Tag Archive | book
July 15, 2019  

“The Professor And The Madman” (2019) Movie On “Amazon”: A ‘B-‘ For Effort, A ‘D’ For Veracity.

by Anura Guruge

Click image to access the IMDb.com listing for this 2019 movie.

Official Trailer on YouTube.

Click image to access the Amazon listing for the BOOK.

OK, I will admit upfront that I am not your typical audience for this movie — which is about how the classic ‘Oxford English Dictionary‘ came to be created.. For a start, one of the settings in this movie is my old school, Mill Hill (in London). Moreover, I have read THE book (by Simon Winchester on which the movie is based), know additional bits about the history of the Dictionary and furthermore adore ‘THE OXFORD’ and what it stands for. So, I was not going to be an easy customer to please — though I desperately wanted the movie to WOW I. Alas, it did NOT.

For a start, it misrepresented the history involving Mill Hill and the scene they show involving Mill Hill does NOT show anything close to what Mill Hill looks like! And that was how the movie started. So, I was not impressed. It would NOT have been difficult to have shot the scene at Mill Hill since the buildings, from the time, are still there. Plus, they show Dr. Murray’s son playing field hockey. Yes, we played hockey at Mill Hill but the school is more of a rugby and cricket school. So, that was part irritating. Then the movie gets the dates and facts WRONG! The Murrays did not move to Oxford as soon as he became Editor. The first five-years of the Dictionary were at Mill Hill. So, the movie misrepresents that.

Yes, it is NOT an easy story to tell and the ‘Madman’ (viz. Dr. William Chester Minor (who cuts off his penis)) was not as central as the movie makes him out to be. Yes, he contributed, much — but so did thousands of others. It is the typical conflict between a good book and a movie that tries to tells its story. In this case, as it happens so often, the movie falls short.

My recommendation: skip the movie, read the book!

Related posts:
Search on ‘movie’.

by Anura Guruge

 

May 2, 2019  

“Ready Brain” — A Great Website To Help You Keep Your Brain Stimulated.

by Anura Guruge

Click on image to access the ‘Ready Brain’ Website cum blog.

The creator of this fun & stimulating Website, Larry Mager, sent me an e-mail last week about his Website and how it came to be.

To quote Larry: “After being laid off from my teaching job several years ago, I was pretty low. I’d lost a job I loved, and didn’t know what I was going to do next.

But then a funny thing happened. My neighbor came to me desperate to find a tutor for her son. I offered my services as a temporary solution. Fast forward two years later and I’m running my own tutoring business and making progress with my mental fitness website, Readybrain.net.

I’ve never been happier, and I want to help those going through a tough spot in their careers feel like I do“.

I sure like what Larry is doing.

His premise is the same as my “A ‘Think’ A Day, Keeps Alzheimer’s At Bay” books. He even talks about it, on his home page, using terminology similar to what I advocate. So, yes, I am very happy and delighted to be able to promote this effort. Great job, Larry.

I like the Sudoku. I don’t know how to play Blackjack (and, alas, there are no instructions as yet) but it looks interesting. You definitely should explore this Website. You will find it rewarding.

 

Related posts:
Check Categories: ‘Brains‘ & ‘THINK‘.

by Anura Guruge

 

April 21, 2019  

My BIG, Very BIG — 471-Page — THINK Book — Now Available, Worldwide.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE and study. Link to Amazon below.

Link to Amazon LISTING for this BIG boy.

The family. The BIG book differs from the other two in that it contains 365 sample answers. That is what makes it SO big.

So, for those that have made fun of me that my book are are on a diet, and keep on getting skinnier and skinnier.

Well I fixed that with this book. A full 471-pages long and we are talking good size 7″x10″ pages (and not ones that are small).

Took me 18-months to write and proof it. The longest I have worked on a book — ever!

Yes, I wrote it BEFORE my other two THINK books, BUT the proofing was a bitch. So, I spun the other two out and continued labouring on the BIG book.

Well, it is out. A true labor of love.

Check it out. I will arrange for FREE eBook downloads after Easter.

Related posts:
Check Categories ‘Books’, ‘Brains‘ & ‘THINK‘.

by Anura Guruge

 

April 16, 2019  

The Tragic Notre Dame Fire Brought To Mind One Of My Favorite Books “Is Paris Burning?”

by Anura Guruge

Click to image to access the Amazon listing for this amazing book. Must read.

One of my favorite books. My adoptive father, an avid reader and author, who lived in Paris for nearly 20-years, told me about it in the 1970s. I read it. Loved it.

I invariably keep a couple of copies of it, at home, in case I want to give one to someone who I know will enjoy it.

So, on Monday, April 15, 2019, for obvious reasons, this book was much on my mind. It is ironic. The title of the book “Is Paris Burning?” is what Hitler supposedly asked his Generals as they were fleeing from Paris — the Allies rapidly bearing down on the City. Hitler wanted Paris burned. His Generals disregarded his orders!

So, what Hitler failed to do …

After getting hooked on this book, I went onto this, by the same authors. I will confess I like ‘Freedom’ more than I do ‘Burning’, BUT they are both brilliant, compelling books.

Click to image to access the Amazon listing for this amazing book. Also a must read.

Related Posts:
See Category ‘Books’.
Search ‘Paris‘.

by Anura Guruge

April 9, 2019  

‘Brainsway’, A Maker Of ‘Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation’ (TMS) Equipment, Filing For ‘Hail-Mary’ U.S. IPO.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE and read here. This from Fidelity.

Click for my post that talks about ‘Brainsway’ & TMS.

Stock performance in Tel Aviv.

Click to ENLARGE and goggle. 

I was researching the intriguing ‘Pinterest‘ IPO when this caught my eye. I knew exactly who they were. So, I had to do a bit of investigating.

Wow. Their stock performance in Israel has not been stellar — and that is saying it kindly.

I would NOT touch this U.S. IPO. The stock, in Israel, right now, seems to be on a downward trajectory.

Also seems a bit late in the day to do an U.S. IPO. They went public in Israel 12-years ago!

During ‘dot.com’ I did a ton of work for a number of Israeli high-tech companies. Great folks to work with, but I kind of learnt one thing. It is not easy for outsiders to make money in Israeli companies. Yes, of course, there are exceptions.

This one does not fill me with optimism. But, you can check it out.

Related Posts:
Search on ‘pain’ & ‘TMS’.
Check Category ‘books’. 

by Anura Guruge

April 2, 2019  

‘The Road To Wellville’ By T.C. Boyle — Great Story, Brilliantly Told, But I Would Have Preferred Abridged Version!

by Anura Guruge

Click for Amazon listing.

I really can’t believe I said that. Abridge version! Coming from I. Yikes.

What can I say? A review printed on the back cover refers to the ‘bombastic language‘. They said that on the back cover. That about sums it up. I have been frequently accused of flowery, florid and dense writing. But, I think he takes this to extremes that even I would not dare. Shame, because it is such a great book, a wonderful FACTIONAL story. One that needs to be read — about Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (of cornflake fame), his ostentatious Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan and his outrageous cures which included radium inhalation.

I have had this book for awhile and had wanted to read it for a long time. I knew a bit about Kellogg’s quackery and wanted to get a better picture. To be honest this book does not give you the full story of Kellogg. His early days and how he wrested control of the Sanitarium from the Seventh-Day Adventists is glossed over. But, still I learnt tremendous amount — most of it which made me shudder.

I would love to recommend this book to a few people — but, alas, they would not thank me for it! Though the story is compelling it is hard work reading the words. It is like trying to eat and digest dry cardboard. Shame. Hence, why I would like to see an abridged version. The story told in its essence with 40% of the bombastic words eradicated.

All that said, I liked it because the story had me enthralled. So … I have told you how I feel. You might still want to give it a try.

Related Posts:
Check Category ‘Books’.

by Anura Guruge

January 17, 2019  

I Was Wrong About Trump’s Ultra-Long Ties — They Were NOT Freudian In The Phallic Sense.

by Anura Guruge

Click to access my September 2016 post.

Click to access original from the “W Magazine”.

The New Book.

Click to access original from ‘Philly.com’.

Well, well, well.

Chris Christie explains what it is all about.

Yes, it is definitely size related, but not size in a Freudian sense.

Trump thinks long ties make you look THINNER.

Wow. What a clown? Nothing short of a drastic diet will make Trump look thinner. As for Chris Christie. Come on?

A long tie. These two fatsos are crazy.

Related Posts:
Search ‘Trump’.

by Anura Guruge

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