Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/looking-back-three-years-2010-resolution-1

Comment #3633

2012-12-31T22:32:01Z

That's why I post reviews -- I need the memory aid. :)

Comment #3632

2012-12-31T22:24:14Z

I may have read 71, but I don't do a very good job of retaining what I read. Something I need to work on.

Comment #3631

2012-12-31T21:54:18Z

Note that I've updated this post to include a list of my top-ranked books for the year.

Comment #3630

2012-12-29T21:08:04Z

Sounds good, thanks.

Comment #3629

2012-12-29T19:40:56Z

Do you want me to keep David Nichol Smith's collection of three lectures entitled “Some Observations on Eighteenth Century Poetry” for when you visit? It's short (about 80 pages), congenial (Nichol Smith says plenty of favorable things about people and few negative things), and easily read in an afternoon.

Comment #3628

2012-12-28T23:57:49Z

In advance of the official review, I would say that in the main I like Wood's book -- or at least his work -- better, for the reason you state. It is too rare to find both great vision and solid business sense in the same person.

I find both authors to be rather too much full of themselves, however. John Wood does not seem like a pleasant person to live or to work with. I was particularly bothered by his abrupt decision to drop all commitments both to his co-workers and to his girlfriend, with whom he was ostensibly serious enough not only to live with but to follow when her job moved her to China. No attempt to work things out, to give her time to adjust to the radical idea and catch his vision -- just "my way or the highway" (never mind that his way was the highway). No giving his employer a reasonable amount of time to find a replacement and make a smooth transition -- just "Goodbye."

But one does not have to be good in all aspects of life to accomplish good things, even great things. And it may be said that full-of-yourself, aggressive personalities are much better at getting certain types of things done. Wood (and Mortenson, recent problems notwithstanding) certainly have done/are doing amazing work.

Comment #3627

2012-12-28T22:07:10Z

Well done! I await your thoughts on Leaving Microsoft. I am curious as to how you would compare it to Mortenson's books. I found I liked Mr. Wood's book better, perhaps because he seemed more organized, I'm not sure. It's been awhile.

Sarah