EL - aNobii

Books (250)

All books Finished (Newest) Title (A to Z) Title (Z to A) Rating (Highest) Rating (Lowest) Finished (Newest) Finished (Oldest) Published (Newest) Published (Oldest) Added (Newest) Added (Oldest)

- Bull's Eye Investing (37)
- Targeting Real Returns in a Smoke and Mirrors Market
- By John Mauldin
- Reading
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- The End of Poverty (117)
- Economic Possibilities for Our Time
- By Jeffrey Sachs
- Reading
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- 帝國的終結 (54)
- 中國傳統政治制度批判
- By 易中天
- Reading
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- The Elements of Style (772)
- By William Strunk Jr., E. B. White
- Reading
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- 政治哲學緒論 (51)
- By Jonathan Wolff
- Reading
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List

- To Kill a Mockingbird (1860)
- By Harper Lee
- Finished
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Before I Fall (86)
- By Lauren Oliver
- Finished
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Complete Yes Prime Minister (53)
- By Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
- Finished
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Complete Yes Prime Minister

Classic

A truly classic! This book is a must for all civil servants, especially those AO in Hong Kong who desire to rise to the top. The book describes lots of interesting technqiues used by civil servant to delay various polices, e.g. it lists out the 11 stages of formulating a policy. The skills described ... (continue)

A truly classic! This book is a must for all civil servants, especially those AO in Hong Kong who desire to rise to the top. The book describes lots of interesting technqiues used by civil servant to delay various polices, e.g. it lists out the 11 stages of formulating a policy. The skills described in the book, used by both politicans and civil servant, can really be put into practice
I am sure those who interested in politics will find the book extremely rewarding and entertaining. A must read.

Is this helpful?

— Oct 31, 2011 | Add your feedback
- The Lincoln Lawyer (153)
- A Novel
- By Michael Connelly
- Finished
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Lincoln Lawyer

Entertaining but don't believe it will happen in real world

An entertaining book that is now a Hollywood movie. The plot is entertaining with a twist in the end.
However, don't believe it will happen in reality. In the real world, I am sure that the main character would have been disqualified as a lawyer in the middle of the book for breaching so many p ... (continue)

An entertaining book that is now a Hollywood movie. The plot is entertaining with a twist in the end.
However, don't believe it will happen in reality. In the real world, I am sure that the main character would have been disqualified as a lawyer in the middle of the book for breaching so many professional rules, and I am sure a lawyer can find some way to escape from the "dilemma" faced by the main character.
The book is interesting but don't expect in reality your lawyer will do the same for you.

Is this helpful?

— Oct 31, 2011 | Add your feedback
- 蜗居 (172)
- By 六六
- Finished
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List

- Man's Search For Meaning (238)
- By Viktor E. Frankl
- Finished
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Man's Search For Meaning

"If you can only bring one book to an isolated island for the rest of your life, what is your choice?"
Man's search for meaning is my answer, definitely and absolutely.
This book is great because it let us know that our daily difficulties are just a piece of cake when compared with those ... (continue)

"If you can only bring one book to an isolated island for the rest of your life, what is your choice?"
Man's search for meaning is my answer, definitely and absolutely.
This book is great because it let us know that our daily difficulties are just a piece of cake when compared with those in the concentration camp. Many have described their miserable life in the concentration camp. However, Mr. Viktor Frankl is properly the first one who had first hand experience while at the same time possessed the essential psychological training to analyse those who suffered.
The best quote in this book:
"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
Seriously, this book helped me survive my toughest days in law school, when I seriously considered committing suicide because of the immense pressure. After reading this book, I knew I am blessed. For Mr Viktor Frankl's guidance and sharing in this book, I am forever grateful.

Is this helpful?

— Aug 11, 2010 | Add your feedback
- The Associate (168)
- By John Grisham
- Finished
  
  Review Tradable
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Associate

Plot with great potential, but with a lame ending

The plot has great potential. Smart Yale law student was blackmailed and forced to become a spy in the largest law firm in the world.
The book provides detailed description on how the law firm torture their associates. Work like hell. Boring tasks. Unlimited billing. Constant humiliation. These ar ... (continue)

The plot has great potential. Smart Yale law student was blackmailed and forced to become a spy in the largest law firm in the world.
The book provides detailed description on how the law firm torture their associates. Work like hell. Boring tasks. Unlimited billing. Constant humiliation. These are all interesting.
However, the ending is lame. It ended so suddenly that you wonder: What!? This is the end? What happened?
I would not recommend it unless you are really interested in how associates are being tortured by their law firms.

Is this helpful?

— Aug 22, 2010 | 2 feedbacks
- The Last Juror (223)
- By John Grisham
- Finished
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Last Juror

Really bad story without a main theme. Main character was a owner of a newspaper in a small town. A murder case happened and a wealthy criminal was properly convicted. The criminal threatened to kill the jurors if they gave a guilty verdict. They did, and 8 years later when the bad guy was released, ... (continue)

Really bad story without a main theme. Main character was a owner of a newspaper in a small town. A murder case happened and a wealthy criminal was properly convicted. The criminal threatened to kill the jurors if they gave a guilty verdict. They did, and 8 years later when the bad guy was released, the jurors started being killed one by one.
Frankly, the storyline is bad. The author kept side-tracking from the main story. There are too many irrelevant plots and characters. Sometimes you wonder "where is this character come from?" or "who is this guy?" The ending is particularly bad and unconvincing.
Don't read it. There are better choices out there.

Is this helpful?

— Aug 11, 2010 | 2 feedbacks
- The Appeal (227)
- By John Grisham
- Finished
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Appeal

1 person find this helpful

Typical legal story. Small and near-bankrupt law firm fought against big corporation for dumping harmful chemical. Small firm won at trial, and big corporation needed to buy a seat in Supreme Court to reject the verdict.
The political battle behind the judicial election was intense and thought-pr ... (continue)

Typical legal story. Small and near-bankrupt law firm fought against big corporation for dumping harmful chemical. Small firm won at trial, and big corporation needed to buy a seat in Supreme Court to reject the verdict.
The political battle behind the judicial election was intense and thought-provoking. The author argued that money can really buy a seat in the Supreme Court and hence, he preferred an appointment system.
In Hong Kong, we follow the UK tradition and judges are all appointed. It never occur to me, and it is certainly difficult for me to imagine, judges can be elected. The author presented a fierce attack on judicial election. However, most of the drawbacks he described in the book can, and certainly will, apply to all election (e.g. his argument is that huge amount of money can create a very effective propaganda campaign. Remember how much Obama spent on his election campaign?)
Apart from the above debate, the rest of the book is boring. The author is not doing a good job in developing the characters, especially the poor husband-and-wife lawyers who fought against the big corporation. They have great potential to be developed into fascinating character while the author only managed to present them in a dull and flat way.
Can read it to kill time, especially if you are interested in election campaign and political battle.

Is this helpful?

— Aug 11, 2010 | Add your feedback
- The king of torts (215)
- By John Grisham
- Finished
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The king of torts

1 person find this helpful

Money corrupts, this book gives a tale on how a humble lawyer become the brilliant King of Torts. His rise is dramatic, and his fall is amazing.
It also exposes the problems of the US legal system, which allows litigation lawyers to pursue frivolous claims against big corporation. On one hand, tho ... (continue)

Money corrupts, this book gives a tale on how a humble lawyer become the brilliant King of Torts. His rise is dramatic, and his fall is amazing.
It also exposes the problems of the US legal system, which allows litigation lawyers to pursue frivolous claims against big corporation. On one hand, those litigation lawyers claim that they are fighting for the legitimate rights of those poor while at the same time they are being accused of exploiting the compensation given to the victim.
Great debate. But the plot is predictable, so don't expect much.

Is this helpful?

— Aug 14, 2010 | Add your feedback