Book 3 (2014) Blink *** by Malcolm Gladwell

Enjoyable, the usual, actually knew it, but he expresses it so well.

Book 54 Freakonomics **** by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

One of those books that wasn't what I expected.   Wish I'd read it earlier.

Levitt is a renegade economist who looks at all kinds of social questions and analyzes the economics of them.   The result is fascinating.   In this book, he examines the economics of US crime rates, the US drug trade, the real estate trade, parenting, the naming of black and white (American) children, and sumo wrestling.   He looks hard at the effect of incentives and the risk assessment abilities of the masses.  The books is soaked in American issues, but still relevant to all of us.   Levitt reviews the numbers behind all the conventional explanations, refutes them, and provides his own answers.   I had of course either read about or realized myself many of these but he added a lot of detail and clarity to my thoughts.  

A slim book, finished in a morning, but highly entertaining, certainly unique. 

Book 50 Dreams from My Father **** by Barack Obama

An amazing book, original and fresh look at race in America.   Obama's life story up until he became a senator.   A clear insightful look at the boy, the youth, the young man, who could have ruined his life many times, or followed the path of his family members, for the most part, not successful, with many problems of their own making and imposed by circumstances.   His portraits of his grandparents, father, and many other family members are full of insight.  The only blurry figure is that of his mother. 

Book 42 Game Change**** by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

If you are even a little interested in US politics and economics and the election of Barack Obama, this is a must read.  The book details the Democrat and Republican nominations, the vice-presidential selections, and the election period itself.   You will learn a lot about the US election process, all the people who didn't run, and all the people behind the candidates.   If you read this book, you will think you were there, hearing the calm and cool, the anger and tantrums, the

Full of the gory details, including many direct quotes, but not salacious or mean, the authors describe the highs and lows and personal strengths and weaknesses of all the players, in an even handed way, with nothing surmised or imagined.  

You want to know why Hillary puts up with Bill, why Hillary lost the nomination (Bill), why Guiliani didn't run for GOP leadership, who had what affairs, who works hard and who just coasts along, which leaders and wives are demanding prima donnas, whether Sarah Palin is unbalanced, how Obama talked Clinton into being his Secretary of State, what influence McCain and Obama had in the financial crisis, it's all in the book.  

Book 31 The City by Joel Kotkin**

This is a potentially great idea for a book, ruined by very bad writing. Most sentences contain no information, but are merely sweeping unsupported statements. Maybe it's a thesis turned into book, but with very little effort applied. There are nuggets of information here and there, so it is worth reading if you are interested in history and economics.

Book 40 Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed**** by Jared Diamond

Another blockbuster by Diamond.   He describes some major societies and why they collapsed or will collapse, including the Greenland Norse, the Mayans, Anasazi, China, and Haiti.  He sites a set of factors but the crowning reason is abuse of the environment in every case.  Underlying that is the decision by these societies to destroy their environment in the face of certain death.   He says that their vision was as blurry as ours is now as we destroy our planet.  

His detailed descriptions of the economies/environments of Easter Island, Rwanda, Australia, and others are riveting.   He refutes the idea that the world can produce enough food using fertilizers to feed everyone (rendering economist Jeremy Sachs End of Poverty irrelevant).  

He stunned me by stating that Australia can support a maximum of 8 million people (half what it has now) and should stop immigration immediately.   He does not mention Canada, but I am sure he would say we are headed in the same direction. 

In the last few chapters of the book, he describes examples of responsible development including a heartening description of Shell Oil's operations in New Guinea.

A must read for anyone interested in our world.

Book 25 Crescent and Star*** by Stephen Kinzer

An excellent book, a must if travelling to Turkey.