Christian R. Unger

surprising

Revisado: 07-08-21

While the arc of an prequel is predictable, where this goes and how it fleshes out the character is interesting. And although it shouldn’t be surprising, just how it unravels is still startling about Snow’s character, foreshadowing the character in the subsequent Hunger Games story.

The story leverages 1984 and Anthem quite heavily but it is still fleshed out quite well and creates its own world, which we already know. I thought the hereditary nature of some of the lines of work were a curious choice but maybe it adds to the oppression.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

brilliant, insightful, important

Revisado: 01-05-21

While the early parts of the book are a little boring, where the course of the disease are charted through different societies and only superficially deals with how they were received, as the title progresses it gets more into details and fills out the picture more in context.

Well written, thoughtfully presented and incredibly interesting.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Starts strong and finishes in nothingness

Revisado: 11-06-20

The first 3-4 hours are great, interesting points are made and intriguing discussion occurs. But then the author ran out of point, and thus pursued illustrating the same issues over and over and not even in a way that frankly becomes more than a bit boring.

Fantastic topic, but structured badly. The first half is probably worth the price of admission, but after that play it by ear. Especially grating is the epilogue which loops back to something discussed much earlier which made me skip the last ten minutes entirely.

Still important and definitely worth a listen. Makes its point maybe too concisely and then tries to keep it going.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Fascinating, great real world examples

Revisado: 05-08-19

Amazingly even the code examples without the benefit of the PDF were fine. This title is really accessible and requires no real technical details understanding. To me it was quite basic and few surprises on the high level, but the detailed discussions on standardised testing and self driving cars were quite interesting, and surprising (less for the successes but more for the failed approaches).

Some excellent points on IT and innovation generally and overall a great listen.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Wow, just wow

Revisado: 04-18-19

I have no doubt the end would have been less powerful had I known it was about to end but yeah. Amazing book that has an interesting structure or evolution of the world and characters. For example initially you don’t know it is Britain, but toward the end they refer to locations and eventually use the name, but it builds a sense of the unknown in the world.

Not a book for those that want to discuss how the distopia arose but then few titles do that. Less 1984 and more ... hmm ... Anthem, in that it deals with the daily life seen through the eyes of the narrator, without explaining the government or many of the why. (So, not that aspect of Anthem then).

It’s slow but constantly builds, it’s predictable but still surprising and yeah ... the climax and ending is something else.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A deeply deluded cancer survivor tells us to live and love

Revisado: 03-24-19

This book is tangentially about AI the way an ad for washing powder is about agricultural practices about raising sheep. There is plenty of mention of AI and Lee’s achievements and how China is greater to America (ok, though different might be the better conclusion at this stage by his own assessment), the history of the service industry and tech companies, and how great Lee is. Then the book enters a pup about how he nearly died but is smarter than the doctors and is cured because he never really was going to die and the diagnosis was just dumber down so humans can remember it, something AI does not need (and it is great he remembered the first word of the title by that stage). Lee realises that seeking money, fame and nothing else is unfulfilling. Because of cancer he comes to the realisation that his life’s work will affect people (something he initially sought) that people will lose their jobs (again, outlined before) and that governments should bail out technology companies by giving people not a universal basic income (so much potential here) but that the answer is love (!!).

Now I am being a bit glib, but Lee’s self obsession notes that you can’t chart your achievements in advance, but fails to note that he then does just that. In fairness he is convinced of his own brilliance, so he is good for it. This last 10%, maybe a touch more, of the book ruins what so far had been a decent, at times unfocused tail about a cancer diagnosis and its survivor who is utterly brilliant, but that had some interesting observations. In this he eschews that people should not seek what he sought but love each other and capitalism will fix this by making more money for others, but that can only be overcome by love. ... not in any real way but if you love you are rich (or something).

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

different to other young adult fiction

Revisado: 12-25-18

Maybe I have read too many books aimed at this audience but I feel this was entirely predictable and while not bad, certainly lacked something. This is a typical tale, of different characters (young) coming together to upstage the evil (old). The young are clueless, and have much to learn about life, love and mortal combat, and their preconceptions are challenged. What makes this different to Hunger Games is that the characters collectively grow, and are less self-righteous. What makes it different to Star Wars is that they aren't all beautiful. But the closest probably was Harry Potter, in that the world feels alive and considered, rather than constructed to fit the scene as Hunger Games did (granted this is a plot element, but the veil is never pulled back to show the workings). And the names of characters also bear a resemblance.

What makes this curious overall is the Game of Thrones vibe of important characters dying, just as you come to appreciate them. The ending feels rushed, though is overall fulfilling, although right now I wonder what the other books would pursue as it feels relatively contained, even if this has set up an interesting world it seems the characters arc is concluded.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

too many names

Revisado: 12-08-18

No satisfying conclusion, well told all considered but given the unfamiliar names difficult to follow in places.... that said there were tonnes of familiar names so ... overall a good story that feels like it isn't quite over ... yet..?

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Well reasoned and clear

Revisado: 11-30-18

Shermer is a great communicator, his reasoning and explanations are easy to follow, and he makes a pervasive case. But given the age of the book and the other works I have read, and that this is abridged also does not help, mean there is little new or thought provoking. I feel most readers of this title will have the experience especially as it is so focused on the holocaust, so that any discussion of its denial likely will have given the same information, though Shermer's presentation is still excellent.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Shorter than All Out War

Revisado: 11-27-18

I feel after listening to 6 hours of All out war, and all of this, the central message regarding the background of Brexit is: you can't do that much about immigration which wouldn't be as bad as fear mongering would have you believe and there are remedies that could be pursued ... maybe. And the economic impact is likely to be bad. Leave has no plan and Remain couldn't sell its message. Also ... the media.

The book was shorter, but felt like it contained the same information as All Out War, with a blow by blow account, but trimming a lot of bloat. Arguably this was more partisan, but you got the point.

Overall I probably recommend against this title also, except for the fans (though I am unsure of what), as the substance is lacking and it feels mostly like a whinge with nuggets at best buried at lower levels.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña