Recent book reviews – Apr 2010
Here are quick reviews of the books I have read recently. Yay public libraries!
Title: The Art of Possibility
Author: Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
Source: Los Angeles Public Library
Interest: 2.5 stars 
I first learned of the conductor Benjamin Zander from this wonderful TED talk. When I later discovered he had written a book with his wife about his approach to managing personal and professional issues, I was excited to read it.
The Art of Possibility is a series of stories by the two authors, arranged by themes like “Launching the Journey” and “It’s All Invented”. The stories are interesting and revealing of the Zanders’ approach to life. They spend much of the book discussing ways to deal with challenging situations that help maintain a positive attitude. I particularly enjoyed Ben’s music-related stories, dealing with the various challenges that face a conductor.
There were moments when I felt the authors belabored a point, and the text had hints of the tiresome, business-self-help genre. Some of these feelings are probably attributable to my previous exposure to Mr Zander’s stories. I also feel I already implement many of the conscientious-thinking concepts of the book so I found myself skipping sections.
Title: Money for Nothing
Author: Edward Ugel
Source: Los Angeles Public Library
Interest: 1 star 
Money for Nothing is the self-told story of an agent in the lottery buyout business. For years Edward Ugel worked for “The FIrm”, offering up-front cash to buy out lottery winners’ remaining awards. Some of the stories are surprising and intimate, offering a fascinating, insider’s view into the lottery world. Unfortunately, other stories feel a bit like exploitation. Ugel is complicit in the under-handed affairs he contributed to (and continues to profit from with the publication of this book), but after years of taking advantage of people for financial gain, the book’s contents and the author’s tone do little to atone.
Title: Ayn Rand and the World She Made
Author: Anne C. Heller
Source: Los Angeles Public Library
Interest: 3.5 stars 
On more than one occasion discussing philosophy, friends have said I sound like Ayn Rand. Not having read either of her formidable works, Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged, I didn’t know if I agreed. I decided to cut to the chase and read Anne C. Heller’s extremely comprehensive biography. Heller does a remarkable job piecing together the varied and highly-charged remnants of Rand’s story. The biography reveres Rand’s substantial intellect and impact on American history, but still remains objective, and at times critical, regarding Rand’s inconsistencies and personal flaws. The biography was a fascinating read for me, revealing that I indeed share several quirky beliefs with Rand, and in other ways am diametrically opposed. I share her overwhelming belief in rationality and the power of individuals, her scepticism of “altruism”, her anti-war and pro-choice stances, her athiesm — especially as she espoused these beliefs 50 years ago, as a Jewish, female immigrant. Her resolve and individuality are inspiring. At the same time, however, her philosophy led to beliefs that I find shockingly misguided — her exaltation of the “man hero”, her homophobia, and her ability to coldly reject long-time friends and followers for minor deviations from her philosophy. In the end, Anne C. Heller’s biography captures the full, complicated Ayn Rand, both illustrious and tragic.
Title: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Author: Edward R. Tufte
Source: Los Angeles Public Library
Interest: 4.5 stars 
I have recently begun a project to track my consumption habits with the goal of creating an annual report that allows me to review and compare my consumption to my production. As I started creating a draft of the report, i realized I have no idea how to design graphs and dislplay statistical information. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information is the classic text by one of the great thinkers in the field of visual communication. This book is filled with examples of great graphs, drawings, and diagrams, plus clear explanations of the underlying principles. A great read for graphic designers and anyone interested in creating beautiful, expressive graphs.
Title: Visual Explanations
Author: Edward R. Tufte
Source: Los Angeles Public Library
Interest: 3.5 stars
Probably intended to be read before The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Visual Explanations discusses the fundamental concepts of visual information. Also a revered work in the field, the book is inspiring and fun to read, but has less of the practical information I was seeking.
Title: Envisioning Information
Author: Edward R. Tufte
Source: Los Angeles Public Library
Interest: 4 stars 
Though there is a fair amount of recycled information from Tufte’s other two books here, some of the examples are particularly inspiring and practically useful. I realized I need to make a composition timetable like the one Tufte shows on page 111, showing time to completion of Wagner’s major operas. Envisioning Information is more of the same Tufte goodness.
Title: Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly
Author: James E. McWilliam
Source: Los Angeles Public Library
Interest: 2 stars 
Unfortunately, the book’s tone in the first few chapters is unnecessarily negative. The goal of showing “where locavores get it wrong” should instead be, “additional things eco-conscious people should know about our food”. He quickly sets himself in opposition to the eco-friendly reader when the author’s gripe is not with the concept of eating locally at all. He simply laments putting simplified labels like “local” and “organic” above a deeper understanding of the complicated nature of food production. Thankfully, the book moves on to explain why and where pesticides can be a useful tool, how “local” does not equal “low-energy input”, and how being vegetarian is essential to environmentalism.
Tags: book reviews