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  • Untitled

"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell 

4/27/2013

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Title: Outliers: The Story of Success
Author: Malcolm Gladwell 
Genre:     
Pages: 336
Date published: 2011
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommended: Yes!


                This book, as its title suggests, is all about outliers; in this case, the author is referring to the people in society that stand out because of some remarkable accomplishment or quality that sets them apart. You probably already know some of Malcolm Gladwell’s subjects, such as Bill Gates and The Beatles, but he also brings some lesser-known “outliers” to the reader’s attention who have equally impressive stories.

                 Although I originally had to read this book for my Organizational Behavior class here at BC, my entire class loved it, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about understanding how we can come to achieve success, and how we have gotten to where we are today.

            After reading the novel, my professor asked us all to ask ourselves who has helped us reach the success we have achieved so far in our lives. Once we had written down who those people were, he suggested that we all write them a letter to thank them, to show our appreciation for their important roles in our lives.

            In the end, that is the take-away from Gladwell’s novel: we must all recognize that people do not rise to success purely by their own efforts and actions. While individual motivation and skill play a large role in outstanding success stories, Gladwell points out time and time again that the most significant factor in success stories is the external environment, circumstances, and support that a person receives along the way.



Review by Kristie Dickinson, CSOM '14


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"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

2/27/2013

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Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
# pages: 464
Date published: 2009
Rating: 4 out of 5stars
Would you recommend it? Yes!


This heart-warming novel is a story about the help—a contingent of black maids raising white children in Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights turmoil of the 1960s. Aside from its central focus on racial tensions during this time, it is also a story of unexpected friendship and love. Told from the perspectives of Aibileen and Minnie, two maids in Jackson, along with Skeeter, a young white woman who doesn’t quite fit in, The Help will have you laughing, crying, and wishing you had Minnie’s caramel cake recipe. From the delicious southern comfort food, to the scandalous drama within the upper-class social circles, there is always some action to maintain your attention.

While the recent film adaptation of the novel was relatively well done, even people who have already seen the movie will enjoy this book. As with most novel-based films, there are several scenes worth reading that were not included in the script. There is hardly a dull moment throughout the plotline, especially when the horrible Hilly Holbrook is involved.

As someone who has not studied much about the civil rights movement, I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book where historical events and critical social issues of the era were interwoven in a way that wouldn’t bore me to tears. So, if you’re looking for a fairly light read with a feel-good ending, The Help is just the kind of book you need!




Review by Kristie Dickinson, CSOM '14

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"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein

12/4/2012

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Title: The Art of Racing in the Rain
Author: Garth Stein
Genre(s): Fiction
# pages: 320
Date published: 2008
Rating (out of 5 stars): 4 stars
Suggested tags: Quick Read, Fiction
Would you recommend it? Yes!

Do you ever wish you could read your dog’s mind? Well, The Art of Racing in the Rain finally gives you an inside look. Enzo, the prime pooch of this heart-warming story, tells it all from his perspective, from puppy-hood to old age. He is raised by his master Denny, a racecar driver, along with his wife, Eve, and daughter, Zoe, in their Seattle home. Although he is “just” a pet, Enzo truly is a fourth member of the family. Even through a birth, a death, a debilitating illness, and a crippling court case, Enzo is unwaveringly loyal to them all. Stein weaves a truly bittersweet tale that will have you reaching for tissues at times, but smiling by the story’s end.
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You don’t have to be a dog owner to enjoy this book, though! It is hard not to fall in love with Denny and Enzo, a dynamic duo both at home and on the racetrack. While the dramatic parts of the plotline can be tearjerkers, the story has many more happy moments than sad ones. Enzo is extremely intelligent, and his philosophies are well thought-out and pretty darn funny. I loved his outlook on a dog’s life after death, which he learned from watching a documentary on television. (It certainly makes you wonder what your own dog is learning from shows you tune into on TV…) All in all, if you’re a dog lover and you have the need for a speed-read, you will not be disappointed.

Review by Kristie Dickinson, CSOM '14                  Illustration by Patrick Hughes, A&S '14
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"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

9/13/2012

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Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author
: Ray Bradbury
Genre
: Science Fiction
Number of pages
: 179
Year published
: 1953
Rating
: 4 stars (out of 5)

Imagine a world where firemen start the fires instead of putting them out, the roads have speed minimums instead of speed limits, and libraries are not only non-existent, but they are also illegal. Fahrenheit 451 follows the life of Guy Montag, a “fireman” in this future world who starts to feel lost in a society where his job is to burn books and everything around him suddenly seems empty and meaningless. Technology permeates every aspect of his life, from the firehouse watchdog, to the mechanical toaster that automatically butters his bread every morning.

He never questioned it—never imagined life any other way—until he meets a young girl named Clarisse, and she opens his eyes to a new perspective of the world around him. Curiosity overcomes him, and he begins to steal novels from the houses he burns, to see what books like The Bible are all about. The journey that ensues is captivating, and offers an insightful underlying commentary on the direction society is headed today.

I don’t read much science fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read—it only took me a few days to finish. All my friends told me it was one of their favorites in high school, so I had to check it out, and I’m glad I did. I especially enjoyed the Afterword and Coda by Bradbury, where he goes on to explain alternate endings and post-novel lives of the main characters that he never officially wrote into the book. (Note: I think they are only included in editions published after 1979). I would definitely recommend it, especially for those of us who couldn’t imagine life without literature. This one is for the book lovers!

Review by Kristie Dickinson, CSOM '13


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