But after Microsoft, beyond the Microsoft chapters, each chapter serves as a separate tome relating to the other passions, projects, and ventures including investments in sports teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, as well as founding the Allen Institutes for Brain Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Cell Science even spending an entire chapter on a pleasantly surprising topic: Hendrix. Allen was a fan of Jimi Hendrix and played the guitar, even forming a “supergroup� of famous people who also happened to be musician hobbyists.

The health struggles were a little difficult to read in 2024. As many know, Allen was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2009, which brought a renewed sense of urgency to his life and work. His battle with cancer is a poignant part of his story. You read it and are really rooting for the guy in spite of knowing the outcome.

I also appreciated his humility, especially discussing his personal and professional failures. Subtlety, you get the impression that he lost his chance with the love of his life. And in business, not all of Allen's ventures were successful. He faced significant losses, including an $8 billion setback on a bad cable TV move.

Overall, "Idea Man" is an honest and inspiring account of Paul Allen's life, filled with lessons on innovation, resilience, and the complexities of personal and professional relationships.

Originally published at:
]]> <![CDATA[Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide 2022: The #1 Authority on Collectibles (The Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide)]]> 60485218 816 James Beckett 1936681625 Steven 1 3.67 Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide 2022: The #1 Authority on Collectibles (The Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide)
author: James Beckett
name: Steven
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Living Gluten-Free For Dummies]]> 10609728 Practical, delicious ways to manage a gluten-free diet.

If you have a wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or just want to enjoy the benefits of a diet free of wheat, barley, and rye, then this handy pocket guide gets you on the gluten-free path. You’ll get a handle on the whos, whats, whys, and hows of going gluten-free as well as trusted advice on how to manage gluten sensitivity. Packed with practical advice ranging from what to eat and what to avoid to how to shop and cook, this book gets you started living � and loving � a gluten-free lifestyle.

]]> 156 Danna Korn Steven 4 cookbook, lifestyle 3.60 2011 Living Gluten-Free For Dummies
author: Danna Korn
name: Steven
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/24
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: cookbook, lifestyle
review:

]]> The Crucible 17250
Written in 1953, The Crucible is a mirror Miller uses to reflect the anti-communist hysteria inspired by Senator Joseph McCarthy's "witch-hunts" in the United States. Within the text itself, Miller contemplates the parallels, writing, "Political opposition... is given an inhumane overlay, which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized behavior. A political policy is equated with moral right, and opposition to it with diabolical malevolence."

WIth an introduction by Christopher Bigsby.
(back cover)]]> 143 Arthur Miller 0142437336 Steven 4 classics, fiction 3.60 1953 The Crucible
author: Arthur Miller
name: Steven
average rating: 3.60
book published: 1953
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/13
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> Hamlet 1420 289 William Shakespeare 0521618746 Steven 5 classics, fiction 4.02 1601 Hamlet
author: William Shakespeare
name: Steven
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1601
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/22
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> The Odyssey 1381 Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns
driven time and again off course, once he had plundered
the hallowed heights of Troy.

So begins Robert Fagles' magnificent translation of the Odyssey.

If the Iliad is the world's greatest war epic, then the Odyssey is literature's grandest evocation of everyman's journey though life. Odysseus' reliance on his wit and wiliness for survival in his encounters with divine and natural forces, during his ten-year voyage home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, is at once a timeless human story and an individual test of moral endurance.

In the myths and legends that are retold here, Fagles has captured the energy and poetry of Homer's original in a bold, contemporary idiom, and given us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery.

Renowned classicist Bernard Knox's superb Introduction and textual commentary provide new insights and background information for the general reader and scholar alike, intensifying the strength of Fagles' translation.

This is an Odyssey to delight both the classicist and the public at large, and to captivate a new generation of Homer's students.

--

Robert Fagles, winner of the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, presents us with Homer's best-loved and most accessible poem in a stunning new modern-verse translation.]]> 541 Homer 0143039954 Steven 4 classics, fiction 3.79 -700 The Odyssey
author: Homer
name: Steven
average rating: 3.79
book published: -700
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/18
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Mice and Men(19th century classics illustrated edition)]]> 61169496 “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why.�

They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation. Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. But George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own.

While the powerlessness of the laboring class is a recurring theme in Steinbeck's work of the late 1930s, he narrowed his focus when composing Of Mice and Men, creating an intimate portrait of two men facing a world marked by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. But though the scope is narrow, the theme is universal: a friendship and a shared dream that makes an individual's existence meaningful.

A unique perspective on life's hardships, this story has achieved the status of timeless classic due to its remarkable success as a novel, a Broadway play, and three acclaimed films.]]> John Steinbeck Steven 5 classics, fiction 4.62 1937 Of Mice and Men(19th century classics illustrated edition)
author: John Steinbeck
name: Steven
average rating: 4.62
book published: 1937
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/23
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> The Scarlet Letter 55983318 177 Nathaniel Hawthorne 9895621949 Steven 5 classics, fiction 3.71 1850 The Scarlet Letter
author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
name: Steven
average rating: 3.71
book published: 1850
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/23
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> Romeo and Juliet 18135 Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a violent world, in which two young people fall in love. It is not simply that their families disapprove; the Montagues and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud.

In this death-filled setting, the movement from love at first sight to the lovers� final union in death seems almost inevitable. And yet, this play set in an extraordinary world has become the quintessential story of young love. In part because of its exquisite language, it is easy to respond as if it were about all young lovers.]]> 281 William Shakespeare 0743477111 Steven 5 classics, fiction 3.74 1597 Romeo and Juliet
author: William Shakespeare
name: Steven
average rating: 3.74
book published: 1597
rating: 5
read at: 2023/01/27
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> The Catcher in the Rye 5107 It's Christmas time and Holden Caulfield has just been expelled from yet another school...

Fleeing the crooks at Pencey Prep, he pinballs around New York City seeking solace in fleeting encounters—shooting the bull with strangers in dive hotels, wandering alone round Central Park, getting beaten up by pimps and cut down by erstwhile girlfriends. The city is beautiful and terrible, in all its neon loneliness and seedy glamour, its mingled sense of possibility and emptiness. Holden passes through it like a ghost, thinking always of his kid sister Phoebe, the only person who really understands him, and his determination to escape the phonies and find a life of true meaning.

The Catcher in the Rye is an all-time classic in coming-of-age literature- an elegy to teenage alienation, capturing the deeply human need for connection and the bewildering sense of loss as we leave childhood behind.

J.D. Salinger's (1919�2010) classic novel of teenage angst and rebellion was first published in 1951. The novel was included on Time's 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923. It was named by Modern Library and its readers as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. It has been frequently challenged in the court for its liberal use of profanity and portrayal of sexuality and in the 1950's and 60's it was the novel that every teenage boy wants to read.]]> 277 J.D. Salinger 0316769177 Steven 5 classics, fiction 3.81 1951 The Catcher in the Rye
author: J.D. Salinger
name: Steven
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1951
rating: 5
read at: 2023/10/28
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> Macbeth 43913694 214 William Shakespeare 0998809101 Steven 5 classics, fiction 3.86 1623 Macbeth
author: William Shakespeare
name: Steven
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1623
rating: 5
read at: 2023/03/02
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> Great Expectations 2623
Pip must discover his true self, and his own set of values and priorities. Whether such values allow one to prosper in the complex world of early Victorian England is the major question posed by Great Expectations, one of Dickens's most fascinating, and disturbing, novels.

This edition includes the original, discarded ending, Dickens's brief working notes, and the serial instalments and chapter divisions in different editions. It also uses the definitive Clarendon text.]]> 544 Charles Dickens 0192833596 Steven 5 classics, fiction 3.78 1861 Great Expectations
author: Charles Dickens
name: Steven
average rating: 3.78
book published: 1861
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/28
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> A Tale of Two Cities 1953 A Tale of Two Cities is Charles Dickens’s great historical novel, set against the violent upheaval of the French Revolution. The most famous and perhaps the most popular of his works, it compresses an event of immense complexity to the scale of a family history, with a cast of characters that includes a bloodthirsty ogress and an antihero as believably flawed as any in modern fiction. Though the least typical of the author’s novels, A Tale of Two Cities still underscores many of his enduring themes—imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal.]]> 489 Charles Dickens 0141439602 Steven 5 classics, fiction 3.86 1859 A Tale of Two Cities
author: Charles Dickens
name: Steven
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1859
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/29
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: classics, fiction
review:

]]> Whose Names Are Unknown 1197158 The Grapes of Wrath met with wide acclaim. In the belief that Steinbeck already adequately explored the subject matter, Babb's lyrical novel about a farm family's relentless struggle to survive in both Depression-era Oklahoma and in the California migrant labor camps gathered dust for decades.

Rescued from obscurity by the University of Oklahoma Press, the members of the poor but proud Dunne family and their circle of equally determined friends provide another legitimate glimpse into life on the dust-plagued prairies of the Southwest and in the fertile, but bitterly disappointing, orchards and vineyards of the so-called promised land. Babb, a native of Oklahoma's arid panhandle and a volunteer with the Farm Security Administration in Depression-era California, brings an insider's knowledge and immediacy to this authentically compelling narrative. A slightly less political, more female-oriented, companion piece to The Grapes of Wrath.]]> 222 Sanora Babb 0806137126 Steven 0 to-read 4.11 2004 Whose Names Are Unknown
author: Sanora Babb
name: Steven
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> On Drinking 44023358 The definitive collection of works on a subject that inspired and haunted Charles Bukowski for his entire life: alcohol

Charles Bukowski turns to the bottle in this revelatory collection of poetry and prose that includes some of the writer’s best and most lasting work. A self-proclaimed “dirty old man,� Bukowski used alcohol as muse and as fuel, a conflicted relationship responsible for some of his darkest moments as well as some of his most joyful and illuminating.

In On Drinking, Bukowski expert Abel Debritto has collected the writer’s most profound, funny, and memorable work on his ups and downs with the hard stuff. On Drinking is a powerful testament to the pleasures and miseries of a life in drink, and a window into the soul of one of our most beloved and enduring writers.

]]> 272 Charles Bukowski 0062857940 Steven 4 “On Drinking" by Charles Bukowski is a collection of his poetry, prose, interviews, letters, and drawings centered around his relationship with alcohol. The book was published five years ago, but I just now got around to reading it (I’ve been finally able to get through my backlog of COVID book over-purchases. Hey, I panicked and thought I’d be locked down a while.)
This book has excerpts that appear to run chronologically from 1961 to 1992, including both previously published and unpublished works. It provides a deep dive into Bukowski's life, showcasing how alcohol influenced his writing and personal experiences, both for better and for worse. Bukowski's contrarian and often humorous take on his struggles with alcohol offers a candid look at his life of course also mixed in with toxic relationships (as alcohol is wanting to do.)
Bukowski uses alcohol as a lens to explore broader themes such as loneliness, creativity, and human condition. Most of the new stuff appears to be excerpts from letters and often you can see overlaps with the contemporary works of the time. For that, the collection features some of Bukowski's most profound and memorable personal reflections on drinking.
But we are not new to his drinking. As a result, there is some repetition. Kind of a “Greatest Drunk Hits� even having some of his significant life events repeated multiple times within the book itself.
This book is not recommended for “recovering alcoholic. The book's focus on alcohol might not resonate with all readers, particularly those unfamiliar with Bukowski's work or style. Rational folks will agree with Bukowski’s dismissal of the AA and self-help people
Overall, "On Drinking" offers what is promised and delivers on it. It’s really for the fans. An intimate look at Charles Bukowski's life and work, highlighting both the pleasures and misery of his relationship with alcohol. If you're interested in Bukowski's raw and unfiltered writing style, this collection is a recommendation. Otherwise, if you are new, read the Chinaski Trilogy first.

Originally published at:
]]> 4.00 On Drinking
author: Charles Bukowski
name: Steven
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/19
date added: 2024/12/19
shelves: biography, insight, humor, lifestyle, poetry
review:
I recently read this book on a couple of back-to-back flights. I was cautious as I knew this would be a compilation of previously released material mixed in with hopefully, some good nuggets yet undiscovered. The estate does have a right to continue to publish. I just hope the quality remains high on anything new.
“On Drinking" by Charles Bukowski is a collection of his poetry, prose, interviews, letters, and drawings centered around his relationship with alcohol. The book was published five years ago, but I just now got around to reading it (I’ve been finally able to get through my backlog of COVID book over-purchases. Hey, I panicked and thought I’d be locked down a while.)
This book has excerpts that appear to run chronologically from 1961 to 1992, including both previously published and unpublished works. It provides a deep dive into Bukowski's life, showcasing how alcohol influenced his writing and personal experiences, both for better and for worse. Bukowski's contrarian and often humorous take on his struggles with alcohol offers a candid look at his life of course also mixed in with toxic relationships (as alcohol is wanting to do.)
Bukowski uses alcohol as a lens to explore broader themes such as loneliness, creativity, and human condition. Most of the new stuff appears to be excerpts from letters and often you can see overlaps with the contemporary works of the time. For that, the collection features some of Bukowski's most profound and memorable personal reflections on drinking.
But we are not new to his drinking. As a result, there is some repetition. Kind of a “Greatest Drunk Hits� even having some of his significant life events repeated multiple times within the book itself.
This book is not recommended for “recovering alcoholic. The book's focus on alcohol might not resonate with all readers, particularly those unfamiliar with Bukowski's work or style. Rational folks will agree with Bukowski’s dismissal of the AA and self-help people
Overall, "On Drinking" offers what is promised and delivers on it. It’s really for the fans. An intimate look at Charles Bukowski's life and work, highlighting both the pleasures and misery of his relationship with alcohol. If you're interested in Bukowski's raw and unfiltered writing style, this collection is a recommendation. Otherwise, if you are new, read the Chinaski Trilogy first.

Originally published at:

]]> <![CDATA[The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company]]> 44525305 A grand vision defined: The CEO of The Walt Disney Company shares the ideas and values he has used to reinvent one of the most beloved companies in the world, and inspire the people who bring the magic to life.

In 2005, Robert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company during a difficult time. Morale had deteriorated, competition was more intense, and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company's history. "I knew there was nothing to be gained from arguing over the past," Iger writes. "The only thing that mattered was the future, and I believed I had a clear idea of the direction Disney needed to go." It came down to three clear ideas: 1) Create the highest quality content Disney could produce. 2) Embrace and adopt technology instead of fighting it. And 3) Think bigger--think global--and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.

Twelve years later, Disney is the largest, most respected media company in the world counting Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox among its properties. Its value is nearly five times what it was when Iger took over, and Iger is recognized as one of the most innovative and successful CEOs of our time.

Now, he's sharing the lessons he's learned while running Disney and leading its 200,000 employees--taking big risks in the face of historic disruption; learning to inspire the people who work for you; leading with fairness and communicating principles clearly. This book is about the relentless curiosity that has driven Iger for forty-five years, since the day he started as a studio supervisor at ABC. It's also about thoughtfulness and respect, and a decency-over-dollars approach that has become the bedrock of every project and partnership Iger pursues, from a deep friendship with Steve Jobs in his final years to an abiding love of the evolving Star Wars myth.

"Over the past fourteen years, I think I've learned so much about what real leadership is," Iger writes. "But I couldn't have articulated all of this until I lived it. You can't fake it--and that's one of the key lessons in this book."

Librarian Note: This is an Advance Reader Copy issued with ISBN 9780399592096. That ISBN has been moved to the final published copy, found here]]> 272 Robert Iger Steven 3 He shares his journey from a modest family in Long Island to becoming the CEO of Disney. His father's struggles with anxiety and bipolar disorder influenced Iger's drive for success. We then learn that Iger's uncle's hospital roommate, a low-level TV executive, helped Iger get his foot in the door at ABC. You can tell him going back and bumping up these memories put him in a really great mood as these were the some of the more colorful and vividly entertaining parts of the book.
The best parts of the book, however, are the windows into the acquisitions. ABC's Acquisition by Cap Cities, Disney’s merger with Pixar, and of course the Marvel, Fox, and Star Wars acquisitions. This autobiography offers a “somewhat� candid look at Iger's life and career, kind of providing valuable lessons on leadership, risk-taking, and the personal nature of business.
Robert Iger's upbringing had a significant influence on his career, shaping his values and approach to leadership. Here are some key points on how his early life experiences impacted his professional journey. Molding his character and leadership philosophy, which in turn influenced his successful career as the CEO of Disney. His early life experiences taught him the importance of hard work, resilience, humility, empathy, and the pursuit of excellence, all of which are reflected in his professional achievements.
I do feel he was very selective in what he dived deep on in his personal life, yet I acknowledge it is his right to choose what he shares, especially when it involves other people, but where I am less forgiving is the obvious controversies he shied away from where he could have been humbled and used these more embarrassing lessons learned and introspection from that to teach how push through humility. Instead, we get supposed “words of praise� from Steve Jobs posthumously delivered, without him here to comment. I noticed the Lucas commentaries were a bit more measured. Probably because he is still alive.
It seems though that unless the controversies surrounding him didn’t completely put him in a positive light, or have him coming out as one of the heroes in the end, he pretty much glazed over them, or did not mention them at all. He had no trouble incorporating the Pulse Nightclub Shooting, or the Rosanne Ambien debacle, others, not so much.
Take the John Lassiter 2017 story. He “knew John was a hugger� to use his words even though Variety reported that Iger knew about a 2010 Oscar party where Pixar chief John Lasseter was seen "making out with a junior staffer.� One anonymous source was quoted as saying, "I know personally that Bob was aware. ... Everybody was aware. They just didn't do anything about it." This was ignored by him in this book. He completely omitted any mention of the Paz de la Huerta incident although given the timing of her lawsuit and the book’s publication, he could very well have, and his lawyers or publisher had him remove it due to the legal proceedings at the time.
In summary, I would read it again, but I’d skip to the acquisition chapters, and the last one on his learned principles.

Originally published at: ]]> 4.37 2019 The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
author: Robert Iger
name: Steven
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/09
date added: 2024/12/09
shelves: business, mba, leadership, biography
review:
“The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company,� by Robert Iger is an OK read as compared to most autobiographies but does what many of these “Jack Welch� style biographies do � incorporate the authors vision and values designed to also serve as a refence and leadership manifesto. Two aspects of the book put me off a bit � saving the leadership pedagogy for the very LAST chapter rather than building the book around the principles and using life events and lessons as coloring for them. Instead, we endure several chapters of his timelines which tended to be a little self-serving at times.
He shares his journey from a modest family in Long Island to becoming the CEO of Disney. His father's struggles with anxiety and bipolar disorder influenced Iger's drive for success. We then learn that Iger's uncle's hospital roommate, a low-level TV executive, helped Iger get his foot in the door at ABC. You can tell him going back and bumping up these memories put him in a really great mood as these were the some of the more colorful and vividly entertaining parts of the book.
The best parts of the book, however, are the windows into the acquisitions. ABC's Acquisition by Cap Cities, Disney’s merger with Pixar, and of course the Marvel, Fox, and Star Wars acquisitions. This autobiography offers a “somewhat� candid look at Iger's life and career, kind of providing valuable lessons on leadership, risk-taking, and the personal nature of business.
Robert Iger's upbringing had a significant influence on his career, shaping his values and approach to leadership. Here are some key points on how his early life experiences impacted his professional journey. Molding his character and leadership philosophy, which in turn influenced his successful career as the CEO of Disney. His early life experiences taught him the importance of hard work, resilience, humility, empathy, and the pursuit of excellence, all of which are reflected in his professional achievements.
I do feel he was very selective in what he dived deep on in his personal life, yet I acknowledge it is his right to choose what he shares, especially when it involves other people, but where I am less forgiving is the obvious controversies he shied away from where he could have been humbled and used these more embarrassing lessons learned and introspection from that to teach how push through humility. Instead, we get supposed “words of praise� from Steve Jobs posthumously delivered, without him here to comment. I noticed the Lucas commentaries were a bit more measured. Probably because he is still alive.
It seems though that unless the controversies surrounding him didn’t completely put him in a positive light, or have him coming out as one of the heroes in the end, he pretty much glazed over them, or did not mention them at all. He had no trouble incorporating the Pulse Nightclub Shooting, or the Rosanne Ambien debacle, others, not so much.
Take the John Lassiter 2017 story. He “knew John was a hugger� to use his words even though Variety reported that Iger knew about a 2010 Oscar party where Pixar chief John Lasseter was seen "making out with a junior staffer.� One anonymous source was quoted as saying, "I know personally that Bob was aware. ... Everybody was aware. They just didn't do anything about it." This was ignored by him in this book. He completely omitted any mention of the Paz de la Huerta incident although given the timing of her lawsuit and the book’s publication, he could very well have, and his lawyers or publisher had him remove it due to the legal proceedings at the time.
In summary, I would read it again, but I’d skip to the acquisition chapters, and the last one on his learned principles.

Originally published at:
]]> Enjoy the Decline 17381193 215 Aaron Clarey 1480284769 Steven 3 One of the standout aspects of the book is Clarey's focus on self-preservation and personal responsibility. He discusses various topics, including financial management, career choices, and even dating advice, all through the lens of maintaining one's independence and well-being in a declining society.
It is purposely a provocative book that has sparked a range of reactions. The book's central premise is that the economic and cultural decline of the United States is inevitable, and rather than fighting it, individuals should adapt their mindset to "enjoy the decline." Clarey offers advice on how to live a fulfilling life despite the societal changes he predicts. He offers practical advice, writes in a humorous tone, and provides an alternative perspective on how to approach life in the face of economic and cultural challenges.
He does have a pessimistic outlook and the book is fine at first but then leans highly right politically and he oversimplifies complex issues and leans too heavily on nostalgia for a past that never existed. It reeks of Obama opposition which was rampant in 2013.
"Enjoy the Decline" is a book that will appeal to those who are already inclined to agree with Clarey's views. It's a mix of self-help and political commentary that encourages readers to find personal happiness in a world that may not align with their ideals. Whether you find it insightful or inflammatory will depend largely on your personal beliefs and outlook on the future.
By the end of the book though he goes off the deep end with an anti-left diatribe that clouds some of the wisdom nuggets. But you cannot ignore them - as they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
One of the best things that happen to Aaron was bigger names like Jordan Peterson and Scott Adams took and co-opted his ideas and took all the heat and damage, so he didn't have to.

Some irony in the plunder chapter which kind of explains the mindset of people who vote against their interests yet benefit from the very people and the government they vote against. One of the hilarious ironies of reading this book in two different eras was that at the time of publication, it was going to be the incoming socialism that brings us down. Now, it may potentially be the exact opposite as he gets more dire in chapters 9 and 10 with what he calls SHTF scenarios. He shows his political cards for real in chapter 10 calling the reelection of Barak Obama the trigger of the decline of western civilization. I’d be curious to hear his read on this month’s election and the forthcoming plans of the administration

I read this book in two chunks: in 2013 and in 2024. Two different eras and two different perspectives. Classic libertarianism mixed in with pragmatism offers some things I view as a little extreme, but some things really are helpful in this book. Practical prepping for non-preppers (which I'll eventually ideate on more myself) is very helpful in chapter 6 and 7 although he emits some paranoia assuming that everything will be collected and confiscated which seemed more far detached in 2013 then now. Especially given the marriage of political extremists and technocrats. Let's hope they keep their supposed libertarian bent.

Original published here: ]]> 3.53 2013 Enjoy the Decline
author: Aaron Clarey
name: Steven
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/02
shelves: politics, rational-skeptical, finance
review:
"Enjoy the Decline" by Aaron Clarey is a thought-provoking book that delves into the socio-economic and political landscape of modern America. Clarey, known for his libertarian views, offers a mix of practical advice and ideological commentary throughout the book.
One of the standout aspects of the book is Clarey's focus on self-preservation and personal responsibility. He discusses various topics, including financial management, career choices, and even dating advice, all through the lens of maintaining one's independence and well-being in a declining society.
It is purposely a provocative book that has sparked a range of reactions. The book's central premise is that the economic and cultural decline of the United States is inevitable, and rather than fighting it, individuals should adapt their mindset to "enjoy the decline." Clarey offers advice on how to live a fulfilling life despite the societal changes he predicts. He offers practical advice, writes in a humorous tone, and provides an alternative perspective on how to approach life in the face of economic and cultural challenges.
He does have a pessimistic outlook and the book is fine at first but then leans highly right politically and he oversimplifies complex issues and leans too heavily on nostalgia for a past that never existed. It reeks of Obama opposition which was rampant in 2013.
"Enjoy the Decline" is a book that will appeal to those who are already inclined to agree with Clarey's views. It's a mix of self-help and political commentary that encourages readers to find personal happiness in a world that may not align with their ideals. Whether you find it insightful or inflammatory will depend largely on your personal beliefs and outlook on the future.
By the end of the book though he goes off the deep end with an anti-left diatribe that clouds some of the wisdom nuggets. But you cannot ignore them - as they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
One of the best things that happen to Aaron was bigger names like Jordan Peterson and Scott Adams took and co-opted his ideas and took all the heat and damage, so he didn't have to.

Some irony in the plunder chapter which kind of explains the mindset of people who vote against their interests yet benefit from the very people and the government they vote against. One of the hilarious ironies of reading this book in two different eras was that at the time of publication, it was going to be the incoming socialism that brings us down. Now, it may potentially be the exact opposite as he gets more dire in chapters 9 and 10 with what he calls SHTF scenarios. He shows his political cards for real in chapter 10 calling the reelection of Barak Obama the trigger of the decline of western civilization. I’d be curious to hear his read on this month’s election and the forthcoming plans of the administration

I read this book in two chunks: in 2013 and in 2024. Two different eras and two different perspectives. Classic libertarianism mixed in with pragmatism offers some things I view as a little extreme, but some things really are helpful in this book. Practical prepping for non-preppers (which I'll eventually ideate on more myself) is very helpful in chapter 6 and 7 although he emits some paranoia assuming that everything will be collected and confiscated which seemed more far detached in 2013 then now. Especially given the marriage of political extremists and technocrats. Let's hope they keep their supposed libertarian bent.

Original published here:
]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2024]]> 101126425
The World Almanac® isAmerica’s bestselling reference book of all time, with more than 83 million copies sold. For more than 150 years, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for school, library, business, and home. The 2024 edition of The World Almanac reviews the biggest events of 2023 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information� by The Wall Street Journal , The World Almanac and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia needs effortlessly.

Features ]]> 1008 Sarah Janssen 1510777601 Steven 5 4.40 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2024
author: Sarah Janssen
name: Steven
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves:
review:

]]> Business Analytics 59744195 687 Sanjiv Jaggia 1260784991 Steven 4 3.00 Business Analytics
author: Sanjiv Jaggia
name: Steven
average rating: 3.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Business Analytics: Data Analysis & Decision Making (MindTap Course List)]]> 42448590 984 S. Christian Albright 0357109953 Steven 4 business, mba 2.67 2012 Business Analytics: Data Analysis & Decision Making (MindTap Course List)
author: S. Christian Albright
name: Steven
average rating: 2.67
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves: business, mba
review:

]]> ISE Business Analytics 78553850 1600 Sanjiv Jaggia Professor 1265087687 Steven 4 business, mba 3.00 ISE Business Analytics
author: Sanjiv Jaggia Professor
name: Steven
average rating: 3.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves: business, mba
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Living Gluten-Free For Dummies]]> 252466 356 Danna Korn 0471773832 Steven 4 cookbook 3.90 2006 Living Gluten-Free For Dummies
author: Danna Korn
name: Steven
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves: cookbook
review:
I love how this book goes beyond being just a simple cookbook, but also goes deep into how to “live� the lifestyle while not isolating yourself in a bubble and how not to be a snob about it.
]]> <![CDATA[Education Exposed: What teaching taught me about America's failing education system]]> 17554608 116 Kelly Matthews 1482619199 Steven 4 education
The book addresses several critical issues, such as the high cost of private schooling, the underpayment of teachers, the struggles of urban school systems, and the high turnover rate among teachers. Matthews uses a humorous tone to entertain and inform readers, aiming to spark important conversations about the future of education in America.

The book explores several key themes related to the American education system:

High Cost of Private Schooling: The book questions whether the high expenses associated with private schooling are justified and whether they lead to better educational outcomes.

Underpayment of Teachers: Matthews highlights the issue of teachers being underpaid, which contributes to high turnover rates and affects the quality of education.

Struggles of Urban School Systems: The book delves into the challenges faced by urban school systems, including inadequate resources and support.

High Turnover Rate Among Teachers: Matthews discusses the reasons behind the high turnover rate among teachers, particularly in inner-city schools.

Public School Failures: The author uses personal experiences to explain why public schools are failing and what needs to be done to address these issues.

There is a lot of great insights and information discussed and she has clearly interviewed many other teachers and is not just relying solely on her own experience. Chapter two and three are very insightful as she puts you right into the desired and actual experiences first, from the student’s perspective and then from the teachers. I also really loved how she describe all the teacher “archetypes� as I believe I have had every single one of them myself at one point.

I found it technically challenging at first as the font is quite small and it is single-spaced. I imagine reducing page count and to keep costs down. While I found the humor to be good, sometimes it had me questioning who the audience was. As in, is this for other teachers and she is, as we say, “preaching to the choir?� In addition to some venting, there was a degree of cynicism detected in most chapters. But she acknowledges it as part of the honesty necessary. The table of contents hides the subtitles for each chapter, so you get humorously surprised with such gems as “How not to get shot,� “How to look like we’re doing something,� “Is this the line for failure and shame?� “The road to hell is paved with good intentions� and my favorite “You might as well measure how we control the weather.�

The sixth and final chapter talks about solutions. Tracking is among them. So is making ALL schools, special-interest schools, and reforming sacred cows such as special education programs. Great ideas. The challenge is in the willingness, both socially and politically to execute those changes.

Originally published here: ]]> 3.88 2013 Education Exposed: What teaching taught me about America's failing education system
author: Kelly Matthews
name: Steven
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/18
date added: 2024/11/18
shelves: education
review:
"Education Exposed: What teaching taught me about America’s failing education system" by Kelly Matthews, M.Ed., delves into the challenges and shortcomings of the American education system. The author is actually writing under a pseudonym, which will become obvious as to why quickly into the book. She draws from her personal experiences as a teacher and leader in inner-city schools to highlight why public schools are failing � particularly those urban schools serving the marginalized.

The book addresses several critical issues, such as the high cost of private schooling, the underpayment of teachers, the struggles of urban school systems, and the high turnover rate among teachers. Matthews uses a humorous tone to entertain and inform readers, aiming to spark important conversations about the future of education in America.

The book explores several key themes related to the American education system:

High Cost of Private Schooling: The book questions whether the high expenses associated with private schooling are justified and whether they lead to better educational outcomes.

Underpayment of Teachers: Matthews highlights the issue of teachers being underpaid, which contributes to high turnover rates and affects the quality of education.

Struggles of Urban School Systems: The book delves into the challenges faced by urban school systems, including inadequate resources and support.

High Turnover Rate Among Teachers: Matthews discusses the reasons behind the high turnover rate among teachers, particularly in inner-city schools.

Public School Failures: The author uses personal experiences to explain why public schools are failing and what needs to be done to address these issues.

There is a lot of great insights and information discussed and she has clearly interviewed many other teachers and is not just relying solely on her own experience. Chapter two and three are very insightful as she puts you right into the desired and actual experiences first, from the student’s perspective and then from the teachers. I also really loved how she describe all the teacher “archetypes� as I believe I have had every single one of them myself at one point.

I found it technically challenging at first as the font is quite small and it is single-spaced. I imagine reducing page count and to keep costs down. While I found the humor to be good, sometimes it had me questioning who the audience was. As in, is this for other teachers and she is, as we say, “preaching to the choir?� In addition to some venting, there was a degree of cynicism detected in most chapters. But she acknowledges it as part of the honesty necessary. The table of contents hides the subtitles for each chapter, so you get humorously surprised with such gems as “How not to get shot,� “How to look like we’re doing something,� “Is this the line for failure and shame?� “The road to hell is paved with good intentions� and my favorite “You might as well measure how we control the weather.�

The sixth and final chapter talks about solutions. Tracking is among them. So is making ALL schools, special-interest schools, and reforming sacred cows such as special education programs. Great ideas. The challenge is in the willingness, both socially and politically to execute those changes.

Originally published here:
]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2024]]> 123184286 #1 New York Times Bestseller! Get thousands of facts at your fingertips with this essential sports, pop culture, science and technology, U.S. history and government, world geography, business, and so much more.

The World Almanac® isAmerica’s bestselling reference book of all time, with more than 83 million copies sold. For more than 150 years, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for school, library, business, and home. The 2024 edition ofThe World Almanacreviews the biggest events of 2023 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information� byThe Wall Street Journal,The World Almanac and Book of Factswill answer all of your trivia needs effortlessly.

Features Special Election 2024: A new feature covers all voters need to know going into the 2024 presidential election season, including primary and caucus dates, candidate profiles, campaign finance numbers, and more. 2023—Top 10 News The editors ofThe World Almanaclist the top stories that held the world's attention in 2023, from wildfires and earthquakes to Israel, Ukraine, and the U.S. Congress. 2023—Year in Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup, 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and 2023 World Series. 2023—Year in Striking full-color images from around the world in 2023, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports. 2023—Offbeat News The World Almanaceditors found some of the strangest news stories of the year. World Almanac Editors' Time The World Almanaclists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2023, including a Swiftie-created friendship bracelet and the House Speaker's gavel. The World at a This annual feature ofThe World Almanacprovides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world. Other Stats and graphics across dozens of chapters show how the pandemic continues to affect the economy, work, family life, education, and culture. Plus more new data to help understand the world, including housing costs, public schools and test scores, streaming TV and movie ratings, and much more. ]]> 913 Sarah Janssen 1510777628 Steven 5 bathroom-reading, reference 4.52 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2024
author: Sarah Janssen
name: Steven
average rating: 4.52
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: bathroom-reading, reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025]]> 199798482
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025 offers complete and up-to-date information on the world's nations. This comprehensive guide is packed with data on countries' politics, populations, economics, and environment for 2024 and looks ahead to 2025.

The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025 includes the following for each

Also included are appendices with useful abbreviations, international environmental agreements, international organizations and groups, terror organizations, and more. Originally intended for use by government officials and policymakers as well as the broader intelligence community, this is a must-have resource for students, travelers, journalists, and anyone with a desire to know more about their world.]]> 1216 Central Intelligence Agency 1510778519 Steven 0 currently-reading 5.00 The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025
author: Central Intelligence Agency
name: Steven
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition]]> 7130594 960 Robert Dimery 0789320746 Steven 5 music, music-study 4.09 2005 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition
author: Robert Dimery
name: Steven
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/12
date added: 2024/11/10
shelves: music, music-study
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Minecraft Construction for Dummies: Portable Edition (For Dummies Series)]]> 22264025 210 Adam Cordeiro 1118968409 Steven 0 to-read 3.75 2014 Minecraft Construction for Dummies: Portable Edition (For Dummies Series)
author: Adam Cordeiro
name: Steven
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Statistical Analysis with Excel For Dummies]]> 639227 408 Joseph Schmuller 0764575945 Steven 5 3.85 2005 Statistical Analysis with Excel For Dummies
author: Joseph Schmuller
name: Steven
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/23
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves:
review:
As usual, having to rely on this series given that I’m 30 years out of mathematical practice.
]]> <![CDATA[Bundle: Business Analytics: Data Analysis & Decision Making, 7th + MindTap Business Statistics, 2 terms Printed Access Card]]> 55108137 0 S. Christian Albright 0357195892 Steven 4 mba, textbook 4.25 Bundle: Business Analytics: Data Analysis & Decision Making, 7th + MindTap Business Statistics, 2 terms Printed Access Card
author: S. Christian Albright
name: Steven
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/13
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves: mba, textbook
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Excel Data Analysis For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))]]> 60525603 Take Excel to the next level

Excel is the world’s leading spreadsheet application. It’s a key module in Microsoft Office—the number-one productivity suite—and it is the number-one business intelligence tool. An Excel dashboard report is a visual presentation of critical data and uses gauges, maps, charts, sliders, and other graphical elements to present complex data in an easy-to-understand format.

Excel Data Analysis For Dummies explains in depth how to use Excel as a tool for analyzing big data sets.In no time, you’ll discover how to mine and analyze critical data in order to make more informed business decisions.

Work with external databases, PivotTables, and Pivot Charts Use Excel for statistical and financial functions and data sharing Get familiar with Solver Use the Small Business Finance Manager

If you’re familiar with Excel but lack a background in the technical aspects of data analysis, this user-friendly book makes it easy to start putting it to use for you.

]]> 368 Paul McFedries 1119844428 Steven 4 tech, textbook 4.00 Excel Data Analysis For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
author: Paul McFedries
name: Steven
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/13
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves: tech, textbook
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Windows Internals, Part 2 (Developer Reference)]]> 56617614 2027 Russinovich Mark E. 0135462444 Steven 0 currently-reading 4.60 Windows Internals, Part 2 (Developer Reference)
author: Russinovich Mark E.
name: Steven
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[TIME Almanac 2013: Powered By Encyclopedia Britannica]]> 13529332 864 Kelly Knauer 1618930192 Steven 4 reference 4.00 2012 TIME Almanac 2013: Powered By Encyclopedia Britannica
author: Kelly Knauer
name: Steven
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/16
date added: 2024/06/16
shelves: reference
review:
It's a shame they stopped these.
]]> Not Taco Bell Material 13151428 336 Adam Carolla 0307888878 Steven 4 3.74 2010 Not Taco Bell Material
author: Adam Carolla
name: Steven
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/16
date added: 2024/06/16
shelves: bathroom-reading, biography, humor
review:
The last of his great books before he started going bitter and right-wing out of spite.
]]> <![CDATA[Time Almanac 2012: Powered By Encyclopedia Britannica]]> 13333977
Highlights include world statistics and countries, astronomy and space, calendar and holidays, health and nutrition, sports results, business, economy, personal finance, the Internet, web-site guide and so much more!

Turn to The TIME Almanac 2012 -Powered by Encyclopaedia Britannica-for more than 1 million answers.]]> 864 Kelly Knauer 1603202064 Steven 4 bathroom-reading, reference 4.50 2011 Time Almanac 2012: Powered By Encyclopedia Britannica
author: Kelly Knauer
name: Steven
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/16
date added: 2024/06/16
shelves: bathroom-reading, reference
review:

]]> Cinema Speculation 55922488 The long-awaited first work of nonfiction from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: a deliriously entertaining, wickedly intelligent cinema book as unique and creative as anything by Quentin Tarantino.

In addition to being among the most celebrated of contemporary filmmakers, Quentin Tarantino is possibly the most joyously infectious movie lover alive. For years he has touted in interviews his eventual turn to writing books about films. Now, with Cinema Speculation, the time has come, and the results are everything his passionate fans—and all movie lovers—could have hoped for. Organized around key American films from the 1970s, all of which he first saw as a young moviegoer at the time, this book is as intellectually rigorous and insightful as it is rollicking and entertaining. At once film criticism, film theory, a feat of reporting, and wonderful personal history, it is all written in the singular voice recognizable immediately as QT’s and with the rare perspective about cinema possible only from one of the greatest practitioners of the artform ever.]]> 391 Quentin Tarantino 0063112582 Steven 5 biography, culture, media In his first nonfiction book, "Cinema Speculation", Quentin Tarantino explores the 1970s American cinema that shaped his own filmmaking. The book is a collection of personal and passionate essays about key films from that decade, showing Tarantino's deep love and knowledge of cinema. He writes in a conversational and engaging way, sharing stories and insights from his life and career. He also pays homage to critic Pauline Kael, whose work influenced him. The book is a great read for anyone who enjoys Tarantino's films and wants to learn more about the filmmaker and his influences. It's a rare opportunity to see the world of cinema through Tarantino's eyes.
The book is a litany of references all across the movie spectrum. If you’ve run out of movies to see due to COVID, you should read this book and you will have dozens to now add to your queue. Its also one of the most unique ways to auto-biographically tell your story through your movies � a method not so similar to the main character in “High Fidelity� Rob Gordon deciding to arrange his albums in “his autobiographical order.� It seems that Quentin did this with films and then constructed this fantastic book of reviews and stories around them.
Tarantino writes about the films from the '70s that influenced his own filmmaking vision and style. His essays are not just analytical and theoretical, but also informative and autobiographical. He shows his passion and expertise for cinema, making the book a delightful read for other film lovers.
Tarantino does not sound like a scholar; he sounds like a friendly and knowledgeable guide, engaging in a spirited conversation with a pal who shares his passion for cinema. He tells stories from his own life and background, offering a distinctive angle to his examination of the films that shaped him as a film fan and as a director.
The book is also a tribute to the film writing of critic Pauline Kael, whose work inspired Tarantino. It's a must-read for anyone who finds Tarantino's films a guilty pleasure and is curious about the backstory of one of the most influential filmmakers of our time. Whether you're a casual viewer or a die-hard cinephile, "Cinema Speculation" offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a director who has shaped modern cinema with his bold storytelling and stylistic flair.
The final chapter is a tribute to a father-figure that is deeply personal and reflective and serves as a great wrapper to the overall theme of who and what shaped QT as an artist. It also reminds us that we may have more influence on our younger counterparts than we could ever imagine.
If Tarantino is true to his word and decides to retire after his next film, I would still hope that he would become so bored in retirement that he would at least consider keeping this going, be it novels, or autobiographically-styled movie analysis.
Originally published: Book Review � Cinema Speculation � Executing Order 66 (wordpress.com)
]]> 4.04 2022 Cinema Speculation
author: Quentin Tarantino
name: Steven
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/12
date added: 2024/06/12
shelves: biography, culture, media
review:
I’ve been a fan of QT from nearly the beginning. I saw “Reservoir Dogs� for the first time after I saw “Pulp Fiction� which was my (and many others.) So, I am a bit biased. I absolutely find his work to subtly improve with every film. I patiently wait for his next (and said to be last) film. It will take a lot to upstage “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood� though. I even got the book and it too is a must-read. It goes without saying his writing skills grow beyond screenplays.
In his first nonfiction book, "Cinema Speculation", Quentin Tarantino explores the 1970s American cinema that shaped his own filmmaking. The book is a collection of personal and passionate essays about key films from that decade, showing Tarantino's deep love and knowledge of cinema. He writes in a conversational and engaging way, sharing stories and insights from his life and career. He also pays homage to critic Pauline Kael, whose work influenced him. The book is a great read for anyone who enjoys Tarantino's films and wants to learn more about the filmmaker and his influences. It's a rare opportunity to see the world of cinema through Tarantino's eyes.
The book is a litany of references all across the movie spectrum. If you’ve run out of movies to see due to COVID, you should read this book and you will have dozens to now add to your queue. Its also one of the most unique ways to auto-biographically tell your story through your movies � a method not so similar to the main character in “High Fidelity� Rob Gordon deciding to arrange his albums in “his autobiographical order.� It seems that Quentin did this with films and then constructed this fantastic book of reviews and stories around them.
Tarantino writes about the films from the '70s that influenced his own filmmaking vision and style. His essays are not just analytical and theoretical, but also informative and autobiographical. He shows his passion and expertise for cinema, making the book a delightful read for other film lovers.
Tarantino does not sound like a scholar; he sounds like a friendly and knowledgeable guide, engaging in a spirited conversation with a pal who shares his passion for cinema. He tells stories from his own life and background, offering a distinctive angle to his examination of the films that shaped him as a film fan and as a director.
The book is also a tribute to the film writing of critic Pauline Kael, whose work inspired Tarantino. It's a must-read for anyone who finds Tarantino's films a guilty pleasure and is curious about the backstory of one of the most influential filmmakers of our time. Whether you're a casual viewer or a die-hard cinephile, "Cinema Speculation" offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a director who has shaped modern cinema with his bold storytelling and stylistic flair.
The final chapter is a tribute to a father-figure that is deeply personal and reflective and serves as a great wrapper to the overall theme of who and what shaped QT as an artist. It also reminds us that we may have more influence on our younger counterparts than we could ever imagine.
If Tarantino is true to his word and decides to retire after his next film, I would still hope that he would become so bored in retirement that he would at least consider keeping this going, be it novels, or autobiographically-styled movie analysis.
Originally published: Book Review � Cinema Speculation � Executing Order 66 (wordpress.com)

]]> <![CDATA[The CIA World Factbook 2023-2024]]> 74892915 The ultimate, comprehensive guide to official country data and statistics, from the world’s most sophisticated intelligence-gathering organization.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, The CIA World Factbook 2023-2024 offers complete and up-to-date information on the world's nations. This comprehensive guide is packed with data on countries' politics, populations, economics, and environment for 2023 and looks ahead to 2024.

The CIA World Factbook 2023-2024 includes the following for each
Brand new geopolitical mapsPopulation statistics, with details on languages, religions, literacy rates, age structure, HIV prevalence, and much moreUp-to-date data on military expenditures and capabilitiesGeography information, including climate and natural hazardsDetails on prominent political figures and partiesContact information for diplomatic missionsFacts on transportation, trade, and communication infrastructure
Also included are appendices with useful abbreviations, international environmental agreements, international organizations and groups, terror organizations, and more. Originally intended for use by government officials and policymakers as well as the broader intelligence community, this is a must-have resource for students, travelers, journalists, and anyone with a desire to know more about their world.]]> 7953 Central Intelligence Agency 1510775935 Steven 4 bathroom-reading, reference 4.67 The CIA World Factbook 2023-2024
author: Central Intelligence Agency
name: Steven
average rating: 4.67
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/11
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: bathroom-reading, reference
review:
This book helped me get A's in two graduate level global business classes. Seriously.
]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2000]]> 2017202 1024 World Almanac 0886878470 Steven 0 reference 3.95 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2000
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 3.95
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2001]]> 122288 1024 0886878624 Steven 0 reference 3.54 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2001
author: Editors of World Almanac Books
name: Steven
average rating: 3.54
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac And Book Of Facts 2002]]> 1784608 Ken Park 0886878721 Steven 0 reference 4.47 2001 The World Almanac And Book Of Facts 2002
author: Ken Park
name: Steven
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2003]]> 6062823
For 135 years, The World Almanac has remained the source of choice for people who want quick access to information they know they can trust. More comprehensive than a web site, quicker and easier to use than the Internet and other on-line sources, and cheaper that 15 days of Internet access, The World Almanac is found in more homes, schools, libraries, businesses, and media outlets than any other reference source.

The World Almanac 2003 provides over 1,000 pages of facts and figures,

* A complete recap of the 2002 Winter Olympics, including the results of every event
* The Year in Two color photo sections highlighting the year's most dramatic news, sports, and entertainment events
* The Facts Behind the Up-to-date and comprehensive information on the arts and entertainment, awards and prizes, U.S. cities and states, nations of the world, sports, the environment, vital statistics, lifestyles, education, travel and tourism, science and technology, astronomy, sex, health and nutrition, the economy and business, and much more]]> 1008 Ken Park 0886878829 Steven 0 reference 3.55 2002 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2003
author: Ken Park
name: Steven
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2002
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2004]]> 1956589
- Expanded coverage of the most turned-to noted personalities, education, space, sports, nations of the world, awards, and consumer information
- Enhancements and improvements on every page of the book
- Two color photo sections, with highlights of the years most noteworthy people, places, and events
- Free monthly e-mail updates provided to all readers throughout the year
- Larger type in selected sections and more illustrations throughout the book
- Authoritative, comprehensive and timely information on just about census figures, health, historical anniversaries, presidents, personal finance, religion, sex, statistics, weather, and so much more - all in one book!]]> 1008 World Almanac 0886879108 Steven 0 reference 4.08 2003 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2004
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2005]]> 2408145
In today's information driven world you need a reliable, authoritative and accessible source of information. Since 1868, The World Almanac has been that source for more than 200 million readers -- it puts a world of information in the palm of your hands. Every thing you have ever wanted to know and more is packed in this 1,000 + page book. Some features

- New special features on Gen X, Nutrition, Education, Islam, Steroids, Future of Space Exploration, and a Summer Olympics Wrap-Up
- Updated and expanded sections including noted personalities, sports, space, education, health, science, nations of the world, economy, awards, environment and consumer information
- Interesting offbeat news stories and notable quotes from the past year
- Detailed maps, flags and two special color photo sections highlighting the year's most dramatic news, sports, and entertainment events
- Free monthly e-newsletter
- The top ten news stories of 2004 and much much more

The World Almanac is found in more homes, offices, classrooms, universities, libraries and media outlets than all other almanacs combined. Pick up a copy of The World Almanac 2005, and you'll know why.]]> 1008 william mc geveran 0886879388 Steven 0 reference 3.71 1999 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2005
author: william mc geveran
name: Steven
average rating: 3.71
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2006]]> 682733
Completely revised and updated from the first page to the last, The World Almanac 2006 provides over 1,000 pages of facts and figures (including 32 pages in color). New features

A major feature story on ChinaA new section on the year’s health newsA review of the Tsunami tragedyA second annual crossword puzzleUp-to-date maps and geography informationWith the answers to everyday questions, the World Almanac makes everyone smarter!]]> 1008 World Almanac 0886879647 Steven 0 reference 4.12 2005 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2006
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The New Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know]]> 117131 Wireless technology. Gene therapy. NAFTA. In addition to the thousands of terms described in the original Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, here are more than five hundred new entries to bring Americans' bank of essential knowledge up to date. The original entries have been fully revised to reflect recent changes in world history and politics, American literature, and, especially, science and technology. Cultural icons that have stood the test of time (Odysseus, Leaves of Grass, Cleopatra, the Taj Mahal, D-Day) appear alongside entries on such varied concerns as cryptography, the digital divide, the European Union, Kwanzaa, pheromones, SPAM, Type A and Type B personalities, Web browsers, and much, much more.
As our world becomes more global and interconnected, it grows smaller through the terms and touchstones that unite us. As E. D. Hirsch writes in the preface, "Community is built up of shared knowledge and values -- the same shared knowledge that is taken for granted when we read a book or newspaper, and that is also taken for granted as part of the fabric that connects us to one another." A delicious concoction of information for anyone who wants to be in the know, The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy brilliantly confirms once again that it is "an excellent piece of work . . . stimulating and enlightening" (New York Times) -- the most definitive and comprehensive family sourcebook of its kind.]]> 672 E.D. Hirsch Jr. 0618226478 Steven 0 currently-reading 4.15 1989 The New Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
author: E.D. Hirsch Jr.
name: Steven
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1989
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/12
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Corporate Finance, Global Edition]]> 188397128 1200 Jonathan Berk 1292446315 Steven 4 business, textbook, mba 4.60 Corporate Finance, Global Edition
author: Jonathan Berk
name: Steven
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/12
date added: 2024/05/12
shelves: business, textbook, mba
review:
Pearson's great for reading and learning but the online quizzes and exams are savage.
]]> <![CDATA[Corporate Finance For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))]]> 60805928 368 Michael Taillard 1119850312 Steven 4 business, mba 3.83 Corporate Finance For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))
author: Michael Taillard
name: Steven
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/12
date added: 2024/05/12
shelves: business, mba
review:
The book I had to read so I could understand the textbook I had for my class on the subject. Lots of ratios in this book. Explained well, but serious ratio-palooza.
]]> <![CDATA[Managing Operations Across the Supply Chain]]> 196679541 International Edition, student textbook only
The Fifth Edition of Managing Operations Across the Supply Chain offers a global, supply chain perspective of operations management treatment that embraces the foundations of operations management but includes new frameworks, concepts, and tools to address the demands of today and changing needs of the future. We live in dynamic and exciting times due to many changes affecting nearly every aspect of business - including operations management. This fourth edition reflects key shifts in operations management. Connect is the only integrated learning system that empowers students by continuously adapting to deliver precisely what they need, when they need it, and how they need it, so that your class time is more engaging and effective]]> 688 Morgan Swink 1266229779 Steven 4 textbook, mba, business 4.00 2013 Managing Operations Across the Supply Chain
author: Morgan Swink
name: Steven
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/12
date added: 2024/05/12
shelves: textbook, mba, business
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard]]> 6570502 Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives?

The primary obstacle is a conflict that's built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed bestseller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems - the rational mind and the emotional mind - that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort - but if it is overcome, change can come quickly.

In Switch, the Heaths show how everyday people - employees and managers, parents and nurses - have united both minds and, as a result, achieved dramatic results:

- The lowly medical interns who managed to defeat an entrenched, decades-old medical practice that was endangering patients (see page 242)
- The home-organizing guru who developed a simple technique for overcoming the dread of housekeeping (see page 130)
- The manager who transformed a lackadaisical customer-support team into service zealots by removing a standard tool of customer service (see page 199)

In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. Switch shows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you, whether your interest is in changing the world or changing your waistline.]]> 305 Chip Heath 0385528752 Steven 4 business, leadership, culture Reading this book, the first major insight gained about change is what looks like a people problem is a situational one. Control of the rational and emotional mind is essential. I did have to answer the question of � is this about me or this is about influencing others with regards to context. This book delves into the complexities of change and provides a practical framework for making it easier. There are three Surprises About Change: Change often fails because our emotional side (the Elephant) and our rational side (the Rider) can’t cooperate long enough for the desired change to occur. What appears as laziness might actually be exhaustion, and what seems like resistance could be a lack of clarity.

Everyone in a customer experience role should read this book so they can learn how to “direct the rider, motivate that elephant, and “shape the path.� Even without authority. And no, I will not give anything further on the elephant strategy to those who have not read it, but I will share the very first three insights in the book which revolve around surprises about change:

� What looks like a people problem is often a situation problem.
� What looks like laziness is often exhaustion.
� What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity.

I am really glad I read this now before going into management. The Framework discussed in this book is pretty straight forward:

� Direct the Rider: Clear instructions are crucial. Lack of clarity often masquerades as resistance.
� Motivate the Elephant: Emotional engagement is essential. Exhausted Elephants won’t stay on the path.
� Shape the Path: Modify the environment to facilitate change

As far as an overall assessment, the book serves as an excellent starting point for discussing organizational and personal change. While change isn’t always easy, the Heath brothers� framework makes the process more manageable 3.
In summary, “Switch� provides actionable insights based on scientific facts, emphasizing the need to address both rational and emotional aspects when navigating change.


Originally published:

]]> 4.02 2010 Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
author: Chip Heath
name: Steven
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/13
date added: 2024/04/13
shelves: business, leadership, culture
review:
The book, “Switch: How to Change Things when Things are Hard,� by Dan and Chip Heath is a book about the difficult task of making change in large, complex organizations. Moving elephants. Driving glaciers. I had been starting and stopping attempts at reading this book for the last few years. Recently, I finally had a block of time where I could dive in and read the book end to end of a weekend thanks to a policy at work that allows for “learning days� where we are allowed to focus.
Reading this book, the first major insight gained about change is what looks like a people problem is a situational one. Control of the rational and emotional mind is essential. I did have to answer the question of � is this about me or this is about influencing others with regards to context. This book delves into the complexities of change and provides a practical framework for making it easier. There are three Surprises About Change: Change often fails because our emotional side (the Elephant) and our rational side (the Rider) can’t cooperate long enough for the desired change to occur. What appears as laziness might actually be exhaustion, and what seems like resistance could be a lack of clarity.

Everyone in a customer experience role should read this book so they can learn how to “direct the rider, motivate that elephant, and “shape the path.� Even without authority. And no, I will not give anything further on the elephant strategy to those who have not read it, but I will share the very first three insights in the book which revolve around surprises about change:

� What looks like a people problem is often a situation problem.
� What looks like laziness is often exhaustion.
� What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity.

I am really glad I read this now before going into management. The Framework discussed in this book is pretty straight forward:

� Direct the Rider: Clear instructions are crucial. Lack of clarity often masquerades as resistance.
� Motivate the Elephant: Emotional engagement is essential. Exhausted Elephants won’t stay on the path.
� Shape the Path: Modify the environment to facilitate change

As far as an overall assessment, the book serves as an excellent starting point for discussing organizational and personal change. While change isn’t always easy, the Heath brothers� framework makes the process more manageable 3.
In summary, “Switch� provides actionable insights based on scientific facts, emphasizing the need to address both rational and emotional aspects when navigating change.


Originally published:


]]> <![CDATA[Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age]]> 53280807
From Microsoft's president and one of the tech industry's broadest thinkers, a frank and thoughtful reckoning with how to balance enormous promise and existential risk as the digitization of everything accelerates.

“A colorful and insightful insiders� view of how technology is both empowering and threatening us. From privacy to cyberattacks, this timely book is a useful guide for how to navigate the digital future.”—Walter Isaacson

Microsoft president Brad Smith operates by a simple core When your technology changes the world, you bear a responsibility to help address the world you have helped create. In Tools and Weapons , Brad Smith and Carol Ann Browne bring us a captivating narrative from the top of Microsoft, as the company flies in the face of a tech sector long obsessed with disruption as an end in itself, and in doing so navigates some of the thorniest issues of our time—from privacy to cyberwar to the challenges for democracy, far and near.

As the tumultuous events of 2020 brought technology and Big Tech even further into the lives of almost all Americans, Smith and Browne updated the book throughout to reflect a changed world. With three new chapters on cybersecurity, technology and nation-states, and tech in the pandemic, Tools and Weapons is an invaluable resource from the cockpit of one of the world’s largest tech companies.]]> 464 Brad Smith 1984877739 Steven 5 Originally published here:


Satya Nadella became the leader of Microsoft in 2014, and he started to encourage us to adopt growth mindsets. He wrote a book called “Hit Refresh� in 2017, and he shared a special version with his notes with all the employees. I read it. It was a good use of time, and I don't say that just because I worked at Microsoft. He let us see his thoughts and how he made decisions. He revealed what happened at the top levels of Microsoft in those first years. It was very informative.
I wondered why this great book by Brad Smith did not get the same treatment, which I only got to read in the second edition. I was lucky because the second edition had more COVID and Solarigate coverage from a first-person perspective! This version is like software 2.0. Brad combines elements that affect technology and how technology affects them, such as media, government, and society. If you want a clear understanding of what has been going on in the last 20 years, and you need it in plain language - this is it.

“Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age� by Brad Smith, Microsoft’s President, delves into the intricate relationship between technology, corporate responsibility, and government mandates. Here are some key takeaways:

Holistic Approach to Change: Smith emphasizes that companies and governments must collaborate to address future challenges. He draws on his experience as a lawyer during Microsoft’s antitrust battles to underscore the need for ethical solutions. The book tackles questions about privacy protection, tech companies� role in cybersecurity, and their claims of benevolent digital governance.
Historical parallels, like John Wilkes� fight against unlawful search and seizure in the 1760s, provide context for today’s data exploitation issues. Data as a Commodity: Personally attributable data is a valuable global commodity stored within tech companies� cloud services. Smith compares tech companies to financial institutions, highlighting their compulsion to safeguard customer data. Microsoft’s lucrative position underscores the importance of responsible data usage.
Social Justice and Equity: The book explores technology’s impact on social justice. Smith cites tech executive Kai-Fu Lee’s concept of “AI superpowers� to illustrate the uneven gains from innovation. He advocates for collaboration between tech companies and governments to ensure morally sound policies In summary, “Tools and Weapons� provides thought-provoking insights into the digital age, combining historical context with a tech industry leader’s perspective.

When I think of those amazing initial chapters on the cloud and data center, I realize that most of my knowledge about the cloud and how cloud technologies work came from our internal and external documentation and detailed explanations from experts like Mark Russinovich. Everything I know about how to communicate it to customers, I’ve learned from Brad Smith.
]]> 4.08 2019 Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age
author: Brad Smith
name: Steven
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2023/03/10
date added: 2024/04/11
shelves: computer-it-pro, history, tech
review:
Book Review - “Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age�
Originally published here:


Satya Nadella became the leader of Microsoft in 2014, and he started to encourage us to adopt growth mindsets. He wrote a book called “Hit Refresh� in 2017, and he shared a special version with his notes with all the employees. I read it. It was a good use of time, and I don't say that just because I worked at Microsoft. He let us see his thoughts and how he made decisions. He revealed what happened at the top levels of Microsoft in those first years. It was very informative.
I wondered why this great book by Brad Smith did not get the same treatment, which I only got to read in the second edition. I was lucky because the second edition had more COVID and Solarigate coverage from a first-person perspective! This version is like software 2.0. Brad combines elements that affect technology and how technology affects them, such as media, government, and society. If you want a clear understanding of what has been going on in the last 20 years, and you need it in plain language - this is it.

“Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age� by Brad Smith, Microsoft’s President, delves into the intricate relationship between technology, corporate responsibility, and government mandates. Here are some key takeaways:

Holistic Approach to Change: Smith emphasizes that companies and governments must collaborate to address future challenges. He draws on his experience as a lawyer during Microsoft’s antitrust battles to underscore the need for ethical solutions. The book tackles questions about privacy protection, tech companies� role in cybersecurity, and their claims of benevolent digital governance.
Historical parallels, like John Wilkes� fight against unlawful search and seizure in the 1760s, provide context for today’s data exploitation issues. Data as a Commodity: Personally attributable data is a valuable global commodity stored within tech companies� cloud services. Smith compares tech companies to financial institutions, highlighting their compulsion to safeguard customer data. Microsoft’s lucrative position underscores the importance of responsible data usage.
Social Justice and Equity: The book explores technology’s impact on social justice. Smith cites tech executive Kai-Fu Lee’s concept of “AI superpowers� to illustrate the uneven gains from innovation. He advocates for collaboration between tech companies and governments to ensure morally sound policies In summary, “Tools and Weapons� provides thought-provoking insights into the digital age, combining historical context with a tech industry leader’s perspective.

When I think of those amazing initial chapters on the cloud and data center, I realize that most of my knowledge about the cloud and how cloud technologies work came from our internal and external documentation and detailed explanations from experts like Mark Russinovich. Everything I know about how to communicate it to customers, I’ve learned from Brad Smith.

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2007]]> 98751 1008 World Almanac Books 0886879957 Steven 5 reference 4.42 1996 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2007
author: World Almanac Books
name: Steven
average rating: 4.42
book published: 1996
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/04/05
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2009]]> 4464429 1008 World Almanac 1600571050 Steven 5 4.40 2007 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2009
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/04/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2008]]> 1543057 World Almanac 1600570720 Steven 0 reference 4.16 2007 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2008
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/04/05
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Global 4 [with GLOBAL Online 1-Term Access Code]]]> 34953442 272 Mike W. Peng 1337406821 Steven 4 3.80 2008 Global 4 [with GLOBAL Online 1-Term Access Code]
author: Mike W. Peng
name: Steven
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/05
date added: 2024/04/05
shelves: business, culture, mba, textbook
review:

]]> <![CDATA[P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever]]> 39971477
This whimsical, funky book from Raj Haldar (aka rapper Lushlife) turns the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, poking fun at the most mischievous words in the English language and demonstrating how to pronounce them. Fun and informative for word nerds of all ages!]]> 40 Raj Haldar 1492674311 Steven 4 4.48 2018 P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever
author: Raj Haldar
name: Steven
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/23
date added: 2024/03/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011]]> 8351817 1008 World Almanac 1600571344 Steven 0 reference 4.06 2010 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/17
date added: 2024/03/17
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2022]]> 57142467 A 2021 USA Today Bestseller! Get thousands of facts at your fingertips with this essential business, the arts and pop culture, science and technology, U.S. history and government, world geography, sports, and so much more.The World Almanac® isAmerica’s bestselling reference book of all time, with more than 83 million copies sold. For more than 150 years, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for school, library, business, and home. The 2022 edition ofThe World Almanacreviews the biggest events of 2021 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information� byThe Wall Street Journal,The World Almanac and Book of Factswill answer all of your trivia needs effortlessly. Features Special Coronavirus Status A special section provides up-to-the-minute information about the world’s largest public health crisis in at least a century. Statistical data and graphics across dozens of chapters show how the pandemic continues to affect the economy, work, family life, education, and culture.Special 20 Years in The World Almanac provides history, data, and other context for the end of America's longest war and the future of Afghanistan and its people.2021—Top 10 News The editors ofThe World Almanaclist the top stories that held the world's attention in 2021.2021—Year in Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the sports world's ongoing adaptations to the coronavirus pandemic, and much more.2021—Year in Striking full-color images from around the world in 2021, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports.2021—Offbeat News The World Almanaceditors found some of the strangest news stories of the year.World Almanac Editors' Time The World Almanaclists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2021, from news and sports to pop culture.World Almanac Editors' Memorable Recent Sports From a trash-can banging, sign-stealing scandal to the doping of horses and humans, World Almanac editors select some of the sports world's biggest black marks from the last 20 years.The World at a This annual feature ofThe World Almanacprovides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world.The Biden Complete coverage of the presidential transition in Washington, DC, including cabinet-level leadership and the filling of other key administration roles.Other New First data available from the 2020 Census, congressional appropriation and redistricting, and much more. ]]> 913 Sarah Janssen 1510766553 Steven 0 4.27 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2022
author: Sarah Janssen
name: Steven
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/17
date added: 2024/03/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010 (World Almanac & Book of Facts (Paperback))]]> 6591150 1008 World Almanac 1600571239 Steven 5 reference 4.54 2009 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010 (World Almanac & Book of Facts (Paperback))
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/17
date added: 2024/03/17
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012]]> 12133281
Praise for the previous
"The World Almanac is the most useful reference book known to modern man."--Los Angeles Times

"The most versatile single volume, and probably the biggest bargain on the shelf."--Esquire

"For the most information in one source, The World Almanac remains the champion."--American Library Association

The World Almanac and Book of Facts is America's top-selling reference book of all time, with more than 80 million copies sold. Published annually since 1868, this compendium of information is the authoritative source for all your entertainment, reference, and learning needs. Praised as a "treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information" by The Wall Street Journal, The World Almanac contains thousands of facts that are unavailable publicly elsewhere--in fact, it has been featured as a category on Jeopardy! and is routinely used as a go-to, all-encompassing guide for aspiring game show contestants. The 2012 edition of The World Almanac and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia questions from history and sports to geography, pop culture, and much more.

Features

-2010 Census An up-to-date portrait of the changing face of the American people, based on newly released 2010 census data. Includes essential population statistics about each state's demographics, typical households, and new congressional apportionment.
-Time The World Almanac lists the 10 items that most came to symbolize the year 2011, from the news and sports to pop culture.
-Year in Coverage of every major sport, with bonus World Series coverage including play-by-play and game-by-game playoff action. The 2011 MLB individual batting and pitching statistics give baseball junkies a jump-start on next year's fantasy baseball draft.
-The World at a Fully revised and updated, this annual feature of The World Almanac highlights surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world today.
-The Year in The World Almanac takes a look back at 2011 while looking forward to 2012.
-Offbeat News The World Almanac editors found some of the wackiest news stories of the year!
-2011--Year in Striking full-color images from around the world in 2011, covering news, pop culture, and sports.
-U.S. Colleges and This feature compiles statistics on thousands of public and private U.S. colleges and universities--an indispensable tool for college-bound students and their families. Complete with student enrollment, tuition and fees, and other useful information on schools.
-and much more.]]> 1007 World Almanac 1600571484 Steven 0 reference 4.43 2010 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012
author: World Almanac
name: Steven
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/17
date added: 2024/03/17
shelves: reference
review:

]]> <![CDATA[System Requirements for Managerial Cost Accounting Checklist: Systems Reviewed Under the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996, Superse]]> 79370240 42 1289237727 Steven 0 to-read 0.0 System Requirements for Managerial Cost Accounting Checklist: Systems Reviewed Under the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996, Superse
author: U. S. Government Accountability Office (
name: Steven
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The CIA World Factbook 2019-2020]]> 44321481
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, The CIA World Factbook 2019-2020 offers complete and up-to-date information on the world's nations. This comprehensive guide is packed with data on the politics, populations, military expenditures, and economics of 2019.

For each country, The CIA World Factbook 2019-2020

Also included are appendixes with useful abbreviations, international environmental agreements, international organizations and groups, weight and measure conversions, and more. Originally intended for use by government officials, this is a must-have resource for students, travelers, journalists, and business people with a desire to know more about their world.]]> 1176 Central Intelligence Agency 1510750460 Steven 5 reference 4.50 The CIA World Factbook 2019-2020
author: Central Intelligence Agency
name: Steven
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/15
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves: reference
review:

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