Reviews (97)

Pollan is my hero!
I am a pharmacist who is also very interested in how diet and exercise maintain people's health.Michael Pollan's book was an incredible eye-opener.I first heard him interviewed on Science Friday on NPR news (podcast) and decided to read his book.It is an extremely well researched book with an entire source list in the back.It is also very entertaining and easy to read.It is obvious he has a great sense of humor.His book encompasses the economics, politics, biology, ecology, and physiology regarding our current american diet.His book has surely changed the way I think about food and I was fairly well versed before I read his book.Now, I am a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and have been spreading the word! This is one of the best and most influential books I have ever read. Everyone should read it.Ignorance is not bliss.Just ask some of my pharmacy customers who have side effects from the medicines they take and have to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on those same medications.

My response to Vegan/Vegetarian horn-tutors
I'm about halfway through this book (I've been kind of skipping around to various parts--which is how I usually read non-fiction books). Modern agriculture, factory farming, and where our food comes from are all subjects near and dear to my heart. These are topics that only people in the industry or professionally trained chefs (which I am) usually know and care about. I don't think veganism/vegetarianism is a good response (and I don't think it will fix anything). Instead, we need to be voicing our displeasure with our dollars.
Must Read for the Health Conscious
The Omnivore's Dilemma is an exploration into the foods that are on our plates and why. The answers he delivers are at times frightening.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Food Science    4. Food habits    5. Food preferences    6. History    7. Manners And Customs    8. Nutrition    9. Popular Culture - General    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Health & Fitness / Nutrition   

Editorial Review

At the beginning of 2005, Frank Warren launched a new blog called PostSecret as an experiment in community art, inviting strangers to mail him anonymous postcards that made art out of their innermost secrets and then posting a selection of the cards every week on his blog. Within a year, his blog was one of the five most popular in the world, and his first book, Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Private    3. Motivational & Inspirational    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Self-Help    6. Self-Help / Motivational   

Editorial Review

Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences. The annual Nobel Prize winner in that field never receives as much publicity as his or her compatriots in peace, literature, or physics. But if such slights are based on the notion that economics is dull, or that economists are concerned only with finance itself, Steven D. Levitt will change some minds. In Read more

Reviews (1164)

Fluff and Nonsense
The underlying theme of this book seems to be that if one can come up with enough provocative theses and find some support, however tenuous, for them, perhaps one can write a thin, light weight book which will attract attention and thereby gain one's 15 minutes of fame.
Compelling, but superficial arguments
The storytelling and economic science are the backbone of this compelling book and the scattered topics aren't enough to minimize Levitt's or Dubner's effort.The superficiality of the ideas is, however, and the wild concepts that the self-proclaimed freakonomist advances are easily put to question by simple thought experiments.For instance, the most controversial proposition that Levitt makes is that the legalization of abortion in the '70s was the single most important factor in the steep decline of crime in the US in the '90s, and that can be scrutinized easily.Levitt says that the people who would have been born to those mothers in the '70s would have gone on to live lives of the unwanted and been more likely to commit crimes in their late teens and early twenties (the '90s).Since millions were aborted, they weren't there to commit those crimes later.This eerie idea may be hard to stomach, but that's not the reason it should be doubted.If the aborted children would have a higher chance of becoming criminals, they would, no doubt, also have a higher chance of becoming poor, but the poverty rates for people above 18 remained relatively stable through the '80s and since.
It's about time Statistician speak out
I originaly bought this for my son (in college on the mainland) based on an article I read in the sunday paper. When I saw it in the library I decided to pick it up and see if the book was any good. Well I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this was a very worthy book. After all how many people would ever consider a Statistician's opinion, well this is one time where you should. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economics (Specific Aspects)    5. Economics - General    6. General    7. Popular Culture - General    8. Probability & Statistics - General    9. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (3)

What AGreat Trip down E Street !
This book is so much fun! It's sort of a "pop up" book for grown ups. The clever pull-outs, the repros of tickets & ephemera, the old newspaper clippings that show a YOUNG, YOUNG Bruce...it's all good!This is not only a very novel approach, but also an easy to read, informative scrapbook of Springsteen history.The wonderful, plentiful photos and out-takes include some superb shots (including the covers) by Frank Stefanko.

Very unique book that i highly recommend if you're a Bruce fan
i concur with the first reviewer - i too thought i had just about every book i could want on Bruce, but this one surpassed my expectations.Don't let the low page count deter you - this one is definitely worth the money.There are a ton of pictures i had never seen before (ones that very likely came from the band members themselves or members of their inner circle) and there are a lot of reproductions of interesting chachkies, clippings, documents, itineraries, setlists, etc. that are in little pockets throughout the book (akin to the inserts you got in the LP of The Who - Live at Leeds).The book begins with Bruce's first bands and goes all the way up to the latest reunion tours.The presentation is excellent - quality printing, binding, and beautiful thick stock slipcase.I paid around $24 for it and i'm extremely pleased - while not a narrative-heavy book like some others that run much longer, i'd rate this as one you'll want to add to your Bruce collection.Hats off to the author.

A Stroll Down The Boardwalk in Asbury Park and E Street
I'm going to try to make this as helpful as I can without going on excessively. I don't know about you, but I sometimes become belabored by long reviews.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    3. General    4. Genres & Styles - Pop Vocal    5. Genres & Styles - Rock    6. History & Criticism - General    7. Music    8. Music/Songbooks    9. Photography    10. Rock groups    11. Rock musicians    12. Springsteen, Bruce    13. United States    14. Music / Popular    15. Popular culture   

Reviews (5)

Comming from an art school dropout
Most graffiti artists are of the same school of thought, that being; advertisements are everywhere - Shepard Fairey the OBEY guy, everywhere you look there’s someone visually shoving something down your throat and usually they want money for it.So why is it illegal to put some of your own art up just as much as they do?This is true and valid opinion for someone to have, but not when its coming from a guy who just sprayed his tag name on the side of the highway in 8 foot indiscernible lettering - that is what gives graffiti a bad name.In my opinion it should be against the law to sign your name on a train or a building - no matter how big it is or how many colors you used or how fast you had to run when the watchmen saw.It just misses the point of having a public exchange of ideas.
Art Crime Extraordinaire!
No artist comes close to the emotional impact he makes in this work. Brilliant-Brilliant-Brilliant.
one of my favorite artists
Banksy is an amazing artist, a lot of conceptual as well as visually appealing works. I knew that he is like a god father of stencil graffiti, but i never thought good he is with installations.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    4. Criticism    5. Exhibition Catalogs    6. Popular Culture - Counter Culture    7. Popular Culture - General    8. Art / General    9. Individual artists    10. Painting & paintings    11. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (7)

Another gem
I have loved Klosterman's work for a while now, and IV does not disappoint. Funny, sad, cynical, bitter, but a wonderful reading experience. I don't think I understand what anyone is talking about any more, but I come closer to understanding Chuck than anyone else.
Don't waste your time...
Read all of Chuck's other books and this is the worst of the bunch.SD&CP was funny.This is just a bad collection of articles that he has written.If you want to read about femal cover bands, or the scene in Fargo ND when he was 23, go right ahead.It feels like you are reading the Village Voice cover to cover...one crappy article at a time.Torture.

Chuck's Common-Sense Is In Short Supply In the Culture
The title of "Chuck Klosterman IV" hearkens back to Led Zeppelin's classic untitled, "Stairway to Heaven" album.It's typical of Chuck's approach, which is to examine our significant pop culture landmarks with ironic, self-deprecating wit.This book collects some of the highlights of Klosterman's journalism over the past decade.He has been hailed as the successor to Hunter Thompson, but I think he has a quality that Thompson lacked (as much as I admired the work of the Good Doctor).That quality is American common-sense, in abundance.Klosterman's method is to examine pop culture with the close reading usually reserved for so-called "high culture."And then he takes the contrarian view, which can yield some surprising insights.A lot of these icons have been only worshipped their whole careers, so the combination of Klosterman's ruthless scrutiny and heartland human sympathy produces strange and wonderful new wisdom.
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Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Essays    3. Literary    4. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    5. Popular Culture    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (4)

Best book ever
This has been the only book I have ever read that hit a huge cord within me and stayed.The messages and insights will stay with you long after you've put the book down.We have stopped watching TV with our kids during the week and instead talk, play games, go on walks and enjoy each other's company.We have learned to destress our house and focus on happiness.My husband and I have reconnected and our family is happier as a whole.This book, if you allow it to, can teach you miraculous things.Shmuley Boteach is an incredible rabbi, teacher, husband and above all, father.This book is worth 10 times it's price.Thank you Shmuley Boteach!!

10 BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY TO EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT
I was so struck by this book I could not put it down.I talked to everyone I know about the concepts in the book and have already passed it along to my son who has two children.I need to purchase 2 more now, one for my nail technician and one for me to keep until the next time I give it away.
10 conversations you need to have with your children
It does not matter what faith you prescribe to - this book defines what we as parents should be focusing on in raising our children - "who" are children are not "what" they are! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child Development And Rearing    3. Communication in the family    4. Conduct of life    5. Family & Relationships    6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    7. Judaism - General    8. Parent and child    9. Parenting - General    10. Philosophy Of Judaism    11. Popular Culture - General    12. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Reviews (63)

Good and bad choices in financial trading
Having a choice in life is a good thing; a person without choices is often miserable.As the number of choices grows, our happiness grows with them, but then it begins to decline.Having too many choices creates stress.Schwartz describes his visit to a local supermarket: "...next to the crackers were 285 varieties of cookies.Among chocolate chip cookies there were 21 options. ... Across the isle were juices - 13 `sports drinks,' 65 `box drinks' for kids, 85 other flavors and brands of juices, and 75 iced teas and adult drinks.I could get these tea drinks sweetened (sugar or artificial sweetener), lemoned, and flavored. ... I found 61 varieties of suntan oil and sunblock, and 80 different pain relievers - aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen; 350 milligrams or 500 milligrams; caplets, capsules, and tablets; coated or uncoated.There were 40 options for toothpaste, 150 lipsticks, 75 eyeliners, and 90 colors of nail polish from one brand alone."
One of the most interesting, thought, provoking, and immediately useful books I've read.
I read about 4 books per month and this is hands down one of the best ones I've read in the past year. Packed with information, yet enjoyable to read, I had a hard time putting this one down.
F yeah
This book is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. The basic premise of this book is that the more choice we have, the more anxious we become about the decisions we have to make. Think for example, about how many different stores there are in a mall. You want to buy a dress shirt, but which store do you go into? Will the Gap have a better deal than Banana Republic? Or maybe Macy's or Lord & Taylor will have a better shirt. But then, which shirt do you pick once you decide what store to walk into? All these decisions prove to be quite exhausting, despite our unconscience ability to make such them on a constant basis.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Decision Making & Problem Solving    3. General    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Psychology    6. Social Psychology    7. Popular psychology    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Social Psychology   

Editorial Review

Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the Read more

Reviews (381)

This is one heck of a fun book!
Thompson's classic novel shows that quest literature (in this case the quest for the American Dream) is not at all dead. This is tale is wonderfully crafted and will entertain until the last page.
Sometimes you just have to give it another chance
I have read this book about a dozen times, and I won't lie, the first few times were hard. I wasn't sure if I even understood this book, let alone liked it. My husband was a big fan, and convinced me to give the book another shot one day- and am I happy he did. I got it. It is funny, sad, crazy and weird. It's a journey that I am happy I took, and will take again. It is one of those book that each and every time you read it you will take away something new and fresh. Great read. Try it, you will like it.

hilarious!
If you are looking for a good laugh and are not offended by drugs, lewd behavior, and hooliganism, then I would highly recommend this book.90% of the story takes place while the two main characters are doped up on various drugs or combinations of them, and the consequences are hilarious.I laughed most of the way through.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Journalism    5. Journalists    6. Literary    7. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    8. Popular Culture - General    9. Thompson, Hunter S    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century/60s    12. American English    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Modern fiction    15. True Stories   

Reviews (6)

A well defended postion, but perhaps a bit too defensive
I was at one time a research scientist, but not a physicist. I took a year of Quantum Mechanics, but certainly don't regard myself as very knowledgeable in this area or mathematics. Therefore, this review is coming from a space of being an educated layperson with a broad background and open mind. I think this is important to know before you read more of my review.
not trivial, not definitive
First some background.I am not a physicist or involved in this field in any way so my review is aimed at the amateur who wants to know about the state of affairs in physics and specifically string theory.
A timely and honest critique
I've been following the arguments made by Peter Woit against String Theory for quite some time, and it's a pleasure to be able to have them all in a single volume. His arguments are very persuasive, and his writing clear and to the point. This, however, is not a book that the general audience will find easy to follow. The earlier chapters recount the canonical story of the success of the particlephysics in the 20th century, and if you are familiar with that story you can safely skip these chapters. The later chapters are the really interesting ones, but unless you have at least some familiarity with theoretical particle physics and the modern mathematics, you might find yourself lost. Even with that caveat it is still possible to appreciate the central theme of this book: theoretical particle physics took a wrong turn somewhere in the late 70s and the early 80s, and has never been able to recover from this. Woit is appealing in this book to the practitioners in the field to be more honest with their assessments of the direction in which the theoretical particle physics is headed, and the lack of any meaningful progress.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Mathematics    3. Number Theory    4. Physics    5. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Quantum Theory    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. String models    11. Supersymmetry    12. Symmetry (Physics)    13. Particle & high-energy physics    14. Popular science   

Editorial Review

There's quite a bit of intelligent analysis and thought-provoking insight packed into the pages of Chuck Klosterman's Read more

Reviews (84)

I love Chuck!
I love to read anything Chuck Klosterman writes, even if he can sometimes be inconsistent.That being said, this book is frickin' great and is not the reason I find his writings occassionally inconsistent.I always recommend this to people who enjoy anything about pop culture and or just generally funny reads.So far everyone I have recommended it to has become Chuck fans!

People in glass houses...
When I read Chuck K., I feel like I'm coming home. It's like I'm having a deep, intense discussion with a college friend as Dark Side of the Moon is tripping in the background. I mean, I am a Gen X RAWKER about the same age, and with every page comes a new delight. When he mentioned "All For Leyna", a track on Billy Joel's Glass Houses I about Busted A Gut...it was my first vinyl at age 9.Chuck and I are soulmates.If you don't like his stuff, you just don't get it, and you weren't there.

Deep yet superficial?
Although I have a penchant for fiction, this book is very high on my list of works to recommend to other avid readers. Nobody can make a point quite like Chuck Klosterman. Granted, he sometimes supports his opinion by saying (in essence), "I believe this, therefore it must be so" -- but even then, he's so damn believable. (More often than not, though, he provides more than enough evidence to support his claims and opinions.) Chuck's essays in this compilation are easy to read, thought-provoking, humorous, insightful, and just plain fun. I'm a sucker for pop culture, and this book helps me feel better about that, in a way. It gives me proof that my intellectual side can somehow coincide with my lighter, more bubble-gum (read: guilty-pleasure) side. Thanks for that, Chuck -- and also for making me laugh and think at the same time. In my experience, that's rare. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1970-    2. American Essays    3. Civilization    4. Essays    5. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    6. Popular Culture    7. Popular Culture - General    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Social Science / General    12. USA   

Reviews (2)

Worth reading - interesting look at the future
First read Naisbett on Megatrends and with that book he sure hit a home run with his insight. He I believe has done it again. He starts out with 11 mindsets of the future and talks you through them with stories that ring true. He then relates the 11 mind sets to five pictures of the future and in all but one I think I can 'get it' you might say. I think this is an important work if you want to understand the changing landscape of the future. Well worth the read. Actually the only thing I dont like about the book is the hokey cover, the book jacket is creative but half what they normally are and a real pain to have when you read it. The actual book cover is awful under the jacket ... strange thing to not like but I didnt. But loved the material.

Questioning what really drives the future...
I just had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of John Naisbitt's Mind Set!: Reset Your Thinking and See the Future.There's a lot in this book that I'd like to recommend for those who think everything is "the next big thing"...It's really not.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Forecasting    4. Business/Economics    5. Forecasting    6. Forecasts    7. General    8. Personal Growth - General    9. Popular Culture - General    10. Schemas (Psychology)    11. Self-Help    12. Social Forecasting    13. Social prediction    14. Twenty-first century    15. Business & Economics / General   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. General    3. History    4. Inventions    5. Modern - 20th Century    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technological forecasting    10. Technology    11. Popular science    12. Science / General   

Reviews (9)

can't put it down
i sat in barnes and noble and read about two or three chapters from this book. it easily kept me captivated.
A must for music enthusiasts
"Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's Legendary Neighborhood" is an interesting book in which one learns about the origins of pop-rock music in that there were a great number of bands and musicians that started their careers in a residential area in Los Angeles, California. The book is devoted to contributions of such artists as Frank Zappa, the band known as the Eagles, the band known as the Byrds, and Jimmy Webb, to the genre of music that is known as American rock, and with some artists/bands, there are even interviews in which they chronicle what it was like to perform in those days. Michael Walker also shares with readers a little bit of information on the history of cocaine as it was not only relevant to that time period, but also had something of an influence on the development of this music all the way from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s.

the magic of the 60s revisited
For those who continue to debate whether San Francisco or Los Angeles was the epicenter of 60s music, Michael Walker provides the answer. He skillfully paints a multidimensional mural of a fabled time period. Walker uses the unique perspective of a location as metaphysical as it is geographic to describe the musical culture of the 60s and 70s. The magic of those years is deftly captured in Walker's words. He leads us through the twists and turns the canyon takes in the 80s, portraying a location attempting to hold on to its aura long past its prime. All in all a great read, although I wish there had been more stories of the musicians of the 60s. Walker's writing is as colorful and tightly woven as any tie-dyed wall hanging. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Genres & Styles - Rock    3. History & Criticism - General    4. History and criticism    5. Los Angeles    6. Music    7. Music History And Criticism +    8. Music Of The 20th Century    9. Music/Songbooks    10. Popular culture    11. Rock music    12. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (4)

twenty-something Tom Wolfe
Jeremy Iversen is a talented journalist and I really did enjoy this book. That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that his subject matter wasn't worthy of his talents. Sex, drugs, random acts of cruelty--same old, same old, in the world of teens. The only thing that may come as a surprise to the reader is the complete lack of learning going on in the schools. The kids are aware of it but accept their fate; they only fight back when one among them is directly threatened in a way that would prevent graduation (The school may have done a horrible job providing an education, but it excels at instilling the empty good school--good college--good job mantra used to justify so much today.) Jeremy constructs his characters with care--and that's really what they are--a good deal of fictionalizing must have gone into turning his experience into a story structured as tightly as a tv sitcom. Still, it is a story worth exploring, as we should all be interested in these Millenials, for they will soon be the young adults leading us into what is increasingly becoming an uncertain future. The final issue I had was Jeremy's age. His sudden decision to go undercover lacked any discussion of issues related to how he would support himself, or what he did between the ages of 21 and 24 (Obviously he wrote a book because it's listed here on Amazon). That is a gaping hole and it bothers the reader. Also, because of my work I meet about 150 people in the 18-25 age group per year. I've been at my job for 11 years. I can assure you the 25 year-olds are generally just as clueless as the kids right out of high school. I almost wished Jeremy had chosen to jump onto the Wall Street "track", as he calls it, and write about that. I think arrogance and narcissism of people we believe to be adults would have made a more compelling story.

Better than any TV show story
Some days it seems like everywhere you look some adult is spouting off about the problems of our youth: teen sex, teen pregnancy, teen drugs, our failing schools, and on and on. To these experts in far-away offices, the answers seem clear cut: more rules, more programs, more standards. That's gotta work, right?
Written like a bad soap opera
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it was written in a very dramatic style that made me care so little about the kids he wrote about. Ultimately, his attempt to emulate Cameron Crowe comes off as exactly that - someone trying to be something he is not, and that overshadows his "undercover" work too much to make this an enjoyable read. Get it from your library and save yourself the cash if you want to read it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Cultural And Social Anthropology    3. Education / Teaching    4. Education, Secondary    5. High school students    6. Miscellanea    7. Philosophy & Social Aspects    8. Secondary Education    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (17)

He never disappoints
One thing about the books of Chuck Palahniuk...they are never boring. Here, he takes his typically dark yet hilarious tone to the realm of nonfiction. Entertaining with stories from the depressing (his father's murder) to the strange (his summer spent with 'roid obsessed buddies and their quest to pump up) and the disgusting (sperm and Margaret Thatcher is all that needs to be said). All fans of Palahniuk will love it, and he may even make a few new ones with this interesting effort.

Are they really true stories?
When you call your book true stories, especially in this year of heightened awareness about what is truth and what is fiction, you should expect a higher level of scrutiny from your readers.As such, I have to admit that I'm highly dubious as to the legitimacy and honesty of some of these stories.
A Diversion, But Not Really Stranger Than Fiction
I enjoy Palahniuk's other work, so picked this one up.It didn't disappoint, but it just wasn't that compelling.At its most interesting were the portions of the book where Palahniuk was directly experiencing the events, such as his experimentation with anabolic steroids and the horribly depressing essay on his simple day out in Seattle dressed as a big furry dog.His essays on his self-consciousness and naieve attempts to be cool and smooth for his brushes with Hollywood power and stardom as the Fight Club film took off are fascinating.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Literary    3. Personal Memoirs    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Literary Collections / Essays   

Reviews (20)

Tasty!
Wells is the first person to attempt this kind of beer book and I think he succeeds wonderfully. Neophites can learn a lot about beer and the craft brew movement (not to mention a nicely delivered short history of beer in the world and America) and the beer savvy will like his chapters on Extreme Beer, yeast rustlers and a home brewing contest. Meanwhile, if you like travelogue there's lot of tasty stuff in there. The first chapter on a "beer spill" at a legendary Florida beach bar is funny and informative and Wells' trip down the Mississippi River in search of the perfect beer joint is a nice ride. Perusing the reviewer before me who declared the book "awful" I can't help but think: it's not that Wells can't write. It's that some reviewers can't read!

The Cheap American Pale Lager of Beer Books
Simply awful.Though author Ken Wells may not have succeeded in finding "the perfect beer joint" (as the "premise" of this book seems to have been), he certainly succeeded in writing an awful book about a delightful subject.
Entertaining look at Beer Culture
Even