My Review of "Law of the Jungle"

Paul Barrett's Law of the Jungle: The $19 Billion Legal Battle  over Oil in the Rain Forest and the Lawyer Who'd Stop at Nothing to Win explores the long-running class action lawsuit against Chevron in Ecuador in a narrative that reads like a John Grisham novel.

Law of the Jungle is the real-life story of plaintiffs' lawyer Stephen Donziger and what the book's cover describes as his "obsessive crusade -- waged at any cost" against Chevron allegedly on behalf of the inhabitants of Ecuador's Amazon rain forest.  It's also the story of how Chevron turned the tables on Donziger's corrupt scheme, filing a civil racketeering lawsuit that accused the plaintiffs' lawyer of trying to extort money from the company through massive fraud.

An, of course, Chevron won that racketeering case, when U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that Donziger had obtained a $19 billion judgment against the oil company in Ecuador by promising the ruling Ecuadorian judge a $500,000 bribe. 

This is the book for legal buffs and folks who enjoy a good rollicking time through legal maneuvering.

I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.  

My Review of "Hot Bread Kitchen Cookbook"

The Hot Bread Kitchen Cookbook is an amazing resource that has recipes for newcomers as well as seasoned chefs. While the emphasis is, indeed, on bread baking, The Hot Bread Kitchen Cookbook is a wonderful collection of recipes that accomplish exactly what the subtitle claims:  "Artisanal Baking from around the World".  The Hot Bread Kitchen, of course, employs and empowers women immigrants from around the world -- so one would expect that their cookbook would be such a wonderful resource.

It begins with a short, but surprisingly thorough, section on bread baking, which unlocks the mysteries of artisanal bakery breads. Then you're off on a trip around the world and its varied cultural breads through recipes such as m'smen, soft lavash, nan-e-barbari, tortillas, onion bialys, and stollen. When you're exhausted from that world-journey, classic bread recipes such as challah, rye, Parker House rolls, and monkey bread just waiting for a relaxing day at home with some bread to snack on.

But let me be honest here:  "Filled Doughs from Around the World" is the section that makes this book worth the purchase.

This is a cookbook that belongs on the shelf of every bread lover -- and would make the perfect Christmas gift.

I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here. 

My Review of "Cheap Chic"

Cheap Chic is a classic 70s fashion bible.  Other fashion lovers online sing its praises on the amazing tips and tricks they learn from this book on creating your own style.  Most of the women in my life are deep believers in developing their own fashion, so Cheap Chic is a great gift idea.  There are some great tips and advice on creating personal style and not being a trend follower but setter.

Cheap Chic offers wonderful tips on where to shop, where to look and how to be frugal and pick timeless pieces.  It's a must for any lady that loves the world of fashion.

 I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.