Book Reviews

It's been a while since I did one of these. I thought I would put a few of my more recent books up here so you can see what I've been reading of late.


Enemies of the People: My Family's Journey to America by Kati Marton


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I need to stop reading all these cold-war books! I didn't mean to follow up Mountain of Crumbs with this book, but it just happened that way. But this book was just as interesting and informative. It tells the story of the Marton Family who grew up in Hungary and who were actively spied on by their own government. For nearly 10 years, they tried to find some dirt on this family and finally they "found" enough information to convict them of spying for the Americans. (The "trial" was really a sham. There were no witnesses, no evidence, and no jury. They were just presented with the charges, allowed to make a plea and then their sentence was given. Some kind of justice, right?)

The author of this book talks about how writing this and looking in the now available AVO (Hungarian Secret Police) files taught her many things about her parents and her family. Memories she had forgotten were spied on a written down for the files. Family ski trips, outings with her father, a favorite sweater. Good things she's glad she remembers. But also things she didn't know and maybe was better off not knowing. The infidelity of both her parents, the betrayal of those closest to her, and the broken promises of those who vowed to care for her and her sister.

Again, much like Mountain of Crumbs this book does not focus on the atrocities of that time. We know that they were going on. People were starving, being killed and even tortured by their own government all because of the perceived threat of America far far away. But this book doesn't talk about that. It talks about how her family did everything right and still were found guilty by their own country.

This is a quote from the book talking about that very thing: "One common superstition of totalitarian governments is that people will be more contented if they don't know the unpleasant things that are going on and that a regime will be admired in the outside world if it conceals its sins and stupidities. . . Espionage in such a a country is what the Government says it is." So just the fact that her parents were journalists reporting the news about Hungary made them spies in her countries eyes. (The author's mother's charges included talking about the price of eggs and bread to foreigners. I'm not kidding about that) They didn't want the outside world knowing anything, for fear the people inside the country would realize how they were truly living.

The other part that hit me was this: "My initial 'How could they!' has been supplanted by another question. How would I survive under such a system? What price would I pay to preserve my own freedom and my children's future?"

I think that's something that we all have to think about, especially when we judge others that have gone through systems like this. Things that I would never think about doing before I would consider now because of my daughter. You just survive.

Ultimately, I think that the author does a great job of telling her amazing and almost unbelievable story.


The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, The Financial Genius Behind a Century of Wall Street Scandals by Frank Partnoy


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I need to do these reviews as I'm reading. Because by the time I get to the end, I forget what struck me at the beginning. Anyway, this book touts itself as the story of Ivar Kreuger, the first Bernie Madoff of his time.

I can see how people would think that. Both men made crazy promises when it came to investments and returns. Both men got fabulously rich during a time of great prosperity in the United States. And both were terrific terrific liars to anyone who would listen.

However, there are definite differences too. Ivar was a very unique man with quirky tendencies. He was strictly regimented, and did everything with purpose. Not only that, but he really did make fortunes. It's just unfortunate that the crash of '29 happened. Because who knows where he would've gone.

Ivar is a very unique man. He likes to surround himself with other crooks. There is a great story about how when he was the manager of a bank, he found an employee who was making a "loan to himself." He of course had to fire the employee but then he immediately hired him as a member of his personal crew. The most redeeming thing about this crook? He looked exactly like Santa Claus. So Ivar thought that no one would suspect Santa carrying false documents!!

However, he also likes to surround himself with people that he can manipulate and woo. This is especially true of auditors and accountants who have to review his books. There is one particular character who he has trailing along after him like a lovesick puppy dog. It's quite sad to see the extend to which he can play him.

This book was rather slow in moments. An exciting part was right at the middle when they started talking about the Crash of '29. In your mind you are thinking "ohhhhh!! this is it!! it's all going to hit the fan now!! where is he going to get the money he promised? Ohhh!! here it goes!" And things kinda pick up. And then they slow down again. But there is a big finish!! It really pulls it out in the end.

Finally, this book reminded me of "Catch Me if you Can". The forgeries, the desperate need to always be admired, the persona that he wanted to carry around all the time. It all seemed to be the desperate actions of a man who never felt like he was good enough. In the end, we should be happy for him. Due to his actions the way Americans trade, acquire and report stocks all changed. Securities laws were passed with only him in mind.

All in all this book was written by a lawyer,and sometimes it reads like a law review book. Dry and not much story telling. But still a good read. And a compelling story. Very practical and easily likened to our times. Lots of problems that everyone wants to blame on someone else. "It's Enron's fault. . .It's Madoff's fault. . .It's the banks' fault" We want there to be one BIG BAD problem causer. But in the end we need to realize that we all have a little part in the financial demise of this country.


How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked how this book moved along. The pace was not at all grueling, even thought the author would start talking about pre-frontal cortexes and amygdalas. I think it's because he had such great stories to back up his ideas. And you were truly invested in the stories.

This book made me think about the decisions I make. Why do I make them? How am I feeling? And it told me that I should really trust my gut more.

I enjoyed every moment of reading this book and was sad to see it end. I would've liked to hear more stories about poker playing physicists and airplane pilots with nerves of steel. You should all definitely read this book.