Hitler (An Illustrated Life)

Hitler... as according to Gregor Strasser: "He doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink, he eats almost nothing but green stuff, he doesn't touch any women! How are we supposed to understand him across to other people?"...

At times, I hate to read historical biography... Most of the time, this kind of books might end up as half histories plus half biographical stuff. "Hitler, an illustrated life" is more than that.. perhaps 60% of history stuff plus 40% of biography stuff, LOL. Well, I understand the difficulties in writing historical biography. The author needs to be precise about historical facts. At the same time, he/ she needs to give his / her opinion in regards to biographical stuff! Tough? Of course...

In terms of facts, I thought this book reveals a lot of great stuff. However, a book with only 224 pages surely has its limitation. In fact, I think the author over-emphasize the historical parts. At the end, readers may find it boring (Well, history itself is boring enough, isn't it? LOL) and find it hard to pick up any interest part. For myself, I was initially looking forward to know more about the personality of the said fanatical dictator. Unfortunately, I found very little of that.

Overall, I love and hate this book... I love the "simplicity" by the author (simple yet precise!). A small book (with only 224 pages) to tell the story of a dictator did enough to proved my point! I hate it as I am a reader who prefers more biography stuff. After all, Europe histories no longer attract me these days.

Having said that, I am not going to rate highly on this book. Out of 10, I am giving 4 points based on my personal expectations in exploring this book. Like I said above, I do not hate this book. But, I do not like it too... 

The Fundamentals Of Hedge Fund Management

A friend of mine recommended this book... and I thought since I am so "academical" lately, why not? LOL..

Ok, this is basically a simple book on the fundamentals of hedge fund. For those who know nothing about managing hedge fund, this book serves as a good introduction. It gives you a basic outline of everything you need to do to start and run a hedge fund.

I personally love the chapter of "Marketing" and the chapter of "Perception versus Reality". One statement in that chapter of "Marketing" clearly pointed out the real situation in real life: "In terms of getting assets, 1. the people you think will give you likely won't. 2. the people who you will never imagine in a million years giving you money might be where you get the money from." Interesting fact, right?  On the chapter of "Perception versus Reality", the case studies provided are really some great stuff to ponder about... After all, managing a fund is not really as easier as many peoples think...

My only criticism of the book is that it is slightly out-dated. Those who follow hedge fund regularly will realize that certain rules were changed ever since this book was published. As such, readers might be confused with certain regulations as mentioned in the book. My advice is... check through with respective parties if you have doubts. After all, this is a book published in year 2007. Hence, out-dated issues are something unavoidable.

Overall, this is a nice book to explore. Although simple... but details enough for newbies. I will recommend this book for beginners. However, for those intermediate or advance levels, perhaps this is not the best choice of resources. As such, "intermediate" reader like me only rates this book at 5/10. Nice book, easy to digest but too simple in my humble opinion... 

The Ten Day MBA

I hardly go into this... I mean, academically books.. To be frank, since I graduated from university, my focus was more on books that I failed to read during my university time. After all, a three straight years of degree life did just enough for me to find excuses into exploring non-academic books, LOL. So, I guess it is time to refresh a bit into what I studied 15 years ago, LOL.

MBA is something attractive to me all the while. I know I may not have the chance to further my studies into this (at least in short term) . As such, I am very curious with this book... Well, a MBA to complete in 10 days' time.. Why not? LOL...

At the end, this is the only book for me for the past 10 days. To be honest, I really enjoyed it. The past 10 days proved to be educational (although academically too, LOL). My curiosity was satisfied with the author's creativity in writing this book. After all, we are talking about the "secrets" taught at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Chicago, Northwestern and Virginia. So, what is there to complain about?

The only setback perhaps lies with the simplicity. MBA holder and prospective MBA holder may not like it... The fact is, the author needs to fit in 9 major courses plus a series of MBA minicourses in a book! As such, certain details may not be adequate and readers need to read further in other resources. However, if a local university degree holder like me can understand and appreciate the whole book, I guess the so called "simplicity" is not an issue to any other readers.  After all, I am not reading for academic purpose. I am reading it to sharpen my competitive edge, expertise and performances in certain area. In fact, most of the topics were covered (although not 100%) in my university time. Hence, the said book also acts as a good "refresher" course to a busy man (ahem!!!LOL) like me.

Overall, I love this book so much. In view of that, I am going to rate 9/10 for this book. An excellent academically book and an excellent "refresher"... no doubt!

Contents:

Day 1: Marketing

Day 2: Ethics

Day 3: Accounting

Day 4: Organizational Behavior

Day 5: Quantitative Analysis

Day 6: Finance

Day 7: Operations

Day 8: Economics

Day 9: Strategies

Day 10 MBA Minicourses

MYDIN The Untold Story

MYDIN, a very popular household name these days... I know this book was in the market since last year (if I am not mistaken). However, similar to the case of SENHENG, Corporate Culture the Engine of Growth; I initially quite reluctant to buy this book. The reason is simple: I do not want to read another "marketing" book to promote the brand, the company and the director!

Well, if SENHENG at the end manage to change my initial perception, what about this book? Unfortunately, this book is exactly the "marketing" book as mentioned above... The first few chapters (about the founder) at least interesting enough. The middle part (especially the last part) is all about photos and articles being published via the local media. At the end, it took me ONLY a short two hours to finish the whole book!

So, do I gain anything from it? Of course! As usual, there is always some gold in a book for readers to dig in. With due respect to the founder and current Managing Director of Mydin, I really found this book was too simple to digest. So, it is the problem with the author or perhaps the problem with the publisher. End of the day, I believe they have their intention of doing so and the author are targeting certain group of readers. (unfortunately, myself excluded!) Having said that, there is still some great stuff to learn...being frugal, hard work (simply hard work!!!), right attitude, integrity and focus are some of the great traits seen in the book! I personally love the answers below: "I have no properties, no land, no big bungalows, or many luxurious cars. What I do have and what are my greatest wealth are my four sons. They are my precious diamonds!"

Since it is a "simple" book, rating definitely would not be high at my side. Out of 10, I am giving 4! Thought of giving 2, but I do admire the founder and Dato' Haji Ameer Ali Bin Mydin... Overall, a leisure book for me... not so bad, but surely not worth of reading repetition in the future (in my humble opinion)... 

Zhou Enlai

If Madame Chiang Kai-Shek is a pure historical book, Zhou Enlai goes beyond this... It is a good combination between historical and biographical stuff... 

I thought the coverage is in real details, range from his origins in a mined bourgeois family through his schooling in Japan and France, his involvement with communist organizing in Europe and in the Chinese Revolution at home, and his Steady guidance of the Communist administration. 

Zhou Enlai has always held a charmed place in western assessments. Wilson, the author does nothing to alter this picture...Wilson puts a lot of emphasis on Zhou's family. Zhou was actually given over for adoption by his natural parents to his father's brother--which has created a lot of confusion, especially since Zhou used to refer to his natural and his adoptive mother interchangeably. His adoptive father and both of his mothers died early in his life. In fact, there is a "story" that he was stingy toward his surviving natural father in later years.  The author also pointed out his tireless capacity for work and his studied reluctance to assume a position as leader, preferring the secondary role for which he seems to have been so well suited. In the book, Zhou obviously did not always give in to Mao--particularly during the rapid development phase of the Great Leap.  

I always prefer a western view biography for China and Asia leaders. In my opinion, a third party view is more attractive...  End of the day, I am not learning histories (In fact, I am pretty much familiar with it). As such, this book meets my objective and I actually love it. Since it is a biography of choice (at least for my choice, LOL), I rated it at 9/10. The reason for not rating it at 10/10 is due to the fact that Zhou Enlai's stories can be boring at times. So, nothing concern the author and the book. Overall, it is a great book to explore for those history and biography lovers...

Madame Chiang Kai-shek: China's Eternal First Lady

"Mayling's peculiar mettle was smelted in America and forged in Shanghai. The woman she became was a seamless alloy of Southern Belle, New England bluestocking, and Chinese tai-tai, or matron," Laura Tyson Li writes in her superb biography of Mayling Soong, whose life spanned the 20th century... What a biography! Simply a breath-taking one...

 To be frank, I am very much familiar with histories in regards to China, Taiwan, Mao Tze Tung and the mighty Chiang Kai-Shek. However, this book serves as something indifferent as the author seems to see everything from the perspective of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek. The matter of fact is: Soong's three daughters are well known for three different meaning. The eldest loves money, the second loves country while the youngest simply loves power and authorities. As such, among the three, I am always looking forward to know more about Mayling Soong since the other two were not as controversial as Madame Chiang.

I thought the author did well in this book. The only weak point perhaps lies with the fact that it is more like a historical book rather than a biography. After all, Madame Chiang's whole life was tied together with Chiang Kai-Shek... Since Chiang Kai-Shek's whole life was tied together with China's revolution, the biography of Madam Chiang will automatically become a boring historical book! Perhaps the author should concentrate more on the personal side of Madame Chiang... I was particularly looking forward to know more about how she falls in loves with a general who never knows how to love a woman! LOL...

Having said that, I am still quite satisfy with what I read. At least it was a good revision on my side... Furthermore, for the first time ever I am reading China history from a different perspective (a third party perspective). As a result, I am going to rate 7/10 for this book.  To sum it up, it is a "must read" book for historical lovers!