I am a sucker for a book about a group. What reminded me of this was Joanna Smith Rakoff's A Fortunate Age, her homage to Mary McCarthy's endlessly re-readable...
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In this book, Gordon Wood, one of our best historians, gives us insights into Franklin's character and personal growth that you won't find elsewhere. In this very readable biography, we see Franklin starting out as a loyal Englishman, even after the Boston Tea Party, and slowly becoming an American. We also see him starting out life with very little and amassing wealth and gaining sophistication. There are several new biographies of Franklin available, but in my opinion, this is the one to read.
This is a bitterweet story of life in a Welsh coal mining town as seen through the eyes of a boy--very popular when it was published and later made into a 1941 movie that won Best Picture, besting Citizen Kane. The story will grab your emotions,you will learn about the Welsh,and you will be enchanted by the writing style, which is simple, elegant, and enlivened by the poetic Welsh tongue.
Despite Mona Lisa's popularity today, how many of know that it was stolen in 1911, that it hung briefly in Florence's Uffizi Gallery, and that Picasso was once a suspect? Here's the whole story--or as much of it as we know.
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
This popular book argues that often we should make decisions and evaluations on the basis of our gut reactions. The author supports his argument with many studies of the type that probably show up in psychology courses and MBA programs. I don't think he fully proves his argument. In many of the studies, the subjects seemingly make evaluations on gut reactions, but really make those evaluations on the basis of their past experiences and life lessons. However, the studies he cites are fascinating. The book enables us lay people to learn about them. This is the book's true value and why I recommend it.
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(4 of 15 readers found this comment helpful)
Before I met George Gopen, I had taught writing at the law school level. Then George opened my eyes. He taught me to think about writing in an entirely different way. Now, years after my students graduate, the tell me how much my teaching changed their writing and contributed to their success. They really should be thanking George.
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
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Luigi has commented on (11) products.
The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gordon S Wood
Luigi, October 2, 2009
In this book, Gordon Wood, one of our best historians, gives us insights into Franklin's character and personal growth that you won't find elsewhere. In this very readable biography, we see Franklin starting out as a loyal Englishman, even after the Boston Tea Party, and slowly becoming an American. We also see him starting out life with very little and amassing wealth and gaining sophistication. There are several new biographies of Franklin available, but in my opinion, this is the one to read.How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
Luigi, June 6, 2009
This is a bitterweet story of life in a Welsh coal mining town as seen through the eyes of a boy--very popular when it was published and later made into a 1941 movie that won Best Picture, besting Citizen Kane. The story will grab your emotions,you will learn about the Welsh,and you will be enchanted by the writing style, which is simple, elegant, and enlivened by the poetic Welsh tongue.Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa by R A Scotti
Luigi, May 2, 2009
Despite Mona Lisa's popularity today, how many of know that it was stolen in 1911, that it hung briefly in Florence's Uffizi Gallery, and that Picasso was once a suspect? Here's the whole story--or as much of it as we know.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Luigi, December 28, 2008
This popular book argues that often we should make decisions and evaluations on the basis of our gut reactions. The author supports his argument with many studies of the type that probably show up in psychology courses and MBA programs. I don't think he fully proves his argument. In many of the studies, the subjects seemingly make evaluations on gut reactions, but really make those evaluations on the basis of their past experiences and life lessons. However, the studies he cites are fascinating. The book enables us lay people to learn about them. This is the book's true value and why I recommend it.(4 of 15 readers found this comment helpful)
The Sense of Structure: Writing from the Reader's Perspective
Luigi, December 28, 2008
Before I met George Gopen, I had taught writing at the law school level. Then George opened my eyes. He taught me to think about writing in an entirely different way. Now, years after my students graduate, the tell me how much my teaching changed their writing and contributed to their success. They really should be thanking George.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
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