Bonds Books

Michael Lewis' Liar's Poker is a must read for anyone trying to understand the 2008 crisis in mortgage lending and home ownership. In fact, a new edition of the book should be published with a forward by Ben Bernake or Hank Paulson. The autobiography describes a mid-1980's newbie to Wall Street and his induction into the fraternity of mortgage traders at Salomon Brothers and junk bond traders at Drexel. This book rises above a rite of passage story because of the financial chaos which happened during the next three decades.

The 41st trading floor of Salomon Brothers is where millions of dollars exchange hands in minutes. There is a blue collar culture of practical jokes, profanity, Mexican food and pizza. The characters might have come right out of Damon Runyon or Animal House. The main difference between the interns, the traders and the clerks is neither their demeanor nor education but their wealth. In contrast to other books which tell us about the best and the brightest, this book describes ordinary people with excess body fat, perspiration, greed and wealth.

As more homeowners face foreclosure and the US dollar loses value, it is not clear what message to derive from this book. Were it not for these failures of economic policy the book would join other interesting stories about the rich and privileged of Wall Street. But because of this failure of oversight, the book takes us from humor to cynicism and from a sense of national pride to a feeling of national shame.

Is there a ratio of capitalistic reward to risk which is unconscionable in a democratic society? Can this behavior be limited or controlled by financial transparency, tax code, money supply and credit leverage? How do we avoid these consequences of the creation and destruction of capital without moving down the path of socialism? Can we ever put to rest the saying that behind every great fortune is a great crime?

An entertaining look into the life of a Salomon Brothers bond trader in the 1980s. The book offers a cursive overview of the financial innovations during that period, but the real contribution is in examination of the culture and the personalities of the Wall Street traders. Not without some embellishment, Michael Lewis does a great job of communicating the eccentricities and absurdities of the traders - 'the big swinging dicks'. At the very least, 'Liar's Poker' is an entertaining read, at best, an insightful look at what (and who) turns the wheels of our financial institutions.

this book is a must read if you are getting into the financial industry along with "when genius failed" and others.

OUTSTANDING!! This is the single best book I've ever read for learning the basics of life in a Wall St. investment bank. Very accessible and humorous, yet informative as well.

This is a great book. I mean, everyone else says so, so they can't be wrong. Yes, I want a job on wall street.

Having been already exposed to both film versions of the book, I was finally curious enough to engage myself in this classic and this time with my seven year old daughter.

Needless to say this is a fairly direct departure from the films. Sara Crewe and her world is not the sappy musical world of Shirley Temple nor the melodrama of the more recent version. This is an exploration of character. Sara Crewe is struggling with her identity and the toolkit she had built up to cope with life and discovers that poverty and cruelty cannot repair a hungry stomach or a lonely heart. Readers may be surprised by the ending which is far less melodramatic than the film and frankly much better. This book is a more gentle Oliver Twist. It is a reminder to us all that we cannot hide from the torments of the world around us. Instead we must face the trials of society if we are to make them better.
At the end of the story, Sara learns the true meaning of being a Princess and the ending is as poignant as anything I have read for it is real drama based on real situations.

Just as a caution please be aware the language is a bit dated. The term 'queer' is used to describe strange long before other meanings were added on. The term 'oriental' and 'yellow man' were used as well but this is just a reflection of the time, not overt racism.

This book is about a rightly raised little girl and how she turns out - nearly PERFECT. This goes to show parents to BE NICE TO THEIR dependant and helpless little kids - brats are raised by @sshole parents, NOT by kind and loving parents, as Sarah's dad had been. It is about a very serious battle of the Self. Sarah says to every one "me and you are the same. it just so happens that I was born rich and you born poor." It doesn't make us WHO we are." which is true, but then her self-doubt manifests "who knows? maybe I am kind and generous because I have everything I could ever want. I give someone 100 pence and I don't lose anything because I have many many more. maybe if I was poor or had to work I'd be cruel and just a total Miss Michnkin or something." Note: these quotes are not exact from the book.

at this, "the Magic" steps in so that she DOES become poor and wretched, and thus proves to herself that she is who she is BECAUSE SHE IS, NOT because of being rich and doesn't work. Being poor and wretched gives the child the opportunity to manifest her inate kindness in unprecedented ways, like giving other people food when SHE herself had been so cold, wet and very hungry. See, she could not have proven this to herself had she stayed rich, and she apparantly needed to. All in all, a beautiful story of truimph of good over evil, abundance over poverty, exuberance over stale bread, and self security over self doubt (which she didn't have before). A truimph of the SELF shown where it always begins in life - in childhood. We are used to seeing this type of stuff in adults but adults do NOT have the same battles as children do. For one, adults are not helpless, dependant, and our battles are not as serious life-and-death. so, whatever empathy we have for other adults, should be increased a thousand times for children, like this soldier this little girl. yeay!

Good to see that readers are still enjoying this marvelous 1905 book which makes it a century old. Reminiscent of Dickens, but mercifully shorter, the prose flows in beautiful rhythms keeping young readers and readers like myself who are young at heart poised to keep on reading to find out what becomes of our tough little heroine.

Sara had a charmed life as an only and beloved child which fortified her through later immense difficulties as she fell from riches to rags. Her ability to tell stories and to help others saved her from the appalling treatment she received from the aptly named Miss Minchin. The author's own life (1849-1924) as a child parallels that of her heroine.

Young readers will find Sara a loving spirit to emulate. We are truly THERE with her on every page. When she eats her hot cross buns and tea we long for the same. Although drawn out at the end, the book ends at a surprising and perfect place.

My son and daughter were both enchanted by this story as I read it to them a few weeks ago. We all fell in love with Sara and her very active imagination. She inspired us to do good, as she did.

I thought it provided an excellent opportunity for us to discuss how important it is to treat others with respect, even when you think you will gain nothing from it. Sara seemed to be nothing more than a lowly pauper, but the man who chose to provide some beautiful things for the pauper next door was so immensely blessed by having done so. Conversely, Miss Minchin thought she could treat Sara in a humiliating demeaning fashion, but it ultimately brought her harm. Thus, there is value in being kind to everyone we meet. This point wasn't made in the story (I know that would turn some people off), I just thought it worth using the story to drive home the point.

Anyway, it is worth reading for more reasons than just that it is a great story, but it definitely is that.

When I was in third grade, I longed for a story that I could actually enjoy and remember nearly everything that goes on. You see, I couldn't find ANYTHING interesting until I found Secret Garden, Black Beauty, and A Little Princess, all of which I literally COULDN'T PUT DOWN. Now in fifth grade, I continue to read these books again and again and again and again and again and again and again and... you get the picture. $[...] is a great price for a book like this. If you have not yet read this, I strongly reccomend you read it. You will be blown away at this.

Hope you enjoy the story!

-[EoN] FrenchFryMayo

Whether you are an investor or speculator, this book provides more detailed information than any book I have read. To get the most from this book, one must be willing to devote time to absorb what the author is writing about. As it is a rather large book, it is easy to put aside; however if one is serious about the "market" the vital information is available in this book. I firmly believe if one will read and understand this information, your financial program will benefit. Sam Harris

Having being for some time a small investor with mixed results I was trying to learn more about the dynamics of the stock market. Benjamim Graham makes an excellent case for value investing which distinguishes true investors from speculators. It is as actual today (if not more then) as it was first written several decades ago. If you only read one book about stocks, be sure you pick this one. Highly recommended!

I have been reading the intelligent investor for a couple of days now and just finished chapter 4. The book can seem a bit long but it is not. The arguments are easy to understand and comprehend. Graham argues that investment, as great as it could be, also contains significant risks and for long periods of times have not outperformed bonds when considering inflation. He thinks every intelligent person should have no more that 75% in equities in best of times and should have up to 75% in bonds in bad times. It is definitely a book worth reading not only because he reaches sensible conclusions and warns you not to blindly follow pundits but simply because it gives you overview on market performance by analyzing the historical data that should be mandatory knowledge for everyone serious about investing.

This book has some great chapters that can be used to create a good stock screen to purchase value stocks. One point in this book that I found very valuable is this: No matter if you are in a bull market or not always keep at least 30% of your funds in cash or bonds. This at least saves some of your cash if the market turns around and heads lower. Think of the Nov 2007 to March 2008 downturn. Many people fully invested in at least stock founds in 401ks (that did not sell) lost up to 20%. How long will it take the old "buy and hold" to recover from that?

[...]

Simple like that: if you are a layman investor and don't want to lose a dime, stop your investment actions right now and start reading this book immediately.

I've started composing my stock portfolio a couple of months, before reading this book. At that time, I didn't know any of the Graham's wise lessons and took many decisions, some Graham-complying ones and some not. After six months, all bets on companies in a strong financial position, with a dividend payment history of more than 20 years, offering shares with a discount as consequence of the market fluctuation, and so on, proved to be right, even during crisis time.

A must read book for anyone aspiring to be a fraction of what a true investor is.

Thought the book brought things to light I knew that I was in trouble this book just made me see more clearly how to try to fix things.

If you have a kid going off to college, make sure they read this. It is simply the most valuable book they will ever read. And don't forget to get one for yourself. There's a lot of time-worn wisom in this book that most people are ignorant of.

I would not recommend this book. It is very short sighted. For a more in-depth look into proper financial planning, I would look elsewhere. If you are starting out new in financial planning take a look at this book for the budgeting part. Then look elsewhere for the other parts.

This book was great! I didn't know anything about keeping a budget, investment, savings or any related topic. I couldn't put the book down, but I think that was beucase I was very excited to learn about the topic (but if your looking at this book, you may be to)And like all For Dummies books you don't have to read it cover to cover, there all designed so if you all ready know whats going on and just need to brush some stuff up, or dont know anything but are only interested in certain parts you can flip right to those and not miss a beat. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

This book is pretty informative and gives helps guide you on preparing your finances. It talks about a lot of pitfalls to watch out for, and gives you some straight opinions on employer retirement plans and debt management, as well as some thoughts on good debt vs. bad debt.

The only problem I have with it is the section on cutting costs. It is a little out of place and some of the recommendations on how to save money are a little bizarre and out there. Shaving your head to save money on hair supplies and taking naps at home for vacation instead of going away got a raised eyebrow from me, as did his belief that you have to be a small business or nonprofit to get a Costco membership. He also talks about giving up meat as a possible avenue for cost savings (because it costs a lot).

Like I said, the rest of the book seems to have sound financial guidance. The section on saving money?

Take it with a grain of salt.

A must have for technical writing, this handbook is a resource that should be at hand for anyone writing for or about research.

AS a professor and editor of Research; this style guide has detailed information for the serious paper writer; and provides examples that show how to format difficult passages. Used extensively at the Community College level.

You must have this book! It is not just for research papers, as the title of the book suggests. Its a necessity for those who wish improve their writing overall.

I am from a French speaking country and was used to an academic style of writing different from the American method. The Modern Language Association is very helpful to international students in the sense that it helps to achieve a successful writing of research papers in most American colleges and universities. It is an efficient guide to a writing style which is simple and clear in order to satisfy readers. Other important insights from the MLA are the way it helps to avoid plagiarism and to use electronic resources in an academic research paper. The last is most appreciated because of the amount of information one can get from internet.

I was very impressed by the fast service and perfect quality of my Amazon purchase! It came days sooner than I expected and arrived in perfect condition!

a must read book for those interested in the latest knowledge of how the brain functions and the stories make it fun reading.

This book gives new hope to many people who would be left to face a very limited life. Well written and accessible to non-professionals.

I ordered this book on recommendation from a friend because I suffer from brain damage due to a stroke. Not only has the information made me hopeful about a possible resolution for my problems, it would be fascinating for anyone who has an interest in science and anatomy. The medical world is still in its infancy as far as understanding the way the brain works. This author uses anecdotes to convey complex concepts which makes the information accessible to the layman.

If you have a choice of book or audio, book might hold your attention, although it was a bit too anecdotal for me. Heavy on the personal histories, light on the science behind the miracles.
PN

I have a general professional interest in psychology and brain science, which often leads me to be frustrated by the tendency towards reductionism and exaggeration. This book looked promising to me because the author is advertised as a psychoanalyst--something that usually does not mesh well with neuroscience. I was intrigued to see how Freud might think about modern psychology's biological determinism. On that score, I found The Brain That Changes Itself reasonably satisfying; the chapter on how neural plasticity can help us understand the impact of psychotherapy was among the best in the book. I very much appreciate the emphasis on how experience (including talk therapy) and culture, not just genes and drugs, shape the brain. That is something that is easy to miss in viewing the pretty brain scans of contemporary popular science. I also found the appendix on how culture works through neural plasticity interesting, although I don't find it helpful to define culture as Doidge seems to--something akin to cultivation and taste (a definition that leads to a problematic hierarchy of cultures based on somewhat arbitrary criteria). It is, however, important to recognize that culture and the brain have a reciprocal relationship.

My main concern with the book is that much of the argument seems to imply that the brain is infinitely malleable with the right exercises and effort. Though Doidge does note at points that plasticity is not infinite, he also seems to endorse the very American cultural script that individuals have total control over everything that happens to them. If babies are properly stimulated they will all be geniuses! If ADHD children go through the proper attentional exercises they will suddenly excel! If the elderly go to brain gyms they will never lose their memory! These, unfortunately, are primarily openings for marketers rather than scientific realities. Of course we have some control, and the key findings of neural plasticity research have been helpful in supporting that, but there are some things that are not just about effort--but also about care and community. Overall, I did find this book interesting and worth reading, but also found myself worried about what seemed to me strategic exaggeration.

This is the best memoir an animal lover, dogs especially, will ever read. Have no fear; there is no sad ending here, only an in-depth investigation and revelation of the unique and beautiful relationships we have with the dogs and other pets in our lives.

If you want to know more about the why and how behind these incredible and often (as was the case in Knapp's book) live-saving relationships read the book shown below. I enjoyed it, too, and it provides some surprising insights and valuable, usable information from. It discusses the origin and comprehensive nature of our relationships with animals, providing scientifically sound information on the love we share and the roles we play in each other's lives: The Powerful Bond between People and Pets: Our Boundless Connections to Companion Animals (Practical and Applied Psychology)

Before Marley there was Lucille. This is a funny, informative memoir which will, alas, will empty your tear ducts. Knapp was a terrific writer and what a tragedy it is to have lost her. Especially at such a young age.

maybe like some people here says this is not a book about training, in the kind of manual to accomplish your dog to do some stuff; neither is the kind of book like the Konrad Lorenz, 'When the man find the dog' or like Desmond Morris about the same theme. And one has to be thankful for it. This book is about the core of the relation, the love and the bond, you can have with your dog. Maybe something not easily understood to the non-dog passerby, nevertheless for us the dog lovers is a tender colection of ideas and reflections on the subject. Even so, there is a research behind it, and some hard facts coming with a decent book list at the end. If sometimes lacks of discipline like some other person says here, well, i really like my love affairs without boot camp, laws and restriction, and even when my dog is perfectly trained, I really like to spoil myself letting me love her without boundaries and restraint, she fills every aspect of my life, and she makes me... human. Long live to Caroline Knapp, and now she is not here anymore, lets laugh and cry with she and lucille, and share that perfect aeternal bond with our dogs. ...And yes my dog is lying here in my bed, quite undisciplined but warm and perfect... if anyone complains, I would not change my bed with 'Amelia' for any human of any form whatsoever.... guau guau guau

This is my first book review and, WOW! did I pick a great one to start off with.

You'll have to pardon me if I'm over-enthusiastic with my praise, but I'm telling it as it is.

From page one, I totally related to this lady (Caroline Knapp), from the time she was 'just thinking' about getting a dog, to going to the Dog pound to 'just look', to 'should I adopt or not?' to 'well, maybe' to finally getting the pooch.

I think I even got the same Mutt breed that she adopted.
The Pound informed me that my Sara was a GSD/Mix. Ms Knapp adopted a Shepherd/Mix. She says this is Dog Pound code for
"We really don't know."

I became so engrossed with the human/dog connection we have with our soul mates, that I looked Caroline Knapp up on GOOGLE.

Sad, it is to say, I found out that she died of cancer at the age of 42.

Her loyal companion, Lucille, was there at her bedside, faithful to the end.

This book is for anyone who wants to consider reasons why they love what they love.

The author's independent view gives the type of different perspective many of us read books for. If she was only super smart, & told us primarily things we already knew, that would probably not be worth reading. Ms. Knapp is so much more.

I admire Ms. Knapp's intellect, uncommon perspective, & incredible focus on a particular subject matter. Anyone who reads this book is going to understand more about why certain people go to such amazing lengths, and spend so much time, money, and energy on their dogs. Her writing style is great. Her lack of repitition in her vocabulary, sentence structure, and thought presentation is remarkable. This book is not just about dogs. It is an interesting read for people who want to understand the thought processes of people who: 1) love dogs, or 2) are neurotic, or 3) have human relationship commitment issues, or 4) struggle with their human family.

Ms. Knapp's focus & examination of the ideas and perceptions that can lead to the creation of strong bonds with dogs is fascinating. She gives the reader a greater appreciation, like a wine expert might teach someone more to appreciate about wine.

Ms. Knapp loved dogs for their tolerance, faithfulness, lack of artificial baggage, and accepting accomodation. She found qualities in her dog that she did not perceive in the humans she encountered.

She asserts that relationships with dogs are occasionally a substitute for other things; but more often, they are beautiful on their own merits and do not find value by being a substitute for something else.

Dogs can't use words. They are beautiful because they must learn to listen and communicate to the people around them largely based on non-verbal cues.

Very sadly, Ms. Knapp died at too young of an age. If she were alive, I'd write her a letter of gratitude and ask her many questions.

This book is adorable. I love the clever way the author meshed the whims of a little girl with a piglet. Very clever and cute.

I have noticed one common thing when reading through reviews from parents on a children's books. A children's book is just that, a children's book. It may seem simplistic or silly to an adult but that is because it is supposed to appeal to a child's imagination. However, it is nice to hear when a book appeals to both mindsets.

Another great book by the author. Kids love it - everything imaginative and possible - the same ingredients that have give us great movies - imagination and tapping the world of a child, viewed as a child. For adults, well, we know that we really wouldn't invite animals into our homes and treat them like adults - but you're missing the point, but maybe you are supposed to, because you are no longer a child. If you adults want to read for your own personal adventure and enjoyment check out sections for adults. Duh!

If you like pigs then this fun filled book is deffinatley for you. i would recommend this book to ages 5-8. This book is about a pig who starts with a pancake and end's up with so much more, like some pictures, bubbles, even building a tree house plus more! But then everything goes wrong...

Oh, yes. This is a great one. The little pig is just so cute and very demanding. She makes the littl girl work really hard to keep her happy. It is a sweet story. My three year old has it memorized...I probably do to!! Great book!

If you could name one factor that helped me to fall in love with teaching once again, it would probably come from reading 'If You Give a Pig a Pancake' to a preschooler. While there were other factors for sure, this is not a hyperbole, for I know of no other top reason to fall in love with teaching better than with Laura Numeroff and her whimsical set of cyclical stories. My only regret is that while becoming winded by laughing out loud during the famous pig show, I may have startled the poor preschooler whom I know wasn't as enthralled as I was with the didactic lunacy of this kiddie book gem.

And I've read a lot of books to kids of many ages. Dr. Seuss comes to mind because of her genius and the hijinx that no one has been able to match. Besides fun and entertainment, there is a message. The children in each of these books are all doting hosts for their wild animal guests. Personification is not present. It is child-onification that takes place. The animal prima donnas are a parents' joy and nightmare. They go from one enthralling messy project to another, leaving the child helpless and exhausted by the end. Both the children and adults get and give the appreciation they deserve.

And it all wouldn't work nearly as well without the remarkable artwork of illustrator Felicia Bond. While all of the books are worthy (If You Give a Moose a Muffin (If You Give...), If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Mini Book and CD (If You Give...)et al) 'If You Give a Pig a Pancake' was the first I read; the others in the series are also a treat, but this one still stands up as the best for its photo finish.

('The Berenstain Bears' are heartwarming, but I've yet to find a better read for the little ones. Forced in a pinch, this is the one I find to fill in the gaps.)

(This review is dedicated to Judy K. Polhemus and all the other school librarians who give us so much service with a smile.)

I am always anxiously awaiting the next in the series with Eve Dallas and the entire cast of characters. The stories have a mystery to solve and the growth of the characters through the series is wonderful to watch. I have enjoyed every novel and novella.

I have read all of the JD Robb in Death series and this one is just as good as all the others I have read. Keep them coming. I enjoy reading this series.

I wasn't as impressed with this one as I have been with her previous books. I felt the writing/plot lacked something.

J.D. Robb never fails to enterain. Both my husband and I truly enjoy Dallas and Rourke, the heroine and hero. Very cool futuristic police detective/romance series. Well worth reading! We have read them all!

Listening to one of JD ROBB'S books really puts you right there in the stories. I like her story-lines. It has a lot of excitement. It really keeps you going. Thanks for the entertainment!

Well I was ready to hate Moonraker because of the movie. So if you hated the movie...try the book. It isn't campy with the Space Shuttle at all. It has a rocket as the object, but it really isn't about that. The beginning part of the book is about cards. I loved it. However it starts getting bogged down in the middle section and then like all Ian Fleming books it wraps up really quick. I just felt the ending was just too contrived. I liked it because I was prepared to hate it, but it's still not that great. It's the best of the first three but that's not saying much. I would recommend it just for the beginning section because it shows how James Bond thinks and rationalizes things. Plus he doesn't get the girl at all in this book.

Hugo Drax is not in the first line of 007 arch-villains, and the plot of "Moonraker" likewise is not one of the most exciting James Bond yarns in the original run of novels by Ian Fleming. Yet both manage their moments of squirmy pleasure.

Bond encounters Drax first at a posh British gaming club, to which Bond's boss M belongs. Drax is England's hero of the hour, as he's building Great Britain's first nuclear rocket. But M suspects Drax is cheating at cards, and sets Bond against him in a game that ends unhappily for the rocket builder. Bond then finds himself pulled into Drax's orbit again when murder calls at Drax's rocket base. "HELL IS HERE" warns a flashing neon sign, and so it is.

Published in 1955, this third entry in the 007 series gets off to a leisurely start. We meet Bond in a typical light day at the office, practicing at the pistol range, reading dull reports, thinking about lunch. It's an arresting portrait of a superhero struggling with ennui and a sense of purposelessness. He wonders almost forlornly if he'll make it to 45.

The entrance of Drax, a red-whiskered dynamo with a fierce temper, shakes Bond out of his rut by plunging him into that most exciting of espionage activities, high-stakes bridge. It's a masterful sequence by Fleming, in large part because he doesn't stop and explain how bridge works. Fleming goes from strength to strength introducing us to the title figure, the rocket Drax proposes to send off in a test launch that will culminate in a splashdown in the North Sea...well, according to some figures.

"There the gleaming rocket stood, beautiful, innocent, like a new toy for Cyclops," Fleming writes. "But there was a horrible smell of chemicals in the air and to Bond the Moonraker was a giant hypodermic needle ready to be plunged into the heart of England."

That's a good foretaste of the masterful build-up Fleming creates, offering a bit more mystery than the usual Bond thriller. The resolution is where the novel pulls up short. Fleming doesn't do enough to throw you off the right scent, to the point you wonder why Bond can't add up two and two. There's another damsel-in-distress car chase straight out of "Casino Royale", and even an Austin Powers-style "My Fiendish Scheme" dissertation from the villain. The Soviets put in a totally unnecessary appearance.

"Moonraker" can still be safely recommended to the Bond novice. It's a fun ride with a lot of unusual angles. Certainly it wasn't spoiled by the film of the same name, and Fleming handles the novel's locale (southern England entirely) with his usual gimlet eye. You stride with Bond inside a century-old London club, walk along the white cliffs and smell the salt air. There's even a romantic subplot with a capable British policewoman that has a resolution quite unique for the Bond series, and wonderful for the way it gives you a glimpse of Bond's deepest self.

"The gain to the winner is always less than the loss to the loser" is how Bond thinks of life. "Moonraker" gives you an idea what he means; an enjoyable one all the same.

I've been reading all the Fleming James Bond novels in order, and so far this one is my favorite. It stands out for a couple reasons:

1) Bond never goes to outer space.

2) I won't spoil it for you, but something about the epilogue is unexpected, and sets the James Bond character of the books apart from the James Bond character of the movies. I was completely surprised, and it really rounded out the character and made him more human.

The adventure itself is fun. Tropical locale with a beautiful female companion--it's hard to get tired of stuff like that. But what I do get tired of is Bond being sent to beat some villain at gambling. He just did that in "Casino Royale," and it didn't sound like government work to me then, either.

Still, the rest of the plot is fun, and Bond's victory at the end is not without cost. Rather than portraying him as the super-spy of the movies who dashes around unscathed no matter what's going on around him, he gets pretty messed up. (And no, that's not the epilogue surprise I was talking about earlier.)

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In that case, Star Wars must feel very flattered. Back in the late 1970s, everyone seemed to be trying to use what they thought were the lessons of Star Wars's success (mainly have a lot of lasers and space stuff) and came up with a long list of failures. The James Bond series, at something of a creative nadir, decided to get in on the act, using the closest thing Ian Fleming seemed to have to a Star Wars-based novel, Moonraker. Cinematically, it would not be a high point for Bond.

The book - which has almost nothing to do with the movie - on the other hand, is a lot of fun. After a slight drop in quality between the first two novels, Casino Royale and Live and Let Die, Fleming is again in fine form with Bond novel number three.

This story opens with Bond recruited by M to do a personal mission. One of the members of M's club is apparently cheating at bridge (which is being played for high stakes cash); since Bond is a master card player (as demonstrated in Casino Royale), M asks him to prove that the member, Hugo Drax, is actually cheating and to stop him with a minimum of embarrassment. This Bond does, with a rather clever maneuver. (A side note: unlike Casino Royale, where Fleming explains the rules of baccarat, elementary bridge knowledge is assumed; if you are totally unfamiliar with the game, you might get a little lost).

Drax does more than play cards, however; he also is a wealthy man who is currently building a new type of missile for England called Moonraker. When a killing takes place at his facility, Bond is asked to help investigate and check out the security; with the first missile test just days away, it is imperative that all sabotage attempts be stopped.

Is Drax a generally okay guy who just cheats at cards, or is there something more sinister going on? It wouldn't be much of a Bond book without a grand villain, and Drax fits the bill. In fact, he is in certain ways, the first true Bond villain that fits the standard stereotype: he will eventually explain his whole plan to a helpless Bond and then leave the super-spy alone in a supposedly inescapable trap.

Outside of the villain's name and the fact that a rocket is involved (although one never intended to go into space), the book and movie are completely dissimilar. What's nice about the book is that we get to see what Bond does between assignments and a little bit about his background. Even his age - thirty-seven - is mentioned. As a minor thriller, Moonraker is quite successful and is an entertaining read.

While I always knew that many films of the James Bond series drifted into camp and outright cheesiness, I never realized how much of a disservice some of them did to the source material until I read the novels. And wow--Moonraker in particular, while one of the better '70s entries in the film series, bears no relation to the gritty homeland security thriller written by Ian Fleming.

The titular Moonraker is an missile designed by British hero Sir Hugo Drax. Drax's invention is set to thrust Britain into the forefront of the Cold War arms race--with the Moonraker, the British will be able to target any European capital with a rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. When the novel begins--on Monday--the Moonraker is set to be tested in just a few days--Friday, when a missile carrying a dummy warhead will be fired into the North Sea. Security is tight on the project--British prestige is at stake.

But 007's boss has other things on his mind. Drax is a fellow member of Blades, a gambling club, and M is convinced that Drax cheats. At bridge. Since Bond is between missions at the time, M drags him along to a late-night game of bridge, where Bond outfoxes Drax to the tune of £15,000. Unbeknowst to them, the same night one of Drax's subordinates was killed by a German engineer in a murder-suicide.

Mere hours after fleecing Drax at the cardtable, Bond is sent to him as a replacement. It seems the murdered man had misgivings about the security of Drax's project, and with so much at stake and so little time on hand, the Ministry of Defense wants no mistakes. Things are not, of course, what they seem, and it soon becomes apparent that the Moonraker is in the hands of madmen.

Like the Bond film, there is a certain measure of predictability about the whole proceeding; of course Bond will live, of course he will save Britain. Unlike the film, Fleming's novel has Bond make all-too-human mistakes, get battered and bruised, and even--spoiler alert--get rejected by the girl. And the novel moves so briskly, investing each and every point of the plot with tension and suspense, that even the mystifying bridge game at the beginning is exciting. Moonraker is pure entertainment.

Highly recommended.