"Finders Keepers: The Story of a Man Who Found $1 Million" by Mark Bowden

How to loose $1.2 million in one week

Some of you may have seen the movie “Money for Nothing” with John Cusack. Some of you may even like it. The movie is partially based on the true account of Joey, a Pennsylvania drug addict, who back in the early 1980’s caught a brake in life. He found $1.2 million that fell off a truck and over the course of a week managed to loose most of it, before getting caught by FBI. Apart from the incredible luck this man had, nothing else is much interesting about what happened with him. Readers of the book will find out the numerous stupid choices he makes in an effort to keep the money. Bottom line – the book is interestingly written, but the story is ridiculous and doesn’t deserve the time it takes to read it.

- by Simon Cleveland

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

This fictitious story details the tragic account of a life spent in painful reconciliation with wrongfully made choices.

The main character, an Afghanistan boy, grows up in the turbulent times of the 1970s when civil war and economic turmoil ruled the plain. Forced to make a choice whether to help his long-time friend (and servant) Hassan during a confrontation with a local bully, Amir makes a choice which would haunt him for the next 20 years.

The readers of this book would be amazed with the author’s insightful and engaging narrative as they follow Amir on his voyage from Afghanistan (through Pakistan) to the United States where he attends school and college and becomes a successful novelist.
The novel could be considered competed at this point, except the author had another idea of how to resolve Amir’s internal conflict. From then on, the books brakes with reality and transforms into a fantastic quest of self redemption. Amir returns to Afghanistan to free the son of his long lost friend Hassan from an orphanage, abuse and impending death. The experiences surrounding this quest for redemption border on magic as Amir descends into the world of Taliban, brutality and destruction. And as in all happy Hollywood-endings, the book delivers a spectacular (even tearful) conclusion with Amir’s victorious achievement of inner peace.

Six words – great narrative but an unbelievable storyline.

Still, I recommend the novel to anyone interested in learning about the culture and people of Afghanistan.

-by Simon Cleveland

"See No Evil" by Robert Baer

I became interested in this book after watching Syriana when at the end of the movie a post-script announced “…based on the book See No Evil by Robert Baer.” Naturally I became interested in learning about the truth behind the fiction.

The movie is largely based on one of the many cases during the author’s long career as a CIA agent (this one was related to his experience with a shady investment figure from the Washington lobbying community and closely connected with Clinton’s campaign contributions scandal).

See No Evil is collection of cases, an autobiographical account of the ex-CIA agent Baer and his utter discontent with his former employer. The book is also a wake-up call, a bitter cup of strong coffee that jolts in the early morning hours of the day. It is a crash course on the history of Militant Islamism and the agent’s personal involvement in the recruitment of spies in the fight against enemies of the US. It is also an example of how not to lead a government institution. As in all bureaucratic agencies, the CIA (which it seems to me should be the least bogged in bureaucracy) succumbed a long time ago to careerism, lack of professionalism and carelessness.

As I read this book, I became worried. No - I became down right scared about the lack of intelligence the US had about this great perils of evil – the terrorism in the modern age. What do you mean the US didn’t know for years who committed the suicide bombing of the American embassy in Beirut? What do you mean agents of the CIA were trying to convert Muslim spies to Christianity and could care less about that other thing they’re hired to do (their job)? Are we talking about one of the most feared organizations in the world, or are we talking about my grandma’s church group? And what do you mean CIA agents were embezzling funds from the US government to set up their own European businesses and were never punished for that?

As the author voiced his disappointment with the CIA I huddled and shivered. If this is how CIA is being run, I better invest in a bunker underneath my back yard, because only God would be able to help me against those idiots with the bombs underneath their clothes.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn more about the things going on behind the scenes in the war against terrorism.

-by Simon Cleveland

"The Orientalist : Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life" by Tom Reiss

A good non-fiction novel is distinguished from the rest by the depth of its sources. And I have no complaints about the number of resources used in this book (the references list goes on for nearly 50 pages). From this perspective, Tom Reiss has done a great job. Congratulations.

Has justice been done to the legacy of one of the most mysterious literary figures of the twentieth century– well that remains an unanswered question. True, Reiss introduced the name to us, told us about his childhood, his schooling and his marriage. But beyond that, more questions remain than answers. For one, Reiss hits but misses big on the one major thing a reader would expect to find– what are the personal characteristics of this mysterious writer? And what better way to learn that for ourselves than read and analyze some of his works? Without this we could piece together an image of the man’s qualities, look at some pictures, learn about his family, or follow him on a trip (most of us could only dream of), but in the end I ask what about the analysis of Lev’s writings? As a reader of the biography of a fellow writer, I expected to see more about the hero of Lev’s works (certainly more than just the occasional reference of this or that book). Since I never read any of Lev’s works, I remain confused and a bit irritated. Lev still remains more of a mystery to me now than before. I still find myself asking the question - who was Lev? And in my opinion, one needs to look deeper into Lev’s works (one thing Mr. Reiss avoids doing) to find out.

Overall the book is not really worth exploring unless it’s required for homework assignment or needs to be used for its rich references.

-by Simon Cleveland

"Galileo's Daughter : A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love" by Dava Sobel

Truthfully, a very small portion of this book is dedicated to the life of the daughter of Galileo. Very little is known about the correspondence between father and daughter since only a few letters remain to testify of their intimate communication that span over several years. One thing is clear - Maria Celeste was the strongest emotional support for Galileo during the time of his trial and subsequent home arrest. Careful readers will find a lot more written in-between the lines of Maria Celeste's letters to her father than noticeable at first glance.
The major part of the book is dedicated to the life of Galileo, following him from his early years as a professor in mathematics to his elder years of forced seclusion. Within the pages of this book the author brings to life the age of darkness when religious fervor penalized scientific minds with dogmas, trials and punishment. Among other things, readers will learn about Copernicus' sun-centered theory, explore Galileo's astronomical observations, documentations and publications of his discoveries and then will be shocked at the ultimate prize for Catholic disobedience.
Despite the few remaining letters, the author successfully weaves around them Galileo's biography to capture the spirit of love and devotion. You'll see the beauty of a daughter's caring heart (despite spending her entire life in a convent as a nun). You'll even share a tear with the rest of us (who read the story) when you find out about the outcome of their final union.
Beautifully written, this book makes for a great reading and is both good for readers interested in family relationships as well as non-fiction readers curious about the life of one of the first pioneers of modern science.

-by Simon Cleveland

"The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli

There are several classical books that withstood the test of time and in one way or another deserve attention. One of them is “The Prince”. Why? Its applicability to the democratic state remains a question, however I’m sure politicians read it for how to make one nation the dominating force in the global community. But, if you’re not interested in international relations (how to rule over a principality), read this for its uncanny insight into the darkness of the human nature. Believe it or not, it is a great psychology tool. Of course its center stage is reserved for the leader of a monarchy. But then again forget about what’s obvious and focus on what’s written between the lines. Take for example the following statement:

“…men are wretched creatures who would not keep their word to you, you need to keep your word to them.”

Here is the perfect example of how a mid-16th century writer characterizes the eternal and unchangeable human nature. Time and again he addresses the lack of trust one should put in people and how one is to handle his enemies. Many of us have already established our own framework of how to do this, but checking this framework against such a historical artifact would be extremely beneficial.

In addition, the book possesses a wealth of historical information on the topic of political strategy and to be fair – all of us can take advantage of a political lesson (especially in this day and age).

A short and quick read, I recommend it not only for its lessons, but for the mere fact that history deemed it worthy of preservation.

-by Simon Cleveland

"The World Is Flat : A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century" by Thomas Friedman

To the aspiring CEO – put this one on your night stand!

A work of monolithic proportion. Carefully researched, addressing some of the most pressing issues of the day, this book should be on the night stand of every aspiring CEO.
The author (a two time Pulitzer Prize winner) takes the comparative approach to structure and never fails to keep the readers busy with questions of strategic, technological and political importance. (A quick glimpse of the index is enough to give one a head-spin). For example, consider the ‘triple convergence’ factor for building a successful business (have you ever heard about it?) or how about such notions as ‘outsourcing’, ‘in-sourcing’, ‘global supply chain’. Executives will reap the benefits from the countless examples of successful decision-making strategies implemented at top companies like UPS, Wal-Mart, JetBlu, and Yahoo. Even if you are not a fan of the business genre, you’ll find something beneficial in this work. (take a chance for a change). Fully developed, carefully constructed and extremely interesting, this book should be a required reading for all intellectual readers (especially MBA students, business executives and high-rank political figures).

- by Simon Cleveland

"The Judgment of Paris" by Ross King

Do you ever wonder what happened to Meissonier? No? Do you even know who Meissonier was?

If not, here is a chance to find out. Two figures left an imprint on the French art amidst the turbulent times of the late nineteenth century. Manet, whom history dubbed the father of Impressionism (although at the time art critics branded him untalented) and Meissonier, then the highest paid painters and now a figure obscured by history. How did time turn the tables on these two characters? Why is Meissonier forgotten, while the Manet’s paintings sell with $20 million price tag? The answer is in this book.

Mr. King’s skillful examination of the art’s progression from its realism to the appearance of impressionism in the latter part of 1800’s makes for a delightful reading. He analyzes the art critics of the time, the leading political figures, the consequences of a war with Prussia, the French life and French economy.

Written with intellectual appeal and with an eye on the events that drove history, The Judgment of Paris is highly recommend to all lovers of historical non-fiction.

-by Simon Cleveland

"Conspiracy of Fools : A True Story" by Kurt Eichenwald

Forget Grisham. Forget Finder. Kurt Eichenwald delivers the real deal. Carefully researched, coupled with a number of years of experience as an investigative journalist, Eichenwald tells the unbelievable (but true) saga of the biggest bankruptcy in US history - Enron's. Illuminated by the perverse machinations of a former CFO, the story details the sins of capitalism - deception of the greedy, disillusionment of the powerful, and the carelessness of those who are suppose to be impartial. Masterfully constructed, the book reads like a novel, capturing the essence of what went on behind close doors and never failing to remind of the perils of blind trust.

But here is where it gets tricky. If one is to compare the book to say the documentary film "The Smartest Guys In the Room", one would be amazed to find there are gaps in Eichenwald's book. Although he mentions about Enron's young traders, he conceals additional details of Enron's evil culture of greed and complete lack of ethical standards. The book lacks fairness in revealing the true enemies in disguise. When I finished reading it, I wondered whether Skilling was truly blindsided by the `hedge-fund' affairs. How could a CEO, who brought on board the creator of the affairs, be so ignorant of the huge losses Enron was amounting ($40+ billion)? The mere fact that Skilling resigned before the actual bankruptcy took place is a clear indication that he was aware of the deals since their inception.

Oh, well, in spite of these gaps, I highly recommend this book for its creative depiction of the historical facts. I never thought a real story could be delivered with the same intensity and thrill as Grisham's fictional accounts.

-by Simon Cleveland

"Over the Edge of the World : Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe" by Laurence Bergreen

Now, there should be no excuse for those claiming a lack of good historical sources of the first voyage around the globe

For lovers of the non-fiction accounts of sacrifices made in pursuit of honor, riches and glory, this book should be a great find. Readers will be convinced beyond doubt of the struggles Magellan and his crew endured in their historic voyage. Masterfully recreated from several historical resources, biographer Laurence Bergreen brings to life the cost of bearing the title of Discoverer. Resurrected in the story are the deviousness of the human character, the lust for currency greater than gold – the spices, the once undoubted might of the former Spanish armada and the terrible cost for it all – the loss of human life.

Carefully constructed story coupled with an excellent writing, this should be on the reading list of every reader dreaming of the voyages of the glorious past.

- by Simon Cleveland

"Hunger of Memory : The Education of Richard Rodriguez" by Richard Rodriguez

I return to this book 8 years after I read if for the first time. Within minutes I find myself recalling the Sunday brunches my parents used to prepare for our entire family, the joyful sounds of my growing up in Virginia, after spending my early years in Eastern Europe. I intimately know the things Mr. Rodriguez writes about, because I’ve experienced them.

The book itself is an abstract approach to the original structure of an autobiography. It lacks the voluminous accounts of monthly or yearly accomplishments (Colin Powell ‘My American Journey’ or Bill Clinton’s ‘My Life’ come to mind). Rather, the author takes on a path of moral reflection on the time it took one boy to become a man and the education it took to transform one’s identity. He assembles a combination of essays through which via a free flowing narrative, he conducts self-examination over the emergence of his ‘public’ character and the replacement of his ‘private’ persona.

But there is something else in this book. There is longing. Longing for the days when the ’sounds’ of his family brought meaning and recognition for what he was meant to be, for where he was meant to go (or was that a childhood illusion?). A reader would find it difficult to ignore the author’s emotional yearning for the past for a childhood now gone, when love, and family, and values, and identity made sense.

Mr. Rodriguez has done a superb job of capturing with words what many of us (first or second generation Americans) feel as members of families with similar backgrounds.
I highly recommend this book.

-by Simon Cleveland

"True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa" by Michael Finkel

What’s one man’s demise is another’s redemption…or is it?

Michael Finkel wrote this book in an effort to alter the popular opinion that he is a reporter who falsified articles. He wrote with one objective in mind - to emerge as a talented author and honest human being. But was he able to do so? It’s up to the readers to decide.

What’s the book about? As it turned out, a serial murderer used Mr. Finkel’s identity to hide himself from the law. Luckily, the FBI did their job and caught the man. And when Mr. Finkel found out that his identity has been compromised for nearly a month, he saw an opportunity to use the story a stepping stone toward redemption, toward purification of his own public character.

The book is written well, but having read it, I wouldn’t recommend it. For one thing, it does little to reveal something new about the character of the murderer. It simply affirms his deceitful nature. And I could care less about Finkel and Longo’s correspondence. At times it read like a falls gospel – an account of lies between two insincere men – the dishonest journalist and the two-faced murderer – what a pair.

If anyone is interested in the story, the Internet is a perfect source for Longo’s biography.

- by Simon Cleveland

"The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America" by Erik Larson

This book has a seriously misleading title. It should have been called ‘The World’s Greatest Fair’. A very small portion of the book explores the gruesome (and speculative at that) details of the H.H. Homes’ murder streak.

The author does an excellent job exploring the 1893 Chicago fair that put the city in the minds of so many for decades to come. One couldn’t help but marvel at the gigantic effort, resources, man hours and deaths that went into preparing the stage for the gathering of over 700,000 people at one time. Never again did so many historical figures of the 19th and 20th centuries come together again as for this fair. And although the picture the author paints is outstanding (his list of references at the end of the book goes on for pages), one is left to wonder why H.H. Homes was included at all in this book.
I must admit I felt a bit mislead (and subsequently disappointed) to find out that the story was about 90% devoted to the fair and only about 10% to what really went on within the walls of Homes’ little hell-hotel.

For those readers looking to find out the reasons behind Homes’ murders – try another book as this one is exclusively about the Chicago fair.

- by Simon Cleveland

"Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II" by Robert Kurson

I literally devoured this book. In about 16 or 17 hours I had finished it cover to cover and was on the net looking for another book by Robert Kurson. What’s phenomenal about this story is its unbelievable and yet true account of an ordeal two divers went through, and the years of struggle, to identify a sunken WW2 submarine 60 miles of the coast of New Jersey. The firs one is an ambitious risk taker who’s ready to do almost anything to get the answer, while the second, a more cautious yet daring, willing to go the distance beside his friend. The book doesn’t omit a thing. Readers will become intimate with the dangers accompanying deep-ocean diving, such as the narcosis, the oxygen depravation, and yes - death. There are three deaths that occur in the process of discovery, six years go by and two families are ruined, but in the end the mystery is solved. For me, the story represents a tribute to the true human will, what separates the man from the animal – the willingness to face death for the sake of knowledge. What separates this book from the average ‘based-on-a-true-story’ books is the exceptional narrative with which the author creates a heart pounding, the-edge-of-the-seat, electrifying ride into the little known territory of underwater exploration. In the end, the reader is left wanting more, needing more. A GREAT JOB!

- by Simon Cleveland