Book reviews for 2008

Since NYC, I have been reading voraciously (ie previous post) and wanted to give some of my thoughts.

1. Dark Summit by Nick Heil- Everest in 2006 brought the 10 year firestorm over how it has transformed over the years. 2006 dwarfed 1996 (year that Krakauer wrote Into Thin Air) in terms of ethical issues on the mountain. 40 people walked by a climber who was dying by himself in their quest for the summit. Another guy was left by sherpas to die, he somehow survives overnight, and sherpas kicked him down the mountain. And Russell Brice, an expedition leader, has emerged as one of the most controversial figures in mountaineering. Enjoyed very much.

2. The Turnaround by George Pelecanos- Pelecanos is a mystery writer, and also was a writer on The Wire. Is predictable ,but would highly recommend, feel good book.

3. Boomtown by Christopher Buckley- Very funny, guy who wrote "Thank you for Smoking", and to have a premise of "Saving Social Security" with monetary incentives to Baby Boomers who volutarily commit suicide is fantastic. Another book, Little Green Men, where the Meet the Press host is kidnapped by government agents posing as aliens, is not good. I am getting ready to read Supreme Courtship, where the President can get any of his Supreme Court nominees through Congress, so he nominates the most popular judge in America, a "Judge Judy" type.

4. Shultz- Biography on Charles Schultz. Long, a bit boring, but liked the St Paul references, and it was clear he had some underlying issues.

5. My life standing- Steve Martin. Not as good as I would have hoped. Interesting life though. Was hoping for a more of a grand answer on why he quit stand-up.

6. Black Swan by Taleb- Best thought provoking business book I have read in a long time, rethinking randomness and standard bell curves will never be the same.

7. Panic by Michael Lewis- Was OK, but I can't stand it when writers pass off past columns as a book.

8. Tree of Smoke- Denis Johnson. Started to read it and got bored.

Next up- American Buffalo, Snowball, and Andrew Jackson.

Anyone else read anything enjoyable lately?