Archive for 4 February, 2010
sickbedside reading
I’ve been detained on Sofa Watch 2010 for the last 10 days. Fortunately I’d placed a Amazon order just before my appendix decided to withdraw cooperation so I’ve been catching up on some non-fiction:
Dr Who, The Writer’s Tale, The Final Chapter
Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook
A massive 700 pages, composed almost entirely of emails and text messages between the ShowRunner of DrWho and a SciFi journalist, charting 2 ½ years of the ups and downs involved in writing and exec producing Saturday night TV.
The parallels between what the original creative idea was and what actually got budget/sign off/produced sit very closely with AdLand. And if you ever thought that your ‘creative’ job was a bit stressful, demanding or pressurised, read this and be reassured that at least Russell T Davies had it much worse. But I expect fame, fortune, 12M viewers and a swanky new job in LA might make up for some of that. (accompanying website here)
Superfreakonomics
Steven D. Levitt & Stephen Dubner
What was so great about the original Freakonomics was that you could read a chapter and discover why, for example, drug dealers live with their Moms, feel like you’d learnt something new about looking at data, put the book down and go to sleep.
SuperFreakonomics does answer some great new questions, like why suicide bombers should buy life insurance, but then it wonders off for a good third of the book on a rant about global warming which doesn’t make for light bedtime reading. I wish I’d waited for the paperback and saved myself a fiver. (website here)
Whoops!: Why Everyone Owes Everyone and No One Can Pay
John Lancaster
I ordered this based on India Knight’s recommendation. It’s what I wanted SuperFreakonomics to be – intriguing, simplifying, educating and an enjoyable read. I found myself learning about the ins and outs of the derivatives market and actually enjoying it. If (like me) you still don’t totally understand exactly how the global economy came to be in such a mess, this is a great place to start.
