Review: “Reprogramming the American Dream” by Kevin Scott

The Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft presents his take on the future of artificial intelligence, with a focus on what it could mean in particular for those who live outside of densely-populated urban areas. Hailing from rural Virginia himself, Scott returns to his hometown and others like it to determine what impact AI is already having in these communities, and what steps could be taken to prevent them from being left out as AI becomes ever more important to the US economy.

In the past year or so I’ve read a number of books about artificial intelligence. Most are not very memorable. Others I still think about at least once a week. If you trust Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking (and who doesn’t?), AI is definitely going to be the end of us all. However, Kevin Scott is not in the camp that believes that AI is going to take over the world and destroy humanity. This may be one of the few things he and I agree on.

Scott makes a strong attempt to portray himself as the everyman, but I am simply not convinced. Although he grew up with modest means, he is clearly far removed from them now. Several times in his book he addresses the need for more government investment in AI research, government investment in tech job creation, and even matching government donations for “approved charities” in the field of AI. The most laughable suggestion is for an Apollo-level AI program. And Scott makes all of these proposals while also suggesting that the American government should cut taxes for investment outside of urban opportunity zones. There is no mention of those same businesses returning the favor after making a fortune on government-funded research and development.

While reading this book, I struggled with what kind of review I wanted to write. Is my job to review the writing of the book and determine if the author fulfilled his proposed purpose? Or is it legitimate for me to focus my review more on addressing inconsistencies in policy proposals? Although I did find it interesting to learn about the particular challenges surrounding artificial intelligence for those living in rural communities, I found it hard to focus in light of everything I took issue with.

TL;DR: If you’re looking for an insightful and thought-provoking  book about what AI may mean for the the future of humankind, I propose turning to The Fourth Age instead.

Find it on Goodreads.

Review: “Capital and Ideology” by Thomas Piketty

Five years after Capital in the Twenty-First Century dominated bestseller lists,  Thomas Piketty returns with a worthy follow-up. His research spans centuries of inequality regimes, tracing where we came from in order to gather some idea of where we may heading. The book is a history of egalitarianism and the lack thereof, slavery, communism, capitalism, and everything in between.

When I first picked up this book, I felt considerably intimidated. I have been meaning to read Capital in the Twenty-First Century since its publication, but could never quite convince myself to dive into an almost 700-page book by an economist. I imagined I would quickly be in over my head. However, I had made a commitment to read and review Capital and Idealogy, and so I set out to create a strategy to tackle the 1,000+ page tome. The strategy was to divide the number of pages in the book by the number of days I had before the publication date, which made it very manageable.

Never had I expected Capital and Ideology to engross me the way it did. The amount of research that went into it is staggering. The book was enlightening in its analysis of past inequality regimes and their relationship to the present, but also enraging in what it revealed. For example, after Haitian independence in 1825, the country was forced to pay French slave-owners back for the loss of their “property”, for the privilege of not being enslaved. Additionally, during the period of colonization, the common argument made against the proposed emancipation of slaves was that paid labor would make it too costly to compete with rival colonial empires. This sounds suspiciously similar to arguments made today that raising wages would make it too expensive for businesses to compete. This causes me to wonder if maybe society has not advanced as far as we would like to think.

Piketty’s argument for progressive taxation, among many other methods of redistribution to create a more egalitarian society, is thorough and convincing. Although I could not possibly retain even a fraction of the facts he presents, I feel like I came away with a much more solid political position and better arguments to support it (something that will hopefully be valuable in an American presidential election year). Something I particular appreciate about Piketty is that he doesn’t lay out the myriad of problems without also presenting solutions – the final chapter of the book imagines just how modern society may move away from the present trend of further concentration of wealth and toward a more equitable future.

TL;DR: If worldwide inequality is something that gets you riled up, don’t let the size of this book scare you away. Piketty will educate and astonish you, even if it needs to be in bite-sized pieces for a month or so. And if you’d like a preview of what you may be getting into, you can always check out his Ted Talk from 2014.

Find it on Goodreads.

Review: “Lucky Us” by Amy Bloom

Left on her father’s porch at the age of twelve, Eva suddenly finds herself living in the shadow of her half-sister, Iris, though the two love each other dearly. Eva follows Iris to 1940s Hollywood as Iris pursues her dream of being a star. When things there go awry, the girls travel across the country to New York, to start new lives. Iris’ beauty and talent continues to overshadow Eva, who only wishes for the family she was never allowed. There is joy and success, but also loss and heartbreak for both girls.

I was really excited to read this book. It has already gotten a lot of praise, and  Amy Bloom has gotten a lot of recognition for her past books. Also, I’ll admit that I probably first judged it by its cover, which is pretty cool. But it turns out that this book was just bland. There were one or two interesting characters, but in general I found the cast difficult to like. The two main characters, in particular, were impossible to sympathize with. What’s more, the plot was uninspired.

TL;DR: I’m not sure what Bloom was going for in this book, but she didn’t achieve it. Unless you’re a die-hard Amy Bloom fan, I’d skip this one.

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Review: “Paris Syndrome” by Tahir Shah

 [From the publisher] On the morning of her fifth birthday, Miki Suzuki’s aged grandfather gave her an unusual gift – the fragment of a story. The tale told of a magical realm where all the women were beautiful, dressed in the finest gowns, and where the men had the looks of movie stars. The trees were covered in ivory-white blossom all year round, and everyone was joyful and proud. This place, young Miki learned, was a city in far off Europe – a city called Paris.

The story took seed in Miki’s mind and, over twenty years, she became quite obsessed with the French capital. Having studied its history, language, and traditions, she vowed that one day she would venture there.

Winning a competition at her work, where she sold low-grade beauty products door-to-door, Miki embarked on the journey of a lifetime to her dream destination.

Feverishly excited, and exhausted after a long flight, she hit the ground running, in her desperation to see every last tourist sight in town. But, as the others in the tour group looked on in horror, the telltale signs of a rare condition began to manifest themselves – a condition known as ‘Paris Syndrome’.

Made crazed by a stream of unfavourable events, Miki went on a riotous rampage, which ended in her mooning the sales clerk in Louis Vuitton – an assault that gripped the French nation. And so began the treatment in the most bizarre of clinics – a refuge for fellow sufferers of Paris Syndrome. All this set against a backdrop of vigilante groups, trade wars, bounty hunters, and true love.

Both hilarious and toe-cringing, Miki Suzuki’s psychological rollercoaster ride gets under the skin like nothing else, as the novel explores the real condition that afflicts dozens of Japanese tourists each year.O

I was lucky enough to be contacted by Mr. Shah’s agent about reviewing this book for him. I had previously read and reviewed his In Search of King Solomon’s Mines and loved it, so was happy to be able to read another of his books.

Before reading Paris Syndrome, I had never heard of the “condition.” However, a Parisian friend of mine was well-acquainted with it and told me all about it. Essentially it occurs when someone has idealized Paris in their minds, but when they finally visit the city, it is not what they imagined it to be. Because of this, the person may become temporarily mad and is only “cured” by leaving the city. It’s curious to me that the primary sufferers are Japanese people; I don’t know what in their culture would make this so, and would like to see a study sometime that looks into it.

The book was interesting in the way that it showed the progression of Miki’s Paris syndrome. She experiences one unfortunate after another and eventually becomes an international sensation for her crazy actions. Unfortunately, I think the book lacked the humor and voice of In Search of King Solomon’s Mines (and possibly other of Shah’s books). The book seemed a little disorganized, like maybe it was rushed and not as well thought-out as it might have been. An explanation could be that Shah is more accustomed to writing non-fiction than fiction. I’ll certainly be reading more of his non-fiction. Still, I enjoyed Paris Syndrome.

TL;DR: Enjoyable, though not as good as Shah’s In Search of King Solomon’s Mines.

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Review: “Drifting” by Katia D. Ulysse

Drifting is a collection of interwoven stories surrounding the lives of several Haitian men, women, and children, hinging on the devastating earthquake of 2010.

From the publisher:

Ulysse’s characters are everyday people: a ruthless entrepreneur who ferries peasants out of the countryside, promising them a better life in Port-au-Prince; the office worker who learns that the amount of money and time off she receives depend on her boss’s definition of family; a mother of three who is desperate to leave Haiti to join the husband who left her behind; young girls who fall prey to a trusted schoolteacher who advises them to “work smart, not hard.” And readers meet the desperate elderly woman who seeks the help of a vodun priest to help “fix” her dying husband.

I read this one quickly, in about 2 days. The characters were well-developed, believable, and easy to sympathize with. The descriptions were vivid and well put together. Though not a feel-good book by any means, it’s very informative and important.

TL;DR: All-in-all a good, worthwhile read, especially for those interested in modern Haiti or American immigration.

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Review: “I’ll Be Right There” by Kyung-Sook Shin

When Jung Yoon suddenly receives a phone call from her ex-boyfriend after eight years, she finds herself thrust back into her college years filled with conflict and loss. She recounts her mother’s long illness, and the anger she felt when her mother pushed her out of the house to live with her cousin, claiming it was better for the young girl. This is the story of Yoon’s childhood and how it connects with who she became in college, where she met two fascinating people who became her close friends, despite the darkness of their past. The entire story is set during South Korea’s contentious student protests and government suppression of the 1980s. I’ll Be Right There is a beautiful book, even if it’s heavy. There is a lot of heartbreak and loss, but there are lessons to be learned here. The book is inspiring and heartfelt, and I wish it had lasted longer than it did. Shin is a wonderful writer, with a style similar to Haruki Murakami in the sense that they both have great insight into human nature and are wonderful at describing the complex relationships between people. As far as I can tell, this is only the second book of hers to be translated into English, which is a shame. But I’ll be sure to check out the other one, Please Look After Mom, which I hear is also heavy.

TL:DR: I’ll Be Right There crosses cultural borders to speak to anyone willing to listen. While heavy, it’s steeped in references to great literature and music, and overall is just very well put together. This is sure to be one of the best-known works of South Korean literature in translation. Available now from Other Press.

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Review: “Chasing the Sun” by Natalia Sylvester

From New Harvest:

Andres suspects his wife has left him—again. Then he learns that the unthinkable has happened: she’s been kidnapped. Too much time and too many secrets have come between Andres and Marabela, but now that she’s gone, he’ll do anything to get her back. Or will he?

…

Set in Lima, Peru, in a time of civil and political unrest, this evocative page-turner is a perfect marriage of domestic drama and suspense.

I took interest in this book because I have a certain affinity for all things Peru. It’s my favorite country and it has a fascinating modern history, which this story is a snapshot of.

Sylvester has a talent for character development, giving the reader a sense of closeness to the protagonist as the story progresses. I felt Andres’ hope when he thinks his wife may soon be home, and his devastation when those hopes are dashed.

The one character I most disliked, ironically enough, is Andres’ wife, Marabela. She had little sympathy or understanding for how hard her husband worked to bring her home or the agony he endured while she was gone.

This could be a natural reaction on my part, though, since the majority of the book is told from Andres’ perspective. Also, I can’t pretend to know how it would feel to be kidnapped and held indefinitely, not knowing what’s going on at home. Sylvester’s bio suggests that someone in her family was kidnapped when she was young, and so she obviously has a better understanding of how someone may feel in that situation.

TL;DR: Overall, a well-developed and interesting read. Especially good for those with an interest in recent Peruvian history.

Chasing the Sun is available today from New Harvest.

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Review: “Running Through Beijing” by Xu Zechen

Just released from prison for peddling fake IDs, 25-year-old Dunhuang finds himself having to start over from scratch in Beijing. His first night in the city he meets a woman who happens to sell pirated DVDs, giving him an “in” for a new way to earn a living. Now he needs to work to get back on his feet in order to save enough money to rescue his friend from prison. Throughout it all, Dunhuang must learn how to navigate through complex human relationships while still focusing on what’s most important.

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I’ll admit that I didn’t expect much from a book by an author I had never heard of published by a relatively small publisher. Most of the Chinese books I’ve read were long and tedious – two things that this book is not. It’s fast-paced and enthralling, with well-developed, likeable characters and a solid plot.

A story about a pirated DVD peddler is just what I needed. Having spent 13 months living in Shanghai, I’ve seen plenty of these guys. I know how much the DVDs cost, what movies I’m likely to see, and what tricks they use to convince you to buy. And I was tickled to find all that in the book. I know these characters, but had never gotten a glimpse into their lives before. Besides that, the book captures the everyday petty corruption and tedious bureaucracy that is such a part of life in China. And it’s nice to hear a Chinese national also complain about landlords that demand three months rent at a time.

TL:DR: Running Through Beijing is definitely worth the short amount of time it will take to read it, and certainly worth the $12.95 list price. It’s a great insight into modern China for those who have never been there, and an amusing, familiar story for those who have.

It’s available today from Two Lines Press!

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Review: “The Paris Herald” by James Oliver Goldsborough

An account of the people behind the most famous American newspaper in Europe (now the International New York Times). It follows the lives of various men and women as they maneuver Paris during the 1960s, an unstable period in America as well as in Europe. They fall in and out of love, move out of the country and back, and hurt each other and themselves in the process.

I’m a sucker for books about newspapers….but this one was really, really difficult to get through. There were just too many characters introduced, all poorly drawn. Goldsborough tried to take on too many people, which resulted in half-baked story lines.

Most of the book is about American men and women cheating on their spouses, a subject I find very distasteful. It would be one thing if that was the story line of one of the characters…but it dominated the entire book. The few characters I had empathy for in the beginning of the book I lost all feeling for by the end.

The most frustrating thing about this book, though, is how it builds and builds…to a climax that never happens. A wife is cheating on her husband and hears him coming up the stairs, about to open the door on her and her lover – and the next thing we hear about them, they’re divorced. A man is considering moving to Málaga, away from his wife and children – the next we know of him, he’s been living there for an indeterminate amount of time. Literary blue-balling…it’s something I’ve never experienced before, and I don’t like it.

On the back cover of the book the publisher writes that it’s “the best story of Americans in Paris since Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast.” Hardly. That’s not even a very big genre, and I still disagree. Even Sarah’s Key was much better.

If I were Goldsborough, I would have written a good non-fiction account of The Paris Herald during this time period, if he was so interested in it. I might have enjoyed reading that if it were done well. But this historical fiction piece just does not work.

TL;DR: Skip it. That’s all I have to say.

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Review: “American Crucifixion” by Alex Beam

The full title of the book describes it all – American Crucifixion: The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church is a compelling account of the years, months, days and hours leading up the murder of the founder and leader of the Mormon church, as well as the events that occurred immediately after.

Beam really did his homework while preparing to write this book. He spent time with countless scholars in the LDS church, historians in the church archives and from BYU. The book is rich with details about the inner workings of the church under the leadership of Joseph Smith. Beam shows how Smith’s “revelation” of plural marriage led to deep divisions in the church and was the primary fuel of anti-Mormon fervor in Illinois and beyond.

Those who know little to nothing about the LDS church need not fear; the book briefly explains the “revelations” of Joseph Smith and how he came to found the church and recruit members. For those who already have some knowledge of the church, the book is a valuable and enlightening addition.

I couldn’t find much information about Beam himself, but from what I gather he is not Mormon himself. With that in mind, it’s impressive how he was able to write a balanced piece about a church that has seen so much controversy. Any bias you may hear in this review is purely from my own opinions that I had before reading the book. So extra kudos to Beam for being objective! My only complaint is that the jacket feels like sandpaper and I recoiled the first time I touched it, so hopefully you don’t mind reading your book without the jacket!

TL;DR: A really great read for anyone interested in the history of the LDS church!

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