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Books |
"A Service of jsharf.com." Geez, could I get any more pretentious? A service? Like you can't read on your own? Like you don't know how to get to Amazon and read their reviews? Like I'm doing you a favor by posting this dreck, rather than you doing me a favor by reading it? Look, I like to read. A lot. But my memory stinks, and a people don't write books for their health. If a book's worth reading, the author probably has a lot to say. I find that writing a quick, 500-word review helps me cement the main ideas in my mind. Plus, it's good practice to be able to reduce someone's Great American Nonfiction Book to something you can read while downing that bagel and coffee. I also have this notion that if I read enough books on one subject, someday the Claremont Review will take one of my submissions. I like taking notes in the book. Usually not in the pages, because then I can't ever find the notes. No, on the front and back flyleaves. Then I can see if I'm following the author's argument. One of the hard things about reading nonfiction on Shabbat is that I can't take notes. I can't write, but I can use those little Post-it note book-marks. Then I get to go back, and take the notes all at one time. Every once in a while, I actually get around to it. Speaking of comments, this isn't part of the blog, so there's no room for comments at the end of these reviews. Send me an email; I'll always read it; I'll usually respond; and there's always a chance I'll post it. |