5 comments about A Child's Christmas in Wales (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)).

1. A Child's Christmas In Wales CD: And Five Poems
   Hurrah! Now I won't have to wait for the radio to play Dylan Thomas reading his wonderful Child's Christmas every Christmas. Truly a beautiful recording of the other poems as well.



2. My goodness, these illustrations are ugly. They completely detract from the beauty of the language. Either read it out loud to a blind person or stick with the version illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.



3. This reading of A Child's Christmas in Wales is tops! It wouldn't be Christmas for us without hearing Dylan Thomas tell his story. He recounts a holiday of simple, family and neighborhood doings, and paints a picture of snowy, seaside Wales of the 1920's.



4. I love this story, as do all my children, who, from their earliest years, have not much struggled with the density of the language nor the scatteredness of the story. 5 of my 8 great-grandparents are from Wales, and the remaining 3 have the blood in them as well, so maybe it is like drinking water for us.:-D Our minds are all scattered, and words, even English words ;-D, fall on us in clumps....which makes it doubly hard to keep a clean house. LOL
   
   The sort of prose-poetry imaginative way of seeing and describing the world unique to Welshwomen and Welshmen and Welshchildren, which does not seek to keep up the pretense that history can be separated from myth, story and desire, and which requires loving with eyes wide open to [and eventually embracing] one's own and others' bumps, bruises and idiosyncracies included, is extraordinarily well represented here. So, by the way, is speaking and listening to the close and Holy darkness!
   
   My favorite version isthe one illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. To me she has captured the complexity of the Welsh personality best, though i have nothing to say against the other illustrators praised in these reviews. I DO have a warning for you: there are some skinny versions flying about which do not have the poem-story complete and correct. This sort of work cannot suffer removal or modification, IMHO.
   
   gbg



5. If you have read A Child's Christmas in Wales, you know that it has to be a classic. But you can't fully appreciate it until you have heard Dylan Thomas read it. What a deep, expressive, poetic voice. For years, I have listened to the recording on a Caedman record. It is wonderful to have it on a CD.

5 comments about Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track.

1. Roller derby is back, but very different from the banked track derby that many people remember from the 70's. The reimagination of derby as a flat track, skater-run sport started with a single league in Texas in 2003. Today, there are leagues of smart, strong women all over the country ready and willing to step into their skates and knock a bitch down.
   
   A fascinating history of flat track roller derby, starting with the founding of the Texas Rollergirls in 2003, and continuing through th Dust Devil National Championship in 2006. Quotes, stories, and profiles from real rollergirls, in addition to fast-paced derby action, make this a book that will be almost impossible for skaters or fans of derby to put down.
   
   Melicious describes her immediate enchantment with the sport after seeing a bout and her subsequent trip to the rink for her first practice. I could relate because I had the same reaction. Even though I hadn't been on skates since middle school, my local team has welcomed me and is patiently teaching me how to hold my own on eight wheels.
   
   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.



2. This book was so hard to put down that I read it in one day. It explained the inner workings of derby and motivated me to skate even faster and hit even harder!
   
   -Madame Switchblade #75
   Rogue Rollergirls, Fayetteville, NC



3. While Melicious' book does provide some insight into the modern roller derby revival, "Totally True" it's not. It is factual - that is to say there is nothing "made up," but she was under no obligation to apply journalistic standards of balance and integrity to her book. The facts that she did select reflect this.



4. This book was just what I needed. I just started as freshmeat with the Philly Roller Girls and read this book before I went to tryouts. It gave me an inside look at what I might expect in the derby world. Reading about Melissa's experience coming into her league and starting from scratch was really inspiring. She explains what it takes to be a derby girl, what to expect, how tough it all really is, and how rewarding it and the derby community can be. I definitely recommend this book if you're at all interested in the most recent derby revolution. It's taking over and it's awesome!



5. Amazing, witty and informative. Melicious' book taught me new ways to practice, ways to perfect my persona and even how to develop an awesome signature for autographs. This book is amazing for girls just starting their derby adventure and for girls that have been in the "biz" for years. I ate it UP! Ace Face, Star City Rollergirls. Roanoke, VA.

5 comments about Drunkard: A Hard-Drinking Life.

1. I also read this book. In all honesty I read the book to get insight into this man's downfall with alcoholism. I have read many books on the subject matter. I am working on my Addictions Certification. Mr. Steinberg left out information. What I mean is that if anyone is going to write and "put out one's personal life in a memoir," people expect to read about this individual's life. Mr. Steinberg left out pieces of the puzzle. He is guarding some very personal information. When one reads this book, Mr. Steinberg paints a "Near perfect" family picture, work picture. He doesn't mention any "real personal problems," only that he likes to drink. Well, sorry, I ain't buying this picture missing puzzle pieces. He is guarding something very personal. No one comes from a stable family and "suddenly loses it, or down the road loses it." This ain't happening. At the root of any history with alcoholism and/or drug abuse, including dependency is something very deep, very painful.
   
   Steinberg has not convince me that it was just drinking gone out of contol. No way, Jose. If an individual has enough stability, the odds are that he will not end up an alcoholic. Now, if there is emotional pains, buried secrets, that just won't go away, hey, medicate with alcohol and/or drugs.
   
   Pieces are missing. When one puts one's life out there to the public, one must be prepare for everything, including why personal information is left out. If you don't understand, read the book, carefully. Come on, come on, let it out!
   
   Chicago
   
   The best book, I think, is Caroline Knapp's Drinking: A Love Story. Now this book is gripping! Check it out!



2. As a recovering alcoholic myself, I was especially drawn to Neil's story, and I smiled frequently as I read similarity after similarity. "Drinking is something I earned the right to do", Neil says early in his book. That was my sentiment as well, and a tough river to cross.
   In a nutshell, Neil gradually became more and more in love with alcohol, and the ease and comfort produced by it. It began to cause problems. With the assistance of his wife and the courts, Neil sought help. That's the way most of us get introduced into recovery (and that's ok folks-not shameful-just the way it goes).
   Neil stubbornly and slightly arrogantly trudges through his court-appointed treatment, where he fights most of what they try to teach him, but he learns a great deal along the way in spite of himself.
   In the end, Neil seems to still struggle with a few major recovery keystones such as humility, a relationship with God, and a recovery program. However, there's not just one single path to recovery.
   The book is well-written, amicable, candid, and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It's been awhile since a book held my attention like this one did.
   I look forward to reading the sequel in a few years as Neil continues his journey, and grows spiritually. It is my hope that he continues to grow in honesty, openmindedness, and willingness.
   Thanks for the walk through this tough segment of your life Neil. Eventually, you'll come to realize that being an alcoholic could very well be the greatest gift God ever gave you.



3. The most interesting thing about this book is that it isn't interesting. A garden variety drunkalog is a breath of fresh air after reading Augusten Burroughs and others like him. We aren't dragged through his past as he seeks to explain what can't be explained. To read how a good father, husband and employee can still be stricken is a story rarely told because it isn't interesting or sensational enough for a screenplay. Pete Hamill is too full of himself to be taken seriously....even if he DID drink in Farrell's. Don't get me started with Frey!



4. About: Steinberg relates his battle with alcoholism.
   
   Pros: Well-written, raw and honest tale with a palpably somber tone throughout that shows how devastating alcoholism can be to relationships. Steinberg has a way of getting the reader to feel his frustrations and difficulties right along with him. This is not your typical feel-good recovery story.
   
   Cons: The earnestly solemn feel of the story left me feeling drained after reading. Do not read if you want to be uplifted, as truth isn't always pretty. The epilogue, although the bright spot of the book, does little to assuage the necessarily depressed feel of its preceding pages.



5. I saw this book in a local bookshop under the "New Authors" section. I always check that out. I passed it by and wished I had bought it. I did that a few times until finally I just walked in, picked it up and ran to the cashier before I could change my mind. I love memoirs and this one looked really good.
   
   I am so glad I did... I thought this was one of the most honest accounts of an every day guy falling into the clutches of alcoholism and coming back up. I love that he let us into his mind as he was getting all this information - "sure, great, they think it's normal to relapse, so let's play that for Saturday! Yup, Saturday is relapse day" - okay, not quite like that, but you could see the wheels turning in his head. I thought it was interesting that he found his wife as his "higher power", I was expecting him to find god and go all righteous on us. It was a nice change from the bible beating AA writers I sometimes read.
   
   On the other hand, I felt some of this was sanitized. Don't get me wrong, there was enough things in there that were more than I would have felt comfortable sharing, in parts, he's honest but somewhat detached and that rang very true for what he must have been going through at a time. I can't imagine this disease having a grip on me and at the same time having a spouse who is trying to deal with it in her own way as well. This book left off a couple of years ago I think, I wonder how he's doing now. How is Edie? I think I'll go see if he has an interview update online.
   
   A great read for those of us that like memoirs. I hope he writes another one in a few years if there's more to tell.

5 comments about Nine and a Half Weeks: A Memoir of a Love Affair.

1. I really liked this book, it had some mystery and suspence. Well written.
   We are reading this book for our Monthly Book Club.



2. I bought this at a supermarket years ago--surprising for the content inside. I remembered it as very, very sexy but when I read it again, there was nothing graphic about the nonetheless powerful sexuality; even more of an achievement.
   
   The "love affair" eventually bounces up against the submissive author's limits. What happens after that makes me think the book is true, as she claims. I certainly hope 2 people experienced these adventures and I only hope to do as well in my life!



3. This book satisfied the curiosity the film generated in me. It is an unusually stark description of the affair, like a diary. No apologies, no attempts on her part to change him, but it made it clear that even though her heart hurt from his treatment, her body exploded with pleasure, never to feel that way again.
   It was one of the very few books I've read, where I could not come up with a different way for the story to go. Given their personalities, it could have only happened as Elizabeth McNeill wrote that it happend.



4. "Nine and a Half Weeks" chronicles the speedy decline of one woman into a relationship of S&M that goes beyond the bedroom and dominates her every action and emotion.
   
   Told in the first person by the woman, you never discover the names of the two characters but you feel the passion, the love, and the pain both physical and especially emotional. It's disturbing to read complete submission between two people and you think to yourself you'd never turn over so much control to another person but you never really know until you live it.
   
   The simplicity of this book is what really makes it complicated and even more compelling to read. So many books are packed with pages and pages of fluff but this book is exquisite by simply telling the story with out volumous pages of prose. Beautifully written.
   
   girldiver:)



5. This is a wonderful glimpse into the very private world of Dominance and submission. What is most shocking about this book is that McNeill wrote her story - and got it published - in the seventies, while this subject-matter is still controversial and hush-hush today.
   
   Her prose is clean, unadorned, yet the book is titillating and thought-provoking. The writer tells her shocking tale in a matter-of-fact way, neither judging nor condoning anyone's behavior, nor making apologies for what is simply a seldom revealed side of human nature.
   
   Those who have more than a passing interest in Erotic Power Exchange will enjoy McNeill's heartfelt account of what must have been - judging by the book's final words - the most important, intense relationship of her life - for better or for worse.
   
   I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood.

1. Truly one of the most powerful, lyrical memoirs I've read. The reader aches with recognition and hope in witnessing the struggle of one young man with the force of his parents' absolute determination that he will not be lost to the streets and the dark allure of releasing his own grip and allowing the river of hopelessness, self-abandonment, and despair sweep him along and ultimately drown him. Coates' honesty is remarkable and his triumphs hard fought and hard won. The writing itself flows with the same power that is found in skillfully written poetry - it surges into the unconsciousness in almost wordless images that speak to the vulnerable and struggling part of all of us. HIGHLY recommended.



2. Some stories are petit fours perfectly placed on dessert doilies and chased with chamomile tea. This story is not. This is a heartfelt center cut penned in rhythmic motion to the beat of Mr. Coates own djembe. I savored every word, marked passages that gave me goosebumps, and feared missing the next course if I put it down. Though I would've liked to know a bit more about the mother figure in this struggle, it is an aptly named triumph for both reader and writer, and in the end I dipped my biscuit in the gravy and smiled. Score one for us Mr. Coates.



3. As someone who grew up as a "county boy" around the same period as this book there was a lot of things that I could relate to. I saw myself and my childhood and my relationship with my father at times when reading this book. Though my experiences were not quite the same I do share a lot of similarities with the author and how he was raised.
   
   An excellent read as well as a great insight on growing up in a city that forced you to be hard even if you were not built for that.



4. You know, as one escalates in age, but in particularly, in maturity with a little dose of wisdom and a touch of discernment, you begin to look at your parents as multi dimensional people. You realize, no they were not put on this earth to make your life miserable and without even consciously realizing it, the life lessons they taught you, the pitfalls they tried to keep you from falling into, become your reality. Ta-Nehisi Coates has penned a memoir for the hip hop( the ORIGINAL hip hop) generation. What I appreciated about Mr. Coates recollection of his childhood and coming of age tale was the fact that he didn't try to explain, defend or deny his father. He simply opened the door to the portals of ones mind, so that we can see the trials and triumphs of an american family. I appreciate Mr. Coates forth rightness about his father's inability to me faithful to any one woman, and how that may or may not have affected him. One of the most humorous passages of the book is when the elder Coates has enlisted Ta-Nehisi to go through the labyrinth of books and pamphlets in the garage and he proceeds to write line by line what Ta-Nehisi did or didn't do even down to Ta-Nehisi playing with his younger brother! That was classic! A heart wrenching passage is when the younger Mr. Coates shares with the reader his fathers utter disappointment and advising him of how he has shamed the Coates name. I will never forget, Ta-Nehisi advising the reader that no matter what you have heard about black men/boys, they do not want to fail or be deemed as a failure. This to me is one of the best memoirs for our generation and generations to come. I look forward to hearing more from this man.



5. While the author is a talented writer -- and his blog is a must read daily -- his sometimes lack of personal insight mars an interesting story. His father is an intriguing character, with many contradictions between personal and professional. Some would say some of his father's parenting borders on abusive, others would say such directness is necessary in this type of environment.
   
   Plus, Coates' humor -- you've got to read of his parents' courtship -- is wonderful and moves the story beautifully.

5 comments about I Thought My Father Was God: And Other True Tales from NPR's National Story Project.

1. This is not a book by Paul Auster. It's a book by me. And you. And your smart neighbor. No, the other one, the smart, creative one.
   
   I know this because, if you're reading this review, you're that neighbor (and you have a neighbor or two like you). When you read this book, and you should, you'll read stories by folks who, like you, think once in a while, "I should write that down." "I can think in adjectives and adverbs about that, and that is something I think someone else might want to see, too."
   
   Someone has told you, "You should write a book," but you've never really sat down to do that because, even though your life is full and rich and there have been sorrows and amazements and happinesses and crime and death and dogs and your father's car on a hot vacation trip sitting next to your cousin, your life is too full to take the time to sit and do something as mundane and time-consuming as write.
   
   But these 179 people did just that. I have to warn you that you can't read this like a regular book. Its rhythm is single drumbeats, not cascades and bar after bar. Each story is itself. Each story is introduced in the first paragraph, which is so different from the last paragraph of the story before that if you allow yourself to read like you usually do, your eyes will simply register the individual letters of the next story while your mind is still absorbing the last. It will be mulling, savoring, feeling like the woman whose father heard her first words speaking of life's responsibilities after spending her first really full day at his mortuary, that last sentence seeping into crevices of your grey matter and prying out little (and big) thoughts and hopes and connections and worries hidden because you haven't yet had time to write.
   
   You'll need to stop your eyes moving halfway through that next story, because you'll have missed the first paragraph of these stories that are over in an eyeblink but carry weight, most just a little, some considerable, but in sum giving you the reason you've always needed to sit with your word processor and add to the tome.
   
   Go back and read from the beginning. It's worth the time and effort. Then sit and write another. -- rg



2. Heard I THOUGHT MY FATHER WAS GOD, edited and read by
   Paul Auster . . . this is a collection of stories that came as a result
   of a call to listeners of National Public Radio's WEEKEND ALL
   THINGS CONSIDERED . . . more than 4,000 were submitted.
   
   I couldn't really tell whether they were fact or fiction; it really
   didn't matter . . . after taking me a while to warm up to them,
   I quickly became interested in what others had to say about such
   subjects as Animals, Families, War, Love, and Dreams.
   
   Some stories were mundane, but many others were quite
   moving . . . in particular, I was touched by the one involving a
   small boy's realization that his mother has pawned her wedding ring
   so that she can buy him a school uniform.
   
   As the author notes: [I was most interested in] stories that defied
   our expectations about the world, anecdotes that revealed the mysterious
   and unknowable forces at work in our lives, in our family histories, in
   our minds and bodies, in our souls. . . . I was hoping to put together . . . a
   museum of American reality."
   
   He has succeeded . . . my only criticism has to do with the
   narration . . . Auster handled the stories from male readers just
   fine . . . I would have preferred a member of the opposite for
   stories from female readers.



3. The sheer variety of life experiences gives the reader a new perspective on their own lives, seeing how sometimes simple events can have a profound effect upon oneself or others. Helps you realize today's "disaster" may be the event that leads to tomorrow's SUNSHINE. Covering the USA, I ran into a story from a nearby town in which a dear friend of mine was mentioned by first name only, but instantly recognizable because of her loving kindness toward a family member of the storyteller. Adults (young and old) can pick up valuable "life lessons" without the preaching that usually accompanys them.



4. I had heard about this book from a friend. I not only enjoyed reading it, as I did so it gave me a greater appreaciation for my own father. As my father laid dying, my brother and I took turns reading selected stories to him. It gave us a chance to tell him how much we (now as adults) appreaciated his years of parenting. I highly recommend it.



5. I love the stories in this book. I love how they are written by "real" people, not professional writers. I love how they are true, and how every one, no matter how short, makes you feel or learn something strong and beautiful.
   After reading each story, though, you will struggle with trying to decide if you should pause and feel the new emotion each one gave you, or if you should quickly flip through the next page, asking for more. I'm a greedy reader and I usually did the latter while reading this. But for the second read, I will force myself to reflect.

4 comments about Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen.

1. I read My Bloody Life and DEVOURED every word on every page, I was completely impressed with it and passed it on to many people who loved it just as much as I did. Of course, upon finishing that book, I couldnt wait to get my hands on the second book, Once a King, Always a King, which I also loved and passed on to others who were anxiously waiting ti read it. So you can imagine how eager I was to read THIS one, I was instantly intrigued when I saw it was about the same type of situation but while focusing on a female. Oh how disappointing. I found myself reading it and being far more critical about the subjectof the book, which I didnt like feeling. I'm not sure what could have improved it, I just wanted to write this to let others know that if you've read the other two and enjoyed them and are looking forward to reading this one and being equally satisfied, you probably wont be.



2. What a bunch of fluff to cover up all the lives Lady Q messed up and murdered.
   She knows right from wrong and she still can't get it together.
   Her first child was damaged from all the drug and drink she did.
   She should have to pay for all the extra special education the child needed not the tax payers.
   
   I don't have any sympathy for her. Like I said she knew right from wrong and choose to do the wrong.
   
   Grow up!



3. Never could i imagined being in Sonia's shoes. The pain she endured during her life was painful and hard to believe. I can't believe she lived a life like that. While she told her story of being an abused child, unloved and unwanted, I just wanted to reach through the pages in the book, give her a hug, and rescue her from her painful life. This book is definitley a must read for anyone who is thinking about gang-life. And even if your not thinking about gang life, it's an incredible, heartbreaking story that people must read.



4. I have read both of Reymundo Sanchez books and they were great! But this book... pretty much repeated it self over and over and over again. I dont want to say too much without giving the entire book but I'll let you be the judge. I read the book in 5 days and was just simply not what I expected.

5 comments about Things I Learned About My Dad: Humorous and Heartfelt Essays, edited by the creator ofwww.dooce.com.

1. Fans of dooce.com and similar blogs will probably find this collection of essays on fatherhood entertaining. Some of the stories are better than others as with most compilations. The writing is similar to what you would find on a well-written blog - often witty, but not always well-written.



2. This is a compilation of stories written by people chosen not for their stellar writing, but because they are personal friends with the editor. The stories, consequently, range from wonderful to dreadful. Overall, the selection was quite uneven.



3. [...] Heather B. Armstrong picks the best of parenting bloggers and has them write about Fatherhood. But surprisingly, the chapters do not read like blog posts but really a collection of stories. One of these is classic tale of Star Wars obssession, but the story by Matthew Baldwin that likens pregnancy to The Return of the King was an absolute classic. And there are some others that hit the mark. This is definitely one to take a look at the next time you are browsing.



4. It wasn't a fast read. It was a slow and dangerous read, a dark and twisty and sentimental read. A collection of stories invoking all sorts of fathers, goofy fathers, angry fathers, fathers suffering from dementia and conservatism, fathers as overwhelmed as mothers, fathers preparing to divorce mothers, fathers reliving their Star Wars infatuations with their sons. Earnest fathers. Scared fathers. Loving fathers. Human fathers. The collection reminds me of the Deadwood bar in Iowa City, a land of dark booths, horrible coffee and upside-down Christmas trees. Thick and smoke-filled and shot through with cool. The people who were comfortable there will like this book. I loved the Deadwood.



5. Some of the essays are excellent, some mediocre at best. Better editing would have been a bonus.

5 comments about Of Permanent Value: The Story of Warren Buffett/2008 Cosmic Edition/2 volumes.

1. 1,800+ pages in length, this must be the most comprehensive treatise on the subject of Warren Buffett extant. This two-volume book is broken into 333 chapters, many just a page or two long. In addition there are many photos. Hence reading it is not as daunting as its length might suggest. Add to this Mr. Kilpatrick's engaging and light-hearted treatment of his subject and it makes for enjoyable as well as informative reading. Mr. Kilpatrick has been researching and writing about the Buffett phenomenon for the better part of two decades, so he knows whereof he speaks. One comes away with an enhanced appreciation of the genius, the integrity, and the generosity of "the Oracle of Omaha." Highly recommended reading.



2. Without question, Andy has put together the most comprehensive bio ever on the greatest investor of all time. No doubt about it, each book gets better, and no one but Andy has the latest facts and information and not just warmed up leftovers. I am fascinated that Andy can always add something new such as the 10 lbs of See's that Warren sent to Andy and Pat to keep the marriage together, but most of all is the manner in which he delivers his tome. He is forthright and comes with all the facts. The factual data here is second to none, and I would have to say that anyone writing on Warren today is going to sooner or later, get hold of Andy to get some informatin. This is a must read for True Buffett fans, and for those not so big fans, you are missing the masterpiece of the ongoing saga of Warren Buffett. I am already looking forward to the 2009 and 2010 editions. What a monster BRK will be then.



3. In my opinion, Of Permanent Value 2008 Cosmic Edition by Andy Kilpatrick is the best book about Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway (which I also believe it is the thickest book about Warren/Berkhire, and for the better). It also covers important people around/related to Warren Buffett. Simply, this book is a must read for all Warren Buffett fans and all value investor.
   
   First, eventhough this book is very abundant in information (i.e. thick), it is not boring to read. One of the reason is that the chapters are mostly short (and getting directly to the point). If you don't feel like reading the whole book, you can always pick the chapters that interest you. Kudos to Andy Kilpatrick for putting this book together and continue to update the story about the greatest value investor of our time. I also appreciate Andy Kilpatrick's (and Warren Buffett's) sense of humor.
   
   Secondly, this 2008 Cosmic Edition contains several important improvements/updates. Some of the example:
   1. Lots of awesome color photos (page 1117-1190, etc)
   2. Updates on Warren Buffett/Berkshire Hathaway activity during the year 2007 and early 2008 (Business update, 2007 Annual Shareholder Meeting, Berkshire 60% purchase of $7B business/Marmon Holdings, Warren business trip to Canada, China, South Korea, etc)
   3. A photo index on page 1813 (with 1,400+ photos, it is really nice to have an index for the photos)
   
   I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do. I have read this book more than once (including the previous versions). I learn so much from Of Permanent Value, and I learn something new everytime I read it.
   
   Below I added more detail review about the content of the book.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Sidarta Tanu
   
   =============================================================
   Now about the content of the book. You will learn a lot about Warren Buffett and his life, and not only investing topic (investing decisions that he made throughout his career) but his life principles, family, and business in general as well. You will learn about his first job delivering papers when he was 13 (he filed income tax and deducted the bike as business cost), and how he build his first business (pinball machine business), created Buffett partnership, break it up (liquidate), acquire berkshire mills, creating Berkshire Hathaway as investment vehicle, and many other great investment decision/story that he made (Geico, See's Candies, Dairy Queen, General Re, Coca Cola, Salomon, Washington Post, Gillette etc)
   
   Buffett concrete rules for investing are:
   1. Never lose money
   2. Never forget rule #1
   
   I know it's easier said (what he say above about to never lose money) than done based on my 10 years of invesitng experience , but then again I'm no Warren Buffett.
   
   In my opinion, here are the 5 strategy/skills that Warren Buffett uses (Mr. Buffett, please correct me if I'm wrong):
   1. Intrinsic Value
   2. Margin of Safety
   3. Temperament (discipline and understanding Mr.Market)
   4. Circle of Competence (knowing what your circle of competence)
   5. Common Sense (which I think is the most important factor and encapsulate everything about Warren Buffett.)
   
   You will learn that Warren is very good with numbers (calculating in his head) and memorizing so many facts and numbers. You will also learn that Warren is a man with a very good sense of humor.
   
   There are so many things/chapters that I like on this book. Let me try to mention three of my favorite sections.
   
   One is when Warren need to make a decision who would run Salomon ($150B institution with 8000 employees) within 2 days during their first crisis. There are 12 top-level managers that he interviewed. "This was the most important hire of my life", said Warren to the Columbia business students. The chapter explain his thought process of this candidate selection in detail. Warren mentioned that the good news (for the students and the candidate) is that he didn't ask what their grades were (laughter). Warren also said, "Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. and if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you. if you think about it, it's true, if you hire somebody without integrity, you want them to be dumb and lazy" (laughter). And he conclude the topic with this statement which I think is very powerful: "Pick the kind of person to work for you that you want to marry your son or daughter. You won't go wrong". By the way, he picked Deryck Maughan by the way for his integrity.
   
   Another chapter that I really like is how Warren put the audience (of more than 2000 people) through Business School in an electrifying two minutes (The chapter about "Generics"). See how Warren answer the question of "Will developments in the generic brand area hurt coca-cola?" which is a very important questions. I'll try not to spill too much and take the joy of reading this chapter yourself but he basically explains in a nutshell (with all the details and numbers) how business and competition works (and using several other example like Gilette, Marlboro, Sam Cola etc) and how he convinced the audience (and me as a reader) that coca cola is considered immune to generics. He explains how one can save $500 for smoking generic brand (vs Marlboro) which is a lot of money. While a man will probably will only save $11 per year by not using Gilette Sensor and probably leave band-aids on his face and an uncomfotable experience for opting for generics/lower quality blades. And for coca cola, the net profit margin is only 1 cents per serving (can) while a lot of the ingredients cost (such as the aluminium close to 6 cents a can, sugar 1.3 ounce per can or 1.75 cents etc) the same regardless for coke or other cola company.
   
   The third chapter that I like is when Warren is being questioned by CEOs about what is his best advice for CEOs/leaders.. expecting to get some standard answers like honesty and loyalty.. Warren actually didn't even touch those areas (which I'm sure Warren do think those are also important).. but what Warren actually said is, "Set your expectation low, and you will rarely get dissapointed".
   
   I'll stop here before it's getting too long. In summary, If you are a Warren Buffett fans, then this book is for you. If you are uncertain, you can get other books first (potentially less thick book), like "Warren Buffet Way" or maybe "Buffettology", and if you like them (Warren) or want to know more about Warren then get this book. I personally don't like it at the beginning but as time goes by (and after I re-read the book/chapters), I changed my mind, this book is a masterpiece.
   
   As a Berkshire shareholder, I want to encourage all berkshire shareholders (and potential/future shareholders) to read this book to know more about the person in charge of your berkshire investment. I also want to encourage all shareholders to go to the annual shareholder meeting while Mr. Buffett is still in charge.
   
   Last but not least, if I have to sum this book up in a word or two, I would use the word "WISDOM" to describe this book, though I have a strong feeling that Warren will disagree with me and think that the more suitable phrase is "COMMON SENSE"
   =================================================================



4. Having followed and admired the "Oracle of Omaha" for nearly 25 years, I am very grateful to Andy Kilpatrick for delivering such a definitive and important compilation of Buffett's life and times.
   
   And best of all, it is a lot of fun. For those of us whose eye's may "glaze over" trying to wade through tedious and detailed financial volumes, no worries here.
   
   Fortunately for us, the author understands completely that Buffett's genius is not easily quantified with the "usual" business metrics and that understanding shines through in chapter after chapter that reveal "insights" into Buffett's brilliant character not often found from other sources.
   
   Andy has a special talent in bringing out and highlighting the most unique aspects of Buffett's long and unparalleled career, with multiple stories that are interspersed with both professional and personal "human interest" nuggets.
   
   Kilpatrick's long years of detailed research have yielded a treasure trove of anecdotes, pictures and details which are not only illustrative of Buffett's legendary financial genius, but also provide intimate insights into his exceptional personal and human qualities.
   
   Additionally, Andy's unique style of compiling short and concise chapters on a myriad of subjects relating to Buffett lends itself to quick reads which are not only eminently readable, but also very convenient to return to again and again for reference.
   
   We all know that enjoying one's work is an essential ingredient to success. This book's amusing and interesting anecdotes regarding Buffett's personal and business qualities not only drive that point home time and time again, but the author's obvious love of the subject matter also proves the point. As one other reviewer so aptly put it, this is clearly a "labor of love".
   
   For the most complete and entertaining compilation of "All Things Buffett", the "Cosmic Edition" is a winner and I highly recommend it.



5. During Charlie Munger's 2007 WESCO annual meeting in Pasadena , Mr. Munger was asked who was the number one Warren Buffett fan in the world. Out of the unlimited number of possibilities, Mr. Munger (Buffett's long time partner who runs Berkshire with Buffett) responded quickly "Andy Kilpatrick without a doubt".
   
   Andy's latest two volume Buffett biography/Berkshire chronology is a work of absolute genius. A master of details and amusing anecdotes, Kilpatrick keeps the reader entertained over the entire odyssey of Buffett's life and unparalled success in the investment world.
   
   Unlike other Buffett writers like Roger Lowenstein whose books have now become dated and stale, Andy Kilpatrick keeps us up to date on all that is important in the life of Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett.
   
   The 2008 Cosmic Edition is a "must have" for all serious Buffett fans and students. Readers will love the color photos in this latest edition. Like "The Oracle of Omaha" himself, Andy Kilpatrick gets better writing about this American icon with every new edition. Kudos to "The Sage of Birmingham", Andy Kilpatrick !!!!

5 comments about Madame Curie: A Biography.

1. This book should be on every Mother's list of gifts for her daughter. What a beautiful portrait of a mother by her daughter. In this age of "feminism" this should also be a must read for women in general. Madame Curie was in a class of intellectual genius by herself. She is one of the most outstanding woman scientists ever - and she was Polish!
   She is a great example as a human being, a woman, a mother, a "Polack", a scientist, a wife. Needless to say I was very impressed by the book. The thought that this was written so beautifully by this woman's daughter never left my awareness. This book certainly made this half-Polack extremely proud of his heritage.



2. This is one of the books that will remain closest to me...the kind of book I would definitely have on my own children's bookshelf. I unfortunately had to stop reading the book midway because the library wanted it back, and I was also going to be out of town. Three months later, I still felt compelled to go back to the library and finish off the remaining two or three chapters.
   
   The book is a detailed account of Marie Curie's personal and professional life. And who better to tell this story than Eve, her own daughter. The genius in Mme. Curie was a direct result of her dedication to hard work and an amazing work ethic. From a peasant Polish family, she faced many challenges and postponed her own education and worked for a wealthy family to help pay for her older sister's education. Such was Marie's spirit and selflessness - which extended to her research and her work in science.
   
   Her creation, radium, was the ultimate criminal that led to her untimely death, when she felt she still had a lot to accomplish. The lady was indeed a noble gift to the science world.



3. I say that for a biography was pretty good. There was a few boring parts that made me want to put the book. I wouldn't have read this book for pleasure. I had to read it for a physics project. I gave the book 3 stars because I did not necessary enjoy this because it was for school.



4. Madame Curie is a touching and honest biography. It tells the perserving story of Marie Curie, a native Pole who would seem out of place in France and--being a woman in a more prejudice timeframe--in the scientific community in general. Although this was the case, it did not stop her from becoming one of the most prolific and important scientists in the realm of physics and chemistry.

   Within this book is held the tale of a woman who worked almost every single minute of her life in either the laboratory, the classroom, or her own home. But she never faltered under pressure and endured inhospitable laboratory conditions (she was originally working in a shed to help discover radium, the element that created the field of radiation cancer treatment and spurred the field of nuclear science.

   As a biographer, Eve Curie remains factual in content, allowing the reader to form an unbiased opinion of her mother. She buttresses the book with personally letters to and from Marie Curie, which add a first hand account of certain aspects of her mother's life.

   A must read for anyone looking for a heartwarming story.




5. The book is a reprint of the biography written by Marie Curie's daughter, Eve Curie in 1937. It is a book which should be read by all - especially aspiring scientists. Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in France, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize and the first person to receive two Nobel prizes. The work she accomplished under the most difficult situations for a scientist is truly inspiring. When asked why she and her husband, Pierre Curie did not patent the procedure for extraction and purification of radium, something which would have made them very wealthy, she said "No, It would be contrary to the scientific spirit." How refreshing, since in today's world the first thought of scientists is patenting their discoveries.