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mobilisinmobili's review
4.0
Extremely readable.. fascinating tale of American capitalism run amuck.
dorothysnarker's review
2.0
Ugh. This book is a hot jumbled mess, and it is actually startling when the author switches to first person. How did this become a NYT bestseller?
mowser's review
Definately worth a read. A great book! They need to make a movie about this!
melanie_reads's review
3.0
A classic American rags to riches story. Samuel Zemurray arrives in the US a penniless immigrant and becomes a titan of industry. Zemurray's story is an amazing tale. However, I found Cohen's biographical writing style a bit peculiar and difficult. Cohen, despite acknowledging that he has no data or reference material to back up this fact, imagines that Zemurray's great regret in life is not raising his kids to be observant Jews. There are multiple instances when Cohen's ideas about Zemurray enter into the narrative and I personally found them lacking.
Also, this is probably not the author's fault, but I was diappointed by the complete absence of photos in this book.
Also, this is probably not the author's fault, but I was diappointed by the complete absence of photos in this book.
nogglization's review
3.0
Scattered both internationally and thematically, this book is a bit of a rambler.
Banana republics, foreign cowboys, embezzlement, monopolies, men of action, and the Latin American nightmare unfold alongside "a parable of the American dream—not history as it is recorded in textbooks, but the authentic, cask-strength version, a subterranean saga of kickbacks, overthrows, and secret deals: the world as it really works."
Although this book could have used a heavier handed editor, it was still very interesting despite all the author's personal interjections.
“Show me a happy man and I will show you a man who is getting nothing accomplished in this world.”
“There are times when certain cards sit unclaimed in the common pile, when certain properties become available that will never be available again. A good businessman feels these moments like a fall in the barometric pressure. A great businessman is dumb enough to act on them even when he cannot afford to.”
“What cannot be accomplished by threats can often be achieved by composure. Sit and stare and let your opponent fill the silence with his own demons.”
Banana republics, foreign cowboys, embezzlement, monopolies, men of action, and the Latin American nightmare unfold alongside "a parable of the American dream—not history as it is recorded in textbooks, but the authentic, cask-strength version, a subterranean saga of kickbacks, overthrows, and secret deals: the world as it really works."
Although this book could have used a heavier handed editor, it was still very interesting despite all the author's personal interjections.
“Show me a happy man and I will show you a man who is getting nothing accomplished in this world.”
“There are times when certain cards sit unclaimed in the common pile, when certain properties become available that will never be available again. A good businessman feels these moments like a fall in the barometric pressure. A great businessman is dumb enough to act on them even when he cannot afford to.”
“What cannot be accomplished by threats can often be achieved by composure. Sit and stare and let your opponent fill the silence with his own demons.”
lgwapnitsky's review
3.0
A good story, but not Cohen's best writing. The story of Sam Zemurray is one that should be part of more history lessons
richardwells's review
3.0
Rich Cohen is an entertaining writer, but I get the feeling he's a somewhat unreliable narrator. This is the true story of Sam Zemurray, a Russian Jewish immigrant who came to this country destitute and left the world as one of its richest most powerful men, due mostly to the popularity of bananas in the USA. I would put the emphasis on "story," rather than "true," and I think Mr. Cohen works with "truthiness," as a legitimate value. Here's a for instance: someone is assassinated, Sam Zemurray knew people capable of assassination, some of the people he knew had ill feelings toward the victim, therefore one of them could have committed the crime, which would somehow implicate Zemurray. It's one stretch of many, but, in a sense, so what? Zemurray's whole story is larger than life - rags to incredible riches, with the power to replace governments, in a section of the world rife with corruption and intrigue - Central America at the time of the Banana Cowboys. O. Henry, working as a journalist, coined the phrase "Banana Republic" to describe United Fruit's holdings, and more than any individual Sam (The Banana Man) Zemurray was United Fruit.
Rich Cohen injects Rich Cohen into the story as a narrative device, stretches the truth, and manages a successful, and entertaining story that elicited an "Ah ha," or "Oh my god," or "You're kidding me," in just about every chapter, so flaws be damned, this was a fun, and informative read - I just wouldn't take it as gospel.
Rich Cohen injects Rich Cohen into the story as a narrative device, stretches the truth, and manages a successful, and entertaining story that elicited an "Ah ha," or "Oh my god," or "You're kidding me," in just about every chapter, so flaws be damned, this was a fun, and informative read - I just wouldn't take it as gospel.
lobstergal's review
3.0
So the book its self was fine but they didn't add pictures just said here is this picture let me describe it was just kind of a bizarre move and it was done constantly throughout the book.
poindextrix's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe it's because I listened to it on audio and occasionally got distracted, but this felt way too meandering.
marissadai's review against another edition
4.0
a very quick, easy read. i absolutely love cohen's style of writing - his voice is so strong and engaging, especially in his descriptions. the plot was also incredibly interesting and unique; i never know how fascinating the history of the banana industry was. the book is less a biography about samuel zemurray and more an adventure tale that spans across countries and centuries, from banana cowboys to communists, and a question of western imperialism and capitalist influence in central america. highly recommend!