Freakonomics

Book: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side of Everything

Author(s): Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Grade: C

"Freakonomics" has been in the back of my mind for a while now after hearing varying reviews from friends over the past few months. So, when I stumbled across it on a friend's bookshelf, I decided to give it a whirl and see for myself what everyone is talking about.

Levitt appeals to the shock value of comparisons in the effort of hooking the reader through chapter titles. It works; to an extent. While the claim that schoolteachers and sumu wrestlers are similarly motivated is intriguing, the meat of the chapter is not. And this quickly becomes a pattern. Peaked interest in the beginning, only to be followed by a disappointing lull.

Levitt does veer into the controversial with a exploration into the correlation between the legalization of abortion and a reduction of crime. His explanation: the majority of women choosing to have abortions are those who, for whatever reason, are not in a position to raise children. Forcing these women to bring these children into the world sets up a situation where they are not wanted, cannot be properly cared for and frequently sink into a life of crime. Levitt posits that women know their capabilities based on their situation. Had they been able to abort these children (whom they know they cannot care for), there would be less youngsters entering crime. This is a sensational statement and theory: few topics elicit such strong emotions as the abortion debate. Levitt does back his theory up with data that shows the the legalization of abortion coincides with reduction of crime nationwide. Alarmingly, it makes sense (intellectual sense, not emotional sense). While I understand what he is saying, I found myself angered by the theory. And sadly, that's the most emotionally involved I got throughout the entire book.

Overall it was mildly intrigued but never engrossed. Wouldn't recommend.

Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography

Book: Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography
Author: Andrew Morten

GRADE: C-

Being in the minority of those who are not Angelina Jolie worshippers, I found Morton’s biography supporting my already highly skeptical view of the over-hyped mega-star. Morton scrapes away the layers of facade Ms. Jolie presents to her adoring public in order to expose her damaged, messy and manipulative core. Hardcore Jolie supporters will no doubt find Morton’s “take no prisioners” writing distasteful – and perhaps it is: deliciously distasteful.

Getting the dirt on Angelina was fun – but the majority of the details exposed were not shocking or unheard of. The more interesting information lies in the detailed histories of the supporting players. Morton does a superb job digging into the past and serving up intimate details into the lives of her immediate family (mother: Marcheline. Father: Jon Voight. Brother: James Haven). He clearly draws out the family tree and the timelines which made those before her who they were and set the stage her for her and her issues. I can tell you this: mom and dad do not come out in a sympathetic light.

In the end, you’re money could be used more wisely elsewhere. The enjoyment payoff does not match the 25$ price tag. Rent it or skip it.

Breakthrough

Book: Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, The Discovery of Insulin, and The Making of A Medical Miracle.

Author(s): Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsberg

Grade: A-

It’s two o’clock in the afternoon and I am just now rising to start my day with sleep still sticking to me. The cause of this particular display of lethargic laziness: the total inability to force myself to put Breakthrough down. Thea Cooper and Aurthur Ainsberg have mastered the art of writing historical non-fiction that reads like a novel in a way that should be required reading for any and all writers. The journey from Type 1 Diabetes as a death sentence to Type 1 Diabetes as a manageable illness is beyond incredible and will be addressed fully in the following paragraphs. However, I feel it imperative to spend some time praising the beautifully crafted sentences that catapult "Breakthrough" to a level that surpasses a medical journal. It is no exaggeration to say that each and every carefully crafted sentence is the equivalent of literary gold. Without such compellingly vivid writing, "Breakthrough" would run the obvious risk of medical density. Luckily for all of us non medical personnel, that is not the case by a long shot.

"Breakthrough" is a comprehensive journey into the world of medical research conducted between the years of 1914-1922 in relation to diabetes mellitus (also known as Type 1 or juvenile diabetes). "Breakthrough" is centered on the diabetic life of Elizabeth Hughes (daughter of the highly esteemed politician Charles Hughes) beginning in 1919. Elizabeth is 11 years old and dying of diabetes despite being treated using the starvation method (the only treatment available at the time). The treatment whittles her down into a skeleton of a person and takes away any quality of life she might have had prior to her diagnosis. Everything she consumes is meticulously measured, recorded and changed – but never exceeding 500 calories in a given day. The reader is given a devastating and un-sugar coated look into the seriousness of the illness at the time, then follows two men working endlessly in subpar conditions in search of an effective treatment.

Canadian researchers Frederic Banting and Charles Best make the breakthrough discovery of insulin (found in animal pancreases) and set about the frustratingly complicated task of purifying the substance to be safe and effective for human usage. The excitement of the findings is tempered by scientific competition, unscrupulous tactics of stealing and marketing the formula, and the occasional fistfight. In the end, Banting is awarded credit and a Nobel Prize – but not without an exhaustive fight.

Elizabeth Hughes is remarkable. Her story is inspiring. The dedication of the scientists and the resulting discoveries are miraculous and the writing is superb. I was mildly disappointed by some of the choices made by Elizabeth in the end –but through no fault of the authors. Breakthrough had me hooked from page five and kept me holding my breath right up to the last word.

Coming out in September, I suggest marking the clearing your calendar and preparing yourself for this informative, compelling and highly readable volume.

www.breakthroughthebook.com

The Year of Living Like Jesus

BOOK: The Year of Living Like Jesus: My Year of Discovering What Jesus Would Really Do
AUTHOR: Ed Dobson

Grade: C

In 2008, A.J. Jacobs published his bestselling narrative “The Year of Living Biblically” to much deserved critical acclaim. His year-long spiritual journey was a deeply fascinating and highly enjoyable read. Ed Dobson has produced what could appropriately be labeled as the Christian spin-off of Jacobs’ Jewish tale. He makes no bones about the fact that he took the idea from Jacobs and adapted it to his own circumstances (in fact, A.J. Jacobs penned the book’s introduction) as a Evangelical pastor for answers and a deepening of faith.

I loved "The Year of Living Biblically". While I didn’t dislike Dobson’s "The Year of Living Like Jesus", it paled in comparison to its’ predecessor. For me, it falls into that category of book that isn’t fabulous but also isn’t awful enough to not finish.

The most interesting area of exploration described here is the in-depth look at Jesus’ Jewish roots. I know that I personally tend to forget just how “Jewish” Jesus was. Dobson provides a superb account of Christianity’s Jewish roots. It was in this section of the book where I was most engaged with the text. It’s something I have been thinking about ever since and I am grateful to have had the history explained in such a reader-friendly manner.

Overall: Easy read. Mildly interesting. Pales in comparison to its’ inspiration.

So Many Books, So Little Time

Book: So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading

Author: Sara Nelson

Grade: A-

Welcome to my life! I don't think I need to tell you all what I thought of the book... AWESOME.

It was literally me on EVERY page. Sara Nelson and I are almost surely soul mates. All those book related OCD questions I thought nobody else contended with on a daily basis are addressed here. Nelson's book is literally ME on paper.

Premise: 52 books in 52 weeks while writing about each one. (exactly the kind of shit I get myself into!)

Generally, it's not my style to start a review with an excerpt (I find that strategy bothersome.. and moderately lazy on the reviewer's part). That being said, this is the exception to the rule. Let me sum up Nelson's book and my life's credo with this:

"If I knew it at the beginning of the year, I've learned it ten times over: reading is organic and fluid and pretty unpredictable, based as much on mood and location and timing as anything else. If a book is "good," that doesn't mean you'll want to read it, and if it's "bad," that doesn't mean you'll pass it by. I only have to glance at my original list to see that in spades. Why didn't I read Infinite Jest as I said I would? Because Charlie (her son) played baseball and because Leo (husband) had a fight. Because I was feeling nostalgic for my father and visiting with my mother. Because one of my new friends lent me a novel. I couldn't have predicted those things would happen, let alone when, so I couldn't plan my reading list around them. But my subconscious mind - the part I've heard writers call the lizard brain - could and did: it told me to reach for Anne Lammot or Edith Warton or Calvin Trillin instead. If I've learned one thing in my decades on earth, it's this: Don't argue with your lizard brain; it knows you better than you know yourself."

If your life revolves around reading and the following questions keep you up at night (as they do for me on a regular basis), Then you'll eat this book for dinner and feel full for quite a while:

Should you read more than one book at a time? "Double-Booking"

If I give you a book I love and you hate it - or vise versa, can we still be friends? "Not always"

If you give me your writing and I hate it, how am I expected to review it? ("Grade your degree of closeness to the person on a scale of 1-10, then divide that number by how good or bad you think the book is (also 1 to 10). And then tell them you love it!)

Does hype make a book unattractive to you? "GOD YES"

Are you a weak loser if you abandon a book you dislike (weak loser are my words... this question haunts me)? "NO" but she admits it took her 20 years to reach this level of maturity.

The book is amazing. It is my life. I love it.

Additionally, it provided me with a list of 14 books I must read. And nothing makes me happier than hearing about new books I must acquire.

Sliding Into Home

Book: Sliding Into Home
Author: Kendra Wilkenson

Grade: D

Skip it. Then end.

I'll elaborate slightly: The memoirist's voice and personality are meant to come through in the writing. One could argue that's what makes a good memoir work so well. In this case, Kendra's voice comes through.... but proves to be detrimental. The writing is elementary (by this I mean, it could possibly have been written by a sixth grader), the plot line is superficial and even the pictures suck.

I'll cop to loving Kendra. I love her show. I love her personality. I hated this book. I was not expecting literature, but I was expecting mildly well written fluff complete with a massive photo section and I was let down on both fronts.

I don't even feel it necessary to spend my time downloading and pasting the cover into this review.

Skip it.