Disclosure

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: An amazing book, I never expected to hear much from women sexually harassing men, which a lot of people think would never happen. But this book did not only prove it to me that stereotypes play roles in our society which usually aren't true, it also made me think I was in the characters on skin, trying to fight agains that stereotype. I would really recomend it, it's a very good book.

Rating:
Summary: Disclosure: A Book Review
Review: A "New York Times" #1 bestseller, Michael Crichton's book Disclosure is a thrilling novel based on the secrets and lies underlying a new age computer firm. It depicts a man caught in this nightmarish web of deceit who finds himself trapped in a power struggle, forcing him to defend himself for another's wrong-doings. Presented as a power-hungry, sexually driven woman, the man's new boss is the seductive enemy. The book's message is that the roles in any situation, including sexual harassment, are not gender-specific. In a world in which women are generally looked upon as oppressed, it is difficult for a man to fight a sexual harassment suit, just as it is difficult for anyone to overcome stereotypes. Crichton uses the character Meredith Johnson to reveal his main point that no gender is restricted to a specific part, and that certain situations stereotypically applied to one gender could just as easily be applied to the other. Meredith Johnson is first introduced in the novel as the new head of the technical division of the computer firm, which is a mild shock both to the readers and to the other characters in the novel. It is rare to see a woman in a power position, especially one demanding technical expertise. She proves to be both strong-willed and domineering, two traits typically not associated with women. Meredith further shocks the readers when she makes sexually suggestive comments to her employee, Tom Sanders, and further sexually harasses him. He finds his job threatened. Because this situation has reversed gender roles than what is typical, not a single person in his company believes that he was not the one who instigated the sexual behaviors. Through her "uncharacteristic" position of high power in a technology firm and her aggressive sexual advances, Ms. Johnson has taken on a reverse role, proving that nothing is truly gender-specific. Just as stereotypes in the past and certainly in the present, have served as barriers to those who have tried to surpass them, so do they act as a restraint for Tom Sanders, who tries to overcome the conventionalized idea that it is only women who are sexually harassed. Ironically, towards the beginning of the novel, a fellow co-worker of Tom's brings up the issue of a male employee who claims his female boss sexually harassed him. Sanders says that the harassment was probably provoked and that the man might not be telling the truth, saying that he thinks this way not because he discredits the man's story, but simply because it is a statistic that men are the harassers and women the harassed. Later, when Sanders proclaims that he was sexually harassed, no one can believe that a forty-one year old man rejected the sexual advances of an extremely attractive thirty-six year old woman, and so they presume that Sanders is lying. Sanders' lawyer even so much as says that he has no case; that there is so much bias against men in sexual harassment lawsuits that he will lose the case, thereby destroying his life. Therefore, he has been trapped in a no-win situation because of the overriding stereotypes about men in cases involving sexual harassment. In Disclosure, Michael Crichton illustrates a picture of a computer industry based on manipulation and false trust, in which the delicate balance of power teeters on the edge of destruction. It is the story of a man who cannot escape the psychological games going on behind closed doors. Crichton succeeds in proving that even the law cannot defeat the power of stereotypes, specifically in sexual harassment cases, despite validation that, especially in today's world, gender roles have significantly dissipated.

Rating:
Summary: My, my, how refreshing.
Review: When I read this I was positively delighted. It tackles such an issue that many simply would avoid. We must remember that it is indeed a contraversial subject, but we must not shy away from it. Crichton certainly does not, and he hits it head on. But with an added twist; the sexual harrassment charge comes from a man-which (with tradition) rarely happens. One must draw on this fact because it allows the book so much more potential. It shows the issue in a different light, and ultimately proves that there are always different ways of looking at things.

The characters themselves are superb. We are trapped into the desperation of our leading role and actually feel for him when all seems to be lost. This sense of hopelessness is magnified by the fact that he is trying to fight a corner which is not well covered. Crichton, if you like, enlightens us on this matter. He forces us to think again about sexual politics and how the nature of both sexes can become confused.

A very significant work that begs for your attention. Read this, see what Crichton is talking about and then look at your own world and see the links.

Rating:
Summary: Disclosure like reading a movie
Review: Disclosure has all the action and suspense as a courtroom drama. You sit down and read it and you cant put it down. Each character works him or her self in to a position and then climbs out in ways that you could never imagine. I recommend this to any one who wants an escape form reality.

Rating:
Summary: Crichton's best book
Review: This book is one of my all-time favorites. Actually I had seen the movie before I read the book and I must tell you that the book is much better than the movie (as it usually is).

The story is about Tom Sanders, the would-be vice president of the computer company DigiCom. The company is about to merge with another company. A Monday Sanders finds out he won't be vice-president, instead of that her ex-girlfriend, Meredith Johnson comes in as the new vice-president.

The story is great because of the role reversal. You can hear that male harass their female subordinates but what's rarely heard that a female leader harasses her male subordinate. Maybe you wouldn't believe it if you'd hear it. The story is great because you never know whom you can trust and what is the role of the people in the company. It seems that what's obvious for everyone isn't obvious for Sanders and that there's something that nobody knows about. Crichton manages to create a frightening atmosphere where you'll never know what happens next.

I liked all the characters and I liked Meredith as well. All in all this is a great book and a pageturner you can't put down. I think this is the best book of Michael Crichton.

Rating:
Summary: Amoral Office Politics Taken to a Worldly Extreme
Review: Let me make it clear that I am reviewing the abridged audio cassette version of Disclosure as performed by John Lithgow.

This novel is seriously flawed by concocting two of the most amoral and unscrupulous corporate characters imaginable to the most paranoid author. Machiavelli would not have found these people credible either. These characters are way "over the top" for me. They would not have lasted in any company that I have ever run into. I graded the book down two stars for this extreme weakness. If you believe that there are people willing to cut every possible corner operating at the top of major American corporations, you will probably find this to be a five star book. If you think that people who run companies are pretty much like everyone else in terms of how intrigued they are by power and money, then you will have difficulties accepting the premises of this book.

The basic story line is very intriguing, building on a role reversal of the typical sexual harrassment charges. A male executive, Tom Sanders, is accused of sexually harrassing his new female boss, and former lover. He, in turn, accuses her of sexually harrassing him. The incident itself turns out to be simply one scene of a five act play involving larger corporate issues. In the process, you will learn a great deal about how sexual harrassment law has become an area where the accused and the victims both have little to gain. Also, you will see how false charges can be used as powerful leverage inside a company or other workplace. The book also contains interesting tidbits of information about the history of sexual harrassment and what the law describes it as.

As a reader, I urge you to be patient with the sexual harrassment scene. It is overtly phony . . . but that has a literary purpose. I can say no more without affecting your enjoyment of the novel.

John Lithgow does a tremendous job with his reading of this abridgement. One of my favorites amongst his stylings is a loud sniff that precedes every sentence uttered by the pompous corporate general counsel. I could hardly keep from laughing aloud whenever Mr. Lithgow did this. He has a very versatile voice and ability to handle many accents well, and thus moves easily among the different sexes, ages, and ethnic backgrounds of the characters. The audio cassettes are also very well produced, and are helped by the addition of some music to heighten the tension.

If you find you don't like the beginning of the book, stick with it. I thought that the second half of the novel was unusually well plotted and developed. There is a virtual reality section that will amuse almost any reader.

There is a mystery inside the sexual harrassment issue for Tom Sanders to solve. For mystery fans, you will find this mystery pretty simple to unravel. So don't buy the book expecting the return of Sherlock Holmes. You will probably have the mystery's conclusion figured out within the first 25 percent of the book. The unraveling of the mystery is done very well though, so it's fun just to listen to how Dr. Crichton manages it.

After you finish reading this book, I suggest you be sure that everyone in your workplace knows what your policies are on prohibiting sexual harrassment. Also, be sure to have a code of ethics to cover everything that could come up, not just sexual harrassment. With those two actions, you will probably avoid the terrible situations described in Disclosure where you work. That would be good for all.

Encourage the pursuit of ethical profits . . . rather than profits for their own sake.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific!
Review: This is a great book - past paced, believable and with really well drawn characters (don't let the movie put you off). In fact I read it in one sitting - you know how this happens - I'll just see what happens in the next chapter and before you know it you've finished!

Michael Chrichton has done a believable job in painting sexual harrassment in the workplace, but with a bit of a twist. It is very entertaining, and I recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping, Captivating, Wonderful...
Review: These are all words that I would use to describe this book. It's one of the 2 best books that I've read in quite a long time. As other readers said, starting about page 25, I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to read the next page and then the next. I've only finished two books within 48 hours and this was one of them. This work is absolutely wonderful reading. I would highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down
Review: I read this book in two days and simply couldn't stop reading. Although it starts slow, it quickly becomes a masterpiece of suspense and intrigue, and its subject matter is still certainly relevant today. I imagine that some will be put off by Crichton's use of language or his controversial message, but I must acknowledge the work of a master, for this is truly an amazing and compelling book.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Michael Crichton has done it again. I have to admit that going into this book I was suspicious that Michael Crichton was not going to be able to pull this one off. He is famed for his technical mumbo-jumbo plots that some how seem to make it atop the bestseller list. He is able to mix enough technical details in the book but lets the common reader be able to understand what he is talking about. Disclosure is not a typical book for Michael Crichton. He takes a hot topic in the workplace and turns it around to make it very interesting. If this book was about a woman claiming sexual harrassment then it would be a dud. It's too common. The main character is a person that you would want to hang around with in real life. But on the other hand, the villian is somebody that you love to hate. Crichton does a good job developing the characters and the plot. He is able to keep you interested until he unveils the major starting point of the conflict. Some of the things that are talked about in the book are out of date but you can get past that. The ending is fascinating. Dislosure is a roller coaster ride that will keep you reading at a break neck speed. 5 stars