A World of Wealth: How Capitalism Turns Profits into Progress by Thomas G. Donlan

While I agree with most of his premises...the delivery needs some work

Published in 2008.

I'm an economics teacher with a firm belief that markets are the single most efficient way of creating wealth and that interfering with markets is a sure way to slow or stop the creation of wealth for all, not just for the elites.

However, despite the sometimes eloquent prose, Donlan's A World of Wealth is merely a solid book, not a great one. Two issues cloud the book for me:

1) no footnotes, endnotes or even a bibliography. Instead, there is only an interesting list of recommended reading. I would not let my high school students get away with such shoddy scholarship, an editor of a magazine should know better.

2) Meandering text and incomplete arguments get in the way of his discussions of immigration and education. Too bad since there is some nice writing here.

This one won't hurt the reader too much (scholarship-wise) but others do it better.

A better introductory text would be Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: A World of Wealth.

Reviewed on January 13, 2009.

I Am Not a Cop!: A Novel by Richard Belzer and Michael A. Black

Okay, but not great detective fiction

Published in 2009 by Simon and Schuster.

Law and Order: SVU's Richard Belzer tries his hand at fiction (with some help from mystery writer Michael A. Black) with I Am Not A Cop!: A Novel ,a bit of noir lit that reminds me of Robert B. Parker without all of the psychobabble but with more conspiracy theories and lots more political commentary. Belzer inserts himself as the main character in this interesting but tedious work.

Belzer's acid wit comes to the fore throughout his personal investigation into the disappearance of a Ukrainian-born friend. Belzer's multiple police contacts due to the TV show (ride-alongs, police advisors to make the language and procedures more realistic) and a simple assumption that he can figure out how to investigate crime in real life since he's done it so long on TV.

At times it's interesting, at times it gets repetitive, especially with multiple passages similar to this one: "...when I get determined, it takes an act of Congress to dissuade me. Well, those are usually pretty watered down by the time they get out of committee and have all the pork attached to them. Maybe I should change that to an executive order. Unless it came from someone with the last name Bush." (p. 198) Cute enough, but put one on every fifth page and you begin to wonder if the book was being padded for some reason.

Richard Belzer

Throw in some repetitive phrases such as "It hit me like a punch in the liver" (p. 197) and "Buteyko's comment...came back to me like an elbow to the kidneys" (p. 211) and "I felt like I'd bumped up against a live outlet" (p. 178) and I began to tire of the whole thing.

Interestingly, there are no reviews of the actual book on the book. Instead, on the back of the book there are reviews of Belzer's stand-up routine from Chris Rock, Robin Williams, Chevy Chase, Robert De Niro, Richard Pryor and John Belushi. In my mind, that says something about the quality of the book as a whole. The reviews play to Belzer's strength - his history as a comic but ignore the book completely. It may be harsh, but to be honest, the premise of the book (TV actor who plays a cop really investigates a crime) and the fact that it was written by a celebrity carried the book. If this were written by a no-name author about a fictional actor investigating crimes on his own time I don't know if I would have finished it.

I rate this book 2 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: I Am Not a Cop!.

Reviewed on January 15, 2009.

The Black Ice (Harry Bosch #2) (audiobook) by Michael Connelly

Not the best Bosch book, which means that it is merely very, very good and not excellent

Originally published in 1993.
Audiobook originally published in 1998 by Brilliance Audio.

Read by Dick Hill.
11 hours, 11 minutes.

Unabridged.

Connelly's Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch is named after a Renaissance painter who specialized in fanciful and gruesome visions of hell from high above and detailed looks at the tortures that it holds for its residents. Hieronymus Bosch is designed to be our guide through the modern hell of Los Angeles - at least that's the way it seems to the Hollywood Homicide Division.

Fittingly, The Black Ice starts with Harry Bosch watching a wildfire burn part of the canyon below his home. His thoughts are interrupted with a radio call about a homicide and Bosch descends the mountain into the madness. A long, complicated case unrolls for Bosch as he goes against direct orders and privately investigates the presumed suicide of a narcotics and I will go no further so as to avoid spoilers.

Michael Connelly

Dick Hill read this installation of the Bosch series with a great deal of skill. It was a joy to listen and was the best thing about my commute for more than a week.

While not the best of the series that does not mean it is not an excellent book. I consider this to be one of the best series going right now and am happily working my way through them.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: The Black Ice.

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

Reviewed on January 15, 2009.

Rough Weather (Spenser mystery) by Robert B. Parker

Strong start. Best Spenser novel in a while.

Published in 2008 by Putnam Adult.

By my count Rough Weather may be the 35th Spenser novel. As others have noted, the traditional elements of a Spenser novel are here - Susan and Spenser's deep discussions about Spenser's code of honor, Spenser and Hawk trading witty banter, Spenser pulling at the loose ends of the case until someone tries to kill him. It's a formula, but I like the formula.

The book starts out differently and with much more action than is normal in a Spenser book and I'd give the first half 5 stars. But it eventually slows down to the point that I'd give the last half a mere 3 stars. Thus, the average score is the final score - 4 stars.

Interestingly, Rough Weather is the only Spenser book that I can remember that actually mentions time passing as the series progresses. Spenser notes to Rita Fiore that she's been pursuing him for 20 years. Hawk and Susan also make some sort of comments as well. Will Spenser ever age? No, I'm sure not. One of the early novels mentions that Spenser was at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War (1950). That makes Spenser at least 76 years old in Rough Weather. Good thing he doesn't age - how sad would that fistfight be?

Robert B. Parker 
(1932-2010)

Spenser notes that he reads the newspaper every morning: "Every year there were more stories about shoes, and celebrities, and hot restaurants, so every year I read less." Amen to that.

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Rough Weather.

Reviewed on January 15, 2009.

Roadkill (abridged audiobook) by Kinky Friedman

Kinky Friedman "on the road again" with Willie Nelson

Published in 1997 by Macmillan Audio

Read by Kinky Friedman.
Duration: about 3 hours.
Abridged.

Kinky, feeling like he has to get out of New York City for a change of pace, jumps at the chance to ride with Willie Nelson for part of his tour. However, Willie is not acting like himself and soon one of Willie's roadies is shot. Kinky looks into it and crazy characters from Willie's life spill into Kinky's seriously odd world of friends.

The mystery in Roadkill is not too hard, but it is worth the listen just to hear Friedman's odd twists of phrase. Lots of fun.

Kinky Friedman
and Willie Nelson

An audiobook note: I was disappointed to discover that Willie Nelson did not read his own parts in the book. He has read audiobooks before and this seemed like a natural fit.

I give this one 4 stars out of 5 and it can be found on Amazon.com here: Roadkill by Kinky Friedman.

Reviewed on May 7, 2006.

A Killing Frost by Michael A. Black

A good beginning to a new series

Published in 2002 by Five Star.

Ron Shade is a Chicago-based PI in the vein of Robert B. Parker's Spenser. However, he is not a clone in any stretch of the imagination.

Since A Killing Frost is one of Michael A. Black's first fiction books, it is expected for there to be a few hiccups along the way. However, Black's effort was well-done with less problems than many established authors have exhibited.

The plot involves the disappearance of an illegal alien. Shade is hired to find him. Along the way, his car is stolen and he finds romance and romantic difficulties.

Like a Spenser novel, it is not the suspense of finding out whodunnit that keeps the reader turning pages. Rather, it is the interest in finding out how the hero will stick it to the bad guys.

Solid read.

I rate this one 4 stars out of 5 and I'll be looking for the sequels.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: A Killing Frost by Michael A. Black.

Reviewed on May 7, 2006.

Spy for the Night Riders: Martin Luther (Trailblazer Books #3) by Dave Jackson

Good history - for 4th to 8th graders


I am reviewing this as a high school world history teacher who is looking for high-quality historical fiction of all skill levels that I can add to my classroom library.

While Spy for the Night Riders: Martin Luther is too easy for the average high school student, it would be a good fit for the 'reluctant reader' or the student interested in the Reformation. The plot moves along pretty quickly and does a good job of telling about Martin Luther's big moment at the Diet of Worms and his travels immediately before and after his hearing.

Some previous knowledge of the Reformation would be helpful.

I give this one 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon here: Spy for the Night Riders (Trailblazer Books Book 3)

Reviewed on May 6, 2006.