Scathing Book Reviews of How Starbucks Saved My Life, by

How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill certainly has a catchy title, and Starbucks has saved my life many a morning by getting my heart started with a jolt of caffeine.  I’ve skimmed the book at my local bookstore, but have been hesitant to buy it, because I’m still employed, and it just [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho is a book I have yet to read but that seems to have attained quite a lot of popularity since it was first published in 1988 in Brazil, and in 1993 in the USA. I’ve seen it prominently placed at my local Borders Bookstore, usually next to a sign [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of The Rules, by Sherrie Shamoon and Ellen Fein

The Rules, by Sherrie Shamoon and Ellen Fein is a “how to” book that I won’t ever need.  Why?  Because it is a collection of “Time Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mister Right”.  I’m gender handicapped on that one, and married.  I don’t even need to buy it to figure out how my [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach is like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, a book that is emblematic of the 1970s, but is still read today. Its one of those books that I’ve heard of but never read, and like many who lived in Chicago in the 80s and 90s, was continually [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be, by Armin A. Brott

The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be by Armin A. Brott was one of those books I read while my wife was pregnant with our son. After almost eight years of fatherhood, let me tell you, reading books about parenting isn’t going to hurt, and it might even help, but there’s nothing [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of “The Secret”, by Rhonda Byrne

The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne is a book I skimmed and put back down at the Bookstore. It’s got a catchy title, one that just begs you to open the faux leather copy and to pore through the faux parchment pages, but alas, I found nothing there that seemed to be new. The [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purposeby Eckhart Tolle is yet another in a long line of “Success Literature”, – a book genre which has got to be an American original (don’t tell me if I’m wrong). The seeming promise of success literature to its readers is “Read the book, and your life [...]

Book Reviews of Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson is a book that was given out at my company – you guessed it – immediately prior to a series of layoffs. I evaded that series of layoffs, only to join the ranks of the “formerly employed” after September 11th (I worked for a company that was heavy [...]

Scathing Reviews of Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a book that I read and find fairly good, though certainly not “life changing”. I suppose talking to anyone that’s lived longer than you and getting their perspective is worthwhile (unless its My Uncle Jack), but while Morrie was a good man, its not like he was [...]

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven R. Covey

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey is perhaps the most well known “self help” book of the Late 20th/Early 21st Century. Dr. Covey seems to be absolutely sincere about what he has written, and I have to admit I’ve read it myself. It’s a fairly long read – [...]