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.