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The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

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by: Nassim Nicholas Taleb

February 28, 2008
I think the reviews here probably sum this book up quite well. There is a realtively simple, and as far as I can see, valid point being made, but the book is written in a long-winded, verbose style, which I found very off-putting. I agree with the reviewers who point out that the strongest message to emerge is that the author considers himself to be very, very clever.
For instance, there is a lot of space devoted to discussion of the bell-shaped curve, or normal distribution, which forms the basis for many types of statistics. Some variables, such as height and weight are normally distributed. However, other variables, such as personal wealth, and many things related to economics, have a very skewed distribution, hence sayings like the ... Read More:

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Faces (Baby's Very First Book)

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from: Macmillan Children's Books

October 25, 2002
I bought this book on the strength of the great reviews it has had but it is terrible. It only has three pages with the pictures of mum, dad and baby that you see on the front cover. That is it! The pictures have black/white/yellow decorations around them that my daughter looked at briefly but an absolute waste of money!

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Devil May Care (James Bond)

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by: Sebastian Faulks

May 28, 2008
I suppose that Penguin, who publish the novels of the late Ian Fleming these days, had to do something to mark the centenary of his birth. And indeed they have - they've commissioned a modern-day author to write a brand new James Bond adventure.

They have chosen Sebastian Faulks - and rather than attempt to do what the movies have already done and relocate Fleming's spy to the modern day, Faulks has taken this achetypal 1950s fictional secret agent and only moved him on a few years - to the mid-60s, where we find him on leave while recovering from his last Fleming adventure, and feeling over the hill and generally past it.

Faulks does a reasonably good job of writing in the style of Ian Fleming -with all of the good and bad things ... Read More:

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Gordon Ramsay's Healthy Appetite

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by: Gordon Ramsay

May 02, 2008
Not a great book.

Note the apostophe in the title - this is Gordon Ramsey branded, but he only wrote the intro. The recepies are by his trusty side-kick Sarge.

The recepies themselves are all pretty simple, basic stuff - not what you would hope (or expect) from Gordon Ramsey.

Save your money and spend it elsewhere!

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The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret to Calm and Confident Parenting

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by: Gina Ford

April 06, 2006
I read a number of books on bringing up baby - but I didn't approach any of them as 'this is what you must do'. Gina provides some good advice and I'm sure that her routines have worked for plenty of people. For that reason her book is useful. Every baby is different - all I wanted was a book to provide reassurance when I felt out of my depth and Gina Ford does that. Would an alternative baby guide? Probably yes, but that doesn't detract from confidence I derived as a first time Mum from this book.

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Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Persephone Classics)

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by: Winifred Watson

April 24, 2008
Like almost everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a great admirer of the actress Frances McDormand and I think she may excel as Miss Pettigrew if the screen adaptation lives up to the speed and panache of the original story. Yes, ... the original story ... It is definitely of the Cindrella variety and none the worse for that. Some have seen the influence of others in its origins - but none has yet pointed out the faint echoes of a memorable short story by W.S. Maugham about the unexpected London triumph, both social and sartorial, of a mature widow called "Jane". Now I don't exactly remember the date of Somerset Maugham's story (it may have been written before Miss Watson's or afterwards) and so one may have influenced the other to a degree. As to the dialogue, ... Read More:

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Batman: The Killing Joke (Deluxe Edition)

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by: Alan Moore

April 25, 2008
I was really looking forward to this, having heard so much praise. I guess I missed something, but I was expecting a really deep, complex story, like so many reviews and articles had described, and didn't find anything of the sort. The artwork's flawless, but the story really did nothing for me, especially the Joker's back story, which seems to be the most raved about part. I felt no attachment to any characters, and having only recently read Watchmen for the first time, and being so blown away by that, I couldn't see how this was the same writer. I also found it shockingly short, which I don't expect from a graphic novel. As I said before though, awesome artwork. I still love that cover!

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"Stop in the Name of Pants!" (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson)

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by: Louise Rennison

July 01, 2008
Another great book for the series. This book took me to a new place, i had a tear in my eye at one point and also the ending wasn't an earth shattering cliffhanger which i need to know the conclusion too straight away either. After a couple slow books to set the scene i believe the next one is going to be laugh a minute with Georgia getting herself into even more trouble and funny moments. I can't wait.

I'm 25 and have been reading these since high school and they still make me chuckle as its a reminder of how your brain worked at that age. These have been labelled as children's books but any adults out there who are open to remembering what its like to be a teenager will love these.

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Carra: My Autobiography : 18 Years of Failure

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by: Jamie Carragher

September 11, 2008
Predictably poor reading from someone who struggles to speak, let alone write a book.

Filled full of the usual self indulgent, self pitying scouse 'wit' which makes 'Spot The Dog' seem almost Dickensian in contrast.

Absolute rubbish. Download the .pdf version from a file sharing network instead and promptly delete it.

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Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life

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by: Jamie Oliver

September 06, 2007
an amazingly inspirational book. i have since planted veggies and nowonly buy seasonal produce. a beautiful book with recipes that work.
when will we see a full veggie cook book?