Greetings this is the first or maybe second annual Book thread. every year try to read 12 books a year, or listen to them unabridged (which takes longer than reading them.) these come from reviews, and a list of the top 50 books by amazon and the globe (3-5 years old), bloomberg list, ect.
here is some short reviews of the books, some cover business. by the way best wishes for the people who are effected by the storm.
Books Read in 2012
1. Boomerang (Michael Lewis, unabridged CD 6 CDs, 6 hours +, book 282 pages, 2011)
(Wonder about how we got in this mess, of large government debt, be shocked and entertained. This is one of his better books.)
2. And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians) (Agatha Christie, St. Martin?s Paperbacks, 1940, pages 275)
3. Murder on The Orient Express (Agatha Christie, Berkley Books, 1933, pages 322)
4. Curtain (Agatha Christie, Don Mead and Company, 1975, pages 238)
(got a list of the top 10 Agatha Chrisite books, and these are three of them, have almost read all ten and really liked them, though not a mystery fan. she has 1.5 billion books in print.)
5. Apricot Jam and other Stories (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Counterpoint Press, 2011, pages 375)
(okay I should read the Gulag, but have heard one of the greatest books of the 20th centurey however also hard to get through. This is an incredible book, of short stories, some connected more than others but overall a fantastic book. one of the best I have read, note Russian stories ussually do not have happy endings. a great book for the soul)
6. The Sisters Brothers (a novel) (Patrick DeWitt, Harper Collins Publishing, 2011, pages 364) (unabridged audio book, Dreamscape, 9 CDs, 9+ hours)
(This Cdn. book won some major award last year, this is about two brothers who last name is sister. it follows the two brothers in the wild west, a great western, without following a formula, good see it as a movie, but there are not many lovable characters in this book).
7. Nobel Lecture (Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1970) (Alexander Solzhenitsyn, translated F. D. Reeve, Farrar, Straus and Girioux, 1972, pages 69)
(Just a short book that transcripts a famous nobel peace prize speach, overall not bad, a radio program I heard reference this and that was GREAT, remember Beauty wil save the World.)
8. Cornered (Hijinks, Highlights, Late nights, and Insights) Forward by Don Cherry, ( Ron Maclean with Kirstie Mclellan Day, HarperCollins Publishers, 2011, pages 316)
(almost 2 million cdn. watch don and Ron during int. of the saturday hockey games, Ron Maclean is a good host and this book is some of his experiences. average to good.)
9. Paris 1919 (Six Months that Changed the World) ( Margaret MacMillan, forward by Richard Holbrooke, Random House, 2001, pages 570)
(this is a book about the Paris 1919 Peace confernce following ww1. A great book full of facts and entertaing to read. GREAT book, also a filmed was done on the book, mixed reviews on the film. One of the top history books you will ever read, full of characters and learn about how it effects the world today.
10. 11/22/63 (Stephen King,Scribner,2011, pages 849)
(this got in genreal good reviews, so I read it, you go back to 1963 and try to stop oswald. yes 90% believe in a conspiracy and 90% are wrong. anyways this is in many ways a romance story, the stephen king way :scared hard to put down and a great read, not sure about the ending, 9/10.)
11. The Myth of the Rational Market, A History of Risk, Reward, and Delusion on Wall Street (Justin Fox, Harper Collins, 2009, pages 416) (Audiobook 13:38 hours, narrator Alan Sklar)
(a good book about the markets and history, well average to good)
12. The Guns of August (Barbara W. Tuchman, Ballantine Books, 1962, pages 511)
(this is one of the best books on WW1, this along with Paris 1919, are top ten books about WW1, or on any war. this deals with the first six months of the war, one of the greatest non fiction books written. cannot go wrong with this one or paris 1919.)
13. A Gift to My Children ( A Father?s Lessons for Life and Investing) (Jim Rogers, Narrator Johnny Heller, Tantor Media, Audio Book, 1:39:10 time, book Random House Publishing, 2009, 112 pages)
( a short book about Rogers talking to his daughters, 6/10)
14. Margaret Laurence A Memoir Dance on The Earth ( Margaret Laurence, McClelland and Stewart Inc., 1989, pages 298)
( a good autobiography about Laurence one of Canadas greatest writers, 6.5/10)
15. The Great Influenza (The Epic Story of the Deadlist Plague in History), ( John M. Barry, Viking, 2004, pages 546)
(wanted a book about the spanish flu 1919, that was the worse one is recorded history, killed millions 20-25% of the population, attacked the young strong and healthy. only complaint was that it covers much of the US medical history, though this was very well written and interesting...Doctors and medical sysytem went from god awful before 1900 and in 20 years became a world leaders thanks to a few great indivuals. 9/10)
16. The Wealthy Barber : The Common Sense Guide To Successful Financial Planning (David Chilton, Stoddart, 1993, pages 199)
(GARBAGE, GARBAGE, GARBAGE. 2/10, that is being nice. GARbage.)
17. .Arguably Essays (Christopher Hitchens, McClelland and Stewart, 2011, pages 788)
(Hitchens left us in late 2011 and this was his last book, he along with three others have led the new atheist movement. the book covers many topics, tyrany, great writers, oral sex, everything, great book.
9/10)
18. The Beggar?s Garden (Michael Christie, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd., 2011, pages 261)
( a good book, first time book about the poor in Vancouver well written, downside is some of the short stories are grim and depressing. 7/10)
19. Dear Mr. Buffet (What an Investor Learns 1,269 Miles from Wall Street) (Janet Tavakoli, Wiley, 2009, pages 282)
(there are a ton of buffet books published and most are dreke, this is one of the better ones, 7/10)
20. Lunch with Jan Wong (Sweet and Sour Celebrity Interviews from her Globe and Mail Column) (Jan Wong, Doubleday Canada, 2000, pages 280)
(basic interviews, was a popular column in the Globe and Mail a decade ago, 6/10)
21. The Illiad and the Odyssey of Homer (Homer, Retold by Alfred J. Church, afterword Clifton Fadiman, The Macmillan Classics, 1966, pages 277)
(Remember Troy the movie based on this famous story minus the quarelling gods, not bad, and a classic 7/10)
22. The Prince (Niccolo Machiavelli, New translation by Tim Parks, Penguin Classics, 2009, pages 124)
(this books is a classic, people usually read this and the art of war, both are good, like both. what makes this book so good is they descibe the characters the Prince mentions in the book, very good, and helps you understand the book, they should make an HBO series on this....8/10)
23. One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Harper Larger Print, 1967, 2004, pages 541)
(okay wierd yes, very wierd, very, very, ect...and hard to follow sometimes, yes, and hard to like many of the characters, yes,...still one of the greatest books you will ever read....9.9/10...probably should be 10) and yes weird.
24. For Whom The Bell Tolls ( Ernest Hemingway, Scribner, 1940, 1968, pages 471)
( a classic from hemingway, in parts a little dated but still a great book, classic. 8.5/10)
25. John A. The Man Who Made Us (Gywn, Richard, Random House Canada, 2007, pages 501)
(volume one of two, this is a GREAT book about Canada first prime minister, read it, learn some history, and easy interesting well written book.
26. Bubbles Bankers and Bailouts (Reynolds, John Lawrence, Douglas and McIntyre, 2009, pages 135)
(written in 2009, a short explanation of the crisis, a quick and informative overview. 6.5/10)
if you have any books to add please do, some great books on the list, hope find some good ones in 2013.
thanks
selkirk
here is some short reviews of the books, some cover business. by the way best wishes for the people who are effected by the storm.
Books Read in 2012
1. Boomerang (Michael Lewis, unabridged CD 6 CDs, 6 hours +, book 282 pages, 2011)
(Wonder about how we got in this mess, of large government debt, be shocked and entertained. This is one of his better books.)
2. And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians) (Agatha Christie, St. Martin?s Paperbacks, 1940, pages 275)
3. Murder on The Orient Express (Agatha Christie, Berkley Books, 1933, pages 322)
4. Curtain (Agatha Christie, Don Mead and Company, 1975, pages 238)
(got a list of the top 10 Agatha Chrisite books, and these are three of them, have almost read all ten and really liked them, though not a mystery fan. she has 1.5 billion books in print.)
5. Apricot Jam and other Stories (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Counterpoint Press, 2011, pages 375)
(okay I should read the Gulag, but have heard one of the greatest books of the 20th centurey however also hard to get through. This is an incredible book, of short stories, some connected more than others but overall a fantastic book. one of the best I have read, note Russian stories ussually do not have happy endings. a great book for the soul)
6. The Sisters Brothers (a novel) (Patrick DeWitt, Harper Collins Publishing, 2011, pages 364) (unabridged audio book, Dreamscape, 9 CDs, 9+ hours)
(This Cdn. book won some major award last year, this is about two brothers who last name is sister. it follows the two brothers in the wild west, a great western, without following a formula, good see it as a movie, but there are not many lovable characters in this book).
7. Nobel Lecture (Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1970) (Alexander Solzhenitsyn, translated F. D. Reeve, Farrar, Straus and Girioux, 1972, pages 69)
(Just a short book that transcripts a famous nobel peace prize speach, overall not bad, a radio program I heard reference this and that was GREAT, remember Beauty wil save the World.)
8. Cornered (Hijinks, Highlights, Late nights, and Insights) Forward by Don Cherry, ( Ron Maclean with Kirstie Mclellan Day, HarperCollins Publishers, 2011, pages 316)
(almost 2 million cdn. watch don and Ron during int. of the saturday hockey games, Ron Maclean is a good host and this book is some of his experiences. average to good.)
9. Paris 1919 (Six Months that Changed the World) ( Margaret MacMillan, forward by Richard Holbrooke, Random House, 2001, pages 570)
(this is a book about the Paris 1919 Peace confernce following ww1. A great book full of facts and entertaing to read. GREAT book, also a filmed was done on the book, mixed reviews on the film. One of the top history books you will ever read, full of characters and learn about how it effects the world today.
10. 11/22/63 (Stephen King,Scribner,2011, pages 849)
(this got in genreal good reviews, so I read it, you go back to 1963 and try to stop oswald. yes 90% believe in a conspiracy and 90% are wrong. anyways this is in many ways a romance story, the stephen king way :scared hard to put down and a great read, not sure about the ending, 9/10.)
11. The Myth of the Rational Market, A History of Risk, Reward, and Delusion on Wall Street (Justin Fox, Harper Collins, 2009, pages 416) (Audiobook 13:38 hours, narrator Alan Sklar)
(a good book about the markets and history, well average to good)
12. The Guns of August (Barbara W. Tuchman, Ballantine Books, 1962, pages 511)
(this is one of the best books on WW1, this along with Paris 1919, are top ten books about WW1, or on any war. this deals with the first six months of the war, one of the greatest non fiction books written. cannot go wrong with this one or paris 1919.)
13. A Gift to My Children ( A Father?s Lessons for Life and Investing) (Jim Rogers, Narrator Johnny Heller, Tantor Media, Audio Book, 1:39:10 time, book Random House Publishing, 2009, 112 pages)
( a short book about Rogers talking to his daughters, 6/10)
14. Margaret Laurence A Memoir Dance on The Earth ( Margaret Laurence, McClelland and Stewart Inc., 1989, pages 298)
( a good autobiography about Laurence one of Canadas greatest writers, 6.5/10)
15. The Great Influenza (The Epic Story of the Deadlist Plague in History), ( John M. Barry, Viking, 2004, pages 546)
(wanted a book about the spanish flu 1919, that was the worse one is recorded history, killed millions 20-25% of the population, attacked the young strong and healthy. only complaint was that it covers much of the US medical history, though this was very well written and interesting...Doctors and medical sysytem went from god awful before 1900 and in 20 years became a world leaders thanks to a few great indivuals. 9/10)
16. The Wealthy Barber : The Common Sense Guide To Successful Financial Planning (David Chilton, Stoddart, 1993, pages 199)
(GARBAGE, GARBAGE, GARBAGE. 2/10, that is being nice. GARbage.)
17. .Arguably Essays (Christopher Hitchens, McClelland and Stewart, 2011, pages 788)
(Hitchens left us in late 2011 and this was his last book, he along with three others have led the new atheist movement. the book covers many topics, tyrany, great writers, oral sex, everything, great book.
9/10)
18. The Beggar?s Garden (Michael Christie, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd., 2011, pages 261)
( a good book, first time book about the poor in Vancouver well written, downside is some of the short stories are grim and depressing. 7/10)
19. Dear Mr. Buffet (What an Investor Learns 1,269 Miles from Wall Street) (Janet Tavakoli, Wiley, 2009, pages 282)
(there are a ton of buffet books published and most are dreke, this is one of the better ones, 7/10)
20. Lunch with Jan Wong (Sweet and Sour Celebrity Interviews from her Globe and Mail Column) (Jan Wong, Doubleday Canada, 2000, pages 280)
(basic interviews, was a popular column in the Globe and Mail a decade ago, 6/10)
21. The Illiad and the Odyssey of Homer (Homer, Retold by Alfred J. Church, afterword Clifton Fadiman, The Macmillan Classics, 1966, pages 277)
(Remember Troy the movie based on this famous story minus the quarelling gods, not bad, and a classic 7/10)
22. The Prince (Niccolo Machiavelli, New translation by Tim Parks, Penguin Classics, 2009, pages 124)
(this books is a classic, people usually read this and the art of war, both are good, like both. what makes this book so good is they descibe the characters the Prince mentions in the book, very good, and helps you understand the book, they should make an HBO series on this....8/10)
23. One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Harper Larger Print, 1967, 2004, pages 541)
(okay wierd yes, very wierd, very, very, ect...and hard to follow sometimes, yes, and hard to like many of the characters, yes,...still one of the greatest books you will ever read....9.9/10...probably should be 10) and yes weird.
24. For Whom The Bell Tolls ( Ernest Hemingway, Scribner, 1940, 1968, pages 471)
( a classic from hemingway, in parts a little dated but still a great book, classic. 8.5/10)
25. John A. The Man Who Made Us (Gywn, Richard, Random House Canada, 2007, pages 501)
(volume one of two, this is a GREAT book about Canada first prime minister, read it, learn some history, and easy interesting well written book.
26. Bubbles Bankers and Bailouts (Reynolds, John Lawrence, Douglas and McIntyre, 2009, pages 135)
(written in 2009, a short explanation of the crisis, a quick and informative overview. 6.5/10)
if you have any books to add please do, some great books on the list, hope find some good ones in 2013.
thanks
selkirk
