"Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers," by Jim Rogers

Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers, (Hollbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation; 1994), 402 pages.

From March 1990 through August 1992, the author and his girlfriend travelled around the world on their BMW motorcycles. Starting in New York City, they flew to Ireland and travelled through southern Europe to China and Japan, then turned around and went through northern Europe back to Ireland. They then drove the length of Africa from north to south, almost circumnavigated Australia, rode through New Zealand,  rode through the Americas from Cape Horn in the south to New York in the north east through to Anchorage, Alaska, traveling a total of 65,000 miles. The book is a record of his travels including observations of the countries he visited. Most but not all of the book is devoted to his travels. We learn of the difficulties of riding a bike around the world though conditions ranging from first class roads to bumpy dirt tracks. The book also casts a keen observer's eye at the countries through which he travels. He comments on the living conditions of every country he visits, and gets to the heart of what makes each country successful or unsuccessful. As a professional investor, Rogers also comments on the economic conditions of many countries, primarily based on his observations and interactions with the people he meets. He gets to the heart of what makes a county successful, what makes life good for its citizens, what makes currencies more valuable, and others less valuable. In light of his observations about the countries he visits, he returns to a repeating theme, namely the similarity between the direction of the U.S.A.'s economy and that of failed third-world countries around the globe.

This is a gem of a book. It is s both a record of an amazing round-the-world motorcycle trip, and a reflection on what makes a country successful. Rogers's analysis and writing is direct and honest. It is  unencumbered with flowery introspection or self-doubt. It is full of practical advice and commonsense for the traveller and to a lesser extent the international investor.  If the book has a weakness its his failure to give any detailed observations of his travels through the United States. He also writes comparatively little of his travels through Australia. This limited treatment of two large countries surprised me. I think the book is the poorer than it could have been due to so little coverage of these large countries. Nonetheless, this is a very good book that should be enjoyed by readers interested in travel, investing, and motorcycle travel journeys.

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

The Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly, (New York: Hachette Book Group; 2008), 562 pages.

In The Scarecrow, Michael Connelly goes back to the old well of The Poet, and takes another drink.  The characters from that book feature again in The Scarecrow in another story about the hunt for a serial killer. The principal character, Jack McEvoy is an all-but-washed up journalist at the Los Angeles Times. While reporting on a murder confession, he discovers, and believes, that a confessed killer has been framed and that the real murderer is a serial killer. Unable to convince the Los Angeles Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and his own employer of the merits of his theory, McEvoy attempts to solve the crime himself, and in the long a circuitous investigation, gets his co-worker killed but like all goes journalist heroes, gets his killer in the end.

As the cover blurb notes, this book is "high-grade entertainment," and suitable written to retain the reader's attention through surprises and twists. Connelly is an entertaining writer, and this book is of sufficient quality to live up to the author's reputation of producing crime fiction at its best. Readers of crime fiction should find this book adequately entertaining, as long as you can accommodate the fact that the entire story's premise is that a journalist is more capable of solving a string of murders than two law enforcement agencies. If readers can rationalize away that fact they should enjoy this book.

"Warren Buffett and the Art of Stock Arbitrage," by Mary Buffett and David Clark

"Warren Buffett and the Art of Stock Arbitrage," by Mary Buffett and David Clark, (New York: Scribner; 2010), 153 pages.

This book is another addition to the expanding category of books about Warren Buffett's approach to profitable investing. The unique feature of this book is that one of the authors shares the surname of the subject (because she was once married to one of his sons). This small book explains arbitrage, with occasional references to actual Buffett arbitrages. It also goes over topics of interest to the novice investor, such as what arbitrage is, types of arbitrage, how it can be used with great certainty to increase annual investment returns, how leverage (or borrowings) can greatly improve investment returns when it is used effectively (and the opposite - risk of loss or low profits in certain situations) and overviews of various real-world examples where Buffett used arbitrage to earn outsized investment returns. For example, the authors discuss the following:

·               friendly mergers

·               hostile takeovers

·               buy-backs and self-tender offers

·               corporate liquidations

·               corporate spin-offs, and 

·               stubs.

This is not a book for experts; on the contrary it is an introductory book on the subject of arbitrage. Experts should by-pass this book for I doubt they will benefit from the contents. It is mostly a book for novices on how arbitrage situations can be very profitable if executed properly. The spice or spin is added by the references to Warren Buffett through frequent reference to his success as an arbitrager, and example of situations were he profitably engaged in arbitrage. The message of the book is that the reader can profit, just like Warren Buffett, if you follow the guidelines provided in this book.

"Education of a Wandering Man: A Memoir by Louis L'Amour,"

"Education of a Wandering Man: A Memoir by Louis L'Amour," (New York: Bantam Books; 1989) 232 pages. ISBN: 978-0553286526

Louis L'Amour had an excellent education to prepare him for his very successful career as a writer, demonstrated by his prodigious lifetime output of 89 novels, over 250 short stories, and two works of non-fiction. Don't think this book is L'Amour's recollections of his education at a distinguished university such as Yale or Harvard. You would be dead wrong if you did. L'Amour didn't go to those colleges; he didn't even finish high school. His education was earned the old way at the "school of hard knocks." This book summarizes this practical and informal education, and shows what a fascinating and exciting education it was. To L'Amour, formal schooling got in the way of his education. While he remains a great supporter of education, formal schooling was not for him. He left school at an early age to work, and continued his education through books he bought, borrowed or accessed in libraries.

This range of jobs he took was remarkable: itinerant laborer, merchant seaman, mine assessor and professional boxer. He followed the harvests, worked in mines, sailed to Asia and Europe, always reading in his spare time, always listening to the stories of the people he met on his travels. The constant through out these various jobs is his devotion to self-improvement through reading quality books. His devotion to learning is woven through the narrative. He recalls with great detail where he was when he read a particular book, and what he learned from it. This book also includes a list of the books he read from 1930 to 1935, and 1937. In most years, the list of books read was in excess of 100.

This book is a fine account of the self- education of a popular and successful writer. Its outstanding feature is its depiction of an unusual education predominantly self-taught in the school of hard knocks. It is also a testament to the idea that true education (rather than modern university-based vocational training) does not require a degree. To L'Amour, all it takes is the ability to read, along with the natural ability to reflect on books in a way to try to better your life. L'Amour's Education of A Wandering Man, written shortly before his death, is also a fine portrayal of life in during the Great Depression, and of the life of the nomadic, itinerant worker. The life of the hobo (as distinguished from the lay-about non-working bum) has largely disappeared. L'Amour's book is a witness to this disappeared way of life. This excellent and readable book should appeal to a wide audience. It will specifically appeal to fans of L'Amour, and perhaps to readers interested in the lives of successful authors. It will also be of interest to those curious about life in the American west during the Great Depression, and of first hand accounts of itinerant workers during that time.

"Baghdad Without A Map" by Tony Horwitz

Baghdad Without A Map and Other Misadventures in Arabia, by Tony Horwitz, (New York: Plumy by the Penguin Group; 1991), 285 pages. ISBN0-452-26745-5.

In this book, Tony Horwitz, Jewish and American, follows his journalist wife to the Middle East and does some freelance reporting on life in the region. Based in Egypt, he traveled and reported his observations and experiences. His travels took him throughout Egypt and to Sudan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Iran, and a voyage on a small boat through the Straits of Hormuz. The book illustrates everyday life in these places, the difficulties faced by westerners when travelling there, particularly the “culture shock” faced by westerners face when immersing themselves in the comparatively ancient world of the Middle East.

This book’s great strength is its realistic portrait of life in a number of Middle Eastern countries from the perspective of the average Middle Easterner. Horwitz meets the poor; he eats with them and is invited into their homes. He witnesses their struggles with poverty, and difficult challenges with institutions, and poverty in finding a better life for themselves and their children. He is at times humorous, but never makes fun of his hosts. His writing is characterized by sympathizing with them. Horwitz does not mingle with the wealth or privileged or powerful, a thereby gives his book an experienced “on the ground” account of these countries, and not a view from the air-conditioned comfort of a luxury hotel or resort. Therefore, we see how these places work, or more frequently do not work. He shares with us his host's  views of America and Judaism. This makes his travel writing more notable: here is a man who is both Jewish and American travelling through a region hostile to both. We see this hostility expressed in unusual ways. For example, Horwitz manages to enter Iran to report on the funeral of Ayatollah Komanehi. One funeral attendee and anti-American protester proclaims his wish to one day go to Disneyland and ride on the teacup ride with his children, during a break from his chanting “death to America”.

This book has been in print for 21 years, and I suspect that the rich description of Middle Easter life is still accurate today. Life there, I suspect, may not have changed much; only an expert would know. Regimes may have changed in some of the countries, but one expects that the discoveries and observations made by Horwitz are as relevant today as they were when the book was written.

This book is a fine travel memoir, while also being a fine analysis or investigative report of the Middle East. It is a book that will be enjoyed by people interested in the Middle East, lovers of travel writing, or fans of the writing of Tony Horwitz.

"Confessions of a Tax Collector," by Richard Yancey

"Confessions of a Tax Collector: One Man's Tour of Duty Inside the IRS," by Richard Yancey, (New York:Harper Collins; 2004) 364 pages. ISBN 0-06-055560-2.

No one grows up thinking they want a career as a tax collector. The people that end up doing that job get there somehow. This is one man's story of how he came to be a revenue officer for the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). In Confessions of a Tax Collector, former drama teacher Richard Yancey answers an recruitment advertisment in a Florida newspaper (remember those) seeking people to work in The Treasury Department. Attracted by the job security and salary, he applies and is recruited. The book traces his career from his employment interview, training, and his early career. Yancey pulls back the curtain on what the IRS was like in the 1990s, to show us how revenue officer collected income tax revenue for the IRS. 

Exposes  by insiders spilling the beans on what its really like working for an organization usually make interesting reading. This book is no exception. If you are interested in working for the IRS, then Yancey's book should be recommended reading, even though the IRS has changed considerably from the way it is depicted in this book. This book's utility is not confined to future agents wanting know what its really like to work for the IRS. Anyone thinking of working in a job that requires managing a caseload (e.g. investigator, insurance examiner/adjuster, etc) would benefit from it: this book reveals the type of work constraints and limitations associated with such work. Yancey also provides engaging and detailed critiques of how he successfully did his job and closed cases. These are first-rate accounts of what is required in jobs that require you to handle a case load. The book also gives an important lesson for all people: Yancey decided that if he was going to do the job of revenue officer, he was going to be the best revenue agent. Success for him was a decision, and was something he worked hard for and achieved. This is a lesson for all people in that no matter how little you enjoy you job, or are embarrassed by it, namely, there is a lot to be said for deciding to be the best at it and doing it exceptionally well. Who knows where it will lead. In Richard Yancey's instance, its led to a careers as a writer.

"Roads: Driving America's Great Highways," by Larry McMurtry

"Roads: Driving America's Great Highways," by Larry McMurtry, (New York: Simon and Schuster; 2000), 206 pages. ISBN 0-684-86884-9.

At the end of the 20th century, Larry McMurtry decided to drive a selection of America's great interstate highways, namely, interstates 10, 40, 70, 80, 90 (the great east-west roads) and interstates 5, 25, 35, 75, and 95 (the north-south roads). There was no other reason than curiosity, just a desire to look around with the realization that as old age approaches, he needed to do it then while he was still able to do so. His approach was to jump on a plane, fly to a location, rent a car, and drive via one of the great interstate highways to his home in Archer City, Texas. The product is a book arranged by journey and highway, each comprising McMurtry's observations, recollections of previous journeys along the same road, his observations, an occasional historical note about the area he's driving through, and a note about any writers that came from that area.

The strength of this book is that it is successful on a number of levels. On one level, its an interesting travel book. Its not like the detailed explorations of backwoods America, like the books of William Least Heat Moon and Annie Proulx; this book is a contemplative narrative of the major migration and freight roads of America. On another level its autobiographical. McMurtry dips into his novelist, screenwriting, and book selling past to explain how cities, roads and life have changed over his lifetime. The book is also a regional literary bibliography. During McMurtry's parallel career as an antiquarian book dealer, he learned about the origins of many authors and the settings of many novels and other books. This knowledge is sprinkled  throughout the book, like seasoning, and adds depth and flavor to his travel story. For example, in the chapter on his trip south through Minnesota, he writes about notable local authors from the past, and books about the region he's observing, such as George W. Featherstonhaugh's A Canoe Voyage Down the Minney-Sotar.  Many of us would not known of this book, and the many other mentioned by McMurtry, if they were not included in these pages. These historical diversions are everywhere in this book, making the book better for them.

This book will be enjoyed by readers that like travel stories, road trips, and autobiographical reflections of a notable American writers.

"Back Story," by Robert B. Parker

“Back Story” by Robert B. Parker, (New York: Berkley Books; 2003), 290 pages.

Back Story is a crime novel, a “whodunit” where the murder is investigated by a private investigator called Spenser. The format for a murder mystery is well known, in that it takes the form of a murder being revealed, and the remainder of the book being devoted to the solving of the murder. This general model is followed here, with a slight variation with the murder occurring 35 years ago. The case has long been marked as un-solved; however in this book the deceased’s daughter brings the case to Spenser who agrees to solve it. The challenges normally present in a murder case are therefore made more complicated by the passage of time, and the associated memory lapses, missing documents, and long forgotten or buried facts, reports, and grievances. Before he solves the case, Spenser escapes two attempts on is life, makes a couple of trips across the country to interview witnesses, dispenses lethal violence on some thugs, and become associated with colorful business identities involved in some questionable and illegal businesses. As we expect, Spenser solves the crime, but in doing so, reveals secrets the client did not expect nor want to hear, as well as discovering the reasons for a cover-up during the initial murder investigation 35 years ago.

Back Story is light and breezy reading. It would appeal to fans of Robert Parker’s writing, particularly fans of the Spenser series of books. The book provides very good entertainment for the lover of crime faction. If you are looking for fast-paced entertainment, this could be a book for you. Its numerous short chapters make it easy to read in multiple sessions and make it the perfect book to keep on you while waiting in line at the doctor or dentist.

"Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins," by Rupert Everett

Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins, by Rupert Everett (New York: Warner Books; 2006), 406 pages.  ISBN : 978-0-446-57963-6.

Rupert Everett's autobiography is his account of his life from infancy through 2006. Naturally, it covers his school days through his professional acting/singing/modeling career, its various ups and downs, good years and bad years, feasts and famines. Most notable are Everett's accounts of his life's loves. Acquaintances are also mentioned and discussed with particular emphasis on how they affected his life at that time.

Rarely do writers receive criticism for failing to disclose information and facts; however this is a rare example of a book where the author goes to far in his enthusiastic disclosure of his and his friend's and acquaintance's concerns. Everett is enthusiastically indiscreet; he gives us too much information on matters that should be personal, private, or left unsaid. This, of course, is deliberate. Nothing attracts publicity and book sales like the disclosure of scandalous indiscretions.

Who would benefit from reading this book? Very few people, except collectors of trivia about semi famous and famous actors and their friends. Everett's acting skill is perhaps equalled by his ability to befriend famous and notable people. Two useful lessons of this book is how success often depends on winning a patron, and that life as an actor can quickly move from feast to famine. The greatest limitation of this book is its cursory dealing with serious matters, in particular, his apparent lack difficulty in simultaneously being both a practicing catholic and practicing homosexual. His reflections on this rationalization would make for much more interesting reading than a recollection of the latest party at Roddy McDowall's house. But I suppose its the latter that sells books.

"Hornet Flight," by Ken Follett

“Hornet Flight,” by Ken Follett, (New York: Penguin Putnam Inc.; 2002), 420 pages.

The Second World War is the backdrop to many works of fiction. Some books take us to the center of the action at the front lines, while others take us the machinations of high command. “Hornet Flight” takes us to occupied Denmark at the beginning of the Nazi occupation, and provides the reader a mixture of frontline action and central command politics. The exact time in which this story is based is significant because during this time Danish citizens decided whether their loyalties were with their Nazi occupiers, or with their desire for freedom and the emerging Danish resistance movement. The dichotomy, or moral and ethical choice between good and evil drives this story, and sets up the narrative's major theme, namely the struggle between men on whether to live their lives on the side of good, or to live their lives on the side of evil.

Follett places these issues firmly in the minds of his characters as they are confronted with a growing realization that their Nazi occupiers are capable of immense cruelty, terror and wickedness. In the center of this morality fight are two extended Danish families, one is the family of a church pastor, another their long-time family rival. The pastor’s family become sympathetic to the fledgling Danish resistance, and through a series of actions of helping out friends and family, makes themselves enemies of the Nazi occupiers. Their rival family, especially one member with a strong grudge against them, is sympathetic to the Nazi's and seeks their favors, ingratiates himself with them and becomes their lackey. His persecution of suspected spies and suspected resistance members brings him into conflict with his old family rivals, whom he mercilessly hunts down, especially when he suspects them of having discovered a secret Nazi weapon. The pastor's family becomes instrumental in obtaining intelligence information and photos that must be sent to London by a certain date to ensure the greater success of the allied aerial bombing of Germany.

Follett is a masterful storyteller who tells big stories through the lives of individuals. Although this is fiction, Follett tells the important part played by resistance fighters and spies in helping secure information vital to the long-term success of the allied bombing effort. With this skill in entwining the lives of everyday people with actual events, Follett tells a fabulous story that both entertains the reader and provides hours of enjoyment. Don't think this is a war novel - its not. The war is a backdrop, but the real story is the drama of everyday life including betrayal, love, violence, loyalty, dedication to duty, dedication to family, and the issues we face everyday, particularly, what to do in life when given a choice between the easy and ignoble path, or the difficult and right path in life. If these are the things that interest you in novels, then this is a book that you will enjoy.

"Travels With Charley," by John Steinbeck

“Travels With Charley: In Search of America,” by John Steinbeck, (New York: The Viking Press 1962, Penguin Books edition 1980), 210 pages.

Steinbeck’s “Travels With Charley” is his non-fiction account of his 1960 driving journey around the United States. His choice of vehicle was a pick-up truck with an attached camper. His sole companion was his pet poodle, Charley; hence the title "Travels with Charley." The journey began after Labor Day from Steinbeck's home on Long Island in the state of New York. After some excitement negotiating the tempestuous conflagrations from a passing hurricane, Steinbeck commenced his journey into New England. After an exploration of Maine, he turned west and headed for the west coast, breaking his journey at towns small and large including the more notable ones of Chicago (where he was visited by his wife), Minneapolis/St. Paul, and finally Seattle. He journeyed down the coast to San Francisco and visited his old home town of Monterey, and then drove to West Texas, New Orleans, and eventually back to New York.

Steinbeck's journey was neither leisurely, nor exploratory. He appeared to be in a hurry compared to the other more contemporary books of this genre, such as William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highways" and Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent" to name only a few. Nonetheless, this short odyssey provided Steinbeck with the opportunity to record his plentitude of observations about the American landscape, the people he met on his journey, and the opportunity to reflect on life in America. It was these conversations and observations that coalesced to enable Steinbeck to give his views on the country of his birth, a country in which he had not resided in for over 25 years, a country that he wanted to rediscover. His interest in rediscovery grew from is realization that he knew so little of contemporary life in America. His memories were from long ago, of an era long past, so to write about America in 1960, he had to go and see it for himself. The things he saw delighted, surprised and disturbed him. Such were the impacts that he seemed at times troubled by what he sees, and is at times dour and dire in his conclusions. He appeared to think that the wholesome certainty of the America of his youth had been replaced by a slick derivative cliché of its former self, a place devoid of higher culture more notable for fast living and ordinary food (except for breakfast).

One could argue for pages about whether Steinbeck was right; some have even argued that this book contains many fabrications or exaggerations. If you set aside these issues, it is hard to deny that "Travels With Charley" is a serious and well written book by one of America's finest writers. It is a glimpse into the mind of a man in the later years of his life reflecting on the changes to his country in his lifetime. He saw a lot of things he didn't like. There are no stupendous outbursts of excitement, or side-splitting accounts or bawdy tales. Humor, excitement and spiritedness seem to have evaporated from his pen. This book is not uplifting, but is a sober, melancholic, reflective and moody reflection on America in 1960. As we read it today, it is a journey into the past, but for Steinbeck, it’s a contemplation on his changed country, a cautionary speculation on the future of a country that he loved and whose future he fears for. It is a fine example of non-fiction writing by one the America's finest writers. For these reasons, it should be compulsory reading for all with more than a passing interest in American life.