Friday, September 27, 2019

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley StartupBad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a sad tale of how-the-mighty-have-fallen...and taken so many with them, both willingly & unwillingly. Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes and her scary CEO/boyfriend Sunny Balawi--Exhibits A in a case of "your sin will find you out." Shame, shame on them and their hard-nosed, arrogant, hurtful & deceptive methods in a field where lives are dependent on the results they claimed to be providing (in their case--the so-called results...). Great investigative reporting by Carreyrou of the WSJ. Borrowed from the library.


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Thursday, September 26, 2019

The Education of a CoachThe Education of a Coach by David Halberstam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved this look at Coach Belichick's life history in regards to his incredible football sense, prowess, & practices. He has proven to be the best football coach...ever. And he's humble enough to just keep on working and looking forward to next week's game and everything needed to get everyone focused on doing their job, in order to be successful. Library ebook.


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Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the MilitaryAccessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting look at the convergence of astrophysics/science and the military/war. Some of it pretty deep--literally, deep space. Very informative regarding the race for space & all the developments that have been spawned for a variety of uses from this field. Listened to the audiobook on my iPhone--borrowed from the library.


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Alone on the WallAlone on the Wall by Alex Honnold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed hearing both first & second-hand accounts of Honnold's various out-of-this-world climbs; though this was written before his Free Solo climb on El Capitan in Yosemite. Listened to this on my iPhone--borrowed from the library.


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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Along the Broken BayAlong the Broken Bay by Flora J. Solomon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting story set in WWII with how one woman (& her family) had to cope with the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese. The treatment of Filipinos and the captured Allied armies was despicable.


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The Culture Key: Successful Investing and Entrepreneurship in Frontier and Emerging MarketsThe Culture Key: Successful Investing and Entrepreneurship in Frontier and Emerging Markets by Curt G. Laird
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good insights on doing business/relationships cross-culturally. Curt is a friend and it was great getting to know him & his family for a couple years while we crossed paths in Afghanistan together. Great practical examples from his experience in helping to set up the cellular phone company, Roshan, in the "early" days of development in post-Taliban Afghanistan.


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Not That Kind of GirlNot That Kind of Girl by Carlene Bauer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Giving this 3-1/2 stars on my Reading Log. Was interesting to read the thought processes over the years that this author went through with regards to her faith. Gave some insight into how this modern generation thinks & does...just don't understand some of it!


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Tracks: One Woman's Journey Across 1,700 Miles of Australian OutbackTracks: One Woman's Journey Across 1,700 Miles of Australian Outback by Robyn Davidson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A real fascinating look into the audacious adventure of a young Aussie lady back in 1977, who was fascinated by the wild camels of Australia's outback. She also turned out to be quite the Aboriginal rights spokesperson--when it wasn't popular--and a savvy & reflective writer. Well-written memoir that keeps your interest as it moves from one amazing part of the long & difficult adventure to another--across some 1,700 miles of desert/outback/bush. Borrowed from the library; read on my iPad.


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Monday, September 16, 2019

Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He MattersSimply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters by N.T. Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent book on who Jesus was/is--He is "the same yesterday, today, & forever"--and on what He accomplished in his earthly life, and what He meant by proclaiming that "the Kingdom of God has come near." Listened to it on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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Friday, September 06, 2019

Been So Long: My Life and MusicBeen So Long: My Life and Music by Jorma KaukonenMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I became interested in Jorma Kaukonen in his post Jefferson Airplane & Hot Tuna years--though I always liked Hot Tuna's tunes. Jorma Kaukonen just didn't register with me. I think my becoming more familiar with him was from some of his great Americana/blues solo work. That in turn got me more interested in his Hot Tuna years. I saw Jorma & Jack Cassady as the more recent incarnation of Hot Tuna at the House of Blues in Boston back in 2015/16 or so--along with Steve Earle. Loved when they played together at the end of the show. Also loved that G. E. Smith was playing in Hot Tuna then. Didn't realize Jorma had a Finnish background and spent many years growing up overseas, as his father worked for the State Dept.--including some years in Karachi, Pakistan! I'm giving his bio 3-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. Not bad, but not great--and I would have liked more transparency overall. Jorma doesn't hide that he had struggles, but he seemed to deal with them so casually. 
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Leadership and the One Minute Manager Leadership and the One Minute Manager by Kenneth H. Blanchard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great insights/reminders on what Situation Leadership (SLII) is and how one can be a better leader when implementing various leadership styles, depending on the *situation* (development level & needs of those you lead). Easy-to-read and grasp presentation of SLII.


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Thursday, September 05, 2019

The VikingsThe Vikings by Frank R. Donovan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thoroughly fascinating exploration into the annals of history--around the 8th-11th centuries--centering on the exploits of the feared/fearless peoples from the North, Norsemen, more commonly known as the Vikings. This reading was inspired by the Vikings series from the History Channel that we've been watching, and the desire to learn a bit more background on my ancestors, as I'm half Swedish by heritage. The Vikings went farther & wider than believed, and were responsible for reshaping the history of Europe and the West more than most people know.


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The GodfatherThe Godfather by Mario Puzo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A tale of an immigrant Sicilian family who rise to the heights of wealth & fame/infamy through carefully orchestrated honor obligations--and subtle threats & a good pinch of violence. Classic honor/shame, debt/obligation, favor-for-favor cross-cultural context, rooted in the family's origins in Sicily. The movie does an excellent job of mirroring the book & its dark family origins and practices.


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Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show BusinessAmusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating book on an important topic--how television/media have become all about entertainment--that is even more poignant/critical in this day & age of the smart phone ("hey!--look up & talk to me!") and social media ("It's me! Me!"). Postman has a firm, cynical--bordering on snide--and authoritative voice throughout the book; he makes his case for the massive shift that television (& image(s)) have wrought on public discourse & thinking. It's only gotten worse since he wrote this treatise. It's getting worse still. But, I'm still a little cynical myself about all his cynical conclusions and think there is a proper & beneficial place for how technology has developed our abilities to connect and network with people all over the world. On the other hand, as Postman incisively points out, there are also great dangers to a distracted & enticed public. And, yes, advertising = the devil; when $$ drives what is shown & how it is shown & disseminated, you get deception, ignorance, and slick misinformation. Borrowed this from the library; read on my iPad.


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Monday, September 02, 2019

Outliers: The Story of SuccessOutliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book and its stories of hard work & perseverance--as well as the specific contexts that led people to greatness. Putting in the time, hard work, persistence, practice, and application are all so key to becoming an expert in whatever it is you desire.


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Sunday, September 01, 2019

The Knowledge of the HolyThe Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had not read this A. W. Tozer classic in many years; found it very refreshing, instructive, encouraging and spot-on theologically. Lifts up and shines the spotlight on the glory of God like few other books.


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This Shall Be a House of PeaceThis Shall Be a House of Peace by Phil Halton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thought this might be an interesting read, but overall it was rather a drag & dragged. It's a fictional telling of the origins of the Taliban, though by my understanding, a quite rosy re-telling. It does remind one that in the beginning--when they were getting their start--the Taliban had high aspirations & dreams for bringing peace to a land wracked by warlords, bandits, perverts, and law-breakers (well, was there really any law, since there'd been war & civil war for some 15 yrs?). But, it was all based on a very simplistic, extremist view of Islam that was skewed by the hateful/vengeful perspectives of the Muslim Brotherhood, which gave birth to al Qaeda...which led to ISIS/Daesh...which led to horrible repression, deaths & killings, buckets of ignorance, etc. Not to mention a lack of any kind of joy & pleasure in things like music, flying kites, etc. "House of Peace"--NOT--only a sham & shame & fruit that gave no life & that brought only death & destruction. All only a focus on the external, a fastidiousness of dry & dead religious rules/laws, completely lifeless & bringing only death & the destruction.


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