Koncocoo

Best Humor

My Seinfeld Year (Kindle Single)
"My Seinfeld Year" tells the hysterical and bittersweet story of what happened when Stoller finally got a shot at the showbiz stability he'd always dreamed of -- as a staff writer on one of the biggest television shows in history. How it came about is almost Seinfeldian in its own right--a surprise party led to a chance encounter with Larry David (whom he kind of knew from New York stand-up), which led to an invitation to do a spec script, which, quite suddenly, led to a giant office and a staff writer position on Seinfeld . Fred & Vinnie , the indie feature he wrote and starred in, won the Audience award at the Austin Film Festival.
Reviews
"Fun and quick read about Fred's year writing for Seinfeld."
"I'd recommend this book to friends and enemies alike because it's that good."
"Nice book about his time working on the Seinfeld show."
"Loved hearing all the backstage insanity going on at the biggest tv show of the 90s."
"Overall a very enjoyable book, it left me wanting more..... which in turn led me to purchase Fred's book 'Maybe We'll Have You Back: The Life of a Perennial TV Guest Star' which I also highly recommend."
"If like me you are a follower of TV comedy standup and sitcoms since the 70's, you will recognize Stoller - he is the painfully thin guy with the blank expression who speaks in a nasal monotone. Still, Stoller managed to come up with a couple of now classic characters and story lines including the one where the unimaginably annoying comic Kenny Bania gives Jerry one of his suits and in exchange keeps him on the hook for a dinner at a presumably posh restaurant called Mendy's. The restaurant pops up later in the book when Stoller moves to New York for an ill fated movie project and gets swept into the scheming lifestyle of Kenny Kramer, the inspiration for the character played by Michael Richards. The real Kramer convinced the owner of a Jewish deli named Mendy's (which has nothing to do with the made up high end establishment of the sitcom) that his restaurant was Stoller's favorite to get a free meal."
"Personally, Fred Stoller's "My Seinfeld Years" is an enjoyable excursion into another's ups and downs in the entertainment field. All of that makes this an enjoyable journey into Stoller's life. While Fred was working as a writer during his "Seinfeld Year," it was fascinating to get a brief look behind the television screen; it was also interesting to follow his discussion of scripts which you remember seeing on the show, which includes one developed by Stoller himself."
"Read it in one short sitting."
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An Unexpected Twist (Kindle Single)
In his first-ever work of autobiography, the comedian and New York Times bestselling author tells how a freakish medical condition descended upon him one October afternoon and led him to the brink of death – in a New York hospital “consistently rated one of the ten best in the country.” What happens when “one of the funniest people in America” (CBS News Sunday Morning) comes face to face with his own mortality? Rife with deadpan observations and quirky characterizations of the medical staff that attended him, An Unexpected Twist offers humor on a number of levels, from breezy ruminations on life, death, and love to the simply scatological. In the end, it seems, his brush with death from the inside out proved an ambiguous blessing: the author suffered the accompanying discomfort, pain, and fear; readers reap the rewards of his levity aplenty.
Reviews
"I think what surprised me the most was the suspense I felt as I read this (kind of like each time I read "The Day Lincoln Was Shot" by Jim Bishop, and I hear myself muttering under my breath, "Don't go to Ford's tonight!"). Andy Borowitz is a brilliant writer and funny guy extraordinaire, but like our beloved Mark Twain, he is also acutely aware of human nature and the human condition."
"What I did not expect and found to be a wonderful gift within this short offering was Andy's joy and gratitude about his life."
"When he rates his pain as "six", "an enormous sense of relaxation descends upon my case as the ER staff attends to the people who said seven through ten". Andy is not overtly critical of the systemic mishandling of his case, but at the same time makes pointed reference to the fallacies in the system and our society that rates this hospital as one of the ten best."
"I think it was mentioned at some article I was reading one day, where the author of the article was modestly boasting about being the one who recommended Borowitz to pack this little story into a Kindle book and publish it."
"Th story of Andy Borowitz and his twisted colon is both hilarious and heartwarming at the same time."
"I went through a very similar experience and I never thought such a harrowing, near-death experience could be so funny!"
"I would have rated this book 10 stars if possible."
"If you've never read The New Yorker or The Borowitz Report, you may not know who our hero is!"
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Searching for Dave Chappelle (Kindle Single)
In 2005, Dave Chappelle left show business at the height of his fame, giving up a small fortune and the hottest new television show in many years.
Reviews
"There are some interesting anecdotes that help understand Chappelle a little better."
"After completing it, I have to say I have a better understanding of Chappelle's motivation even if I still don't completely understand or agree with the premises this book lays out for why he may have left. Ultimately, it's not a 5 star read because it lacks some editing and, quite frankly, its hard to assess this piece as completely definitive without any contribution from the man himself."
"Provides some insightful background on Cappelle's career with interviews from some of the people who were closest to him."
"It's a bit disappointing that at the end of it, we have no sense of what Chappelle is up to right now, what he's thinking, whether he's planning a comeback. sure, the interview with Comedy Channel's Jeff Hertzog giving his side of the story on the negotiations with Chappelle was compelling and respectful, but we're still left in the dark without Dave's side of the story."
"A good story about the legend that is Dave Chappelle."
"Would love more depth and maybe an update that covers the last few years."
"People who like Dave Chappelle generally want to know more about what happened to him and with all the crazy theories that went around it was easy to believe that Dave had just gone off the deep end."
"I thought this book gave great insight into Dave Chappelle."
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Best Memoirs

A Spy's Guide to Thinking (Kindle Single)
Bestselling author John Braddock was a case officer at the CIA. He developed, recruited and handled sources on weapons proliferation, counter-terrorism and political-military issues. A former university fellow, he now helps people and organizations sharpen their thinking about their strategy, their customers and their competition. John Braddock has been able to throw in a good spy story to show how to properly think in a stressful situation." He developed, recruited and handled sources on weapons proliferation, counter-terrorism and political-military issues. A former university research fellow, he is now a strategy consultant. He helps people and organizations think more effectively about their strategy, their customers and the competition.
Reviews
"When circumstances require action, having a habitual method (i.e a structured approach) to quickly analyze the situation and select the best response gives you an edge over your opponent. The author shows how the US Air Force analyzed ace pilots to determine why they won more dogfights, and how that discovery was generalized into a powerful behavioral approach to rapid decision-making for spies in stressful situations. This book uses the author's thought process during an attempted robbery where he, the spy, is victim as an example of his structured thought process, one that major spy agencies and the military actually use. Near the end, he analyzes the thought process he went through in deciding to write the book in comparison to a reader's decision to purchase it."
"Choosing to not be afraid is not always a choice one consciously makes or can overcome easily."
"I had read about the OODA method of dealing with conflict, but the author's take on it with his DADA version was a welcome and interesting twist on it."
"Fun book to read...makes you think!"
"A Spy's Guide to Thinking is a brief but interesting and useful guide for anyone interested in the process of practical thought."
"I loved this book ..."
"The author presents the many precarious and conflicting possibilities that reality can bestow."
"Meh."
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Best Reporting

Miracle at Coney Island: How a Sideshow Doctor Saved Thousands of Babies and Transformed American Medicine (Kindle Single)
In Miracle at Coney Island: How a Sideshow Doctor Saved Thousands of Babies and Transformed American Medicine , Claire Prentice uncovers the incredible true story of Martin Couney, the “incubator doctor.”. Couney ran his incubator facility for premature babies at Coney Island from 1903 to 1943 and set up similar exhibits at World’s Fairs and amusement parks across America, and in London, Paris, Mexico and Brazil. Claire Prentice is an award-winning journalist and the author of The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century.
Reviews
"I can't tell you how many times I've read about these babies at Coney Island and elsewhere while reading other things, whether it was books or magazine articles, or encyclopedias. It was very interesting...I'm always amazed at the types of things that people got away with prior to even the 1960's. Considering I've read so much about eugenics and the Nazis (and written about all of this and the disabled in papers), you would think nothing would surprise me at this point. Even though there are much stricter laws on the books concerning doctors, we still have people out there who have no degrees who present themselves as having the background and training to treat people with things like cancers."
"Fascinating and well researched story of the incubator baby doctor, who exhibited (and saved) thousands of babies from the early 1900s to early 1940s!"
"Interesting book with a good view on the history of the baby incubator and the man who invented it."
"I would say that Martin Couney was a doctor in every sense --"First do no harm"."
"I had heard references to Martin Couney's exhibitions of premature infants for years and always been curious about how this had all happened."
"Interesting look at the precursor of modern neonatal intensive care units."
"Surprising that the doctor kept such a strict hygiene for all the infants, considering the date in time."
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Best Society

We Should All Be Feminists (Kindle Single) (A Vintage Short)
She shines a light not only on blatant discrimination, but also the more insidious, institutional behaviors that marginalize women around the world, in order to help readers of all walks of life better understand the often masked realities of sexual politics. Adichie, celebrated author of the acclaimed Americanah (Knopf, 2013), offers a more inclusive definition of feminism, one that strives to highlight and embrace a wide range of people and experiences. Her focus on women of color is also an aspect of the movement that hasn't always been given its due, and Adichie works in her own experience and life as a feminist within a more conservative Nigerian culture in an organic and eye-opening way.
Reviews
"She has made people deaf to anything but stereotypes about feminism sit up and pay attention and realize, "Wow this is mostly common sense" and "I see that all the time and I never thought about how that affects" us/them."
"Really shows that though it is OUR world, some persons feel that it is a man's world; with males and females alike subscribing to that view."
"I felt like I was having a conversation with a friend; one that I wasn't ready to put to rest so soon."
"As the mother of a little girl and a woman becoming more self-aware, this book has enlightened me and made me realize that I have been confirming all my life."
"She dabbles into the negative repercussions that gender norms have on both men and women, but admits that she is focusing mainly on women's issues."
"Super basic, but this could be a good place to start for a young woman interested in embarking on gathering her feminist background."
"Not only should this be read by all, I recommend memorizing it and reciting it to whoever seems confused about feminism today."
"It definitely helps you understand what women have to go through."
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Best Profiles

Alan Turing: Unlocking the Enigma (Kindle Single)
Mathematician, philosopher, codebreaker, a founder of computer science, and the father of Artificial Intelligence, Turing was one of the most original thinkers of the last century - and the man whose work helped create the computer-driven world we now inhabit. By the age of 33, he had been awarded the OBE by King George VI for his wartime services: Turing was instrumental in cracking the Nazi Enigma machines at the top secret code breaking establishment at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. ‘Alan Turing: Unlocking the Enigma’ seeks to find the man behind the science, illuminating the life of a person who is still a shadowy presence behind his brilliant achievements. As a primer on the life and accomplishments of this intellectual giant, David Boyle's Kindle Single serves well, marking the House of Lords's long overdue pardoning of Turing's "sex crimes" in 2013 with an energetic narrative that weaves the undisputed facts of Turing's life together with an undoing of certain persistent myths and a reverent encapsulation of his import.
Reviews
"A very short biography of Alan Turing, most well-known as the scientist who was key in the British effort to "unlock[..] the Enigma", the German coding machine. David Boyle's book begins with the 2013 "Statutory Pardon of Alan Mathison Turing", in fact there was a veritable rush to effect a posthumous "statutory pardon to one of Britain's greatest scientists" and recognition of him by the British government."
"I was aware of this war time story at a superficial level but this book reveals detail and insight that had not previously been mine."
"If you want to learn more about the era and related subjects, or other interesting eras and periods, the author has written similar books which are shown at the end of the Kindle edition, and I assume the paper version as well."
"science, mathematics, computing, biography. The only thing that I knew about Alan Turing before this book was a few things about his role in cracking the Enigma Code in WW2."
"This book has very little technical detail and but spends most of its time on Turing's concepts of computers as path to AI."
"I learned a great deal about this 20th century genius and the obstacles he faced."
"I heard his name mentioned while watching the Betchley Circle."
"He was a very complex man who spent his whole life in boy's schools, very little interaction with people as a whole."
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Best The World Stage

War Hero: The Unlikely Story of A Stray Dog, An American Soldier and the Battle of Their Lives (Kindle Single)
On a July evening in 1918, four brutal years into World War I, a young American soldier, private James Donovan, stumbled on a pile of rags while lost on the pitch-black the streets of Paris. Rags’ exploits made him famous back in America, where he became one of the inspirations for the modern “war dog.” He led parades down Broadway, accepted a handful of medals and became more popular than some 5-star generals.
Reviews
"This was an great story about a soldier and a dog."
"I love dogs and books about dogs but this was special since it is a true story."
"From a priviate to the commanding general of the 1st Division, Rags won the hearts of all for his caring attitude to his great bravery."
"Very touching story based on truth about a soldier and the dog he finds in France during WWI."
"This is a well written story, about the first military dog and the effects he had on not only the men of his company but the whole of world war 1 USA force."
"Touching story of a WW I soldier and his faithful dog."
"A charming little story of a very brave little dog., !"
"Great story, well written."
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Best Essays & Ideas

We Should All Be Feminists (Kindle Single) (A Vintage Short)
She shines a light not only on blatant discrimination, but also the more insidious, institutional behaviors that marginalize women around the world, in order to help readers of all walks of life better understand the often masked realities of sexual politics. Adichie, celebrated author of the acclaimed Americanah (Knopf, 2013), offers a more inclusive definition of feminism, one that strives to highlight and embrace a wide range of people and experiences. Her focus on women of color is also an aspect of the movement that hasn't always been given its due, and Adichie works in her own experience and life as a feminist within a more conservative Nigerian culture in an organic and eye-opening way.
Reviews
"She has made people deaf to anything but stereotypes about feminism sit up and pay attention and realize, "Wow this is mostly common sense" and "I see that all the time and I never thought about how that affects" us/them."
"I assumed the book would expand a bit on the things she discussed in her talk, but the book felt word for word her lecture."
"I think this relates more to other cultures than the US, where we experience many of the same issues but it does not address many other factors we see in modern American culture."
"It's short and simple, so it definitely is a good start for whoever feels curious about this topic and wants to understand more."
"Excellent speech by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie."
"I felt like I was having a conversation with a friend; one that I wasn't ready to put to rest so soon."
"She dabbles into the negative repercussions that gender norms have on both men and women, but admits that she is focusing mainly on women's issues."
"Super basic, but this could be a good place to start for a young woman interested in embarking on gathering her feminist background."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Page-turning Narratives

War Hero: The Unlikely Story of A Stray Dog, An American Soldier and the Battle of Their Lives (Kindle Single)
On a July evening in 1918, four brutal years into World War I, a young American soldier, private James Donovan, stumbled on a pile of rags while lost on the pitch-black the streets of Paris. Rags’ exploits made him famous back in America, where he became one of the inspirations for the modern “war dog.” He led parades down Broadway, accepted a handful of medals and became more popular than some 5-star generals.
Reviews
"This was an great story about a soldier and a dog."
"This is the third book of Stephan's that I've read."
"I love dogs and books about dogs but this was special since it is a true story."
"Very touching story based on truth about a soldier and the dog he finds in France during WWI."
"Touching story of a WW I soldier and his faithful dog."
"A charming little story of a very brave little dog., !"
"From a priviate to the commanding general of the 1st Division, Rags won the hearts of all for his caring attitude to his great bravery."
"Great story, well written."
Find Best Price at Amazon