Thursday, December 16, 2021

Review: Death Be Not Proud

Death Be Not Proud Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my second time reading this moving, truly sad memoir of the death of the author's son from a glioma tumor. It appears the 17-year-old was a truly remarkable young man with a hopeful, positive outlook and talents including the gifts of a future, experimental chemist and scholastic ability to get him admitted to Harvard. One of his other passions was chess and I know recall I still try and apply his eleven precepts to the game (p 83 of my edition). In the long and ultimately futile course of treatment, detail are shared on mustard gas injections and Gerson Therapy, a dietary-based alternative cancer treatment. The chronology concludes with excerpts from a Johnny's journal and reflections in a chapter from each parent.

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Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Review: The Commanders

The Commanders The Commanders by Bob Woodward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Leadership in the New Normal: A Short Course

Secretary Powell’s 13 Rules:
1. It ain’t as bad as you think! It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done.
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

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Sunday, November 28, 2021

Review: Work and Its Discontents: The Cult of Efficiency in America

Work and Its Discontents: The Cult of Efficiency in America Work and Its Discontents: The Cult of Efficiency in America by Daniel Bell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a collection of essays on topics related to work. Mostly. they rail against time studies and other efficiency ploys in assembly line contexts. This was 1956. He would like to see work decentralized from factories and lowered in the priority of a fulfilled life.

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Review: King Lear

King Lear by William Shakespeare My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews