Matt Burgess

Don't let the title fool you. Burgess is only playing with novelty to sell us a new bottle but stale wine with this book. 'Reed Hastings: Building Netflix' reads like a sophomore year's last minute copy and paste from Wikipedia with the paste consuming all substance to the article. In fact, one is left wondering as to why the publishers felt compelled to publish such a lacklustre book at the expense of a few green trees (Netflix not on the conservation brigade yet)?

Who is Reed Hastings? If Matt Burgess is to be believed, a placid and flat dimensioned figure whose quotes are gleaned from interviews decades prior and whose actions are lifted from the hazy fog of memories shared by his ex-employees. Mix in a few apocalyptic prophecies of an Amazon vs. Disney vs. Netflix battle royal and you have this tedious book which, contrary to its name, provides us with no fresh insight into either Reed Hastings, Netflix or even the publisher's motives.

My congratulations to readers picking up this book. Guys, really-just quit and watch Netflix. It will be more productive.… (plus d'informations)

I was expecting a guns'n'glory police procedural set on the mean streets of Queens all wise-cracking action peopled with cops with hearts of gold. Instead I got a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life. I was transported to the world of Janice Itwaru. Janice lives with her mother, who has early onset dementia. Her sister drops in and out of her life, causing havoc. She is estranged from her father, a recovering alcoholic who once beat her mother so badly she was hospitalised. From an early age, Janice wanted to be a spy. Now she works for NYPD Narcotics as an undercover cop, an Uncle. The book charts the last month of her contract, before her fabled elevation to Detective. I found it very revealing about the discrimination against non-white police, against women, both of which are treated as matter of fact by everyone in the 115 Narcotics team. It was also an unglamorous portrayal of life as an undercover officer, and riveting as a result. Alongside the grind of her working life, we're given an insight into Janice's personal life. I wanted to be her friend, make her a cup of tea, sit her down and work out how we could make things better. I think she needed a friend. Someone who wasn't a colleague. Matt Burgess portrays life in Queens with an affectionate honesty, and describes his characters with a quiet skill.… (plus d'informations)