DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

The New New Thing is one dozens of books that tell the story of Silicon Valley, the Web, and the rise of the dot-coms — but it’s one of the two or three that are worth reading. (Another is Po Bronson’s Nudist on the Late Shift.)

Michael Lewis spent months with Jim Clark (founder of SGI, Netscape, Healtheon, myCFO) and was treated to a view of Silicon Valley business that few people get to see. Lewis tells Clark’s story, and it is surreal.

Clark may not be entirely human. It’s not just that he’s smarter or more driven than the next guy… he is that, but more importantly, he is simply different. Lewis reveals that Clark has, effectively, no past, and possibly no present, for his interest and attention are always on the future — the next thing out there, the “new new” thing. He lives in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction, always wanting, and doing whatever it takes to get, something better. It’s fascinating, and Lewis’ storytelling makes it a joy to read.

This book is great. Even if you’re totally burned out on dot-com/dot-bomb news, if you have any interest in the Gold Rush days of the Internet, you should read this book.

Patronize these links, man:

• Amazon (hardback)
• Amazon (paperback)

Jamie Zawinski reveals one of the unforseen risks of running a nightclub in San Francisco.

What would motivate a woman to steal part of the tip left by her date at a nice restaurant?

I tried to list some possible motivations — thrift, jealousy, perceived justice, selfishness — but in the end, I can’t imagine someone actually doing this, so any reasons I imagine are likely to be incorrect.

Sheesh, I’ve actually left extra money on the table when people weren’t looking.

This story is best known as a bad Demi Moore movie, which is a pity. It’s not my favorite Hiaasen book but it’s well worth reading if you like this sort of thing, which is wonderfully described by a reviewer at Amazon (see link below): As in all Hiaasen’s tales, the climax is upbeat for the heroes while the villains reap their twisted, greatly-deserved kharma.

In a nutshell, a likeable and sympathetic stripper gets in over her head with some shady characters, and some faces familiar to Hiaasen fans help her set things right. Perhaps more than others, this book casts Florida politics in a very unflattering (but apparently accurate) light.

Patronize these links, man:

• Amazon (paperback)

Dave Barry’s first fictional novel is a wacky-south-Florida crime story in the tradition of Carl Hiaasen or Elmore Leonard. It’s a very entertaining story, perhaps a bit complicated and not quite as funny as you might expect from Barry, but well worth reading nonetheless, especially for fans of the genre.

The story is being made into a movie with huge names — tim allen, dennis farina, janeane garofalo, jason lee, rene russo, stanley tucci…

Patronize these links, man:

• Amazon (paperback)