Review: All the Lonely People

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Horse Racing's Holy Grail: The Epic Quest for the Kentucky Derby

Horse Racing's Holy Grail: The Epic Quest for the Kentucky Derby by Steve Haskin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I see the title of this book - "Horse Racing's Holy Grail: The Epic Quest for the Kentucky Derby" - I expect a serious kind of a history lesson on horse racing. That's not what this book provides. Instead, author Steve Haskin provides a good natured take into mostly recent history of the Derby, mostly the years he has been covering it. He mostly discusses the different "rules of thumb" that people use to handicap the race, ideas like choosing an experienced trainer, and a similar jockey, and dosage factors. He relates stories about each of the rules that he mentions, mostly with humorous anecdotes, many personally witnessed. This came across more like a Patrick McManus story from Outdoor Life than a typical horse race writer. The book's print is large and sparse on the page, and there are many photos inline in the text, so this is a very quick read. If this is the kind of thing you are looking for, great. If you are looking for more of a history lesson, look elsewhere. I enjoyed the amusing interlude.

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Review: Essential Anais Nin

Essential Anais Nin by Anaïs Nin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The best part here is hearing the voice of the famous writer. She speaks calmly, slowly, and with gentle humor. I found the content OK, but somewhat forgettable here.

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Review: Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual

Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I found this book, along with a later book - Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual -- at a booksale and bought them both. While the ST:TNG one has plenty of writing, this one is more plain non-detailed schematic drawings. I can imagine one working on drawing might find this of great interest. Had I found this when I was in elementary school, I would have learned how to draw the Enterprise and other Trek items quite readily. As an adult, this just seems nostalgic.

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Review: How Not to Get Rich: The Financial Misadventures of Mark Twain

How Not to Get Rich: The Financial Misadventures of Mark Twain by Alan Pell Crawford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had previously read the mega-sized three volume Mark Twain complete autobiography that was released in the last decade or so. I found that many of the subjects of Twain’s attempts to become rich, investing in inventions, mining for silver, giving speeches, etc. were well covered in those books, so I knew what to expect here. The author, I thought, told the story of Twain’s money-making schemes with the correct amount of Twain-like humor mixed in, often Twain’s own quotes sharing how foolish he was about investing and earning. Twain had his moneymaking successes, like touring to give speeches, and publishing US Grant’s autobiography, and these are also well covered. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator had a voice that sounded like the Twain of movies, so that added to the appeal. Overall, I found it interesting to read about one person extremely capable in writing really mucking it up on his investments, yet maintaining a sense of humor throughout.

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Review: CryptoDad: The Fight for the Future of Money

CryptoDad: The Fight for the Future of Money by Christopher Giancarlo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It feels like I didn’t even read the same book as other reviewers on Amazon. I will admit it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve finished it, so my memory isn’t that recent. But I will remember this book as a book about a Trump era mid level government executive who describes the mostly positive points of leading a governmental regulatory agency. The author comes across as a smarter than average bureaucrat who attempted to set the agenda for the understanding and acceptance of cryptocurrency by the government. The anecdote I most recall is the author requesting directional acknowledgement by the president, receiving that agreement through layers of governmental hierarchy, and then running with it, through speeches and interviews, at international governmental finance meetings and in the press. OK as a insider governmental story.

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Review: Paradise

Paradise by Laura Maria Censabella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the complexity of this play. The two characters showed often extreme differences in faith, religion, and culture, age and life goals, and understanding of love. I found it interesting how the authors mixed these together in a story revolving around scientific research, in a high school. I found the ending unexpected and bittersweet.

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