Author Archives: Mike
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
Mohsin Hamid’s How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is a novel told in the form of a self-help book. It tells a rags-to-riches (and back again) tale, and mixes in some unrequited love for good measure. The format … Continue reading
Forged: Why Fakes Are the Great Art of Our Age
I am fascinated with con men and others who engage in fraud, including art forgery. In the art world (at least in today’s art world, which is driven in large part by commercial considerations), forgeries raise fundamental questions about the … Continue reading
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Newton’s Football
In Newton’s Football,” Allen St. John and Ainissa Ramirez look at the science behind “America’s game.” They provide an interesting look at the game’s history and innovators as well. Very well done. Read reviews from Goodreads and the LA Times.
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Command and Control
A fascinating history of America’s nuclear arsenal, and the effort to ensure its safety and security. Read reviews from the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and the New Yorker.
This Town
In “This Town,” Mark Leibovich explains how Washington D.C. really works. A warning — it’s not particularly pretty, but as sociological study of what he sometimes calls “Suck Up City,”it is fascinating. Highly recommended… Read reviews from the NY Times, … Continue reading
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The King of Sports
Gregg Easterbrook’s “The King of Sports” should be required reading by anyone who watches football — professional, collegiate or high school. He covers the financial hypocrisy of the NFL (the “Non-Profit Football League”), as well as the all-too-brief careers of … Continue reading
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The Numbers Game
In a nutshell, The Numbers Game is Moneyball for soccer. But like a lot of people, I find it something of a challenge to look at soccer in the same manner as stat-heavy baseball. But the authors do come across … Continue reading
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Floating City
Floating City, the memoir of Columbia sociology professor Sudhir Venkatesh, offers a fascinating view of New york City’s underground economy, specifically the trade in sex and drugs. The book is part sociological study, and part personal journey. A very interesting … Continue reading
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Nine Inches
I have loved everything of Tom Perrotta’s that I have read, including all of his novels (including Election and Little Children, among others). His characters make mistakes — often big ones — that end up sending them on a far … Continue reading
American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms
Former Navy SEAL (and the best sniper in U.S. history) Chris Kyle tells looks at the role of 10 guns in American history. Not a book for the anti-gun crowd. I particularly enjoyed some of the insights about how weapons … Continue reading