Strikes a well-crafted balance between informing and entertaining.
593855
Simon Garfields "Just My Type" strikes a well-crafted balance between informing and entertaining. He uses history, anecdote, and example to enliven what to many would seem an otherwise boring foray into the world of typefaces. Those whose livelihoods and perhaps reputations rest on their relationships to fonts, branding, and letters may find his treatment too facile, though I do not think Mr. Garfield intended this book to be an exhaustive tell all.

Through a series of vignettes, he introduces readers to many of the most popular fonts, offers insights into the people who created those typefaces, and show what impact ensued. I found this short but pithy tales of the type enjoyable and informative. He also covers to a lesser but still important degree the role of corporate greed and misdeeds (nothing unique here, of course) and perhaps more importantly how digital thievery and mimicry have diminished the craft of designing type and the lives of those who practiced this craft. If there is a single fault, perhaps it rests on the author's assuming readers will understand why his examples of bad typography are indeed spot on, as many people clearly continue to commit the same blunders, oblivious to what is obvious to designers, graphic artists, and editors.

This book does not require more from readers than curiosity, time, and a bit of insider knowledge. I can see why some might want to target it as too simple, but doing so, in my opinion, misses the point. From the title through the examples, this is a sly drive-by effort to engage a larger audience about the words we read and type and how form and function are not random attributes in the written work.
1460609
Surprisingly well written account of something we might ordinarily shy away from.  It has consistent  humor and that is also difficult given the subject.  It is of course a personal account but doesn't seem overly one sided.  Instead, he explains the apartheid system in a very matter of fact fashion. I felt I knew the important points about apartheid, but this is a much more detailed and informative account, while still being entertaining.
I recommend it.
2963595
The author made an interesting and entertaining juxtaposition between early 1800 history and characters with a modern mystery.  This is a unique and educational way to highlight problems facing our country and its citizens.
2389360
As an official history, vice an unauthorized "tell-all" like Spycatcher, Andrew's work should be approached and read as a product of officially-imposed constraint. With that acknowledgement, enjoy it.

The book is well-structured. The chapters are relatively short and quickly digestable. Andrews' writing style is masterful and polished, and keeps the reader's interest. The history moves along at a measured but brisk pace.

Each section begins with a snapshot of MI5 life at a given point in time. Amusing anecdotes are mixed with Andrew's more general observations; the personalities and the lifeblood of the organization emerge from the past. The quaint, almost amateurish, charm of early MI5 makes for particularly enjoyable reading.

Beyond the well-trodden path of "the Ring of Five" etc., Andrew sheds light on lesser episodes and achievements. Complementing these are critical, detached assessments: Andrew does not shirk from his historian's duty. The result, I believe, is a balanced, constructive account of a lesser publicized arm of government.

If you are looking for "dirt", this is not the book. It better appeals to people interested in, say, long-term historical trends, organizational evolution, and panoramic history---and diversely amusing characters.
2896473
The book presents a nice balance between the biography of Cagliostro and a discussion of the alchemical and arcane lore (particularly that of ancient Egypt) which resulted in the development of his Egyptian Rite of Freemasonry. The book also demonstrates how the thinking of other mystics and Age of Englightenment philosophers with whom he interacted and studied shaped his own opinions and world view. The book treats the Count with objectivity, leaving it to the reader to form his own opinions as to whether or not the Count was a tragic, misguided charlatan or a philanthropist who sought to aid men and bring them to a higher state of intellectual and moral purity. The latter part of the book discusses the development of Cagliostro's Egyptian Rite and its Adoptive Grades (for women) and presents a full translation of a manuscript of the three degrees of the Rite held in the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, followed by an analysis of these degrees by the authors and an interpretation of the symbolic devices utilized in them.

A well-written and illustrated book on one of the premier thinkers of the latter 18th century that quickly engages the reader's attention and interest and holds it throughout the reading.
1161132
This book is both informative and entertaining.  Its satire on the news business is funny as well as giving you some interesting tidbits about the industry.
3495455
Really a fun read; which was rather unexpected.  This is not just a lump of facts, nor is it a how-to, instead it reads more like an informative commentary.  I think the main focus of the book was to broaden a person's perspective, from beginner to advanced rider; the main message is to keep cycling accessible.

With a topic as broad and deep as cycling, obviously concessions had to be made.  For example, if you are looking for a step-by-step guide to maintenance, this book is not for you.  What it does provide in this area is a good starter list of tools, common maintenance and repair issues, as well as best-practices for keeping things in good running order and some good suggestions for emergency repairs when out and about.

The tone, warnings, and safety suggestions were thoughtful, and did not drive a wedge between motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, but did a great job of putting each point of view into perspective.

Overall, I enjoyed the read.  Is it a complete encyclopedia of cycling?  No.  But it is full of useful info, tips, and suggestions, all written with regularly spaced humor which kept the pages turning.
77110
Clarke had a knack of being able to balance scientific fact with fictional entertainment. The result is both thought-provoking and amusing.
4554027
Beattie's enjoyable prose tackle a range of dry subject matter to make light work of what is essentially an economics tome.  There's a nice balance between the detailed examples and the bigger picture implications, and I felt compelled to read it twice in the space of a month so as not to forget any.
1297116
`Culture and Empire' takes a broad look at the development and growth of the internet and the challenges that virtual technologies face in their dealings with the established military-industrial complex.

The sweeping narrative, encompassing numerous ideas in relatively few pages and arguing for them fluently and cogently, with well-considered hypotheses and examples, is pleasing and refreshing.  Hintjens consistently ensures that his language is readable and laced with dry humour, which helps to sustain the interest of non-specialists.  I am grateful for his considerate clarity and his enthusiasm in engaging with those of us who are unfamiliar with the deeper intricacies of the internet.

I am very taken with his arguments for a collective human intelligence, which he applies not only in specialist virtual business models but also to human culture more generally.  That he is able to demonstrate how collective intelligence originates, develops and can be allowed to flourish, is most attractive, arguing for a consistent road to enlightenment.

If I have any comments regarding the text, these must be taken as the personal opinions of a virtual beginner.  Using human co-operative intelligence as his basic ideal, Hintjens shows how communal intelligence is scaled up in human society generally, and how its best characteristics can be, and often are, subverted by those with vested interests to protect.  This makes compelling reading, yet the darker aspects of the human story, which emphasise tribalism, territorialism and the manipulation of power, are curiously devoid of any reference to the influence of what we might call the `female' dynamic.

At its best, the internet demonstrates many of the networking and co-operative talents which may be extolled as 'feminine' in some quarters.  Yet, as Hintjens has written elsewhere, * the development of the internet, its software, standards and protocols has remained an almost exclusively male preserve. It is reassuring to reflect that poor outcomes appear to have less to do with gender politics than with bad management. In itself, that is a liberating discovery.

Hintjens is a passionate advocate for personal and group freedoms, and many of his considerations make sobering reading. Yet, we must grasp the unpleasant realities behind many of today's headlines if we are to retain our liberties. Hintjens' conclusions remain optimistic, and come from a deep belief in ability of our species to work together for altruistic and heroic outcomes.
I recommend this text as an interesting starter, a provocative introduction to the influence of the internet, its power and its future progress. Readers will find much to ponder and little to argue with.

Fran Macilvey, author, "Trapped: My Life With Cerebral Palsy"
*[..
685178
Well researched and made a gripping subject entertaining and interesting.
2277857
Entertaining while giving a glimpse of history and how some were "pushing" to change what was thought as the norm.
671433
The Funny Man is well-written, with many engaging elements, e.g. the dialogue between the narrator and his attorney Barry was always witty and entertaining. The story shifts between the past and the present, and I found the story of his trial (the present) more engaging. The details of the funny man's rise to fame (the past) were less engaging, and occasionally unbelievable (e.g., the reality show where people get punched in the face). The story takes a turn in the second half that (without spoiling anything) was interesting, but not especially compelling. On the other hand, there were many passages that had me completely absorbed. Warner is especially adept at creating great tension at key moments in the funny man's story. A worthwhile read.
648753
This books manages to be that rare intersection of Important and Entertaining. Doughty's subject is one worthy of time and attention, but her voice in never ponderous or preachy. The tone is engaging and personable, even as she discusses topics that are weighty and even enervating. While reading, you laugh with her and sympathize with her experience. Having finished, though, I feel I know better what conversations to have and what changes to make to better take care of those I love. That's a pretty powerful one-two punch.
4247678
An entertaining romp through the history of political economy. The book suffers however from a bit of disorganization, particularly as it nears conclusion.  Recommended policy (or anti-policy) insights occasionally seem to be at odds with one another.  The interesting thing for the reader to ponder though is whether this is indicative of weak editing, or whether it is reflective of the reality which is the process of governance in a world of limited foresight, cognitive boundaries and reasonable disagreement.
3452507
There is little doubt that Malcolm Gladwell is an engaging story teller, clearly a result of his his background as a journalist. His style is both easy to read and informative. The individuals whose lives and stories he uses to illustrate his points are at once interesting and at the same time well chosen to illuminate the issues under his social microscope. These are stories told with enough detail, often gleaned from personal interviews with the people at whom he chooses to look in intimate detail. He avoids in large measure the narrow vision that such inspection may yield by also investigating the social sciences that have searched out the details of such difficult concepts. Everyone has some idea who "makes it" and who does not. That is often easy to see because life rewards those who make great effort in general. The difficult part is understanding why some succeed so well and others who may be even more gifted do not, at least in terms of the world's way of rewarding the star performers. It is often the grist of of rumor and innuendo as to why or how some people make it to the top of the "food chain." But to analyze the reasons carefully and then apply the scientific data of real studies to those stories brings this clearly into the realm of reality, if we ever really know that that is. As one who has spent a lifetime trying to apply the results of scientific study to the real world I found his approach noteworthy because of its practical applicability. I have read many dry textbooks, articles and studies and sometimes had difficulty seeing their real world application. But these stories are very illustrative of the points Mr. Gladwell is attempting to help us see with clarity.
I enjoyed very much reading this work and wondering if it would have made some difference in the way I lived my own life and what I may have accomplished had I applied the message of its pages. I think that this can help everyone with ambition and ability to achieve more and those who may not have as much of a gift do well with what they have inasmuch as he clearly points out that achievement of greatness is often the result of great effort and application of what natural ability one has. I liked the "10,000 hours" as a real world application of what it takes to do it well.
There is just enough science to give the work credibility, but not make it dry or over the heads of most. This and all the others of Gladwell's work that I have read have that same engaging style, enough to help one understand and believe it and enough of the stories of real people to make it interesting and applicable.
I have recommended this book to my friends and family, especially those who are in the fields of childhood education or influence and who are either children growing up in this competitive society or raising children themselves. Everyone has something to learn from this either about themselves, those they may seek to help and those whom they may choose to emulate.
I liked this book. I read it on my kindle, standing in line, sitting waiting or just absorbed by its message. It was hard to put down. This was the first of Mr. Gladwell's works I read, but then quickly read others which seem to have the same merit.
2347785
I'm a fan of trivia/fact books, to be sure. But they're not all made equal.  Some are so mundane and introductory they're not worth the while. Some are basically just lists, while others are not as much trivia as in-depth study.  This book finds an amazing balance, a wealth of insight and information for anyone interested in movies, and all aspects of their production and art.  It's made by a UK based website, so there's the occasional British-oriented emphasis, but not very much allowing it to be quite interesting for all. Indeed, the fact that it is UK based honestly makes it better. They have more skill in providing thoughtful information in a well-written way without devolving into graphics dominating vacuousness or gossip-driven hollywoodia.

It's well written, well designed and fascinating enough that once I got started it was hard to put down, got through it much too quickly.  Not because it was short but because it was so full and yet I wanted more.