August 2018

Well, summer is almost over! It's time to gear up for cooler weather and deeper thought by getting immersed in an awesome book. Read about our picks for August below!

​Bad Blood by John Carryrou
 
Truth is really stranger than fiction! This unbelievable story about the audacious (to put it mildly) Elizabeth Holmes and the billion-dollar startup that she built on lies and false promises will make your jaw drop! Carryrou certainly did his due diligence, as every detail is thoroughly researched and intricately woven to paint a picture of Theranos- Silicon valley’s biggest scam! Five stars! An enthralling read!
 
Review by Abbey (Staff)

​City of Devils: The Two Men Who Ruled the Underworld of Old Shanghai
 
Lucky Jack Riley. Navy boxing champ turned imprisoned gambler escapes prison and makes it to Shanghai. He meets up with “Dapper Jue” Farren, the Fred Astaire of Shanghai. Both aspire to rule the “Wild East’s” entertainment and gambling world between WWI and WWII, where rules are made to be circumvented with bribes and threats.
Both found Shanghai the ideal place to escape their pasts. Riley’s experience with loaded dice, slot machines, and the desired R&R of the US military combines with Dapper Joe’s showmanship and management skills to develop an on-again, off-again partnership and war under the noses of the Chinese and Western nations first, and then the Japanese as various factions ruled and were bribable…
Add to the above the dope smuggling supported by the Western countries and you have a continuing action non-fiction thriller!
Enjoy!!!
 
Review by Lee (Customer)

​The Hard Thing about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
 
I’ve been an investor in startup companies for 25 years, as well as a company founder. I’ve read hundreds of management books and most are garbage, but this one is excellent. It’s written by a company founder & CEO who sold his firm to HP for 1.6 billion dollars. It’s a CEO primer and I’ve given copies to three of my CEOs!
 
Review by Dave Eastman (Staff)

Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal USA (retired)
 
An intriguing book that chronicles the transformation of General McChrystal’s Take Force Iraq from a rigid hierarchy into a responsive network of highly effective, interdependent teams better suited to confronting the AQI terrorist network. Ultimately, the transformation created a decentralized organization that was far more effective due to new approaches in information exchange, common situational awareness, delegation of authority, and comprehensive changes in organizational culture. He also explores similar transformations at other organizations, including NASA. This book examines the changing role of management and should be of interest to anyone involved in leadership and transformation.
 
Review by John (Customer) 

​You Were Made for This by Michelle Sacks
 
All mothers love their babies. Or do they? In the twisted forests of Sweden, an upscale New York couple tries to settle into quiet, domestic life but it proves difficult. Jealousy, lies, and post-partum depression invade their lives- intensely so.
 
Review by Marilyn (Staff)

​Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
 
As a former science teacher I know that the loving presentation of the flora and fauna in this story deserve special attention. Yes, the story about the “Marsh Girl” is one that is interesting and engaging to read but when Kya (Marsh Girl) document the wildlife in North Carolina in her yet to be published books- that is what drew me into her world. Take a look and you too will be entranced at the marsh life and perhaps learn what qa crawdad is!
 
Review by Susan (Staff) 

​The Last Cruise by Kate Christensen
 
Reading this novel was like watching a movie. The characters are complex and vivid with real, complex, relatable problems. The ending took me by complete surprise, too! Check this book out!
 
Review by Marilyn

​Safe Houses by Dan Fesperman
 
In 1979, Reagan had still not yet spoken the famous words- “Take down this wall”. The CIA was still tracking Soviet spies and truthfully, spies from every country. Enter Helen Abell, a new CIA recruit who believes that she is made of the right material for a job that goes beyond ‘coffee runner’. Her safe house Berlin assignment ends up being more of a housekeeping job! When she overhears and tapes a conversation that appears to be a CIA agent attempting to rape an informant, her life is changed forever. Now, years later, her daughter is trying to find the person who has murdered Helen and Helen’s husband. Her daughter is also trying to protect her brother who has been charged with this very crime! Fesperman writes exceptional characters that grow and become so real…you might expect to see their names in the paper! Redacted of course!!!
 
Review by Susan (Staff)