Succeeding With Agile, by Mike Cohn

Detailed examination of starting and being successful at Scrum. A little slow at the start because it describes how to start a transition (which wasn't relevant to me), but it soon got into its stride with team-building and scaling. Excellent experiences shared by the author and a tonne of interesting techniques to try. May-July 2013. 4/5.

Understanding A3 Thinking: A Critical Component of Toyota's PDCA Management System, by Durward K. Sobek II. and Art Smalley

Understanding A3 Thinking: A Critical Component of Toyota's PDCA Management System, by Durward K. Sobek II. and Art Smalley Superb explanation of a simple process in a concise but information-dense format that prompts readers to give it a try, in order to institute real change in a business environment. A few good points as to why this is more difficult in the West than in japan where it originated, which helps with understand the context and challenges. March-May 2013. 5/5.

Sabbath's Theater, by Phillip Roth

Salacious, scandalous and engrossing and uncomfortable as a result.; one man's attempted descent from peversity to depravity after the loss of his lover, the latest loss in his life. Speaks of the vitality of life, its decay, loss and grieving after. April-May 2013. 4/5.

The Big Book of Birth, by Erica Lyon and Donald Matheson

Forthright and honest, practical advice for those about to give birth. Lots of talk of using a doula during the process let it down somewhat, especially when the author is one herself, but very useful otherwise. March-April 2013. 3/5.

Globalisation, Democracy and Terrorism, by Eric Hobsbawm

More complaints from the old socialist guard about the changing world, in particular how brutal the world is now, despite other evidence to the contrary (see Pinker's latest). Also a book patched together from lectures author gave making for a unsatisfactory book. March 2013. 2/5.

Ill Fares The Land, by Tony Judt

Complaints from an old socialist about modern political life as people move away from social democratic consensus. Some good points but a lot of whingeing from someone that sounds uncomfortable at the changing of the generational guard. Also, no discussion whatsoever on how financially sustainable social democracy is, but at least a cogent criticism of identity politics & the part it's played in the current malaise. February 2013. 3/5.

The Happiest Baby on the Block, by Harvey Karp

Apparently essential manual to getting newborns to sleep, but lots of verbiage before getting to the point: 5 Ss. January 2013. 3/5.

Remarkable Creatures: A Novel, by Tracy Chevalier

Charming book of fiction building to a dramatic, heart-warming finale, about an unusual, real-world topic with real people. December 2012. 4/5.

Ponto de Encontro: Portuguese as a World Language (2nd Edition), by Clémence de Jouët-Pastré, et al

In at the deep end for learning Portuguese, emphasizing reading Portuguese texts with useful vocabulary pages at the end of each chapter, as well as access to multimedia resources for speaking and listening. Pricey though. October-December 2012. 4/5.

The Mythical Man-Month, by Frederick P. Brooks Jr.

Seminal text, although dry and dated, still a decent read. September-October 2012. 3/5.