Science: A History

Book Name : Science : A History
Author : John Gribbin

What is it about : The history of scientific advances in the past 500 years are described in details with vivid accounts of the players, the breakthroughs, the controversies and the benefits to humanity. The book is broken down into chapters describing a specific scientific field to make easy reading and referencing.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The human race had come a long way from believing in a flat world, surmounting hurdles in the taming of incurable deceases, the breakdown of DNA to check "let's see what this guy is made of" and about time too that we get to use a really "mobile" phone ! But I kept thinking the many discoveries, inventions and advances still to come to make our lives easier; let's see - no more ironing to start with, followed by accident-free transport vehicles which don't treat the passengers as cattle, surely we are not asking too much to put foods on the plates for everybody. How long is it going to take for these breakthroughs to become reality ?

Would I recommend this book to you : Regardless of your background and interests and even though you are not a historian or scientist, you would derive both satisfaction and frustration after reading this book, in knowing how far we have come in treating science with an open mind and yet how minute we are in the vast universe of scientific knowledge. Episodes in the lives of many of the true Greats in science such as Newton, Darwin and Einstein also provide a lighter side for reading in balancing the significant advances and impact they made.

赤道鄰居

The Interpretation of Financial Statements

Book Name : The Interpretation of Financial Statements
Author : Benjamin Graham

What is it about : An all-time classic which anyone remotely interested, involved or employed in the financial, business and accounting industries must have a thorough read. The book was written by Warren Buffet's mentor in a clear, concise and precise manner that left no stones unturned in this immensely interesting and complicated topic. In the end, the reader will have a good idea in un-raveling the ABCs of a typical financial statement.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Surprisingly readable, lucid, interesting and packed solid with explanations. Having seen the ups and downs of the stock markets and booms and busts of seemingly hopeless and meteoric companies, of the past three to four decades, the book oozes class and is still extremely relevant in the modern e-commerce days.

Would I recommend this book to you : If you enjoy reading company annual reports as a form of post-dinner relaxation or as a hobby like Warren Buffet, this book is a "must" as the book details all those technical jargons and what they really mean to your bottom line. However, this is really a sit-down-and-work-it book and so I would not be seen with it on a beach.

Random Walk Down Wall Street

Book Name : Random Walk Down Wall Street
Author : Burton G. Malkiel

What is it about :
The amazing history and stories of the world's many stock markets are well presented here - from the tulip craze to the dotcom bust. The author also explains in great details the theories and methods used in predicting and analysing the stock indices and trends; namely fundamental analysis and technical analysis and conclude with the remarks that the end results differ little from a blind-folded monkey throwing random darts at the dart board.

Some thoughts after having read the book :
But how very true ! The readers are presented with statistics and facts that make you wonder what is the point in paying the fund managers to do your investing, as they never beat the average ! The book is full of examples in demonstrating the herd instincts of the common investor with the often short-lived optimism and confidence followed by the dire end-of-the-world pessimism in picking the right/wrong stock.

Would I recommend this book to you : A fascinating read ! Even though you are not versed with the intricacies of the "technical" side of the stock markets, the history and the amazing crazy levels people can be elevated to, by their sheer greed and fear will make you turn the pages like a popular fiction.

Who Moved My Cheese ?

領導中國的新人

The Theory Of Everything

醜陋的中國人

中國歷史的重大事件

Chaos

Freud for Beginners

The Winning Investment Habits Of Warren Buffett And Soros

The Vampire Lestat

中國大歷史

The Looking Glass War

The Fist Of God

The New Girlfriend

The Man Within

Nostromo

Anything Considered

The Reckoning

Five People You Meet In Heaven

The Rise And Fall Of The Soviet Empire

Mole Hunt

The Dead

The Third Man

Aztec Autumn

The Master Spy

The Long Run

The Island Of Dr Moreau

A Short History of Nearly Everything

大棋盤:全球戰略大思考

The Seventh Man

The Last Don

The Keys To The Street

Sour Sweet

萬暦十五年

Profile Of A Criminal Mind

A Year In Provence

Complete Short Stories By Graham Greene

Colonialism And The Hong Kong Mentality

Hannibal

Praxis

美國的抉擇

Mother Tongue

A Judgement In Stone

The Life Of Pi

Death Is Now My Neighbour

A Brief Darkness

The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America