70. In a Job Interview, How Much Does Timing Matter?

Julie Salamon's 'The Devil's Candy' provides a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the film 'Bonfire of the Vanities', exploring why it failed despite its promising premise and high-profile cast. The book offers insights into the challenges of adapting complex literature for the screen and the dynamics of Hollywood filmmaking.

The Bonfire of the Vanities is a drama that centers on three main characters: Sherman McCoy, a WASP bond trader; Larry Kramer, a Jewish assistant district attorney; and Peter Fallow, a British expatriate journalist. The novel explores the complexities of New York City in the 1980s, delving into themes of ambition, racism, social class, politics, and greed. It was originally conceived as a serial in the style of Charles Dickens and ran in 27 installments in Rolling Stone before being published in book form. The story follows the characters through their interactions and conflicts, highlighting the superficial values and hypocrisies of the city's elite and the underlying social tensions of the time.

In this book, Angela Duckworth presents a compelling argument that success is driven more by grit, a fusion of relentless passion and perseverance, than by talent. She explains what grit is, how to identify and develop it, and how it can be grown through stages such as developing interests, consistent practice, finding a pro-social purpose, and cultivating optimism. The book is structured in three parts: explaining what grit is and why it matters, how to grow grit from the inside out, and how to grow grit from the outside in, targeting parents, coaches, teachers, and organizational leaders. Duckworth supports her arguments with personal stories, historical insights, and interviews with high achievers from various fields.

This book is a comprehensive guide to the design of data graphics, featuring 250 illustrations of the best and worst statistical graphics. It covers topics such as high-resolution displays, small multiples, editing and improving graphics, the data-ink ratio, time-series and relational graphics, data maps, multivariate designs, and the detection of graphical deception. The second edition includes excellent color reproductions and corrections accumulated from previous printings.

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Frank McCourt recounts his childhood in Brooklyn and Limerick, Ireland. Born to recent Irish immigrants, Frank's family faces severe poverty and hardship due to his father's chronic alcoholism. Despite the dire conditions, Frank's father nurtures his love for storytelling, which becomes a crucial element in his survival. The memoir vividly describes the family's struggles, including near-starvation, the death of siblings, and the casual cruelty of relatives and neighbors, all told with humor, eloquence, and remarkable forgiveness.