Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned (Kenneth C. Davis)

[***] ISBN: 9780060083816

A very quick, and sometimes interesting, survey of American History. Things get started with some tentative speculation about how the first (non-) indigenous peoples arrived, then picks up speed with the arrival of the first European explorers. If you already passed AmHist in high school and college, you already know this stuff. But it's a reasonable refresher course. Keep in mind that this is somewhat targeted at those with less than a college (or even high school?) education, so there are no big words or deep concepts.

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned (Alan Alda)

[****] ISBN: 9780739322765

I had no idea Alan Alda's life was so interesting. He was started his life as a child of vaudeville and grew up as a son of Hollywood. Yet his family seems to have always been only on the fringes of fame. His voyage of self-discovery through boarding schools and colleges is fascinating. And don't miss the exciting adventure he has at the end. Recommended, especially for fans of MASH and Alda's other work (the only disappointment with the audio version is that it's not read by Alan and the voice chosen is not what I would have picked).

Freedomnomics (John R. Lott, Jr.)

[***] ISBN: 9781596985063 (hardcover), 9780786149506 (audio)

John R. Lott, Jr. obviously has a bone to pick with the authors of Freakonomics. From the title of his book to the analysis inside, he is out to disprove many of the outlandish proposals in that other book.

In a way, he succeeds. The title got my attention. And I stayed with the book, listening through to the end. And I have to agree with much of his analysis and his conclusion: the free market is usually smarter than the government.

On the other hand, the book is not quite as entertaining as the one it's attacking. It might have helped if the main author were a magazine writer, rather than a PhD. Even so, if you read Freakonomics (which you should), then read this one to get a view from the other side.

How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read (Pierre Bayard)

[****] ISBN: 1433208016 (audio), 1551929627 (hardcover)

This is a very fun book. The (English) audio version, especially, reminded me at times of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. More to the point it helps one think about what it means to read (or not read) a book. The overall conclusion is that there is not that much difference, in the long run, between reading and not reading a book. I have to agree, to a point. Of all the books I have read, I probably have a distinct memory of only a few. And of those I probably have only a hazy impression.

The Measure Of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Sidney Poitier)

[***] ISBN: 9780061355431 [audio], 9780061357916 [hardcover]

I think I could tell what Mr. Poitier was trying to do in this book, as evidenced in his title. But I don't think he quite does it. He doesn't really give us anything spiritual on which to hang our hat.

Yes, he waxes philosophical in many places. But I don't think these ramblings can really be counted as spiritual or that enlightening. They really just come across as the opinions of one senior citizen looking back on life. Without any corroborating accounts or data, that all they really are: ramblings and opinions.

On the other hand, when the author really sticks to what he knows - his life - then the story tends come alive and speak. It's in these moments where we actually get some actual glimpses into the 'spirituality' of the man. He doesn't have to pretend to be a philosopher to reveal his spiritual or philosophical side. He should stay with the facts.

Still a fun listen, in the audio version.

My Stroke of Luck (Kirk Douglas)

[****] ISBN: 9780060081416 (audio) 9780060009298 (hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. Who would have thought that Kirk Douglas was so poetic, so thoughtful, so inspirational? While this short volume does focus in on the changes a minor stroke brought to his life, he also manages to give some insights into his life, his family, and his soul. Anyone with older parents struggling with health issues (stroke or otherwise) will benefit from reading this book.

Voyagers (Ben Bova)

[*] ISBN: 9780786154289 [audio] 9780385148900 [hardcover]

An alien encounter novel that probably felt outdated when it was published. It is full of descriptions of technology and behavior that was probably not even real at the time. Both felt clumsy and misunderstood. Perhaps the story was not quite as boring back then, which is why it still gets good marks from other reviewers.

This tries to be a reality-based account of humanity's reaction when an alien spacecraft suddenly arrives in our solar system. Odd radio signals are found to emanate from Jupiter. Then a powerful telescope spots the spacecraft orbiting that planet and watches it turn toward earth. The story follows a motley group of scientists and others, falling in and out of bed with each other, using computers that take minutes to program and hours to do calculations, as they jockey for power.

None of the characters ever really sprang to life for me. All were there to serve the plot and not vice versa. I liked the overall premise of the story. It's too bad much of the book felt like padding. Five pounds of potatoes in a ten pound bag. I won't be picking up the next books in the series to see what happens.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side Of Everything (Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner)

[****] ISBN: 9780060776138 (audio) ISBN: 9780060731328 (hardcover)

Steven Levitt has a warped mind. He is the rogue economist of the title, and he manages, by having such a unique perspective about so many things, to really make you think about how you see the world. And it's not just that he's just being contrarian in his world view. He applies genuine science, mathematics, and statistics to answer hard questions about the world. The unique part comes from the questions he is asking, the way he asks them, and the way he applies the science, etc. to answer them. I came away convinced that the so-called common wisdom is obviously wrong in many cases and so very easy to subvert. With the other Stephen (of the New York Times) joining in to help with the writing, these two are essentially the Mythbusters of economics (and, by implication, sociology).

You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom (Phil Rosenthal)

[***] ISBN: 9781597771436 (audio) ISBN: 9780452288782 (paperback)

This book is an almost perfect resource for anyone who is trying, or considering trying, to break into television scriptwriting, especially for sit-coms. For them it's really a four-star book. It's loaded with keen insight into the world of television production and writing.

It's also a four-star book for anyone who is a fan of the show Mr. Rosenthal created, Everyone Loves Raymond. It's loaded with hilarious behind-the-scenes stories about how the show came to be and the people involved.

For everyone else, it's worth at least three-stars, especially the audio edition where you get to hear the author, in his very ethnic New York voice, tell all the stories and do the voices and play some recordings. It's just plain funny.

The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down (Colin Woodard)

[***] ISBN: 9780156034623

I listened to the audio edition of this for a couple of weeks. In some ways, I wish that there had been an edited version, instead of having to listen to 383 pages worth of "the 300 ton sloop this" and "the 400 ton frigate captained by Bob Smith" over and over again. But then again, there is an awful lot of ground to cover when discussing pirates in the eighteenth century and the author does an admirable job of focusing on the key players and taking the reader through the events and politics of the time and region. This is a real eye-opener for anyone interested in the subject.

The Life And Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir (Bill Bryson)

[***] ISBN: 9780739315231 (audio) ISBN: 9780375434303 (hardcover)

Bill Bryson grew up in the fifties in the mid-west. This is his story. I grew up in the sixties in the mid-west and west. A bunch of this is also my story.

In some ways, this is everyone's story. The whole idea of 'kidworld', with its own rules. The inexplicability of adults, especially relatives, and their world. The wonderfulness of creating your own entertainments, followed by television and popular culture taking over and defining our lives.

This is also the story of a disappearing way of life. Neighborhoods full of children playing outside, unchaperoned - vanishing. Cities full of distinctive neighborhoods, stores, and restaurants - homogenized by corporations.

I listened to the author reading his own work, and in this case, he pulled it off. Of course, it's his reminiscence. Even beneath the reading, the words were crafted with poetry and care. The book makes the people and places come alive again, in a distinctive and funny way. I do mark the book down a little (I took away a star) because there are several spots where the author turns a bit preachy on a subject or two, diverting the otherwise delightful stream of memories. Otherwise, I'd recommend this book to anyone that wants a flavor of growing up in the fifties.

Screenwriting for Hollywood (Michael Hauge)

[***] ISBN: 9781880717608 (audio only)

These are three hours of highlights of a seminar that Mr. Hauge gives over the course of a weekend. It's a fabulous jumpstart for someone that wants to understand how to write a script. It's not quite as invaluable as a good book on screenwriting (like Syd Field's). But it's well worth a listen and easier to access while commuting to work.

Until Proven Guilty (J.A. Jance)

[**] ISBN: 9781556864148 (audio)

My overall impression of this book is that I didn't like it. I've decided I really don't like the 'hero' J.P. Beaumont. He's not a very good detective and he shows he's much too passive here. He was too easily seduced by the woman in red and I never really quite believed her character at all. Unfortunately, she turned out to be even more key to the story than I was led to believe.

That being said, the writing is not too bad. The settings are vivid. The supporting characters and plot are interesting. And the overall plot was imaginative and surprising. I just won't be spending any more time with detective Beaumont.

Here's Johnny! (Ed Mcmahon)

[**] ISBN: 159859088X (CD) 9780786285785 (hardcover)

This was enjoyable, but I was hoping for so more. Over the course of four-plus hours, Ed regales the listener with memories of Johnny Carson. Often these are new and funny (which is what I expected), sometimes only one or the other, all too often they are neither.

It's obvious that Ed Mcmahon has a high regard for Johnny Carson and he wants to make a convincing case for us to like him, too. Here and there, there are genuine insights into the man that was our late-night master of ceremonies for thirty years. Ed also shares some interesting background on his own journey into television and how he and Johnny were thrown together. Most of the time, however, we are left bobbing on the surface wishing we could see beneath the water line.

How many times must Ed remind us he was a side-show barker? A marine? A mini-celebrity in Philadelphia local television? Why must he tell us the well-known Ed Ames "hatchet throwing story" at all, much less two times or more?

I still have fond memories of Johnny and Ed. They were the "forbidden fruit" of after-bedtime television when I growing up. In this audio book, Ed adds a few more good memories. I just wish he would have added more.

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Richard P. Feynman)

[***] ISBN: 9780393019216

This was quite entertaining to listen to. It's not so much a biography, or even a memoir, as a bunch of personal anecdotes. These happen to be more interesting than the personal anecdotes of most people, even most celebrities. And somehow, Mr. Feynman (and his co-author) manage to organize them in such a way that they actually do say quite a bit about the life of this well-loved and quirky physics professor (there are even some references to the physics he did). Along the way, he manages to say or imply quite a bit about what it means to live life to the fullest. However, I was a bit taken aback (and somewhat disappointed) by some of the more colorful adventures and his free-wheeling attitude toward sex and drinking.

The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers (Ayn Rand)

[**] ISBN: 0786188847

This is a frustrating work. It's filled with wonderful thoughts and ideas about how fiction works, how to make characters live and breath with emotion and how authors can enhance their own creative process. On the other hand, it's also full of preposterous ideas about the purpose of fiction, what makes a book worth writing or reading and her own philosophical invective.

To top off my frustration, I watched the film version of her book The Fountainhead, in order to get a flavor of her writing. As I feared, it's full of the same melodramatic, selfish, intellectual drivel. I felt like Ayn (who wrote the book and the screenplay) was constantly pounding the sides of my head with a philosophical two-by-four using her completely ridiculous dialog (this stuff might work in some sorts of books, but it never works in film). It ruined what could have been a fascinating film with amazing directing and acting (very evident when no one was speaking). Whatever inclination I might have had to actually read some of her fiction has been squeezed out of my brain.

My hope is to remember and use the more practical and reasonable ideas that Rand puts forward in The Art of Fiction. I also hope to forget the crap (and never again hear the word bromide). It's too bad that's unlikely.

I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! (Bob Newhart)

[***] ISBN: 1401384862 (abridged CD) 1401302467 (hardcover)

I love Bob Newhart. My dad shared his humor with me, so I shared this book with him for his birthday and then downloaded the audio version from the library. It had me giggling in the car. Even routines that are as old as I am (since both my life and Bob's career started in the 1950's) brought at least a smile. They're no longer fresh. But they are still funny.

What's richer is hearing Bob tell them in the context of the story of his career. Sometimes he let's us in on where the idea came from, or how much work it was to create or how someone stole his material. His life has been interesting, but not overly so (other than being a celebrity). He's just this guy from Chicago.

There's nothing shocking here. Yes, he smoked and quit. Yes, he drank and still does. But, thank God, neither has led to real tragedy. He courted and stayed married. He raised kids. He has not renounced his faith or church. He kept working and still does. I still like Bob Newhart.

Tyrannosaur Canyon (Douglas Preston)

[**] ISBN: 0765311046

I thought this would have everything I could want in a thriller: a mysteriously missing moon rock sample (which is ignored between the prologue and the last few chapters), an indecipherable treasure map, a murder, a trail of mystery with more questions than answers, men and women at odds with nature and each other - plus dinosaurs and a moon landing (!). Based on his track record, I guess the author should have been able to pull this off. He didn't.

Much of the story is admirable enough and full of suspense. The first few chapters had me really going. And for a while the mystery was somewhat interesting. But then it turned into a simple kidnapping story on the one hand and an oversimplified "CSI:Cretaceous" on the other. Followed up by the return of the moon rock by way of a rogue NSA black op.

On top of that, the storytelling was not up to my expectations of a best-selling author. I do not expect a potboiler like this to also be a piece of fine literature But I would like the story to move forward by means other than structure and inertia. I don't want the story constantly chopped up with irrelevant detail, description and storytelling (rather than showing). And I'd like chapters to be more than a half a scene, chopped up just for the sake of creating suspense.

While the characters were more than cardboard cutouts, they were fraught with cliché (the murderer is an ex-con, his boss is a fop, the ex-CIA monk is grizzled, etc.) and convenient coincidences (the wife knows how to handle guns as well as horses, the ex-CIA monk is a cryptographer, the geologist is also skilled at paleontology).

This is not a complete disaster. In many ways it was a fun read (er... listen). But I learned just as much about how not to tell a story than how to do it.

Callahan's Con (Spider Robinson)

[**] ISBN: 0786183470

I had some fun listening to this book. But I have to hold back on giving it a very high rating. Even knowing that one has to suspend disbelief for this sort of book and that this book is meant to be over the top, I thought the characters, situation and plot were a bit too contrived. The denizens of "The Place" are too varied, too goofy and too understanding to be remotely believable. It's hard enough to get four or five people to agree on anything, much less a hundred or more. The whole mob plot was much too stereotyped. And Mr. Robinson violated some of his own rules of time traveling when it came right down to carrying out the con.

To top it off, I found the prose to be somewhat forced. And the humor was off the mark. I will probably try another Callahan book. Perhaps the earlier volumes that actually include Mike Callahan, where the story is just getting started are better.

Double Star (Robert Heinlein)

[****] audiobook

Wonderful stuff. A space-opera, told in first person, about an actor caught up in political intrigue of galactic proportions (in a future imagined in 1956). The imagined martians are as anachronistic as the rockets. Still, I need to read more stuff like this.