Stephen A. Schwarzmann, co-founder and former CEO of Blackstone–the investment firm that manages over $500 billion in assets–captured my attention in What It Takes when he figured out how to get Little Anthony and the Imperials to perform at his High School. This was 1963 and Schwarzman had no money. But, he devised a way to lure the group who sang “Tears On My Pillow” from Brooklyn to Philadelphia for an unforgettable event. This incident caused Schwarzman to conclude: “It’s as easy to do something big as it is to do something small, so reach for a fantasy worthy of your pursuit, with rewards commensurate to your effort.” (p. 351)

What makes What It Takes different from most books by billionaires, is that Schwarzman’s stories are mostly about his failures. He wants to get into Harvard, but they don’t accept him (perhaps because he was Jewish). Schwarzman ends up at Yale and immediately makes waves. Later, Schwarzman begins his career in the investment field and stumbles badly…and almost gets fired! This leads Schwarzman to conclude: “Failure is the best teacher in an organization. Talk about failures openly and objectively. Analyze what went wrong. You will learn new rules for decision making…and [be] more successful in the future.” (p. 354)

I’m impressed by Schwarzman’s philanthropy. He gave millions to MIT for a new Artificial Intelligence school. He gave $150 million to Oxford University. He set up Schwarzman’s Scholars (an updated version of Rhodes Scholarships) at Tsinghua University in China. Clearly, Schwarzman is a guy who wants to give back. I’m willing to bet you’ll find What It Takes as inspiring as I did! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Made, Not Born 1
Remove the Obstacles
Go Big 11
Everything Is Interconnected 31
Hold the Table: Advice on Interviews 53
The Best Way to Learn Is by Doing 57
All Deals Are Crises 67
Money Is a Poor Cure for a Bad Situation 75
Pursue Worthy Fantasies
The Harder the Problem, the More Limited the Competition 91
Call, Then Keep Calling 105
Go Where Others Aren’t 115
Don’t Miss the Can’t Miss Opportunities 125
Cycles: Investing Through Ups and Downs 143
There Are No Brave, Old People in Finance 147
Don’t Lose Money!!! Developing an Investment Process 157
Spinning the Wheel Faster 161
Seeing Around Corners
Expand 171
Ask for Help When You Need It 189
Entrepreneurship: No One Tells You About the Pain 199
Listen for Discordant Notes 203
Time Wounds All Deals 213
Load the Boat 221
Sprinting Downfield
Be a Friend to the Situation 239
Turn Crisis into Opportunity 263
Engage 283
Answer When Your Country Calls 305
Spin the Virtuous Cycle 325
A Mission to Be the Best 337
Epilogue 345
25 Rules for Work and Lite 351
Acknowledgments 355
Index 369

Patrick and Katie both have Ninja blenders and love the power and versatility of their units. So when Diane decided to make a Peach Pound Cake which required the peaches to be pureed, our children recommended that we buy a Ninja blender.

Diane and I did some online research and in general the reviews by users of Ninja blenders were positive. However, the problem we encountered was that most of the stores in Western New York didn’t have any Ninja blenders in stock.

Fortunately, when Diane and I were walking around our local Sam’s Club a few days later, Diane spotted a group of Ninja blenders on a shelf in the rear of the store. After examining our choices, Diane decided on the Ninja Professional blender. Other units had more features, more buttons, and more elaborate parts, but Diane just wanted a basic blender. We bought it, took it home, and gave our new Ninja blender a workout. I made a Chocolate Milk Shake…delicious! The next day, Diane pureed the peaches and made the yummy Peach Pound Cake. If you’re looking for a blender, we’d recommend the Ninja Professional. Do you like your blender? GRADE: A

In my relentless quest to get as many doctor’s appointments and procedures accomplished before everything shuts down again, I scheduled a Covid-19 test. The Covid-19 test was required before I could have my colonoscopy (scheduled for August 25). I chose the Covid-19 testing site at Sister’s Hospital in Buffalo because the tests are processed in the Hospital’s lab. Results are usually available in 24 hours. I expect my results to be negative since I rarely leave my house.

I debated over postponing my colonoscopy until 2021. But, in the end, I decided that since Western NY’s coronavirus rate is less than 1% right now, why delay? So Monday I’ll be drinking my Gatorade and Miralax to purge my digestive tract. Tuesday, I’m the first patient in for my colonoscopy (7 A.M). Then, a day of sleeping off Happy Drugs. How are you dealing with doctors and procedures during this pandemic? Are you going to get a Covid-19 test?

Back in the early 1970s, ACE Books started publishing a series of books called “Science Fiction From the Great Years.” The series comprised 15 titles (see the list below) before the series was terminated. I have many of these books, but my favorites are Frederik Pohl and Carol Pohl’s Science Fiction: The Great Years (1973) both Volume 1 and Volume 2. Today I’m just focused on Volume One. A good chunk of this anthology is “And Then There Were None by Eric Frank Russell. This short novel displays Russell’s dark side in contrast with his humorous SF stories. I enjoyed Frederic Brown’s “Placet is a Crazy Place.”

Perhaps the best known story in this anthology is C. M. Kornbluth’s classic, “The Little Black Bag.” It still chills me after multiple readings. If you’re looking for an excellent SF collection, I highly recommend Science Fiction: The Great Years, Volume 1. I’ll be reviewing Volume 2 soon. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

“Introduction the First — 7

“And Then There Were None — Eric Frank Russell (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1951) 13

“The Liberation of Earth” — William Tenn (FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION, 1953) 102

“Old Faithful” — Raymond Z. Gallun (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1934) 124

“Placet Is a Crazy Place” — Fredric Brown (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1946) 173

“Wings of the Lightning Land” — James MacCreigh (ASTONISHING STORIES, 1941) 193

“The Little Black Bag” — C. M. Kornbluth (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1950) 235

“A Matter of Form” — H. L. Gold. ( ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1938) 271

SCIENCE FICTION FROM THE GREAT YEARS Series:

Armageddon 2419 A.D., Philip Francis Nowlan (1972, 192 pages, $0.75)
The Mightiest Machine, John W. Campbell (1972, 217 pages, $0.95)
The Moon Is Hell, John W. Campbell (1973, 255 pages, $0.75)
Alien Planet, Fletcher Pratt (1973, 189 pages, $0.75)
Science Fiction: The Great Years, Volume I, edited by Frederik Pohl & Carol Pohl (1973, 349 pages, $1.25)
The Brain-Stealers, Murray Leinster (1974, 177 pages, $1.50)
Metropolis, Thea von Harbou (1975, 222 pages, $1.25)
The Galaxy Primes, Edward E. ‘Doc’ Smith (1976, 238 pages, $1.25)
The Radio Planet, Ralph Milne Farley (1976, 297 pages, $1.50)
Science Fiction: The Great Years, Volume II, edited by Frederik Pohl & Carol Pohl (1976, 276 pages, $1.50)
A Brand New World, Ray Cummings (1976, 205 pages, $1.25)
The Ultimate Weapon, John W. Campbell (1976, 123 pages, $1.25)
The Radio Beasts, Ralph Milne Farley (1976, 231 pages, $1.50)
Sentinels from Space, Eric Frank Russell (1976, 244 pages, $1.50)
The Blind Spot, Austin Hall & Homer Eon Flint (1976, 346 pages, $1.75)

Once again I have to question some of these song selections as “Classic Rock.” “American Pie” shows up on yet another compilation. I’m not sure I would consider Pilot’s “Magic” a Classic Rock hit. The same goes for Andy Kim’s “Rock Me Gently.”

Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B

Tracklist 

Ghost Story is the 13th book in the Harry Dresden series. This is an odd book because Dresden, a Wizard and Private Investigator, wakes up at the beginning of the book as a ghost who can’t use his magical powers. Dresden nearly gets erased from Existence while he tries to figure out how being a ghost works. And, because of the events that led to Dresden transitioning to a ghostly state, he has to return to Earth to find out how it happened and why. If Dresden fails, three of his friends will be in danger.

At times, Ghost Story presents humorous situations as Dresden tries to communicate with his friends. But things turn serious as Dresden discovers a massive plot by supernatural forces to attack Chicago. And, one of Dresden’s old enemies returns to haunt him!

Clearly Jim Butcher was in the mood for a change-of-pace novel. In addition, Butcher provides more back story of how Harry Dresden became a Wizard which makes for compelling reading. GRADE: B

I read Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country back in 2016 (you can read my review here). While I was reading Lovecraft Country, I thought: “This would make a great TV series.” And, lo and behold, four years later we have the HBO series Lovecraft Country. HBO’s advertising of the program says:  “Atticus Freeman joins up with his friend Letitia and his Uncle George to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father. This begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.”

After only one episode, it’s hard to form a definitive opinion, but Lovecraft Country follows Matt Ruff’s novel fairly closely. The characters face terrible racist attacks and then contend with horrors beyond their imagination. If the next few episodes follow the novel, more Lovecraftian terrors will emerge to threaten Tic, Letitia, and George. And, I’ll be watching. GRADE: A- (provisional grade)

What’s Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want is subtitled “125 Recipes for Real Life.” With the Coronavirus Pandemic, Diane and I have been cooking and baking more than we ever have. This new cookbook features plenty of yummy recipes: “Banana Bread Pancakes,” “Double Chocolate Chip Muffins,” “Heirloom Tomato & Steak Caprese,” “Chipotle Charizo Mac ‘n’ Cheese,” “White Win Chile Flake Pasta,” “Margherita Pizza,” “Bacon Cheddar & Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwich,” and I could go on and on.

My only quibble is the lack of dessert recipes–but we have plenty of those from other cookbooks. Diane and I found the recipes easy to follow–no exotic ingredients. The results of all the recipes we tried turned out delicious! Only a 100 to go! Gaby Dalkin provides NO nutrition information in this book, but maybe she does on her web site. If you’re looking for a cookbook with easy, tasty recipes then I recommend What’s Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want. GRADE: A-

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Chapter 1 The Most Important Meal of the Day 10

Chapter 2 All About That Snack Life 36

Entertaining: Make a Mezze 54

Chapter 3 Eat Your Greens 66

Chapter 4 Soul Mate: Carbs 96

Entertaining: Throw an Outdoor Bash 130

Chapter 5 When in Doubt… Vacation 142

Chapter 6 So Easy Even Thomas Can Do It 170

Chapter 7 Sides: The Best Part of Any Meal 190

Entertaining: Host a Taco Night 212

Chapter 8 If At First You Don’t Succeed, Have Dessert 224

Chapter 9 Sauces Make the Meal 248

Acknowledgments 258

Index 260