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[Note: My review also appears under the Editorial Reviews]

The title itself is a little off-putting (although it does serve to get your attention), but the writing is quite engaging indeed. From reading the book's description, this really didn't sound like a novel I would particularly enjoy reading; I certainly wasn't expecting to find the story populated by such engagingly quirky characters or written with such witty flair. The opening pages of this novel really are quite entertaining - and I got quite a kick out of the main characters' actions and dialogue.

Reconciling the book description with the writing sample, I assume this must be some variant of dark comedy with an urban, gritty edge. Since we really see nothing tangible in these opening pages about this personal search the protagonist reportedly comes to undertake, it's hard to judge the potential success of this novel, but there is certainly good reason to believe the journey will not be a boring one.

I like this author's writing style. He/she has what I would describe as a British sense of humor; i.e., it has a dry, intellectual bent to it. It also bears the slight hint of the curmudgeon, for the main character's nostalgia over the disappearing heart and soul of New York life is apparent. He's a walking anachronism in many ways, and his search for what has been lost will obviously be the driving force behind whatever personal journey he undertakes to find his place in his increasingly superficial world.

Still, even though I found this writing sample entertaining and would not turn down the chance to see how the story develops, I feel no compelling urge to learn how the main character fares in terms of identifying and understanding his personal place in the world. These early pages amused me, but they failed to truly capture my imagination.

Burstin's writing is on point in this journey through the new, suckier version of New York City. I know he's on point because I lived there, and many of those trust fund brats were in my 9 am writing class!

It makes me wish I would have gotten there earlier, so I could have taken a bite out of an Apple more raw and natural, with less pesticides and synthetic fertilizer!

This book is a winner, and I can't wait for the next one. Give em hell Peter!

Mr. Burstin did an excellent job writing this short story. He is a very intellectual individual and this comes through in his writing. From the minute you start reading it, you don't want to put it down. I think everyone can relate in some way to the story. Burstin did a wonderful job writing about a man's search for his past and his view on NYC, I think we can all relate to this story in one way or another. We all have our secrets, our journeys, our mischiefs in our past. I highly recommend this book! Great Job Peter.

Burstin's style is as fun as it is effective and engaging. The author's perspective of New York's suburbanization is clearly and visually projected into the reader's mind with very clever devices.

This is my first encounter with Burstin's work and he definately has me ready for more. "Will there be a part II?" I'll be on the lookout for the 'to be continued', but at least I can content myself with a copy of The J Affect in the mean time.

Peter Burstin's perspective on NYC is unique. In the story a night out turns into a brilliant prank, which leads to further mischief. Burstin's characters are described with ease and they are endearing. And yes, I laughed out loud.

Wonderful Ways to Love a Child
I wish I had this book when my children were growing up. I bought this for my daughter when she had her first daughter. It is a great reference manual with good suggestions for any parent on ways to guide your child as he or she grows up to be a well-balance, loving, child, - adult, and at the same time develop a close relationship with them.

Can you combine love and wisdom and deep insight while writing in a simple, inspiring style? Judy Ford has written "Wonderful Ways to Love a Child" in such a direct way that you feel warmed by her words at the same time you are inspired by them. I am so grateful that this book was written.

Jay Schlechter, PhD Author of Intimate Friends: An Antidote to Loneliness.

Many years ago when my children were in pre-school I bought your book.
When the kids were toddlers and I was tired and feeling swamped and

cranky, it helped remind me what was important and what was not. My
kids are in 8th, 6th and 4th grade now and life is busy and fun. I
pulled your book off of the shelf to find a quote for a friend and found
myself re-reading many of the stories. Your book centers me and sort of
re-sets my attitude toward parenting. Your stories are concise and
insightful; I appreciate your sense of family and fun. Just wanted to
say thanks for the times when your book has helped me.

Ms Ford. will stress the same point over and over again from very different angles. If you want your raise your kid as a responsible, caring, inquiring, loving and lovable adult, you shall not use fear, cohersion and guilt as the tools of your education. Chances are that you will fail in a big way.

Rembember that children are independt beings who need your support and guidance, not your control. Be open to what they came to teach you and both will benefit in ways which no words can precisely define, since they will take you to the world of the spirit.

The author makes sure that every parent who reads this book mustr a clear understanding that feeling love is not enough you MUST express it.

I wish I had read this 'gift' book before I spent so much money on all the other parenting books that I have bought. These little stories/anecdotes/lessons are very helpful reminders in aiding me to be a mindful, caring parent in this world full of distractions. I have just purchased this for all my mommy friends as a Mother's Day gift. I plan to keep this on my bedside table to read a new chapter everynight to remind me to provide loving, attentive companionship to my daughter. The stories are short and well written - even my husband with his very short attention span finds them wonderful.

Very well written and researched. A good insight into the lives of the Forbes 400, how they got there and how they spend their money. Great book if you have a business that targets these people as customers!

I must say this book is also a lot better than those books about how to get rich, this book tells REAL stories. If you are thinking of buying this books have a look at the book RICHISTAN too. They go along very well together!

This was a satisfactory read, although if you are a diligent reader of Forbes and Fortune as well as WSJ and FT there probably won't be much in here you didn't already know. I did enjoy the sections on Family Feuds and Blue-collar Billionaires but got a bitter taste in my mouth while reading the Conspicuous Consumption section. All in all it was a decent book, and what you'll learn is that if you want to have billionaire status you need to have drive and determination as well as be a workaholic.

Wow! Fun, enlightening, entertaining, inspiring. A wonderful collection of data, stories, and analysis. A book that you will find yourself going back to again and again. Though the things you'll learn from this collection are significant this is a book you own mostly for the fun of it. You'll smile with anticipation each time you reach for it and smile with satisfaction each time you put it down.

I have always been fascinated with wealth, and have enjoyed reading about the Forbes 400 for years. "All The Money In The World: How The Forbes 400 Make - And Spend - Their Fortunes" by Peter W. Bernstein and Annalyn Swan was an extremely fascinating and enjoyable read. If you are interested in the superrich, this book paints a revealing portrait of the wealthiest of the rich and shows how they succeed, how fortunes are made in various industries, and how, once made, they are saved, enhanced, and sometimes squandered.

This thoroughly researched book provides abundant anecdotes and insights as well as compiled data in illuminating tables, sidebars, and factoids. Did you know that Bill Gates comes in as the thirteenth richest American if you converted past riches into today's dollars? (Actually 2006 dollars when the book was being researched) John D. Rockefeller's wealth would be 305.3 billion dollars when converted to 2006 dollars. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett combined don't make a third of that. Did you know that in 2006 the average net worth of 400 members without a college degree exceeded the average net worth of those with a degree by a considerable margin - $2.8 billion? That's partly due, of course, to the Gates factor. Did you know there were 97 immigrants from 34 different countries that made the Forbes list over the last twenty-five years? The book is filled with so many interesting stories and facts.

The book also shows that money is not everything. The superrich have problems just like everyone else, and sometimes those problems are at a greater scale. So while this book describes those that may seem unobtainable to most, you also realize that they are still people just like everyone else. Well, maybe not like everyone else, but they are still people.



Chapters include:

Part One: What It Takes
1. Education, Intelligence, Drive
2. Risk
3. Luck - and Timing
4. Winning Is Everything

Part Two: Making It
5. Blue - collar Billionaires
6. West Coast Money
7. Entertainment and Media
8. Beyond Wall Street

Part Three: Spending It
9. Conspicuous Consumption
10. Heirs
11. Family Feuds
12. Giving It Away
13. Power and Politics

Afterword: Money and Happiness

Appendix: The Forbes 400, 1982-2006

This is a vastly entertaining behind the scenes look at the superrich. I found it fascinating to read about those billionaires I was familiar with, but also those extremely wealthy that you never really hear about. It made me feel good to read about the money these Forbes 400 members give away to help others, and then sometimes shake my head wondering when you see what some of these people spend money on. Forget about the enormous cost of purchasing a yacht, but think about the upkeep running into tens of millions of dollars a year and you may wonder as I did why Paul Allen wants to own two of the top ten U.S. owned yachts. Octopus at 414 feet is number two, and Tatoosh at 301 feet 8 inches is number four. If you are wondering, Larry Ellison's Rising Sun at 452 feet 8 inches is number 1, and no one knows who owns number seven's Laurel at 240 feet and number nine's charter yacht Reverie at 229 feet, seven inches.

If you want to read an extremely interesting and fascinating book about wealth and those that have accumulated the most of it, read "All The Money In The World." Besides being entertained, you just might learn some insights to help you accumulate more wealth yourself. After all, you will see that if these people can do, so can you or anyone else.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.

I was particularly interested in Part One; 'What it Takes'. A fantastic chapter on Education, Intelligence, Drive, Risk, Luck & Timing. The essence is that 1) if you don't inherit money, you have to take a lot of risk and 2) not everybody can become a billionaire, but a billionaire can come from everywhere. Particularly interesting is that Forbes 400 types have often a different perception of risk and often sink their money into deals that are the opposite of what conventional wisdom deems a prudent investment.

Astonishing 70% of the Forbes 400 list in 2006 were self-made. A lot to learn on financial success incl. people like myself who never ever aim at become a billionaire.

I am a big fan of the Anansi tales, and the spider's adventures are delightful as well as thought-provoking. For edutainment (educational entertainment) and discussion, I include them in my high school / college level introduction to mythology / humanities survey courses. All ages can enjoy a clever trickster hero who possesses many human qualities, the good and bad--who makes us think about our own deeds and behavior.

In Anansi The Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti, Gerald McDermott retells an Anansi story with warmth, cultural sensitivity, and bright, attention-seizing illustrations. Among the children's books about Anansi, McDermott's efforts stand in a unique place because the text is used sparingly and with great effect, conveying important events only and not burying key ideas in lavish descriptions or dialogues. In this book, the elaborate, geometric illustrations paint the "descriptions" that the text omits.

Features that I like...

The map in the opening that shows the continent of Africa and the country of Ghana. (I'm always happy to see a bit of geography dropped into stories, especially those designed for children.)

The Prologue, which describes the importance of folklore, mythology, and legends. I especially appreciate this statement: "Folklore prepares man for adult life. It places him within his culture."

Rather than beginning the story with the familiar "Once upon a time...," the author uses "Time was..." which is cool! :)

Each of the spider sons in the story is unique in design, appearance, and talent, which makes him easy (and fun) to identify as the tale unfolds. The six sons are See Trouble, Road Builder, River Drinker, Game Skinner, Stone Thrower, and Cushions.

The character of Anansi is rendered with an expressive personality and face while his sons' faces are not shown--just their designs, bodies, and talents. Anansi's face changes emotions based on his experiences, and this would be an excellent teaching element for very young children upon hearing / seeing the story.

Themes & Talking Points the book offers:

Counting, colors, shapes, animals, teamwork, family, intro to Africa [Very Young Children]

Reading; Cause & Effect; Critical Thinking & Response; African Culture. How does Anansi get into and out of trouble? // Each spider is an individual with a specific skill or trait; each spider has a place in the family. What does this suggest about the culture of the Ashanti? // The rescue of Anansi is really a team effort by the sons, but who should get the reward? Does the ending solve this problem? [For children 5-12]

Reading & Design; Symbolism; Critical Analysis; Author Intent; Culture. Why did the author / illustrator choose not to show the faces of the six sons in the story? How does this choice affect the story? How does Anansi's face tell his story? What is the relationship between a son's name and his unique design? In what instances is Anansi's face NOT shown and why? What lessons are taught in this tale? What universal themes are present? Does this book deserve its "honor" designation? [For tweens through college students]

Anansi and his sons are popular guys in our home. My son and daughter (nearly 4 and 6) just adore them, and I enjoy the fact that this book demonstrates how well cooperation works. Not to mention that we get to discuss the story, Ghana, and how people are both like us *and* are different from us.

In this story Anansi heads out for a walk only to be besieged by problems, first from a hungry fish, and then from a falcon. He would have been lunch were it not for his caring sons who fortunately have super-arachnid abilities.

Four Stars. Good Read-aloud. Good story with a moral. My daughter even decided to practice reading this fun and exciting story.

Anansi is one cool African trickster, and he does it again in this book! When he tries to determine which of his six sons to reward for saving his life, he becomes responsible for putting the moon in the sky.

My 18 month old son loves the artwork in this book. There is a lot to talk about on each page. For the first time it seems that my son is following the story and not just dealing with one page at a time. He waits eagerly for the page when Anansi is swallowed by a fish (don't worry it is not violent in any way!) Since there are 6 spider sons there are lots of opportunities for counting. My 18 month old can now count to 6.

The Anansi stories have been handed down through generations of Ashanti culture. This book is a wonderful, vibrant and vivid story for children of all ages. Born in Ghana I left at aged 3, leaving much of the Ghanaian culture behind. At aged 30 I can still remember a song about Anansi the spider, the only remnants left of my native tongue. I was given the Anansi book as a child, it captivated me, I read it over and over again, and it provided a connection to my past. At 16, I spent hours crafting a cushion embroidered an illustration from the book that was a childhood favorite. Sadly, the book was lost and I never thought I could get it again. Now, some 14 years since I last saw the book I can still visualize the pictures and hear the wonderful tale of Anansi the spider, his sons and the moon. I have just bought two copies, one for my niece and one for my two year old daughter. I absolutely cannot wait to read them again and again and pass this memorable story to a new generation.

Nhat Hahn's commentary here is simply amazing. He speaks the truth. Listen to his words, take seriously his suggestions and you will transform yourself first and ultimately the world in which we live that is lost in materialism, vanity and suffering tremendously. I'm completely serious when I say that this is the most important book to have come out this entire year. It's zen concepts applied in a practice manner to the modern world.

This was an absolutely amazing book. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone with a open heart.

The striking design of this book's brick-red cover with the huge white word, "POWER," dominating all the other type -- is deceptively attractive. I know from talking with a group of teen-agers about books on spirituality that have caught their eye that this imagery is alluring.

But, of course, the Buddhist writer Thich Nhat Hanh defies our normal assumptions about power: that it is something we strive to attain so that we can control and perhaps even dominate people around us. That's the typical model of power in our culture -- power as "winning" in a competitive world.

Anyone who has read his previous works -- or heard his talks in person or on video -- knows that his traditional Buddhist approach to life is to set aside striving and competitiveness. Instead, compassion becomes the glue that should hold together our community.

So, what he really is writing about here is the social force that flows from the kind of authority we build through our exercise of compassion and a positive approach toward life. Some critics have observed that, over the years, Thich Nhat Hanh's books have tended to repeat themselves. And, yes, frequent readers will find the same heart of Buddhist teaching here that we know from other works.

But there are fascinating, fresh anecdotes and emphases in his teaching in this volume. For example, there's an intriguing story here about his return to Vietnam -- after many years of exile -- and the way he approached this extremely challenging journey. There are a couple of practical supplements in the back of the book, including some plain talk about Buddhist principles in the realm of business.

Yes, there is a deliberate twist in the title -- but it's a play on words in the service of wise and compelling teachings.

I couldn't help but notice after reading POWER how similar Buddhism and Quakerism are to each other. A fabulous read that was very well written. I found it easy to grasp the concepts. I feel enriched for the experience.

How highly should you recommend a book that is the distilled wisdom and insight of a 90-year old monk who has lived nearly his entire life in the service of others and while having no wife, children or money and while owning nothing and representing the complete antithesis of what our society holds up as successful, is happy down to the core of his being?

This is a recently published version of the classic volume "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. It has been skillfully edited and de-genderized by publisher/author Marc Allen in order to serve as an inspiration for both men and women in our modern times. Throughout the last century, countless individuals have been moved and inspired by this easy to read little primer on the secret of successful living.

The premise of this book is the spiritual wisdom from the Book of Proverbs:
"As you think in your heart, so you are."

In the course of the volume, James Allen clearly describes how clarity of mind, linked with good intentions, can transform our experience of life and release the creative spirit within us all. The ultimate outcome of embracing the simple philosophy of this book is: Serenity.

In 1904 a little book was written called As a Man Thinketh. This book is a rewriting of that classic by the grandson of the original author. It is not just a self-help book, a self-empowerment, but a truth that will grip your heart. Each of us has tracks that we play in our minds, things spoken over us in our youth, by parents, teachers, coaches and friends. We have believed these things and lived by them. This book reminds us that what we believe in our minds and hearts will live out in our flesh. It will help us understand that all we achieve or fail to achieve is first a perception in our minds.

Audio books are excellent reading options or gifts for persons with little time to read or who's sight is challenged or who spend significant time commuting. This audio version is very well read and is of excellent recorded quality. BEWARE that there are some horrifically cruddy readings / very poor audio versions of this book being sold on Ebay and other online places, but this particular audio version from Amazon is excellent in every way. I listen to this tape frequently and something always stands out as very pertinent, almost as if new, every time I listen.

In this edition of "As a Man Thinketh," Marc Allen (no relation to author James Allen), neuters the male overtones by replacing all references to "man" (which I always interpreted as "humanity," not a male or female) with the more sensitive third person and he/she variations. Somehow the statement "as a man thinketh, so is he," does not translate well to "as a person thinketh, so is she or he."

Marc Allen points out that in the Buddhist tradition, a book opens with a poem. If the reader can understand the poem, he or she has grasped the meaning of the book, and need not read the entire book. Here is James Allen's opening poem:

Mind is the master power that molds and makes,
And we are mind, and evermore we take
the tool of thought,and shaping what we will,
Bring forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills.
We think in secret,and it comes to pass--
Our world is but our looking glass.

Thoreau said something similar in a shorter version where he alludes to how the mind of man can create a heaven or hell for itself.

What a fantastic helpful simple book - really helps you wade through the jargon of typical self help books and get away from marketing it is the instruction book on the mind...

easy to read and excellent to keep and read over and over..

I can't say I enjoyed this book, because the subject matter was so sad. Read it for book club, and I do appreciate the writing and characters because they were so well done.

I could not put it down once I started. It is very riveting and made for a greater understanding of a complex issue.

Yasmina Khadra is the nom de plume of Mohammed Moulessehoul. This Algerian army officer wrote under this female name because he feared censorship due to his position. He revealed himself in 2001 after an already impressive body of work.

What can I say that the others reviewers haven't already said? "The Attack" is a short, powerful, extraordinarily well-written book. Protagonist Amin Jaafari, an Arab surgeon raised within Israel's borders, has worked hard to overcome stereotypes throughout his career. He's obtained his surgical residency and is by all accounts a top-notch emergency room doctor. Now, his wife is slowly revealed to be a suicide bomber, a fact he cannnot get his arms around. As the facts and evidence pile up, the latent feelings of his peers rise quickly to the surface.

Writer Moulessehoul takes us on chilling trips into Jenin and Ramallah. The details of these gripping passages tell me that the book could not have been written without the author himself walking those same steps. These are the best parts of a uniformly outstanding novel.

I liked learning about the Middle East, my book club reads a lot about the region. This was a very interesting and deeply personal story. You almost felt that he really lived this story. Suicide bombing confounds us, especially in the United States. I really felt like he understood the reasoning behind it. Then you add the issues of predjudice, and his marriage (the secret lives of spouses), and you have a rich book. This will make you think.

Great CD for students who have trouble reading and need to listen to the book while reading. It is word for word matching the book. Still difficult to understand the content but better than trying to read the book alone. Narrated by someone with an accent that may be difficult to be understood by younger students.

I only had the privilege of reading the excerpt and it left me wanting more! So now my only hope is to be able to get my hands on the rest of the book so that I can continue this enjoyment. The style of this writer grabbed me within the first few paragraphs. I am already intrigued by the characters and am curious to find out how they develop and what unfolds. Kudos!

Great timing for a novel of this type. Solid characters and love the human touch. A lot packed into just a few chapters. Feel this could be a real page turner and would look forward to reading the entire book.

I had the delight and the honor to read the entire manuscript and frankly I could not put it down. At times,in the reading, I became surprised and also filled with apprehension. In other areas throughout the script I became a cheerleader...and a vocal one.
In my retired years,when my mind isn't filled with workplace stress and "the daily grind" I found this draft to have been most relaxing only adding to my easy years. Thanks to Mr. O'Donnell for the entertainment. Good Luck.

Michael

A true page-turner. I wanted to read more, but only had the excerpt. I would love to read this entire book. In the year 2019, can our democracy survive despite the politics in place? Can't wait to read what happens next, and to find out what happens to the richly described characters only briefly introduced here. Suspenseful, thoughtful, and well-written.

Benevolent Dictator by James O'Donnell.--With technology that will certainly capture the imagination of the Gen-X reader and steam-rolling politicos that older, more cynical types will recognize--this book has the earmarks of a page-turning read. The story captures your attention early on and keeps you riveted to the pages through thrust and counter-thrust of characters and plot. It's a great escape while it lasts and yet it poses some thought-provoking questions when it ends. I can think of all kinds of friends who wouldn't be able to put this one down.

I have been in small business for over 20 years, and when I saw this book advertised, I was hooked. I'm now halfway through the book, and I'm starting to wonder at some points. Why is no one noticing that Chuck Feeney used illegal and unethical methods to start and build his business--from violating security laws to find out when and where ships would dock, to talking his way onto those ships, using personal charm and connections? Why is no one concerned that for the first few years, his business was run as an illegal Ponzi scheme? Are we really to believe that he got through Hotel Management School at Cornell and didn't know basic accounting practices? While a very inspiring story, there are a lot of sugar coated and glossed over details that I would have like to see illuminated.

Don't get me wrong, this is a very inspiring story. But it just seems too good to be true. How was the book publishing funded? The publisher, Public Affairs, and the distributor,Perseus Group, are openly funded by outside organizations. I find it significant that there is a review of the book on the Atlantic Philanthropies website, with only passing reference to the connection between them. Is there a covert connection?

Finally, from a purely editorial perspective, I find the book rather dull. The writing style lacks color and verve, and the concatenation of multiple incidents does little to hold my enthusiasm.

What a beautiful person chuck Feeney is.

This is the most inspiring book I have read so far. This book was more motivating and inspirational to me than books such as the `Secret' by Rhonda Byrne. Here's a real `existing' role model we can all look up to. He did it, and so can we. He is a living proof that helping others in unselfish ways is possible. He is living proof that that there is good on Earth, and being good is not only possible but feasible.

This is the story of Chuck Feeney, born into a poor family. Not having enough funds to pay for his college education, Feeney joins the Air Force, and is stationed in Japan. There he realizes the profit making potential of duty-free sales. He starts selling duty-free goods to soldiers, such as tobacco and alcohol, and to make the story short, ends up owning duty-free shops across the world. Within a few years he becomes a billionaire. He is ranked as the 23rd richest man in the United States by Forbes magazine.

Feeney was not happy with his billions. He did not like the life of excess lived by the rich. `How many shoes do you need?' he would often ask. He did not like the competition between the rich in owning luxury goods. For example, a yacht is never big enough; someone else will have a bigger one. Someone else will have a bigger mansion.

Feeney was also worried for his children. Kidnapping was prevalent at the time, and Feeney did not want to live his life surrounded by bodyguards and in fear for his family. So one day, he secretly flies to the Bahamas and donates all his profits to his newly established charity organization.

Many find it hard to part from a few dollars. Feeney parted with billions. All the proceeds from Feeney's company went straight to his charity foundation. Unlike Bill Gates (whom I also admire for his philanthropy), Feeney gave away his whole fortune without announcing it. No one ever knew of Feeney's philanthropy, not even his partners. His name is not on any library, University, or building. Feeney gave secretly. He believed that your left hand should not know what your right hand is doing when it comes to charitable donations. Feeney is a man who gives not for selfish reasons such as recognition and fame, but to help make a change in people's lives.

Feeney did not feel guilty about making money, but he felt guilty keeping it. He felt his money should not be for the sole purpose of giving him and his family pleasure, but for giving pleasure to the world.

Feeney also helped solve the IRA (Irish Republican Army) problem together with Bill Clinton, and opposed the war in Iraq. He did not vote for Bush in 2004, and marched against the war of Iraq in the streets of London in 2004. He also felt that the US was unfair to Vietnam, and flew several times to Vietnam offering anonymous help.

Chuck Feeney is a great man, and his story should be an inspiration to all of us. This book should be read by everyone, and should be required reading in schools and universities. If one man can make such a difference, how much can we all do together? For one thing, we would end world hunger and poverty!

This book made me realize that ending world poverty is not such a farfetched dream: all it takes is a humble heart, like the one Chuck Feeney has!

Money can be the root of all evil. Money does corrupt, and in excess corrupts absolutely. But money can also end all of the world's suffering. It is a two edged sword. One edge will bleed the world to death; the other edge will bring an end to suffering.

I have chosen how I want to hold my sword. Have you?

Very interesting story. I know the subject as I worked for his company (DFS) for about four years. This is a really good story, about an exceptional individual. Unfortunately the author is uninspiring. It gets boring in spots.

Chuck Feeney is a very unique individual. We need many more like him in the business world, instead of the Nardelli's and that ilk.

This should be required reading for any wealthy person. The Feeney way of living and giving is spectacular in its simplicity and heart.

Nice job by Conor O'Clery. Following Chuck Feeney around to gather the info for the book had to be exhausting since Chuck doesn't appear to stand still for more than a few seconds. Aside from the millions of lives Chuck has influenced through his giving, the difficulties of remaining nameless and faceless - and multiple other sub-plots - think SALES. If you have anything to do with sales you should buy this book for yourself and your team. Chuck Feeney is the quintessential salesmen, "the pure and concentrated essence" of a Level 5 leader and consummate salesman. He calls audibles at the line of scrimmage on every play - a perpetual no huddle, run and shoot offense on steroids. There is no five year (or five minute) business plan in his briefcase - just an uncanny ability to trust his gut and get buy-in from the people around him. This is already a longer review than Chuck would read so I'm signing off......long live prodigal generosity....

In 1988, Forbes magazine's annual list of America's most wealthy listed Charles F Feeney as the 23rd richest American alive, whose personal worth of $1.3 billion was greater than Rupert Murdoch or Donald Trump. In fact, four years earlier Feeney had secretly given away almost his entire fortune to a philanthropic trust. He had enough to live on for the rest of his life, but no longer even owned a house or a car. He was, as Irish journalist Conor O'Clery phrases it in this powerful biography, `the billionaire who wasn't'.

This is two books in one: the remarkable story of duty free retailing and its leading company, DFS, whose extraordinary growth and profits paralleled the rise of jet travel; and that of Feeney himself, a slightly shambolic businessman, linguist and traveller, who took the needs of the world on his shoulders and became a model philanthropist.

It is nicely written and pulls you in like a novel. As a business biography alone, O'Clery's book is valuable, showing that huge money can be made from very simple business models. DFS's success could be put down to `four men in a room' working out what they would bid for airport duty-free concessions, and winning them. Once established, profits came easily. Feeney insisted that luck played a big role in the company's fortunes, that they reaped the benefits of being the first trusted brand in a fast-growing new field. Yet the book is also peppered with Feeney's advice to other to always `think big' (in both business and philanthropy), and in his restless desire to build a great business even the other partners admitted that Feeney had been its driving force.

I liked this book so much I included it as one of the classics of philanthropy in my own book "50 Prosperity Classics: Attract It, Create It, Manage It, Share It - Wisdom from the best books on wealth building and abundance".
50 Prosperity Classics: Attract It, Create It, Manage It, Share It (50 Classics)

Meg Meeker is articulate and genuine. Her book offers a blend of practical advice mixed with the love and patience so critical to children and to our spouses, but sometimes gets forgotten in such a cynical society. This book exceeded my expectations.

As the father of three daughters, I really admired Meg Meeker's "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters". Since I also have three sons, I was happy to read her new book "Boys Should Be Boys". Note that her first book had 10 secrets every father should know. This book has 7 secrets to raising healthy sons. I guess boys are simpler creatures.

The main thrust of the book is that boys need to explore, test their limits, and this can often lead to scrapes, bruises, dirty clothes, and even a broken bone or two. However, in our obsession to protect boys from their natural tendencies, we cosset them in a toxic environment of video games, online pseudo relationships, sexual influences from TV, movies, and the Web, and give them everything but our personal time and attention. Then we wonder why they have ADHD, stunted emotional growth, and difficulty in transitioning to manhood. The point of the book is not to blame parents, but to alert them to the dangers, to what it is that boys need, and to help them realize the extra effort that must be applied to raising their sons in order to counter the awful societal influences that are drowning our boys.

The book has twelve chapters and the first is an overview of this problem. The next seven go over the seven areas we need to pay attention to in raising our sons and grandsons. The second chapter discusses that we need to help our boys through the difficulties of peer pressure. While this is true in every generation, since our time is particularly toxic towards boys we need to be very careful about the influences and values being taught to them. The third discusses the natural tendency of boys to explore the woods, climb trees, play rough sports, and other `dangerous' activities. This is what boys SHOULD be doing. Meeker points out the health neighborhood games when teams are formed with boys of different ages and they have to work out leadership and test their limits versus the packaged formal team sports where every boy is the same age and the parents run everything including protecting the boys from winning and losing.

The fourth chapter explores the dangers of boys getting lost in the world of electronics. While there is nothing wrong with computers, iPods, or other electronic devices in and of themselves, there are very bad influences there that they need to be kept from. They also must not be allowed to become addicted to them and the influences they can find there. Spending vast numbers of hours on video games, online `relationships', and who knows what else, is a very bad thing for growing boys. They need real world friends, experiences, and skill development - especially social skills.

The fifth deals with societal animosity towards teenage boys. I know some will scream that this is not true because they are thinking of the kind of moody, depressed, and angry boy they have created and then want to fix. This kind of moody teenager is much more a media creation and now a societal reality than it should be in the real world. Yes, depression is very serious and should be treated by competent medical doctors, but if you raise healthy boys that experience healthy activities and friends, they will be much less likely to develop these problems.

The sixth tells you the true way to build self-confidence and mental health. You encourage them at all times (praise should dominate criticism ten statements to one). You should also help them, train them, and show them activities they can master. The feeling of accomplishment is a powerful emotional resource builder. And you help them get into competitive experiences and especially those where they can taste winning more than losing. Viewing themselves as winners and knowing that feeling is also a powerful force as they move through life.

The seventh chapter examines the role of mothers in a son's life and the necessity of the unconditional love a mother provides. She is his defender, will praise him when no one else will, and comforts him when he does feel defeated. The eighth is the strength a dad provides when he participates in a son's life in a real and present way. Providing an example of the virtues you want your boy to have is essential. Setting high standards for him that you model and support him developing (through encouragement, not criticism) is essential.

Chapter nine shows us why so many men are just older boys. They never made that difficult step of transitioning from being boys to men. This is a stage they must be helped through and having a role model of a good man (the father) to emulate along with providing a loving expectation that they must make the transition is critical to supporting them taking that difficult step.

Personally, I think chapter ten is one our society should pay very close attention to. Too many families stay away from Church. Oh, they may say they are of this or that faith, but they don't get involved as a family that makes their faith a part of their everyday lives. By helping your boy develop a strong faith in God you will help him build reserves of hope, an understanding of love beyond the erotic, the importance of truth, an understanding of repentance and forgiveness, and a security in the unfolding of his life. No, you can't just send them to church and think you have done your job.

Chapter eleven examines the some other core virtues we want our men to have so they must develop them as boys. These virtues are integrity, courage, humility, meekness, and kindness. Just because we want the boys to be strong and confident does not mean we want them to be blustering bullies.

Meeker ends the book with a chapter listing ten tips.
1) Know that you change his world
2) Raise him from the inside out (worry about his inner life and the outer life will follow)
3) Help his masculinity to explode
4) Help him find purpose and passion (other than being a video game master)
5) Teach him to serve (this is where Church can come in handy)
6) Insist on self-respect
7) Persevere
8) Be his hero
9) Watch, then watch again (pay close attention to what is going on in his life)
10) Give him the best of yourself (not just the leftovers)

An excellent book that I highly recommend.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Here is her book on Fathers and Daughters:
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know

I'm a parent of 3 and the oldest being a boy.I'm encouraged when she talks about parents being the #1 influence in a boy's life and not peer pressure.
I agree that boys are over scheduled with organized sports and spend too much time playing violent video games. I feel empowered to encourage my son to spend time in the great outdoors pretending he's hunting wild animals and building tree forts. I especially love when she talks about it's not "all about me" but putting others 1st and teaching him to serve those in need.
Let's teach them honesty,humility,kindness and self respect. That "raising him from the inside out" Thank you, Dr. Meeker for all your words of wisdom.

As an elementary school principal, I see boys who are being "smothered" and whose well meaning "helicopter mom" is crushing them. Our educational system is primarily female at the elementary level and these incredible educators need to know what boys are like. Boys are not disfunctional girls.

This is a great book that brings together some of the most sound advice on helping boys become men.

Dr. Meeker does it again. In my early years I believed that boys and girls were pretty much the same, simply socialized differently. My first teaching job out of Grad school was teaching 2 & 3 year olds and the bubble was smashed (I think by a stick wielding boy in my class). I am now the mother of two teenage boys, wonderfully different from their female friends and cousins. Dr. Meeker's observations and anecdotes brilliantly express the challenges our boys face today (I cheered at her statement that parents, not peers, are their sons greatest influence...a sentiment recently expressed to me by my 18 yr old son). Filled with wisdom, heart,and a sincere desire to help us all understand our sons better. From one Mom to another, striving to raise healthy, moral,confident, fun young men...Thank you Dr. Meeker for another great read.In a time when our children are being grossly underestimated, you raise the bar and inspire us to reach higher in our understanding and celebration of these precious gifts we have been given.I just wish I could pick your brain over coffee some day.....