5 comments about Once in Golconda (Wiley Investment Classics).

1. Once in Golconda is a well-written financial history book. The setting is 1920s and 30s Wall Street. The drama centers around Richard Whitney, who falls from grace like the hero in a Greek tragedy. During the '29 crash, Whitney himself (he was president of the NYSE at the time) strode onto the floor of the exchange and bought U.S. Steel (and other blue chips) to temporarily halt the slide. In the aftermath, Whitney literally stole from widows and orphans and was sent to prison. An excellent example of a financial history book that is not dry and unreadable.



2. This book brings the Depression to life. The writing is erudite and the author's decision to tell the story through the life of one individual makes it personal, more than a "dry" history. A time that should not be forgotten, a story that should not be forgotten.



3. Times may change, but human nature does not. "Once in Golconda" is a play-by-play of the worst financial disaster ever to befall the U.S.-- at least until now. Yet, unfortunately so many of its lessons have faded. Eighty years may have passed since the events described in it took place, but this book reads like living history of the most timely sort-- it covers the first years of the roaring twenties to the last years of the groaning thirties-- and has so many parallels to what's going right now that it's downright eerie.
   
   There are superficial differences of course, we have different characters (They: Charles E. Mitchell, Albert Wiggin, et al-- We: Stanley O'Neal, Richard Fuld, et al.), and we have, of course, developed far more sophisticated ways of circumventing fair standards, decent practices, and common sense. But at their core the greed, the recklessness, and the hubris of then versus now is as similar as one malignant strain of virus to another.
   Fast-money, fear; booms, busts; glory, and disgrace are all part of the story line, and believe me it is one that will have you turning pages as fast as any Grisham thriller, while shaking your head that so many of its lessons about free markets, easy credit, and wishful thinking have either been forgotten or forsaken.
   After reading John Brooks's brilliant expose, surely no historically knowledgeable Fed head would feed speculation by keeping interest rates recklessly low as Benjamin Strong did in the twenties; or any Congress and President be complicit with or cowed into watering down or repealing hard-won safeguards (Glass Steagall eraser Phil Gramm, anyone...?) by special interests. Just as today, "Once in Golconda" reports industry leaders celebrating economic growth while railing against the onerous, anti-capitalist evils of transparency, oversight, and "anti-competitive" regulation-- all while the bubble they were blowing kept expanding. Then, once it popped, many of those same leaders scurried off, carpetbags bulging with slippery loot, leaving both the markets and the economy shattered.
   Everyone should read this book. Maybe then, we could avoid the financial devastation of a casino capitalism that demands socialist-style bailouts. Maybe then people would demand accountability from management, and clarity on how their hard earned retirement funds are being bet, borrowed, and blown. Fat chance.
   History is indeed just variations on a theme and "Once in Golconda" shows us how easily we are led not only to march to the same drummer, but, before we know it, right off the same old cliff.



4. This book was first published in 1969, but remains particularly topical today, in the world of hedge funds and private equity pools. It's all there-- the stock manipulation, the insider trading, the coordinated bear raids and bull pools, the senseless leverage, the lack of regulatory controls, the laissaiz faire Republican administrations, a terrorist attack, the boundless greed and the ruined reputations. Only, it's the 1920's and '30's. History repeats itself. Brooks' account is meticulously researched and the writing flows very easily. Can you believe a corner in the stock of the Stutz Bearcat Company? It happened with ruinous results for everyone involved.I give it to friends in the financial world for their education and amusement, and also as a cautionary tale.



5. This book documents exactly how lack of regulation and lack of protection from shortsellers was such a serios contributor to the stock market crash. Unfortunately nobody in the SEC read this book 5 years ago or we won't be in the mess the market/casino is in right now. Shorts like Joe Kennedy targeted specific companies and drove them into the hands of competitors or out of business, sound familiar? A few other reviewers mentioned how there was a massive short squeeze in Stutz stock, the rest of the story is the guy that pulled it off was barred from the exchange because the leaders of the exchange had been short and lost money. 5 or 10 years from now we will find out who was behind this massive transformation of the competitive landscape and don't be surprised if it is the banks/brokers that appear to be the 'survivors' right now.

5 comments about The Logical Trader.

1. In the course of 25 years, I've traded on the floors of the (3) major exchanges (stocks, options, and futures) as well as trading upstairs for a leading "prop trading house", and for my own account.
   
   Suffice it to say I've interrogated and/or tested out a wide variety of 'systems'--and the fact is Mark Fisher's approach is actually one of very few that have merit. For (4) very logical reasons.
   
   Reason #1.
   When followed properly, the ACD Method can work for just about any actively traded product. Stocks, futures, and some fixed income products--as long as you have access to real-time data, a good charting package, and the ability to execute in quick fashion...
   
   Reason #2. Fisher has incorporated a quantitative approach that involved significant back-testing..Pretty straight-forward thinking--every product trades based on trends. And the trade date speaks for it self..Its understanding how to interpret it without overthinking it.
   
   Reason #3 Perhaps the most important--"Fish" has been using this system since he first developed it at Wharton 25 years ago. Its commmon knowledge within the New York and Chicago trading floor markets that he's one of the most consistently profitable traders in the industry---and explains why Trader Monthly Magazine included him in their Top 5 Best of The Rest listing--(their poll is apparently based on rumored annual earnings)..Each of his prop traders--(rumor is that more than 50 are managing capital that he's put up} are required to use this approach...I've asked around...most have been with him for 10 years or more, and those that have left have simply done so because they made so much money, they decided to set up their own prop trading businesses.
   
   The "system" as he explains in the book, is a function of the user embracing a disciplined approach..Hitting singles, riding profits, and taking loses without any emotion is the most fundamental aspect of successful trading..If you don't embrace that, there's no system in the world, including Fisher's ACD Approach, that will work.
   
   Reason #4. When you read the book, you'll want to read it twice--you need to appreciate some basic mathematic principles, and you need to be able to understand how to follow a variety of diagrams (he makes it easy...ACD Method is available on a daily basis via a subscription service over a website.)..
   
   There's never a guarantee when it comes to trading...but between the approach, and the philosophy that Fisher imparts on the reader, this is really very logical.



2. I will spare you from a synopsis of this book and get straight to the pros and cons of what this book is about. First of all, I want to say that I adopted the ACD method and am having some great success with it. This does not mean you will though. I have read many books on systems and have only really felt connected with this system. If your looking for others books
   on par or above this check out Carter's "Mastering the Trade," Douglas' "Disciplined Trader" and "Trading in the Zone."
   
   Pros:
   -The thing that is really great about Fisher's system is that it is very flexible. It is not for novices though. It is not a black box system, it is simply a loose structure that (after mastering) gives more freedom with trading.
   
   -It can be applied to any trading entity. This point really cannot be pushed enough. A lot of traders do not understand how important this fact is. The ability to apply a Good C Up Through Pivot (What Fisher claims is a high probability trade) to ANY entity in trading will have you trading better opportunities more often, unlike, say, Carter's TICK fading system that can only be applied to the main Eminis.
   
   -The choice is in your hands. This is not a system that overrides your pyschology in an attempt to dampen your natural reactions to market events. All too often we are told that we need to eliminate fear and greed from the equation, but in reality, suppression of these emotions can create sub par results. It is only after accepting and working with your own unique psychology that you can maximize your trading (see "The Disciplined Trader").
   
   -You get to pick the other indicators. For example, you really only need to nab the opening range and the A values to create your own system. Instead of C values and his pivots, you could use the daily pivots like r1 r2 s1 s2, etc. Or support and resistances from other sources, or even stochastics, MACD, or anything else really that is to your taste.
   
   -The ease with which a day trade can become a swing trade or vice versa. Because of the flexibility in this system, and the rules he lays out, it is easy to see when to take a day trade over night and when to sell it, all based on the probabilities that that day presents. This system is VERY good at showing you when you can press your bets and when you can test the waters, all with the probabilities ON YOUR SIDE.
   
   Cons
   -I think the major con that most people complain about is the fact that Fisher does not provide the ways to calculate the A and C values. If you go to his website though and read his Q&A, he tells you that when in doubt, take 25 percent of the 30 day average range of said entity. This equation is quite simple with most charting technologies (AVG30(H-L) comes to mind). I trade this system and I do not subscribe to anything of his and it works quite well. At the moment, for the QQQQ, the A value is 13 cents.
   
   -I wish the "Macro ACD" chapter was a bit clearer. While I understand the reasoning behind it, he only really hints at what it means that a -9 or +9 day occurs; does this mean we should go long/short for the long run? Does it mean that that day will be a trending day? A chop day? should we look for a new trend to start (what I suspect)?
   
   -The information provided in this book is not well laid out. I had to reread many sections, and between the lines to really get across what he was trying to say in certain parts. And part of the reason I was even able to discern those facts is because I have experience with other systems and trading in general, a novice would be hard pressed IMO to create a working system from this book.
   
   Conclusion: All in all, I believe this book was worth the price FOR ME. If you already have a system that works for you, by all means, don't throw your money at this book. It can be easily summed up by saying. Take your favorite day trading time segment (ex. 5 minute), put lines at the first bar of the day or this segment, aka "opening range," take 25percent of that entity's 30day average range(H-L), put lines above and below the "opening range" by this number, use all lines as support and resistance, and apply any other indicators you like to them. But then again, most really good systems are simple like that, they simply let the trader's experience guide them. This book will have a place on my bookshelf for sure, but I doubt I would put it with "Reminiscences" like PTJ.



3. I will spare everyone with a long review. My point is simple if you attribute pivot point C & D to a proprietary algorithm. And directing reader to subscription service to uncover the C & D magic number. Why price the book to $65 or $35. How would a paying reader benefit. You may as well have a blog about it on the internet for FREE, may be that could bring more customer to author's subscription service and spare a reader from reading a long advertisement. What a waste of time and money even though I read only first few pages and stopped when he started talking about secret variables.



4. I found Fisher's book quite by accident.
   
   Having spent the last four years intensively investigating every possible text or method that might teach me success in the markets, I decided to find out what this book was about. I was pleasantly surprised.
   
   I had already decided that the primary reason I was not successful, or not very successful, was not lack of market knowledge, but lack of discipline. Fisher is very clear in this text, that a method and the discipline to follow it, are what he views as the primary tools for success. He gives clear descriptions of his strategies, and he is able to relay his descriptions in an easy to follow manner. I read the complaints in other reviews about the lack of specific market information to use with these strategies. That is true. Yet the book is still well worth the money.
   
   You will not necessarily learn more about the markets with this text.
   You will learn more about how to be a trader.



5. Unfortunately this book which promises so much is just another "Bait and Switch"... I am a full time trader of 10 years, very experienced and I like to explore new ideas that people come up with but the trading approach in this book is heavily dependant on the authors "secret" formula.. BUT... already on page 14 the author states speaking of his approach...."These variables are based on our own proprietary research, the process of which I won't share with you except to say that the ACD values are based on the volatility measurements of a particular stock.." ... SO WHAT DID I PAY $50 ##### BUCKS FOR THIS BOOK THEN IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO REVEAL YOUR FORMULAS TO ME??? I read this book twice and I am so SICK and TIRED of ordering a book promising some new approach to the stock market and then you DON'T GET WHAT IS PROMISED!!!!!! There is a lot of technical jargon in this book.. all of which does not make sense unless you have the formula which the author states in the beginning of the book he is not going to give you! Its one thing when you receive a cheesy spam email promising you a new trading technique absolutely FREE and then they try to sucker you into signing up and paying to get the full info. But I already payed $50 [...] for this book... why do I have to pay more by signing up the authors website to make the book functional??? BAIT AND SWITCH. All the glowing reviews of this book are probably friends of the author to help him advertise... If the author would like to contact me directly and clarify things for me.. maybe I am mistaken... and I will gladly retract my negative review, but until then I cannot reccomend this book. MARK FISHER email me at [...] and tell me why you can't give the PAYING customers who bought your book the entirety of your system. Not a happy camper here.

3 comments about How to Prepare for the AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics (Barron's How to Prepare for the Ap Macroeconomics/Microeconomics Advanced Placement Examination).

1. When compared to the Princtons review book, I found that the tests in the Barrons book were too easy. The rest of the book is well laid ou though and explanations are clear and concise. I took the micro and macro tests in may 06 and got 5s on both. But this was mostly because of the princeton book & going online to the ap website.
   macro: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/members/article/1,3046,152-171-0-2083,00.html
   micro: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/members/article/1,3046,152-171-0-2084,00.html



2. I used both this book and the Priceton Review, and I have to say the Princeton Review one is much better.
   The Barron's one appears to have lots of practice questions, but really, towards the middle of the book they leave out free-response questions. Instead, they tell you to solve the question that was provided in the middle of that chapter.
   It was as if they wrote this on a deadline and rushed through the entire thing. The content seemed inadequate and explanations were poor. Their attempts to make funny remarks to appeal to the teenage audience were often inappropriate or left the reader confused.
   Barron's is usually my first choice for AP prep, but the AP economics book is one exception.
   However, you might want to buy this anyway since it comes with 2 practice tests that you could use.



3. Too easy: the review is too sparse and too basic to be useful. The AP test will require a much more rigorous preparation than this guide can provide.
   
   Too many mistakes: surprisingly, some of the answers provided to the review questions at the end of each chapter are clearly wrong (which is easily verifiable by a look back at the chapter). Examples: Chapter 3 question 3 should be A. Chapter 5 free response question -- the answer is given as "B" -- is this a joke? Chapter 8 #3 should be D and #5 should be C. Chapter 10 #1 should be D. Chapter 11 #2 should be E. Maybe there are more, but these are the ones I have found so far.
   
   Too few practice problems: There are only 5 multiple choice practice problems per chapter. Answers are given, though they are often wrong, and no explanations are provided (however, the practice test does have explanations). A free response question is often omitted (the author refers back to a problem given within the chapter itself). The questions are easier than the actual AP test, which is disappointing for a review book.
   
   I would suggest going with the Princeton Review version, at least for this AP test.

5 comments about Great Boom Ahead: YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO PERSONAL AND BUSINESS PROFIT IN THE NEW ERA OF PROSPERITY.

1. Harry S. Dent, Jr.'s book is remarkable both for the overall accuracy of its predictions and for the simplistic model upon which those predictions depend. Written in 1993, it claims a niche within the general family of "trend" books written by the likes of Alvin Toffler and John Naisbitt. The work anticipated our current era of super bullish markets, which it predicts will continue through 2007. The crystal ball drops a few items, given that a few years have passed since publication. Nonetheless, it offers a clear macroeconomic forecast and investment tool. If you sense the Fed just doesn't get the New Economy, this is the book for you. We [...] recommend this book to those seeking to understand the United States' era of record-breaking economic gains (and Japan's current hard times).



2. Well supported by fact and Examples. Just wish I had read it years earler as I could have saved many $. I just couldn't put it down. Now I wouldn't be without it.



3. An update on this 1992 book "The Great Boom Ahead" from the perspective of 2003. First, Harry Dent is the eternal optimist and this earlier book correctly predicted the bull market of the 90s, while Robert Prechter, Martin Weiss, Nick Guarino, etc. were all wrong (in their timing at least) in predicting a downturn and depression to occur. But wait....the 2000-2002 downturn that cost so many investors money has at least opened a few eyes. And on pages 16, 18 and 34-36 of this book Harry Dent himself predicts the "Mother of all Depressions" to arrive around 2010, when the baby boomers' spending spree is over and they begin to retire. So the eternal optimist Harry Dent AGREES with the eternal pessimists and "doom-n-gloomers" about the inevitable outcome. They just disagree on the timing. So somewhere between 2004 - 2010 we can expect the largest downturn in U.S. history since 1929-1932. Enjoy the rest of the boom !!



4. Harry Dent really made a spectacular call back in 1993 in this book about the tremendous rise in the Dow during the 90's. He even predicted the slump in 2002-2003. His ideas of why this happened are presented in a simple theme that I found very intuitive. This book is a gem.
   As for other books by Mr. Dent, he decided to contradict himself and go for very unrealistic goals for the Dow. Read this book and ONLY this book. Too late to make a killing on the stock market but still time to get out of stocks before the coming slump.
   UPDATE November, 2008:
   Amazing. Forget about ALL of Mr. Dent's predictions after this book was written. Here are some direct quotes from this book. And he wrote this in 1993.
   Mr. Dent states very clearly on page 16 "The next great depression will be from 2008 to 2023. How long will the depression last? 12 to 15 years. Why? The peak of the baby boom births occurred between 1957 in 1961. The next wave of births did not turn up until 1973 to 1976, or 12 to 15 years later. So you can expect a major economic downturn, starting around 2008 and lasting to around 2022 to 2023. No amount of government stimulus will prevent it, just as it didn't prevent the Great Depression of the 1930s." Now he wrote this book in 1993! Housing "housing will grow dramatically from 2000 to 2004".
   Business failure. "This is a period of reckoning for the excesses that develop in the growth boom. As they prosper, industries invest far too much and building capacity in the race for leadership in growth markets. Therefore, when consumer demands drop predictably after a peak of a generation's spending wave, the economy is left with a pool of excess capacity. Price wars result from everybody dumping product at lower prices. A shakeout occurs, leading to the survival of the fittest. Only strong companies with greatest economic scale and brand loyalties will survive these times. This shakeout process results in layoffs and bankruptcies, which generate persistently high levels of unemployment and deflation in prices. Depressions occur at very specific time in the industry cycle. They can be predicted, and even tempered, but not prevented."
   1993. He predicted this in 1993.



5. In 1993 I'd have rated this book 5 Stars. It was a great book leading up to the late 90s boom. But it's now 17 years old and there have been too many macro changes to consider this a best buy for the times. Only the demographics remain the same.
   
   In 2000 he predicted the DOW hitting 40,000 and repeated it in his 2004 book. In 2006 he changed it to 16000 to 18000. His latest prediction is 20000 by 2009. Bottom line is that if you make enough predictions one of them is bound to be correct --- sooner or later.

5 comments about Trading Rules that Work: The 28 Lessons Every Trader Must Master.

1. This guide blueprints 28 rules for trading success. Straightforward and simple in their statement, they are pregnant with meaning for anyone who has ever ventured into a zero-sum trade.
   
   Jason Alan Jankovsky is the exception to the rule that those who "can, do and those who cannot, write books." Leaf through this book's first few pages and you will quickly recognize the depth of his insight. His rules are clearly and concisely stated. The author explains the psychology behind each. His explanations drip with the insight that can only be bought with one's money on the line. Once understood, the rule becomes easier to employ.
   
   The rules, perhaps they are better defined as guidelines fall into four categories:
   
   * Part One: Getting in the Game outlines the psychology of market price action.
   * Part Two: Cutting Losses shows you how to protect yourself in today's markets--even when it is emotionally difficult to do so--by developing a set of unique trading rules.
   * Part Three: Letting Profits Run covers the few simple rules you should follow in order to remain in a winning trade.
   * Part Four: Trader Maxims examines trading's most common rules.
   
   
   When I read the work of a master, and make no mistake, Jankovsky has earned that title, I always pick up something. Personally, Part Two was a revelation. I had never thought to commit my personal trading rules to paper. Detailed, specific and goal-oriented rules that can be review each day - both before the opening and after the close. It was hard work writing them. It is even worse, trying to remain true to them. Yet I have seen a discernible improvement in my discipline as a result of this exercise
   
   Successful trading takes discipline, desire, knowledge, and skill. The 28 rules, insights, and guidelines found in this book will push you towards your goal of consistent trading success in what for many is anything but.



2. It's obvious that the author has had the benefit of either having attended a workshop, or personally worked with experts in the field of trading such as Alexander Elder, Larry Pesavento, and the like. He has tried to duplicate the expertise that these leaders in the world of trading live and breathe, however, it is apparent, that the author is still learning, but still provides those of us novices some great insight.
   
   Not a negative by any means ~ as in my title, this is a good book for the novice who has no prior education in trading such as myself, or someone again, like myself, who only has expertise in psychology as a clinical psychologist, and needs to understand the underlying components of trading the markets. So, overall, a very decent work.



3. If you are looking for a how-to book on trading, forget it.
   If you are looking for set-ups, entry points, etc. forget it.
   If you are looking for a list of trading rules, save your money, you can find (basically) these same rules for free on the web.
   Actually READING this book will not help you AT ALL.
   
   Then, why do I give Trader X/Jankovsky's book 5 stars? Because in my view it is simply the best trading book out there, provided that you use it not as some sort of recipe, but as it was meant, as food for thought.
   
   Keep in mind that the premise of the book was to explain why rules DO NOT work (you can clearly see the marketing people hand in the title, can't you?). Actually, if you think that you can have a set of rules handed to you, follow them and then trade profitable, be ready to join the legions of guru followers that waste both their money and their time because they simply REFUSE TO THINK. If you don't believe me, read some of the other reviews of this book.
   
   Jorge



4. First, let me say that I do recommend this book to any trader no matter what level they are at.
   
   I did like what Mr. Jankovsky is trying to point out to traders out there - that there is more to trading than just a trade "strategy". There are some things in this book that a trader needs to really think about ie their trade plan, thinking thru your exit strategy, really think about your own psychology, etc, which is where the 2 stars came from in my review of this book.
   
   However, the book falls short of really giving the reader something useful in other areas. For example, 80% or so of market movement are traders getting out of their positions. That's great to know - but how do I trade with that knowledge? If I look at a chart now with that knowledge will I see where to get in and to short now or go long? No, because he doesn't explain how to actually use that knowledge. Another concept from the book: you have to ask yourself where is the loser? Well, again, how does that help me? He doesn't point out how to see where the losers are. That's like saying "You really need to go long when price hits the bottom." Ok, but how do I know where the bottom is? The ideas like that he presents is about as useful as "Buy low, sell high."
   
   He seems to be little negative about technical analysis and how that doesn't work and that the real question is where is the crowd going to panick and figure out that their long is no longer valid and decide to bail out. But again, he doesn't tell us how to determine that. HELLO!!! You don't need to sit there and try to get into trader's minds that you can't even see or know because there is this thing called "technical analysis" that incorporates all the emotions and strengths and weaknesses! For example, if I see a big spiked rejection hammer at the top of a run, I don't have to take 15 minutes and talk to myself trying to evaluate what all the traders were thinking when that happened - a hammer at the top of a run shows huge weakness. Period. Done. If there is another way to determine what the bulk of traders are thinking, then I wish Mr. Jankovsky would have shared it with us. If there was, then why didn't he simply tell us how? He wrote this entire book, but then didn't really tell us anything about how to determine things like that. It's like writing a book on the cure for cancer, but never actually giving out the formula for the drug. Very frustrating to read this book in that regard.
   
   But the other things mentioned in the begininng of my review do make this book worthwhile to read.



5. DESDE MI PUNTO DE VISTA, CREO QUE ES UN LIBRO CON MAS DE LO DE SIEMPRE. CREO QUE NO APORTARA ALGO RELEVANTE.

3 comments about Managing in a Global Economy: Demystifying International Macroeconomics (Economic Applications, InfoTrac® Printed Access Card).

1. I had the opportunity to take a Macroeconomics class with Professor Marthinsen when he was putting the final touches on the book. It is easily the most accessible economics text I have read, which was important because I was a Psychology major in undergrad (not a business major). The book has a great blend of being comprehensive/thorough while still being accessible. I recommend it to any MBA interested in understanding macroeconomics and how these macro factors can influence a business.



2. I happened to be one of the student who had access to this texbook a year before it was released. Fantastic Material! You really start getting the Macro Econimic picture in terms of where the exchange rates, interest rates are headed etc. Great book for a person who wants to understand forecast the state of economy and its business impact



3. Not sure why it took such a long time for the book to arrive when shipping within the US.

5 comments about Miserly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two-Income Economy.

1. This is a fabulous book on this subject. It is now slightly dated but still a great book to spur ideas. I would recommend it!



2. I found this book used at the bookstore and traded some unwanted books to get it, and that was the best "purchase" I have made in a long time. Other reviewers who say that she does focus heavily on food are correct, but for me that was great, because I do spend a lot on food and it seemed like a good place to start.
   
   She shares general tips as well about places that commonly eat up our money, so it is a good book to get started with because it is focused in one direction and also has a lot of springboards for other areas of your life where you can save. Her tips never seemed like they went too far or would make me feel deprived, in fact a lot of her tips are based around developing more awareness of where your money is going, and she has a lot of ideas that I found very helpful.
   
   So this is a great book to get started with, especially a used copy (I have an older edition and am finding it helpful even though some of the prices are outdated), and then when you have squeezed the usefulness out of this book, go for the Tightwad Gazette next. The Tightwad Gazette is a bit overwhelming for beginners, so I do recommend this book first. I have gotten a lot out of it.



3. This book is a must have for any woman transitioning from "work outside the home" to "stay at home". It is chock full of wisdom and great ideas! This is no "wash & reuse your plastic baggies" kind of book. It has fantastic practical helps on everything from helping your grocery budget to making your own play-dough and non-toxic cleaning products. I have read and re-read this book many times.



4. I don't really think this book gives much depth on the art of living on less. I would recommend The Tightwad Gazette if you want to learn to live on one income and look for this one at the library, there is really very little advice that isn't obvious.



5. I read this book for clues on how to become a stay at home mom. I purchased quite a few books and found this one to be most helpful. She not only tells you how to do it, she gives great examples of what she did that worked and what didn't work!

4 comments about Organizational Behavior: Managing People and Organizations.

1. I had to buy this book for a college management class. The material is painfully obvious. However, if you've lived you're entire life living in a dark, dank room eating Cheetos and watching MTV, then this book will be a watershed for you. If, on the otherhand, you are looking for some solid management theory, this book is not for you. If you have to buy this book for a course like I did, remember, you can always sell it to someone who hasn't read it yet.



2. The book is fairly comprehensive in terms of its scope. We are currently using the book at our Organizational Behavior class, and it's proved to be an excellent reference. The way it is structured (for the reader) makes in-depth reading or skimming through it (let's face it: this is the reality for most working MBA students!) equally effective. It has clearly distinguishable definitions on the margins, which can serve as a cue for the topic, along with the summaries at the end of every chapter. The intro and closing "cases" provided around the topic of the chapter are VERY insightful and on every other page or so, there are examples about the matter being discussed, which help with the understanding (I know that I, as an Engineer, appreciate examples to illustrate a point). Finally, the illustrations (graphs and charts) are one of the best things the book has! Remember that phrase that used to say "a picture is worth a thousand words"? Well, the authors epithomize it. The charts in the book do a great job at conveying entire pages of information at a time in a very efficient way. All in all, I like the book a lot, and it's been very helpful in complementing our in-class discussions about cases and topics of Organizational Behavior.



3. Nice treatment of management. I learned a lot from this book.



4. This book presents the most recent research on many aspects of organizational behavior very clearly. Although it is targeted at students learning the material for the first time, people who have had more exposure to the subject could also benefit from reading sections of it.

2 comments about Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing (Education for Sustainability Series).

1. I don't know if McKenzie-Mohr coined the buzz-terms used in Community-based Social Marketing, but he covers them (at the introductory level) completely in this book. Case studies and personal experiences offer practical examples to the lingo commonly used in CBSM, plus plenty of articles are referenced for further reading. If you've heard about "Prompts" and "Norms" associated with CBSM and need to know what everyone's talking about, this is a great place to start.



2. Doug is a great writer and really knows the subject matter.
   
   If you are interested in CBSM this is the bible.

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