5 comments about Fibonacci Analysis (Bloomberg Market Essentials: Technical Analysis).

1. Tried my best to understand what I was reading,but just could not make the grade.Not my type of reading.Fibonacci is simply about retracements and expansion.This book makes Joe DiNapoli look like a genius.



2. Once I began to read this book I could not put it down, this is without doubt the most informative work I have read on this subject in my 20 years trading. The book is involved and it does require thoughtful study but that effort will I am certain be rewarded. If I knew nothing of Fibonacci at the outset this would still be the book for me, why waste time picking up bad habits from other books get it right the first time.
   
   regards.



3. I have read this book twice and started using the confluence zones. Now the book is used like a daily reference manual.
   
   Keep in mind that the other reviews you see above are correct; knowledge of technical analysis is helpful in understanding this information. I have been investing and trading for several years and I have also accumulated 100 books on the subject. None of these books ever compelled me to write to the author and thank them for writing their book; that is until this one. Constance has a gift for teaching. Being brilliant helps too! This book is required reading for the serious trader.
   I am amazed at what happens in the confluence zones!! I am getting better and better at drawing the correct Fib Levels and my zones are becoming meaningful and respected. This makes me freak out a little because these are levels I would never see otherwise; they have no meaning until you find them!! (if that makes any sense at all)I know several traders who think they are using Fibonacci Levels. Now I recognize that they are using Fibonacci all wrong. I was too; before I read this book.
   
   My advice; get the book, read it, read it, read it; then practice like you have never practiced before.
   
   Tools are only as good as the hand they find themselves in; be committed and this will amaze you too.



4. Having just graduated college in May, I've gotten some new books to further my education as I combat this terrible financial job market. After hearing the advertisements for this book on Bloomberg Radio I decided to check it out and let me tell you this book is no cake walk. Granted, I am not an extensive trader and only am a student of Finance and have no applied concepts learned in school to call myself an "experienced" financial professional.
   
   Like other reviews say, you will need to re-read chapters and don't even think about taking a day off haha. I took 2 days off from reading and had to re read the chapter and the chapter before it, it takes a lot of time and practice, but the knowledge you gain from this book is a good foundation to build upon. I find the concept of Fibonacci Analysis to be exciting and worth while to know. I suggest this book for everyone, but they have to be committed to learning.
   
   It does help to have a technical analysis background, but not necessary, just takes a little longer to understand what shes talking about when she speaks of Gann Analysis and Elliot Wave's. Overall, a great book, only reason why I give it a 4 out of 5 star is that she claims this book can be read by someone who has no experience in fibonacci, and she is half right in that statement, but if you have no experience, you will get lost sort of fast. I've enjoyed this read, but am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for books on Gann Analysis?



5. Fibonacci seems to be an area of technical analysis that is very poorly covered in the literature. There are several books but many of them are by writers of newsletters (and the books often spend page after page on historical irrelevant detail). This doesn't automatically make the books bad, but it is likely that the author will hold back certain information.
   
   This book is not for beginners. I would buy Robert Miner's book to get the received wisdom on Fibonacci retracements and extentions. Then I would experiment trading on those ideas for a couple of years. Anything above this level isn't in the public domain and you have to be prepared to spend a lot of time doing research. If you want to learn more you can consider buying this book or another specialised book (Greenblatt or Boroden). But be aware: The further you read this book the more opaque it becomes. I think you also need to subscribe to the author's newsletter. So this author does hold back information, but in the earlier chapter the writing is fairly straightforward and some testable ideas are presented.
   
   Personally I have decided not to go down this route. I do believe there is value in basic Fibonacci ratios, but there is too much mysticism in the advanced literature for my comfort. Maybe I'm missing something, but I take the risk.
   
   I've still given this book 3 stars because I suppose it is cutting edge and if you are interested in the area it is worth getting other people's ideas for forward your own thinking.
   
   I have written several short reviews on trading books. The best way is to compare the score on the books I've read. Many reviews on amazon.com are just glorious 5 star reviews. I use all five categories; sorry but everything isn't "great". Books rated 5 are very good. Books rated 4 are good solid books well worth reading. Books rated 3 can be bought by some people who read a lot or have very specific needs. Books rated 1 or 2 I would not recommend buying or reading. Naturally all in my humble opinion.

5 comments about The Complete TurtleTrader: The Legend, the Lessons, the Results.

1. The book will be very interesting for readers who are new to trading literature and moderately interesting to those who have already read about trading, and trend trading in particular (I've read the author's magnum opus "Trend Following" and recommend it strongly).
   
   As to the guide motive of The Complete Turtle Trader I wasn't convinced that "The Turtle experiment proved that nurture trumps nature" as the author states repeatedly. Why?
   
   1/The Turtles were recruited not randomly but in a careful selection process. Clearly, they were perceived by R.Dennis as candidates having certain natural potential to become traders when nurtured/trained.
   
   2/Turtles didn't risk their own money which seems the number one obstacle to trading success - a psychological one, it is called fear, while all the Turtles had to fear was not following through on job description provided by R.Dennis and W. Eckhardt, helpful indeed, although still not an easy task. Why only a small minority of the original group remained successful traders, or traders at all, after the experiment was over(many turned school teachers we learn)? In my opinion the conclusive experiment started rather then ended when the group got disbanded.
   
   3/This point is less important than the earlier two - Turtles didn't develop their methods which is an intellectual challenge, in fact less formidable than the psychological challenge of trading, and also weren't faced with the question whether or not to adjust their methods when and if markets changed. As far as I know the 20 day breakout they applied with success during the time of the experiment doesn't work nearly as well as it did (famous L.Raschke, one of J.Schwager's Market Wizzards, has coined the name "Turtle Soup" for one of her trading setups - fading the 20-day breakout.
   
   In conclusion: narture alone can very often be insufficient to become and remain successful at trading.



2. It looks like ideas from this book still works. One of the interesting example of similar approach - Alexander Rezviakov in Russia, whose approach very similar to approach in this book. Even ideas like "...looking at the news for decision-making cues was the wrong thing to do.". Very interesting, that Alexander start his public lectures about a year before this book was published.
   
   Maybe Donchinan's channels are old-fashioned nowadays, but main idea - turn off TV, focus at the price, catch the trend, use stops and some other - is still is up to date.



3. Congrats - All the basics are right in front of the reader... The info in this books gives the serious reader a basic structure, and allows them to then build their own personalized methods around a time proven concept.
   
   Eastern Research & Trading
   Bill G. / Singapore



4. Good book. A lot of traders get caught up in the fundamental garbage, especially when they start out. Focusing on the noise just takes your attention off of what really matters - making money. I can't cant the number of times when a crop report comes out that supports my bias on the market, only to see the market move the opposite direction. The author did a great job of showing a simple system that performs over time. Too often we trade to feed our ego, not to make money. I don't know about you, but I just want to make money. The easiest way to do it is to follow the method that others are using to make cash. This book outlined the strategy and showed how others are doing it right now. It almost gives you the edge because you don't have to do the research on what everyone else is doing. This book straightens out the learning curve.



5. 
   Based on the title "The complete Turtle Trader" I was expecting more than a story describing the different participants, results and trading personalities. The book did not discuss the trading methodology in any details that can allow an average trader to duplicate. Most of the Rules were general in nature, for example "buying new breakouts" "being comfortable in shorting the market" "stop watching TV and base your trading on price action, i.e., open high low close". A more detailed description on risk control and money management is given but not much different than you find in other books.
   The last 40 or so pages are a compilation of trading results with the appendix.
   One interesting point is that Turtle Traders in most cases were not using their own money which takes out the emotion from trading and this could be the reason for their success. A feature that cannot be duplicated by someone trading their own money since emotions always tend to get in the way.
   Nevertheless it is an interesting read and for that reason the 4 star rating

5 comments about Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 700 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More.

1. Roadfood This book may be great on paper, but it's not usable in Kindle. That's too bad, because this is just the kind of book you'd like to be able to take along on your travels without being burdened by the physical book.
   
   The organization of the book is by geographical region, with the smallest unit being a state. So if you're using Kindle to look for a restaurant in a particular city or region, you must page through all of the restaurants in the state, which are listed in alphabetical order by restaurant name. If the region bridges states, your problem is compounded.
   
   The paper edition uses maps for indexes, with the names of featured restaurants in a particular area listed on the map. You thus go from the map to the alphabetical listing of the restaurants. Unfortunately the map pages are not legible on Kindle. They were simply scanned, not adjusted for screen size, and, as graphics, they do not respond to a change in print size.
   
   Once again the transition to Kindle is thoughtless, taking no consideration of the practical need of the user to navigate the book.



2. Although I am a serious home cook I tend to eat out a lot due to my busy travel schedule. I am always looking for the out-of-the-way places that only the locals know about. This book is my inside guide to those hidden treasures.
   
   First I checked out the cities that I know best and was amazed at how many of the small, jewel-like restaurants that I have visited in the past were included in this book. However, some cities get a lot of coverage and some equally deserving cities got little or no reports. I live in San Antonio and although some of the surrounding cities have restaurants that are included in this book, San Antonio, one of the largest and most unique cities in Texas, gets nothing. Same can be said for many other cities, especially in the Northeast. I understand that no book can adequately cover a subject as broad as this and still please everyone, but I would pay three times as much for a more extensive tome.
   
   I have this book in the Kindle version and though I wish I could get to specific cities quicker, I am not as unhappy as other Kindle version reviewers.



3. We recently purchased the new edition of 'Roadfood' to take along with us on our recent road trip through the Southwest. In the course of the trip, we tried three places recommended in this guide. The first, the Nevada Dinner House, had been acquired by new owners and our dinners bore little resemblance to those described in the guide. The second meal, at Pasqual's in New Mexico, was excellent. Unfortunately, the total bill was not the $30-40 predicted by the guide, but rather $100 dollars for three diners (including tip). We ordered no alcohol, shared a dessert, and one of the diners was a child. Our final shot with the guide, at Old Smokey's Diner in Arizona was also a miss. The guide described the excellence of the five varieties of bread, along with a number of sweet breakfast bread options included with the breakfast or available for sale by the loaf. In actuality, the restaurant's bread was the standard store-bought bread, available at any Denny's and NOT for sale by the loaf.
   
   While I'm sure that all of the places mentioned in the guide were at one time as wonderful as described, it appears that the authors may not be doing careful research on the continuing quality of some of their old favorites.
   
   Despite this, I'm still giving the book two stars because it is excellent, mouth-watering reading. I wish the places they described actually existed, though!



4. My wife and I have been using this guide and it's predecessor for about 4 years now. This guide still is our first reference when taking a trip. The first 3 years, eateries were very good and mostly as advertised. Lately, and especially on a recent trip through Nevada, Colorado and Arizona it was hit and miss. Some of the reviews in the book are not up to date regarding the prices and food. We missed on 2 out of the three that we visited. We also figure that we are batting about .500 in our home area, San Francisco. We will continue to use the guide as we really enjoy finding good food on the road and there is little else to help us decide. Maybe a little more personal followup is needed before putting a restaurant in this guide.



5. I bought this book in the eighties and found it helpful on some road trips. This newer version has little more. Some of these restaurants are no longer good and there are far better ones in an area. The concept is good, but I don't think the Sterns go back to these places to reevaluate and quite frankly I don't think they have added much that's new.

5 comments about DeMark Indicators (Bloomberg Market Essentials: Technical Analysis).

1. I've been struggling for weeks now to recreate many of Demark's indicators for the Ninjatrader platform in C# - relying soley on the original explainations in Tom Demark's book. There are a lot of very detailed logic rules for these indicators that , if you blink, you'll miss a step in the procedure. Jason Perl's book is exactly what I have been looking for.
   He breaks down each indicator in a top down pseudo code step by step format that makes understanding and code translation a breeze. There are also numerous Q & A's that I found extremely insighful.
   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!



2. For years I've been trading using Tom DeMark's indicators, I have produced my implementations of TDSequential, TDCombo, TDST ( In QuoteTracker, Worden Blocks e.t.c). It was a very long "trial and errors" process.
   DeMark's works have lots of haters who have difficult time to admit that something that "simple" could (if interpreted correctly) produce such steady trading profits in ANY kind of market.
   When I saw this book appeared on Amazon - I ordered it right away, just needed to see what it had to offer ( so little info on DeMArk for retail full time traders)
   I wish I had that book when I was coding DeMark indicators - it would save me lots of time - this book is a "MUST READ" for anyone who is a serious trader, it sorts and logically arranges what was scattered across the pages of DeMark's own books. THANK YOU!
   DavidDT of trading-to-win



3. This book is excellent if you want to know how to construct the DeMark indicators. It tells you all the parameters and goes into all the subtleties. However, if you are buying this book to write a black box it doesn't give you a full trading strategy. The reason for this is it allocates very little time on exit strategy - 95% of the book is on entry. Additionally there is no description as to how the default parameters have been decided. (The 9 and 13 particularly - they are just assumed from page one.) However, as I have said, if you are looking for a book that clearly explains the entry techniques that DeMark uses this is for you.



4. This book provides the clearest exposition of Tom Demark's work that I have seen, explaining both how to implement the indicators and giving suggestions for interpreting them as a discretionary trader or as part of a mechnical system.
   
   It is written from the perspective of a practitioner and targets that audience - Jason has been extremely generous in disclosing many tricks of the trade in applying the indicators that one otherwise could only learn painfully from watching several years of market behaviour under different regimes. For example, he explains how a trend-follower can use TD Setups in combination with TDST lines - an idea not explained elsewhere.
   
   Jason Perl is the expert on the application of TD Wave (Tom Demark's rigorous variation of Elliott Wave), and the explanation of how to use this tool in combination with other indicators is on its own worth a multiple of the price of the book.



5. This is a handbook on the DeMark indicators. The book is useful if you subscribe to the indicators on Bloomberg, etc. You won't find these indicators on Esignal, Tradestation or on free websites.
   
   So does this book contain anything useful for the rest of us? Yes, if you want to program the indicators yourself in whatever system you are using.
   
   And for the rest of us that are not programmers? No. This book is not for us.
   
   However, I would assume these indicators will be available for all systems in a couple of years. So I give the book 3 stars.
   
   I have written several short reviews on trading books. The best way is to compare the score on the books I've read. Many reviews on amazon.com are just glorious 5 star reviews. I use all five categories; sorry but everything isn't "great". Books rated 5 are very good. Books rated 4 are good solid books well worth reading. Books rated 3 can be bought by some people who read a lot or have very specific needs. Books rated 1 or 2 I would not recommend buying or reading. Naturally all in my humble opinion.

5 comments about Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics.

1. One of the few guides that covers the newer Google analytics ga.js code. I found chapter 11 an immeasurable help for guidance in monetizing a non-ecommerce website. Well laid out with useful screenshots and comprehensive scope, this is the one guide you will turn to everyday. I am always getting more ideas and finding different ways to get the most out of Google Analytics with the insights provided in this book.



2. This is the long overdue "how to" guide for Google Analytics. You can get started tracking your web traffic without this book, to be sure. But, this book goes beyond the help section provided on the Google Analytics site. If you're trying to understand the web traffic on your site, try using Google Analytics. It's easy and free. This book will help you along. While the title describes the book as Advanced, it's not really that technical. Even the most technical sections are pretty easy to get through.



3. This book is a MUST for anyone who is trying to use Google Analytics.
   
   You will probably have to read through it more than once (at least I did) but that is because it was packed with information on how to best implement tracking, comprehend data and use it to improve your site with Google Analytics.



4. Like some of the other reviews I considered myself to be quite familiar with Google Analytics, and I was very impressed with Brian's book. I learned A LOT that will be very valuable to our company, many items I've already put into action. (ere's a list of what I learned http://blog.dogster.com/2008/09/25/get-more-out-of-google-analytics)
   
   Brian also does a really good job of building up the what the tools are, why you want to use them and then how. It's a very modular book that doesn't force you to constantly refer to other sections. It builds well and give good examples w/o digressing into obscurities.
   
   If you are using Google Analytics at all for your business, you'll want this book.



5. This book is intended to read cover-to-cover, not really a browse to the topic you're looking for type of book. Still really good read, and after you have a great understanding on GA overall.

5 comments about Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking.

1. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book and my copy is totally marked up as I got many more ideas and strategies for us to implement in our business & daily operations. Our Magazine, Millionaire Blueprints Magazine Millionaire Blueprints is privileged to be marketed by word of mouth and we never had it as a line item in our marketing plan. Duh! I am so glad that there is discussion here on putting a value to word of mouth and proactively making it a part of the business and marketing plan. I also love the discussion about being honest & transparent, customer service, and simply being a part of the conversation both online and offline. Great book and it will definitely be referred to often in our business by our entire team.



2. Andy Sernovitz is the guru of Word of Mouth. Andy's advice will give you ideas you can use right now to jump start the conversations that customers are having with each other. If you've ever wanted customers to act as your sales team, this is the book for you.



3. The author certainly adds a lot of historical examples, making the book easy reading. But as for giving concrete examples of how to improve one's own business, it is mostly theoretical. Moreover, it reads more as a top-down memo than a conclusive analysis of the manner WOM marketing is conducted. The impact of WOM is in no doubt an influential part of every brands existence; however, I felt this acts book acts more of a summary rather than a in-depth analysis. If you are looking for an easy-read that will open your eyes to WOM, this is a great book for you; if you are looking for a book that delves deeper into the possibilities of WOM, keep looking.



4. I've read tons of marketing books. Seth Godin, Al Ries, and now Andy Sernovitz are the authors who really have shown that they have a solid grasp on marketing.
   
   Where Sernovitz really excels is his understanding of the dynamics of online WOM. Anytime you try to make a short-term gain, whether it be through spam or controlling what your customers say about you, you will lose. It does more harm than good. Having strong ethics and being a good person/company is what wins in the online world.
   
   This is one of the few books I would dub as a "must read" for any marketer, both online and off.



5. It's an OK book...I am using it for my thesis.
   So far, everything in the book is based on common sense...I mean, nothing really grab my attention as a new way that can make me think "aha!"
   
   It's a good book tough...suitable enough for my thesis:)

5 comments about The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth.

1. I recently read a book called, The Ultimate Question, Driving Good Profits and True Growth by Fred Reichheld. He also wrote the the Loyalty Effect. Reichheld is a huge advocate of offering premium customer service and measuring this as one of the driving forces of any company.
   
   Most of the points that he makes in the book are that there are bad profits and good profits. Bad profits are those that are short term and can detract from and strangle a company. Good profits are those that are sustainable.
   
   Lately, I have been thinking a lot about strategy and mission statements. He really points to what the ultimate mission statement is for customer service organizations and that is simply the golden rule -- how do you want to be treated?
   
   His book talks about the ultimate question to ask customers which is, how likely is it that you would recommend company X to a friend or colleague? This tends to be a more accurate indicator of customer satisfaction than just asking them how satisfied they are with a customer.
   
   He also talks about closed loop feedback. Whenever there is error or a problem, closing the loop very quickly makes total sense. Although I dislike the paperwork in ISO9000, closed loop is one of its positive attributes.



2. The points in this book could have easily been stated in a pamphlet. The author states the same points over and over in different words for two hundred pages. The most impressive thing about this book is that the author manages to say the same thing in so many different ways. You could get the entire content of the book by reading the first two pages of the preface. I only read this book because it was given to me by my boss who insisted I read it over the weekend. I never would have chosen to read it on my own. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly need to have two points repeated so many times over so many pages. Also, what's with the "all rights reserved" symbol on the phrase "net promoter score?" Why would you bother? What's the likelihood that someone is going to steal the phrase "net promoter score..." Reading this book is like taking a road trip with a used car salesman. It's full of fluff and pushy salesman-like jargon. Also, many of the points expressed are not just off, they're completely wrong. The author presents eBay as an example of a company that is supportive of their customers and highly rated by them as having excellent customer service, when in fact eBay's weak point is that customers frequently complain that eBay sends them canned answers that have nothing to do with their questions in response to their inquiries. Also, the author outright states that there was a point in time where all businesses were small businesses and then suddenly businesses became larger and lost focus on their customers. Not only is this completely wrong it doesn't make any sense at all. There have been large and small businesses as long as there have been accounting practices. I highly discourage consumption of this book unless your boss makes you read it.



3. As the owner of a very small business I am not going to be implementing any type of large-scale statistical analysis to determine NPS as the book suggests - it is just too expensive for my company. However, this book does provide a lot of fodder for thinking about customer service, what your company is doing, what it could and should be doing better and how you can keep in contact with your customers to keep honest and proactive in making their interactions with your firm as positive as possible. I think that tracking your Net Promoter Score is less important than making the Golden Rule a "philosophical cornerstone" of your business. I don't know if companies like USAA, Amazon and E-Bay track their NPS, but they would be delighting their customers and receiving tons of word-of-mouth advertising from happy "promoters" even if Fred Reichheld had never written this book. The short story: I got a lot of great ideas for my company from this book.



4. A well researched and easy to understand book, that if used with a focus to increase service quality through customer interaction and feedback will offer short cuts to success.



5. Unfortunately, this is another business book that would be a lot better as a 3-5 page magazine article. Reichheld starts with some good ideas such as using a more simple metric, viewing customer relationships as an entire experience instead of a set of transactions, and viewing customers as "promoters," "passives," and "detractors." He then proceeds to beat these good ideas to death with a bunch of non sequitur case examples and conclusions that aren't very helpful or actionable to anyone in a position to put this system into place.
   
   I would say that the majority of this book is dedicated to this kidn of content that doesn't add any value. The fact that he has to constantly say how the idea of NPS is new and revolutionary should be a red flag in itself.
   
   The book isn't a whole waste, so it still might be worth checking out. Just be careful not to buy into its own self-hype.
   
   At some points I thought that the book might just be a huge advertisement for Bain and Satmetrix. Since NPS by its nature is very broad and general, maybe not very actionable, it's a great excuse to suggest consulting services to help you implement the system. How convenient!
   
   The fact that they also dare to charge this amount for a book of such little actual content is also laughable.

4 comments about Yours for the Asking: An Indispensable Guide to Fundraising and Management.

1. 
   This book was OK. Not bad, but nothing special. It was kind of two books in one, and neither was done particularly well. One book involved chapters 1-6 and 8-10. And the second book was Chapter 7. I think the first book could have been better if it had a good beginning, sound middle, and eloquent ending. But the way it was put together it felt like a mere bulletin board with notes haphazardly tacked here and there. Where was the chapter on annual giving fundraising programs? Wow, what a hole!
   
   And the second book, i.e., Chapter 7, was quite a list of topics that could have been made into a wonderful treatise. But none of these topics were developed much. And each could have been made into their own chapter.
   
   The author heads up a very impressive nonprofit organization. And he boasts that he raised over $1 billion in six years for that organization. I wish he had not made that boast because I hear way too many professional fundraisers and fundraising consultants boast about raising tremendous sums of money. The truth of the matter is that it's the organization that raises the money. The fundraiser is just the clerk that helps the organization do its thing. If you were to put the author in a rinky-dink nonprofit I can guarantee you that he wouldn't be raising $1 billion in 6, 10 or 20 years.
   
   But if you are interested in nonprofit fundraising and want to read one person's "legacy book" on his life's work, then consider getting a copy of this book. It has some good content and may be a fun read for you. However, don't expect to be getting a "Guide to Fundraising and Management" as the title suggests. 3.8 stars!
   
   PS. Take a look at the Search Insider material offered by Amazon. It includes a Table of Contents that will provide you with exactly what is covered in this book.



2. There couldn't be a worst time to raise money for worthy causes and, for that reason, I can't think of a better book for anyone concerned about a non-profit's mission and financial viability. Levy has committed decades of experience into a compact and lively book that will be instructive for the professional staffs, board members and committed volunteers of almost any non-profit organization. The book balances sound practical advice with engaging and often humorous anecdotes from the author's own careers in business, philanthropy, and global public affairs. In the end, Levy demonstrates how fulfilling a professional life at the intersection of those three spheres can be.



3. This seller delivers great service! Delivery was prompt and the book was in mint condition. Thanks



4. I am a governance and leadership consultant. I train and speak to literally hundreds of trustees, CEOs, Directors, and other nonprofit professionals every year - this will be on the required reading book list!
   
   I purchased the book after hearing Reynold's keynote speech "Recession! What Recession? Raising Money in Tough Economic Times in Washington D.C. a couple of weeks ago.
   
   It was a great speech - Levy's charm, positive nature, and sense of humor won a very suspicious, cynical, and bail-out beaten nonprofit audience over. Who would have thought he could carry that keynote title off among a group of the nation's highest fundraising professionals?
   
   He was a cross between Woody Allen and Hugh Jackman with a little Sting and Coltrane thrown in.
   
   So - I bought the book. What woman wouldn't buy a book by a guy made up of Sting, Coltrane, Jackman, and Allen?
   
   I read it on the plane on the way home and have marked it, sticky noted it, and read it again. When my secretary saw it - she said, "Boy that one must be good!"
   
   I have read more than 200 titles on fund development, what I love about this one are the stories and the conversational style Levy brings to a tough topic - How to inspire regular people to ask regular people for money?
   
   Oh, and by the way, how to inspire not regular people (wealthy)to ask other not regular people (wealthy) for money is covered too.
   
   If you think having a wealthy board means they are an automatic friend-raiser - then you haven't been around enough leaders in the nonprofit sector. Many people of wealth would rather write 2 checks than ask anyone for money!
   
   I appreciated Levy's personal attention to and beliefs about the role of the Board of Trustees/Directors in a nonprofit organization's fund development strategy. It is clear he views the goal of ensuring adequate resources for the advancement of the mission as an equal partnership between the board and staff.
   
   And he has actually done it.
   
   Other books say the same - but many Executive Directors tell me the books read more like good theory than the reality they experience with their boards in many small nonprofit organizations.
   
   Many organizations at the level of Lincoln Center have small boards (7-9 or under 20) of very influential and affluent individuals. Not Levy. As you read the book it is clear he has mastered the "art" (pardon the pun) of developing a strong board network - utilizing a very large number of individual board members through careful recruitment, committee, and leadership assignments.
   
   That requires a leader who is not threatened by size and who either has a phenomenal assistant - or phenomenal time management - or both. In the book he claims he returns calls within a short time every time. I had a friend in Birmingham test him last week - he did!
   
   As I read the book I could imagine these smart committee leadership structures and Levy having a Board Chair who is like a "General" to a huge army of cultural soldier ants - - hundreds of ambassadors telling the story of the Lincoln Center and the various organizations within it - - convincing their friends, their neighbors, their vendors, probably even their kids and dogs... to do the same and so on.
   
   Reading Levy's stories, I pictured him as more of the guy next to the General (Chair of the Board )in the front of the Jeep - pointing out good paths and possible obstacles and encouraging unsure leaders and staff with a good joke and a good laugh when things get a little bumpy. Acting as supportive coach and mentor and being coached and mentored - unifying folks around common goals. A leader who has figured out how to lead up, across, and down.
   
   Levy turns ordinary people into donors, donors into heroes, and extraordinary heroes into cultural philanthropists.
   
   Levy tells stories about how he played a part in helping people help him raise funds at many organizations and his belief that giving money and how you do it and how you feel about it - - separates the drive-by donor from the passionate social capitalists - the investment minded philanthropists.
   
   Great fund development professionals should be judged not by the funds they raise -but by the number of people they raise who raise.
   
   Can they inspire others to help them raise funds on behalf of the organization? True institutional advancement.
   
   To have a guy write about how he actually got this done among a very large group of high-level volunteers is not good reading, its great reading!
   
   Allison, Birmingham.

5 comments about Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used.

1. Block's book has been around awhile, and was the first purchase I made as I contemplated moving into the "independent consultant" game. Block's straightforward approach to dealing with each phase of the consulting engagement, and his insights on handling difficult situations in the business have been invaluable to me. Eight years and many client engagements later, I still find myself referring to it often, both as a refresher and as an inspiration, and I've purchased literally dozens of copies to give to colleagues and clients alike. Truly a classic, and a "must have" for anyone who consults, or who hires consultants.



2. My husband has this book and we bought it for a friend who just retired and became a consultant. My husband thinks it is one of the best books on consulting that he's read.



3. And it also one of my top 3 business problem solving books - and I've read a bunch of them.
   
   I own and have read many books on management and project management, several on consulting specifically, and numerous books on problem solving and intelligence analysis. This is one of the few books I come back to, and it is definitely the one I come back to the most. It has the best information, it very well written, and it is a pleasure to read.
   
   This book is the real deal. No silly platitudes or ideas, but a reality based approach and method. The issues in this book are the difference between success or failure as a consultant, and let me tell you a little secret......as a "manager" too.
   
   This book assumes that you are already competent in your field of expertise. Beyond that, this is the stuff you won't learn in college or in most project management books, which emphasize "scheduling, monitoring and control" over commitment and cooperation, systems over people. Other books may tell you how important involvement, support and commitment are, but don't show you how to get it. I realize that Block makes a clear and proper distinction between consultant and manager, but I have worn both hats and can say without hesitation that an astute "manager" would find this book as valuable as a consultant.
   
   Block gets at the heart of the matter. He deals with reality (people, politics, fear, resistance, etc.), not the ideal (whatever that may be), and he does this in a very positive manner. He tells you what to watch for, what it means, what is happening, how to respond. Some of his insights were truly eye opening; while others were things I knew, but not explicitly. Now I am consciously aware of them and use them more effectively. The questions and checklists he provides throughout the book are practically a book by themselves. They are very well designed and address the most important issues.
   
   The few blasé reviews are most likely from people who are not actually in the position of a "consultant" as defined in this book. If you are not truly in this position, this book may appear a little too touchy-feely for your taste. If you work in a troubleshooting environment where the solution is usually a predetermined response to the diagnosis, this book will have limited value. However, if you work in an environment where you deal with organizational issues and problems that involve people and politics, this is the book you want.
   
   I have seen perfectly capable and hard working engineers, contractors, consultants and managers go by the wayside because they were too aloof or did not understand their clients on the "affective" level. They thought their expertise alone would insure the acceptance of their ideas and secure their position with the client...it didn't.
   
   I have stumbled into a few successes in my consulting career and can look back and see it is because I applied the concepts of this book - whether by design or accident. Conversely, I can also see some other situations where the application of these concepts would have been very useful.
   
   Finally, this book is extremely well written and enjoyable to read. This is rare for many business and management books. He has an amazing way of getting to the root of every issue and expressing it in a most concise manner. Only on a few occasions does he use the jargon of the consulting profession, and even then it is perfectly appropriate. He does repeat some themes in this book, but he is showing you how and where those themes fit in with each step of the consulting process.
   
   Again, this book is the real deal. He knows what he is talking about when it comes to organizations and the consulting process. There is no doubt you will be a much improved consultant or manager if you learn and apply the methods in the book.



4. The book arrived promptly and would have been considered a brand new book with the exception of a tear on the paper cover that had been taped. Otherwise, the book itself is perfect.



5. I have to admit that I really liked Peter Block's "Flawless Consulting". This book was originally written in 1978, and then revised in 1998. I expected the book to be dated and irrelevant, but it wasn't. The concepts that Block wrote about many years ago are still applicable today.
   
   Block strikes a perfect balance between theory and execution. In fact, there is a lot of both. He backs up his theories with flowcharts, checklists, and even cartoons.
   
   Until I read read this book, I thought that Alan Weiss's "Million Dollar Consulting" was the best consulting book out there. But Block's book ranks right up there with Weiss's.
   
   This book has over 300 pages and is packed with information. The topics include 1) dealing with resistance, 2) getting the data, and 3) managing the feedback meeting.
   
   If you are serious about your starting or improving your consulting business, then you really should read "Flawless Consulting".
   
   Mitch Paioff, Author, Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant
   
   Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant

5 comments about The Trusted Advisor.

1. Excellent book by the master of consulting firm management. Addresses and gives insight into the goal of all management consulting engagements - to become the trusted advisor of the C-level management - on the issues related to your expertise. I recommend this book and Maister's other books to all senior level consultants and professional services personnel.



2. There's a lot more to selling than sales skills. You can study all the closes you want, but if you can't bring value to your clients, you better find a new profession. The Trusted Advisor educates true consultants on how to bring value in what you can offer to your clients, The Trusted Advisor takes you from salesperson to valued resource, and it all starts with trust. The old line, "what's it going to take to get you to buy" is for sales people that won't be selling this time next year, invest in yourself, invest in what The Trusted Advisor teaches you.



3. Odds are, if you read books like this, you have read all of this before. Most of it is common sense as well.



4. Truly, the content that Maister, Green, and Galford provide in "The Trusted Advisor" is absolutely brilliant. The only other consulting text that comes to mind which meets the quality of this work is "The Secrets of Consulting", by Weinberg (see my review). And while "Secrets" is an incredibly informative and entertaining masterpiece, the three authors who collaborated for this piece have provided a great service to anyone involved with advising other individuals, regardless of profession. The step-by-step path that this book offers starts with perspectives on trust, followed by the road to trust building, and how to proceed once trust is achieved. Unlike many books of this genre, the authors (and editors) of "The Trusted Advisor" do not simply rehash the obvious, and their explanations never assume the background of the reader. This book is so well put together that it is difficult to determine where to start in terms of this review. Each chapter is focused, designed to answer a specific question, such as "Do you really have to care for those you advise?" or "How do you ensure clients are willing to do what it takes to solve their problems?" The introduction notes that the education of the authors "served [them] well, but nothing in it prepared [them] for the real world of trying to serve clients effectively. Along the way, [they] learned that becoming a good advisor takes more than having good advice to offer. There are additional skills involved, ones that no one ever teaches...that are critical to [one's] success. Most important, [they] learned that [one doesn't] get the chance to employ advisory skills until [they] can get someone to trust [them] enough to share their problems[.]" The authors also note in the introduction that the theme of this book is that "the key to professional success is not just technical mastery of one's discipline (which is, of course, essential), but also the ability to work with clients in such a way as to earn their trust and gain their confidence." In order to do this book justice, a write-up for a New Yorker book review would be in order since there is simply not enough space to write here. One specific aspect of this book this reviewer appreciated is all the lists throughout the book (39 in total) that are also contained in a comprehensive appendix. For example, the first chapter immediately lists the 16 benefits one might obtain when trust is established with clients, followed by the 22 traits trusted advisors have in common. The figures provided in each chapter are also very effective, starting with Figure 2.1 that helps visualize the path from subject matter or process expert to trusted advisor that consists of increasing breadth of business issues and depth of personal relationship. Many examples are presented to illustrate the discussions of each chapter, and suggested variations on how to word advice are also liberally provided to the reader. Chapters 15 and 16 were especially well done. The first lists some of the difficulties the authors hear about the trusted advisor role, followed by a point-by-point examination of each. For example, "Professional services firms often breed a culture of content expertise and mastery. (We're taught that content is all.)" and "My client wants me to focus on the work at hand; he or she doesn't want to see me about anything else." The latter chapter discusses 9 difficult client types, and how to respond, such as the "I'll Get Back to You" client and the "Just Like, You Know, Come On" client. Highly recommended.



5. David is the written word authority on professional advisory services. The trusted advisor is a book, I first read when it was published and I find myself returning to it and sharing it along with other works of David's again and again. But if you can read just one and want to balance learning with the enjoyment of the read, I recommend The Trusted Advisory for all consultants and service industry professionals.