Anon

Hodgepodge of ideas; no real thesis

Reviewed: 10-09-22

I want to like this book because it’s got a few interesting ideas and meditates on them. But there’s no real point to the book. Undeniably intelligent, the author seeks to explain the US as a place where reality is constantly pushed away. We see ourselves as though we were in a movie, acting our part, and our policies and culture reflect this fact.

Ok, interesting thesis, but it makes more sense as a blog post. Instead we get an unfocused exposition on everything from late 19th century literature to Palantir to the early days of Covid.

I’ve heard Bruno on a couple podcasts and he’s a smart person but after listening to the entire book, I’m sorry to say I just don’t think it was all that interesting.

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Concise and detailed

Reviewed: 06-30-21

I nearly immediately returned this book at the very beginning because it starts out saying “do not read this book”. Ugh - such a typical, salesy real estate gimmick. I thought this would just be a shallow look at the question of passive investment but that turned out not to be the case.

The author delves deep into how to calculate returns, evaluate a sponsor, etc. Some might call it dry but it gives you the basics on what to look for and how to think about it. It was a fast paced, detailed, and concise look at the mechanics of making money in passive commercial real estate. I liked the fast paced and conciseness of the work but I do think the author could’ve gone a bit more into how to evaluate the leverage of financing on a deal, for example, so I took a star off for that.

The topic is tough and visual in some cases where charts are involved so the narrator had a tough job. He did ok. But I just couldn’t stand how he pronounced “deal” - sounds like “dill”. Which isn’t a big dill until you hear it for the 100th time. It just gets in your head.

Dill.

If this is a topic that interests you it’s worth checking out.

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Doesn’t leverage the audio medium

Reviewed: 06-27-21

This is a solid and approachable introduction to music theory but I’m disappointed that the narration didn’t include actual music or notes! You’d think an audiobook would be a perfect place to blend the two but there wasn’t even one tone in the entire book. Not sure why they overlooked this.

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Wanted real behind the scenes, heard fiction and canned rhetoric instead

Reviewed: 12-20-20

The author uses very sloppy and emotional arguments with no economics to justify his supposed position - which is a very strange thing for a former chief economist to do.

Pages and pages of supposed guilt from a guy who
1. went from being an “economic hitman” to
2. an expert witness for polluting companies, then
3. started an alternative energy company he sold off to an oil company, then
4. joined a firm to consult, but not really do any work
5. After that he “enthusiastically” went to where the towers fell immediately after the 9/11 attacks

And this guy somehow feels sorry every step of the way? Yeah right. The dude needs to own it. His dialog is very questionable as well. Coincidentally striking up a conversation in English with a poor Afghan that **can’t read** at ground zero in NYC? Give me a break. Frankly, all of his supposed conversations sound made up. The corporate globalist class and visitors from other countries definitively do NOT talk like his characters talk.

He could’ve taken an approach such as “economic development and empire is a double edged sword” and gone on to discuss the trade offs; that would be an honest way to approach the topic. Instead he weaves an elaborate story that reads like fiction. I suspect that he’s once again making a very cynical play and creating this narrative to sell more books to a wider audience, get notoriety, etc.

I forced myself through the whole book and, while there are a few interesting tidbits at the at the beginning of the book, I’m pretty sure I’m dumber for having listened to it. The last chapters (the “new” part) are especially bad because he extends the definition of “economic hitman” and populist rhetoric to the point where you realize it was probably all made up from the beginning. This could’ve been a meaningful critique, instead it’s a massive ego trip.

A huge disappointment and waste of time.

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Meh - not terribly insightful

Reviewed: 09-06-20

Pretty much boilerplate material on expertise and the USA’s reception to it. Also does not challenge the experts as much as I think is appropriate (but does do so a bit). Nasim Taleb has a much more interesting and opposing take on expertise. This book does offer a bit of interesting material when it gets into critiquing academia. Overall doesn’t provide much more beyond saying “these people need to recognize we’re right”.

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5 people found this helpful

Probably about as well as can be done

Reviewed: 08-15-20

I did like this story and the narration. But I still feel a bit is lacking. I can’t say I think the author didn’t do her homework, rather it’s just tough to write about secret things. I wanted to know specifics about the rise and fall of empires and countries under the CIA’s hidden hand but unfortunately the only detailed cases we know of is when the CIA screwed stuff up. We have some anecdotal stories here and there. We get a bit of a taste of activities during the Vietnam era. We get to understand a reasonable amount about the CIA ground forces. But - it’s fairly obvious the best CIA stories are not in here. And unfortunately they’ll never be published.

If you’re looking for the best book on the CIA this very well may be it but I still wish I could know more.

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Analysis is lacking, narration is worse

Reviewed: 12-22-19

I really wanted to like these lectures and while I learned about several conflicts I knew nothing about, I think the time could’ve been better spent.

The narration really killed any chance of enjoying this course. The author. Stops. All. The. Time. After a few hours it was tough to continue. Very distracting.

The underlying content is quite good and I get the sense the author knows his stuff but the conclusions are always overly simple: “don’t keep sending soldiers into a lost battle”, “don’t underestimate your enemy”. Ok... but *why* did the generals do this? Presumably they’re not all idiots... they should have some kind of logic or historical precedent guiding them... what was it?

Where is the bright line between a general too afraid to fight and the stubborn old goat that sends his soldiers off to die in vain? These questions go unexplored and this course is worse for it. I also think the brevity of the courses is a strength (lectures are 30ish mins, each) but it wouldn’t have taken too much time to explore these questions - just a more thoughtful composition.

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Historic

Reviewed: 12-15-19

An interesting listen. Even though we all know how the book eventually ends...



C R

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Fascinating hyptothesis, filled with fluff

Reviewed: 12-14-19

I heard about this book on Sam Harris's podcast.

This "feels" like a first book. The author posits an incredible hypothesis but the book is laid out somewhat haphazardly and meanders to topics away from the main point. For example, why create a whole chapter on optical illusions when we can all admit our eyes can deceive us?

Here's a brief summary of the book:
"We have a startling hypothesis that was confirmed by an evolutionary simulation, let's repeat that fact for 5 chapters. Also, remember that weird box thing you drew in 3rd grade... that actually proves nothing exists. Congrats for finishing! Your prize is a tomato... one meter away from your face. Can't find it? - look to the accompanying PDF*"

So... yeah, having just finished the book, I admit my annoyance BUT this isn't to say the book is unscientific or without merit.

Are you interested in the subject but don't want to waste time? Listen to chapters 1, 2, 6, and 10. Chapter 6 was my favorite because it directly addresses physics.

If you're scientifically minded and are intrigued by the idea, it's worth your time. If you're on the fence, maybe not.

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* Spoiler alert: Audible does not provide the accompanying PDF

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4 people found this helpful

An intellectual treatise advocating a (mostly) conservative worldview

Reviewed: 12-05-19

There are a number of perspectives I take issue with in this book but Jordan thoughtfully constructs a worldview supported by facts and his experience as a clinical psychologist. Worth checking out - especially if you disagree.

Jordan's narration is also top notch; literally the best nonfiction narration I've ever heard. He's clearly passionate about his views and delivers accordingly.

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