May 2004 Archives

Not my favorite, which you could probably guess by the 4 months it took me to actually finish.

Scary inside look into the Bush administration. Scripted cabinet meetings where everyone knew their lines and people were cued to talk. Paul O'Neil a wise voice in the circle, thus excluded when he didnt' toe the line. His openness about importance of water to Africa what got him outed? President Cheney manipulating people at every turn, from behind a screen (literally, during Cabinet meetings). Powell & Condi intelligent voices confused by the lack of direction in the administration. Paul went from being nicknamed "Pablo" to "the big O" by Dubya. Recommended.

I'm naturally suspicious of any book that pertains to business development. But there is some good advice among this book's pages- specifically the importance of having the right person as a receptionist, as your clients' first impression when they visit the office is of 1)the decor & 2)the friendliness (or lack thereof) of the receptionist. Simply welcoming people does a lot to creating a good relationship. Some obvious stuff about listening, and implying that the client matters to you. Following up with a personal note, not simply sending all clients the same holiday gift, cutting down on response time, finding a name that makes sense and is memorable.

Bleh. Why does everyone get all excited about Gatsby? It was average at best. Not sure why this is deemed a classic even. Maybe I harbor a grudge b/c of the whole Zelda thing (F. Scott stealing her journal, etc.).

Gatsby a self-made man, in love with Daisy, who's married to Tom. Tom having an affair with Wilson's wife, who is killed by Daisy in yellow car on way back from the city. Wilson kills Gatsby, then self. Nick, Daisy's cousin, the narrator for the story. Lives next door to Gatsby in West Egg.

Same premise as the Professor & the Madman (details on making the OED). Thus I couldn't really get into it.

Ugh. Would not venture into Bushnell territory again.

Beginning quote was from The Great Gatsby, which was a bit freaky b/c I'm currently reading that as well.

Well written & great plot- discovery of a "smart drug" changes Eddie Spinola's life. He goes from toiling as a copywriter with writer's block to being an integral part of the largest corporate merger/acquisition in history. The drug (MDT-48) enables him to read & understand at an increased rate. He learns Italian in a night, teaches himself complex financial formulas, becomes a successful day-trader who makes $250k in 2 days after borrowing $100k from a Russian mobster named Gennady. Naturally, Eddie's upping his dosage to continue climbing the heights of the financial world. When Gennady comes by for his first payment on the loan, he steals 5 of the pills that are sittting in a ceramic bowl on a shelf in Eddie's apartment. Gennady becomes hooked and begins bullying Eddie to put him in contact with his dealer. Meanwhile, Eddie is working on the merger of an ISP and a media company (AOL Time Warner, anyone?). And he begins having extensive periods of blackout, not sure where he's been and what he's been doing, just clicking ahead and finding himself mid-sentence eating dinner with a group of strangers. After one of these nights he finds walking to Brooklyn, unsure why. This was the night he killed a woman in a hotel room, punched a guy in a bar, and had sex in a club bathroom. Thus his world begins to unravel. If he stops taking the MDT, extreme headaches ensue.

Why am I telling you all this? Go read it!

I'm giving up. First half glorious, but second half gets too religious/Biblical for me. I'm outtie. First half gave me new respect for O.Wilde tho.

Very quick read, on the nature of a successful team.

The five dysfunctions, in pyramid fashion, base layer upward to top:
Abscence of Trust: Invulnerability
Fear of Conflict: Artificial Harmony
Lack of Commitment: Ambiguity
Avoidance of Accountability: Low Standards
Inattention to Results: Status & Ego