Debt Free for Life (Canadian Edition) by David Bach

Sometimes a good financial planner is also a cheeseball. In this best-selling book, David Bach provides some very good advice on how to become debt free. Unfortunately, this common sense approach is often undermined by a writing style that is (how can I put it) akin to a 16-year-old girl writing in her diary about the cute boys in class. Other parts of the book, meanwhile, sound like an informercial, as various sections contain "testimonials" from readers about how great Bach's lessons are. This reader feedback is then interspersed with semi-regular sales pitches on how you can buy some of his other books, such as his highly popular work The Automatic Millionaire.

To give you an example, Bach REALLY likes to write the occasional word in CAPITAL letters in order to make it clear that his point is really IMPORTANT. This "cute" technique -- it would be a bit cruel to call it "childish" -- often gets in the way of an otherwise sensible book. While not ground breaking, Bach provides a lot of useful tips on how to lower and eventually eliminate your debt, including: how to fix your credit score; how to negotiate with credit card companies about lowering your interest rate; how to pay off your mortgage quicker; and how to find a good debt counsellor that can help with any serious debt repayment problems. True, a lot of this advice is common knowledge and can be found elsewhere, but by putting all of these tips in a single book the reader can use it as a workbook to help them reduce their debt.

It is clear from reading this book that Bach has transformed himself into a product and that he can't help but market himself.  Make no mistake, this book is the literary equivalent of an infomercial that is selling debt-counselling advice. In fact, at certain points, one almost expects to see a 1-800 number at the bottom of the page accompanied by a two-for-one special that will give the reader a special gift (but only if the readers acts now by buying another of Bach's books). That being said, it is also true that this book contains a lot of common sense, and that it can be quite useful for anyone who is having problems getting their financial house in order. So before we make too much fun of this REALLY IMPORTANT book that will help you become DEBT FREE FOR LIFE we should also recognize that it does contain a lot of good advice.

3 out of 5 stars

The RESP Book by Mike Holman

Mike Holman has produced a very useful handbook that explains the intricacies of Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs). From how much money can be invested into an RESP, to how much grant money an account can receive from the Government of Canada, to excellent tax advice on how to withdraw money once the RESP beneficiary enrols in a post-secondary institution. What happens if the beneficiary decides not to have a post-secondary education? This book clearly explains the consequences of this scenario, while offering good advice on how to minimize your tax bill and any penalties.

This easy-to-read book should be studied by anyone who wants to open up a RESP for a child, young relative or family friend. Its practical advice (which can easily be digested in an afternoon) provides great tips that can be used for the entire life of an RESP account.

4 out of 5 stars

Financial First Aid for Canadian Investors by Michael Graham, Bryan Snelson and Cindy David

Imagine that you are at a dinner party and a guest starts talking in a slightly annoying voice. Given that you are interested in the subject matter -- i.e. how to improve your investment portfolio -- you ignore the awkward speech and concentrate on what is being said. After about 10 minutes, you must admit that the speaker knows what he is talking about, and that some of his advice is quite useful. As the evening progresses, however, you can't overlook the occasional cliché, nor hide the fact that your fellow guest sometimes sounds like a professor reading a dictionary. At the conclusion of the evening, while driving home, you recall some of the insights that you heard, and agree that the speaker made several excellent points. But then you remember the annoying voice, his sometimes rambling babble, and those weird moments when he would refer to himself in the third person.

Reading this book is a little like listening to such a dinner guest. On the plus side, Financial First Aid offers many great tips on how to improve as an investor. From what questions to ask when picking a financial advisor, to a good summary of the different strategies that an investor should engage in when buying stocks, bonds, insurance and other financial products, there are many useful parts to this book. I also appreciated the chapters that outline the common errors that investors make, the strong tips on how to research a company, and the practical summary on what fees investors have to pay when investing, and how to minimize these fees.

This good advice, however, is undermined by an occasionally annoying writing style. In too many parts, the text reads like a newsletter rather than a book, which is made worse by a weird tendency of the authors to refer to themselves in the third person. I understand that the use of the third person is sometimes necessary when a book is written by multiple authors, but when overdone (as in this case), the result is a tone that comes across as part-cocky and part-schizoid.

If you want to read a useful book that contains practical advice for the Canadian investor then this is a good choice. But if you do read this book, be prepared to be annoyed by the occasional boilerplate statement, some chapters that read more like a power point presentation than a book, and the overuse of the third person.

3 out of 5 stars

Stop Working, Here's How You Can by Derek Foster

Want to retire at 34? Investor Derek Foster found a way to do so by investing in solid, dividend-paying stocks. The story of how he managed to quit working at an age when some people are only starting their careers is a fun read. It also helps that the book is written in an informal, easy to read style that contains several good investment tips.

Among the book's many attributes are the following: good advice on how to research companies before investing in them; strong suggestions for which companies to invest in; a clear explanation of why it is so important to have dividend paying stocks in your portfolio; and interesting insights into how taxes work. (In a nutshell, the book explains how income from dividends or capital gains attracts a much lower tax rate than employment or tax income. The book therefore argues that one should rely as much as possible on investment income in order to pay less tax).

After reading this book I was left with a high opinion of this author. Some further research, however, led me to discover some things that were quite ironic. For instance, this book, which was published in 2005, strongly argues for the buy-and-hold approach to stock investing, i.e. one should NEVER sell their stocks once purchased. Nevertheless, in February 2009, Derek Foster broke his own rule by selling all of his stocks in order to move to cash. As well, his original philosophy of buying dividend stocks and then holding them forever was a little misleading, as he also owned Income Trusts which are a different beast than large-cap companies that pay dividends.

As the warning at the beginning of this book makes clear, one should not take the advice in this book literally. On further reflection, one can find problems with the investing advice that is being espoused. That being said, as a purveyor of strong general concepts of how to invest, this is a good book that provides a lot of valuable suggestions, and for that reason it is worth the read.

4 out of 5 stars

What Color is your Parachute? (For Retirement) by Richard N. Bolles and John E. Nelson

Saving for retirement is often presented as a strictly financial question. In this interesting book, the authors make the point that a happy retirement contains multiple elements, (e.g. where you plan to live; how to have strong friendships; what hobbies / activities will you continue to do once you retire) that should also be taken into account along with financial concerns.

Notwithstanding the strong thesis of the authors, as I am only 36 and nowhere near retirement, I skimmed through the more "holistic" parts of the book and concentrated on the sections that deal with financial advice, in particular the first six chapters. In a very convincing discussion, the book begins by pointing out that the traditional pillars of retirement -- i.e. social security, employer pension plans and personal savings -- are becoming increasingly wobbly. The metaphor that is used is of a formerly solid three-legged stool whose legs are consistently being cut-out from underneath. Though this book is from the United States, this analysis will ring true for many Canadians.

This book offers good advice on how to better prepare for retirement in the future. This includes suggestions on how to become a more efficient saver, to tips on how to avoid many of the marketing tricks that are used in the retirement "industry".

4 out of 5 stars

Smoke and Mirrors by David Trahair

This is an excellent book that should be read by all Canadians who are interested in saving for retirement. Offering practical and straightforward advice, David Trahair tackles several myths that are put forward by the financial industry. Among the most important is the ubiquitous mantra that you should: a) start making RRSP contributions as young as possible; and b) maximize your contributions throughout your life. However, as convincingly argued out in the book, this strategy has important financial consequences that could actually cost you money by the time you retire. That is why instead of maximizing your RRSPs, the author advocates a strategy of optimization, i.e. calculate the right amount of money that you should put away in RRSPs, and then use the rest to pay down such things as consumer debt.

Another good section of the book explains why tax shelters can often cause more harm than good, and why trying to escape the tax man can sometimes be counter-productive. Then there is the discussion on why you may not need as much money as you think to retire, as well as an excellent chapter on why paying down your mortgage quicker is something that all homeowners should do. Some people, the author notes, think that by cutting down on restaurants, lattes or indulgences they can add to their bottom line. In reality, paying down your mortgage faster is not only a better move economically, but it could also allow you to continue enjoying the little things in life.

With practical exercises and honest advice this book is a must read. I throuroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

This book could have been brilliant. Similar to the classic Aesop's Fables, this collection of short stories contains a series of tales involving animals. Written with wonderful humour and at times brilliant insight, this book -- like the famous stories of Aesop -- is a study of human nature told through the form of animals. One story that particularly stands out is "Squirrel seeks chipmunk," which not only serves as the title of the book, but also offers a delightful analysis on relationships, and how the reality of past romances can turn into myth in our own heads with the passage of time.

Unfortunately, the brilliance contained in this book starts to fade by the end. For instance, in "The Grieving Owl," the second last story in the book, the narration devolves into sheer stupidity. Instead of insight, we are left with juvenile scatological humour -- and not even funny scatological jokes at that -- that undermine the first few wonderful stories. This lamentable progression soured me on this collection and left me shaking my head in disappointment. This could have been a delightful book, which is why the final portion was so upsetting.

3 out of 5 stars

Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin

Among the impoverished clans of the Uplands are people with wondrous gifts. Some have the power to twist a limb, others to destroy living things, and then there are those who can call animals on a whim. These magical clans, however, live in desolate farms, while being under constant fear that their neighbours may use their gifts again them.

In this bleak world, two young people who have been friends since childhood decide not to use their gifts. The first is a boy, who decides to wear a blindfold in order to prevent his eyes, which can kill with a mere look, to see the light of day. The other, a girl, refuses to use her power to call on animals as she doesn’t want to participate in her village’s hunt. In this wonderful story by a master of science fiction, we learn how it’s possible to forego power, while being reminded of the difficulty of growing up.

4 out of 5 stars

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Three members of a family of four are murdered by a man named Jack. Before he can kill the final member (who is a young toddler), the little boy escapes from the house and toddles up a hill to a graveyard. The spirits who live in the graveyard are surprised to see a child in their midst, but sensing that something is wrong decide to take action. Following a flurry of discussion, a childish ghost couple adopt the boy and call him Nobody. Thus begins the story of Nobody Owens, a little boy who is raised in a graveyard while hiding from the man who has set out to kill him.

Nobody, or Bod for short, lives a strange existence among ghosts, supernatural creatures and other peculiar characters. As he grows up in this surreal environment, he begins to build friendships with the dead, living and those who are neither. In time, he not only learns how to read and write, but also how to fade away so he can't be seen, as well as how to haunt the living. Amidst this strange upbringing, he begins to track the man who tried to murder him, and in the process discover the secret of why he was almost killed.

This highly original novel by the creator of the Sandman comic book series, won the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best Young Adult novel, among other prizes. It is exquisitely written and a joy to read. That being said, if I had one complaint it's that I felt that the story ending was a tad forced. This relatively small bump, however, can be overlooked from what is in general an excellent work of fiction.

4 out of 5 stars

Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling

This could have been an excellent novel. The story begins with a strange electrical storm that causes all electrical devices -- radios, cars, televisions, telephones, appliances, computers etc. -- to stop working. In the ensuing chaos, a group of survivors in Oregon begin to adapt to the new "medieval" reality, as they adjust to a world in which modern civilization has collapsed.

While some people are seeking to create farming collectives to survive, others decide to raise armies in order to take control off the  newly formed farms. These parallel developments lead inexorably to conflict and at times a captivating tale.

Unfortunately, Stirling couldn't help but fall in love with his own book, with the result that the reader is inundated with a tonne of unnecessary information. One of my favourite science fiction writers uses a technique called, "killing your babies." In effect, this technique teachers writers how to eliminate parts of a story that do not assist in advancing the narrative, but which the writer has difficulty in letting go because they have become so enamoured with their characters. Stirling should have used this technique in this book, and this novel is filled with a ton of screaming "babies" that should have been edited out from this book.

In a nutshell, this otherwise excellent story is undermined by countless pages of unnecessary description and rambling scenes. Far too often the reader has to plough through extraneous pages that should have been edited out. In fact, by the end of the book, finishing this novel had become painful as I was thoroughly bored with the book. Which is a shame, as this story had the makings of an excellent tale.

2 out of 5 stars

Rasl: The Drift by Jeff Smith

A bruised, beaten man stumbles across a desert, as the boiling sun hovers overhead. Mumbling about the "drift", the man suddenly appears on a window ledge of an an apartment. We then discover that the man is an art thief, as he breaks into the apartment to steal a Picasso painting. As the story unfolds, we learn that the man is called Rasl, and that the "drift" is a way to travel between parallel worlds.

Being the opening volume of a comic book series, the reader is left with a flood of questions: Where did Rasl come from? Why is he being chased by a strange looking man who is following him from parallel universe to parallel universe? Who is Rasl working for? This opening graphic novel does not answer these questions, but it's intriguing story line does leave the reader with the desire to pick up subsequent issues in order to find out what the answers are.

3 out of 5 stars

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

This science fiction classic is a brilliant book. When the story opens, we are introduced to Charlie Gordon, a mentally challenged man who is about to undergo an operation to increase his intelligence. As the novel progresses, we watch Charlie make remarkable progress in a very short period of time, as his experimental treatment leads him to a genius-level IQ.

His increased intelligence, however, comes at a steep price, as he quickly discovers that many of his so called "friends" from his earlier life where in reality making fun of his mental handicap, while the doctors who are responsible for his treatment see him as a mere human version of Algernon, the laboratory mouse that was first experimented on before the human trial. Amidst this existential angst, Charlie discovers the mysterious of love, the uncertainty of being human, and -- by the end of the book -- utter fear as he learns that his newfound intelligence is destined to dwindle away.

This book is a stunning literary work that deserves its title as a modern classic. With an innovative style and unforgettable characters, Daniel Keys has created a story that readers won't soon forget. This book is a great read for anybody who loves literature, not just science fiction fans.

5 out of 5 stars

The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

One of the most delightful literary works that I have recently stumbled across is the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Set in Botswana, the adventures of Precious Ramotswe not only present an uplifting vision of Africa, but also tell the stories of a wonderful set of characters that are positive, kindhearted and interesting.

That it why I was so disappointed with this dud of a book, which is the fifth installment in the series. To begin with, the main mystery to be solved (i.e. a rich woman hires Precious to check on the backgrounds of some possible suitors for marriage) is a bit ho-hum. The character development and story flow, meanwhile, lacks the sparkle that made the earlier books such a gem to read.

Now it is true that certain parts of the book are enjoyable, such as Mma Potokwane's unconventional idea of having a fundraiser for her Orphan Farm through a parachute jump. With great skill, Mma Potokwane is able to convince Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni into jumping from an airplane, only to have Rra Matekoni (through the clever assistance of Precious) convince his older apprentice to jump in his place. Then there is the question of when Mr. Matekoni will finally marry Precious after such a long engagement.

These flashes of fun, however, are undermined by a book that is, to be frank, a bit dull. Not much happens in this fifth installment of the series, making it by far the weakest novel of the first five. When I finished reading this book, I couldn't help but compare it to a poor episode of an otherwise excellent TV series. In other words, I definitely won't "watch" this book as a "re-run," but I will certainly continue with the rest of the series.

2 1/2 of out 5 stars

Another Day by Harvey Pekar

A few years ago I watched the film American Splendor, an intelligent and award-winning biopic on the life of Harvey Pekar, who is best-known as the creator of the comic book series of the same name. Starring Paul Giamatti as Harvey, the film introduced me (as well as tens of thousands of other people) to this groundbreaking comic book series.

I always intended to read American Splendor, but for one reason or the other (e.g. work, travel, reading other books) I always put it off. Finally, after several years, I picked up a copy of Pekar's Ego and Hubris, a work that is not related to American Splendor but which I simply loved. This book inspired me to go to my local library where I picked up Another Day, which contains a series of short-stories, sometimes only 2-3 pages long, that are illustrated by different animators.

This collection of stories revolve around ordinary events in the life of Harvey Pekar in the aftermath of the release of the film American Splendour. Whether it is performing simple errands like going to the post office, listening to friends discuss their jobs, or driving through a snow storm to pick up his foster daughter Danielle, this book is an honest, unvarnished view of daily blue-collar life in Cleveland. What makes this comic so interesting, however, is how simple (some may even say mundane) events are transformed into high drama.

With that in mind, if I had one complaint with this book is that some of the stories were too short. Instead of letting the characters and situations breath, too often I felt like I was reading whimsical thoughts by Pekar that quickly disappeared into the air. On the other hand, reading this collection of stories made me realize why Pekar became an underground comics star so many years ago, and why he has received so much critical praise. It also convinced me to finally go and read the American Splendour series cover-to-cover.

3 out of 5 stars

The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith

Precious Ramotswe didn't know how to react when she first learned that a new detective agency had opened across town. It wasn't that she was against having competition (she was fine with that), no, it was the smug, arrogant and -- to be perfectly blunt -- sexist attitude of the new agency's male owner.

While having to face the condescending competition, Precious has to tackle a series of cases. There is the man who wants to make amends for his past sins, and who hires Botswana's leading female detective to help him do so. Then there is the wife who is convinced that her husband is cheating on her, which leads to a discovery that shocks the kindhearted Precious.

Amidst this detective work, Mma Makutsi, the earnest and bright assistant of Precious, conceives of the idea of opening up a typing school for men, where businessmen can learn the "secretarial" skill of typing (which is very useful for those who work with computers) while in the safe company of other men. With this entrepreneurial spirit, Mma Makutsi is able to overcome some of her financial hardships.

This is the fourth installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and like the previous three books I enjoyed this story a lot. That being said, if I had one complaint with this novel it is that it starts off fairly slow. In fact, by around page 40, I was starting to get bored. Soon after, however, I was drawn into the story, and was reminded why I enjoy this series so much. With simple (though clever) writing, McCall Smith discusses serious themes -- e.g. sexism, orphans, an indirect reference to the AIDS epidemic -- while presenting warm, intelligent and honest characters.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw

After 40-years of marriage, Maggie and David Loony inform their three adult children that they are getting a divorce. As part of a final reunion, the family gathers at their parents beach-side home for one last time. Dennis, the eldest of the three children, brings his wife and baby son. While trying to understand the reason for his parents' breakup, he ends up gaining insight into his own marriage. The middle-child Claire, meanwhile, struggles to assert her own identity after undergoing her own divorce, while raising her teenager daughter Jill, who is also at her grandparents house. Finally there is Peter, the youngest son, who is overcome by feelings of being an outcast, something he has felt all his life. To symbolize this feeling of being different, Peter's character is drawn with a frog's head. His feeling of alienation, however, is soon shaken up, when a chance encounter with a woman on the beach blossoms into an unexpected romance.

This graphic novel left me with mixed feelings. At its best, the story comes across as an incredibly honest portrayal of a family, to the point that parts of the book seem like you are flipping through an intimate photo album. Some panels are particularly moving, and certain stretches of the story contain beautiful artwork. On the downside, certain sections of the story felt like scenes from a pretentious art film, with overly dramatic landscape shots and panel combinations that seemed to sigh, "look at my, I'm so deep."

By the final stages of the novel, however, the positives started to outweigh the negatives. What started out as a shrug of my shoulders (especially in the beginning, when I felt very little connection to the characters, and some of the artwork came across as weak), soon changed into strong interest, as I eagerly turned page after page to see how the Loony family story would play out. To summarize, this story did not make a good first impression on me, but with each page that I turned (this graphic novel is more than 700-pages) the story got better and better, and the book was even more impressive when I re-read parts of the story line.

3 out of 5 stars

Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith

Precious Ramotswe knew something was wrong when her fiancé, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, stopped going to his garage, while mumbling about the horrible things that he had done in his life. Worried about this strange turn of events, Mma Ramotswe soon discovers that her beloved is suffering from depression, and that his condition is more complicated than she first thought.

While dealing with her love's unexpected problem, Precious is hired by a Government Man to investigate the allege poisoning of his brother, while her assistant detective, Mma Makutsi, is busy looking into the moral character of the final contestants in a beauty pageant. In the middle of these adventures, a strange boy is found in the wild, without a name or apparent family, which leads some to think that he may have been raised by a pack of animals.

In this third installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the reader is able to continue their "friendship" with Mma Ramotswe, the lovable proprietor of Botswana's only female detective agency. With positive and life affirming stories, this volume touches on such issues as mental illness, the abuse that some domestic workers undergo in Africa, and the ability of women to rise up in the traditionally male business world and be first-rate managers. While not as captivating as the first two books (which were very good) this novel is still quite enjoyable, with its heartwarming characters and excellent writing. By the end of the book, I wanted to continue reading the series, so I could find out more about life of the affable and kind Precious Ramotswe.

3 out of 5 stars

Empire by Orson Scott Card

I once knew a person who only watched movies that were rated two stars or less. From his perspective, a movie isn't a forum for engaging in serious discussion, but rather a simple form of entertainment that shouldn't be taken seriously. Using this viewpoint, I would hazard to guess that this person would have enjoyed this book.

Empire is a work of speculative fiction that asks the question, "if civil war were to break out in the United States between Conservatives and Liberals, what would it look like?" If you take this book seriously (something that I wouldn't recommend) then you run the risk of being pretty disappointed. On the other hand, if you ignore the political rants and enjoy the action, then this book is OK.

The novel revolves around two army officers, Major Malich and Captain Coleman, in the aftermath of a terrorist attack that leads to the assassination of the U.S. President, Vice-President, Secretary of Defence and several other people. Following these assassinations, a left-wing group led by a thinly-disguised George Soros takes over New York City and claims that it is the legitimate government of the United States. The resulting chaos leads to armed conflict and, depending on your point of view, a fast-paced action thriller, or a literary mess that contains mindless conservative babble.

In my opinion, this book has numerous, numerous flaws. First, the characters are so wooden you could crack them in half. Then there is the dialogue that comes straight out of a Rambo movie. The historical references, meanwhile, seem more like a high school essay than insightful analysis. On the plus side, I found the pace of the book quite good and the action very enjoyable, if you like big explosions and lots of shooting.

This book won't win Orson Scott Card a PhD in political science or history, nor is it a particularly believable vision of a civil war in the Unites States. What it does accomplish, however, is provide a fun action story that appeals to those who like video game-like entertainment.

2 out of 5 stars

Ego and Hubris: The Michael Malice Story by Harvey Pekar

Michael Malice is a self-obsessed, lazy, arrogant, elitist, self-righteous and possibly deluded ass with a persecution complex whose social skills are so bad he could pass off as a high-functioning autistic person. As for this graphic novel that is based on his life? It is downright brilliant.

Sometimes a book, graphic novel or TV show is so good that you forget that you are being told a story, and you start reacting emotionally to the characters as if they were engaging with you in real life. This comic by Harvey Pekar, the creator of the award-winning American Splendour, is a case in point.

Based on a true story, this graphic novel tells the story of Michael Malice, a highly-intelligent person who moved to Brooklyn from the Ukraine while still a boy. In the ensuing years, he shows an unusual brilliance. "I have a 160 I.Q., which is four deviations about the mean (or a higher I.Q. than 99.97% of the population)," Michael smugly tells the audience. "[This] means that there are 240 people who are smarter than me in New York City."

Michael is convinced that he is smarter than everyone else. "If I were the tallest kid, it would be regarded as a mere statement of fact," he assures us. "So I'm not sure why it's regarded as arrogance when I say I was smarter than everyone."

One could respond that he consistently confuses the word "fact" with "narcissism," but this wouldn't do any good, given that Michael is absolutely convinced that he is right about everything (and he means everything), while everyone else -- whether his teachers at his Jewish school, his professors in college, or later in adult life his bosses at various temps jobs -- are wrong. He justifies his stunning arrogance and general asshole behaviour by using the following logic: a) I am smarter than everyone else; b) what I think is therefore right; c) insisting on my own moral and intellectual superiority is showing integrity.

Oh yes, the word "integrity". For Michael, a life is not worth living if you don't have integrity. That is why it's so ironic that someone as smart as Michael -- who was a spelling bee champ as a child no less -- consistently confuses being a "self-obsessed prick" with the word "integrity".

Among his particularly loathsome acts:

* His complete lack of empathy when he discovers that a friend has committed suicide and decides to use this as part of a comedy skit. "[I]f you can make people howl about suicide and brain cancer than you are talented."

* His wish that terrorists had blown up the Goldman Sachs building instead of the twin towers on 9/11, after getting angry at how he was treated during a temp job at Goldman; and

* His pleasure in getting people fired (including one woman on her birthday) while engaging  in a skewed morality play in his head that is inspired by the libertarian philosophy of Ayn Rand.

Pekar's telling of Michael's life, along with the wonderful artwork of Gary Dumm, is true to its title, as this work really is the tale of a man with a huge ego and breathtaking hubris. That is why one of the most ironic passages in this graphic novel is when Michael decides to write the story of a country band called Rubber Rodeo. "You can't tell if the band is putting you on or if they think they look cool and are deluded," he muses, while looking at a picture of the band. "Who's kidding who? The viewer or the subject of the photograph?"

One could ask Michael the same question, as he consistently deludes himself into thinking that being selfish is a form of integrity, while using his libertarian politics to justify his profound sense of entitlement. I disliked this character so much I couldn't help but marvel at Pekar's incredible portrayal that garnered this reaction in me, while being impressed with the excellent artwork.

5 out 5 stars

White Light by Rudy Rucker

Felix Rayman is a frustrated mathematics teacher at a state college in New York. "Some fool or misanthrope had acronymed the college SUCAS," sighs Felix, as he has to face the reality of an unfulfilling academic career.

His home life, meanwhile, is no bed of roses either. "When I got home April would always be lying on the couch staring at the TV with the sound off," notes Felix, as he thinks about his wife. "She would just lie there in silence until I came over and asked how she was. The answer was always the same. She was pissed-off, fed-up, and dead sick of it all. The hick town, the constant baby care  (of their baby girl Iris), the shopping in sleazy chain stores, the problems with the car, what the neighbor lady had said today, and so on and on.'

Amid this unhappy mix, Felix keeps himself busy by trying to find a solution to Georg Cantor's continuum problem, while experimenting with lucid dreaming and fuzzy weed, i.e. marijuana. After visiting a local bookshop, where he discovers a strange pamphlet about a world called Cimön, Felix experiences an out-of-body experience in which his astral body leaves his physical self. While travelling in the astral realm, he is almost captured by the Devil, only to be saved by Jesus. Felix is then asked by Jesus to take care of a ghost called Kathy, and to bring her to Cimön, where they can merge with God / Absolute Infinity.

While travelling in this astral world, Felix undergoes a surreal set of adventures that includes: transforming into Donald Duck before having his "Duck" heart cut out by an Aztec priest; befriending a giant beetle called Franx that is reminiscent of the bug in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis; checking into an infinite hotel modeled after the famous mathematical paradox by the renowned mathematician David Hilbert; and meeting such famous thinkers as Albert Einstein and Georg Cantor. Within this surreal landscape the reader is presented with a vision (albeit a very weird one) of the mathematical concepts of transfinite numbers and Cantor's absolute infinity.

This is the third book by Rudy Rucker that I have read and it is the only one that I have enjoyed. Unlike the previous two novels, which can be described as poor parodies of a Salvador Dali painting, the characters in this book are not absurd caricatures, but rather interesting persons. The writing is also infinitely (no pun intended) better that his other works that I have read.

That being said, it is clear that Rucker's instinct is to be the far-out, weird math guy, and as such, this novel does contain the occasional bizarre rant. In fact, by the end of the book, I was starting to worry that Rucker was going to descend into pointless gibberish, like in some of his other books. To my pleasant surprise, however, this book did not become a bad literary version of an acid trip, but rather provided some interesting food for thought about the concept of infinity.

This book is definitely not for everyone, but if you want to read a novel that mixes math with hallucinatory images, then you will find this work interesting.

3 out of 5 stars