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 |
Tough Choices: A Memoir Carly Fiorina 2006 |
In this autobiography, Fiorina explains how she made her way to the top of the corporate ladder through sheer self-confidence and power suits, and nothing else. Her rapid advancement within ATT from management trainee to Senior Vice
President is truly inspirational. She obviously had the requisite fire in her belly to do it. That, and the foresight to marry a high level ATT executive. She candidly writes about her complete ignorance of what Hewlett Packard's business was and how this ignorance led her to make some terrible decisions that led to the largest layoffs and largest decline in market value in HP's history. Yet even with her incompetent management of the company, she managed to leave her position with a record $21 million dollar termination package. Even more impressive was Fiorina's ability to perpetuate her image as a successful corporate leader, appearing in endless TV interviews as an expert in business and economics. Reviewed by Gsundar |
Its What I Do: A
Photographer's
Life of Love and
War
Lynsey Addario
2015
|
‘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
|
Craving a cup of inspiration? Zhena Muzyka's Life by the Cup serves it straight up. Tea lover or not, Zhena's fascinating story of determination and spirit will motivate you to live with purpose, generosity, and passion.
Her treks to the tea fields in Sri Lanka are steeped in beautiful transformation and spiritual awakening; infectious for certain. Two of my favorite messages from her journey are: "Give for the sake of honoring all life as sacred," and "We save each other by serving one another." For me, the true heart of the story is the power of generosity: giving simply for the act of giving. May this be a lesson we all learn, apply, and live fully. Reviewed by CK |
Molly's Game Molly Bloom 2014 |
Molly's game is part of a surprising trend of books about young, privileged people getting involved in gambling rings. High Rollers by Logan Kane is the other big one published recently about the University of Miami gambling ring.
A lot of people are going to dislike this book, saying it's materialistic, shallow, etc. This book is a good book. It's a fun, true and interesting story, and the editors weren't going to let it be a conflictless, drifting story. Say/think what you want about Molly. She's a product of her environment and is doing her best to make it. Is this book going to win a Pulitzer? No. Is it a quick, fun read? Absolutely. Instead of viewing this book through the lens of disbelief or jealousy consider it through the lens of the conditions in our society that allow this to happen. Powerful, rich guys are getting away with basically whatever they want, and other people end up paying for the consequences of their actions. Why are these poker games even illegal? That's a topic for another discussion. Why has our society looked the other way when rich, powerful men misbehave? Things have started to change. This book isn't overtly about the issue, but Hollywood/Wall Street/Washington people are beginning to face the consequences of their behavior. Don't discount the power of fiction to put the public focus on something. Reviewed by an Amazon reader |
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 |