The Big Short

by Michael Lewis

Just finished this latest book by Michael Lewis. It is a study of financial market through the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis. It focuses on the players behind the creation of this problem, those profiting from it and the resolution (albeit unsatisfactorily) of this period in time.

This again is a great book to read. Again, some of the financial jargon is over my head but Lewis' approach to the subject matter is very well-presented. I realise now this is because he tells it like a story from inception to conclusion, through the view of the various players in this problem. Being Wall Street though, none of these characters are particularly saints, nor are there evil (though some do come close). They are just human beings driven mostly by money. It goes to show if one removes government regulation that is effective and strict what can happen, the GFC.

Moneyball

by Michael Lewis

Just finished this book several days ago. It is a wonderful book about the Oakland A's baseball team and the changes under their manager Billy Beane. Through the use of mathematics and teh scientific approach they were able to change the team from a struggling one into one that was successful and challenging the best in the league. Short synopsis here.

I actually don't know much about baseball except the few movies I've watched on it or around it. But it does seem like a pretty interesting game. Plus, there is a movie based on Moneyball out in a few weeks here. So I am looking forward to that. On the book itself, it is insightful, though baseball terminology is over my head at times. But overall, the way Lewis writes it is engaing and entertaining, so very enjoyable.

Liar's Poker

by Michael Lewis

This is a wonderful book on Wall Street bonds trading, the majority of which from Michael Lewis' time in that profession, from late 1970s to late 1980s. Short synopsis here.

It is wonderfully written. Though I do admit, some of the financial concepts were quite over my head. Though the narrative used by Michael itself did not make the story too tedious for those inept in financial matters. So it was a very witty and interesting read. It does show how much disparity of how money is valued by Wall Street and how it is valued by the rest of the world.

Angel Time

by Anne Rice

This is the first book of the Songs of the Seraphim Series. Short synopsis here.

I found this book a bit slow to start and actually thought of not reading through to finish. But after the first 50 pages things did picked up a bit and I carried on all the way to the end. It is typical Anne Rice style, in the way she narrates the story. I can also draw strong similarity between the main character here Toby O'Dare and that of Lestat and the like in the Vampire Chronicles series. Though, I do feel that this story is so thinly veiled in material that it did feel very pedestrian. It did not have the layer upon layer of complexity that The Vampire Chronicles had. I guess it is very difficult to write to the high level that is that. Probably also the subject matter is not that familiar to Rice as this topic of angels and the historical context in which it is set. Well, I just felt it was not as rich as the Vampire Chronicles. Well, I will still give the second book a try, perhaps that would fare better. But I am going to read some other books for now.

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I read this book for the second time, and it was as lovely as the first time. It is a story about a Little Prince from another planet that visits Earth and finds a pilot that has crashed in the desert. This book is the account of the pilot of meeting this strange boys. The pilot writes this story down lest he forgets his time with this strange but wonderful prince. The original story is in French, called Le Petit Prince.

I really love this book. Second time around because I still remember the story roughly, I found it less sad than the first time I read it. Because it was sort of like meeting an old friend again rather than the loss of a friend. One does feel the longing and sadness of losing a friend when reading this book (first time round), but second time around one feels the joy in cherishing the memory of such a wonderful character. I would definitely read this book again and again from time to time. One should never forget to see the elephant in the boa, and not a hat in a child's drawing.

Rich Brother, Rich Sister

by Robert Kiyosaki and Emi Kiyosaki

I bought this book end of last year because I've heard of Robert Kiyosaki and heard that he was pretty good with explaining motivational and financial generalities. But I found this books horrendous.

Well, first a short synopsis. This book is about the life paths of Robert and Emi Kiyosaki, they are brother and sisters. Robert is a successful enterpreneur, businessman and investor. He is the famous author of several books of the same vein as this I believe, books on investment, life, etc. His stories is about how he got to where he is today. Emi is a Buddhist nun, and this book looks at the other side of being rich, that is spiritually rich. This book also describes her life path. Thus the book finds similarities and contrasts between the two's life journeys.

Okay, not my review. I must say I have only read about 2/3 of this book. I cannot take any of it any more really, it is really not to my liking. For me, it is horrendous. Not my cup of tea at all. The book's concept in itself of the contrast between the material and spiritual pursuits of life is very good. However, the execution and explanation of concept I find to be very incognitive. As in I feel I am dumber for reading this book. I don't know why, Robert is such as successful person, and Emi is a Buddhist nun. I have great respect for what they have achieved in their life. But the reasons they explain for them doing what they do, and the logic behind it, that is simply wrong to me.

Here are several examples. First is connection made behind concepts on life. One thing was something on generalized principles. Robert speaks of having right and wrong answers. He says that the World is at war because there are issues like people believing in only one God and everyone's God is different. So that gives rise to tension and ultimately war. Then he goes on to say there are many ways of doing something, and not one single way is right. Up to this point I agree. Then he moves on to say, that is why we have a right hand and left hand, not a right hand and wrong hand. Then I think what is the point in that statement??? I know that is true, that we have a right and left hand. But then that is just words, there is no meaning behind it. Why would I call one hand the 'wrong' hand? It is empty statements. Oh, and this book is filled with plenty of gems like this.

Furthermore, there are so many inaccuracies in world principles in his statements. He makes sweeping generalization that are just not true. Well in his defense, he does say in the book he is the type of person that wants to win, and is not interested in being right. I personally do not think I am the person that want to be right, but it is like nails on chalkboard when I see statements in this book that are clearly so wrong.

Ah, this is turning into a raging post on the book. There is a plethora of other reasons wrong with this book but I cannot be bothered listing all of them out. I must say I tried my best to give it a chance. Heck, I read 200+ pages of it in hopes there is some gem buried in it. Indeed there were a few, but it is all buried in so much garbage I find it hardly worth the read. I'll end this post on this note. I had less moments of inspirations that I had moments of pure frustration. In essence, this book sucked for me. Waste of my time.

To Kill A Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

I bought this book, the 50 anniversary version of it. This book is a Pulitzer prize winner and amazing that I have not read such a classic till now. Well, actually there are many 'must read' books that I have still not read yet, so there you go.

Short synopsis from wiki here. This really is quite a simple story of kids growing up, but in the backdrop when black and white people were still very much segregated, the time of black slavery. The simplicity of the story simply makes the story of it better. I think the measure of a good piece of fiction is not only the plot and pacing, but the good writing style. This book is pretty direct and simple, but it just wants to make you read on. You just read on page to page without any rush, because each page is as beautiful as the last, as the next.

I see this book sort of like J.D. Salinger in terms of quality, obviously the style is very much different. But it is such a beautiful story. It really gives me motivation to read more book, everytime I read such a wonderful book.