5 comments about My Life as a Quant: Reflections on Physics and Finance.

1. Well written book for people who would like to become Quant while their major is not finance.



2. I wanted to get a better picture on how it is to work as a "quant" on Wall Street, not knowing much to start out with. The book certainly met my expectations. I was a bit surprised that most of the research effort goes into financial engineering (developing and analyzing new products) as opposed to trying to better understand/predict how already existing products will do. It was interesting to understand the relationship between "quants" and traders. Finally, a bit surprising that so little from physics was applicable.



3. Though I barely have a clue about the models presented in the book, the author provided a very informative and descriptive view of life as a Quant. It even gives a picture of working in Wall Street. I thank the author for his effort.



4. I enjoyed this book very much. It's like a memoir, but focuses on his professional life. He talks about his training in physics, and how hard it is to get satisfactory (to him) employment. He switched to being a quantitative analyst on Wall Street. He talks a lot about what that really means, how the quants fit into the structure of Wall Street, and he even gets into some of the technical detail (I would have liked a bit more of that). It's well written and fun.



5. Very (very) shallow on technical content. Bizarre and boring anecdotes about the politics of the big investment banks. Detailed stories about uninteresting aspects of the author's life. I kept looking for some real beef, but gave up at some point.

5 comments about Good Dog. Stay..

1. I liked this short book, but felt that more details would have been nice. My favorite dog book is Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog.That book went into such detail and it did not leave you hanging and wanting more.



2. To even call this a book is an unimaginable stretch.
   I love dogs and thoroughly enjoy reading almost any book having to do with them and their exploits.
   This "Book??" is 83 tiny pages composed of 53 pages of photos of various dogs...cute... and 30 miniature pages of Fluff. And all this from a supposed #1 selling New York Times Bestselling Author!!!!!..And all for ONLY $14.95!!!!
   When was the last time you paid $.50 per page for this kind of exploitation?
   Anna Quindlen ought to be ashamed of herself



3. It's true - I must admit: I just don't like books about animals. Until I read this one! This is a sweet, short honest book about the love of a dog. It's not necessarily about sweet Beau (though really it is), but about how Beau completes a family. And very nice touches about how it completes a woman! A wonderful read that can be read in one sitting - on the sofa with your own Beau sitting beside you. Enjoy.



4. Short and oh so sweet!
   
   Yes this is more of an essay than a full blown novel, but the writing is worth every dime. There are so many phrases in the book that I read and re-read. Spend the money and keep this book for revisiting over and over.



5. This is a 45 minute short story about Anna's dog, Beau. I am not a fan of animal stories as they usually either end up getting hurt or dying. The same is true in this one. It is the life story of Beau and as all life stories, the end is death. That brings tears to me which is why I don't like these types of stories.
   
   I believe Anna wrote this as a way to heal from her lost of Beau more than trying to tell a readable story. This is not to say the story doesn't make sense. It does. I just hear in Anna's own words how much she and her family cared for Beau and how much his loss meant to them.
   
   As with all stories, there are the good times and the "bad dog" times, laughs and tears and general day-to-day life. If you want to hear about a good dog's life, this CD will provide that.

5 comments about Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reading Winters' account after reading Band of Brothers offered unique insights. I was heartened by Major Winters' faith and how he used this to make it through the War. Stationed in Germany, I had the opportunity to make a voyage to the memorial & Peace Gardens in Bastogne and to Foy as well; a trip inspired by Major Winters. To him & to all others who served in WWII, what you did for the world is not forgotten & will forever be appreciated.



2. A wonderful companion to the HBO "Band of Brothers" miniseries. The book fills in some gaps and details to give you a more complete picture of Easy Company's trek through the war in Europe. Highly recommended!



3. The moral character of Maj. Winters is impecable and unimpeachable. His book is one every kid in school chould read to learn what it is to stand fast in the face of fear and the enemy wether foreign or domestic. This is important now because we may be facing a time when we must once again face a enemy that is domestic. I would hope we would have leadership similar to that given by Maj. Winers.



4. I am hooked on the mini-series and can almost quote the dialogue. This book fills in a lot of the the missing parts and solidifies a lot of the truths of the film. A well written and very good reading book that is filled with facts and great memories. Probably should be read after seeing the series.



5. This is a great book .. if we had a country full of men like this it would be the greatest country in history.

5 comments about ADHD & Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table.

1. I provide therapy to children with ADHD and their families. This book is extremely helpful in allowing parents to understand why their children sometimes act the ways they do. It is also something that parents can read with their children so they communicate with one another about the symptoms of ADHD. This allows other children with ADHD to see that they are not alone in their experience and to understand that there is a reason why they feel they way they do.



2. This book is amazing, so much wisdom from someone so young and with a disability such as ADHD. Blake has become an inspiration to both me and my son who has ADHD and is struggling with social skills in school. I would highly recommend this book to all children, adults, teachers, parents who has someone with ADHD. For we already know what remarkable and speacial people we have.



3. Blake.E.S.Taylor is such a sophisticated young man, isn't he? I wasn't smart enough to tell you my ADHD logically based on my experiences when I was his age, and I am still not! And most of the symptoms written in his book are quite similar to my childhood. I could have clearly shown you the strategies not only on ADHD but also developmental disabilities like him if I had been diagnosed with ADHD and PDD(=Pervasive Developmental Disorder) earlier. I didn't know anything about developmental disabilities when I was younger. Besides, even in my college days, I couldn't eliminate my impulsiveness and hyperactivity, which often stood out in my English classes given by English-speaking teachers. One day I mumbled,"Jesus."during my class so nobody noticed it, because I was very cranky and stressed. However, the teacher recognized and blew up,"If you swear, please leave! I have to be strict on that and I'm pretty serious." I got so stunned that I had no choice but to apologize to him. How embarrassed! He implicitly told me how to learn from such a big mistake, though...
   Anyway, Blake couldn't have written ADHD & Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table, if he was less mature. Even though his ADHD still remains, I'm sure his experiences will reinforce the strategies to tackle ADHD!



4. A powerful story told by an exceptionally bright and thoughtful 17 year old. I gave it to my 17 year old who was recently diagnosed with mild ADHD and he didn't move for two hours he was so engrossed in Blake's journey and lessons learned. I bought 10 copies and gave them to the learning specialists, principal and president at my son's high school. In addition, my entire family read the book. As a result, we have a new vocabulary in which to address the behaviors and issues that come up with this common condition. Thanks for sharing your world Blake! It has made such a positive impact on us and many others.



5. This is a great book! It is very down to earth and informative. I'm a clinical psychologist and also have ADHD, so I'm always on the lookout for books to give people who are trying to understand and deal with this disorder. I will definitely be recommending this one.

5 comments about My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King (Illinois).

1. I found this book to be interesting. It was sad to see how this man never received love as a child and in turn didn't know what love really was. He was a puppet for his gang who only gave him "respect" if he did what he was told. This man's life was out of control from day one. I finished this book in no time as it was interesting to see what happened to him next. I can't wait to read the unmaking of a Latin King.



2. I read all three of "Reymundo's" books. From page one, this book had me hooked. It's unimaginable the horror "Reymundo" faced as a child. It's hard to believe he's actually alive today, but I'm glad he is because he made an incredible book that deserves to be read.



3. I'll keep this short: My Bloody Life was not a very thoughtful book. I don't want to disparage the efforts of the author, who clearly had a fantastic story to tell. But I got the sense from reading the book that the story was told because he felt that someone needed to tell it, not because he felt he understood it in some greater sense. There are moments of clarity where he states or alludes to some grand narrative of life that the events fit into, but those moments clash with each other indicating that he's not really sure what that narrative is.
   
   I read this book along with classmates in a teacher education course, and we discussed whether we thought it was educationally valuable to read this book as opposed to some other one. We decided that it was probably beneficial for what I termed the "oh crap" factor of surprising folks that didn't know what gang life could be like. At the same time though, the class agreed that reading this book might give readers the impression that every gang is like this one and that every kid in a rough neighborhood is gang-affiliated. Please don't walk away with that understanding.



4. A great book! Once you start reading the book you can't stop. Open your eyes to reality and helps you not to judge people and see what they act like that and why is the reason behind the life style they had taken.



5. I was definitely interested in reading this book, but the fact that the "spanish" written in the book was more like spanglish, incorrect grammar, with spanish definitions completely inaccurate made me believe that this was not truly an autobiographical memoir. But when the author proceeds to state that Puerto Ricans were being deported back the island during this time of his life in the book. That is when I finally said ENOUGH!!! Puerto Ricans are AMERICAN CITIZENS BORN TO A COMMOM WEALTH NATION THAT BELONGS TO THE USA!! Before an author begins to write a "true autobiographical/memoir" get your facts straight! A proud Puerto Rican knows his/her facts! Interesting book to read, but please, take it with a grain of salt, and remember; all that you read is not always true!

5 comments about My Trip Down the Pink Carpet.

1. Whilst most TV audiences may only know the very gifted comic actor Mr Leslie Jordan as a regular guest star on "Will & Grace" (for which he won an Emmy Award) and "Boston Legal", there is oh so much more to him, as he reveals in his "autobiography" - MY TRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET. The openly gay actor has had a very diverse career on stage, film and television. But indeed his life off the stage & screen has certainly been a wild ride, and one well worth documenting. Brought up as a Christian in the Deep South, self-tortured by his gay demons and unlucky in love, he turned to a variety of addictive substances that he thought would help him cope with life. Welcome to Hollywood! But he rose above all of that and now has his life and career well and truly back on track. He is happy and comfortable with who he is. As Mr Jordan says in his book, the secret of a healthy life is learning to love oneself. For those who like showbiz autobiographies - this is a great read. For those who might be having trouble coming to terms with their sexuality - this is a MUST read!



2. the stories are very funny, and I enjoyed the book. Even though the name dropping gets a little deep, his charm goes a long way! Buy this book, it really is a great glimpse into leslie jordans life, and you get to see some famous people from a different point of view.



3. A very funny and quick summer read. I picked it up in the morning and had finished it that same evening. I found myself laughing outloud several times. Tons of fun



4. This was definitely a fun read. Little man, big character, voicing what's lost and gained in life through struggles of sexuality, drugs, sobriety and spirituality. Being a gay man myself, the only non-funny part about this read was my own life reflected. Not yet sober, still falling, but the gravity always gets lighter with each new edification. The last chapter of this book really struck home. No better way though, than to deliver our blunders in a light of comedy. I hope to be as strong as this man someday.
   
   Thanks, Leslie.



5. I am one of the survivors of the same generation as Mr. Jordan, even though we are in different walks of life and living in very different communities. I'm impressed with the author's ability to tell a story from his life with such accuracy while being both moving and funny. I hope volume two is on the horizon.

5 comments about Why Women Should Rule the World.

1. I find it interesting that those who have cried for 'equality' for so long and finally found that they have had equal rights to run for office, start a business, vote as they choose, develop field programmable logic arrays, clean sewers, scrape hogs, build OC-12 data networks, become prison guards, etc etc ... now find that the best solution for the world going forward is for they, themselves, to advocate the very solution of discrimination that they suffered from only in reverse?
   
   Why do you 'hate' men so badly? This concept is as repugnant as saying people of color should be ruled by white folks. There are good and bad irrespective of color.
   
   Why can't we concentrate on helping 'everyone' do better, rather than such broadly blatant discrimination base upon the shape of genetailia?
   
   Bruce



2. I have followed Dee Dee's career since she worked for Bill Clinton, and i find her book funny, and informative. I'm certain that if women ruled the world, we would be in better shape then we are. Thanks Dee Dee for putting my beliefs on paper.



3. I bought the book for my wife, who was complaining about how unfair the world is to women--and quite rightly so. Speaking for myself, I agree with Dee Dee Myers thesis, but it is hidden behind a lot of wonky poli-sci verbiage.



4. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2SW8VFXLFH3QQ Here's my video review. I should warn readers though that Myer's book is more a memoir than an analytical work. Thanks for clicking in, Bernard



5. dee dee myers is brilliant in everyway.the thing that bothers me is women know this.really women knew this for over 100 years or more.im having my daughter and my girlfriends read this cause even though we know everything dee dee is saying.nothing is done and why oh why?i if we women voted to our potentiel wede be running this country rite now.maybee the more women that read this and other books like this they would understand that its not fantasy but fact.women should and will rule the country.its just a matter of us taking back what was once ours and if we do and it shouldnt be to hard im laughing .then it will be the same as now only women will set the laws and that would(have)to be better then what man is doing now.i read somewere on the net oh i wish i could remember her name .women are gaining fast while men are becoming the women of the 1950 s.that is soooo true.read it.see it.hear it.man kind is shrinking at a rate so fast it seems womankind has really already surpassed the still shrinking male role.i remember a long time ago my aunt telling me dont blame the men.we made them.lol yup.now its up to us women to take control.thank you dee dee

5 comments about Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table.

1. Like the author, Sara, I was also a non-native who had moved to New Orleans for my first ten years out of college, from 1987 to 1996. Even after I moved from New Orleans in 1996, I had never thought of reading books about New Orleans (not counting New Orleans and Cajun cookbooks, of course) until now, three years after Hurricane Katrina. I have not yet been back to New Orleans since Katrina, but I am planning a trip there next year.
   
   Two of the main aspects of New Orleans that I love so much is its food and music. It was my countless memories of New Orleans food that prompted me to read this book, and I was definitely not disappointed. Sara's descriptions of the food and dining in New Orleans are accurate, well-researched, evocative, and, as the Brits say, spot on. She writes with the informed knowledge of her background as a food writer and restaurant reviewer, but also with the fresh perspective of a non-native Midwesterner, and she paints a vivid picture of the passionate food culture in New Orleans, a culture that I was once an active part of (Emeril Lagasse once stopped by our table to chat during the first week that his Emeril's restaurant opened in 1990). Like a great Zatarain's seasoning mix, she accents all of the food lore with snippets of New Orleans culture, people, humor, and just the right touch of discussions of the city before and after Katrina (she lived in Philadelphia for awhile before moving back to New Orleans in April of this year).
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in food, or is interested in or planning a trip to New Orleans. My only quibble with this book was that I wanted more chapters or another book of hers to continue reading after I had finished this book; there are still plenty of New Orleans food topics to write chapters on. After I finished reading this book, instead of placing it amidst all of my other many non-fiction books, I placed with my row of cookbooks in the pantry; although this is not a cookbook, it just belongs there with my cookbooks!
   
   Also... Sara has a Web site where she has posted various "Photo Companion to Gumbo Tales" photos that are grouped and named like the chapters in her book: www.sararoahen.com\Sara_Roahen\Gumbo_Tales_Photos\Gumbo_Tales_Photos.html



2. Wisconsin native Sara Roahen writes of her adopted home with a passion that jumps off of every page. Gumbo Tales is part travel guide, part history/culture lesson, part culinary exploration.
   
   In 268 pages, Roahen takes readers through the neighborhoods of New Orleans to become acquainted with the foods, the people, and the history of a city--a history that is still being written thanks to the devastating effects of an act of nature.
   
   Roahen has done a superb job of making the food, the place, the people, and even Hurricane Katrina characters in this initmate look at New Orleans. Each chapter holds the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of a different neighborhood in a city that harbors an amazing diversity. Roahen moves her readers from po'boy sandwiches to crawfish and from gumbo to sezeracs (a rye whiskey based drink) with ease and grace. Always mindful of the fact that she is a "transplant" to the area, she lends some insightful references to how her New Orleans life both mirrors and differs from her life in Wisconsin.
   
   One cannot read Gumbo Tales without feeling an immediate urge to pack her bags and head to New Orleans to partake of these taste treats, hear the music of the area, and meet the people who make New Orleans what it was before Katrina and what it is striving to be once again.
   
   by Lee Ambrose
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



3. What a fun book. I live in Houston, and know New Orleans from several over-eating visits. Sara really brought you right back there and so far beyond in the history and fun details. I'm looking forward to going back. Her writing style is playful and fun, perfect for her topic. She hit just the right balance with Katrina details - since it will never be the same, yet will always be the same.



4. If you read only one book about New Orleans, it should be this one. Sara Roahen's love of the the city's food is exceeded only by her love of the people who make it and their creation of a unique culture. Her love of the food is the more convincing by being hard-won -- a struggle against mid-Western roots and west coast vegetarianism. But her natural curiosity (and the exigencies of being thrust into the role of restaurant reviewer) leads her far beyond the cliches of gumbo and crawfish into the exotic realms of the mirliton and turducken, to name just a couple. For those who fuss about the absence of jambalaya and bread pudding in these pages, I too would like to read her treatment of other local specialties, but I'm thankful she has saved something for another book!



5. I'm always searching for books about and related to New Orleans which can put me in a New Orleans state of mind even from the Northeast. It was fortuitous, then, that I selected Gumbo Tales as my most recent reading material.
   
   I fell in love with the city of New Orleans on my first visit four years ago, and I try to visit as often as possible. When I can't, a book or a movie is the next best thing, and I eventually plan to call New Orleans my home. Gumbo Tales provides the perfect window into the culture of New Orleans, and I was sad the book was over when I finished.
   
   One of the things I liked most about the book is that it's from the perspective of a non-native New Orleanian such as myself. That I could really identify with, moreso than I can with books and stories written by people who were born and raised. I identified with the process of coming from the outside, becoming enchanted, and wanting desperately to be part of the culture. I identified with Roahan's first experiences of New Orleans traditions as a newbie. I cackled out loud reading about her crawfish mishap. I cried several times because of the book, especially when she wrote about the city's struggling spirit in the wake of the events of 2005.
   
   Besides the sentimental feelings the book gives you about the city, the descriptions of food are really the main ingredient here- and they are brilliant.
   
   Roahan's book was the perfect find for leaving-town-reading, for keeping the feeling of NOLA going even when you're far away. Gumbo Takes made me feel not alone in my New Orleans experience and stubborn love for the place. I recommend this book to anyone who calls New Orleans home, once called it home, plans to call it home, or just wishes they did.

5 comments about The Three of Us: A Family Story.

1. I loved this book and all it's honesty. I've heard it said that we read to know that we are not alone. I do believe this may be true. This book stunned me so because I had a mother who was jealous and envious of me and I felt so alone, and yet she did love me too. Just as in this woman's experience, I only got the mother who adored and truly showed her love for me when she became ill and I tended to her in the last year or so of her life. This woman's account of her relationship with both her parents is relayed so honestly that I must praise her writing as well as her sharing her life with the rest of us.



2. This book reminded me of "Running With Scissors" in some ways. The narrator is the daughter of an artisitic ,sex- obbessed mother and an abusive English teacher, poet father in the UK. I found it surprising that the author was able to grow up into a functining adult. It's a darkly, disturbing story.



3. The Three of Us is a tawdry mess of sex and strange people written to no purpose. I think the author doesn't really understand what went on in her young life to this day. The book drags on in an uninteresting manner until the reader wants to put the book down before the end.



4. After the big buildup, I found it disappointing...the mother farting and laughing in the tub watching the gas bubbles lift to the surface...grossed me out....I'd prefer to read about a nasty "serial" killer; at least the serial killer's more entertaining. And as for one chooses one's parents..what inane self-serving dribble...I think the horror is that with "losers" like this you share a common bloodline...Yipes...If only they had lipo of the soul...Why do some people feel they have to justify their past; when there is no justification for some sadistic acts perpertrated upon a basically defenseless child....simply get away from them...



5. It has the peace and clarity that often mark those who have been through suffering and come out the other side. The author's honesty, acceptance and humour while recounting some terrible events inspired respect and reverence in me. Julia Blackburn reminds us that, whatever has happened to us and whatever our mind has made of it, forgiveness and the unconditional love that are our birthright are always there to be reclaimed.

5 comments about The Prince of Tides.

1. Glorious mess of overwrought romance, unrequited Southern pandering, claptrap psychologizing, and over the top drama that comes together to equate to a pot-boiling bestseller. It was made into a big Hollywood movie with Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand in the lead roles and (for another of my infamous sight-unseen movie reviews) these fatuous scene eaters give the story the mess of overblown emoting it deserves.
   
   The best part is the short section quoted by Jimmy Buffet in the song that inspired me to read this book in the first place.
   
   Not the worst book I've ever read, but if this is what passes for bestsellers (like the Da Vinci Code so ballyhooed of a few years past) it confirms me in my reluctance to read many bestsellers.



2. The Prince of Tides was my first Pat Conroy book. It is an eloquent masterpiece in my opinion. Conroy writes what he knows and he creates characters that are so rich in humanity and a story so deep in conflict yet he writes with a magical prose. Years after reading this book, some of the images are still indelibly imprinted in my mind. He reminds me of modern day Tennesse Williams in his portrayal of flawed, tragic Southern characters. Truly a wonderfully gifted writer. I decided to write this review after perusing through a list of Conry books to find my next one to read. Forget the movie, read the book first then see the movie. It will only richen the experience.



3. I read the book after I watched the movie starring Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand. Reviews of the movie were mixed, in part, because those who loved the book disliked the changes wrought by the movie. That being said, I loved the movie and I loved the book.
   
   As promised in some of it's reviews, this book does make the reader laugh, cry, and ponder. After watching the movie, I learned a great deal more about Savannah's character by reading the book. She was so articulate and brutally honest about the family situation and her mental illness. I learned much more about Luke and understood why his death had affected Tom so deeply. I was given a deeper glimpse into the tumultous marriage of Tom's parents. I read about the history of Tom and his wife. It caused me to better understand why Tom returned to her at the end of the story.
   
   It was interesting when Tom's wife, Sallie, telephoned Tom in order to reconcile. She did not say, "I truly love you more than the cardiac surgeon" (who was actually more in her league, socially). She had been having an affair. She spoke of how the cardiac surgeon betrayed her. Tom's response was, "Do you want me to beat him up? I will let you watch."
   
   There were some thought-provoking tales, describing circumstances that caused the family's resistance to racism in the deep South and Savannah's comparison of racism to Naziism. There were football stories - one in Tom's high school years and one when he was a student at the university of South Carolina. For some reason, those stories made me cry. They showed Tom at his pinnacle. In the book, Tom provided a strong argument for the value of a good football coach in a boy's formative years.
   
   The character of Dr. Lowenstein was developed well by the author. If you watched the film first, you will see that the character in the book differs some from the character played by Barbara Streisand. But that is to be expected.
   
   Overall, this was a fantastic read.



4. This book was gorgeously written. The language was captivating and almost poetic. I couldn't put it down. The story was hilarious to gut-wretching, and everything in between. Characters so three dimentionally written, one would believe they were real-life acquaintances. One of the most moving books I've ever read.



5. I could not put this book down. Pat Conroy is an amazing storyteller...and certainly brings his characters to life. I am currently reading his book Beach Music and I am enthralled again. Would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderful reading experience.