Once Upon a Time in the North

Philip Pullman
*** 104 Pages

This slight book is a form of "prequel" to the His Dark Materials trilogy, which recounts how the balloonist Lee Scoresby and Iorik the bear first met. In a nutshell, Scoresby comes upon an island in the far north on a balloon trip from Texas. He lands in the middle of a mayorial contest pitting a candidate fronting a rapacious oil company which is corrupting local politics. Somehow this politician has hired a notorious gun slinger from Texas as his thug. Scoresby has run into him before. Eventually they have a major gun fight with Scoresby's rabbit daimon taking on the rattlesnake daimon of the outlaw. Meanwhile Iorik has been performing mighty deeds helping to knock out a mechanical cannon, break down steel doors, and gather a healing moss to dress Scoresby's wounds. They escape by balloon supplied by the Customs agent who has a soft spot for Scoresby since the latter talked the agent's fiance into accepting his mariage proposal. A bit of an outlandish tale and fun if you have already read the Golden Compass, otherwise it wouldn't be very compelling.

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

Daniel H. Pink
** 247 Pages

Well, first of all, the title doesn't fit the message: his claim is that a BALANCED brain will be needed, left AND right brain, not just one or the other. This book could have been half to two thirds the length, but I will grant that he at least footnoted his text. In a nutshell, six "BIG" ideas will CHANGE THE WORLD: design, story, symphony (really means synthesis), empathy, play, and meaning. The main value of the book is in the "practical exercises" at the end of each chapter. Some of theses sections have some interesting links to web sites. Don't get me wrong, don't go out and buy the book for the practical sections, they just have some value. I would not recommend buying this book.