Framing the Dialogue

Posts Tagged ‘Book Reviews’

Act of Treason

The author has a simple subtitle to this book, “A Thriller.”  I love the Mitch Rapp series and this book lives up to the subtitle as a thriller. Act Of Treason is different as Rapp is almost part of the sub-plot.  The real story is about Washington power and those who would do most anything to achieve that power.

Author Vince Flynn uses the usual cast of characters in this exciting novel.  Act of Treason doesn’t have as much of the covert operations-type danger as past Rapp novels which is a nice change.  I could kind of figure out what was going to happen in many places and I liked that. 

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What The Dog Saw

What the dog sawIt slices, it dices, it does the work of many other home utensils.  We have all seen the commercials and while we often turn the channel, a lot of times we watch…and even buy.  In the first chapter of What the Dog Saw I was treated to the fascinating background and life of world famous pitchman, Ron Popeil. 

Malcolm Gladwell is one of my favorite authors and Blink is on my top ten list.  When I first saw his new book in the store I naturally picked it up to buy it, but was not enthused by the description and actually put it back down.  The description that this was “the best of his writing from The New Yorker” did not interest me. 

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The Death Of Common Sense

Death of common senseA had this book a while and thought that it would be a good one to follow The Law by Frederic Bastiat reviewed last week.  Although published fifteen years ago The Death of Common Sense provides a direct insight into the substitution of common sense for bureaucracy in America.  Common sense and responsibility is replaced with tens of thousands of pages of rules that promote inaction rather than progress.  Having worked for many years in government I can attest to the ability of civil servants to skillfully avoid decisions contrary to the letter of the regulation even though they make complete sense.

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Candy Cane Murder

Candy Cane MurderOne of my favorite mystery authors is Joanne Fluke and her Hannah Swensen series.  I have been a little behind in the series and am trying to catch up.  Candy Cane Murder came out in 2007 and has been sitting on my shelf for a while.  One of my favorite things about the Hannah Swensen series is that they fit into what I call a “weekend read.”  These are books that are enjoyable, keep me interested, but I can read in a weekend or less.

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Crush It

Crush ItMy son introduced me to the world of Gary Vaynerchuk, a sort of Tony Robbins except that Mr. Vaynerchuk has some success beyond his lectures and books.  I am not sure that came out right, but Gary Vaynerchuk (it is so much fun carefully typing his last name) cashed in on his passion (wine) and has used both conventional and unconventional methods to become successful, turning his family business from profitable to mega-profitable.  While Robbins is best known for speaking, just speaking.

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Predictably Irrational

predictable irrationalSome of the great truths that most of us (actually all of us) believe about ourselves is that we are great drivers (it’s always the other jerk), that we look good in our favorite outfits, and we make good, rational decisions.  In Predictably Irrational author Dan Ariely leaves our delusions about driving and fashion alone and focuses on “The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.” 

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Arguing With Idiots

Arguing with idiotsThis is my third Glenn Beck book that I have read and it is by far the best.  As a person who pays attention to political issues, I found An Inconvenient Book and Common Sense a little basic though containing new information.   In Arguing with Idiots Glenn Beck provides a great deal of information for people in tune with politics and enough to blow the others away.  Glenn should have provided either some duct tape with the book or at least a coupon to buy a roll. 

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