Beck Books

If I didn't need it for a class...I would never have bought this.

It hurts my soft-science brain to read.

Required for MSN quantitative research class. Each chapter has big crossword (we don't do ) plus lots of questions applying to the chapter or examples given. Lots of studies in the appendices that questions are based on. Many sections also have answers to application questions in the back. Haven't used CD yet. I'm not big on workbooks but as far as this one goes I have found it useful so far.

A great read for a mindless, easy, and relaxing time. The Soap Opera of the Mall of the Universe is OK, although I would have made it at least 100 pages shorter--the clichés do get annoying.

All right, this isn't great literature, but indeed it is an amusing story about Derek, his lover, his friends, and all their insecurities while living and working at the Mall of the Universe. Each character has a story, from the cocktail lounge singer to the doll dress maker. Crazy plans and consequences run throughout the story. Will Derek's boyfriend ever tell him that he loves him? Will Vienna ever find the right man to love? Will the insane shoe department manager ever be nice to anyone? It all settles nicely by the end of the book. For a nice relaxing read, this book is a fun selection.

I just dont understand why some people could call this work boring or disappointing. to me it is probably grisham's best (together with "painted house". human, down on earth...I just wished I could be a lawyer to be able to do the same. just hope to get grisham's book on kindle someday.

This book feels like the author had 300 pages to fill, but only 30 pages of material. And an axe to grind...because he just discovered there were homeless people in the world. It certainly follows a formula, but does so poorly and without enthusiasm.

This is the first and last Grisham book I will read.

P.S. I put "one star" because they don't have a negative star rating.

Michael Brock had grand ideals of serving humanity when he entered law school. When he graduated and joined a leadinng Washington, D.C., law firm, the realities set in. Success was measured by billable hours, and the competition to be one of the few who advanced to partner was intense. Practicing trust law meant few contacts with actual people except other attorneys. The practice of law was an jealous mistress. There was little time for anything else, and the divorce rate was high.

Invasion of the law offices by a homeless man with a gun, and the taking of hostages, redirects Brock's life. He discovers a law clinic for the impoverished, and gets a first had view of street people, shelters, and soup kitchens. Someone he tries to befriend meets a tragic death.

The novel is well researched and well written, and gives a good picture of the downside of modern society. There are people at the top who live well, and people at the bottom who are starving. They don't have bread? Let them eat cake. For some people, the lower classes are invisible, but they do have legal rights.

Many people that I know live from paycheck to paycheck. Housing prices are out of sight. Gasoline prices for commuting have gone past $4 a gallon. Grain prices are high and food prices are up. This is an era of downsizing and outsourcing. Job security may be tenuous. Everyone except the president seems to know that the country is in a recession and that things will get worse before they get better. Someone, observing the homeless, said that he was only a short step away from joining them. This novel provides a chilling picture of life on the streets. You too could end up living in your car.

Michael Brock came from an established family with enough money to pay for the best universities. He is a hard working associate of a major Washington, D.C., law firm, with hopes of becoming a highly paid partner, so hard working that he and his wife hardly see each other. Like many workaholics, his marriage is going on the rocks. The practive of law is an unforgiving mistress. Then a homeless man with a grievance enters the law office and takes hostages. Events bring about a radical change in Michael's life.

There is a big difference between working for a legal clinic, doing pro bono work for the poor, and working a major law firm handling antitrust cases. There is no billing of clients by the hour - in fact an hours time may involve several clients with problems. There is more to life than money.

Michael finds himself wrapped up in a case involving his former law firm. But he also finds a new life involving new people, and perhaps he finds a new confidence in himself.

Much of the novel is in narrative form, as told by Michael. Some readers, as reflected in the reviews, think the author is preaching a personal social agenda (with some criticism of politicans, idle rich, and such), but so have many other writers (John Steinbeck and Victor Hugo to name a couple). It does make you pause to consider the people who are less fortunate.

Booooooooorrrring!!! Too much of a snoozer to finish reading it. I can see why they didn't make a feature film out of this Grisham book

John Grisham is a great writer and I enjoy reading his stuff. Its so easy to read!

"The Bretheren" (published in 2000) depicts in part a presidential run where a smooth talking unknown candidate is propelled into contention by a behind-the-scene powerful force. Unprecedented 10's of millions of dollars are funneled to his campaign through somewhat nefarious means. Various events and an "October surprise" are planned to help the candidate gain office. The candidate looks and sounds great on TV. You can't help but think 2008 election when reading this book. The specifics are very different (e.g. motives) but just the same its eerie.

The book was written in a cynical way as if the corruption, cheating, etc. portrayed was expected and natural. It was kind of refreshing.

I give 4 stars for being cynical and prescient.

The Brethren is an interesting book in some ways. A government agency tries to control a Presidential election. With a man who they believe has no skeletons from his past. At the same time 3 Judges who fell from high society on separate crimes at different times are trying to get rich using an extortion scam. It wasn't that good of a book in my opinion but it depends on the reader. This book was not a particularly good read to me.

Three former judges are spending their retirement in a federal prison. Though this is a far from optimal situation for the judges, they make the best of it - by running mail scams. Unfortunately, one of their nets catches a big fish with dangerous friends.

The Brethren is, perhaps, John Grisham's least interesting and least thrilling book. As my brief (but actually quite thorough) description may indicate, the plot is thin. Three judges run a mail scam and an important person becomes involved. The important person's friends take measures against the judges. Unlike many of Grisham's books, there are very few plot complications - lengthy ruminations, perhaps, but little action. That is to say, very little happens. This being a Grisham book, one might expect some interesting, if hackneyed, characters or some faux-Southern color. You're not going to find it here, though. Just prison cells, generic Washington D.C. scenes and characters who are as reprehensible as they are bland. With a plot shortage and no characters worth taking an interest in, this novel cooks up a tasteless mush with its overheated prose. Definitely one you can skip unless you're a Grisham completist.

Grisham's novels are highbrow trash and this one, the Brethren, finally shows him for what he is: not worth the price of the book at all. He has made millions with his stories but this one is not at all captivating or fetching. He should go back to sitting in the southern sun.

Most of John's books are good. I loved the Firm. This one was a huge disappointment. Slow moving. I read the whole book waiting for something exciting to happen and it never did. Totally anti climatic.

Only good part was the experience of seeing the character adapt to Italian life.

In the waning days of an unpopular presidency, the director of the CIA makes an unusual request. He seeks a pardon for a much-hated former Washington insider who went to prison without revealing important secrets related to a mysterious spy satellite system. The pardon is not recommended because the pardonee has finally shared his knowledge, successfully worked his political network or regained use of his former millions, it's to see who ends up putting a bullet in his head. Joel Backman is the former broker and he's the bait. The mystery is not only whether he'll figure out what's going on before he gets executed, but whether his life is worth saving.

The Broker, while supported by a decent blurb of a storyline, is probably John Grisham's least interesting novel - at least for those seeking a legal thriller. The story begins with Backman being whisked away to Italy for what he believes will be witness protection type program. Despite the promise of danger, the next several hundred pages, rather than moving the plot forward, read like an amateur travelogue. Through Backman and his tutors we spend the next several months learning about the culture of Italy and the beauties of Bologna. Maybe some would disagree, but I don't pick up a Grisham novel to learn about the more considerable care with which Italian men dress themselves or to read someone's Italian language practice.

Ultimately, the plot moves forward very slowly and without much in the way of interesting twists and/or turns. Likewise, the characters are never fully fleshed out, in fact several appear to be introduced only as plot decorations. A particularly egregious example is the President's right-hand man who is introduced and dispatched in several sections which appear to have no connection whatsoever with the rest of the novel. In terms of "legal thriller action," there's really not much here to like, other than the fact that, like all of Grisham's books, this one is easy to read. Grisham, as usual, gives us some local color, but in this case fails to deliver a story.

Joel Backman, a Washington power broker with a dangerous secret, goes to jail to stay alive. Unexpectedly pardoned by a discredited lame-duck President, he finds himself in Italy with a new identity and a new kind of prison, where he doesn't know who is watching him or why. As he uses his wits and his political skills to stay alive, his survival becomes entangled in the interagency rivalry of the FBI and the CIA, and draws the attention of Chinese, Israeli and Saudi intelligence. John Grisham still knows how to write a suspense story, complete with a high-speed chase and high-stakes international intrigue. Unfortunately, as Backman studies Italian and learns the local customs, Grisham finds it necessary to describe everything from grandfathers to toilet paper in both languages and linger over the menus in trattorie and elegant restaurants. There are even lectures on the major tourist attractions of Bologna. That the Asinelli Tower was built in the 12th century and is 97.2 metres tall has nothing to do with who is following Backman or why. If Grisham had omitted the difference between tortellini and tortelloni, this would be a better suspense story-and at least 50 pages shorter.

From the first page I couldn't put this down! The whole realm of witness
Protection was very intriguing!

The product was never received. After writing to the seller and receiving a response, it was my understanding that there were circumstances that prevented this transaction from being completed. This being said is why I rated the product at the lowest level.

I found this book particularly interesting because I work in health care. Health care has spawned the side industry of health-related legal settlements. Class action lawsuits have taken this industry to a whole new level, and this book exposes the mechanisms of this legal area with Grisham's usual attention to detail and to the meticulous unfolding of the story. When thousands of people are physically or emotionally harmed by medications, products,etc. and hundreds of millions of dollars are mobilized, who benefits and why? Luxury jets, palacial homes, yachts, Caribbean getaways, mistresses populate this landscape. The view leaves one nauseous. The book has excitement and suspense and moves swiftly to the end.

Grisham has mastered the craft of telling a good story, but seems to lack the artistic spark to tell a very good one.

This straightforward story of rags to riches to rags is so predictable beginning to end that it actually kept me reading intently in expectation of something, some big plot twist, some mystery, some surprise, until the last page.

The realization that the creative spark never fired left me flat.

Grisham has to do better.

I think Grisham has lost his edge. If this was supposed to be a thriller,comparable to his early work, it fell short. I kept thinking that any moment there would be a surprise twist or something to make it a Grisham worthy read. There is no depth to the characters, the plot was predictable and kind of boring. As others have mentioned, greedy lawyers are kind of a given in tort law, no? I am glad I borrowed this from a friend instead of purchasing it. I have really enjoyed The Firm, The Pelican Brief, Backstreet Lawyer, even the Summons and the Testament. This one - not so much.

This was a great, classic Grisham novel. But what I liked most is the insight into the class action law suits that now seem to be so prevelant in today's society, whether its the tobacco suits or the suits against drug companies. Grisham does a fantasic job of getting you into the mind of the character and feeling his struggle between making a buck and the ethical delimmas that go along with it.

Mass tort lawyers are the men who win billion-dollar class-action settlements from corporations selling bad products, then rake fantastic fees off the top, with far smaller payouts going to the people harmed by the products. Clay Carter is a burning-out lawyer at the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in Washington, D.C., when he catches the case of a teen who, for no apparent reason, has gunned down an acquaintance. Clay is approached by a mysterious stranger, who says he represents a megacorporation whose bad drug caused the teen--and others--to kill. Thus begins the life of a tort lawyer. It's been a while since I have read a "great" Grisham, but this one was pretty good.

I have a bone to pick with Amazon...why can't I give this "novel" zero stars?
First off, its his usual formula of handing off a quickie ending that's a downer for everybody but the "bad" guys who unjustly triumph over the "good" guys.
Did I mention all characters are black or white with no in between?
At least we know he doesn't like chemical companies, Christian conservatives who are "family value" folks, folks who think there's some value to protecting the Bill of Rights especially the Second Amendment, and "outsiders" from "up North".
I don't know if he's gotten lazy or what, but I'm not wasting my time on his next effort.

I would say this another good John Grisham book. There is nothing particularly special but Grisham is always able to captivate a reader from page 1. It is another legal drama that moves a little slower than some of his other books but he develops the characters quite well. This is not one where there is a particular villain but you find yourself switching sides as to who is good and bad.

It will be a page turner for you but this is nothing new for John Grisham fans. I hope that his next book will be a bit more compelling but The Appeal is not a bad book for a quick page turning read.

At the end of this novel there is an author's note in which Grisham says "...there is a lot of truth in this story. As long as private money is allowed in judicial elections we will see competing interests fight for seats on the bench." This book definitely feeds into Grisham's commentary on the election process of some judges. However, the way the book is plotted out I never quite cared for any of the characters as they were one dimensional and the ending was very abrupt and did not mesh well with the storyline. There was a letdown that the book gave more insight on how to run a dirty campaign if you have the money and connections instead of a legal thriller that Grisham is known for.

Grisham a 1 or 2 star author - even Charlie Brown could do better than that on this book. I don't understand the very low reviews? Are you paying attention to the social issues included in this book? I grant you this is not his best book and not a 5 Star... but 1 and 2 stars is WAY off. As I commented to one well known reviewer,it even sounds grouchy rather than evaluative. These very low ratings caused many people (at least by their comments back to evaluators) to miss a good book. The pacing of this book is very good, but several ridiculed it. Character development is above average. The ending is fairly fast, but this is common in most thriller books these days and I saw very few loose ends left hanging and those I did see were very minor. I have asked a couple negative reviewers if they could list 3-4 specific failures in tying segments together or not explaining them with the ending? REviews at all levels can be informative, but they should be less bias and more facts and actual examples of weaknesses. This is an angry, moody book about very troubling social aspects of today's culture. Grisham continues to be a strong social critic who is blunt and outspoken. Not many 1 Star books are seen on the NY Times, etc. best seller list. You should read and decide for yourself. Hmmm, mayber Bart Simpson snuck in a review:-)

Intelligent, thought-provoking, and well-told thriller grounded firmly in the political landscape around us. Definitely worth a read, as it will ignite thought and conversation for a while afterward.

I picked this book up because a co-worker spoke so highly of it. "He talks about how America should be," he said. I've listened to/seen Glenn's show a handful of times, and he's one of the only guys on the Right that I can stand somewhat, so I figured, why not?

At first, it seemed that this book was exactly the way it was described. He wrote about a flag blowing at a baseball game, baking a pie for a new neighbor, and genuine, American love.

Let me be clear here: All of this stops by page 20. I personally made it to Chapter 4, but I couldn't take any more. If this is Glenn speaking from the heart, I'd rather he didn't. He quickly veers hard right, and the hate follows. Here are a few examples:

Glenn's life changed when he found religion. He has a close relationship with God now, and this dictates the kind of life he leads. This is very admirable, but Glenn exemplifies typical Hypo-Christian values on page 65. After admitting that he sometimes wants to call Barbra Streisand a "big-nosed, cross-eyed freak", he remembers how un-Christian that sort of thing is. "That wouldn't be very Christlike of me," he writes. No, Glenn, it wouldn't. You know what would be Christlike? Deleting the entire passage before the book goes to press.

Even though Glenn sees the error of his ways on page 65, he does the same thing again on page 74. "In a perfect world," he writes, "here's how Thelma and Louise really ends. Susan Surandon, played by herself, drives the car over the cliff. No survivors. The end." He goes on to say, "I'd pay $7.50 to see it. Wouldn't you?" Funny thing is, he follows this directly by writing, "Oops. That's not very Christlike of me either, is it?" Uh, once again, no. I wouldn't be so angry if he didn't try to sneak the hate by us. He shows the opposite of Christ, then talks about Christ. It's insulting. I wouldn't even care if he didn't try to tie this crap to Jesus.

Glenn seems to have a problem with celebrities delving into politics. He thinks they should basically "shut up and sing", as it has been said. They are paid to be entertaining, not to have an opinion. I guess I would agree somewhat. But here's the thing: I've seen Glenn's show about 5 times, and 2 of those times, his guest was Ted Nugent, the rock star. Guess what they were discussing? POLITICS. One way or the other, Glenn.

This book is as hypocritical as it gets. It displays all the reasons people hate Glenn--and right-wing talking heads in general--while displaying seemingly none of his positives beyond the first few pages. Watch the show if you want a better look at the guy. At least there he has his good moments.

Glenn Beck's opinions don't translate well to book form. This book starts slowly and about 50 pages in starts to get a little fun when he lists the lack of education of Hollywood's most political big-mouths and does a funny chapter mostly using the word "blah." There's also a weird chapter where he jokingly talks about marrying his sister. Yes, it's weird.

But he rambles on and on, unable to focus his thoughts. He claims to have ADD but it may be the result of his admitted heavy drug use and drinking.

He also does a poor job explaining his conversion to Mormonism. He tells the story but doesn't really explain why. He claims to be a "thinker" and "rational" yet his conversion story makes him sound naive and simplistic--basically he is going because his new wife made him pick a church and after visiting a bunch of different churches he decided on one that doesn't believe in hell. He also liked the Unity church and Unitarian church. So he is much farther from traditional Christianity than he claims on his show.

He doesn't talk about his first wife and barely mentions his second wife--it's unclear which children go with with spouse. So there isn't as much personal revelation in this book as he claims.

There is crass commercialization. He takes a chapter to tell the success stories of his sponsors! In addition he brags about his own company and claims he directed "the first live commercial radio drama in over 40 years" (which is totally, completely untrue). He also throws in things about "his church" and tries a little theology by defending tithing, only to reveal that the reason he gives 10% is because "his church" teaches that he'll get rich that way and he says it worked!

It's also somewhat depressing to read. Beck is the type who likes to SAY that he is optomistic, but he does it by telling depressing stories and giving very negative opinions. He jokes a lot about suicide--and it doesn't seem funny that he seems so focused on it. He mentions his drugs and drinking--but not much, so he doesn't explain what he has learned from his mistakes. He comes across as a sincere but insecure changed man who claims to not be sure of everything but has an opinion about everything.

His views come across better on the radio than on the printed page. But even then you have to ask yourself what kind of guy keeps talking about suicide, jokes about incest and then glosses over his own failures. In the end this book makes me a more skeptical listener of his show and reinforces that major radio talk hosts are ego-centric basket cases who are begging for attention & praise through the radio.

I have only gotten halfway through the book since purchase, but I am amazed! Glenn Beck is one sharp cookie. I highly suggest this book to anyone, regardless of your political bent. Common sense really does still exist. Truly an inspiration during a time of ugliness in our country.

From someone who makes sense in this crazy world - this book not only informs, but entertains with good common sense. Now a big fan!!!!

I guess I should read this book before i review it but he didn't play GTA before rambling and ranting about some things he overheard his interns talking about. Typical scaremonger who wants to blame everything he doesn't understand on why America isn't the way he thinks is should be. Somebody call the Waaaambulance.

I expected a dramatic book about mountaineering (in the beginning), survival, and determination but got mainly a memoir about family problems, bouts with depression, childhood and earlier climbs. I really tried to like Beck and I do admire his ability to come back from death and recover; but does one need all this drama and trauma to make a man realize that his family and loved ones come first and are the main things in life, and you don't have to climb a giant mountain to understand? In my observations, I always find obsessions a bit weird and off-center in life. In fairness to Beck, the 1996 story has been professionally and strategically told by others, so maybe he and his ghost writer had to fluff up the pages to make a book. There was definitely enough for a great magazine story but a stretch to find over 300 pages to keep the reader interested. Enough said...Beck, hope you're back on the job and helping others like so many helped you. Mabuhay!

For a real life story it does not get much more real than this, a passion becomes an obsession that takes away the hero status that he was aiming for in the first place? . I found it easy to read. A bit of soft filling in the middle and couldn't really relate to the relationship with his wife.

As one of the other reviewers had written, I too have becme nearly obsessed with the events surrounding the tragic events of May 1996. I have read every book I can find on the subject.

Dr. Weathers book is very well written. It gives perspective from his wife and friends view as they waited his return and the sadness and then apprehension when they find he is still alive but in dire trouble.

I'd highly recommend this book. it is inspirational - his courage - his acceptance of what happened.

This book has a great title, as it sums up Beck Weathers' Mt. Everest experience.Unfortunately, this is the only great thing about this book. It is, at best, a mildly interesting book. The only truly interesting part is his recollection of the Everest trip and its immediate aftermath. His survival, which is truly amazing, is almost glossed over and turned into a sad soap opera about a marriage gone stale with time.

It does seem that Beck's patient wife, Peach, had been ill treated in the sense that he would go off to do some amateur mountain climbing (with the emphasis on amateur), leaving her with the kids for weeks at a time and remaining incommunicado. Since her voice is interspersed throughout this book, you can see why he might want to get away. A more insipid voice, I can't imagine. She is what is bad about this book. Yet, at the same time it was her efforts, along with those of her friends, which were the catalyst for the herculean helicopter rescue by Colonel Madan K.C. who brought Beck down from the mountain. Still, she is an utter bore.

What is good about the book is Beck's sense of humor and his indomitable spirit, which is undoubtedly what kept him alive in unbelievably harsh conditions on Everest. Though it is those like him who, financially able to go on these expeditions but lacking the technical skill to effectively navigate the harsh terrain, put themselves and others at risk. While it is clear that he was delighted to be rubbing shoulders with the mountaineering elite on Everest, it did not seem to dawn on him that he was just another foolhardy dilettante who, though having had some climbing experience, simply did not belong on Everest. It is this hubris which brought him to this pass. Quite frankly, given his description of his mountaineering efforts on some of the world's other tall peaks, it is a miracle he was not left for dead long before Everest.

If you like to read about real mountaineering, try a book by Joe Simpson or Jon Krakauer. If you want to read a book about a guy who blows off his family to climb, and all the damage he does because of it, then this book is ideal for you.

I was hoping to read a survival story, instead I got family dynamics.

Don't waste your time. This book is so inefficient that, after reading pages and pages, you still wouldn't know where to start. The author kept reporting what Visual C++ can do and failed to show the basic steps in creating or managing a project.

what guide? it's definitely NOT a programmer's guide to MS Windows environment.

OOps I was looking for a book about C++ syntax, instead i mistakenly purchased this. This book is NOT about the C++ language it's a book about aspecific C++ dev environment MS Visual C++. If you need something like this, great, but if you have had experience with one of the other Visual Studio components you won't have much use for this book. I did'nt.

Well, after finishing my C++ for dummies book, I was looking for something a little more advanced and visual c++ based. This was a great purchase. It is easy to understand and does not babble on and on about random topics like some of the other programming books I have read. I really enjoyed this book. And for reference, it has an appendix in the back of c++ commands, for those of us that are a bit rusty. I wouldnt say this is the best programming book I have ever read, but I think its a good book to read if you are looking for a programmer's guide to visual c++, as what it says on the cover.

It is difficult to understand who could have use of this book. For those who master the programming interface of Visual C++ it is unnecessary, and for those who want to learn it, the book is too unstructured and confusing. The titel points to programmers, but nowhere the word "algorithm" appears. The lack of algorithmic programming structure is also reflected in the general structure (or lack of) of the book. As an example, toolbars are introduced before dialog boxes and the Class Wizard is explained too late. The book gives examples with detailed solutions with support of the attached CD-ROM, but no problems and exercises are found. I looked for a book to recommend my students on the Visual C++ interface, but this book is actually not a text book, but a sorts incomplete manual.