Bududo
King County Library System
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Bududo's rating:
Added Mar 25, 2024
Bududo's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
Comment:
This is a polemic collection of interviews and essays written by two politically radical Jewish scholars ostensibly speaking for Arab Palestinians. While the authors are quite knowledgeable of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the raison d'etre of book apparently is to provide talking points to Western pro-Palestinian activists. Unfortunately, there is no attempt at presenting an objective analysis and little acknowledgement of the existence of other legitimate views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the interviews, Frank Barat fails to serve up questions that challenge the author's fixed conclusions. For example, while there is an observation that the West Bank Palestinians are between two hostile countries (Israel and Jordon), there is no explanation for why the Palestinians went from part of Jordan in 1948 to now viewing Jordan as a hostile state. This line of inquiry probably would upset the author's preferred narrative. A good summary of this book is, quoting Ben Franklin, “Half a truth is often a great lie.”This is a polemic collection of interviews and essays written by two politically radical Jewish scholars ostensibly speaking for Arab Palestinians. While the authors are quite knowledgeable of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the raison d'etre of…
Darkness at NoonDarkness at Noon, Book
by Koestler, ArthurBook - 2015 | Scribner classics hardcover editionBook, 2015. Scribner classics hardcover edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Mar 09, 2024
Comment:
A well written novel but with an inexorably grim trajectory highlighting character sketches of communist party bureaucrats as well as ordinary people caught in the Stalinist purges. Long stretches of philosophical asides or dialogs are still relevant today particularly the theorizing on the maturity of the masses when provided new technologies such as social media.A well written novel but with an inexorably grim trajectory highlighting character sketches of communist party bureaucrats as well as ordinary people caught in the Stalinist purges. Long stretches of philosophical asides or dialogs are still…
The Hollow CrownThe Hollow Crown, BookShakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall
by Cohen, Eliot A.Book - 2023 | First EditionBook, 2023. First Edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Feb 26, 2024
Comment:
The author provides an interesting exploration of some of Shakespeare's power figures from the plays Julius Caesar, Macbeth, King Lear, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Richard III, and The Tempest with plenty of annotated quotes. He compares and contrasts these characters and behaviors with more historical figures from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. I appreciated his insight into Shakespeare's characters as well as his historical examples. However, it is not clear that Shakespeare's portraits provide any guidance to judge current political figures.The author provides an interesting exploration of some of Shakespeare's power figures from the plays Julius Caesar, Macbeth, King Lear, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Richard III, and The Tempest with plenty of annotated quotes. He…
Bad Luck and TroubleBad Luck and Trouble, BookA Jack Reacher Novel
by Child, LeeBook - 2014 | Dell mass market editionBook, 2014. Dell mass market edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Feb 26, 2024
Comment:
With focus on the remaining members of the 110th special investigations group, this seems too cute. Sure enough there is plenty of Reacher mayhem to satisfy but just too many moments where the reader is to suspend disbelief though a lot fewer than the Amazon video. The author gets a few of the technical details wrong such as the designation of the Bell Hueys.With focus on the remaining members of the 110th special investigations group, this seems too cute. Sure enough there is plenty of Reacher mayhem to satisfy but just too many moments where the reader is to suspend disbelief though a lot fewer than…
Trunk MusicTrunk Music, Book
by Connelly, MichaelBook - 2013 | 1st oversize mass market edBook, 2013. 1st oversize mass market ed
Bududo's rating:
Added Feb 11, 2024
Comment:
A very well written detective thriller with many twists and turns. Just before the final climax, the author slows the pace down to a crawl heightening the anticipation.
There were a few aspects of the story that required substantial suspension of disbelief but generally the author continues to show that he is a master of the details and jargon of the police detective.A very well written detective thriller with many twists and turns. Just before the final climax, the author slows the pace down to a crawl heightening the anticipation.
There were a few aspects of the story that required substantial suspension of…
The Country of the BlindThe Country of the Blind, BookA Memoir at the End of Sight
by Leland, AndrewBook - 2023Book, 2023
Bududo's rating:
Added Feb 01, 2024
Comment:
The author writes about his experience and that of key figures in the blind community in a conversational way. Particularly interesting is his personal experiential observations. Where, I think, the book wanders off into areas that I found not particularly interesting were the long narrations of various political aspects of organizations supporting the blind. I find most unattractive the author's seldom below the surface bitterness about being blind and general grievances with the sighted community. He seems to view the world in a Marxist framework of oppressors and oppressed without considering that 21st century US is such a poor application of this dialectic. I was hoping for a more realistic assessment of limitations that blindness brings given the remarkable advances in assistive technology and the evident determination to succeed by many in the blind community.The author writes about his experience and that of key figures in the blind community in a conversational way. Particularly interesting is his personal experiential observations. Where, I think, the book wanders off into areas that I found not…
Bududo's rating:
Added Feb 01, 2024
Comment:
C. S. Lewis provides a great deal of insight into selected aspects of the Psalms. Some of these aspects (Judgement, cursing) are troubling and others exhibit the double meanings that the author highlights as precursors to the Christian faith.
Japan and the Shackles of the PastJapan and the Shackles of the Past, Book
by Murphy, R. TaggartBook - 2014Book, 2014
Bududo's rating:
Added Feb 01, 2024
Comment:
The author leads the reader through a number of phases in Japan's past to the present while providing an understanding of how Japan's society and government function. Japan has grafted various Western institutions onto the native Japanese stock. In some cases this structure has worked well and other cases it has not. The author provides a great deal of insight into the situation and suggestions for how to get to a fully independent state.The author leads the reader through a number of phases in Japan's past to the present while providing an understanding of how Japan's society and government function. Japan has grafted various Western institutions onto the native Japanese stock. In…
ConflictConflict, BookThe Evolution of Warfare From 1945 to Ukraine
by Petraeus, David HowellBook - 2023 | First editionBook, 2023. First edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Jan 07, 2024
Comment:
This is a fascinating study of many of the military conflicts occurring since WWII. While the focus is on the strategy, tactics, and weapons used by either side, the context, though not the entire history, of each conflict is provided. For some of these conflicts the US was heavily engaged - sometimes with unfortunate outcomes. I think that what is missing from this analysis is an honest assessment of how Western and particularly US understanding of the local population is so wrong and vice versa. Perhaps Joseph Henrich's book "The WEIRDest People in the World" might be key to assessing these misunderstandings.This is a fascinating study of many of the military conflicts occurring since WWII. While the focus is on the strategy, tactics, and weapons used by either side, the context, though not the entire history, of each conflict is provided. For some of…
Best Day Hikes JapanBest Day Hikes Japan, BookEasy Escapes Into Nature
by Bartlett, RayBook - 2021 | 1st editionBook, 2021. 1st edition
Added Jan 07, 2024
Breaking BidenBreaking Biden, BookExposing Hidden Forces and Secret Money Machine Behind Joe Biden, His Family, and His Administration
by Marlow, AlexBook - 2023 | First Threshold Editions hardcover editionBook, 2023. First Threshold Editions hardcover edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Dec 22, 2023
Comment:
From the title, one can accurately surmise the author's point of view. This book is a fairly comprehensive accounting of the short coming of the Biden administration and the foibles of the Biden family. It is breezily written with numerous asides to the reader. There were a few new aspects to me. The author does present a number of thoughtful insights into the mind, actions, and motivations of Joe Biden.From the title, one can accurately surmise the author's point of view. This book is a fairly comprehensive accounting of the short coming of the Biden administration and the foibles of the Biden family. It is breezily written with numerous asides to…
Bududo's rating:
Added Dec 07, 2023
Comment:
The author combines an international thriller that contains a fair share of mayhem with an intelligent, if dated, critical commentary of the modern environmental movement and those that proclaim climate change as an existential crisis. To emphasize the author's seriousness about his climate commentary he provides copious foot notes to document factual assertions, adds two appendices, and an extensive annotated bibliography. It is clear that this author has done a lot of research. Don't skip reading the author's commentary in his bibliography. It would have been interesting if the author could have written a sequel some twenty years after this effort with updated data.The author combines an international thriller that contains a fair share of mayhem with an intelligent, if dated, critical commentary of the modern environmental movement and those that proclaim climate change as an existential crisis. To emphasize…
A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace, Book
by Knowles, JohnBook - 1996 | 1st Scribner Classics edBook, 1996. 1st Scribner Classics ed
Bududo's rating:
Added Dec 01, 2023
Comment:
Beautifully written coming of age story.
The Complete Stories of Anton ChekhovThe Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Audiobook CDVol. 1, 1882-1885
by Chekhov, Anton PavlovichAudiobook CD - 2011 | UnabridgedAudiobook CD, 2011. Unabridged
Bududo's rating:
Added Dec 01, 2023
Comment:
The stories are humorous, interesting, and provide a window into Russian life and mindset in the later half of the 1800s.
Unfortunately, the chosen audio narrator detracts from rather than enhances the stories.
Bududo's rating:
Added Nov 25, 2023
Comment:
This book was assigned reading in high school for me but it seems that I have retained very little of it in the intervening decades.
This is an interesting portrait of the popular mass formation of the French Revolution. In it Dickens clearly evokes Thomas Carlyle, the other great English narrator of the French Revolution, in style. For modern day Americans obsessed with the belief in the importance of group identity, Dickens beautifully writes a cautionary tale illustrating the fallacy of the notion that group identity is determinantive of being the oppressor, or being oppressed, of being righteous or being evil.
The Dickens style was a pleasure reading along with the many allusions to either classical or Christian sources.This book was assigned reading in high school for me but it seems that I have retained very little of it in the intervening decades.
This is an interesting portrait of the popular mass formation of the French Revolution. In it Dickens clearly…
UnsettledUnsettled, BookWhat Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters
by Koonin, Steven E.Book - 2021Book, 2021
Bududo's rating:
Added Nov 10, 2023
Comment:
This is a well written book by a physicist who has worked in academia, government, and industry around energy. He has the ability to relate complex dynamics to the general reader.
He critiques the current climate science reports from the UN's IPCC and the US National Climate Assessment for what we know, what are our limitations on knowledge, and where scientists, the media, and politicians stretch the truth. He emphasizes the necessity for scientists to work with integrity to report the facts and not let their values bias their reporting.
He answers some basic questions by citing the published scientific literature. These questions include: Is the planet warming? Yes, Is at least some of the warming induced by human activities? Yes. Is this an existential crisis? No. Is the goal for the US to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 practical? No.
The author provides some reasonable general guidance and recommendations for our policies going forward. It would be nice if our government heeded his advice.This is a well written book by a physicist who has worked in academia, government, and industry around energy. He has the ability to relate complex dynamics to the general reader.
He critiques the current climate science reports from the UN's IPCC…
A Darkness More Than NightA Darkness More Than Night, Book
by Connelly, MichaelBook - 2014 | First U.S. oversize mass market editionBook, 2014. First U.S. oversize mass market edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2023
The Last CoyoteThe Last Coyote, Book
by Connelly, MichaelBook - 2013 | First oversize mass market editionBook, 2013. First oversize mass market edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2023
Comment:
The book begins with Bosch pulled off active duty for an altercation with his lieutenant. The ensuring assigned psychological examination triggers the idea that with his free time he should investigate the old unsolved murder of his mother. There is a lot of introspection twists in the investigation almost to the end.The book begins with Bosch pulled off active duty for an altercation with his lieutenant. The ensuring assigned psychological examination triggers the idea that with his free time he should investigate the old unsolved murder of his mother. There is…
Bududo's rating:
Added Sep 12, 2023
Comment:
The narrative builds with good pacing and different points of view. There are some places that seem to stretch credibility and the ending appears to be hurried.
The NarrowsThe Narrows, Book
by Connelly, MichaelBook - 2014 | First U.S. oversize mass market editionBook, 2014. First U.S. oversize mass market edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Aug 27, 2023
Comment:
As usual, Michael Connelly weaves into his Bosch story a variety of asides, conflicts, and subplots. I thought that it was well paced, well written, with a satisfying ending.
People Vs. Donald TrumpPeople Vs. Donald Trump, BookAn Inside Account
by Pomerantz, Mark F.Book - 2023 | First Simon & Schuster hardcover editionBook, 2023. First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Aug 21, 2023
Comment:
For full disclosure, I have never voted for Donald Trump and I am not a lawyer.
This book outlines various lines of investigation of the Trump organization: 1) Failure to pay sufficient property tax, 2) Falsifying business records to conceal the payment to Stephanie Clifford (a.k.a. Stormy Daniels), 3) falsifying business records (statement of financial condition) in an effort to obtain loans from Deutchse bank. The later was the concluding focus on DANY during the Cyrus Vance jr's tenure. The problem with all of these investigations was that it turns out there were no victims. This fact did not seem to bother the author.
This book appears to be written in the heat of passion in a last ditch effort to get DANY (District Attorney New York city) to pursue it. That appears to have failed. The Federal prosecutors also seem to not pursuing any of the above lines of investigation even though all the evidence developed by this investigation was provided to them via the Attorney General of NY state. It does appear that the Trump organization greatly exaggerated property valuations when it suited them. I found it astonishing that DANY did not bother to ask Deutchse bank how they concluded that a loan to the Trump organization was good business.
Throughout the book, the author keeps saying that he was not out to “get” Donald Trump, but if DANY was pursuing a series of victimless crimes, then what was the point?
The book keeps repeating various logic arguments. It only reveals facts that are fairly public and in support of their argument. Those facts presented to the Grand Jury are left out. So it is difficult to provide a fair assessment of the case. But it seems to me that they had at best a misdemeanor and rather weak case at that.For full disclosure, I have never voted for Donald Trump and I am not a lawyer.
This book outlines various lines of investigation of the Trump organization: 1) Failure to pay sufficient property tax, 2) Falsifying business records to conceal the…
The Moon Is A Harsh MistressThe Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Audiobook CD
by Heinlein, Robert A.Audiobook CD - 1999 | UnabridgedAudiobook CD, 1999. Unabridged
Bududo's rating:
Added Aug 06, 2023
Comment:
Although this book was first published in 1966, it surprisingly deals with topics that are quite up-to-date. The basis for this story is a set of Lunar colonies. (Note that there is currently US and Chinese efforts to establish permanent colonies on the Moon.) One of the key "characters" in the story is a computer HOLMES (High-Optional, Logical, Multi-Evaluating Supervisor) Mark IV that develops such a high degree of artificial intelligence that it can think, speak as a person, even tell jokes. (Note the AI program ChatGPT has just appeared and exhibits written communication capabilities similar to that of a person.) The plot of the story is the sequence of events leading to the independence of the Lunar colonies from Earth. This raises topics of rights, environmental stewardship, family structures, and many other aspects that are still current today.
The story is told through the eyes of Manuel Garcia O'Kelly-Davis, otherwise known as Mannie. In my opinion, it is unfortunate the Mannie's command of the English language is limited and so the writing does not flow as well as it could.Although this book was first published in 1966, it surprisingly deals with topics that are quite up-to-date. The basis for this story is a set of Lunar colonies. (Note that there is currently US and Chinese efforts to establish permanent colonies on…
You Can't Joke About ThatYou Can't Joke About That, BookWhy Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We're All in This Together
by Timpf, KatBook - 2023 | First editionBook, 2023. First edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Aug 06, 2023
Comment:
Given that the author is in the entertainment business, some of the blurbs, as well as the title, I expected this book to be humorous. The subtitle clearly shows that this author has never engaged in serious work - not everything is funny. One does not testify in a murder trial by cracking jokes. One does not investigate accidents by making jokes. The writing has nowhere close to the humor of any book written by Trevor Noah or Adam Carolla. The writing is, frankly, graceless and tedious. There are a few widely scattered humorous comments but not enough to rescue this book. The content becomes more bizarre towards the end in a chapter titled, "Comedy is My Religion". I had thought the author was just going to expound on her passion for comedy. But no, it seems that the author takes the opportunity to create a very shallow comparison between religion and comedy leaving no doubt that she understands neither. For the religious, there are sacred things. The oddest chapter was the last where the author provides the reader with tips on what to do if one is accosted by the police - a very strange inclusion for a book with this title.Given that the author is in the entertainment business, some of the blurbs, as well as the title, I expected this book to be humorous. The subtitle clearly shows that this author has never engaged in serious work - not everything is funny. One does…
Atlas ObscuraAtlas Obscura, BookAn Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders
by Foer, JoshuaBook - 2019 | Second editionBook, 2019. Second edition
Bududo's rating:
Added Jul 29, 2023
Comment:
This book highlights many wonderfully odd-ball cultural and geographical features on all continents in the world. Short paragraphs provide information that most guide books overlook.
Comment: