Business Ethics For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

Limited value, April 7, 2011

This is more of an ivory-tower primer on philosophical ethics than a down-and-dirty guide to the real world of business ethics. Yes, Bowie cites lots of examples from mass media reporting, but I didn’t see any evidence the author ever ran a business himself. The good: he isn’t too preachy and offers both sides of most issues, and if you truly have no concept of business ethics, this book would be a worthwhile starting point. But I’d rather read a version by a grizzled veteran of the business wars than a lifelong academic and doctor of philosophy.

Birds of the Puget Sound Region (Regional Bird Books)

Better than others I’ve seen, April 6, 2011

Some bird books are good for identifying species but offer little in the way of behavior, diet, habitat, voice, etc. This book has all of that, plus a nice “did you know…” tidbit on each bird. It’s pocket-sized, fits in the palm of one hand and has photos (not drawings) of many variations (differences for gender and immature). Ideal for a beginner like me.

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain

Thought-provoking and accessible, April 1, 2011

“Incognito” raises as many new questions as it answers, striking a perfect balance for the murky field of brain science. He opens doors of wonder while offering fresh and sometimes surprising perspectives on who’s really inside your head. Loved it. His writing is as clear as Carl Sagan’s, but with more humor. He covers what could be a dense subject with a quick and easy style. One complaint: My advance copy had weak, small illustrations that gave a cheap, slapped-together feel to the presentation. Eagleman’s words deserve better.