The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker 8/10
This may be one of the books Alvy buys for Annie in Annie Hall, but it's totally not about death, and more about Freud, Jung and other major psychoanalysts of the last century; ergo it's one of the densest books I've ever been exposed to and totally captivating. There are only two another books that I've been in the middle of and thought, I'll want and need to re-read/listen to this.
Legacy of Ashes by Timothy Weiner 8/10
This the most boring book I've ever listened to and every American should have to digest it before they get to vote again. If I ever had any doubt that Ron Paul's desire to eliminate the CIA, scratch that, CIA's covert operations was 100% the way to go the author completely erased it. Everything action or in the agency's case, foul-up is completely sourced. Dulles and company seemingly couldn't have done more than three things right since their inception; recent history for sure is no help. The CIA's dealings were effectively the history of the world after WWII. Interesting tidbit; that famous shot of the last chopper out of Saigon wasn't of the U.S. embassy, but a CIA safe house. I dare you to take this book on in any form; just gird yourself to be pummeled with "station chief" in every sentence.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain 7/10
This was just a really fast and interesting story about a guy that could have totally junkied out, but somehow made a career for himself and then gave readers a crazy look into the kitchen and finances of the food service industry. I was particularly troubled to hear that he never never never orders mussels, my appetizer of choice, because they've probably been sitting for way too long in a rank five gallon bucket in the walk in, and gladdened by his recrimination of those who preach the fifteen knife gospel in advising that all you need is one heavy chef's knife that sharpens well.
John Adams by David McCullough 7/10
Mac fully convinced me that John Adams was our number one patriot (a word I feel needs to be reappropriated from the Neo-Cons) in spirit and definitely only behind Washington in reality. Adams hated slavery, and despite being a bona fide Puritan tried unsuccessfully to get his fellow Massachutens to extend religious freedom to jews. If Jefferson was the 76ers finesse big-play wideout, Adams was the work horse back who sacrifices his body and guarantees victory by controlling the clock. This was no where near as enthralling as 1776 and it seemed more than a little long, but I can't bring myself o give it a six.
If you are a Bob Dylan fiend bike don't run to audible and download this short stack for a measly ten dollars. Mark not only gives the history and story behind every song, but gives insights on that period of Dylan's career and tells us how to read between the lines of Pennebaker's 1967 documentary. It's intense to hear about the number one jerk, cool mainly because he hates/doesn't care about anybody or what they think of him crumple like a child under the opinion of the Beatles. The book also gave up a, previously unknown to me, bit of Dylan trivia that I've already used in a Good Will Hunting bar scene dream. Q:What album was Positively 4th Street on? A:None, it was released as a single between Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde. Mark does spend time laboring over who played base on what track, but that's the absolute worst that could said. I'm fired up and ready to destroy the 33 1/3 titles on Songs in the Key of Life and Low.
Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell 8/10
Why would ever read a book by a non-David Sedaris This American Life contributor? Because Sarah could write the shoes off an old school wrestler and even when she is talking about something that couldn't interest you less she delivers it so wittily and from such an unexpected angel that you love even minute of her informative poly-sci quickie.
I normally eschew the bejeezus out of abridged versions, but we unwittingly listened to the abridged as all get out ninety minute version of this book and it was so good that I had to rave about it. Everything he says is so basic, but somehow still so unrealized by the gender being informed by the Doc of their partners desires; which are basically this. Men, shut the hell up and just listen with out trying to fix the problem, no matter how many zillions of times she comes complaining to you about the same inane thing that isn't directly related to you. Women, shut the hell up and leave him alone when he is mad or frustrated; he'll come out of his cave when he's ready and leave. him the flip alone until then. This stupidly simple advice has probably saved the sig and I from untold man hours of discord, and it's so short
The set-up is great, it covers a not often addressed but seemingly influential period, Larson is a master story teller and the Chicago World's Fair architect (guy that did the Flatiron building) and the whacked out serial killer couldn't be more compelling, but I was never fully sucked in for long.
Shadow Divers 6/10
People love this book, and if you have a red and white flag decal on the rear window of your ride, are a WWII buff, or have ever vacationed in a tropical region you've probably already read it and are damning my misguided rating of six, but this thing would have been way to slow/long in parts to actually read. That said, the mystery is real, the numerous scuba adventures/deaths are riveting, and the description of sea town life legit. It just could have wrapped up more quickly. Shoot those dives were crazy..., nope sticking with a six.
