review

Book Review: Poke The Box by Seth Godin

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Poke The Box by Seth Godin
ISBN-10: 1936719002
ISBN-13: 978-1936719006

PROS:

  • Good, "eloquent rant" style.
  • Explores a number of angles about the core subject.
  • Neither overly long or short – just right to get you going.

CONS:

  • Occasionally repetitive.
  • Doesn't provide a blueprint – just the push.

SUMMARY: Godin at his best, provoking you to think and take initiative.  A definite must-read.

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Book Review: The Price Of Everything

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The Price of Everything: Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do by Eduardo Porter
# ISBN-10: 1591843626
# ISBN-13: 978-1591843627

PROS:

  • Makes you think seriously about prices and economics on a variety of subjects.
  • Has fascinating historical and cultural insights, with plenty of references.
  • Asks – and answers – some hard economic questions.
  • Extremely readable and accessible.

CONS:

  • References are arranged in a hard, odd-to-use way.
  • At times the author's opinion intrudes on his analysis.
  • Discusses solutions to economic issues, but not in much depth.

SUMMARY: An accessible and thought-provoking look at how economics affects almost everything we do that's good for people who want a better handle on the psychology of our economic behaviors.

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Review: Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America by Matt Taibbi

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Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America
by Matt Taibbi

# ISBN-10: 0385529953
# ISBN-13: 978-0385529952

PROS:

  • Covers areas of financial fraud both well-known and obscure in the American economy over the last few decades.
  • Surprisingly deep and human treatment of the issues and the politics helps you understand the people and the issues.
  • Makes an attempt to explain the financial issues that often go unreported and mis-understood.
  • Attempts to keep a sense of humor about some of these things as horrible as they are.

CONS:

  • Explanation of economic issues really is not kept simple enough to explain to people without an interest in economics.
  • The author's mixture of humor, outrage, and swearing may turn some off (while others will enjoy it immensely).
  • Doesn't always dig deep enough into the patterns described.
  • Has little suggestion on solutions to the problems.

SUMMARY: Griftopia is a flawed, but interesting, examination of decades of financial fraud in America.  It is more for people who have the inclination and knowledge to dig further into the financial messes in the US.

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