This great book has been overlooked due to an unfortunate publication date of Sept. 2001. It set up much of what we take for granted now in this world of Web 2.0, user-generated content and citizen marketers.
This is one of our more interesting picture books. Tar Beach presents a lot of questions, like why can't her father join the union and what is a half-breed. My sons usually ask "Why" a lot while reading this book. Reading it is a good... read more
Great Pictures
This is one of our more interesting picture books. Tar Beach presents a lot of questions, like why can't her father join the union and what is a half-breed. My sons usually ask "Why" a lot while reading this book. Reading it is a good way to generate conversation about how things were in this country and how we are trying to change for the better.
Imaginative Play
Plus my sons and I enjoy the imagination behind flying to anywhere you cannot get to otherwise. And who wouldn't want to wear a bridge as a necklace!?
This book describes a number of situations that impact our individual ability to control what other say or think about us. The first situation is a bit extreme and involved but clearly illustrates how a mob mentality could grow to work woe on a person's reputation...and how that can play out in real... read more
This book describes a number of situations that impact our individual ability to control what other say or think about us. The first situation is a bit extreme and involved but clearly illustrates how a mob mentality could grow to work woe on a person's reputation...and how that can play out in real life as well as on the internet. While the situation is accurately described, it is a bit extreme and in my opinion does not reflect the majority of situations we will face in day to day activity. That is not to say that the author is incorrect. Managing our reputations is going to be come an activity that requires conscious effort.
This is obviously a classic and for good reason. Dahl sets up a multi-layered narative that juxtaposes the ellusive imagination of children with the real-world realities of the adult world. Mr. Wonka apparently found near immorality in his youthful enjoyment of the impossible and the magical. All... read more
This is obviously a classic and for good reason. Dahl sets up a multi-layered narative that juxtaposes the ellusive imagination of children with the real-world realities of the adult world. Mr. Wonka apparently found near immorality in his youthful enjoyment of the impossible and the magical. All of the children invited to the factory appear to be mini-adults and display all of the foibles, quirks and nastiness of their parents, except for Charlie and his child-like grandfather who win it all in the end. I love the messages I got out of rereading this with my children: Believe in the impossible and don't take life too seriously.
This is as much fun to read out loud as Dr. Seuss' Sleep Book or Too Many Daves. Dahl's descriptions of the fantasy world of the Chocolate Factory builds better pictures in young minds than either movie manages to create.
This seemed to be an exercise in character studies and is very interesting. I only wish there was more to tell in regard to some of the characters. I really left the book with a desire to read more about many of the people in town. I especially enjoyed the father-son relationships in the stories.
This seemed to be an exercise in character studies and is very interesting. I only wish there was more to tell in regard to some of the characters. I really left the book with a desire to read more about many of the people in town. I especially enjoyed the father-son relationships in the stories.
The research presented in this book surprised me. The descriptions of the generations, from my experience, are spot on. If you accept that, you can devise effective methods for communicating with those populations.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Polemic or Screed?(2008-05-11)
Often described as a polemic, "The Cult of the Amateur" is simply a screed against societal and economic change. It is a moralistic bombast against the populist notion of cooperation and collaboration in favor of a single point of reference determined and espoused by an expert. The author pulls... read more
Often described as a polemic, "The Cult of the Amateur" is simply a screed against societal and economic change. It is a moralistic bombast against the populist notion of cooperation and collaboration in favor of a single point of reference determined and espoused by an expert. The author pulls out all of the goblins: narcissism, lying, thievery, gambling and pornography; to warn readers that their culture is under siege by know-nothing friends and neighbors bent on self-expression and actualization at the cost of a national dialog.
To believe the premise, our society will unravel — even our economy is at stake! — if my neighbors and I allow ourselves to chronicle the times we live in without heeding the checks and balances of experts. We are, with each visit to Wikipedia, with each blog post and each download; jeopardizing jobs in traditional publishing, distribution and media.
What purports to be a defense of our national character ends up being a defense of the hayday of mass media where three networks and a handful of newspapers made the news and controlled the water-cooler-conversations through a self-chosen circle of "experts."
I have found it impossible to separate the words on the page from their outspoken author, Andrew Keen. Lacking direction and focus, Keen leaps from conclusion to conclusion often contradicting himself: as in his mourning the loss of niche knowledge among the staff of Tower Records and lambasting the uncontrolled blogosphere for perpetuating a never ending series of narrow interests. Keen’s academic pedigree shines through each sentence and illuminates his general distrust of the common man.
This book is an unconscious paean to media darlings of a by-gone era: the condescending, idealistic academician as talking-head. Yes. Gambling can be dangerous and pornography is not for children. No. The crowd is not imbued with wisdom.
Our society is experiencing significant growing pains and experimenting with new technologies and freedoms. Through seven chapters, Keen focuses only on the negative consequences of technological advances and condemns our innate human curiosity and expression as irrevocably bad. In the eighth and final chapter, Keen finally allows that there are benefits and acknowledges that we may yet reign in this beast of Web 2.0 and realize our own folly.
He might be right. We may yet welcome experts into our conversations, should they decide to participate rather than instruct. Doing so will strike a balance between narcissistic echoes in the blogosphere and self-referential experts espousing their wisdom. It is a bit of a strain to think how Keen, after seven chapters of self-righteously divisive language, can make that allowance; but the final chapter is a welcomed return to reality and pragmatism.
If you must read this book, I highly recommend checking it out from an American library—where royalties are not paid.
Another story that my sons and I really enjoy. The illustrations are so detailed and realistic while maintaining the cartoon-ish nature of imagination.
The story is simple and fun. The pictures add twice as much to the reading as the text.
Another story that my sons and I really enjoy. The illustrations are so detailed and realistic while maintaining the cartoon-ish nature of imagination.
The story is simple and fun. The pictures add twice as much to the reading as the text.
Spend some time talking about the details in the illustrations, it can be a bit like an I Spy book if you look closely.
My sons and I are loving this book. The story is just a wonderful and imaginative romp through a world where real, living dinosaurs are handed out like cheep plastic toys. It shows imagination and practicality. And it is funny. Now that we've read the story countless times, we're devouring the... read more
My sons and I are loving this book. The story is just a wonderful and imaginative romp through a world where real, living dinosaurs are handed out like cheep plastic toys. It shows imagination and practicality. And it is funny. Now that we've read the story countless times, we're devouring the illustrations and finding something new in them almost every time. This was a great birthday gift from Grandma! Thanks Grandma!
This is one of my favorite books. I can reread it every year and still enjoy it.
This dark comedy of Soviet fantasy and sci fi has soo many nuances. The book provides a perspective into Moscow's society as seen by the damned. Not surprising considering the conditions Soviet... read more
This is one of my favorite books. I can reread it every year and still enjoy it.
This dark comedy of Soviet fantasy and sci fi has soo many nuances. The book provides a perspective into Moscow's society as seen by the damned. Not surprising considering the conditions Soviet authors published at the time.
Morville's ruminations on the future of connectivity go beyond the cool factor usually espoused in UbiComp writings. He describes the chaos that we'll have to deal with once everything is knowable and at our finger tips. Read this, then read Everything is Miscellaneous.
Considering my deep appreciation for the coffee bean, I can't help but love this book. A fun trek through the history of civilization as the reader follows the coffee bean from country to country, population to population.
Considering my deep appreciation for the coffee bean, I can't help but love this book. A fun trek through the history of civilization as the reader follows the coffee bean from country to country, population to population.
The twisted logic and funny surprises Adam's provides makes this as good as the Hitchhiker series...though for different reasons. Not quite as light as the Hitchhiker books, but very enjoyable. And much better plot lines and character development.
I can't say why I enjoyed reading this or why it stays with me today. Perhaps I empathized with Orwell's experience as a down-and-out traveler making ends meet. Perhaps I like the underbelly of the rich food experiences that we take for granted.
hen again, it could just be that Orwell... read more
I can't say why I enjoyed reading this or why it stays with me today. Perhaps I empathized with Orwell's experience as a down-and-out traveler making ends meet. Perhaps I like the underbelly of the rich food experiences that we take for granted.
hen again, it could just be that Orwell is a wonderful storyteller and this is a great coming-of-age book. Despite the fact that the actual coming of age may not occur within the pages of the book. I always assume it came later.
Joe Trippi provides a glimpse into the presidential nomination process and gives the reader a solid tutorial on community building which is the best take-away from this book. Trippi's narrative form jumps from autobiographer, biographer of Howard Dean, to marketing consultant.
Joe Trippi provides a glimpse into the presidential nomination process and gives the reader a solid tutorial on community building which is the best take-away from this book. Trippi's narrative form jumps from autobiographer, biographer of Howard Dean, to marketing consultant.
He is at his best as marketing consultant.
The revolution This book should be read primarily for the insights Trippi came across inadvertently during his tenure as campaign manager for Howard Dean in the 2004 United States presidential campaign.
Without setting out to do so, the Dean campaign created a strong, grassroots organization that propelled their candidate to the forefront of the media and raised a lot of money in a very short time. In the process the campaign, and Trippi, learned a lot about community building on the Web. Communities grow when given the opportunity to flourish and the Dean campaign provided the right environment for that to occur. Trippi merely looks back with near 20/20 perspective.
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