User Profile

I wanted to hate this book. I really felt like it was going to be preachy and single noted. In the end it overpowered me with excellent story telling, a very powerful grasp of history and very evenly stated rationality. It definitely has a perspective, but it is not trying to convince you as much as state the facts and allow you to decide. I ended up really liking this one despite myself.

Loved this. I had heard the Pixar story previously as the story of John Laseter, but knew little of Ed Catmul, who was a tech guy who turned into the steward of a creative empire. Lots of interesting tidbits from his interactions with Steve Jobs and the early days of the PC industry. Also, some great tips on what does and does not make for a successful creative endeavour.

I really liked this one. It has a lot of the author in the story. She pulls you into the events and the research she did for this book and makes it all very personal. She takes an even handed look at all of the issues surrounding these furry critters and does not beat you over the head with an environmental message. In fact, the sadest part of the book is learning that the fur trade is dying off. At the same time, she is able to explain in a very detailed way why we need to live with Beavers and alternatives to simply treating them like pests when they conflict with humans.