Includes interviews with:
Andy Warhol
Jenny Holzer
Laurie Anderson
Nancy Spero
Barbara Kruger
Francesco Clemente
Julian Schnabel
David Salle

Put simply SALVATION ON SAND MOUNTAIN is a book about snake handling and religion. It’s also the author’s exploration of his past, his faith, and his loyalty. A quick, but intense read.

From the founder of Bzzagent- a book on how marketing can utilize word of mouth to sell product. Isn’t that what marketing is? Filled with field reports and a company history framed within a hokey story. Nothing revolutionary here. Slapdash case studies with illogical conclusions, but a fascinating look at what people will do for free product. The kinder, gentler, more primitive face of Pattern Recognition. Favorite unintentional moment- Balter’s defense against William Gibson and David Byrne’s criticism by claiming bzzagent’s not that kind of company. We were, but we’re not now. Oh Tipping Point see what you have wrought!

Fiction originally published in the 1940s. New York. Character driven. Writer from the New Yorker best known for Joe Gould’s Secret? At least the movie. The writing is as fresh as when first published. Quick read. Striking prose. Example of what American fiction should be. This is the kind of writing one expects in anthologies on how to write. Books like this hold me for the rest of the year as I trudge through faddish fiction and quickly composed books. Elegant in form, common in subject matter and comfortable in tone. You should already know what to expect from this.

lots of material in this book. most interesting fact was one on the evolution of man and dog and how they may have helped each other evolve.

New Year’s Day- Japan, story, cultural
The Snake- Japan, story, supernatural
The Thief- Japan, story, cultural, family
The Persimmon- Japan, story
The Brazier- Japan, story, cultural, family
The Boarding House- London, semi-autobiographical
Odors of the Past- London, semi-autobiographical
The Cat’s Grave- Japan, story, cultural, family
A Sweet Dream- Japan/ London, story, personal
Impressions- London, autobiographical
The Human Being- Japan, story
The Pheasant- Japan, story, cultural
Mona Lisa- Japan, story, cultural
The Fire- Japan, story, cultural
Fog- London
The Kakemono- Japan, cultural
The 11th of February- Japan, story, cultural, semi-autobiographical
A Good Bargain- Japan, story
The Procession- Japan, story, family
In Bygone Days- London, semi-autobiograpical
The Voice- Japan, story
Money- Japan, semi-autobiographical
The Heart- Japan, story
Changes- Japan/ London, semi-autobiographical
Craig Sensei- London, semi-autobiographical
The Carlyle Museum- London, semi-autobiographical
The Diary of a Bicycle Rider- London, semi-autobiographical
Soseki’s Letters from London

Felt like this was a logn book full of details on the Texas twon of Tulia. Last half of the book was a great report on the courtroom drama that took place. Worth a read for anyone interested in this style of story.

finished 7/5/2005. Disappointing. More a book on statistics and the social end of thnings than actual economics.

originally released as DON’T READ THIS IF YOU ARE STUPID. Collection of short stories. Very British. Almost too British.

turning 30 ode to immaturity. Suggested by John Radz.