![]() The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World Jacqueline Novogratz 2009 |
There are so many things in the world that want changing -- how does a young, committed college graduate decide where to begin? Jacqueline Novogratz was an international credit banker on the fast track with Chase Manhattan Bank, but her work in Brazil showed her that big commercial banks had nothing to offer the poor. Having always planned to change the world, she turned her back on high finance and took a position in West Africa with a nonprofit microfinance organization. The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between and Poor in an Interconnected World is author Novogratz's own story of her love affair with that work.
Reviewed by Linda Bulger |
‘It's What I Do’, a memoir written by known war photographer Lynsey Addario is strong confession of the person who with her lens conveyed the horrors made all around the world that only a man can do, and yet kept fighting for all the good that makes us humans giving us hope that one day this world might be different and better place to live.
Lynsey Addario is US journalist and photographer who for almost 20 years went all around the world, visiting all the saddest places on planet where wars are raging, civilians are harassed, innocent children, women and elders are killed. With her lens she shared many distressing pictures of terror, violence, death, violation of women rights and human rights in general. She worked for several eminent newspapers - The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic – and received many awards for her work, including Pulitzer prize and Getty Images Grant for Editorial Photography. To describe her pictures is difficult, one should see them in order to feel how she manages to tell a story with her lens, whether the subject are refugees in Syria, heroin addiction in Afghanistan, juveniles in prison or Transsexual Prostitutes in New York. With her book however she goes a step further, explaining how she became a photographer from person who was just taking photos - the difference is huge, will agree all those who are engaged in photography or simply enjoy it. Therefore, Addario’s book is not just a testimony of all the painful memories she experienced, of all sad places she visited, of all the people who have inspired her, but also a guide what actually means to be a photographer, how a photographer thinks. In her work she was not supposed to fight only against the harsh conditions, survive abductions, overcome fear, weather conditions and all other obstacles, but she had to overcome her environment – people who had to accept that her job can be done by woman. Therefore, this faction book is the story of how is possible to win in this still unequal world in terms of gender inequality with hard work and lot of knowledge. Taking into account all mentioned and though released only few days ago, for Lynsey Addario’s ‘It's What I Do’ Road to Seeing” it is already evident that this is a book that will mark the world of journalism and photography - personal struggle to overcome prejudices combined with the desire to convey the sufferings of the world which perhaps one day we manage to make it right, created a powerful mix that made this book a great read Reviewed by Denis Vukosav |

I just finished this book and may return to flesh out my reactions to this book later. I liked this book and thought it told the story of three network champs who managed to break the glass ceiling in regard to their careers.with accuracy. There were some similarities between the three. They were all extremely bright and obviously driven. They didn't take garbage from men or women and were willing to take chances to move up in pecking order despite barriers. They could be chameleons when the situation called for it; whatever appeared on the surface wasn't necessarily true. In the brutal environment of broadcast journalism, they might be considered manipulative/tough/conniving. However that actually seems more like the norm for network stars in general as I progressed through this book. My take on this is women have to be tough skinned, think smarter, and react quicker to survive in a crazy alter universe.
This book was not written with assistance from the trio. All is based on supposed reputable sources. I see this as a highly credible story and one that is fairly consistent with what I know about the industry as a whole. Had these ladies cooperated fully or even partially with this project I suspect this might have been a different and flawed book for obvious reasons. Journalists control the news and always control the story presented. As it stands, an awful lot of what is reported is corroborated by multiple sources. Authorized biographies based on my reading experiences are usually flat and celebrate people that are so perfect they can't exist in reality
Reviewed by G.I.GFurdjeff
The News Sorority
Shelia Weller
2015
Save Me the Plums
Ruth Reichel 2019 |
I have cherished each and every one of Ruth Reichl’s books. (Tender at the Bone, Comfort me with Apples were my favorites.). I’ve waited 5 years, not so patiently, since her last book and it did not disappoint. This book covers her years as Editor of Gourmet magazine. I was especially interested since I was in advertising and had many dealings with the magazine. She gives us a glimpse of the world of Condé Nast with accurate perceptions their various characters. I was so sad when Goumet closed and I was so sad when this book ended.
Reviewed by JM OConnor |