Alicia Devero

Brilliant

Reviewed: 08-28-24

Bold, informative, educational and quite frightening because it highlights all the problems that - in face of current events - are not gone and may cause a serious issue for all of us in the near feature: FEDs, banks and major investors at the stock market feed us with BS and most definitely do not play by the rules …

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Fascinating

Reviewed: 09-24-23

When I saw Walter Isaacson's book about Elon Musk on Audible, I was a bit skeptical, because there were already way to many books about him on the market and I was wondering how legit is this one. Also, I admit that even though I am a bookworm - an addiction developed during deep communism marked by an absolute boredom - I have never heard about the author (mea culpa). But, I decided to read it, driven by a pure curiosity free of prejudice. And I would strongly encourage the same approach to all trolls below who have not read the book, yet, they feel compelled to express their opinion on the website dedicated to readers not ignorant haters. The book turned out to be a fascinating story. I read it in three days, learned a lot from it not only about Musk, but in particular about his many projects and endless, behind the scenes struggles. The last day coincided with an interview on Apple News with the author, Walter Isaacson, about his two years of shadowing Elon Musk, which was a great supplement to the written biography.

First of all, it is a narrative biography where by definition, "the biographer, acknowledges that the telling of the story is primarily defined by the subject in relation to the reader.” Hence, there is no room for an avid criticism of the subject, for which many critics call for. Having said that, the author did not shy away from exposing Musk’s faulty character, particularly when it comes to making decisions and behavioral issues like lack of empathy and consistent mood swings. I think the only constant in the biography is his own relationship with Musk. But then, quoting Aristotle: “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” Therefore, if we look at Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos and their own road to success, they did not build their empires from a scratch by playing safe and being nice to people who didn't understand their creative mind driven by risk taking.

I think Isaacson did a great job shedding some light on Musk’s relationship with his parents, particularly with his father, which helps the readers understand his weirdness and to a certain extend justifies his behavior. If we bring another “beautiful mind” to this picture, we will realize that even Einstein, the greatest genius of his time, as a child had a speech difficulty, that lasted until he was nine years old, which made his parents believe that he was retarded. Einstein didn’t know how to interact with other children and had a difficulty in social situations, which continued into his adult life. Yet, that did not stop him from becoming a brilliant, although extravagant, scientist.

I always liked Musk and the biography only deepened that feeling, because it gave readers an insight into the creative process. Maybe, if I was in the shoes of people who worked for him and dedicated their time to his projects, and then got “Trumped" by him with a sudden and unjustified: “You're fired!” I would’ve felt different. But I don’t. Every creator want’s his ideas to come to fruition one way or another and does not want to hear that it cannot be done. Even Thomas Edison once said that: “our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” And Walter Isaacson gave us a perfect opportunity to see that creative process, full of pain and suffering, where Musk worked both tirelessly and relentlessly by learning from mistakes until he and his team have finally achieved the goal. Just to give one example, there are 4,198 Starlink satelites (or more by now) in orbit and all of them are owned by Musk’s SpaceX. When the war in Ukraine broke out, he didn’t hesitate and immediately offered help, by providing “the essential backbone” of communication in the war. It was not a decision by a friendly government - it was a private citizen’s initiative. So where is all this hate coming from? After all Musk doesn’t generate his wealth for his own pleasure, but mainly to benefit the humanity by funding new projects.

I think the book is great, definitely worth reading for its content and an abundance of fascinating scientific information. The story is flawless and even though Isaacson occasionally jumps back and forth in time, he maintains a very coherent storyline, which keeps the reader glued to each page. In my case every word as I have listened to an audiobook read by Jeremy Bobb. I strongly recommend it particularly to those who want to express an opinion on the subject.

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Russia will never change …

Reviewed: 06-26-23

Russia is a country where one oppressor is exterminated by another one and one form of regime is replaced by another form of dictatorship. It is also a place where one thief steals from another one, which later becomes a victim to another theft by another thief and on and on and on … and nothing will ever change … Do your math. 104 years ago Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed by Bolshevik troops. And how many acts of injustice by the Russian governments have we witnessed since then …

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Frightening Truth

Reviewed: 10-15-22

I think my timing for reading this book was wrong because considering the current circumstances and the newly acquired knowledge of how little the biotech companies and their investors care about the patients’ well-being focusing more on the race to the finish line to claim the accolades for being the first one to discover a ground breaking devise or “OTHER” prematurely released “cures” - makes me wonder what have we been injected with, in the recent year or two. Time will tell …

In the meantime, based on the book and the abundance of facts, to my utter disappointment, it seems like all it takes to succeed is one arrogant, assertive, cynical, deceitful, and controlling BS artist with an extreme power of conviction who happens to be a college dropout with no biotechnological knowledge nor experience whatsoever, but with the right CONNECTIONS. I guess, “keeping up with the Joneses” concept has not died out – it doesn’t matter what you know, but whom do you know, which worked to Elizabeth Holmes’s benefit.

There is one thing that I have found shocking. I understand that Hilary Clinton’s support before the elections and Biden’s visits under Obama’s administration to the “LAB” in Silicon Valley were a sign of support, but then they would show their faces on a tic-tac box if it only gained them more votes. But Murdoch??? I understand that someone like him who has all the money in the world can drop $400 million dollars on the whim and won’t even notice, but he is the smart guy yes? Murdoch is a business pro! He has an army of people who should have analyzed the legitimacy of Holmes’s claims before they wired almost half a billion in support! And yet no one has done anything to collect data and conduct serious medical analysis of the product. And again, it takes a whistle blower and a serious journalistic investigative work to bring the public attention to a serious crime. In the meantime, scientist and young graduates with moral spine who found the whole project unethical and quit, have been hunted down by Theranos lawyers, intimidated, blackmailed, and threatened. Quo Vadis? Where are we going as a society …?

P.S. For comparison - while Anna Delvey was arrested in 2017 she has spent the whole time in jail on Rikers Island util she was convicted in 2019 and released on parole in February 2021, accused of swindling $200,000. Yet, Elizabeth Holmes was indicted in June 2018 on nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and she is still walking free awaiting her sentence in November 2022. Yet, the magnitude of her crimes overshadows Anna Delvey’s by infinity...

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Powerful and Inspirational

Reviewed: 09-12-22

Powerful and inspirational. The collaboration between Jenny and Scott Jurek as co-authors who share their own experience, feelings and frustrations along the trail offered and interesting insight into the dynamic behind the entire challenge. It also allows those readers who have never run ultras to understand that the success of the runner often depends on his or her team - particularly in rechallenge of that magnitude.

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Brilliant!

Reviewed: 08-30-22

Elton John’s memoir is simply BRILLIANT! I loved it from the very moment I turned on my Audible version and I finished it in two days. I admire his openness, his honesty and most of all the candor with which he spoke about people and life events without blaming anyone for his own faults and shortcomings (except for his Mum, but that was well deserved) or throwing anyone under the bus. Elton John wrote his memoir with such a great sense of humor laughing mainly at himself - a talent that very few people can call their virtue - and with such a vivid distance to himself, which makes me respect him even more. And on the top of it, he read it on Audible with the same contagious passion with which he wrote the book, which is so refreshing comparing to other memoirs where most authors should’ve been paid to never narrate their own books, torturing the audience with a bored to death sound of their voice. Everything about Elton John’s book is perfect even though his life wasn’t, but then he cannot complain that there was a single dull moment in it. Thank you Sir Elton John!

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The right to life & liberty vs guns obsession

Reviewed: 09-12-19

I wish that Constitutionally defined Rights to Life and Liberty were defended in America as strongly as the right to own and carry guns.

I agree with Erik Larson on unified code across all states for guns purchases, but at the same time I would emphasize the need for harsh punishment for all those people who help minors obtain guns, which are later used in mass shootings ... That includes Robyn Anderson who has purchased three guns for Columbines yet the authorities didn’t press any charges against her, something that in my opinion is a travesty ...

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3 people found this helpful

Square Root of Mean girls ...

Reviewed: 06-26-19

OMG! My IQ just dropped a few points ... Now, I will need to read something less Kardashianistic ...

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1 person found this helpful

You have to control the story or the story controls you

Reviewed: 12-06-18

You have to control the story or the story controls you 😊
Lila, President’s Daughter

Oh my God! Billy Crystal, along with actors Kevin Kline and Annette BeninI made me laugh so hard on the Metro North train from Beacon to Grand Central that other passengers may think that I am completely insane (maybe going forward no one will entertain the idea of sitting next to me 😂 )

Funny, utterly entertaining with great, humorous dialogues. And who would’ve thought that a virtual play without seeing the actors can be so engaging and enjoyable.

Must read!!! I am sorry ... listen too 🙃

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1 person found this helpful

A comedy of misunderstandings...

Reviewed: 09-22-18

A delightful distraction from politics 😊 And the Audible’s dramatic version of the book with Emma Thompson, Joanne Froggatt & Morgana Robinson made this romantic comedy a fabulous journey into the world of misunderstood affections by Jane Austen ...

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