Rickard

Up, Up and Away!

Revisado: 09-19-18

I first took notice of Larry Tye when listening to interviews about his book Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon (2016). By sheer happenstance, he once mentioned a book of his about the Man of Steel and my inner geek was elated! The decision to get the book was a no-brainer.

Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero is an interesting and largely biographical book, with the author largely (but not exclusively) focusing on Superman and his co-creators Jerry Siegel (1914-1996) and Joe Shuster (1914-1992). How did it all happen? How did it come to pass that two young, Jewish boys in Cleveland came up with a Superhero that would not only defy the odds and become a financial success but rise to the pinnacle of popular culture and continue to evolve for each passing generation to the point of reaching immortality? Superman has appeared everywhere, from comic books and comic strips to radio, television and the big screen - and now, thanks to Larry Tye, he's got his own high-flying biography.

I can warmly recommend this book. Aside from a deeply interesting subject matter and thorough research by the author, the narration by Scott Brick was wonderful and always on-point.

The Man of Tomorrow has an 80-year journey behind him at this point in time and I see no reason why he can't continue for centuries to come. Want to know why? Read the book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

What we do in life echoes in eternity

Revisado: 08-29-18

In the early hours of February 7th of this year, Hans died after battling cancer. Factfulness is more than just a book by a wise, well-traversed and funny man, it was Hans' final attempt to explain and argue for a fact-based worldview and he worked tirelessly against the clock to finish it before his time was up.

It's a book everyone should read or listen to! It provides a perfect antidote to the times we are living in. But in the words of Hans himself, neither he nor his book is optimistic or pessimistic. Hans was a possibilist and believed in data, objectivity, and compassion. I hope Hans proved successful in his undertaking and that people who read his work will walk away with a more correct worldview and spread his words of wisdom to others, like water ripples moving across the surface of the water.

What we do in life echoes in eternity, and Hans Rosling did more than most.

Rest in peace, Hans.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Footprints on the sands of time

Revisado: 08-14-18

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

As a person who has read many books about U.S. presidents, I have to make an admission. Nixon always eluded me. Easy to vilify and difficult to understand. What author Evan Thomas has managed to do is not to write yet another dry history book, but rather to try and get past the surface, to peel back the layers and find Richard Nixon the man in all his complexity and with all his stark contradictions. The author's greatest achievement was shining a spotlight on both the light and dark sides of Nixon's personality and in so doing succeeding with the daunting task of humanizing him. What we are left with as readers is a deeper understanding of the man and yes, sympathy for him.

The book was well-written and I particularly liked the narration of Bob Walter who seemed like a great fit given the subject matter and characters.

Whether you like or dislike the man and his deeds, one cannot deny that Richard Nixon was a great political thinker whose acts and achievements shaped a whole country, its culture, its political landscape, and even world affairs over several decades in office and beyond. For good or bad, Nixon truly did leave behind his footprints on the sands of time.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Insightful and honest from beginning to end

Revisado: 07-25-18

This is an interesting and insightful book, with excellent narration by Nick himself. All chapters are revealing, honest accounts of a wide range of issues, from the Coalition, personal and political mistakes and public perception to the nature of power, Whitehall and more current affairs affecting us all. Although written from a Brittish standpoint, Nick's thoughts, experiences, and analyses are applicable far beyond the borders of the U.K.

I particularly like Nick's take on modern Liberalism and what it ought to be. Indeed, one can make the argument that the book (or at least part of it) could be considered a paper making the case for Liberalism and how it should be defined and used moving forward. Or to put it another way, the great need for and value of reason, moderation, compromise, tolerance, transparency, and accountability.

If you are interested in politics, regardless of your ideological persuasion, I can warmly recommend this book to you.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña