Bob Harris (1) (1963–)

I"m not sure if I should even give this one star, just for discussing how things work backstage at Jeopardy. On further thought---

I won't--because there are other books that do it also, and this book doesn't deserve any stars. I'm not sure what I disliked more; his awful attempt at humor every few sentences (for example, Harris is giving a hint on what type of categories to expect on the 4th of July--he mentions "Betsy Ross", "Fort McHenry" and "Things That Look Cool Blowing Up". Ugh), the fact that it took too long to get thru the book due to the endless recounting of almost EVERY question on EVERY game he played, complete with clue and answer in the form of a question, or the fact that some of his humor actually WAS phrased in the form of a question.

One chapter where the author describes his childhood is constantly interrupted with the story of a receipt from a rubber manufacturer, and his musings about what was purchased there years ago (since he forgot). Annoying!!!! Later on, the receipt is brought up AGAIN with the final answer. Just in case you have a masochistic streak, and want to read this book---I won't be telling you the item, to avoid spoiling the little surprise for you.

I can't even feel sympathy for his ill sister, because the way he describes her chronic pain and sickness is....well; too glib. Harris calls himself a comedian, but I say he is someone who needs to stop the schtick and act like a normal person. A writer he is not. He would've been better off getting a ghost writer, someone to cut through all the crap and create an enthralling tale of what it actually is like to be a contestant on Jeopardy.

Enough of this. I need a shower to wash the dreck off me.… (mer)

Bob Harris was writing an article on the world's most luxurious hotels. Appalled at the waste he saw and the gulf between the lives of the richest and the poorest--Bob decided to take the fees he earned and do something good with it. He researched and began loaning funds out through Kiva and other micro-lending organizations. He then traveled the world and met some of the real individuals who are recipients of those funds to hear their stories and find out how those relatively small loans can make a huge difference downstream.

In his book International Bank of Bob: Connecting Our Worlds One $25 Kiva Loan at a Time, Harris connects the story to his own background--from roots in Appalachian poverty his own parents moved up for a better opportunity. He describes the long hours his own father put in--and how he sees that and his mother time and again reflected in these hard working individuals around the world.

He also tells the bigger story of micro lending in the book--of Kiva and other organizations--their successes and failures. This is as much a travelogue of the world's poorest regions. He does it with humor and respect for those he meets (except in a couple cases the individuals are not told that he was their benefactor).

I've been a big fan myself of Kiva, and also organizations like D-Rev and Room to Read that are on the ground solving real problems.

In this vein, here are other books I would recommend on globalization and giving back:

Travels of a T-Shirt in a Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli
An economics professor chases the economics of a simple t-shirt around the world and it's effect on the economy--from it's creation in a factory to a used clothing economy in Africa.

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood
John Wood left his career at Microsoft to start and fund Room to Read and libraries all over the world.

The World is Flat by Thomas Friedmann
Friedmann explains the economics of globalization.

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
Diamond explains how history and resources has benefited some groups over others.

The Soul of Money by Lynn Twist
Lessons on how to give back.

Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Ehrenreich joins the working poor working for minimum wage to show the endless cycle of poverty.… (mer)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a major Jeopardy! fan, so I loved the behind-the-scenes descriptions, and the blow-by-blow descriptions of trying to recall obscure facts while mastering the buzzing-in timing, which is key. Bob Harris excels at describing his thought process and inner dialogue.

The book also looks at the memory techniques he used, and at his personal life. It is often laugh-out-loud funny and often very touching and profound.

After finishing this book, I watched Jeopardy! last night with new eyes. If you like the show, you must read this!… (mer)