Phil Preston
Can't say I enjoyed it as much as the hype of “classic” would suggest. The story and themes interesting however the writing wasn't. Maybe that's just my problem to deal with.
Interesting read and beautifully written, although a book where too much hard thinking was required to figure it out!
Hits a lot of fringe and uncomfortable issues. Really got into this from half way on. Live the unconventional nature if his work and the subject matter.
Gotta love a book that uses humour to unmask some pretty unsavoury historical moments! Should be a compulsory read.
A long, boring read. The humour was too slapstick for mine. Maybe funny in its day but all I could think was that perhaps it was just one long dream, given that some of the scenarios were like things that occur in dreams (talking to guy in plane who couldn't hear and he kept repeating). Sorry for all the fans out there, I tried.
Despite an awkward start to the book, this has some great methods for applying innovation in organisations., giving great insight into the growing management gap between companies that “get it” and those that are failing to adapt to new social dynamics.
Section 1 is a rant that doesn't really fit the rest of the book. Suggest it is avoided!
This is TC doing what he does best: stories about lives that intertwine and deliver themes that are as relevant to today (dysfunctional relationships, environmental sustainability, individual vs the State etc) as they were for the era he writes in. I found this to be similar in style to the Water Music premise and the writing to be just as engaging and effortless to read. Highly recommended.
Far out, this was a wolf in sheep's clothing in a good way. One of the most intensely insightful studies of human character. All I can say is “thanks” to Rachel Joyce!
Interesting idea for a book and a couple of the chapters were more interesting than others. An important topic to take on and provide insight into.
An exceedingly boring story for much of it, and it was the last 100 pages that saved it. I found the plot to be very linear and repetitive and, given the nature of the ‘alien' characters, there was not a lot of joy to be found in character development. It was also seemed highly implausible that so many hitchhikers disappeared before the authorities caught on.
The use of words that the reader didn't entirely understand was more annoying than clever. Having said all that, it did become interesting as the central character had to deal with adverse events and a visit from a higher authority. Thank goodness for that!
Reading the synopsis of the movie, it barely resembles this book.
Big picture and message is 100% on the money, but I found the writing, constant name dropping and general style of the book so irritating that I have just abandoned it 2/3 of the way through.
There is also an apparent contradiction between his own lifestyle - which sounds quite carbon intensive - and the message he is preaching.
Difficult to come up with a rating, gave it 3 for strength of message, but on the generous side.
If you want a philosophy book that uses running as its mechanism, this is for you. I was after a running book that had a bit of philosophy added in.
Effortlessly written, effortless to read and all the while an intriguing coming of age and mental health narrative.
This story has many beautiful passages and pontifications on life and, overall, I found it to be a highly charged ball of energy that was hard to put down. I could imagine the writing style might be too intensely descriptive for some. Not for me, though, as there was expediency to go with it. Lauren has nailed some of the great truths of life through the 'girl' without appearing heavy handed or retro-fitting today's values to yesterday's world. It is loosely based on the Jamestown colony in Virginia 1609-1611 which is a sad tale that ended badly. If you haven't read it and feel unsure, do yourself a favour and give it a go because it may just be one of the best books you'll ever read.
TC is on form here - a story that just slides off the page to make a point about the human condition.
A fantastic narration of the Cadbury journey and there was clearly a lot of research that went into it. In terms of the conclusion about the dangers of short term shareholders, I would add that going public gave benefactors liquidity (who later sold down and diversified) and that was the root cause of that problem. The story had extra interest for me as my great grandfather George Frappell came from England to Tasmania in 1921 to help set up the factory, and relatives Basil and Keith Wells worked most of their life in that plant.
Written a fair time ago but timeless in its message and methods, as long as you can mentally update the technology aspects in your own head. I wish I'd read this 3 years ago, would have saved a lot of time and anguish!
Some really good insight here. Seemed to be padded out and ran out of steam near the end, but valuable nonetheless.
What a brilliant book! I found it to be more like “a short history of the world through the eyes of those who have exerted influence through wealth” and would recommend it to anyone as a social or business studies text
I don't know much about the Marx brothers but found this a very enjoyable and informative read. The author manages to bring objectivity and enough pace to maintain interest, which I reckon is often hard for biographies.
The bio itself raises the nature vs nurture question, as well as the impact of social development skills (or lack of). Fascinating read.
Some interesting and poignant moments, and plenty to think about. It seemed to be a work of poetry in itself, in that it analysed and exposed the human condition. When reflecting on whether it was a great book, I can't say there was enough in there to make me want to keep picking it up, or even finishing it for that matter, apart from the fact it was our book club choice.