Ryan Tossell

The Headlines Were Only the Tip of the Iceberg

Revisado: 05-10-21

If you followed the WSJ's breaking and subsequent coverage of the Theranos con job, Carreyrou's account of the stories behind the coverage are gripping. If you have never heard of Theranos, the tale of how top American captains of industry and government were mislead and duped into complicity is just jaw dropping - Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Secretary of State George Shultz, Henry Kissinger, Hillary Clinton, Joseph Biden, the Walton family (Wal*Mart), Rupert Murdoch, Larry Ellison, and several of Silicon Valley's most prominent VC leaders. However, the irony is that in 10-20 years, it is plausible that Theranos' technology could be commonplace. The investors who secured the patents may be end up being the smartest gamble of all.

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If you are looking for Cold War and James Bond ...

Revisado: 05-20-18

... type stories, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for an accurate history of the KGB, then this is a solid book.

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I felt like I was in a Western Civilization class

Revisado: 09-06-17

I had challenges finishing it - but I held out. The book is factually accurate, but, the style of writing is akin to that of a college-level pre-requisite class textbook. Hence, the narrative dragged in places.

If you miss your college days of lecture hall with 350 half-asleep students, this might be a 5-star book to you!

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Through Detail on Howard Hughes

Revisado: 08-17-17

While some might read this because their curiosity was peaked by The Aviator, the actual events of Howard Hughes' life are far more interesting than Scorsese's biopic. Genius, degenerate, innovator, cheapskate, philanthropist and narcissist are words that characterize the eccentric Mr. Hughes. The unbelievable stories of his business life, personal life and his spiraling mental state will stun you. And despite this, his influence can still be seen today with multiple namesake real estate holdings, the work of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and his contributions to aerospace. Mr. Hughes is a one-of-kind human being that certainly didn't change the world a la Edison, Ford, Gates or Jobs, but, his story is arguably among the most interesting of the 20th century.

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Was Pope Pius A Nazi Sympathizer?

Revisado: 08-12-17

While a long listen, Church of Spies gives an excellent insight into multiple sides of the story and unveils the truth about the approach of the Catholic Church towards Nazi Germany. If you dismiss Pope Pius as a Nazi sympathizer without having done the research, you undoubtedly need to listen to this book.

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Well Researched and Insightful

Revisado: 08-04-17

Much thought has been put into the book and the story was told in an engaging and unbiased manner. If you are interested in learning about J Edgar Hoover, his impact on history and our contemporary world, this is the book that you have been looking for. Those of you who are intrigued by my comment about the "contemporary world", you definitely should read this book and see how the FBI under J Edgar Hoover influenced security in our post-9/11 society.

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