Chris Reich

This book delivers great points for those who believe the U.S. does only "good" around the world. I enjoyed the arguments very much and agree with the viewpoint of the author.

However, I liked "The Open Veins of Latin America" better. That book is better composed and more succinctly and historically makes similar points.

It's worth your time but don't expect an easy or comfortable read. It's a kick in the gut---and we deserve it.

First, I am staunchly anti Communist China. I don't like doing business China. I don't like supporting a military that will one day dominate us. I refuse to help a Chinese business in my work as a business consultant and will retire long before the day that will be necessary to make a living.

Get it? I do not like China.

But, I liked this book so much, it changed me.

The book softened me on my feelings about the people of China who want and care about many of the same things we do---we are just competing for limited resources.

I'm still very anti China but I have a lot more empathy for the people as a result of this book.

Of all the books about modern China, this one gives a totally different look than any of the others. It's not political. It's just a really nice look at what life is like in China.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes culture and wants to understand the world.

Great book.

it might even change you!

Chris Reich, TeachU

Indeed we are becoming a country of idiots and this book points out many of the really stupid things people in this country believe.

I personally do not care if people believe that the earth is 6,000 years old. Everyone, myself included, has at least one totally irrational belief in their baggage.

My objection to the beliefs of others is inflamed when nutty beliefs are taught in schools or guide important political policies. No, a 6,000 year old earth is not a different point of view deserving equal time with evolution; it's nutty. I hate to see kids taught that nonsense by their parents but hey, it's a free country. And that, sadly, is the point.

So, like me, you'll read this to reinforce what you already believe. Or you will spit nails over your right to believe these nutty things and see it as yet another attack on god-fearing people.

If you're not in the nut wing, you'll get a few really good laughs and in the end, you'll feel a little sad.

Go for it. I highly recommend this book.

Chris Reich, TeachU

While I was not wowed by this book, I did enjoy it. The story is quirky and the wit dry as the high desert.

Some of it was rather predictable, some just not that interesting. But if you want a break from business books, self-improvement manuals or vampire novels (yawn), here you go. While not a page turner, it will keep you amused.

Recommend? Sure, I recommend it!

When I first started this book I didn't think I would like it. Kurlansky can be a little long winded. But it gets better and better as it goes along and I really loved it.

I not only found the history of the man and frozen foods to be very interesting, but also motivational. Birdseye really dug in and made his ideas a reality.

There's a great lesson for us all. Ideas are great but action makes things happen.

Great story, well read, fun and motivational.

Get it all right here!

Chris Reich, TeachU

OK, I really wanted this collection but the way it's arranged, without a pdf file for where stories begin and end, it's completely useless. Some stories have multiple parts so as you start listening to a story, it may be 30 minutes or a couple hours and spread over 5 parts. And if miss a section, there is no way of knowing which part of which story you are in.

As an audio book, it doesn't work. I asked audible for a program---anything. They haven't got one. So you haven't even a list of titles (in order) to guide you. And, as it comes in several large files it's impossible to find anything.

That's a shame. If only there was something that indicated that X story is in Part 3, second section, you could find it!

No, sorry. I have to ask for a refund on this as it's really not useable without a program.

Chris Reich, TeachU

The total review averages have me stumped. This book isn't that good. In fact, it's a pretty dull listen. Just when it seems like it's going to start moving it goes flat again.

I really didn't care for this book---but you can tell.

Now here's the thing. Sometimes I'll write off my dislike for a book as a difference in taste. In this case, I think it's just low level, dime store pulp. Obviously some people are okay with that. I can't recommend this book.

Chris Reich, TeachU

I am embarrassed to report that I did not particularly care for this book though there were parts I found interesting.

But books like this, books of different stories that all come together, are very dangerous territory for a writer. It can become very easy to be trite in the joining of stories. This book doesn't join the disparate stories except to use the big event as a sort of shutter release to grab the time frame. For that, I give the author credit. Thank you.

The guy on the wire is the camera and the wire the shutter release. Cameras do no judge. Cameras do not know they are taking an image. They just do it.

I liked the stories somewhat but did not find them particularly deep. Deep material but not deeply explored. Okay, not THAT deep.

But here's the difficulty with this book. It demands to be in a better league than all the vampire trash being cranked out today. Next to most books, it's a 10 star read out of a possible 5. Keep that in mind. I'm grading on a steep curve here.

So if you put this in the class of literature, it gets a solid C grade. But then, very little writing is literature. In the class of all books, give it a B+.

That's why I'm torn. I want to encourage literature and I do recommend the book. But I cannot rank it with Updike or Heller.

You decide. And tell me what you think.

Chris Reich, TeachU

I have listened to nearly all of the physics books listed in the Audible library and this one is my favorite. It could be that as I learn, these books get easier, but I really think this book is the easiest to grasp.

The book makes some of the most difficult concepts easier to understand. Things like particle spin have had me spinning but now I get that electrons don't really spin, they have spin. They have angular momentum even though an electron is a wave---

The book is very interesting if you like quantum mechanics. The comic tie-in gives amusing and interesting side bars to the topic.

If you are really into physics, you'll love this book. If you don't, you probably will have a hard time with this book.

Chris Reich, BizPhyZ

This book should be required reading/listening. The book seems to be very even handed in that, even in the closing words, the author balances his findings with a response from the organization.

Still, in spite of Church of Scientology denials, there is just too much evidence of very dangerous behavior. Germany got it right.

You know, I am a little fearful in posting this because Scientology strikes me as so dangerous and vindictive.

This is the Audible book I had to stop frequently because it is just so disturbing.

I don't like this question. I probably will not listen to this book again---but not because it's not brilliant. It's ugly and I don't want to go through it again. But it is a great work.

Tristan's meeting with his father before shipping out to war.

Does a great job of bringing the characters to life.

It sickened me. Man's inhumanity can be overwhelming.

I like the book and recommend it but it's not for everyone. You'll gain insight into human suffering but there is nothing uplifting in the book. If you need "happy endings" this wouldn't be for you.

So, I recommend it with a caution.

Chris Reich, TeachU