Why Things Break: Understanding the World By the Way It Comes Apart

Average customer rating:

Good but not great

50% moderately useful info, 50% personal rant

Disappointed ...

Some answers;but a lot of questions remain.

Some good points...

Why Things Break: Understanding the World By the Way It Comes Apart
Mark Eberhart
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400048834
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Book Description

Did you know—

• It took more than an iceberg to sink the Titanic.
• The Challenger disaster was predicted.
• Unbreakable glass dinnerware had its origin in railroad lanterns.
• A football team cannot lose momentum.
• Mercury thermometers are prohibited on airplanes for a crucial reason.
• Kryptonite bicycle locks are easily broken.

“Things fall apart” is more than a poetic insight—it is a fundamental property of the physical world. Why Things Break explores the fascinating question of what holds things together (for a while), what breaks them apart, and why the answers have a direct bearing on our everyday lives.

When Mark Eberhart was growing up in the 1960s, he learned that splitting an atom leads to a terrible explosion—which prompted him to worry that when he cut into a stick of butter, he would inadvertently unleash a nuclear cataclysm. Years later, as a chemistry professor, he remembered this childhood fear when he began to ponder the fact that we know more about how to split an atom than we do about how a pane of glass breaks.

In Why Things Break, Eberhart leads us on a remarkable and entertaining exploration of all the cracks, clefts, fissures, and faults examined in the field of materials science and the many astonishing discoveries that have been made about everything from the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger to the crashing of your hard drive. Understanding why things break is crucial to modern life on every level, from personal safety to macroeconomics, but as Eberhart reveals here, it is also an area of cutting-edge science that is as provocative as it is illuminating.

“An engaging personal account not just of the physics and chemistry of materials but of the ethics, economics, and politics of innovation, with delightful bonuses on topics from the origins of ‘ghostly’ noises in old houses to the amazing coevolution of armor and armor-piercing projectiles. If it ain’t broke, Mark Eberhart can tell you why—and explain equally well why a shatterproof world remains beyond our reach.”
—Edward Tenner, author of Our Own Devices and Why Things Bite Back

“I don’t remember a book that has taught me so much, nor previously encountering a teacher like the marvelous Mark Eberhart, who in Why Things Break provides enlightening and thoroughly captivating scientific explanations of subjects ranging from the structural failures leading to the sinking of the Titanic to everyday, no-less-fascinating topics such as the reason why, even at the same temperature, winter days always seem so much colder in Boston than in Denver.”—Richard Restak, M.D., author of Mozart’s Brain and The Fighter Pilot

“Eberhart brings his insights to the reader by weaving personal anecdotes—from his childhood fear that cutting a stick of butter would release the energy of the atoms within to his arrival in Boston for an interview with MIT without a suitable winter coat—into a fascinating discussion of the forces that hold atoms and molecules together. A lively, unvarnished look at chemistry on the cutting edge.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Customer Reviews:

Good but not great.......2007-01-31

Having just read the book, I agree with other recent reviewers. There is interesting information in here (for instance, that lexan becomes extremely brittle when exposed to nail polish remover). But that content is diluted with personal rants (such as the author's grad school interview process) and silly analogies (like "If even a tiny scratch were to expose niobium to air at 2,500*F, it would soak up oxygen faster than Bounty--the 'quicker picker-upper'--soaks up water.")

And the photo on the cover IS completely misleading--the book is about fractures on a micro scale. You won't find anything about why the bridge in the photo broke.

50% moderately useful info, 50% personal rant.......2006-11-29

I enjoyed about 50% of this book. The author gives some good practical explanations of why materials, such as the hull of the Titanic, fail. As a layperson, I found this very interesting. However, I found his personal rants about the politics of scientific research and his personal tales of life in graduate school and beyond really, really tiresome. In addition, the title and book cover (a picture of a bridge failure) are a come on which have almost nothing to do with the contents. The science in the books moves from the macro to the micro, which makes a certain amount of sense but I found the topics to be really poorly organized. I would not recommend this book unless you have lots of free time.

Disappointed ..........2006-10-24

As a non-scientist, I enjoy reading intelligent books about science that do a good job of explaining scientific concepts to an educated but non-technical audience. I recently became more interested in materials science after reading Stephen Sass' "The Substance of Civilization" (which I recommend heartily) and had hoped that this book would make a good next step.

Unfortunately, the promise of the book's title remains substantially unfulfilled. This is a more a book about why EBERHART is interested in why things break and why he thinks it's a disgrace that most people don't understand more about science (and specifically about materials science). Now, both of those (and particularly the latter) are potentially interesting topics but they aren't the reason I picked up the book.

This is not to say that there is no direct information about materials science in the book. But the information that there is tends to be woven into other stories (which themselves are filled with other stories and regressions -- it's a book that could also use a little more editing) about the importance of materials science, rather than the science itself.

Some answers;but a lot of questions remain........2006-09-18

I really enjoyed this book. Although I am an Engineer in my senior years; one does not really need more technical knowledge than that received in High School to enjoy this book. The author has done a fine job of communicating with lay people who may only have a passing interest in why things break. Most people ,who have little science background ,will find it a pleasure to intercourse with an extremely knowledgeable Scientist whose world includes highly complicated areas such as Quantum Mechanics.
Although the author touches on some difficult areas,he always puts what he is dealinng with in language and examples that are easily grasped.
You are going to learn that the sinking of the Titanic was a lot more involved than simply hitting an iceberg. And how about the fact that the Titanic had no binoculars for lookouts,insufficient lifeboats.You'll also find why so many Liberty Ships sank in the Atlanticduring WW11, without having been hit by shells,bombs ,mines or other armanents. You'll also see that the reason for their sinking was not even incorporated into the design;or for that fact,even known.Amazingly ,a fix was quickly found.
Even something as simple as "unbreakable" dishes like Pyrex and Corningwareis explained. The book also discusses some simple things ;such as why snow doesn't have to be shovelled in Colorado--or did you even know that? He discusses a lot about metals,how the properties of various metals was found by trial and error;but the reason why things happened was basically unknown.He also discusses a lot about glass,particularly armored or safety glass. I once had an experience with large panels,5 X 10 feet; that were used as interior walls in buildings. Several broke for no apparent reason. The panels consisted of two sheets with a plastic film sandwiched between them. When they broke.it looked like a bullet had hit them. All the breakage radiated from one point,similar to a giant spider web. It was determined that it was caused by an impurity.Supposedly,theimpurity was a Manganese crystal that kept growing until it created enough stress to fracture the whole panel,with not a piece left bigger than a piece of popcorn. Something like you see with a rear car window in a hot parking lot or when struck a severe blow in an accident.The intent being that the pieces would be small fragments,rather than shrads that were large and would like daggers. Our panels,with the plastic layer still remained in place. I used a magnifying loop and lo,and behold,right in the center of the "Web" you could see the tiny black crystal,no more than a couple of millimeters long.I would be curious to hear from anyone else who has heard of this type of failure as it is not discussed in the book.
I also had a lot of experience with "Lexan" and was very surprised to hear some of the things the author had to say about it.

Some good points..........2006-06-24

The book is a good treatise on material analysis, with the attendant dryness you might expect. Dr. Eberhart injects some humor, but at the level you might expect from a research scientist. As for the analyses of the three failures mentioned in another review, there is scant information provided. In his summary of the failures, he makes references to some facts that are not explained, and leaves the reader curious, unsatisfied. (Example - the decompression flap in the Aloha flight. Why was it opening? What triggers it to operate?).
Probably a bit esoteric for the average reader without any background in materials.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Futurist, published by World Future Society on May 1, 2000. The length of the article is 445 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Age of Collaborative Work.(Brief Article)(Review) (book review)
Publication: The Futurist (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2000
Publisher: World Future Society
Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Page: 54

Article Type: Brief Article, Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The Future of Work: The Promise of the New Digital Work Society

Average customer rating:

A Solid Effort!
The organisational impact of e-commerce
A Clear Vision from a Good Heart
A New Technology Handbook with "Heart"
Thriving in the New Workplace

The Future of Work: The Promise of the New Digital Work Society
Charles E. Grantham
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Companies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Workplace | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

A new social psychology is developing in today's workplace that is no longer bound by time, place, or traditional roles. The notion of where a corporation starts and stops is going to be very different in the future," so said Robert Walker, CIO of Hewlett-Packard. This visionary book points a compelling portrait of how the new workplace that is already taking shape is creating a new framework for the way people think about--and act at--work, whether at home, in a satellite office, or corporate headquarters. It draws on the cutting-edge research of the Institute for the Study of Distributed Work, the leading international think tank on virtual workplaces and other trends in the workplace of tomorrow. For anyone interested in the sociology and psychology of the workplace, this book will help frame the questions that must be asked now. It explores how the current moves toward the virtual corporation, the technological consolidation of traditional job functions, and the growth in part-time employment will continue to change the relationship between the workers and their jobs around the world.

Download Description

The notion of where a starts corporation and stops is going to be very different in the future, " so said Robert Walker. CIO of Hewlett-Packard. This visionary book paints a compelling portrait of how the new workplace that is already taking shape is creating a new framework for the way people think about -- and act at -- work, whether at home, in a satellite office, or corporate headquarters. It draws on the cutting-edge research of the Institute for the Study of Distributed Work, the leading international think tank on virtual workplaces trod other trends in the workplace of tomorrow.

For anyone interested in the sociology and psychology of the workplace, this book will help frame the questions that must be asked now. It explores how the current moves toward the virtual corporation, file technological consolidation of traditional job functions, and the growth in part - time employment will continue to change the relationship between the workers and their jobs around the world.

Customer Reviews:

A Solid Effort!.......2001-05-30

Charles Grantham's book examines rapid changes in the workplace in response to new technologies. He looks at how these changes affect all of us personally and explains how to prepare for the future. The book's language is quite academic. The average reader could find it difficult to read from beginning to end. Regular readers of business books, on the other hand, may find that many of the ideas sound familiar. This is because Grantham references more than 125 previously published works. We [...] recommend this book to futurists and trend-watchers, particularly those from a more academic background.

The organisational impact of e-commerce.......2000-05-01

A thoughtful, reflective book which provides a good strategic overview of the impact of technology on the future of work and technology. The chapter on communities is particularly good.

A Clear Vision from a Good Heart.......2000-04-23

The Future of Work by Charles Grantham is a book that gives us a well-researched and comprehensive vision of the implications of technology for the evolution of self, society and the workplace -- a vision we really want to be true.

"The new world of work," says Grantham, "is one in which people voluntarily come together and find e ach other as workmates based on a common personal philosophy, social attitudes and shared behaviors. This is the collaborative workspace. This is a work space that is enabled by our new technologies and by people's desires to work with others with whom they share more commonalities than differences."

Grantham describes three new forms of the emerging work organization. From 1989-1992 we had "teleworkers." The emphasis was placed on the individual contributor. The commerce model, "manufacturing;" the type of interaction "work flow;" the social metaphor "coordination;" the sports metaphor "baseball." Then, from 1993-1997 we had "virtuality." The emphasis was on technology and the project team, the type of interaction "connectivity;" the social metaphor "cooperation;" the sports metaphor "football." From 1998 to 2004 Grantham predicts that we will be in the age of "Hollywood" type organizations. The emphasis will be placed on the organization, on teams of teams. The type of interaction "community." The social metaphor "collaboration." The sports metaphor "basketball."

Grantham's vision is undeniably positive and hopeful. And what makes reading this book so valuable is that the vision turns out to be based, not on hope, but on actuality. In his case study of VIA International, he concludes: "VIA is what the workplace of the future can be. It's collaborative; it's about community; it's very respectful of all its people; and it is led by people with a clear vision of the future, a sincere desire to serve their customers, and a wish to foster the development of all people in the company."

The following list of "Charlie's Assumptions" reveals as much about the author as about his vision. We find ourselves wanting to embrace both:

Charlie's Assumptions About Technology 1. People strive to develop in a positive fashion toward greater self-actualization. They are always trying to be better and realize their full potential. 2. The meaning of work is derived from the phenomenon of interaction with others and with the environment. Work gives meaning to our lives that derives from how we interact with one another. 3. Symbiotic evolution of people and social groups is facilitated by open communication. We can all learn and grow together if there is open communication. 4. Purposeful communication provides a material benefit to human action. Being clear and honest in our communication leads us to fewer misunderstandings and more satisfaction in our relationships. 5. A person or group has meaning only within the identity of a larger social context. That is, our identity derives only within the context of being a part of a bigger group or community. 6. Development of technology tends to increase the scope and rate of human interaction. We get more connected every day, and there is always more information coming at us. 7. Clear, concise conversations, based on mutual nonjudgmental respect, provide a clear pathway for people to transcend narrow, self-serving behavior. 8. The creative aspect of people arises from the act of serving beyond self. We can realize our creative potential when we put self aside and strive for a greater good.

For more, visit Grantham's website: TheFutureofWork.net

A New Technology Handbook with "Heart".......2000-04-19

The Future of Work is one of those memorable books that helps point the way -- in the same vein as Future Shock and Megatrends, but with a lot more practical advice on how we can each positively shape our workplace and our world. While Dr. Grantham presents an impressive synthesis of knowledge on a wide range of subjects, from sociology to organizational development, technology to trend analysis, it is his focus on people and human values that gives this book its value and appeal. The book is not only a "nuts-and-bolts" guide on how to work effectively in a wired world, it is an inspiring reminder that the great thing about technology, especially connectivity, is that it can bring us more deeply in touch with what we all yearn for: communication, creativity, community. Reading this book is time well-spent.

Thriving in the New Workplace.......2000-04-13

This book is a must read for anyone in today's workforce. The Future of Work looks not just at how the whole concept of work is changing but also at the effects this change is having on both individuals and organizations. This is a practical handbook for survival in a rapidly changing environment. Dr. Grantham shows us what is working and what is not working; but, best of all, his insights help us understand what we need to do to prosper.

Book Description

From the 1950s to the 1970s, from Bar Harbor to Boca Raton, the ragtag crew known as the K&A Gang robbed wealthy suburban neighborhoods with assembly line skills. It was hard to imagine a more unlikely crew of successful thieves, writes Allen Hornblum. [They were] two-fisted, beer-guzzling, ear- and nose-biting hoodlums from a blue collar section of Philadelphia called Kensington. The gang infuriated homeowners up and down the East Coast, while baffling police. Confessions of a Second Story Man follows the gang as they move in and out of homes, courtrooms, and prisons, and even go on the run. Hornblum describes the transformation of the K&A Gang from a group of blue collar thieves to their work in conjunction with numerous organized crime families and their role in making Philadelphia the meth capitol of the nation. It is a compelling read about a fascinating bunch of hoodlums.

Customer Reviews:

Confessions of a Second Story Man.......2006-11-03

I grew up in Kensington and know several of the people referenced in the book. Therefore; the book probably had more impact on me than it would on others, but it is an interesting book much in the same vain as the movie Good Fellows. If you like stories about wise guys and crooks it is a great read

a historical goldmine.......2006-09-25

I am a philadelphian interested in the city's history. I have found that this book has provided insight into a section of philadelphia that i have traveled through but had no in depth knowledge of. The characters described in the narrative were colorful and resourceful,yet in the end met the end that was inevitable. A few of the main characters found some redemption,others did not. There is no fantasy in this book,it is hard realism. Mr. Hornblum is a competent chronicler

Good read...brought back a lot of memories for my father........2006-04-26

Even though his name wasn't printed (thankfully), the book brought back many good memories and stories for my dad (an former K&A guy himself.) His days of running with Dolan, "Raybo", and the Stockers are long behind him and distant memories, but if he says the book is pretty accurate, then I believe him. He should know since he had "ringside" seats for most of it.

Great stuff!

This book contains alot of fiction.......2006-03-30

FYI...I'm the niece of one of these "gang members". One story mentions the fact that he died, then states that there was no money to bury him. He WAS buried and also had a viewing. He WASN'T put in the back of a meat truck for days, then buried by his friends in a freshly dug cemetary lot (this is against the law...duh!!!) The writer never bothered to consult with family members before using the names of these people and no one in my family EVER heard of this Junior guy...what a joke! Who did the author do his "homework" with????? It's a good "story" but that's just it...a story.

Great but scary!.......2006-03-18

A great book-but since I'm from Philly,it was scary-how much damage they did.I've passed by the JR Club many times and never knew...

Confessions of an Innocent Man: Torture and Survival in a Saudi Prison

Average customer rating:

A book you cannot soon forget
Must read. Hated the book. Could not put it down.
harrowing and compelling
I Loved this Book!
A Valuable Read on the Greatness of a Man

Confessions of an Innocent Man: Torture and Survival in a Saudi Prison
William Sampson
Manufacturer: McClelland & Stewart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0771079052
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Book Description

"What was it that I did to survive? Where did those ideas come from? Where did I find the resolve to enact them? At the time of my release, I had no ready answers beyond that I did what seemed natural and necessary. In looking back, I realize that the peculiarities of my personality helped me to adopt strategies that allowed for the reclamation of my identity and my integrity while in the hands of barbarians. Yet what I did is neither remarkable nor courageous nor beyond the capabilities of any person that finds himself in similar circumstances. What I have come to believe is that there exists in all of us the potential to stand and fight and reclaim."
— William Sampson

On Sunday, December 17, 2000, Canadian engineer William Sampson stepped outside his house in Riyadh only to be hauled into a car and beaten by two Saudi men he didn’t know. Within an hour, he was incarcerated in one of the city’s most notorious jails. Within two months, he was tortured into a confession of responsibility for a wave of car bombings he did not commit. Sometime in that first year, he was sentenced to death in a secret trial. For two and a half years, Sampson was continually subjected to beatings and torture, convinced his death was just around the corner. Inept diplomacy failed him but human rights groups took up his cause and on August 8, 2003, he was finally freed in a controversial prisoner exchange. It wasn’t until February 2005 that Sampson’s name was officially cleared when a British inquest exonerated him of the crimes.

Angry, intelligent, and compelling, Sampson places his personal story within the context of the geopolitics that engineered his fate, and in doing so has crafted a searing exposé of Western foreign policy in the Arab Middle East.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

A book you cannot soon forget.......2007-06-07

This is a fascinating book. It starts out a little detailed and slow but once you get into the debt of the story you cannot put it down. It is horrifying and graphic and tears at your insides as you read the passages. It takes you into the debts of his despair and suffering. You begin to realize how his remembering details such as he did actually helped him make it through the ordeal. You also realize it could happen to anyone.

This book will make you think about countries that pretend to be allies of the United States and Britain. Do we play into their politics only to save face with the world?

This book is uncomfortable to read yet offers hope for the human spirit.
I highly recommend it.

Must read. Hated the book. Could not put it down. .......2007-04-14

What a horrifying story. Thank you very much, William Sampson, for telling about the terrible things that you experienced. I'm amazed at the incredible detail, dates, names, etc. I wonder how I would have done in a similar situation. The Canadian and British governments should be ashamed. The officials involved probably are.

harrowing and compelling.......2007-04-11

This book about one man's torture at the hands of Saudi Arabian officials is a must-read. To cover up internal problems, Saudis blamed bombings of Westerners on other Westerners. They then tortured the arrested into confessing. It's hard not to be irate reading this book - Saudi Arabia strikes one as the most dangerous and vile country on Earth. Sampson's survival is testament to the human spirit, and his horrific tale makes for gripping and worrying reading.

I Loved this Book!.......2007-02-16

Not often you pick up a book and have serious trouble putting it down. William Sampson's narrative of the circumstances and events that overtook him in that xenophobic wasteland of Saudi Arabia will send chills up your spine. A true hero, Sampson describes, in alarming detail, the torture and backward, self-serving mentality of his captors. His ordeal exposes the Canadian and British government's incrediable ignorance and willful lack of concern for one of it's citizens when in crisis in a foreign land. Even when faced with a death sentance (beheading), Sampson showed courage and resolve to not let his captors have the satisfaction of breaking his will.

This is a 'must read' book for anyone concerned with 'human rights', 'international relations' and 'politics.

A Valuable Read on the Greatness of a Man.......2006-09-04

Like the book Night, by Elie Weisel, this book shows how even a man imprisoned can fight his captors with the strength of his mind (and body). Samson is challenged in ways many of us "soft" Americans cannot dream of; yet he rises to the challenges and finds ways to stay sane in an insane situation. He learns how he can live without even basic necessities (giving up books is harder than giving up food) so that his torturers cannot use these privileges against him. Samson shows us when he "fails" himself and when he triumphs.
To think that a citizen of a Western country can be abandoned by his country in order to keep good relations is an outrage that needs to be corrected. Samson shared with us his trial so that we might see the truth and perhaps others would be spared.
Thanks so much for this well written, eye-opening book. You are a true hero.

Average customer rating:

Great First Book
Hiiiigh BALL!

Confessions of a Middle Man
Meagan B. Noles
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1413787800

Book Description

What if you spent your whole life looking for happiness, for bliss, and it had been right in front of you the whole time? Would you, once you realized your fault, do all you could to correct it? Or would you walk away knowing that it was too late?

Customer Reviews:

Great First Book.......2006-03-20

The Best part of the book was the style in which it was written, first person. It was as though this guy, who I obviously didn't know (being fictional and all) was speaking right to me. It felt as though I'd simply sat down in a coffee shop with him and he was telling me a story about these two people, desperately in love with each other but far to stubborn to do anything about it until it was too. I read an interview with the author who stated that her original intent was to have the lovers die in the end but as she wrote the book she simply fell in love with their relationship and wanted to leave some sort of hope out there for the realistic couples of the world who are just as stubborn or nervous to reveal their true feelings. I'm not sure if I would have preferred their deaths, it wouuld have been very Romeo and Juliet that way. But I did love the way that the narrator made it appear within the first five pages that he was speaking of two people who had died, so when they didn't, I was surprised. All in all I have to say it was a good first book, especially for someone who was only 19 when she wrote it. When I read that in the interview I was shocked! I awate her next book.

Hiiiigh BALL!.......2005-11-26

As a life long middleman, i was hoping to find a novella reminiscing over the common themes I've endured throught the last 76 years of my tremendously emotional life. Instead I was treated to what can only be described as a spanktastic orgasmitastic feast of literary gooooold. Harry potter is a punk biatch compared to the main character(s) of this book. From wade, the hopeful sarcastic peasant, to genevive, the arrogant seamstress, every character pulls at your heartstrings, cheststrings, wangstrings, and earstrings. Its a whole body string-pulling adventure. The only hang up is the fact that its not choose your own adventure. I rule at those. Like this one where you were a ninja, i totally beat the entire Souko gang up without getting hurt. I didn't even cheat, i promise. where was i... Ah yes. This book, no, this instant classic will be sure to light up your sad, pathetic life just like it did mine. Kudos Ms. Author, kudos indeed.

New-Age Renaissance Man: Confessions of a Middle-Aged Italian

Average customer rating:

A must read
Humor Plus Wit and Wisdom!

New-Age Renaissance Man: Confessions of a Middle-Aged Italian
E W Bonadio
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0595677274

Book Description

New-Age Renaissance Man tells the story of an inner city Italian boy growing up in a male-dominated household with Archie and Edith Bunker for parents and an eclectic supporting cast of neighborhood characters. Through a series of life experiences he comes to realize that the world around him is swiftly changing. Clinging to the ideas of the old ways, he must find common ground with his new surroundings. The sexual revolution of the 1960s changed his view of modern women, and while searching for wealth in Middle Class America he found a mixed bag of success and failure. A funny but instructive look at the life of an Italian baby boomer that mimics the ethnic experience of the time.

Customer Reviews:

A must read.......2006-11-06

Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (11/06)

"Ciao Goombahs!" That's how Mr. Bonadio would greet you if you were to see him on the street. E.W. is Italian and a very poignant married man with a loving wife and two grown children. An accomplished author, Mr. Bonadio has two other books to his credit ("Voices" and "Illuminations"). Born in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore, E. W. writes with the flair of a neighborhood kid.

"New-Age Renaissance Man" is the memoir of Mr. Bonadio, affectionately known as, "Eddie Spaghetti". From boyhood to manhood, Eddie took me along to show me the developmental stages of the "Italian Man." Starting with their own version of the "Little Rascals," the neighborhood band and beyond, Mr. Bonadio also took me back to those wonderful years of Vietnam, the draft lottery, CYO (church) dances, high school rivalry and so much more. He brought back such wonderful old memories of those bygone days, days when Johnson was President and later Nixon. I could relate vividly with the episode of sneaking into the show through the exit door. Or, receiving that letter from the draft board; telling me to report for my physical.

Mr. Bonadio took me on an adventure through these memorable times, but he did it with one special addition to the norm. He showed me all this from the perspective of a young Italian kid. The antics that Bonadio describes were so parallel to my own back then. The crazy things he did as an Alter Boy, I did the same. When he mentioned his strict parents and the way the kids were brought up back then, it was de ja vous. Bonadio brings out some very distinct differences in the Anglo-Saxon kids and himself. At one point he lists the likes and dislikes of the Italian male. Then there is a very funny part called, "you know your Italian when". The little nuances that are interjected into the book make it exciting.

I enjoyed "New-Age Renaissance Man" very much. It was a light hearted and fast paced 150 pages that is well worth buying. If you are over 50, it will bring you back to a time when people still spoke to each other (without email). To a time when the cops dealt out street justice and didn't bother overloading the court system. But if you're not over 50, you will still enjoy "New-Age Renaissance Man" because it will give you an insight into how your parents might have grown up. You don't have to be Italian to enjoy "New-Age Renaissance Man", it's better if you are (you will laugh a little harder); but it's not a prerequisite. The only prerequisite I would say would be a love of a good book.
"New-Age Renaissance Man" is that and more. I give it my highest A+ rating, it is a must read.

Humor Plus Wit and Wisdom! .......2006-09-18

In New-Age Renaissance Man by E. W. Bonadio, the author uses humor, candid recollections, and a sense of possessiveness and pride in belonging to a certain era as he successfully hooks and holds the attention of readers. As an Italian-bred baby boomer, he describes his experiences of growing up in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore with parents that he equates to Archie and Edith Bunker; however, instead of Gloria, they have four sons. Growing up in the fifties, he was the youngest of the four and in his early years was referred to as Eddie Spaghetti with meatball eyes. All through the book his colorful description and lively words keep readers smiling.

As a former book publisher, I am used to looking at published works in terms of the targeted audience. Since New-Age Renaissance Man has the sub-title of Confessions of a Middle-Aged Italian, one might instantly think that the targeted audience is Italian men...or perhaps Italian women who want to read these male confessions. While all Italians would definitely enjoy reading this book, I don't want to fence in that which could entertain the masses. Though a fun and entertaining book, it also has historical value as it educates readers about the challenges that are experienced by a baby boomer as he comes to terms with a changing world. Remembering that "nothing is constant except change itself,"I could see that the book addresses issues that every individual, regardless of age or ethnic background, will deal with throughout life. This baby boomer is able to find common ground with new surroundings and situations; he becomes very successful in life while making his share of mistakes along the way.

The story which I consider to be a narrative--and definitely autobiographical--covers the time span from when this proud Italian boy is called Eddie Spaghetti to when he grows into a teenager and is called Little Bongo, on into adulthood, and finally into what he describes as "the middle of middle-age." It is an interesting adventure that he takes readers on--one that I particularly enjoyed since my daughter married an Italian man who came to America when he was five years old. After reading this book, I will hereafter refer to my son-in-law as a goombah. I want my daughter to read this book so she will have a better understanding of her husband and learn what she must do to make her spouse believe that he makes the decisions--that he is being true to his traditional ways. The author, who married Diane, his childhood sweetheart, obviously gives these instructions from being a victim of personal experience.

Allow me to offer readers a few tidbits that they will learn when reading the confessions of a middle-aged Italian man. Keep remembering that the author is deliberately being light-hearted as he portrays aspects of a heritage in which he obviously takes great pride. If anyone reads this book without smiling, that person obviously has no sense of humor. Mr. Bonadio states that Italian men get over mistakes in life without outwardly admitting any guilt. A grudge, maybe, but never guilt. "In order for an Italian man to admit guilt, he must have certain irrevocable guarantees or a hold-harmless agreement signed and notarized by the Pope." (See page 10.) Italian men like being the boss, and the secret is eye contact and using "the look." Italian men have the knack for getting ahead without seemingly working hard; they have been known to lie, especially when it comes to explaining why they need sex. The author says he has a hunch that baby boomer Italian men do not make very good babysitters, and readers will agree based upon his personal experiences. He says Italian baby boomers try to make up for their shortcomings by living out their children's dreams.

Mr. Bonadio provides a list of "Likes and Dislikes of Italian Male Baby Boomers" as well as another list to define whether a male is Italian, a wannbe Italian goombah, or just another fake.

The ending of the book takes on a more serious note as the author discusses his ultimate demise, how he is different from his brothers, and why he wrote this book. But he also injects that never-ending humor as he discusses the fact that 60 percent of wealth is supposedly owned by women and surmises that before long they will have it all. But before the "big one" takes him, he is going to eat, drink, and gamble as much as possible in order to do his part for humanity and the male image.

I recommend this book as a good read that contains wit and wisdom and gives readers one particular adjective to describe the perfect Italian male. Buy the book to learn what adjective Mr. Bonadio uses.

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