Books I've Read

The Father of Spin, Edward L. Bernays and the Birth of Public Relations by Larry Tye

2010-12-13T10:52:00.007-05:00

Edward L. Bernays was not really Edward L. Bernays, he didn't have a middle name, Louis. This book dives into the life of a man who touched every American in one way or another, though most have no concept of him. He got his start in theater which influenced his methods in Public Relations, a field which he controversially is said to have fathered. After reading this book, I tend to agree that he infact is the father of public relations.

From the corporations to the governments he influenced this book is a great primer on one of the most prominent people in public relations in the modern era. It details everything from his business dealings to his influence in government and geopolitics to his personal life and the inter-personal relationships between he and his daughters and wife and the lack of a non-business related relationship with anyone else.

His connection to Sigmund Frued and his disconnect between his father are thoroughly explored and help the reader understand this interesting mans background and motivations. He is one of the most interesting people I've ever read about and possibly the most self promoting man on the face of the earth. Born in 1891 and dying in 1995 the man lived more than a century and met more prominent figures in the last century than any other person I've read. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in how the world of public relations got its start and the enigmatic man behind, or in front, of the curtain.

The Great American Stick Up by Robert Sheer

2010-12-10T15:48:00.006-05:00

This book was a great read that depicts the roots of the current economic collapse which began as a birthchild of the husband wife duo, Phil and Wendy Gramm back in the Reagan era. The book dives into the intricacies of the deregulatory ethos of the Reagan republicans which spread into the following administrations and finally really took hold at the end of the Clinton administration (with Clintons help). From Enron to Lehman Brothers, this book explains the intimate relationships between the treasury, the fed and the major financial institutions which helped conceal the flow of money. The real tragedy is that our tax payer dollars are being funnelled through government into the large financial institutions which ultimately has landed in the laps of the ultra-rich. Even today as the government continues to pass tax cuts for the rich and the disparity between wealthy and all the other classes grows even bigger, there is no true power able to champion the moral cause for the majority of the American public, the middle class. The book, unfortunately, does not end on a positive note as there is nothing positive to be taken from the amazing story thats unfolded within its pages. I highly recommend this book!

The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris

2010-11-30T17:43:00.003-05:00

I found this book to be quite interesting though occassionally hard to follow. Sam Harris begins by discussing the definition of well being and its relationship with morals. By connecting the two it then becomes possible to discern a right moral answer to wrong one. This thought process makes a science based on moral questions possible. In this light as science begins to develop a body of knowledge based on inquiry in this field we can begin to generate real answers to complex moral dilemas which were previously blindly chosen generally by following faith. By contrasting this idea with that of the traditional view that morals rely on theology, Harris introduces the notion that moral decisions made in the wrong context can produce terrible results. The final chapter by far the most profound chapter of the book issuing a plea for sound and rational progress towards achieving a world in which social issues are really meaningful.

I highly recommend this book at the very least for the profound and meaningful message it promotes. Though some of the logic may take a second reading it's sound and well thought out. Harris is clearly a thorough nueroscientist with a philosophy that promotes humanity in meaningful ways. I give it two thumbs up.

Isaac Newton by James Gleick

2010-03-27T00:08:00.007-04:00

This book was a very entertaining and informative read on one of the most brilliant scientific minds of our time. Newton was more than simply a mathematician but a person who devoted his entire existence to discovery and knowledge.

The drama that surrounds his life immersed me into the world in which he lived. His life had all the drama of a broken family and yet he lived with blinders on and devoted himself to the knowledge of those who came before him, which is where his famous quote comes from, "If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." Newtons story contains more drama as he grows into an adult and pushes his studies further. As he progresses his interactions with others drive him from a social life to a solidary life, continuing his persuit of knowledge.

Throughout this book contains quotes from letters of the time by people associated with Newton in his circles. Newtons story unfolds in a fantastic timeline which kept me hooked the entire way through. The only downside to this book is that it was too short, otherwise I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World by Tom Zoellner

2010-03-26T23:52:00.005-04:00

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the modern history of uranium since the discovery of radium to present day. It shocked me to learn that radium was, and in at least one place still is, used in spas as treatment for ailments (try the Czech Repulic where the first major Uranium ore mine was discovered). This book takes you through the windy road that Uranium has taken since those early days of discovery where scientists overexposed themselves, through the uranium rushes of the late 40's and 50's. Then throughout the world from europe, who was forced by Russia in it's oppressive manners to Australia, where the aboriginals eventually came to play an important role, to the United States where a rush on any ore is a crazy ride in it's own right for many people.

Topics covered in this book make you question the current state of the world in terms of who has the ore and how safely its being guarded. Whether you believe in the proliferation or the non-proliferation, the hard facts on the ground are so astounding that you might want to rethink building that bomb shelter or accept the fact that anything is possible in our world. This ore, once thought of as a waste rock, has become one of the most important elements of modern history in so many ways it is both a harbinger of the apocolypse and the savior of the human race at the same time. It's a hypocracy that has yet to sink in.

Overall this book was an entertaining read, though I felt the tempo slow down at times when I would have preferred to continue the mood, specifically when going from the news reports and atmosphere of the world after Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the mining stories in the United States in the aftermath. Overall I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding Uraniums impact on the world and it's possible future implications.

Life's Philosophy: Reason and Feeling in a Deeper World by Arne Naess

2009-05-22T14:24:00.001-04:00

Life's Philosophy: Reason and Feeling in a Deeper World by Arne Naess is a book about the philosophy of Arne Naess, ecosophy. Ecosophy is the philosophy of living within the context and appreciation of all life on earth (I'm paraphrasing, I don't remember verbatim). Naess, considered by some to be the greatest philosopher of our time wrote his ideas on the nature of humanity and his understanding of what it means to live, in this book. Having a deep interest in philosophy and what it all means, I decided to read this book in the hopes of coming away with a better understanding of life.

Arne Naess, describes life in terms of natural essence and discusses his ideas on finding an equilibrium with nature. Essentially always planning for long term gain and keeping happiness in mind should always lead to true expression of human nature as it is intended. While negativity and pessimism lead to the suppression of human natures true essence, the key to living is exploring your positive side and overcoming your emotional negativity.

His many examples and thorough explanations, while confusing at times, lead to a better understanding of his philosophy, which is hard to disagree with. I think that if we were all emotionally mature, the world would certainly be a much better place. The best we can do is constantly strive to reach that maturity and share in those gains with our friends, family, cohabitants and environment. This book is well worth reading if not for the profound lessons, then at least for a different perspective on life.

The Assult on Reason by Al Gore

2009-05-22T10:14:00.001-04:00

Al Gores latest book, The Assult on Reason, is a sobering assessment of the detrimental trend in public media, politics and general American interest in the grander view of our worlds current state of affairs. Al Gore outdoes himself with eloquent arguments supported by fact and reason and founded in many of the logical arguments of our forefathers. Interspersing political issues with the broader world outlook, the truly profound and important issues in our world are covered in great detail.

This book begins with the almost disgusting obsession the American press has with the sensational news bites of the day. As I laughed at the anictodes provided in the first few pages, I realized they were more depressing than funny. Moving onto the countries founding principles and the hope that America once was for the world Gore continues by pointing out the misdirection and manipulation of our public at large by the past administration. Finally, looking beyond our current state of affairs he looks offer solutions to the grander issues at stake.

This book was thoroughly fascinating, it kept my attention, kept me at the edge of my seat eager to read page after page. If these were the closing arguments of a court case I would feel obligated to pass a guilty plea against the Bush administration on the whole for their selfish intentions and immoral methods, if not illegal. Clearly, Bush is the antithesis of the what the founding fathers had in mind. I highly recommend this book for all who are interested in sound logical reasoning on where we are as a nation and where we should direct ourselves in the future (also favorable to those who disagree strongly with the G-Dubya adminstration).

Made to Break by Giles Slade

2009-05-21T15:27:00.001-04:00

Made to Break by Giles Slade is an interesting account of the history leading up to the modern throw away culture of American consumerism. While most people would assume a book about consumerism would be packed with horrifying facts and statistics, this book really focuses more on the evolution of consumerism through industrialization, war, business strategies and general economics. The facets of capitalism that are explained within this book are extrodinary and at times seem to trail off into tangents that are besides the point, though the side stories are fascinating and entertaining.

Giles opens with a few alarming statistics about todays production of waste and then dives immediately into the history. From bottle caps to pantyhose and onto cars and appliances Giles covers just about all the consumer products, business scenerios, political environments and consumer psychology there is to discuss on the topic. Weaving this intricate and seemingly disparate set of variables into a cohesive story of the evolution of mass production. Giles concludes by discussing todays biggest polluters and the efforts attempting to curb the mounting pollution issues.

I found this book to be fascinating more than anything else. Though so many names and stories were dispersed throughout, most the stories are all vivid in my mind and will be hard to forget. If you're interested in the history of consumerism, this book covers many aspects and combines them nicely. However, if you're looking for something that inspires action, this book is probably not what you're looking for. Although, 'how we got here' always helps when determining a course of action for 'how we fix this'. One will definately come away with a clearer understanding that the world isn't full of evil but more that social evolution has simply led us down this path. Happy reading.

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

2009-05-15T11:46:00.000-04:00

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle explains the learning process in terms of three specific factors that have been distilled through Coyles research. This book follows in the vein of how we decide, where how we decide explained the inner workings of the brain, The Talent Code focuses primarily on learning as a biological and psychological function.

There are three main aspects to learning, one has to do with Myelin, a dielectric material, developed in the brain that wraps neural pathways, essentially speeding up the thought process. The second is something he terms ignition which has to do with inspiration. The third is coaching or being taught. Coyle explains how and why these factors are essential to learning by linking them to his experiences in the slums of Sao Paolo Brazil with the brightest up and coming soccer stars to violinists, tennis players, pilots, teachers and many more.

Unfortunately for those of you who think some people are just born talented, this book will attempt to sway you from that illusion and try to inspire you to work harder in the right ways. This book was extremely enjoyable, I highly recommend it.

How We Decide by Jonah Leher

2009-05-08T14:50:00.000-04:00

The book "How We Decide" by Jonah Leher, is in my opinion a fascinating exploration that combines the new research of nuerology with psychology. While dispelling some of the common conceptions of the human psyche Jonah explains where previous philosophers and psychologists have been right and wrong. Most importantly the book discusses how the advances in modern technology have given us further insight into the workings of the human brain and how they relate to human bahavior.

Jonah begins by discussing the evolutionary importance of how the brain evolved and lightly covers why it evolved in the manner it has. The emotional side, commonly termed the reptilian or emotional brain and the logical side or frontal lobes play important roles in our decision making processes as they compete to win control over our actions in every decision. Contrary to popular belief he explains how the "repitilian" or emotional brain is actually the more capable part of your brain which is able to comprehend and process much more information than that of your logical brain. I won't give away anymore details or the final analysis, though it has a lot to do with how we decide. :)

This book was a very interesting read filled with unique and supporting research projects, scientific data and interesting speculations about our thought process and our brain as modern science is uncovering it. I highly recommend this book.