Are The Discworld Books Overrated?

Terry Pratchett is one of the most famous British writers and his Discworld series has been read by millions. He has been praised by many as one of the funniest writers and master of the fantasy genre. His books have been hailed as literary classics and it has even been said that Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Might Be The Highest Form of Literature on the Planet. So naturally hearing such praise (and being a fan of Douglas Adams and fantasy), I gave it a go. While I found them enjoyable, I wasn’t blown away. They were good but nothing great. So, I thought maybe I was missing something and wasn’t appreciating him fully (Pratchett hardly has critics so the problem must … Continue reading “Are The Discworld Books Overrated?”

March 24, 2017BooksBad, Books, Characters, Disappointing, Discworld, Ending, Opinion, Overrated, Plot, Pratchett, Review, Terry Pratchett, Women Leave a comment

What Went Wrong With The Gentlemen Bastard Series?

When The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch was released in 2006 it was a massive hit. Not only did it become a bestseller, but it is also considered something of a modern classic. It won high praise and Lynch was counted among the most promising writers in the fantasy field, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss and Joe Abercrombie. This was an amazing achievement for a first novel, so expectations were high for the rest of the series. Did we have a new classic before us? Yet, the follow-up books were something of a disappointment. Instead of soaring high, the rest of the series went downhill. Complaints began to pile up about … Continue reading “What Went Wrong With The Gentlemen Bastard Series?”

March 15, 2017EconomicsBook Review, Books, Gentlemen Bastard, Gentlemen Bastards, Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies, Review, Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Republic of Thieves Leave a comment

Predictably Irrational Chapter 3 – The Cost Of Zero Cost

To a neo-classical economist zero is just another price. To the average consumer it brings the magical connotations of free. We are always trying to get something for nothing so if something is free then consumers impulsively take the option. Ariely shows how this impulse comes with hidden costs that debunk the myth of rational consumers. Whether it’s from eating too much free food or accumulating worthless free pens, clickers etc, people are always trying to get a free lunch. As usual (this is what is so great about the book) Ariely did an experiment to find the answer (neo-classical economists take note). He set up a stall with offering (one per customer) two piles of chocolates, the first being … Continue reading “Predictably Irrational Chapter 3 – The Cost Of Zero Cost”

January 14, 2013EconomicsBehavioural Economics, Books, Economics, Free, Predictably Irrational, Review, Zero Cost Leave a comment

How Rich Countries Got Rich . . . And Why Poor Countries Stay Poor

I have just finished reading How Rich Countries Got Rich . . . And Why Poor Countries Stay Poor by Erik Reinert. The book is interesting for it engages what should be the main question of economics, why are some countries rich and other countries poor? This crucial question is woefully under researched and barely discussed in mainstream economics. I have completed two years of economics study in university without yet having heard an explanation for this phenomenon. Reinert’s main argument is that the wealth of a nation is based upon the economic activities it specialises in. Poor countries are poor because they specialise in agriculture and the production of raw materials. This is an economic dead end as it … Continue reading “How Rich Countries Got Rich . . . And Why Poor Countries Stay Poor”

July 1, 2012BooksBook, Books, Comparative Advantage, Development, Economic Theory, Economics, Economy, Free Trade, History, poverty, Protectionism, Review, Wealth Leave a comment