A typical Chuck Palahniuk book. Written mainly as quotes, non linear storyline and sometimes unfinished sentences and giving a shocker at about 90% ofA typical Chuck Palahniuk book. Written mainly as quotes, non linear storyline and sometimes unfinished sentences and giving a shocker at about 90% of the book completion. Like Dyatlov said "not great not terrible"...more
I admire William Dalrymple and there are no two ways about it. This is not only a great book on the events in India, rise of EIC, fall of empires but I admire William Dalrymple and there are no two ways about it. This is not only a great book on the events in India, rise of EIC, fall of empires but also presents a view on strategy of conquest. It is not easy to be the supreme power in a territory so vast. At some places the power of ruler/governor/nizam was profound on other it was abysmal. Maintaining all that in a common thread of increasing the shareholder's revenue was quite a challenge. As correctly mentioned somewhere in the book ‘regular discipline and strict obedience to orders is the only superiority that Europeans possess in this country.� Indisciplined troops, old weaponry, short term gratification, no wonder the country was a sitting duck for EIC....more
Certainly one the the most difficult read I have come across. Eric presents the facts and no personal opinion, this is something which is rarely foundCertainly one the the most difficult read I have come across. Eric presents the facts and no personal opinion, this is something which is rarely found in History books. Last few chapters on Science, Music, Arts etc seem like a drag and not comprehended properly. Also there were so many events of Science, Music, Arts that it is impossible to cover in a chapter. Overall a great book which could be re-read after a few years. ...more
Read it on farnam street's recommendation. As mentioned elsewhere, it could have been a blog post. First few case studies are good but then it sounds Read it on farnam street's recommendation. As mentioned elsewhere, it could have been a blog post. First few case studies are good but then it sounds like a drag....more
If I could give 6 stars!. Someone correctly pointed out in the comments section "I have read many books but none is as good as this one". I usually teIf I could give 6 stars!. Someone correctly pointed out in the comments section "I have read many books but none is as good as this one". I usually tell this to people that if an author can't finish their story in 200 pages then the book not worth reading. Amazingly Steinbeck did it in less than 100 pages. A classic example of writing without adding unnecessary gas in the story to bloat it up....more
When I first got to know about this book, back in 2009-2010, I thought it is just a parody/badly written book following similar name as LOTR. I know IWhen I first got to know about this book, back in 2009-2010, I thought it is just a parody/badly written book following similar name as LOTR. I know I am guilty but it's not my complete fault. The names are similar and were first published in the same year. Anyway, this year I picked it up without reading premise or reviews. Started as lightly as possible, this book explodes from 40% onwards. No matter what the situation is, humans unlike other animals have an ingrained tendency of conflict. And that is what Golding told with such a beautifully written book. I was disappointed about the actual lord of the flies in the book. But then I tend to read the book with the name than the symbolic meaning (I read Animal Farm expecting some insights on animal farming :D)....more
Tom Wainwright uses simple enough economics principles to illustrate how drug cartels work. Cartels are not about guns and murders nor are they livingTom Wainwright uses simple enough economics principles to illustrate how drug cartels work. Cartels are not about guns and murders nor are they living with 1970's principles. They are running it like any other organisation. It is better to control demand side than supply side and most of the law enforcement and billions of dollars spent on controlling cartels is more or less a waste. For instance, a kilo of cocaine leaves will fetch around $400 now DEA with strict measures and cutting the supply by half will be able to increase price by $800. A processed kilo in US fetch $100,000, hence the retail cost will increase by $100,800. Considering everyone buys in low quantity and not a kilo it will be pennies of increase to the end consumer. Unlike popular perception that they kill everyone on the streets and its dangerous to live in these countries, the opposite is true. People are been taken care of by their CSR activity, the drug lords are considered good guys (PR management), control media (here killing happens) and government. They don't kill their suppliers or their supply chains but attack where it is necessary i.e. generally the end of the supply chain.
He explains a well known economics concept of monopsony which is widely used by WalMart to control price from the producers. Hiring is mostly done in the jails than any other place. It is always a bad idea to put a gang leader with a small time crook in the same cell. They manage franchise and offshore various activities. They innovate ahead of time by developing synthetic drugs and constant innovation ensures they are ahead of the game before a drug is banned. They have gone online with bitcoin payments, seamless delivery and excellent CSAT.
All in all a good read if you are interested in how they work (and watched Breaking bad, Narcos and other tv series on this)...more
Life of two extraordinary gentlemen, more than their professional achievement, it gives a glimpse of their geniuses and fighting against the tide. A vLife of two extraordinary gentlemen, more than their professional achievement, it gives a glimpse of their geniuses and fighting against the tide. A very experimental Faraday who had no mathematical background to prove his sayings, a very calm and down to earth Maxwell who gave those equations which changed the world forever for good. He created three models just to prove one point is simply marvellous.
Someone asked Einstein "are you sitting on the shoulders of Newton" he replied "I would say on Maxwell who was sitting on Faraday". Both these gentlemen died peacefully (bought a tickle or two of tear) which is something I was secretly hoping for while reading the book.
Feynman said from a long view of history of mankind the single most significant event of 19th Century will be judged as Maxwell's discovery of electrodynamics.
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