Street

If, like me, you've had some problems with poetry, then this book may suit you well. Whether Phil Clore has developed his own format, I don't know [ poetry is usually not my thing: I've known Phil for a dozen years, I'm usually interested in what he has to say, so I bought the book]. I do know that his style is crisp, economically powerful, vibrant. I imagine someday, in a moment of fame by association, I'll puff up: " Phil Clore: know him well. Powerful writer !!"

I got insights to things and events I had never considered. Very candid from-the-heart, and from-the-gut feelings are my favorites. Phil should be famous already and doing all the talk shows with his wit, candidness, and sincerity.

Phil Clore deals with the real issues of the day in this lovely book of poetry. Issues like discrimination, homosexuality, death, and coming of age. You'll laugh and cry as Phil shares his life with you. THIS IS A MUST READ!

This book has good insights into the Wall Street of the 1960's. This was the period of time most similar to the present (not identical) regarding the boom in tech stocks and new issues. Brooks has some interesting insights into the players in that period of time and what went wrong.

"The Go-Go Years" is a largely a collection of New Yorker magazine articles (and some pieces written especially for the book) by John Brooks, who in it covers a crucial period in the history of Wall Street, the 1960s, which includes the rise of conglomerates, mutual funds, and hedge funds, i.e. players at the heart of our economic situation today. Reading this book is instructive for that alone.

But the book is far more than a prescient account of today's market forces. It's a vivid rogues gallery of people who rode the tides of fortune, had their days at the crest of their profession, and then fell back. Some, like stockpicker extraordinaire Gerald Tsai, the first Asian to rise to NYSE prominence, were undone by fortune and circumstance. Other less savory characters had only themselves to blame.

There's an early look at Ross Perot, described vividly at the book's outset as losing a half-billion in a single day (April 22, 1970) and more or less shrugging it off. Perot's priorities were solid and he knew what he was about. Not so Eddie Gilbert, "The Last Gatsby" as Brooks calls him, who parlays small victories into outrageous defeats, dragging along a coterie of privileged friends into more and more nefarious investment schemes. Brooks sees Gilbert's get-rich-quick attitude as too emblematic of Wall Street in the 1960s, and his narrative never tires of pointing these out.

Brooks' elegant prose has a way of leaping out at you without disrupting the narrative flow. About the trend for all investment strategy to come unglued: "The dumb money could take bitter comfort in the company it had among the smartest of the smart money - or former money." On Tsai: "...so swift and nimble in getting into and out of specific stocks that his relations with them, far from resembling a marriage or even a companionate marriage, were more often like that of a roué with a chorus line." On the numerous bailouts undertaken by the Street as the '60s went sour: "Save the broker in order to serve the customer: it was Wall Street's version of the trickle-down theory."

Brooks's writing feels timeless. His is a lapidary style of almost accidental eloquence, blending facts in a seamless way as he tells his tale. It's like Roger Angell's baseball writings for the same magazine - I kept thinking about Angell's great essays in "The Summer Game," which focuses on roughly the same period as "The Go-Go Years," albeit on a different sport.

While Brooks's disapproval with Wall Street in the 1960s is obvious, and his genteel liberal disdain for a status quo that allows the market to manage itself shows up now and again, he never loses his focus on the people, and allows them to breathe in his narrative. He doesn't quote from them much, but he obviously spoke to many of the principals at length and weaves their insights into the story. As much as the then-nascent trend toward conglomeratization bothers him, he allows himself to show some sympathy for one of its more outrageous practitioners, Saul Steinberg, who in one of the best chapters finds himself thwarted by the bluebloods while attempting to acquire Chemical Bank. "I always knew there was an Establishment - I just used to think I was a part of it," Steinberg says.

It's not a connect-the-dots style history of Wall Street in the 1960s. It's too episodic for that. But if you are studying the facts and figures of the Go-Go Years and want a deeper look, or simply enjoy the human drama all-too-often overlooked in American business journalism, "The Go-Go Years" is a book that has only appreciated in value over time.

Wiley Investment Classics typically fall into two categories, fascinating troves of banking wisdom that are well-written and insightful, and painful diatribes that while full of good intention are best put on the shelf for display. "The Go-Go Years" is definitely the former - this is an incredibly well written book about what has really become one of the forgotten times in American financial history. While the booom of the 1920's and resulting crash, as well as the excess of the 1980's are frequent subjects of many financial authors, Brooks has picked a relatively infrequently discussed portion of our financial history, the booming 1960's and the resulting crash of the early 1970's.

There are many outstanding sections of the book; the introduction to Ross Perot in the first chapter, the history of Gerald Tsai and Fidelity, the rise and fall of the conglomerates, the description of the back-office and its staff, and finally the description of Wall Street that begins Chapter 5, which is without question the best description of the area ever written. These few pages (104 - 111) are simply an outstanding piece of prose.

There are just too many good things about this book to fit into a 1,000 word review. Too many of the lessons from only 40 years ago are maddeningly similar to the lessons many dot-com and IPO investors are learning now, and the structure and actions of many Wall Street establishments are all too easily explained with this simple peace of previously "missing" history. If you are up to date on the current view of the 1929 collapse, and the bull market of the 1980's, then this is the book that goes a long way towards filling out the major events that shaped the markets in the interim.

Go read this book.

Favorite Excerpts:

"Goaded by stock underwriters eager for commissions or a piece of the action owners of family businesses from coast to coast - laundry chains, soap-dish manfacturers, anything - would sell stock in their enterprises on the strength of little but bad news and big promises." - Brooks (page 28)

"Some accused him of being a habitual liar; they forgave him because he seemed geniunely to believe his lies, especially those about himself and his past." - Brooks (page 63)

"In the nineteen twenties, Wall Street's last great era before the present one, it was a kind of super university as well as a marketplace." - Brooks (page 105)

"'We were all sheep,' one of them would admit, sheepishly, years later." - Brooks (page 120)

"A smooth operator with a streak of the gambler; a company more interested in attracting investors than in making real profits; the resort to tricky accounting; the eager complicity of long-established, supposedly conservative investing institutions; the desperation plunge in a gambling casino at the last minute; the need for massive central-banking action to localize the disaster; and finally, reform measures instituted too late - we will see all of these elements reproduced with uncanny faithfulness in United States financial scandals and mishaps later in the nineteen sixties." (page 125 - 126)

"Economics have never been my strongpoint" - Salinger (page 273)

Minister Wayne Normis has written an outstanding book. Very grity, very realistic and true to history. He documents the devastating effects of the the prolification of guns as a cause and effect from the crack cocaine market of the 1980's, which effected everyone everywhere. He breaks down the time lines of how this effected his community and neighborhoods in an area in Califronia which wasn't identified, with actual incidents. Normis was one hell of a street fighter and esaceped multiple close calls and then witnessed how his knucles became an obsolete weapon in a period of escalting violence. The first book I have read that gives the real history and circumstances of how we have got to where we are today in the levels of youth violence wee see now. A good story with a message of redemption and a powerful work. A must read for anyone who cares about young people and the issues they are confronted with.

"In "The Last Street Fighter", Mr. Normis gives his readers a firsthand view of what it was like growing up in the less than desireable neighborhoods of L.A. His courage is to be commended. He portrays the fight-to-survive life to perfection. I believed that using his fists to protect himself and his family became a necessity ... the writing is sound."
"I am most impressed with the author's passion ... This is a well written book that allowed me into the world where I have never set foot. The author's faith shines through, from the crosses on the cover to the inside pages."

Former gang banger Wayne Normis has written a gut-wrenching, heart-pounding and insightful new book called "The Last Street
Fighter." His in -your- face auotobiography rips through the street of the Bay Area, depicting fights, death, fear and survival against odds many did not survive. "I have so many friends who never lived to see 18, 21 or 25. This story is for them and for the people who are trying to get out." "The Last Street Fighter" is difficult to put down because Normis spins a great story. (These are quotes from a feature article of the ANG newpaper group, including the Oakland Tribune, posted 10/5/02 by Book Editor and Columnist Simone Haas.) The Last Street Fighter is a true story.

Though I am an intermediate-level skier, I did not know much about ski racing before reading this book. If you don't know much about racing--how the races differ, what each demands, how skiers approach each type--you will learn a few things, but not many.

Of course, Street is not your typical skiers, either in ability or attitude. Simply put, even through multiple crashes (and even through blowing out a knee) and trips to the hospital, she did not "know fear" until the massive crash that occured shortly after the 1998 Olympics.

The book details her sporting, social, and family life in rural Idaho as a child, her races, rise to media stardom, and her various stints at rehabilitation. Through it all, we see a brash person looking for the next rush of adreneline, and the next victory. She accounts not only races, but conflicts with family, team members, and (eventually) employees. Her exploration of the world of being a Nike celebrity (design your own shoe) was an unexpected bonus.

I wish that she had waited to write this book until after the 2002 Olympics. After shattering one leg and tearing out the knee of the other, and the subsequent grueling rehabilitation, merely making the team was quite a feat. I would have liked to know what she thought of it all, though.

One weakness of the book is repetition--the word "ass" must have been used, on average, every other page. I don't faint at the sight of vulgarity, but a good writer finds ways around using the same word, especially a semi-vulgar one, over and over. The style, as you would expect from a "jock book," isn't always smooth or deep, but it offers just enough insight to make for an interesting read during the off-season.

Picabo not only makes a sublime skier but also a sublime author! This is really great book!Remember my name because one day I will race at the Olympics.

I loved this book right from the biggining.
I live in Chile and love skiing. Picabo comes sometimes on her summer to train on Chile and its just the greatest to see her training.
What I love about her is that she is a very authentic person and says just what she is thinking.
It seems to me that she has had a blast in her life, gone places, met people, won medals, campaign for Nike, etc.
Also, she is my same age , and so it is always interesting to see what others girls like me can do.

I didn't know this was a girl-starring book before I got it for my boy, but he loves the book anyway. My husband said he refuses to read the book to our son, but I found him reading it to him anyway.

This is a terrific book....my daughter loved the idea of her dolly going potty!

potty training! She loved seeing her favorite Sesame Street characters in the book. The book is more geared for girls than boys. I think every girl who is potty training should have this book.

Elijah Anderson's Code of the Street is, as one would expect from an observer with Professor Anderswon's track record, extremely valuable in demystifying and humanizing the behavior of both the good and the bad of the people who live in the nation's black ghettos. With his usual keen eye and ear, and his interest in human behavior, and his good humor, Anderson puts us right on the streets of Philadelphia (and every other urban area), walking among the well-to-do and the striving and the desperate as we track Germantown Avenue from the environs of comfort and affluence back to the inner city. The book's value in explaining the behavior of those at the bottom of the society, whether that behavior is good or bad, as the normal reaction of human beings when faced with an extreme situation can't be over-praised. His description of the code of the street also rang bells for me that all of us, including those that live and work in far more rarefied environs, also operate by codes of behavior that, in both their good and bad manifestations, are fundamentally no different than the ones identified here. They, usually, are just expressed in a more genteel fashion.

Code of the Street, by Elijah Anderson, was an extremely well-written book and very detailed. I often found myself saying, "yup, that's right!" I have lived and went to school in the suburbs, and now I live in the innercity. My experiences between the suburbs and in the innercity are TOTALLY different. Anderson just simply summarized everything about my innercity, even though it was focused just on Germantown. He even explained the types of people I know (even though they are found in all social and economic classes). The type that are "street" people. The "decent" people. Then there are those who are inbetween, like me, the type the "code switch," that can be either "decent" or "street" depending on the situation. He greatly explained the situations and concerns of the innercity people.

I had the pleasure meeting Elijah Anderson, and he is a completely a very nice person and keeps things "real." He is not some type of "wanna be" researcher who is trying to write a book about the innercity people, and don't have a clue about how people in the innercity lives. He has experience of living in the innercity, and he wrote this book (along with others) to help explain to others how the situation is in the innercity. I totally support his work.

I came away from this book with quite a bit.
One of the most important things is the difference between street and decent. It is difficult to figure out who is who. Its supposed to be that way. Its about survival.
Anderson breaks stereotypes. He gives a thorough description of the oppositional culture. He discusses sex and children without full responsibility as proof of manhood. He also includes what girls are trying to gain as well. He points out that by the time that children enter fourth grade they already know that respect in the education system is very different from that on the streets. Its encredibly difficult for children and it shouldn't be this hard.
I think that in order to solve a problem you need to know what the problem is. He lays this out very well. I liked it so much that I have started to read Streetwise.

Falcon was a great character when she first appeared in 1995, in the magical "Falcon's Egg." At long last, she is back, with more magic than ever. This time Falcon is surrounded by a new collection of wacky, fascinating characters, most notably Blinda the Charles Street Witch and Dirus Horribilus the old dragon (with a digestive problem whose consequences make for one of the book's most hilarious scenes). This is a book a kid can get happily lost in, while soaking up Luli Gray's witty, sophisticated and lyrical storytelling.

In this second Falcon book, she has even more friends, and more dragons. If you like dragons and friendly witches and hilarious saints, you'll love this book. It's a great, great story!

The first Falcon book, "Falcon's Egg", was a great insight into what a child of separated parents goes through. Falcon has to take care of her brother Toody as her mother is unable to deal with raising her kids and so she bears much responsibility on her young shoulders. Finding Egg, and the adventures that follow, give her a powerful secret and something she could choose to care for. What she learns is that loving something sometimes means letting it go, and that there are people in your life who will share some of the weight of world with you if you let them.

In this book, the sequel, Falcon watches as Toody is swept out of a plane and she follows him as she tries to save him. From that moment on, these two enter a world that is both real and fantasy. There is more magic in this book than in the first, and it is sillier. But it is a very enjoyable silliness that contrasts with the seriousness of "Falcon's Egg". I particularly liked Dirius, the old dragon with a little gas problem (hilarious) and Belinda Chomondley, the Charles Street Witch.

This is a reference book. It is not amusing or entertaining. I was looking forward to learning more about my new home, and I did learn a few things. However, the consumer should be warned: this is a dry, factual scholarly work, not a piece of light reading.

This is a wonderful collection of ancedotes and historical tidbits about Philadelphia's streets. The street names are listed alphabetically, with a few paragraphs about how each street got its name. Some listings have more content than others. There's also an interesting section on house-numbering, which didn't start until the late 1700s. Another section lists when specific roads operated as toll roads between 1711 and 1918.

In the book's introduction, which I also found interesting, the author explains some of the obstacles in doing this project--particularly the 'lack of cohesive record-keeping by the city' and the misinformation and erroneous data in the 'seemingly authoritative newspaper clippings.'

I would've liked to have seen longer descriptions and some street maps included for reference. Overall though, it's an excellent book for anyone interested in Philadelphia. In addition to teachers, I think it would also benefit anyone putting together local tours or a 'historical neighborhood' association.

If you have ever wondered how a street got its name, this is the book you! Robert I. Alotta did an impressive amount of research and has compiled a fascinating little resource on Philadelphia street names. While most Philadelphians can easily figure out who Ben Franklin Parkway or John F. Kennedy Boulevard is named after, how about some of the more obscure names? Even the streets that aren't named after people have interesting historical facts. Presented in alphabetical encyclopedic style order, this book makes a better reference than an interesting read. However, I found it to be good fun to look up familiar street names and discover the meanings behind them. For the interested, this book is well worth the investment.

The subject matter of this book is something that is of tremendous use in an elementary classroom. However, the text is choppy, and the subject hard to follow from one idea to the next. Even the illustrations fail to provide a common thread woven throughout the book. The collage style pictures are beautiful to look at, but confusing to tie together, especially when paired with the choppy text.

This is a wonderfully imaginative book filled with lively characters and surprising events. I've read it to my class and they've asked for it again and again. Even more importantly, it has stimulated and improved their writing skills and inspired them to try their own version of this story. A great help in the classroom, and, a lot of fun!

A fun romp full of wonderful characters, plus helpful tidbits to improve children's writing. A multicultural and intergenerational story in an urban setting, in which the soap opera star Saundra Saunderson and the fish store owner Mr. Chang come together with many other colorful neighbors to create a community on 90th Street. Eva, the child writer, records and participates in all the action and finally comes up with an extraordinary topic for her school assignment. A funny, great and useful tale to teach and read, whether you live on 90th Street, in the suburbs, or in the country.

I was amazed to find his knowledge of India, the film industry and the politics of the streets so authentic. The story is like an off-line movie story while hovering around the film industry itself. I've read Clive James's other books but none touched me so much as this. Read it!

The sad and moving story of a young life lost. Told with wit and grit, the tale at first engenders the reader's sympathy for the young, precocious Sanjay growing up under deplorable conditions. And then by some curious trick, James allows the reader to distance himself/herself from Sanjay just enough to accept the "return to roots" ending without tears. Perhaps the trick is that you never really know what is in Sanjay's heart. Perhaps he doesn't have one: he is simply an opportunist who climbs the shakey ladder of success by any means possible. And perhaps the saddest indictment of all is that this may be the only hope for the bright sparks among India's poorest people. A thought-provoking, highly-readable novel written with insight and style. Recommended.

This was my first Clive James book. I loved it. I've not yet been to Bombay, or any part of India, but having read the book, I feel like it's a place that I must (but not necessarily want to) visit.

It's a sad story about the life a young boy growing up in poverty in Bombay. It is tragic, but it is told with such objectiveness that you cannot cast judgment upon any of the characters involved.

This is a brilliant display of James' talent of telling things how they are, without imposing a moralistice slant. You'll even laugh a lot.

This book is definitely worth reading.