Outliers: The Story of Success

Outliers: The Story of Success

Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he's gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the "self-made man," he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don't arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: "they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot." Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, "some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky."

Outliers can be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots' culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there's more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples--and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps--Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. --Mari Malcolm


Customer Review: One of the more interesting books I've ever read
Just finished Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers and it is by far one of the most interesting books I've ever read.

The book looks at how people are successful. The idea in our world is that success comes from hard work, being smarter than the other guy. But what Gladwell points out is that is not the end of the story. Sometimes, you can be those things and not be successful.

Gladwell looks at how to know whether your child will be a star hockey or soccer player based on what month they are born in. What the Beatls and Bill Gates have in common. Why Asians are so good at math. Why star New York lawyers have the same resume.

"Outliers are those who have been given opportunities - and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them. For hockey and soccer players born in January, it's a better shot at making the all-star team. For the Beatles, it was Hamburg. For Bill Gates, the lucky break was being born at the right time and getting the gift of a computer terminal in junior high. Joe Flom and the founders of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz got multiple breaks. They were born at the right time with the right parents and the right ethnicity, which allowed them to practice takeover law for twenty years before the rest of the legal world caught on."

This really was a fascinating read on why people are successful and why others are not. All successful people are not the same, sometimes you have to be born at the right time, in the right place, to the right family. But then, you have to do something with it.

[...]
Customer Review: Absolutely not enlightening
I've read all of Malcolm Gladwell's books and I've been increasingly disappointed with each. This one is another fluffy, fast read but I did not learn anything new. It's not exactly groundbreaking to learn that hard work will result in big payoffs. At the end of 250+ pages, you learn that success is a product of hard work, luck and opportunities. Crazy, eh?

Who would have thought that a book that teaches you nothing more than that would make so much money? How is Malcolm Gladwell going to explain this success?

Run at Destruction: A True Fatal Love Triangle (Paperback)

Run at Destruction: A True Fatal Love Triangle (Paperback) explores the true life love triangle between three teachers/runners in small town America and the eventual death of the wife in her own bathtub. Drews unfolds the drama brilliantly right through to the sentencing of the husband to a life in prison and even an afterward from the mistress apologizing years later. Sent to prison, the husband and mistress still can't let go and she becomes a prison bride. Readers are left to decide for themselves if it was murder, suicide or manslaughter by neglect. Run at Destruction is lust, murder and obsession delivered with the beat of a runner's heart, as the theme of running is woven throughout. The book grabs at a large cross-section of readers because everyone can relate to the desire and often disaster that comes with affairs. This is true crime court drama and author Drews exposes the characters to such a depth that readers will feel like they are reading a novel, only, this really happened. ( More… )

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food

Author of a dozen bestselling cookbooks and beloved columnist for The New York Times ("The Minimalist"), Chef Mark Bittman bookends his award-winning modern classic, How to Cook Everything, with How to Cook Everything: Vegetarian the ultimate one-stop resource for meatless meals. Refreshingly straightforward and filled with illustrated recipes, this is a book that puts vegetarian cuisine within the reach of every home cook. You'll want to spend countless days in the kitchen with Bittman's latest culinary treasure.

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5 Questions for Mark Bittman

Q. What motivated you to write a comprehensive cookbook of vegetarian recipes right now?

A: What motivated me--several years ago--was seeing the handwriting on the wall: That although being a principled, all-or-nothing vegetarian was not a course of action that would ever likely inspire the majority of Americans, the days of all-meat-all-the-time (or, to be slightly less extreme, of a diet heavily dependent on meat) could not go on. Averaging a consumption of two pounds a week or more of meat (as Americans do) is not sustainable, either for the earth or our planet. And, as more and more of us realize this, I thought it was important to develop a cookbook along the lines of How to Cook Everything, but without meat, fish, or poultry. Needless to say, there’s plenty of material.

Q: In the course of writing How to Cook Everything Vegetarian did your approach to food shopping, cooking or dining change significantly?

A: Completely. The more I tried new ways of cooking with vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, the more I enjoyed them. I probably eat sixty or seventy percent fewer animal products than I did three years ago.

Q: Because meatless cooking isn't limited to a single cuisine, your recipes introduce the flavors and techniques of many different cultures and cuisines. How did you manage to cover so much ground? Seems like a daunting task.

A: It’s what I do.

Q: Out of the more than 2,000 recipes in the cookbook do you have a favorite dish or dessert that you turn to again and again?

A: No. There are hundreds I wish I could cook all the time, but one can only cook and eat so much. But in the last week, for example, I’ve made Fava Bean and Mint Salad with Asparagus; Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes; Cornbread Salad; and Red Lentils with Chaat Masala.

Q: Why is simplicity so important in cooking? What does the novice home cook need to know to cook and eat well?

A: Simplicity is only important because it’s the way to learn to cook; it’s very difficult to start cooking with complex dishes. For people to learn to cook, they must start simply--the way everyone used to cook. And, for most of us--including me--there’s no reason to carry things much further. Even the simplest cooking is rewarding, enjoyable, and--obviously--the healthiest and best way to eat.

An Exclusive Recipe from Mark Bittman


Crunchy Corn Guacamole
Here's a new twist on the traditional guacamole (which you can find in the form of the first variation). The fresh corn kernels add texture and flavor without taking away from that of the avocado.

Serves 4
Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
--1 lime
--1 cup corn kernels, preferably just stripped from the cobs, but thawed frozen is acceptable
--1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
--1/2 cup chopped scallion
--1 serrano or jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced (optional)
--2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
--1/4 cup roughly chopped toasted pumpkin seeds
--3 medium ripe avocados, preferably Hass --salt

1. Grate the lime zest (or use a zester to make long strands) and reserve; cut the lime into wedges. Put the lime zest, corn, and garlic in a food processor; squeeze in half of the lime wedges and pulse to make a chunky purée.
2. Put the corn mixture along with the scallion, chile, and a large pinch of salt into a medium bowl and mash until the mixture is well combined. Add the cilantro and pumpkin seeds and mash a few more times.
3. Cut the avocados in half and reserve the pits if you will not be serving the guacamole right away. Scoop the flesh into the bowl and mash, leaving a few chunks of avocado. Squeeze in lime juice from the reserved lime wedges to taste.
4. Season with salt to taste and serve or tuck the pits back into the mixture and cover the surface with plastic wrap (this will help keep the guacamole from turning brown), then refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Remove the pits before serving.

Minimalist Guacamole More traditional: Omit the corn kernels and pumpkin seeds. Add the zest and garlic to the scallion in Step 2 and proceed with the recipe.

Guacamole with Tomatillos. The tomatillos add a nice hit of acidity: Substitute 1/2 cup chopped tomatillo for the corn and pumpkins seeds if you like. Skip Step 1 and add the tomatillos to Step 2.

Avocado and Goat Cheese Spread or Dip. Spread this on bread and layer with grilled vegetables for a fantastic sandwich: Omit the garlic, chile, cilantro, and pumpkin seeds. Substitute lemon for the lime and 3/4 cup goat cheese for the corn. Put everything in a food processor if you want a smooth spread; for a chunkier spread, just use a potato masher or fork.

Pea Spread or Dip. Great on Crostini: Instead of the corn and the avocados, use 1 pound lightly steamed fresh or frozen peas. Omit the chile and pumpkin seeds. Use lemon instead of lime and process all the peas as you would the corn in Step 1. Substitute fresh mint leaves for the cilantro. If you like, thin the consistency a bit by adding a little cream, yogurt, or silken tofu.

Asparagus Spread or Dip. A great low-calorie alternative to traditional guacamole: Follow the variation for Pea Spread or Dip, but use 1 pound lightly steamed asparagus instead of the peas. Pat it dry, slice it into manageable pieces, and proceed with the recipe.

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Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism

Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism

The global financial crisis has made it painfully clear that powerful psychological forces are imperiling the wealth of nations today. From blind faith in ever-rising housing prices to plummeting confidence in capital markets, "animal spirits" are driving financial events worldwide. In this book, acclaimed economists George Akerlof and Robert Shiller challenge the economic wisdom that got us into this mess, and put forward a bold new vision that will transform economics and restore prosperity.

Akerlof and Shiller reassert the necessity of an active government role in economic policymaking by recovering the idea of animal spirits, a term John Maynard Keynes used to describe the gloom and despondence that led to the Great Depression and the changing psychology that accompanied recovery. Like Keynes, Akerlof and Shiller know that managing these animal spirits requires the steady hand of government--simply allowing markets to work won't do it. In rebuilding the case for a more robust, behaviorally informed Keynesianism, they detail the most pervasive effects of animal spirits in contemporary economic life--such as confidence, fear, bad faith, corruption, a concern for fairness, and the stories we tell ourselves about our economic fortunes--and show how Reaganomics, Thatcherism, and the rational expectations revolution failed to account for them.

Animal Spirits offers a road map for reversing the financial misfortunes besetting us today. Read it and learn how leaders can channel animal spirits--the powerful forces of human psychology that are afoot in the world economy today.

Customer Review: Primal Forces are Powerful Forces
Let's face it. There was nothing at all logical about the crazy stock market rally of the late '90s, especially in the NASDAQ. It didn't matter if some of these outfits weren't making money; they had enough hype to warrant their stock prices to rise, and the resulting "panic buy" scenario was ridiculous (hindsight is always 20-20).

What occurred was a very natural human pyschological reaction; I suppose you could label it "the bandwagon effect". People tend to base much of their decision making prowess based on what the masses are doing. "Well, if everybody's doing it, so will I!"

This book is a gem, simply because it cuts through a lot of technical mumbo-jumbo and delivers a powerful message: The world revolves around "animal spirits", and we need to understand the ramifications.

Certainly, human emotions dictate so much in our lives, and there's really no stopping the force. Throughout history, so many good and bad things happened because of human emotion being dialed into the equation. On the evil side, there was Adolph Hitler, swaying an entire nation into believing the Nazi way was the right way; the Ku Klux Klan is still going strong; and many large corporations, though not entirely evil, but nonetheless misguided, have made this country an economic mess.

Essentially, recent studies have shown that humans are equipped with a unique propensity to respond to certain situations in a very consistent and predictable way. Understanding the human pyschological needs would help us be a more productive society. Not everything can be measured quantitatively. Primal instincts are very real, and at times, have no correlation to any sort of cold, hard facts.

Intagibles are a deciding factor in how we interact in society; having a better understanding of what drives us, pyschologically is critical to succeeding in practically any endeavor imaginable; especially business.
Customer Review: Excellent Reading
Excellent reading and a good explanation on how the economy got to where it is today.

Programming in Objective-C 2.0 (2nd Edition) (Developer's Library)

Programming in Objective-C 2.0 (2nd Edition) (Developer's Library)

THE #1 BEST SELLING BOOK ON OBJECTIVE-C 2.0!

From the author of Programming in C,Programming in Objective-C 2.0 provides the new programmer a complete, step-by-step introduction to the Objective-C language. The book does not assume previous experience with either C or object-oriented programming languages, and it includes many detailed, practical examples of how to put Objective-C to use in your everyday programming needs.

Objective-C has become the standard programming language for application development on the Mac OS X and iPhone platforms. A powerful yet simple object-oriented programming language that’s based on the C programming language, Objective-C is widely available not only on OS X but across many operating systems that support the gcc compiler, including Linux, Unix, and Windows systems.

 

The second edition of this book has been updated and expanded to cover Objective-C 2.0. It shows not only how to take advantage of the Foundation framework’s rich built-in library of classes but also how to use the iPhone SDK to develop programs designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

 

Table of Contents

   1    Introduction

Part I: The Objective-C 2.0 Language

    2    Programming in Objective-C

    3    Classes, Objects, and Methods

    4    Data Types and Expressions

    5    Program Looping

    6    Making Decisions

    7    More on Classes

    8    Inheritance

    9    Polymorphism, Dynamic Typing, and Dynamic Binding

  10    More on Variables and Data Types

  11    Categories and Protocols

  12    The Preprocessor

  13    Underlying C Language Features

Part II: The Foundation Framework

  14    Introduction to the Foundation Framework

  15    Numbers, Strings, and Collections

  16    Working with Files

  17    Memory Management

  18    Copying Objects

  19    Archiving

Part III: Cocoa and the iPhone SDK

  20    Introduction to Cocoa

  21    Writing iPhone Applications

Part IV: Appendixes

  A    Glossary

  B    Objective-C 2.0 Language Summary

  C    Address Book Source Code

   D    Resources

Auto Upkeep: Basic Car Care, Maintenance, and Repair (Hardcover)

Auto Upkeep: Basic Car Care, Maintenance, and Repair (Hardcover) From choosing an insurance policy to performing basic maintenance and repair, Auto Upkeep presents the information you need to know in an easy-to-follow format with hundreds of detailed pictures and drawings. This straightforward consumer guide will help keep you safe and save you thousands of dollars. Now in its completely updated second edition, Auto Upkeep also includes new chapters with information on basic tools, repair facilities, roadside emergencies, and hybrid vehicles.

Chapter 1 - Introduction and How Cars Work
Chapter 2 - Buying an Automobile
Chapter 3 - Automotive Expenses
Chapter 4 - Repair Facilities
Chapter 5 - Safety Around the Automobile
Chapter 6 - Basic Tools
Chapter 7 - Auto Care and Cleaning
Chapter 8 - Fluid Level Check
Chapter 9 - Electrical System
Chapter 10 - Lubrication System
Chapter 11 - Fuel System
Chapter 12 - Cooling System and Climate Control
Chapter 13 - Ignition System
Chapter 14 - Suspension, Steering, and Tires
Chapter 15 - Braking System
Chapter 16 - Drivetrain
Chapter 17 - Exhaust and Emission System
Chapter 18 - Alternative Fuels and Designs
Chapter 19 - Automotive Accessories
Chapter 20 - Common Problems and Roadside Emergencies
Customer Review: if you don't know about cars...
... buy this book. This is a must have for anyone who don't know anything about cars and is buying a new one o wants to learn about car basics.
Customer Review: Great for beginners
This is a great product for those looking to learn the very basics about car engines and car care. It gives a good, brief overview of how the major components of the engine work and even some care tips on basic maintenance procedures such as changing the air filter and oil.

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms

They number in the millions and they are incredibly important to families and to our society, yet they are underappreciated, little respected, and even controversial.

Who are they?

They are the stay-at-home moms.

These are women who know in their hearts that staying home to raise their children is the right choice for the whole family. Some do it from the outset of their marriages, while others make the difficult transition from career-driven women to homemakers. Either way, it is a choice that is incredibly rich and rewarding, not to mention challenging.

Now Dr. Laura, building on principles developed during her long career as a licensed marriage and family therapist, provides a wealth of advice and support, as well as compassion and inspiration, to women as they navigate the wonders and struggles of being stay-at-home moms.

Learn how:

• to hold your head high and deal with naysayers;
• to see the benefits of being home not only for your children but also for your marriage;
• to understand the changes you see in yourself;
• to realize that the sacrifices you endure now will make for lasting bonds and a stronger family, in addition to a more cohesive community.

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms is a special book, a profound and unique understanding of how important it is for mothers to raise their own children.

Customer Review: Daughter In Law loved It!
I bought this for our daughter in law for Mother's Day. She is a stay at home mom and she also home schools their one son. She started reading it and would call me and tell me about what she was reading. She really enjoyed it and she really needed someone to tell her she is doing a great job. Thank you Dr. Laura, you gave her more self esteem. Birdie in Corsicana, TX
Customer Review: Important Message But Not Enough Substance to the Book
While I agree with Dr. Laura's message, I was disappointed by "In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms". The bulk of it was devoted to reprinting testimonials from Dr. Laura's fans about how wonderful being a SAHM is, how much better their marriages became once they quit their paid positions, how nannies & daycare workers can never love the child like a mom can, etc., etc. All true but I found these letters very repetitive. I guess some women are so insecure about their decision to be a SAHM that they need this kind of constant validation that they're doing the right thing, but not me.

I felt that Dr. Laura had taken what would be a good magazine article and padded it into a book. There's simply not enough substance to fill all 200 pages, so she basically ends up saying the same thing over and over.

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

With tens of thousands of products crammed into the walls of the neighborhood supermarket, trying to find a reliable snack, pantry product, or frozen dinner can be a serious challenge for the time-strained consumer. The Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide changes all of that, offering discerning shoppers everywhere a simple plan for finding the healthiest foods for them and their families. Beyond homing in on the best and worst in the world of packaged foods, the Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide scours the aisles to help you pick the most nutrient-packed produce, the leanest, tastiest cuts of meat, exotic cheeses that double as healthy snacks, and the best contaminant-free fish the ocean has to offer.

Customer Review: Limited bu helpfull
There were many products I never heard of and many of the products or brands that I use which were not included. Still it was helpful in seeing some good choices and understanding the misleading information that drives us to purchase things when they actually are opposite our decisions.
Customer Review: Surprising Info
This book offers surprising food swaps for many fast food restaurants and grocery store products...very useful if you want to watch your weight without going on a diet.

Office 2007 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Office 2007 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

• Revised and updated to cover changes to all of Office's applications and productivity tools
• Offers beyond-the-basics coverage of Office word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, e-mail, databases, and desktop publishing
• Covers Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, productivity tools such as Microsoft OneNote, and SharePoint
• Thoroughly updated to cover the new Office interface as well as new features in each application

Customer Review: Office 2007 for Dummies
Basic introduction of the Office 2007 software. The little hints and tips are a plus. Lacks when discussing the more advanced content, but that was expected.
Customer Review: Office 2007 for Dummies
Best purchase ever!! I am so pleased to have something that is so easy to understand and teach others!!!