Best finance book I've read in years

Reviewed: 12-16-23

Tremendous! Easily the most entertaining/funny finance book I've ever read. Dalio is probably the best example of failing upward in the history of business.
Get it now!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Just because it happened to you...

Reviewed: 08-16-21

If you want to understand why Tom is considered a very funny guy, you will not find it in this book. You probably won't be persuaded by his work with John Wurster either, frankly. I realize this may be sacrilege, however, other than the Philly Boy Roy sketches, I think most listeners tolerate rather than enjoy the Scharpling and Wurster bits. You will notice you never (like ever) hear a call caller remark - "wow, that was an hysterical bit earlier, Tom!" And you never hear callers hearkening back to old "classic" bits - literally never happens.

So, if you want to understand why Tom is widely considered to be funny, I would suggest you check out the recap of the gathering of the juggalos he did with the always brilliant Paul F Tompkins. In his decades of doing the show, this is really as good as it gets. His wonderful bits as his alter ego Gary the Squirrel are another prime example.

Tom is a strange guy and this is a strange book. I don't think even his most ardent admirers wanted to hear a blow by blow of his coin-pushers odyssey. The trials of his early youth are genuinely affecting, but he lays it on a bit thick and let's it justify/explain virtually everything that has happened in his life. It isn't uncommon for teens to suffer mental breaks and Tom is now in his 50's; most of us have give up letting the tribulations of high school define us by late middle age. Much of the book is aggressively dull - stories about the time Spike Lee ignored him (barely a story at all, really) or the time Mickey Dolans ignored him (again, barely an anecdote) or the time Adam Sandler basically ignored him (and again) makes one wonder what (if anything) was considered too dull for the final draft. The chapter on losing prized possession when his basement flooded actually reminded me of that famous Dennis Hopper quote - "Just because it happened to you, doesn't mean it's interesting.”

I can only speak for myself, but, as a long time listener to the Best Show, I would have preferred to hear what happened with his very weird personal and professional breakup with Paul F Tompkins. I would also have liked to hear what he makes of his unpleasant on-air meltdowns - I don't remember whether it was Matt Walsh or Jon Daley that ended up on the receiving end of a genuinely disturbing tongue lashing over swearing on air, but it was a doozy and it most definitely pointed to some inner demons he needs to exorcise. I suspect this is the kind of material regular listeners were hoping Tom would address rather than, I don't know, why he changed his name or why he thinks Billy Joel sucks.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

The best Sci Fi writer of this generation

Reviewed: 09-24-16

Where does Death's End rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Liu (with spendid translation services from K Liu) has produced a new masterwork of science fiction in the Three Body Trilogy. Genuinely thought provoking and epic in scope without falling for tiresome space opera tropes. A rare find.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

Excellent read, terrible narration

Reviewed: 07-18-12

If you could sum up We Are Anonymous in three words, what would they be?

Parmy Olson does an excellent job of wading into the shady world of anon and lulzsec - there are plenty of flaws, however, it is definitely worth the time and far better than I anticipated.
The narrator, Abby Craden, on the other hand, is awful. She finishes every sentence with an affected, snide lilt and she mispronounces words on a regular basis. The worst distraction, however, are the array of dreadful accents she employs to differentiate the characters. It just about ruins the story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

Don't bother

Reviewed: 04-08-12

Would you try another book from Bo Bennett and/or Bo Bennett?

First, it is a reference book, so it is really ill suited to the audio format. Second, and more importantly, the author is a terrible narrator. Generally speaking, authors ought to leave the narration to the professionals. This author/narrator actually mixes in lame impressions (like Yoda - no, seriously) into his performance. I had to turn it off.

What could Bo Bennett have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Hired a professional narrator, skipped the cutesy examples (it is 2012 - Yoda impressions aren't amusing anymore), thought about the format and how to structure his book in such a way that it would work audiobook.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

In every way

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

junk culture

Reviewed: 08-21-11

Even for a young adult novel, there isn't much here - essentially one very long "Hey, remember that one time when...". Imagine a world where you are are rewarded for your love of trashy popular culture and video games - without so much as a hint of satire or irony. Ready Player One = (((Diamond Age + Charlie and the Chocolate Factory + VH1's I Love the 80's) - humor) - brains). About 70% of the book amounts to little more than detailed descriptions of Pac Man, Blade Runner, Dungeons & Dragons, War Games, Joust, Zork, etc. - no analysis or interpretation, just straight descriptions. The writing is so lazy at times you wonder if the author isn't simply quoting from the back of a video tape or game cartridge. I know the reviews make it look promising, however, unless you are the kind of nerd who wants nothing more than to reminisce about sitting in front of screens, this is a real waste of time.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

97 people found this helpful

Like Pynchon, DF Wallace, PK Dick, Palahniuk?

Reviewed: 12-14-10

Then you will probably dig this. If you are looking for your standard "Book 9 in the Adventures of Space Captain Whatever" then skip it. This is what I would call "fatigue lit" - Moody, like the others mentioned, is exhausting and at times waaaaay too clever for his own good. That said, there is far more substance and charming insight to be found here than in, say, William Gibson's last few books combined. Also, the narrator is pitch perfect (including his brief slip around mid way). My advice is to listen to books like this one on double speed - it is too long and exasperating to slog through at standard speed.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

Best Noir/Mystery writer since Jim Thompson

Reviewed: 12-09-10

Kerr is a wonder - the Bernie Gunther books are in an entirely different league; literate, stylish, historically intriguing. Skip M. Connelly and J.L. Burke - this is the best you will find. I only wish Audible would get around to adding in the "The Quiet Flame" (not to mention all of Jim Thompson's work).

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

Like reading a movie of the week

Reviewed: 11-04-10

This is really bland stuff. There isn't a single distinguishing characteristic to any of the characters in these "stories". I'd heard about this series and thought I'd give it a try. It is nice of audible to provide a three book set, but honestly - how is it that this stuff is so popular? The banter is bone dry and the characters all speak and act as though they stepped out of an episode of Law and Order. Don't bother.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

Bigend needed a little more Blomkvist

Reviewed: 09-11-10

The Bigend trilogy could have been a smarter version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - essentially this is that series if Delillo (circa White Noise) had been at the keyboard. They are both fun and sharp, but what one lacks in sticky insights the other lacks in action, and each (like the reader) suffers a bit. Bigend is a great idea for a character, but there isn't much "there there" - HH's endless soul searching is fatiguing and Milgrim (who ought to be a little more like Bourne, imho) just comes across as muddle minded. All that said, it is filled with good stuff about what would best be characterized as a long rumination on the nerd hive mind. If you are interested in memes, gear/fashion fetish culture and corporate design espionage, this is the only game in town.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful