5 comments about Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results.

1. We used Fish! as a team-building exercise at work. We read about 20 pages a week and then discussed. Even people who don't like to read, enjoyed it because it's such a quick, easy, story. I did get CD's for a few people. This was a group that needed to become cohesive, and after the second week, everyone was animated about Fish! People shared their own experiences as it related to the story. Very easy discussion starter. Now they want to take a field trip from Kansas City to Seattle to visit Pike Place Fish Market!



2. I really liked this simple, small book. I really did. However, as a director of human resources, I was hoping for more depth. While the book is a fun tale, the lessons contained therein are too whimsical to really help corporations with their real problems. Sure, everyone wants to strive for fun, teamwork, etc., however, the daily arena does not allow such graceful answers.
   
   Once again, I liked the book just don't expect to be pointed in a corrective position.
   
   Michael L. Gooch, SPHR Author of Wingtips with Spurs



3. This book should be a mandatory read for all new leaders! It is an easy read that keeps you interested from beginning to end. The philosophy is basic and simple; however extremely practicle and most of all...effective!!!



4. Fish! is a great book that teaches you how to have fun at work and make your job into something you enjoy coming to each day. It tells the story of a woman who goes through a transformation to learn this very thing from an unlikely source: the fish mongers at a Seattle fish market. A cute story and helpful book that has been used effectively in my company.
   
   Another business fable I just came across that I'm really excited about is Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results



5. A five star book - recommend to every employee and employer to read. Have already told many people about this book. Worth every penny. Very motivational.

5 comments about A Beginner's Guide to Day Trading Online (2nd edition).

1. I don't have time to write a long review about a book, and I assume neither do you to read it. So I keep it simple and to the point:
   
   I have read several books about day trading and this is one of the best by far. It explains in detail what to do and not to do when you attempt to trade stocks as a beginner. It will stop you from losing money and save you a lot of headaches. Make sure to read it twice!!
   This book is an excellent guide to anyone new to this field, even if you don't know the technical terms. It is not boring either... I wish it had been longer..
   
   Read it!!



2. I've read Toni Turner's other books and she does a great job of taking you from the start of how to do it all.



3. 4 bang 4 the buck buy this book first. 4 beginners or wanting 2 improve your profits trading this book will give u a complete picture of how successful traders think and the tools they use. Like watching over the shoulder of someone in action that is making money and how to set up your trading room. Wish I had read this book when it came out. Buy this book u won't regret it.



4. This is a great book.!!! It tells you all the things you need to know.
   I almost did'nt buy it becouse of the two or three bad reviews but Im glade I did. One of the bad reviews siad this book just says the same things that you can find in other books, well If you had three books on rebuilding a small block Chevy motor...They would say pretty much the same thing. and the title does say A "Beginners" Guid to day trading not an experianced trders giude. If you have traded before or never traded before but are looking to day trade this is a good book. It's alot of BANG for your Buck.!!!



5. Based on all the reviews on this book, and being a fervent student for continuous learning. I'm making it my duty to further study the markets.

5 comments about Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World.

1. Having read several investment books, this book is a much needed shot in the arm in that it opens the doors to the type of independent thinking that the mutual fund industry doesn't want individual investors to engage in. Cramer's book encourages readers to move beyond what may be an effective but somewhat restrictive investment philosophy, and utilize several strategic approaches to building wealth in stocks. I never could have guessed that Cramer could do so much to help me see investing in a different light and ultimately help me understand investing much better.



2. This guy is nothing short of a genius in my opinion, I've purchased all of his books I'm pretty sure and have NEVER been dis-appointed with them. He's a 5 STAR AUTHOR all the way.



3. This book contains valuable information for managing your money and the do's and don'ts for investing.



4. This book is bold, informative, and well written. It feels like I've gone to college and found a fantastic professor that knows how to teach the subject well. He does not assume you already know everything. You will understand why stocks are priced the way they are, how to buy stocks without getting ripped off, how a company goes public and begins to sell stock, how to know enough about where a stock is going to make your own informed decisions. I've always wanted to get my feet wet in the stock market, but never felt confident enough. Now I'm swimming with the big fish! Buy this book.



5. Unlike his negative review onair, his book explains in simple terms how and what to do for trading and investing. Good book for the beginner trader like myself. :P MUST BUY. Serious product.

5 comments about Rich Dad's Advisors: Guide to Investing In Gold and Silver: Protect Your Financial Future (Rich Dad's Advisors).

1. Although I have not yet read the entire book, there's one thing that EVERYONE is missing.
   All the gold bugs can rush and buy, but the problem is, if there's an economic meltdown, gold and silver will be illegal!
   This allows the government and feds to "buy" low, and sell high.
   In the great depression, it was illegal to carry gold and silver.
   
   Although there are not yet ANY laws prohibiting gold or silver, it is still not safe!
   
   The reason?
   I have heard that the Patriot Act (or as I call it unpatriotic act), has a section where it makes it LEGAL for federal officials and government to go into your house, take any gold and silver they want, as well as any currency they want, without even doing so much as asking or notifying you. (You may want to google it or read the bill for yourself at congress.gov, or whatever website)
   
   So what's the REAL solution?
   I like the idea of buying diamonds. Not only are they safe from this law (as far as I know), but if you want to HIDE them, it's easy to do so, and they're not easy to detect.
   As a last resort, you can hide them in your mouth, or under your tounge, and if they ask you to open up your mouth and look under your toungue, you can swallow it...
   Of course, it won't be a very pretty dimond on the way out!
   
   Diamonds can cut through anything, even gold and silver, (or steel bars, if you're really paranoid that martial law is coming, and you want to plan an escape).
   I still think there is value in gold and silver, and this book is still excellent so far, and will be useful in deciding how to buy gold and silver, and understanding why currency is designed to lose value, except for period in which they contract the money supply and seize assets.
   
   Although diversification is not something the rich do, in this case, I think you need to make an exception, unless you can somehow protect that gold&silver from the Patriot act, perhaps through a corperate entity. Or something.



2. Mike Maloney's book is an easy read & proves his point about investing in silver & gold. An essential read for improving your Financial literacy in the 21st century.



3. This book caught my eye prior to boarding a plane. I suppose it was launched at a time when gold and silver were making record highs and these precious metals seemed extremely attractive to the everyday investor.
   
   I found the initial history lesson interesting but a little drawn out.
   
   I have read most of Kiyosaki and his advisor books and after a while they all seem to sound the same. This one was more interesting but Maloney obviously felt obliged to laud Kiyosaki's other books as totally amazing and the best books he has read. I find this difficult to believe. He is a learned gent and has read many quality books on The Fed etc. so I found this a bit irritating.
   
   I read this book after the financial crisis had already unfolded but Maloney predicted it (or something similar) with eery truth around pg. 112. In a nutshell the book says that the only true currency is gold and silver and the cash (the dollar) is just a fiat currency, in the more can be printed. In times of distress people flock to precious metals and these prices go crazy. That hasn't quite happened during this crisis so it's not that simple. I flew through this book and it is easy reading but I finished it feeling less convinced than many other readers here. The great website reference at the back pushes it up to four stars though.



4. I have read several of the "Rich Dad Poor Dad" books, and have been enlighten with the information that was provided, and it has helped me personally deal with my financial issues. Plus, seeing my future is very different after reading these books.



5. I purchased this book to learn about investing in gold and silver. What I got was a whole lot more. This fast read gives great insights into how our economy is no more secure than a house of cards. The author demonstrates where our economy is headed and how we can gain wealth rather than endure looming financial disaster. Oh yes, the book tells you about the different ways to purchase and hold precious metals. He also discusses the benefits and pitfalls of each method. If you are looking for a technical summary of exactly how to do it, this isn't the book for you. It is, however, a real wake-up call for America. I'm purchasing several copies for my family, friends and business assoicates.

5 comments about Who: The A Method for Hiring.

1. I rate WHO 5 stars for 3 primary reasons:
   
   Easy-to-Read - If a resource is to be useful, it must be accessible. The book was so easy to read, that when I gave a copy to a fellow executive of my company (an operator who has hired 100s of people over his nearly 30-year career), he read it over the weekend and has found it very valuable. Candidly, I was surprised that he had completed it when we talked the following Monday. We have since talked about how to effect some recommended changes at our company. I started reading the much more dense Topgrading, but I stopped halfway thru. I doubt I would ever have been able to get my colleague to read Topgrading. Topgrading is more academic, which suits me fine on occasion, but I needed a quicker read here.
   
   A True Mirror - WHO is honest & relevant, as it exposed several key areas of improvement. In several instances, we saw ourselves in the examples of poor hiring methods...perhaps a little "painful & embarrassing" to see, but it's necessary to know your shortcomings to improve them.
   
   Actionable - Finally, WHO provides actionable recommendations for the key hiring phases, a critical barometer for determining the value of such a book. We have been able to quickly begin to employ some of the techniques discussed in the book at my company.
   
   FYI, I bought 10 copies of the book to give to colleagues & friends.



2. Finally, a business book that is clear, concise and actionable. This book very clearly lays out the authors' methodology for hiring great people. This methodology is complete, easy to understand and is presented in a way you can truly incorporate into you business. We started using this methodology with our most recent open position and although we have not successfully hired anyone, we have screened out two candidates who looked really good on paper but ultimately would not have been a fit. NOT hiring the wrong candidate is as valuable as finding the right one.



3. Great book on hiring the right people - If you hire right, 85% of your manager's job is complete!



4. Within the hiring world, there is a split:
   * Interviews can predict great hires,
   * Assessments (like IQ tests) can predict great hires.
   
   This book is all about longer and more complex interviewing.
   
   The book focuses on hiring CEOs and top management, so remember that when looking at this book.
   
   This book is useless for hiring college grads, IT professionals (Software Developers, Project Managers or Business Analysts). In fact, as I specialize in hiring tech people, I find this system goes against best practices for hiring technical people in any field as the book focuses on interviewing direct reports (people the candidate manages).
   
   The main problem that I had was the that the book (nor the website) provided their research for review. Interviewing as the main stay of hiring has been PROVEN to be the WORST predictor of hiring success. However, this book suggest the main solution is to do more stringent interviewing.
   
   The book supports three questionable interviewing techniques. The first is to THREATEN the candidate. The books suggest that the interviewer use phrases like, "WHEN I speak with your last boss, what will they tell me your strengths are." The author suggest that the use of "WHEN" lets the candidate know you will be speaking with their past manager. This, and other suggestions, seems a little heavy handed.
   
   Then their is a lack of transparency in this hiring process. This system is quite manipulative and an experienced candidate could be turned off. One technique is to get the candidate to agree to the compensation early in the process. Any shewed candidate that wants to hold off salary negotiations until they know enough about the position, is toss out. In fact, the book authors brag about only hiring one person in 500 (at their web site) This is NOT a useful metric.
   
   More bothersome is the suggestion that the interviewer find out about the candidate's spouse. This can be all sorts of illegal as martial status can be grounds for discrimination law suits. The book suggest that the candidate's spouse, and family, must be sold the job as well. While I agree that a candidate may decline an offer if their spouse objects to moving, a company needs to be VERY careful how they ask this question. "Would you and your family be comfortable with moving?" would be a much better way to ask this question. If the book's advice is followed, an inexperienced HR manager may ask, "would your SPOUSE be comfortable with relocation?" This is all kinds of bad.
   
   The author's website says they have only a 97% client satisfaction rate. That is not all that good given the author's suggestion of the success of their technique.
   
   To end on a positive note, ...
   There is research that suggests that interviewing is only 50% predictive in hiring. That is, you could flip a coin and do as well as if you interviewed a candidate and chose. I am of this camp, I am a believer in cognitive assessments. But, if you are going to use interviews as your main screening method, I suggest "Hire With Your Head". A much better system.



5. American people have been prone to overrate different things over time. In the last years they got crazy about Internet companies and next over real state, valuing them way above what they were really worth. And now I see a small bubble forming up.
   
   Just like real state and the early Internet start-ups, "Who" is both quite useful and has quite potential benefits. Now, keep on mind the diversity of "corporate cultures" (funny name when companies are nothing but wild jungles) or values. Geoff and Randy (G & R) emphasized that a great candidate should always have his references quite excited when recommending him, but values are quite different in different companies, sometimes within themselves. There are places where "working too hard" is indeed a true defect.
   
   What I've been seeing where I live -in the Mid-west- is a pressure from companies to drop the salaries to 3rd world levels, while trying to offer other things to make up, particularly "making you happy". One staffing agency, Stat-Tek, even shows a guy dressing Hawaii clothing, with a slogan "another day at the office!"; below that, a funny paragraph describes the "associates" (employees) having fun with activities such as shaving the boss' head.
   
   A contract company I worked for (EPL-BAS) would overstaff and then have the employees wasting hours and hours playing cards and telling jokes, no exaggeration at all. It was actually a priority socializing a lot there. This company gets some government benefits when hiring more and more people, which makes it overstaffed. At the same time, it wants costs at almost zero, which makes their staff very very badly paid. Their solution is hiring unqualified staff and focusing in creating a "happy" atmosphere. It should boost morale to motivate the employees to work well while keep salaries way down. That's why their key value was being quite social.
   
   Companies can be outrageously different.
   
   G & R have shown us how to get some clues on how to discover false good recommendation. Yet, they forgot to take into account that different values in companies also lead to wrongful good recommendations...and equally important, these different values lead to wrongfully bad recommendations too. Thus, think twice when bosses complain about former employees, they virtually do it always. And think twice when they are thrilled at someone, he may just have being politics master.
   
   As G & R say, get curious but they don't tell you how for these cases. Well, focus on the skills and attitudes your job needs and enquire about them as much as possible. Remember that on these referral interviews you are on the other side of the equation, and the jerkness you can afford with job seeker no longer exits. You are now on a similar seat. You cannot cut the talk within 15 minutes if you don't like the interview or keep pushing "tell me more".
   
   The companies' web sites may well be deceiving on what their true values are. Referral interviews are still a bit of dark magic. For me, my question is why so many consultants say that some referrals may keep silent for fear of being sued. Who's going to know normally?
   
   As for the candidate interviews, you should also skip the third one, the focused one, which is about how the candidate matches your scorecard. The previous one -the topgrading- should provide that info. More important, G & R recommend bring more people in, and well remind you that you have to prepare them with a scrip and previous info, otherwise they'll bring their voodoo methods to the table and screw the whole time-consuming process. Actually, you have to teach this method to any person you invite to join the interviews. Otherwise, they will insist on their voodoo sorcery.
   
   In general, G & R don't prepare well enough their readers to deal with the defects of candidates. They say candidates should admit at least 5 flaws. Those are many and still normal, people are quite flawed. Will your objectivity be enough to neglect -or put up with- those many flaws that are not key to their performance?
   
   Whenever you ask former employers about their flaws, they will surely tell you much more than the candidates, sometimes they will exaggerate. How to tell exaggerations from realities? Maybe the slogan that G & R mention, "if you look for...., then X is the right one" is helpful.
   
   And by the same token (everybody is quite flawed), candidates must also be allowed to criticize their former employers at some point. If only former employers can criticize, how can an objective judgment will be done? In fact, letting the candidates criticize their employer will let you see more of their personalities and performance. A guy who just criticizes is surely a bad candidate, but what about one who keeps her tone? And finally, keeping bad comments on former bosses is widely advised all over the internet and books. I can't imagine a job seeker criticizing his boss on a job interview.
   
   And what about those great candidates who happened not to make eye-catching resumes and letters? G & R don't cover the fact that it's not the best candidates but the best self-marketers who get interviews. These problems even happen to candidates in engineering and sciences
   
   When you hire a CEO, you can get a lot of reliable information, but most hires are not for CEOs.
   
   All in all, it's still a good book to get, but trimming the fat and keeping simpler to the first two candidate interviews and probably the referral one.

5 comments about The Origin of Financial Crises: Central Banks, Credit Bubbles, and the Efficient Market Fallacy (Vintage).

1. I completely agree with the positive recommendations of The Economist Magazine and the reviewers. George Cooper has combined a strong technical and practical investment background to produce a modern thoughtful study of how to best manage our complex economy. However, I disagree with Brady on its readability, I feel Cooper opens this subject up to any thoughtful investor {regardless their background) by writing in down-to-earth English. He uses everyday examples, like a baker making and selling bread. His clear understanding of the material and deep sympathy for the reader motivate him to use such everyday examples to completely dispense with mathematical equations. He still maintains the needed precision.
   I was persuaded that economic crises are inevitable, and enjoyed his ideas on how we might deal with them. I want to encourage every investor and student who is curous about how we can improve our economy to read Cooper's clear, cogent presentation.



2. If I could make it a zero star rating I would. After 30 pages I am throwing it in the recycling bin. This book is a joke; recycled ideas, jacked up only by emotional statements and thoroughly uninsightful. A total waste. I am tempted to end my subscription to the Economist for its apparent endorsement of this waste.



3. This is an emminently readable review of the 'dismal science'.
   
   The prose is clear frank and honest.
   
   If the new administration really wants to try and repair our financial system, they should consult George Cooper.



4. I am not an economics major. Cooper explains the core concept of finance , central banking in such a way that even a layman can understand. His arguments are very convincing . A must read for everybody wondering what is going on with our economy



5. The recent financial crisis has produced a rash of books that all claim to provide some insight to our current dilemma. Cooper's book The Origin of Financial Crises first appeared in April 2008 and reprinted in October as the extent of our current crisis became more apparent and more widely publicized.
   
   The book provides a brief outline of the history of money and the banking system. This introduction shows readers how the various pieces of our modern economic system came into being, and the reasons that precipitated their creation. One conclusion is that moving away from the gold standard and having a central bank are essential for our economic system to function. Next, the book simply and easily dismantles the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH). The arguments expose the theoretical flaws of EMH and the empirical evidence that suggests that financial markets do not behave as EMH would predict them to behave.
   
   The book introduces the theories of Keynes and Minsky as alternatives to EMH and shows how these theories better fit the empirical evidence. The authors claim that nfortunately most contemporary institutions charged with stabilizing the economy adhere to EMH. This means that they hold conflicting views, and hence advocate inconsistent economic policies.
   
   If the book's goal is to promote refined versions of Keynes' theories, then it does an excellent job. If its goal is to provide an alternative explanation to neoclassical economics, then other "heterodox" theorist need to be considered as well (such as those proposed by Mises or Hayek). To the book's credit, it does cite Ron Paul, and gives credit to Mandelbrot and Fischer. Despite these shortcomings, this book offers the most coherent and down-to-earth skewering of both academic orthodoxy and central bank policy of the books discussing the current financial crisis.
   
   The writing style is crisp, the arguments are cogent and well-reasoned, and the examples are clearly and thoughtfully presented for readers with no formal economic background. Despite my criticisms, it is superior to most books about the current financial crisis on the market today.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Important read for people in business or who just want to better understand the economy.

No comments about J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2009: For Preparing Your 2008 Tax Return (J.K. Lasser).

5 comments about The Ten Roads to Riches: The Ways the Wealthy Got There (And How You Can Too!) (Fisher Investments Press).

1. A fun, fast (read it in one day) and eye-opening read on the real roads to real wealth. This was very different from Fisher's last book, the Only Three Questions that Count, which I also liked, but did not disappoint. This book is not about stocks per se (although Fisher does cover stock investing in one of the chapters as a path to wealth) but rather is a sort of frank public service announcement about the most realistic paths to wealth. And, it helps you figure out how to improve your odds of getting down the path you choose more successfully.
   
   The book uses real life, and often very funny examples to show what to do and what to avoid doing if you want to build real wealth. Highly recommended.



2. Everyone knows its best to save your money and invest wisely, but here's the straight scoop on how the really rich got that way. This book was part no-nonsense career coach, part cheerleader, part cautionary tale. There's something for everyone here. And yes, it was a fast, inspiring, funny read.



3. This is a fun, breezy read, as investment advisor and long-time Forbes columnist Ken Fisher has written a serious, but humorous book about how to build wealth. And at 216 pages a quick read.
   
   Fisher's last book, "The Only Three Questions that Count", was superb. This latest book is very different from "The Only Three Questions...", which is all about personal investing but which also has application to other areas of a person's life.
   
   "The Ten Roads to Riches" is about the varied ways a person can build personal wealth. Fisher draws from his own experience of meeting many successful people, as he charts the paths. The chapters are insightful and written in a tongue-in-cheek style with ideas that can be easily visualized.
   
   Some examples: The first chapter "The Richest Road", which is founding your own business and building it into the next Microsoft, Nike, or Charles Schwab. The third chapter, about the "Ride-alongs", people who hitch theirselves to the Bill Gates's or Warren Buffett's of the world and rise as they and their firm rise. If you are Warren Buffett's longtime sidekick, there's got to be wealth in that, right? (Yup. Charlie Munger is his name and his net worth is $2 billion.)
   
   Chapter four is "Rich ... and Famous". Some tips: compose songs, don't sing them, and star high school baseball players have slightly better odds of making the big leagues then star football players.
   
   Chapter five is "Marry Well, Really Well", which is very amusing, but also serious. Hey, if you want to get married, hang around with rich people and fall in love with one of them! Plenty of examples including John Kerry (twice) and John McCain.
   
   Chapter six is "Steal It - Like a Pirate, But Legally", making a career as a plaintiff's lawyer and suing companies. Enough said.... And chapter nine is "Trumping the Land Barons" - all about real estate.
   
   The last chapter is "The Road Most Travelled", about doing it the old-fashioned way - get a good job, work hard, save and invest wisely.
   
   Each chapter is a survey, giving multiple examples of people who took the particular road, and offering ideas, but no detailed plan. At the end of each are brief reviews of suggested additional readings for anyone who might be inclined to follow that particular path. I was surprised that there are actually serious books about how to "Marry Well", but maybe I shouldn't have been?
   
   An enjoyable, quick read about one aspect of the business of life.



4. I wish I had read this book in high school; it honestly would have made a great impact on my life going forward and the choices I made in college regarding my career. Fisher doesn't pull any punches here. He lays out the pro's and con's for 10 wealth building occupations in an easy to read manner. Highly recommended.
   
   One caveat is that I wish Fisher had written more on the pro's and con's of the professions (doctor, lawyer, investment banker) instead of lumping them in to the final road to wealth ("the road more traveled").



5. Don't waste you money on this one. I've read a lot of business/self help books and in my opinion this is one of the worse I've come across. He really has nothing new to say whatsoever. Worse, he goes on a very long conservative political rant against lawyers and taxes. He also got a number of technical points wrong. I have a fair amount of expertise in several of the topics he was discussing and I really wonder if this guy did any research at all for this book. He was flat out wrong on a number of important points. A kid writing a high school paper wouldn't make some of the mistakes this guy did. If nothing else it's a commentary on how a guy like this got rich in the stock market.

5 comments about The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides).

1. I just bought the 2009 version of this guide to plan our November trip to Disney. I used it in 2004 to plan our first trip and it was awesome. Everything it said was right on the money, from the hotel descriptions, advice on room requests, schedules to go by, scariness factors of rides, how to plan your trip... I simply can't say enough. I would definately recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Disney, especially with kids. It is the only book I would use



2. This book has some excellent tips and excellent information, and it can minimize the amount of time you spend standing in line. It's a nice supplement to the official guides and I'm glad I bought it. However, I have some major problems with the book, and they are as follows:
   
   -My fundamental problem with the book is that it is written in a very negative, cynical tone. I get the impression that the authors don't even like Disney World, and they take pot shots at the Disney company every chance they get. After reading this book I'm actually a little less excited and a little more nervous about my trip.
   -The book seems geared more toward families with small children who go to Disney World during more crowded times. My girlfriend and I do not have children and we are going to Disney during a less crowded, off peak time so much of the book is not applicable to our situation.
   -The format of the book is to offer descriptions and reviews of various attractions followed by quotes sent in by readers. Most of the quotes are negative, which I think is unrepresentative because most people enjoy most attractions. The few people who have a negative experience will be more motivated to write in with a complaint.
   -I have a Ph.D., and reading this book gave me flashbacks to writing my dissertation and reading for my doctoral comprehensive exams. I think planning a Disney trip is an enjoyable part of going to Disney World, but reading this book is more like work than fun and it makes planning for a Disney trip seem more like work than fun. There's actually a section with mathematical formulas!
   -The authors seem to judge many things based solely on cost and monetary value. However, my criterion for a Disney vacation is convenience and an avoidance of stress. I hate driving when I'm on vacation, but the authors recommend renting a car or driving a car to Disney World and much of the information is geared toward people who drive. The book offers criticisms of the Disney's Magical Express shuttle service which I think is one of the best perks of a Disney vacation. The book also criticizes Extra Magic Hours and I had a wonderful time using EMHs during my last trip.
   -The authors are extremely critical of Disney World eating places, and they come off as food snobs. They seem to only give good reviews to the most expensive restaurants, which somewhat contradicts the book's focus on cost. They also trash the Disney Dining Plan, which I happen to like. It saved me an enormous amount of money during my last trip. The book does not delineate which restaurants are on the Disney Dining Plan and which are not so this was confusing for my planning.
   -The book contains a great deal of information about other theme parks in the Orlando area such as Universal Studios and Sea World, and in keeping with the negative tone of the book the authors seem to favor these non-Disney parks. My bottom line is that a critical review of Disney attractions and restaurants is good and is something you can't get in the official guides, but the authors take it too far - a book about a Disney World vacation should make you feel good about going there and this book does not.



3. Very powerful planning tool that gives unbiased insight into the parks. Especially powerful when coupled with the access to touringplans.com given when purchasing this book!



4. If you are the type of traveler that likes to have loads of details about your trip, this is the book for you. It has the most extensive info about all the Orlando parks, hotels, resorts, rides, restaurants etc. It is invaluable for planning a Disney vacation. I have been reading it for days and keep finding new interesting tips and tidbits. Enjoy!



5. This year's book didn't have as many mistakes as last year's, but it's still very negative. Does the author even like Walt Disney World? Also, I couldn't disagree more about his opinion to avoid the Magic Kingdom's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. I've gone several times and usually it's really crowded on Friday's and the weekend's, because more locals go. I also disagree about avoiding the park that has evening Extra Magic Hours! I have found that, yes, the park is very crowded before the Extra Magic Hours begin, but once they begin the crowd thins out. It also says that there are only a few attractions that are open. That's just not true. There's a list of what attractions are open for the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours on the Disney site.
   He does have a lot of useful information, but his book is not the best out there! The best would be, in my opinion, the passporter books. The authors go to Walt Disney World at least a few times a month. I've never found any mistakes in their books.

5 comments about When Markets Collide: Investment Strategies for the Age of Global Economic Change.

1. you would think that the CEO of the largest bond fund would have meaningful insights to share..... but you'd be wrong



2. The United States is now a debtor nation to the tune of about $10 trillion (why did I have to find out this amount from BBC America & THE THREE TRILLION DOLLAR WAR instead of from CNBC?). Debtor nations issue & market their debt at attractive rates to nations having a large surplus of money beyond what they require for investing in U.S. Treasuries. Unfortunately, due to an absence of a compliance agency overseeing the integrity of U.S. debt, bad debt got mixed in with good debt. (See my review of BAD MONEY for background on how we got to this point.) Thus, the global credit lock-up. Now it looks as if a stop-gap recall & some form of warranty for guaranteeing our bad debt has to be implemented UNTIL pristine regulations concerning debt quality & compliance laws are promulgated.
   
   WHEN MARKETS COLLIDE presents a structure for repairing the global crisis. Sadly, it took a "Black Swan" event to awaken us to this necessity. El-Erian provides guidance for individual investors/institutions, national policy, & multilateral relationships.
   
   Consider the global economy as a 3-D chessboard with each country represented by a board & everything inter-connected by derivatives for easing the passage from one board to another of each country's financial instruments & products. In other words, the variety of investment vehicles are here to stay.
   
   From an individual investor's point of view, due diligence must rely less on out-sourced risk management advice & more on our own efforts. For example, Citigroup at $55 per share began losing value prior to the end of 2006, but it took Deutsche Bank until November 14, 2008, to guide us from a Buy to a Hold. Readers need to incorporate risk management with overlays & the Lemon Theory into traditional asset allocation. Promising alternative investment vehicles are the "130/30" funds & indexed products with actively managed overlays.
   
   I would ignore any negative comments on writing style. El-Erian mastered his English writing style while at Cambridge & Oxford.



3. excellent read and very pertinent to the investor/trader who wishes to stay on top of the future investment climate.



4. There are few people in the world whose opinions and insights on financial issues matter more than El-Erian. So this is an extremely important book, even for the average investor. However, the book's audience seems to be mainly managers of large portfolios and financial policy makers, and many of the issues discussed will seem arcane to the average investor. Making it that much more difficult for the average reader, I thought the writing style left much to be desired. For instance, El-Erian repeatedly outlines the issues the book will cover, but then, when he actually gets to the meat of his arguments, I felt he left many important points unclear or even just alluded to. I hope future editions will try to improve the books clarity and organization.
   
   Finally, I wish El-Erian would have spent a bit more time on explaining how the average investor implements and monitors the investing strategies he recommends. Nevertheless, keeping in mind that this is not a handbook for us normal people, the average investor can gain a truly authoratative big-picture account of how the global financial landscape is evolving and how this will impact their investments in the coming years.



5. The book is trying to keep the language plain but probably is not for those who haven't a clue about economy. It is a very interesting read so as to see the flaws and cons of today's economic world and to read between the lines from now on.