Reviews and Comments

Marcus K.

mkaz@sfba.club

Joined 7 months, 3 weeks ago

This link opens in a pop-up window

Ildefonso Falcones de Sierra, Ildefonso Falcones: Cathedral of the Sea (Hardcover, 2008, Dutton Adult)

Cathedral of the Sea, Ildefonso Falcones's mesmerizing historical novel about medieval Barcelona, was Spain's #1 …

Review of 'Cathedral of the Sea' on 'Goodreads'

An enjoyable book about Barcelona during the middle ages, a wonderful story and historically accurate giving lots of information what the life and times must of been like in the 1300's

Antony Beevor: The Battle for Spain (2006)

Review of 'The Battle for Spain' on 'Goodreads'

The book goes into far too much detail with so many people, places, events, and politics it was too hard for me to keep track and even understand the basics of the history. It might be good if you come in with a base understanding of the History of Spain but it was too dense for me.

Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson: Why nations fail (2012, Crown Publishers)

Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and …

Review of 'Why nations fail' on 'Goodreads'

An interesting but long book that highlights numerous examples covering world history - the main gist is that institutions that embrace inclusivity, property rights, technologies and a fairness to the many will succeed over institutions that are exclusive and set up to extract resources from the many to benefit the few.

Chade-Meng Tan: Search inside yourself (2012, HarperOne)

Review of 'Search inside yourself' on 'Goodreads'

An excellent book about practicing meditation, mindfulness, and kindness. How by doing so can lead to your happiness, and success -- and even world peace. The author includes practical lessons to get started, explains it with research and case studies.

As a former engineer, Chade-Meng Tan explains mindfulness in a direct and clear way with little of the typical "holistic mumbo jumbo" that surrounds the topic. He keeps things straight-forward and his instructions for exercises are flexible and easy to understand, providing Easy and Easier options. Instructions often include "whatever that means to you" easing the internal pressure of thinking you're doing things wrong.

I checked the book out of the library but now considering buying it to be able to review as a refresher over the years.

K. Anders Ericsson: Peak (Paperback, 2016, Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HarperOne, EAMON DOLAN)

Review of 'Peak' on 'Goodreads'

The book contains good concepts and clearly explains deliberate practice and how practice is the defining characteristic of excellence and not any innate talent. The authors are presenting their very thorough research trying hard to convince anyone who might be skeptical I suppose.

However, it is quite repetitive in showing case study after case study how deliberate practice played the critical role for memorization, for doctors, for golf, for violin, for piano, for chess, for mathematics, and on.