5 comments about A Beginner's Guide to Short-Term Trading: How to Maximize Profits in 3 Days to 3 Weeks.

1. This book taught me a great deal in a short time. It was not only easy to read, but informative and encouraging. She explains concepts in a very straightforward manner plus and was very positive about trading in general. I would recommend this book to anybody just starting out and want to learn more about trading stocks using technical analysis.



2. Learning to trade confidently & profitably was probably the most daunting endeavor I've ever taken up. As a former novice trader, I recall having the feeling that I was paralyzed by uncertainty and self-doubt about my trades. It seemed then that there was drastically more information than a person could take in. Everything I heard or read made me believe that it was so critical and important. Yet I never seemed to understand how I should use what I was learning. I was always a step behind the market, chasing the crowd and loosing money. The more I traded the more frustrated I became. I thought I'd never understand how to trade. I'd lost so much money and enthusiasm that I considered quitting trading and leaving it up to smarter people than myself. I was beaten and embarrassed.
   
   That was all before I read this book. Toni showed me step by step what I needed to know in order to get a firm grasp of trading successfully and profitably. What made this book so special to me is that Toni has an easy style that describes everything in really plain language. She takes nothing for granted when she explains how to read charts and when to buy and sell. She rounds out every chapter with some words of wisdom that guide the novice and expert trader alike toward having the knowledge, attitude and confidence to succeed. It's akin to having a "market mentor" showing you the ropes in a very thoughtful and intuitive way. She's a great teacher and what I've learned from her has been the foundation for all of the knowledge I've acquired since reading this book.
   
   In short, this book helped me see the beauty and simplicity of trading for profit & I'll never give it up (I do it for a living).



3. this book is good for beginner but i think if it has more real life example that will be more easy to understand.Should have specific rather then histroy.helal for sydney australia



4. Excellent book - fast shipping - excellent condition - will buy from you again. Thanks very much



5. Look no further than this book if you are just getting started trading. This book condenses a wealth of knowledge from the super pros into a very understandable read. Better than the Dummies Series books.

5 comments about Investing in Real Estate With Lease Options and "Subject-To" Deals : Powerful Strategies for Getting More When You Sell, and Paying Less When You Buy.

1. As Real Estate Investors, when we hear of different ways to make money in this business, usually the first question always is "Will this work for me?" or "Will this work in my area?" or even better, will it work now "in this type of market?" Well, I say that Wendy has techniques that will answer YES to all three questions. My eyes really lit up when I learned how to combine methods--such as buying "Subject-To (getting the deed) and then Lease Optioning!!! Boy talk about a million dollar idea!! And these methods work -NO MATTER WHAT YOUR MARKET IS DOING!!! It was once said by a very popular and wealthy individual that we should "Own nothing and CONTROL everything"--well you got it right here!!! CONTROL WITHOUT OWNERSHIP!!! And you can get wealthy doing it. How would you like to own (control) over 100 homes at one time and have THREE sources of income from EACH house!!!! How many checks can you handle? That is what this book will do for you!!! GO GET IT NOW!!! RIGHT NOW!!!



2. This book is very well written. Excellent. Three months after reading her "Lease Option/Subject To" book I was able to do a lease option deal with a motivated seller. Now that I am ready to exercise my option, I was having problems finding a mortgage broker that can refinance a lease option deal. I emailed Wendy Patton and she responded in less than 24 hours with 5 mortgage brokers that can do the refinance. Bottom line, this is a Great Book! and a Great Author!



3. Fight The Good Fight I've been to a Wendy Patton seminar. She is a great teacher. Her material on lease options and subject to's are excellent resources. With her it's not all about selling you a $5,000 course. She actually provides valuabe information for the price of the book. I can't say the same about some of the other real estate guru's.



4. After investing in real estate for the last 8 years using lease options and subject to deals, i was pleasantly surprised by this book. Wendy Patton packs this book full of great ideas and techniques for both the beginner as well as the advanced investor. Anyone wanting to buy real estate with little or no money down, must read this book. Byron Walker UltimateResultsNow.com



5. I really found a great deal of useful information in this book familiarizing and guiding the reader through the lease option concept. I was willing to give this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the poor writting style in the first few chapters and simplistic cost/profit worksheets. Overall lease option is well introduced but when it comes to list costs associated with acquiring a lease option property until selling it to a new owner there is no emphasis on major costs like transfer tax and title fees, etc. In other words if you do not do your own research and just thrust the worksheets in Wendy's book you might evaluate an investment as highly profitable while it is not much profit potential after associated transaction costs. However to be fair Wendy mentions a few times that a novice investor should not jump into any deal before consulting with a local real estate attorney.

5 comments about Options as a Strategic Investment.

1. I actually ended up finishing this FAT book, even though I felt I was reading the same rhetoric again and again all along the book. This book could have been a lot SLIMMER. Although not a bad book to have in the library. I use it every now and then for reference (like margin requirements, prospective gamma changes, etc.).
   Considering there are very few books on options trading out there that has good substance (although, there are decent amount of articles and research papers on options out there), it's a must have for your library, whether you are seasoned options trader or an intermediate options trader.



2. Well written with lots of examples to help you understand the concepts. I've used it as a reference many times as I've constructed trades. It's a big book but it's value will pay off for you handsomely.
   
   One cautionary note on this book is that it was written when trading costs were substantially higher. There are examples in the book where it will discuss trading 500 shares and paying $300 in commissions which clearly doesn't apply anymore. As you read through the book, you may need to alter your strategies accordingly.



3. I worked at Larry's office for over 3 years and anyone who would rank this book a 1 or 2 simply doesn't have the mental capacity to be a true options trader. First of all, I left his office only because I wanted to get out of sales. I still trade options and the lessons I learned from him and his books are used daily. I read people's review about his presentation style and it makes me laugh at how people want to be sold. They want to be duped by a con artist guru so bad and don't even realize it. Larry is a former mathematical programmer turned Wall Street trader - not broker. What do you expect from someone like that? Believe it or not, Larry likes to sell him seminars, books etc. simply for exposure and to get out of his office to have a beer with like minds. Anyone who likes an option book because it's an easy read is a schmuck!
   
   Nate - Nashville



4. Don't get me wrong, I do like the book but the author has an annoying habit of providing an example to illustrate every point that he makes. The book has 962 pages of main text including the appendix but there is really only about 100 - 200 pages of commentary - the remainder is constituted by the authors examples. You can read the book to the exclusion of the examples.
   The author, McMillan,is an experienced arbitrageur and therefore does not focus on directional trading. The first 410 pages concerns option strategies. EXAMPLE: buying and selling calls and puts, 3 advanced strategies for professionals, calenders and butterflies.
   He describes each strategy then suggests follow-up action to apply if the trade goes right or wrong EXAMPLE: leg out, roll down, roll up, roll out, adjust the delta neutral ratio, close the trade.
   He then states how to select the best option for the strategy EXAMPLE: " stock nearing striking price initially, 2 to 4 months remaining until near term expiration, near term straddle price at least two - thirds of long term straddle price" (page 354)
   He then applies the option strategies to different markets EXAMPLE: futures, structured products, stock indexes.
   The author also discusses pricing models however Sheldon Natenberg's book "Option Volatility & Pricing" provides a superior discussion to that of McMillan.
   I recommend the book.Options as a Strategic Investment



5. I am only 100 pages into this book and it has already made me money. (My review is based on the hardcover not the workbook) I have been investing my own retirement funds for years and have dabbled in options from time to time.
   
   I was focused on one strategy and didn't think of all the others. Mr. McMillan provides good examples of all the strategies and refers back to previous charts to reinforce his points. My options trading is now more focused because of the discussion on the discipline and psychology of trading.
   
   At first I was hesitant about paying $50 for a book but it made me 8 times that much in one day. I would recommend this book to anyone who already knows what an option is. While the book starts with the basics it quickly moves on to strategies. Mr. McMillan I may be retiring a bit earlier than I thought. Great book!!!!

5 comments about Sell and Sell Short (Wiley Trading).

1. This reasonably sized book outlines what a trader needs to know about selling (rather than holding) stocks. It also provides a good guide on how to approach short-term buying and selling, of which I am a fan. (I am not interested in selling short, but the information provided on the subject is useful for both directions.)
   
   It is not an exhaustive work on trading as it touches upon chart patterns, but does not dwell upon them. Instead, it helps provide the framework in which to organize one's thinking. I took notes on the book and used these notes for further research. Based on curiosity, I created, for example, a Microsoft Word document listing 150 chart studies. I continuously update this document with my own SnagIt-based observations on selected studies, making it a slick, inter-active guide.
   
   My friends, who are "investors," rather than traders, have been losing money left and right. I think that this book is the perfect gift for anyone who lets money slip through their fingers - either in retirement accounts or by their own active investing - without being preachy.



2. I found it is helpful on applying selling techniques, though the examples on selling were mostly short term focused.
   
   It lacks of what I expected on medium/long term selling, or short selling.



3. As an experienced trader, what I liked best about Dr Elder's latest book is that (1) he goes into detail on different possible selling methods and (2) when advising shorting methods Dr Elder does not try to convince the reader about his own method, but he gently presents different ideas which are very nicely illustrated. I found many ideas that I can readily apply even though I use different tools than those presented in the book.
   
   After reading this book, beginners will want to go back to Dr Elder's two masterpieces: "Trading for a Living" and "Come into my Trading Room", which offer more explanations and examples on Dr Elder's systematic approach to trading. I remember that, after closing "Come into my Trading Room", I had the feeling of a trading method that was completely disclosed under the bright light. "Sell and Sell Short" felt like a gift made of glistering candles: each candle brings some light on the market, but it is up to us to test and integrate them into our own trading method. I think that this book is meant that way: not to "teach", but to "show some different trading techniques" that are especially useful in bear markets.
   
   In the interest of full disclosure I should mention that Dr Elder wrote the foreword to my book "Value in Time" and I have always been a great fan of his work.



4. I think a book means different things to different people depending on where we are in our education. I bought this book because another reviewer mentioned the method the author described for keeping track of investments--why I bought stocks, why I sold them, what I could have done differently, and so on. I have serious problems keeping a trading journal that is helpful. I wanted to see what Elder recommended.
   
   I was not disappointed. I would have bought this book for that section alone.



5. $53.55 plus shipping. So is this book worth the price? I will hopefully be able to give you an objective answer through this review. I would like to preface this review by saying that I have not read Elder's "Come Into my Trading Room" for a couple years (so my memory might be sketchy). I remember reading it at the time and coming away with a profound respect for Elder and how well he outlined the steps to becoming a professional trader.
   
   This book is a bit of a paradox to me. On one hand, it is a very good representation of what it takes to become a great trader. If you follow the things Elder says, and have the discipline to stick to them, then it is improbable that you will not eventually become a successful trader.
   
   With those things said, I felt that this book was much lighter in some ways then his most famous book. "Trading Room" is a tough act to follow as one reviewer on here said. That book has everything you need, and a lot more in depth knowledge then "Sell and Sell Short" offers. While reading this book, I was constantly a bit disappointed at how much it was angled towards the beginner. That's fine if that is what the book is aimed for, but with this price tag, I felt that it was a bit of a contradiction.
   
   If you are going to price your book at an 80$ tag price, it should have some very in depth, and advanced materials. I know some of the expensive books I have purchased are the kind that you can keep coming back to over and over again to gain new insight into what the author was communicating (Mark Douglas comes to mind, not to mention Elder's previous bestseller). So while I thought this material was all relevant, I felt a bit like I was reading a high priced update to "Trading Room."
   
   To show a bit of what I am talking about, let's take the example of keeping records. Elder goes to great lengths to convince his reader that keeping good records is the most important part of being a good trader. I happen to agree with him, but I was disappointed that he did not elaborate more on WHY it is so good.
   
   I understand that it lets you correct past mistakes, but he did not really go farther then that. Good records are important because it keeps you focused in the NOW. If you take good records, it makes you focus on how you did on each trade. Most people who are new to the markets tend to focus immediately on the P/L of their account; they think its all about making money.
   
   They should be focusing on how well they perform on each trade, the level of emotion they are letting make their decisions for them, how losses feel, etc. If you focus on the money and whether you're winning or not, you are not focused on a long term winning attitude that will make you a professional trader in the long run. A professional knows that any trade is pretty much a toss up; there are too many unknown variables that can take you out of a trade. If you beat yourself up about it, then essentially you are attached to the trade, and will, in the long run, be a loser.
   
   So because he did not explain why it was so essential to keep records, the reader does not know how to replicate that needed element in something that may not be concurrent with what the author advised. For example, before charts were electronic, one could get the exact SAME psychological benefit of focusing on the now moment and improving attitude by taking records of what the market does, and updating charts manually.
   
   Jesse Livermore's 1940 book "How to Trade Stocks" displays this perfectly. Livermore advocated keeping strict records of what the MARKET did, not essentially what his trade did. If Elder showed why a certain aspect of his book was important, he would leave the door open for traders to creatively find other ways to achieve the same effect as taking good records. (I have heard of market makers keeping great records of delta exposure daily that were great for them when they could not keep track of every trade they did.)
   
   I was hoping that Elder would go a bit more in depth into why psychologically, he had his methods, but I have one more complaint. The way he constantly tells the reader how a professional trader compares to an amateur is a bit annoying after awhile. Professionals share one thing in common, and that is a winning attitude, but they DO NOT share methods in common. There are tons of ways to skin a cat, Elder may think that buying options is for amateurs, but he should talk to a lot of hedgies that were long volatility into some of the events that rocketed the markets in the 90s. They were glad they were long options, and they are still around today to tell the tale, unlike LTCM and other firms that thought selling volatility was the only way to go.
   
   My final verdict? I respect Elder immensely for what he has done, and like the fact that he released this book to help people when he easily could have been trading and making more money. But this book's value is really not worth it over "Trading Room." If you then add in all the other great trading books out there, buying books like this for this price really cannot be justified unless you are like me, and just want the experience of Elder's latest. Great book Elder, bad price, hats off and congratulations.

5 comments about Come Into My Trading Room: A Complete Guide to Trading.

1. Dr. Elder is probably a successful trader who makes a lot of money selling his books about trading. I have no real negative comments about any of Dr. Elder's book except for his comments when it comes to daytrading. He seems to think that no one makes a living daytrading and that simply is not true. Dr. Elder, did you read Market Wizards? Are were those profiles not real? Yes, most traders probably shouldn't be daytrading or haven't been trading long enough to just dive in, but traders like Marty Schwartz, Paul Tudor Jones, Mark Cook, etc., etc. daytrade and make lots of money. In fact, millions. I'm sure there are many daytraders out there that no one knows about that do quite well. I just wonder why you don't even acknowledge that it's even possible to succeed, especially when it's done everyday. I like Dr. Elder's way of trading and use it in some of my trading, but it's not the only way. All traders and all methods are not equal and they all can't be judged by Dr. Elder's methods alone. His way is just another way of trading. Having said all this, I strongly recommend Dr. Elder's books because they are very good for all traders no matter the experience.



2. Extremely well written even a beginning trader will understand. I highly recommend this book especially for traders who've been trading actively but seem to be getting nowhere. A book worth keeping.



3. Not only I enjoyed a lot reading the book, but also learned a lot. The most important thing I learned is that to make money in the markets it is much more important your mental approach to trading rather than your technical knoledge. Essencial reading.



4. I think that it is very difficult to give the right information for such a matter, but dr. Elder has succeeded in saying the right thinks in the right way, even to a person like me that is almost a beginner in the trading affair. Really great.



5. Simply the finest book on trading I have read to date. I credit this book with being a large part of why I went from consistently losing on trades, to consistently making profits. I think that traders in any market would benefit from this book, and if you don't learn valuable lessons from this book you simply aren't trying. The sections on triple screen trading are worth the price of admission alone. I've read a lot of lousy trading books, so I though it was worth posting my very first review for the best.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading: How to Earn High Rates of Returns Safely.

1. The Complete Guide to Investing In Short Term Trading by Alan Northcott is a great tool for the novice and seasoned trader alike. It gives real life examples of how traders have won big, lost their shirt and everything in between. The author is much like a personal business consultant. He shows you how to get started and build your business into a long-term, profitable entity. The strategies in this book are priceless. Industry experts convey the same information at seminars and workshops for enormous sums of money.
   
   So whether you are trying to decide if trading is for you or you're reaching for the stars. The Complete Guide to Investing In Short Term Trading is sure to launch you to new levels of success.



2. I've read quite a few books on investing stocks and bonds and this is the first one that addresses the motive behind it all; Emotions. I particularly liked the "Success Stories," a brief yet in depth look at those who have prospered from using this book. As the chapters proceed, stock market buzz words and other important terms are explained in easy to understand, layman's terms. This book provides an entertaining and practical read.



3. For the serious investor, all the information you need to know and do before you make a trade is in this book. It becomes clear that Northcott wants you to become comfortable with the idea of trading and identifies the many challenges that new traders face. He doesn't send the unrealistic approach that you can win every time, but instead explains that you can trade without risking everything if you follow the guidelines in his book. You begin to discover what category you fit into with the different type of traders that are presented in the book and what might work for you using a variety of trading topics and interviews from those who work in the business everyday. Each chapter ends with a summary and a list of important terms filled with tips to become a natural in investing.
   
   Even if you don't invest, you can understand how investing affects everyone and what it takes to become a part-time or full-time trader. Northcott warns the reader to watch out for greed and fear and lets you know what to expect in the industry. Most of what you need to know about brokers, placing your orders, and how to establish a business plan to make your dreams into realistic goals are in this book. Precise information on the different markets and stock exchanges allows the reader to understand more on market makers and market pricing. The chapter on how to view charts is very helpful in deciding on future investments or to understand current investments and analyze stock trends.
   
   Northcott says there needs to be a balance between being safe and taking risks. I'm a frugal person and not one to take a chance, but I might give it a try now. Although some of the information in this book can be presented clearer at times, this book is easier to understand than other investing books. It gives you the tools to make the decisions you will need to make in this profession that will help you to succeed and recognize an opportunity over a downfall.



4. When people first think of trading as a profession, they typically focus on two key elements - self employment and lots of money, and probably not in that order. But The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading sheds light on the reality of trading - that it's hard work and, if managed the right way, can be quite rewording.
   
   The book opens with a review of the many emotions involved in trading and how there needs to be a balance to have a successful career in trading. It also offers a detailed look at various types of markets (Broad, Stock, Bond, Futures, Options, Forex and Commodity), the types of traders associated with each (Day, Swing and Position), and an overview of order placements.
   
   In detailed description, the book educates readers considering a career in trading about the ins and outs of the trading profession. With its step-by-step instruction, this book is a terrific business tool for anyone with a desire to participate in the world of trading. It offers fundamental information including a glossary for novices and more advanced information for traders already working in the field.
   
   This is one comprehensive book for anyone considering a career as a trader.



5. This is an excellent choice for anyone that is looking for a book to start out with and learn the basics of trading. The author does an excellent job touching on every topic you will need in trading, some of these are: how greed and fear factor into the markets, how the markets operate, the differences between swing traders, position traders and day traders, the different kinds of orders that can be placed, market or limit, stop order or limit stop order, trading using fundamental analysis vs. technical analysis, and the importance of money management in trading, along with the importance of building a trading system that fits your personality and gives you an edge over the markets.
   While experienced traders will get very little out of this book, it is a nice refresher on the psychology of trading and the importance of following your own stock trading system and following your own rules. I rank this book as 5 stars and a must have for traders just starting out, it is a great stepping stone to more advanced books from Alexander Elder and William O'Neal.

5 comments about The Volatility Edge in Options Trading: New Technical Strategies for Investing in Unstable Markets.

1. The author, Augen, trades for a living but has spent more than a decade developing his own method for trading (page xii ).
   In his book he shares his own personal knowledge and experience utilizing a ying and yang cast to communicate the message.
   He discusses the Black - Scholes pricing model and the Cox - Ross - Rubenstein model. Then he compares the standard deviation of volitility of option prices with the standard deviation of equity prices as seen in Bollinger Bands. He explains how arbitrageurs make their money from option trading and how ordinary folk make money from option trading. He describes his option strategies as either simple or complex and finally he applies those strategies to the earnings cycle and the expiration cycle.
   
   Overall, the book was easy and enjoyable to read.



2. I agree generally with the other 5 star reviews. I would add that Augen does a great job of giving the reader a sense of the time and effort it takes to get an edge with respect to trading volatility. The statistical anaylses required take a lot of time and effort and Augen's analysis techniques, which are discussed at length in the book, I believe are invaluable. Not a book for beginners, but experienced, self-directed traders will find this book to be a gem.



3. Rare find, this book is well written and nicely organized. I now have a far greater insight on how to profit in my option trading using volitility as an additional method. I read one review that mentioned that this book is not the Holy Grail, I agree and neither is any other book I have ever read on the subject, I do not believe there is such a thing nor probably ever will be. I will say this much about Mr Augen's book, it is definitely in the top 5% of those on the market today and any serious or want to be serious trader ought to do himself or herself a favor and add this arrow to their quiver.



4. Two of methods in this books are unique, but too hard to put to use in consistent basis for serious traders. Save money and buy a book on technical analysis on stocks for options trading.



5. This is one of the best books on options in my library! I'm a programmer and found Jeff Augen's descriptions of exactly how he calculated volatility and standard deviations. I duplicated it and compared it to iVolatility's historical data and it was dead on. I had thought of the Price Spike charts before reading this book but the author does a good job of explaining how to use them in your option trading. There are many nuggest you can use as an option trader in this book. I suggest re-reading it a few times so it all sinks in.

5 comments about Trading for a Living: Psychology, Trading Tactics, Money Management.

1. This is definitely a classic for all time.I wished I had read this book 10 years ago...



2. I bought this book 7 years ago when it was one of the bestsellers in the trading book catergory and I am suprise to see today that its still one of the best sellers.
   Serious, I don't think I really get a lot out of this book and I don't understand why people are so crazy about it?? One reason I can think of, maybe it is a good book for absolute beginners who has no idea about trading what so ever.
   But if you want to learn more about trading, ie. the skill to use, the way to manage your money. You will be very disappointed. Throughout the years, I read a lot of trading books which offer way more than this one.



3. The first audience that will find this book useful consists of those new to trading. Elder provides a good overview of technical analysis, with chapters on charting, trendlines, patterns, and some well-known indicators such as MACD, momentum, Stochastics, RSI, etc. He doesn't overwhelm the reader with information and he also provides trading rules.
   The second audience, people who have been trading a while and who have survived long enough to know they need to find out some more about psychology, probably won't find those chapters as interesting. But his chapters on psychology, both individual and mass psychology, are very helpful. He identifies what makes a winning versus losing trader and his chapter on risk management is outstanding. He discusses emotion and probabilities, money management, and how the professional trader must look for quality before money. One thing he stresses is that you must learn from your trades--the trade isn't over when the position is closed out. This constant study is what will help you change and improve. He also writes in an easy to understand manner. The only reason I gave this four stars and not five is that this information is that the book is very expensive for what it contains.



4. The book has 3 parts, psychologie, technical analyses and moneymanagement. This is a great book for beginners with technical analyses, but an even better book for the parts on psychologie and money management witch are the basics for every trader. No matter how good youre system is, if youre mind and money management are not in balance you will loose anyway. A must reed for every trader imho.



5. I found this book very interesting. Author is a psychologist and analyses the market crowd's behavior from a psychological point of view. I read only 65 pages yet, but already have many interesting advices to use in my trading.

5 comments about Hot Commodities: How Anyone Can Invest Profitably in the World's Best Market.

1. An interesting read giving insight of a master investor in the domain he understands best. Many logical reasons for his argument for several commodities mentioned that has been a guide for my investments in the Indonesian stock market. Though not many mortals would have access nor capacity to have direct investment in the minerals and commodities mines and plantations as he advocates.



2. I almost gave this book 5 stars for the mere fact that Rogers' predictions have come true since the time the book was published. For example, gas and gold prices have increased dramatically, as predicted, since 2004. S&P has been mostly going sideways and Rogers' prediction of the housing meltdown was right on. From an investment standpoint, the book would have been more helpful 4 years ago than today. Nevertheless there is still a lot of value here. First, Rogers' writing is engaging and interesting. Second, he offers readers a different way of looking at the world which is valuable regardless of your investments. Finally, he claims that his ideas and predictions of rising commodity prices will continue at least to 2015, so there is plenty of time left to profit from his wisdom.
   
   This book is an introduction and individual investors will have to do a lot more research and thinking before they can actually implement Rogers' ideas. The author admits that point, himself. Furthermore he does not really tell readers a logical way of even trying to profit from rising commodities. He claims the best way is to buy commodities directly, but after reading the book I have little idea how to go about buying commodities for the long term. Futures allow investors to profit in the short term but if you believe that lead prices will peak in 2015 or so, how can you profit from that prediction? After all, prices are not predictable in the short term and an investor can get burned badly speculating in the commodities' futures. Oil has been rising in value steadily since the Iraq invasion but an investor could have still managed to lose money investing in oil futures. Need to research and read a lot more on the topic if your goal is to actually invest in commodities.



3. When Jim Rogers speaks, I listen; when he writes something, I read it. If you go back years and years and check out what Rogers anticipated and predicted, he's been consistently accurate. His perceptions, opinions, and predictions in the 1980s and 90s, were spot-on. With "Hot Commodities" he does it again in many areas: geopolitics, equities, bonds, current and future international political trends, commodities, and more. We are seeing what he's saying in this latest book unfold in front of our eyes, right now.
   
   "Hot Commodities" is a continuation of Roger's past works, obviously focusing on commodities. Chapters are organized well and categorized by topic, so you don't have to read the book from start to finish but can jump around from chapter to chapter to your liking.
   
   Hot Commodities starts off with the basics and eventually tells you how to find and choose a licensed trader and invest in commodities. The important questions are answered: what are commodities? Is investing in commodities right for you? Why is there a market for them? What variables (questions) do you ask about a commodity (e.g. sugar)? What questions do you need to ask yourself and a broker who's licensed in them. What kinds of accounts can you have? What is the commodity lingo (words) you should know? How do you learn to read the symbols on the ticker tape? All the answers for the beginner and more are in this book. He has a knack for explaining commodities to the layperson.
   
   You'll know what GH 355.5, WU 369, SN 725, and HOX 101 mean when you see them.
   
   Although past performance is not an adequate way to predict future behavior of a group of funds, the historical trends of commodities are noted.
   
   Also noted are some misconceptions about investing in commodities, and bad investor stories. Many people who got burned did so using margin, according to Rogers. Supply and demand are straightforward indicators. But he does note, an investor should know what they're doing and know if commodities are appropriate for one's personality and investing style.
   
   
   OIL:
   
   Now, talking about oil is the new fad on the mainstream media. Only because, gasoline prices are currently high enough for the public to whine about it. The possibility of rising gasoline/diesel/fuel prices has always existed and Rogers noted it years ago. The author believes that world oil production has peaked and the numbers on worldwide output of MBP (millions of barrels per day) reinforces this. The "new finds" and offshore drilling will only put drops of oil in the worldwide demand bucket.
   
   Rogers noted his own Commodity Index Fund only a couple of times and didn't push it, nor provide contact info for his fund. He doesn't try to sell it. (He doesn't need to.) He also listed other Commodity Index funds. This was professional and reinforces his credibility.
   
   
   
   CHINA IS ON THE UP-AND-UP, AND THE USA IS SLIDING DOWN:
   
   This is Roger's opinion and I agree with it. Rogers is still bullish on China for the short and long-term. In addition to rapid growth and hard-work he notes that before the Communist revolution in 1949 the Chinese had a merchant class that operated for centuries, unlike that of feudal Russia. Therefore, the merchant and trade knowledge base is already in China, obviously. The Chinese save on average 40% of their income, while Americans save an average of only 2%, and often spend more than they make. (American per capita savings was -2% recently.)
   
   China is the number #1 consumer of copper, steel, iron ore, soybeans and number #2 in oil and energy products. China is rising fast.
   
   The United States on the other hand, seems to be moving in the opposite direction. The US is the world's number #1 debtor with $9 Trillion in international IOUs. The US is living off of other people's money. Is anyone talking about this in the mainstream media? Politicians? Only a few are. Tying the Oil Bourse to the US dollar has propped the dollar up. The US dollar is now a declining currency holding little confidence of the world. Remember, when the American government borrows all of this money (via T-bills) it's backed by "faith in the American government." Not if the Fed has the Treasury Department keep printing money and providing Helicopter Bailouts. The M3 Money Supply is now secret. Economists can only guess how much money the US government prints.
   
   The Chapters:
   
   1. The Next New Thing Is - Things
   2. "But...."
   3. Stepping Up To Commodities
   4. Stepping Into The Commodities Markets
   5. Notes From the Wild, Wild, East
   6. Goodbye, Cheap Oil
   7. Gold - Mystique Vs. Fundamentals
   8. A Heavey Metal With Potential To Be A High Flyer (lead)
   9. Searching For The Next Suguar High
   10 Can Coffee Perk Up?
   
   Rogers is and has been one of the most successful investors in the world. He's often made successful personal and fund-managed investment decisions when digressing from the myopic tramped path of the sheep. As usual, the sheep that follow the herd discount and scrutinize Rogers when he just answers the questions they ask him. He makes hiw own decisions. And he proves to be right, time after time. Sheep follow fads and trends, with the most sheep piling on top of a bubble right at the top of it right before it bursts, as all bubbles do. The equity tech-stock bust, shifted the sheep into housing and REI. Now that the RE bubble has burst, some sheep are gravitating (although slowly) to what Rogers has been saying for years. Commodities is in a cyclical bull phase. He cites statistics, historical trends, and the current and future world climate to reinforce his points.
   
   Attention sheep: he's right again.



4. ignoring commodities as these potentially offer a better rate of return than running after stocks, bonds, real estate, some currencies or timber (that's an interesting one).
   
   The first four chapters of the book give you the nuts and bolts of investing in commodities accompanied by plenty of anecdotes from Rogers' own investment activities. Of this first half of the book, chapter 4 is by far the most important. You need to know this information inside out, otherwise there is little point in investing in the futures market.
   
   In the second part of the book - chapters five to the end - Rogers explains why China is likely to drive commodity prices in future largely based on where it is going economy-wise and even though there are certain long-term risks with regards to China's political stability, this is unlikely to dent much the country's demand for raw resources. Rogers follows this up with looking at five commodities, namely, oil, gold, lead, sugar and coffee. Some of his thoughts are quite convincing, but at the end of the day you will have to make up your own mind. In fact Rogers mentions on more than one occasion that every investor must do his own research before committing his money.
   In his conclusion, Rogers again urges the investor to look `deeply' into commodities if only that it should make any investor a better investor even if he only ever invests in stocks and bonds.
   
   I also urge you to read the appendix. You will find the information given here quite useful.
   
   This book was published in December 2004 but this does not make it history as many of the underlying fundamentals of commodities are little changed.



5. It was ok, it read like he was writing for a page count. His other books are much much better than this one. Read it if you want a view of the coming 'bull market' in commodities (maybe it peaked in 2008). I think he means that commodities will have more volatilty now than in past years. Perhaps a move back to volatility of the 1970s and 1980s. If that is the intent then I agree 100%.

5 comments about Investing For Dummies, Fifth edition.

1. Great service. Condition of book was stellar and it was delivered in a very timely manner.



2. This is a clear and concise book for people like myself who are starting to look closely at investing and it gives very good advice and assumes that the reader has no knowledge of investing (true in my case). It warns of the pitfalls as well and can be read straight thru, or by any chapter that you wish to know more about. I would recommend this book to the beginner.



3. I bought this for my daughter, who is taking this a college course.
   She seems to be happy with it. She asked for this book it as the instructor told her she needed it for the class. Sorry I can't give you more info but I am sure it's a good book.
   
   Kathy in Las Vegas



4. I wanted to start investing and read somewhere you should first do some studies. That's when I came across this book. Very well written, and in simple to understand language. I used to dread 401K, IRA, Mutual Funds, Bonds. Now I am confident I know about them and what I am investing into.
   Showed new ways to look at debts, as to if I clear my debt sooner, I am investing in something which gives be interest equal to the interest I pay the bank.
   
   I would recommend this book to all who want to get into investing but are hesitant or don't know where to get information from.



5. I've read several "for Dummies" books, and in general the entire series is well written, concise, and gives you what you really need. However, I was very disappointed in this one. The book is really dedicated to the three methods of building wealth: equity (stocks, mutual funds, etc.), real estate, and small business. But there isn't enough info on any of the three subjects to do much with. You're better off getting a separate book on real estate if you plan on pursuing that. And nothing he says regarding small business is of much use to accomplish anything. That leaves stocks, bonds and mutual funds, which is what most users would purchase this book for. Regarding that, if you are completely new to mutual funds then this is the book for you as it will explain the basics. However, if you are beyond the very basics (i.e.; "What is a mutual fund?"), and are looking to seriously invest, then I think you'll be disappointed. And if you are looking to get into buying stocks directly, then this book seriously falls short. The entire section on stocks really just explains a canned stock report from a given company. Utterly useless unless you plan on subscribing to that service. No talk of forward PE's, valuation, etc.. Also, the author's continual insistence that you should stay in mutual funds because you "can't beat the market" since there are so many pros out there is utterly ridiculous. There are many gurus out there that have proven track records of generating higher than average returns. Just emulating Warren Buffet's portfolio will do that.
   
   I was looking for a book to dig more into stock valuation, company analysis, etc. and this book barely even touched on any of that beyond definitions. I wouldn't even call it Finance 101, since there is very little about monetary policy, bonds, interest rates, etc.. If you've picked out at least one mutual fund in your life (or purchased a stock directly), then this book is way too simple. If you tremble at the thought of picking a mutual fund and have no financial sense whatsoever, then this is your book.