5 comments about All About Hedge Funds : The Easy Way to Get Started.

1. I've recommended this book many times to people who are new to working in the hedge fund industry. Though it's a couple of years old, it's a very readable overview of what hedge funds are about and how they work. Unlike many hedge fund books on the market, this one is both reasonably priced and useful.



2. In the realm of how-to books, "All About Hedge Funds" by Dr. Robert Jaeger is a real winner. Instructive, analytical and easy to read, it brings down to earth an investment tool that has long been a mystery to me and many others. The author, for more than 20 years the chief investment officer of a well-respected hedge fund, explains in a clear insightful style risk assessment, hedging techniques and many other facets of this intriguing method of investing. He includes the historical background which has shaped the hedge fund we know today. I found the book invaluable.



3. Forget 'Hedge Funds' for a moment - - this is a great book for introducing you to stocks, shares, buying and selling - ie, the whole business of the stock market.
   
   The bonus is that the last 2-3 chapters, which finally get around to looking at Hedge Funds, are really clear and helpful.
   
   Most useful.



4. This book was what I was looking for. It's a nice introduction to hedge funds and the industry. The book does an excellent job of providing the information in complete and concise detail. I bought my copy used so I'm even more happy with it.



5. Lately, I have been having conversations with people who are engaged in the hedge fund business. For a while, I didn't know what they were talking about and that was probably because my knowledge of how financial markets work was limited.
   
   
   I bought this book from a regular bookstore because I thought it would help me make sense of what hedge fund managers, hedge fund marketers and partners in hedge funds were talking about.
   
   I learned that what they were talking about was basic market knowledge. Hedge funds are the pinnacle of information sourcing and trading. It's not that there is something magical about them. Hedge funds are simply the conglomeration of the most sophisticated and innovative trading techniques that can be brought to action in capital markets.
   
   This book doesn't tell you how to run your own hedge fund, but it totally helps you understand the context in which hedge funds operate, and therefore, what makes a hedge fund a lucrative and necessary tool of the market.

5 comments about You've Earned It, Don't Lose It : Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire.

1. I am satisfied with the quality of the product and the quick delivery.



2. Good book for young people to plan the future and what information to compile to leave loved ones.



3. Too dated to be useful in CT, but it did spur me to visit my attorney to get briefed on changes in estate planning.



4. The book was written too long ago to be of much use in this century. It needs to be updated or scrapped. It is behind the times and makes some of the information useless if not incorrect. A better choice can be found.



5. This book has sparked discussion and debate amongst my family, and clarification from my lawyer, and my desire to seek out more legal opinions and facts while I'm still young.
   
   Highly recommended for anyone who owns property, and especially for those who are nonchalant about facing the responsibilities of their estates and assets.

4 comments about The 11 Questions Every Donor Asks and the Answers All Donors Crave: How You Can Inspire Someone to Give Generously.

1. An industry classic is born, I think. This book is unlike any other. It stuffs decades of "in the trenches" fundraising know-how into 100 chatty pages you can read in under an hour.
   
   Harvey McKinnon's career as a fundraiser began in the 1970s, and he's been asking for money ever since. His firm, with offices in Vancouver and Toronto, has an international client list, ranging from Amnesty International Canada to the American Institute for Cancer Research to Australia's ActionAid; with special depth in health care and environmental defense. I mention all this because (1) Harvey knows a ton of people, many of whom contributed stories to this book; (2) his personal experience is top shelf; and (3) his eponymous firm is extraordinarily successful. Why does he have such a great client list? There's just one reason: he knows how to raise money. And what he knows he shares in this book. Harvey's your gracious, amusing, enthralling host. But he's not alone. You'll meets lots of other fundraisers and hear their tales of triumph and misstep. Answering donors' questions well, especially the unspoken but predictable ones, is a secret -- maybe THE secret -- to success in fundraising.
   
   This book, I expect, will prove both comforting for fundraising veterans and empowering for people new to the field. It takes a vast profession and reduces it to 11 key questions you repeatedly need to answer.



2. An amazing gem of a book. I've been fundraising for social change projects for nearly forty years, and Harvey outlines every key lesson I've learned, and a wealth of lessons I hadn't thought of. If you want to get involved in your community and help make change, at some point you're going to have to raise money, whether from bake sales, monthly pledges, or major donors. You want to know what makes people respond, but you want to proceed with integrity, not some hit and run sales job. Harvey teaches you how. I wish I had this book twenty years ago, but I'm glad I have it now. In fact, I'm in the middle of fundraising for a major voter engagement project, and found it enormously helpful to overcome my own fears and hesitations as I picked up the phone to call people and ask if they could help. Essential for anyone who ever raises money for a worthy cause.
   
   Paul Loeb, author of Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time and The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear



3. I love this book because it's all about the donor's perspective. So many fundraising books lecture from the viewpoint of what we want the donor to do for us, but this book shows quite simply what they want us to do, to make them more comfortable and so, to give more. But I also love it because it's written by someone who not only knows his donors and knows fundraising, he also knows how to get it across in a warm, accessible style with no padding but with lots of passion. Harvey's a great writer and this is an easy, enjoyable read full of useful insights, so I'd recommend it to anyone.
   
   Ken Burnett



4. This is a wonderful book from an individual who has real depth of experience with a wide range of organizations. The stories and examples will help the reader understand -- and use -- the valuable advice offered in this very readable book. It serves as a quick introduction to the entire field of fundraising. I especially commend Chapter 4 ("How Much Do You Want") and Chapter 5 ("Why Your Organization"). I've been involved in nonprofit fundraising for 30 years, and I was inspired to rededicate myself to this work.
   
   Stephen Hitchcock, author of Open Immediately: Straight Talk about Direct Mail Fundraising and co-author, with Mal Warwick, of Ten Steps to Fundraising Success.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to E-mail Marketing: How to Create Successful, Spam-free Campaigns to Reach Your Target Audience and Increase Sales.

1. I liked this book. It is available for just about anyone. Whether you are an online merchant or a traditional retailer. There is something there for you.
   
   We are given an in depth history of the internet. I never knew it was first used by the military. Then there are when the first emails were sent. Totally mind boggling.
   
   Bruce gives us the low down on four major areas of online marketing:
   
   Paid search advertisements (pay per click)
   Banner adverts
   Classified ads
   Email marketing
   
   Interweaved within all this are case studies that show how the best systems work. Chapter 15 is jam packed with them too.
   
   The author, Bruce Brown teaches how to write an effective email. He starts with the subject line then gets around to the best day to send it. We all know why Mondays are not a good day and most of us can figure out why Fridays are not another good day.
   
   Wait till you find out which is the best day and why. The best time for sending emails are 7am-10:30am. We also get a free treat. That is website optimization tools and some web design helps. The addresses are all in his book.
   
   As usual Bruce gives us a glossary. But because this book is such an easy read you won't need it. I think it is there just in case.
   
   
   
   
   
   



2. With the passing of the CAN-SPAM Act in 2003, it has grown more difficult to legitimately market through email. This book addresses this issue and many others with regard to email marketing. Mr. Brown provides a comprehensive guide to marketing your business or product through email, while navigating spam filters. This book is written for legitimate businesses with legitimate products and services to sell.
   
   Mr. Brown describes how to grow your business through your website. Additional topics covered include how to write an effective sales email, search engine optimization (SEO), and to effectively target your emails. The book includes a glossary of terms and numerous case studies.



3. and it's 5 stars for this book, since here we get clear, easy to follow, and good advices to follow, and we have good selection of experts and good advices. If you plan buy a book on e-mail marketing this one will be good choice.
   
   Also, I need to say, that as good was this book - same bad was another this author's book - The Ultimate Guide to Search Engine Marketing: Pay Per Click Advertising Secrets Revealed
   
   in this book, advices are or outdated, or even wrong, experts so called "advices" are nothing else but sales letters, and it is clear enough, that Search Engine Marketing is not a thing what this author knows.
   
   But this book e-mail marketing, is clearly one of the best till now written on the topic.



4. Most books that promise to be the only manual you need to succeed, do one of two things; either deliver the goods or not. Brown's Email Marketing Guide delivers and more. While some authors make a point of burying valid information towards the back of the book, Brown makes a point of introducing the material in an orderly and logical manner. Brown has put together one of the most thorough and complete books on the vast subject of email marketing. I will definitely recommend it to my friends and business associates.



5. "The Complete Guide to E-mail Marketing: How to Create Successful, Spam-free Campaigns to Reach Your Target Audience and Increase Sales" was selected as a "Notable" finisher in the 2008 Competition in the "Business" Category.
   
   The Eric Hoffer Award (formerly the Writers' Notes Award) for short prose and books was established at the start of the 21st century as a means of opening a door to writing of significant merit. It honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer by highlighting salient writing. The winning stories and essays are awarded prizes and published annually in the anthology, Best New Writing, along with the results of the book awards.

5 comments about Measuring ITIL: Measuring, Reporting and Modeling - the IT Service Management Metrics That Matter Most to IT Senior Executives.

1. This book is set up clearly within the ITIL framework, and a co-worker and I now call this book our "bible" as we review our organizational metrics. However, one thing I found annoying about this book is that answers are posed in the form of a question. Example: the KPI is Incident Labor Utiliation Rate and the Question Being Answered is How much available labor is spent handling incidents? The question I get is what does is mean not what question does this answer. They do not like being told what they want to know. Perhaps I'm not convincing enough in telling them they want to know this information - that remains to be seen. In short, I find this book very useful most most managmenent levels but not as exciting to executive level management.



2. Short book that has a quick (1 hour) read. Practical to follow, but short on depth. Get if you want to quickly implement reporting but do not expect details on actual implementation.



3. Randy Stienberg gets to the heart of the measurement and metrics very quickly with practical lists.
   I found the information to be an instant hit with my customer management and my team.
   
   -Arun



4. Wouldn't it be nice if you knew what you desired to measure and analyze prior to rolling out new ITSM processes or their enabling tools? What if you have no former point of reference or an entire lack of metrics? You could start from scratch or use this book as a starting point and modify accordingly. The later option will provide more time for determining how best to capture, disseminate, report and conduct trending - which is what you really care about anyways...
   
   Don't expect a silver bullet. This book (more like a booklet) provides generic quality metrics spanning the data, operational and service perspectives. It is short and concise using mostly tables and lists and draws upon many of the KPIs included within the ITIL core texts. It's a great way to save time and get diverse IT folks operating from a common reference but like all successful metric initiatives, customization and targeted efforts will still be necessary. It also includes a decent excel dashboard to get you rolling.
   
   As a previous reviewer mentioned, it is best when paired with other texts for a more comprehensive presentation of metrics theory, challenges, benefits and techniques. I too would recommend "Visible Ops" and add to that list "Metrics for IT Service Management" by Peter Brooks. Each book promotes a different perspective and breadth but together they cover all the bases particularly well.



5. I too agree with previous reviewers of this book. Unlike many ITIL books, you are quickly given Key Performance Indicators and Critical Success Factors that you and your team members can use and build on.
   
   I found that the included ITSM Metrics Model spreadsheet tool to be of some use. I was very surprised and disappointed that it can't be built upon/extended since the write permissions have been locked.
   
   However, I didn't find the included DICE model spreadsheet tool very useful for our needs since it is very basic.
   
   If you get nothing else out of this book, the author clearly tells you how to create KPIs, CSFs, Tolerances, and metrics that matter.
   
   Because of this, I've earned a lot of points with my boss and executives for just for purchasing this book and for trying to apply/create better metrics for our executives and a metrics program for our department.
   
   Don Neizer
   Change/Configuration Manager

5 comments about The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers.

1. I am an in-house attorney for a film production company. This book is a great resource to point you in the right direction in many respects: reminders of what terms various contracts/agreements should contain, the different types of agreements common to the film industry, copyright information ... just to name a few items. Money well spent for a very focused look at legal aspects to the film industry.



2. This review is specifically directed to aspiring professional screenwriters: GET THIS BOOK.
   
   (Note I did not say "buy" this book, since, if you truly are an aspiring professional screenwriter, you're probably sucking your own body lint for food and live under a bush overlooking the Santa Monica pier.)
   
   Yes, do whatever you have to do. Beg, borrow, steal...pawn...get this book. You've already read your Sun Tzu:
   
   "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt."
   
   Hollywood was built on exploiting talent, and specifically exploiting writers. It's time we (YOU!) writers start preparing for the business side of things because gosh knows the other guys are plenty prepared already. Reading this book will make you realize three things.
   
   1. Actually getting your great little/big screenplay made will be incredibly complicated, even if you're just selling it to someone who already knows what they're doing.
   
   2. There are ways to make your script more attractive for producers/distributers and more lucrative for you.
   
   3. Thom Crowell is an informative and entertaining scribe.
   
   I had a friend of mine in negotiations with a major studio executive. True story. Wrote a little script called "Balls, No Balls II." Guy tried to get my buddy to sign a contract without an NDA. My buddy stood up, whipped out his Pocket Lawyer and KA-BLAW! Smacked that suit right in the mouth! "You want my high concept? I WILL be signing that NDA!"
   
   Hmmm, actually this never happened. But at least I know what an NDA is now. Do you? Oh, you don't? GET THIS BOOK!
   
   And yes, AMAZON, you do offer a very reasonable price. I suppose buying it isn't out of the question.



3. Having the hindsight of producing several movies, I wish I had read this book much earlier. ANY filmmaker would benefit from reading this book as early in their career as possible and then keeping it on their shelf as an invaluable reference tool to return to again and again.



4. This book is so useful, I don't know where to begin. It's well-structured, well-researched, and I don't know where I'd be without it. The author has so much useful information, and puts it in a way a filmmaker, who doesn't speak legalese, can understand. This book gets a very high recommendation from me for sure.



5. This book helps anyone who wants to do or is doing anything in entertainment be on top of their game. I carry this book with me, along with my bible (that says a lot about the book right there!) I read it every chance I get and learn so much more as a Writer/Producer, about the legalities and expectations of each member of a production team. This book is necessary for a business minded person. Crowell educates the readers in the basics of entertainment law, however he does not use language that only an attorney or judge can comprehend. He breaks concepts down in bite size pieces. I have gained a better understanding of what needs to happen in pre, pro. and post production of a film and will make sure that the many areas in film making get the attention and documentation that it needs because of this book.

5 comments about 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions.

1. This is the best book I have ever bought related to interviews! I have gotten every job thanks to this book. A must if you are looking to land the job!!



2. This is an excellent guide to preparing for a job interview. Includes a red and green signal approach that alerts readers to potential pitfalls when interviewing.



3. anyone interviewing will get a lot of very useful information from this book ... it is NOT a "if they ask this ... you answer this" type of book ... it just gives you food for thought!



4. This book highlights key questions that may be asked as well as "RED" and "GREEN" light answers. I found the book thought provoking as I prepared for my interview.



5. This is a great book. It is very helpful for preparing for any type of interview. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Get It Together: Organize Your Records So Your Family Won't Have To (Book with CD-Rom).

1. My mother died suddenly and left her estate in a total mess. I was left shocked, grief-stricken and alone in struggling to make sense of what needed to be done. I wouldn't wish that ordeal on anyone let alone on those I love. This workbook and companion organizer is the perfect solution. Nothing will be left to guesswork if I am incapacitated or dead. It is thorough yet simply organized and written from a compassionate perspective. It is a gift of love to provide this kind of direction to those who must make decisions on your behalf.



2. I bought this book thru Amazon in June 2006 because of my experiences working with a close friend who had just lost his father rather unexpectedly. My friend faced a monstrous task of trying to track down his father's assets, business records, last will, credit accounts, etc. just to scratch the surface. As a participant in his frustration, I began to think about the arrangement of my personal life and how my loved ones would tend to my estate.
   
   "Get It Together" brings so much to the table to deal with. I think most people refuse to face their mortality and the task of making such arrangements, let alone there really is a large volume of papers, decisions, conversations, and organization to be handled. GIT is very thorough in all topic areas (see Table of Contents). The book discusses the emotions involved with each topic area, numerous websites to obtain additional information, what to get a copy of, keeping the info current and arranging your "estate" or life, for that matter, to benefit those close to you.
   
   My parents or other people I look up to would never or be highly uncomfortable discussing these topics in detail. This book is perfect to compensate for the lack of those conversations. Now, just a warning for those willing to purchase and conform to this book. I was quite diligent in following all their instructions and recommendations to the "t". It took longer than expected, about 12 weekends, until I had gathered and organized everything to my satisfaction and I don't have a wife, kids or other complicated situations...just me alone.
   
   But I have such a peace of mind that my successors will have no trouble making decisions or tracking down stuff because it's all there with explicit directions from me. I find going forward that I try to keep my life organized in a simple fashion and refuse to take on unnecessary stuff that I will need to add to my planner. And I feel no stress at all looking at my desk now because all the meaningless clutter is gone and GIT was a big reason for that.
   
   Finally, the greatest resource is the forms CD included with the book, which saves a great deal of time when the organizing process starts and got me unstuck in some areas.



3. Everyone has important paperwork and legal information which loved ones should have access to: GET IT TOGETHER: ORGANIZE YOUR RECORDS SO YOUR FAMILY WON'T HAVE TO appears in its second updated edition to tell how to sort important records, help your family find needed information, and how to do so with or without a computer in hand. Step-by-step descriptions of what documents will be needed, how to organize and protect them, and how to provide selected users with keys for finding them quickly make GET IT TOGETHER a top pick for any public library reference section.



4. We were hoping to set up a will and living directive, but the CD didn't have that. The forms are in PDF format so you print them off and fill them out?? Not sure why that is, deliver a Word doc so people can type it in. It's a great get all the information together type of book, just not great on the other parts of what to do if you become incapacitated type situations.



5. I've been left to pick up the pieces after a loved one's death and would not wish that experience on my family. That said, exactly because the subject was so intensely emotional, I'd put off meaningful gathering and preparation.
   
   A recent experience I watched unfold showed me how selfish that approach was and I started looking for a method to pull together information. This book came highly recommended, and I liked the idea of the accompanying CD-Rom.
   
   We've been making progress with our worksheets (I printed one file for each of us, with a master file for joint things like checking/savings accounts and our home). When we're almost done, we'll sit down with a professional and use this material to develop a living trust.
   
   The author's manner throughout is professional and yet compassionate. Instructions are easy to understand, yet there's not a feel that you're being talked down to. You also can hop from one place to another in the book and worksheets as your information and mood take you.
   
   I'd add these suggestions to the process:
   
   * If you don't already have a grid of account numbers, simply gather your monthly statements now, while you're waiting for the book to arrive, and add new statements as they come in.
   
   * "Tax time" is a perfect time to work on the financial sections, since you've probably got a lot of materials more at your fingertips than you do at other times of year.
   
   * Practice security wisely. Keep the material at home, preferably locked up. Although you can work on the files on your computer, I would advise very strongly against leaving them on your drive. Either secure the printouts or archive your documents on a removable drive, which you then secure.
   
   * There's a note that no tech support is available for non-Windows users. I have found that the CD operates easily and flawlessly on the Mac OS X platform.
   
   * If you're reluctant for time or emotional reasons, you'll find that you can get a lot done in 20-minute chunks. For the same reason, turn to the portions where you indicate your wishes (remembrance service? full-blown viewing and service?) since your voice will provide comfort and solace to those you leave behind.
   
   (This review is of the second edition of the book, which was purchased directly from Amazon.)

4 comments about Performance Appraisal Phrase Book: The Best Words, Phrases, and Techniques for Performance Reviews.

1. Compared to some similar books I have read, this book has better phases to use on performance reviews along with key verbs and nouns for each "area" of an employee's review. When choosing a rating for an employee in a specific area it also helped to review the statements described in the book to have a consistent measure to judge performance.



2. When you are lacking inspiration for detailing the successes or failures of your direct reports this handy reference book provides a vast library of useful phrases that can be used on performance appraisals. The phrases are nicely organised into key competencies with 3 levels (exceeds, meets, does not meet) of grading. Each competency also has listed a number of key verbs and nouns.
   Although it can be argued that this type of book can devalue the feedback given in performance reviews, it can also help to prevent the reviewer from writer's block and falling back onto a few stock phrases.
   The biggest criticism I have is that the book does not contain a concise index to all of the competencies. You have to browse the whole book to discover and find specific competencies.



3. Our corporate office Human Resource Department was so impressed with this book, we purchased one for each of our managers. Excellent book.



4. I was hoping this would take the "Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals" a little bit further in content. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver like I had expected. I consult other aids before this one.

4 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting and Running a Coffee Bar (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

1. There's plenty of money to be made in the coffee business and if your dream is to get out there and run a coffee bar, you're in luck: Complete Idiot's Guide To Starting & Running A Coffee Bar provides all the basics on how to do so. From what it's really like to run a coffee bar to legal issues, sales, shop equipment choices, kitchen layout and more, much of the book is very specific to the coffee industry and provides a wealth of specific business advice.



2. This is a must for anyone who plans to open a coffee bar or shop. It not only provides all the necessary information for menu, location, prepration of specialty coffee drinks, everything you need to know about running a business is included. The descriptions of employee training manual and employee handbook, how to hire and fire, as well as too many vital things to mention, have me reading it again and again. This book will be a useful tool for months (years) in the future.



3. One of the things that struck me most about this book is that it seems perfectly balanced. By this I mean that it covers all the general business angles of running a coffee bar, but it never loses sight of its coffee-oriented focus. While there's certainly plenty of information that people running other businesses would find useful in here, you'll never find yourself thinking that you could have gotten the same information out of a more generic business or restaurant business guide. Everything focuses on the particular application of principles to the unique issues and problems that face the owner and operator of a coffee bar. Even when discussing cross-promotion and various forms of publicity the book discusses things that are likely to work best with your products and services.
   
   You won't just find information in here on business plans, licensing issues, equipment, suppliers, staffing, and publicity however. There are guides to roasting beans (in case you want to create your own blends, or just want to understand what you're buying), creating a wide variety of coffee drinks and related treats, and cultivating repeat customers.
   
   In addition to the vast wealth of information, the attitude with which this book was written is fantastic. It's practical yet positive, realistic yet optimistic. It livens things up with a dry wit yet never allows the humor to get in the way of the information it's trying to convey. It will make you excited about even topics like marketing your business without ever coming across as empty cheerleading.
   
   I quite enjoyed reading this book, and have to firmly remind myself after reading it that no, I really am not the kind of person who can go out and start such a business. Because after reading all of this handy and fascinating information, the prospect is delightfully tempting!



4. This book was a starting point, but was not "Complete" by any means. I was hoping this book would delve into specifics, such as how to go about obtaining contractors to have a coffee bar built, or give real life statistical examples of day-to-day coffee bar operations. Understanding the author(s) cannot possibly account for everything one would experience as a coffee bar owner, it would have been nice to get a picture. The good thing about the book, as stated earlier, is it gives ideas of things one should think about- such as payroll, hiring tips, color schemes, etc. but again, they're just starting points. It will be necessary for me to purchase another book to build on this one......bummer