2 comments about Personal Bankruptcy Laws For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)).

1. For individuals with modest w-2, you will probably file under Chapters 7 or 13. The New Bankruptcy: Will It Work for You? (2nd edition) covers those Chapters well. For businesses or individuals who own businesses or have higher incomes or net worth, the choice will probably be Chapter 11. A great introduction to Chapter 11 is Chapter 11 Business Reorganizations: For Business Leaders, Accountants And Lawyers.



2. Personal Bankruptcy Laws for Dummies is the one and only book I found that explains the intricacies of the new bankruptcy law, gives the reader all the information needed to make a rational decision on whether bankruptcy is the appropriate remedy for his or her financial illness, and provides a wealth of information in a manner that neither patronizes nor condemns. Although it recognizes the emotional toll that financial difficulties inevitably place on individuals and couples, its strength is in giving the reader all the information necessary to make a reasoned decision on whether bankruptcy is the best route and, if so, under which chapter of the Bankruptcy Code.

5 comments about How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating, & Home Staging Business: With Companion Cd-rom.

1. This book is concise and complete and has a wealth of information for starting up your staging and redesign business. Using true-life examples, Mary outlines the redesign business so new businesses can succeed and thrive and make fewer mistakes. I love the "Mary's Trade Tips" sections which are all little nuggets of great information to help a new business do well financially and professionally.
   
   This is a gotta-have book for those considering redesign and home staging!



2. How to Open a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating & Home Staging Business definitely stands out in the "be your own boss" genre. The never-ending wealth of information practically sets up your business for you, no matter how little you know about what you're getting into. Other how-to business start-up books tend to jump right into the thick of things, overlooking key facts that beginners might not know. Mary Larsen's book was the exact opposite--even beginning with questions about whether or not you are cut out to be an entrepreneur.
   While there was a ton of information packed in, I never felt overwhelmed with facts. Everything was broken down into easy-to-use tidbits, like questions to ask yourself and your clients, common business myths, why extras are important, naming, testimonials, and the pitfalls of freebies. The focus placed on marketing, especially e-mail and Web marketing, was especially helpful. I'm not a very tech-savvy person, so the in-depth discussion of marketing in this way was great--no "techie" language that I couldn't understand, just the basic facts. Larsen also helps out by reminding the reader that sometimes you just have to start your business and build from there--everything doesn't have to be perfect for your first client. Besides, with Larsen's book, there's no way you could fail!
   Even if you already consider yourself an expert in redesign, redecorating or home staging, Larsen's book is a necessity, even if just simply for the appendix, which provides a quick reference and worksheets that can help you grow your business from day one.



3. This book gives detailed information on how to go about starting a business doing interior design and decorating. The authors discuss the types of decorators as well as what it takes to be an entrepreneur. They dispel commonly held myths about entrepreneurship and give practical advice for the reader to determine if they have what it takes to start their own business.
   
   The authors give step by step instructions on what it takes to start your own design business such as deciding what skills you have and how to charge for services. The next sections of the book deal with the legal and financial concepts of structuring a business. The authors do a good job of explaining the intimidating ideas of business planning, finance, and operation in terms that non business savvy people can understand. Anyone considering a career in design or decoration would benefit greatly from reading this book



4. Larsen's book starts right off by defining the differences between redesign (for living) and staging (for selling) so there's no misunderstanding of what these potentially lucrative businesses are all about.
   
   The popularity of HGTV-DYI-type shows have spawned an interest in people wanting to redecorate their own homes Fortunately for anyone wishing to operate this type of business there will be more than enough work for you to do. Many home decorators get all excited about redecorating their homes but then find that once they get started (or are in the planning phase) they don't have the skills or the time to follow through.
   
   The book offers a lot of solid advice. For instance, Larsen reminds readers that it is vitally important to continuously educate themselves as trends change constantly- what's hip today will be out tomorrow.
   Mary's Trade Tips are sprinkled throughout the book making you feel like you're getting insider information. Larsen offers advice on ways to market your business including getting testimonials from current customers, giving presentations including a list of possible topics and an outline detailing how to present the topic. Details important things you need to know to stage a home for a real estate sale, offers before and after pictures showing great design work that you can easily do and gives basic design tips that offer suggestions on room elements such as color, shape, and spacing. You'll also find a list of tools you will most likely need and an appendix with more than enough resources to get you started including easily modifiable forms, sample contracts, a list of tools you will need and sample sales letters.
   
   For some reason I found myself getting kind of bored toward the end of the book but overall a good resource for anyone wishing to start this type of business. Could also be a good basic guide for anyone wanting to simply redesign or stage their own home.



5. Mary Larsen has done a thorough job explaining the actual steps it takes to launch a successful (financially successful!) business in Interior Redesign and Staging. As a Nationally Certified Trainer in this area , I look forward to adding this book to my recommended reads for students, new & experienced. Worth the time to read it!

5 comments about After the Trade Is Made, Revised Third Ed.: Processing Securities Transactions.

1. The topics suggested by the title (settlement, etc) are well addressed, but the first half of the book is dedicated to marketplaces and here the book comes up short. Many recent market developments, even those that were in place at the time of writing, appear to be inadequately or inaccurately addressed. Examples:
   
   ATSes/ECNs are much more center stage than the book would suggest and are not sufficiently discussed
   
   Hybrid market mechanics are not discussed much
   
   Dark pool liquidity is not addressed
   
   Options market making is not addressed beyond a single paragraph that sheds no light into how Citadel et al make continuous markets electronically
   
   
   And unfortunately, given that the major development of Reg NMS took place after the book, this makes the marketplace info even less useful.



2. Each and every concept is well explained with examples. I would request the author to add separate chapter for derivatives as well.



3. I had the fortune to be personally tought by Mr David Weiss. He used this incredible book as the basis of a 2 week series of lectures on the minutiae of trade processing. He made up for the shocking content of the book with his array of monogrammed Brooks Brothers shirts and sandwiches with english mustard. What can you say about this fine gentleman....hats off to you for making a great career about such fascinating stuff! I remember the time vividly as it was my first job and a unique life experience.



4. The first edition of this book was written back when computers and automated processing was emerging and 'a new thing' so much of the information this book started with is pretty dated. The second edition was updated in the '90s and correspondingly updates some things but, suffice it to say, is still dated now. I would argue though that the information contained therein is still very, very valuable for reference, particularly for purposes of following the 'money and paper trail'. The concepts and theories still apply and the methods by which things are done today are effectively the same (just done electronically not with paper). It also provides good overviews of the processing and bookeeping of various product types.



5. I can't recommend this book highly enough. I own a second edition, and it literally made me tens of thousands of dollars (which, being young and irresponsible, I have spend almost entirely on alcohol, laptops, and occasionally girls). Now I am a successful consultant in Geneva, Switzerland, designing and development trading platforms for buy-side and sell-side companies in foreign exchange markets. My expertise started with this book.

5 comments about A Random Walk Down Wall Street: Completely Revised and Updated Edition.

1. This is an excellent book, well written and informative. I highly recommend it. I ordered this book in July. I have a 1990 version of the book in my library but wanted the latest version. Imagine my disappointment when I completed most of the book and discovered that this was the 2003 version and not the 2007 version. You'll notice Amazon makes no distinction.



2. Particularly in a day and age where mutual funds are often touting themselves on the television, this book has an excellent, largely unbiased message for the average investor: buy low cost index funds and stay in them for the long haul.
   
   The book is exceptionally well written, covering most of the lessons of an introductory to intermediate finance course in a very accessible format (i.e. all the right *ideas* without the confusing math). He utilizes dozens of powerful examples and good data to show that his basic premise, despite now being 30 years old, is sound. Due to its theoretical strength and accessible style, this book could be of particular value to Undergrad Business and MBA students who find the professor's academic approach to an Introductory Finance course confusing. Get the big picture here, making the math just that much easier to follow. (5 stars for making difficult financial concepts readable and interesting)
   
   Despite my strong recommendation for both his message and style, the book does have some drawbacks. Number one is that he has clearly taken a side on the issue and has thrown impartiality to the wind. Regularly, the author depends on "transaction costs" (the cost to trade) to ensure that a trading strategy cannot beat his preferred portfolio (implying that it would have succeeded without the transaction costs). This "sweeps under the rug" several clear counter-examples to the basic efficient market thesis in order to reinforce his index-investment message. While I understand his reasoning for doing so -- a desire not to encourage investment in high cost funds or heaven forbid day trading -- it does lead to some skepticism about his willingness to admit any possibility that his thesis has weaknesses. To that end, I would discourage readers who are familiar with CAPM and efficient-markets from reading the book (2 stars as a brush up).
   
   In the end, however, I think the message is sound. Rather than cite trading costs, I think the message can effectively be said another way: If you spent 5h a day investigating stocks, what are the odds that you can beat a professional manager? If a manager has a staff of 20 that invest 8h per day investigating stocks, what are the odds that they're going to beat the whole financial services industry? If the whole industry is taking advantage of every opportunity to profit from small deviations, and you're going to pay a manager most if not all of that profit anyway, investing in an index basically gets you the benefit of thousands of mutual funds and investment bankers without the cost of any of them (or of your time to do research).
   
   With qualifications to the highly technical reader, who should pass on the book, I can't, in good conscience, fail to give this book 5 stars for a profoundly valuable message targeted at the individual investor.



3. The concept of an efficient market is totally at odds with the way major fund managers work.
   Very often the price of a stock is totally unrelated to its underlying value. Look at the theories of Graham (Amazon has him) and Warren Buffett. Buffett has followed Graham's advice for 50 years and made 25% PER YEAR returns by finding cases where Mr. Market is completely nuts, let alone inefficient! Think of the market as efficient, except sometimes completely NUTS.The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)Security Analysis



4. Have you ever wondered about how to correctly invest your money? Do you like to understand things from first principles? If so, this book is for you. This book will teach you what to do with your money and, more importantly, why. This book explains everything from first principles, so no background knowledge is needed. The author takes time to explain all the latest money making inventions such as modern portfolio theory and others only to discredit them later with logic and statistical evidence. I found these later chapters a little hard to read because the author is so pedantic and material is a little anticlimactic. However, I think I've learned a lot from these chapters. If you would prefer a shorter summary for how to invest without detailed explanations for why, read The Random Walk Guide to Investing: Ten Rules for Financial Success instead.



5. This is a very complete and good book. It covers the basic topics of finance related to shares.

5 comments about How to Have More than Enough: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Abundance.

1. I very much appreciate Dave Ramsey's putting financial matters in the context of virtuous behavior. This is not just a "get out of debt" book or a "make real money" book. It is a book that reminds its readers how many of us stray from fiscal health, suckered in by the 'race to get ahead and then fall behind' values common to the vast majority of Americans - materialism, status, name brands, immediate gratification, antagonism, impermanence, gluttony, lack of responsibility, even lack of contentment. Ramsey knows all too well that when it comes to fiscal restraint and good money habits, this is not a virtuous society. He recommends solid values to counteract the mainstream of American life - patience, delayed gratification, humility, cooperation, peace, communication, contentment and, of course, paying CASH. I wholly applaud this philosophy.
   
   But, merely as a qualifier, I do want to let the prospective reader know that Mr. Ramsey's work is not secular. Bible passages, a Christian perspective and religious messages (such as suggesting prayer and counsel with clergy) set the tone much of the way, and the book is geared (not entirely but mostly) toward traditional and fairly conventional nuclear families.
   
   As a more daring and thorough departure from those seemingly ubiquitous American go-getter values that lure so many into dire straits (such as 'the more you buy the more you save'), I can heartily recommend the popular classic "Your Money or Your Life."



2. ********wonderful*******



3. 
   
   
   Consumer debt has long been a problem of most americans. The writer is very explicit about those things which cause us to go into consumer debt.
   One of the things he addresses is greed, not having the patience to wait
   for the money in our hand to purchase items. I am a baby boomer and our generation has been known to want things microwave quick. This book addresses the dangers and pitfallsof that thinking. It will set you free from stinking thinking!
   
   
   



4. Just as he does on the radio, Dave Ramsey guides the reader to a better financial life.



5. The book is well written and explains step by step what is needed to create abundance in your life. Be open and willing to do the work and you too can have more than you dreamed possible. Remember, it takes work on your end and the results are well worth the effort!

5 comments about Gold: The Once and Future Money.

1. I'm simply an average joe looking to preserve wealth from the coming inflation in the US dollar. This book did indeed help me understand central banking and how a gold standard can work. However, it contained way too many details with dates and years of various historical events.
   
   What I really wanted, was a book that could help me conceptually understand the commodity of gold in an easy to read format. All in all I appreciated the book and am glad I read it. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this more had I read "The Coming Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It" first as it did not dive into obscure details of historical events.



2. Good Insights But Unconvincing
   
   Fiat money serves three purposes: legal tender, token for exchange and store of value. The author seems to propose a money system pegged to gold and believes that it will serve to stabilize the value of the paper money as the value of gold is relative stable in the long run. The author argues that, under the new gold based money standard, the value of paper money can be maintained through adjusting the money supply, possibly by the central bank. The author also believes that a gold-based money system is better than commodity-basket based system or a currency board system exchange system. The author points out that there is an inherent conflict between a country's domestic monetary policy in terms of maintaining an interest target and its foreign exchange policy in terms of keeping a fixed exchange rate.
   
   The question that is not clearly answered is how the supply and demand of gold, and therefore related fluctuations of gold price/value, affects the value of money and the equilibrium between money supply and demand. Equally important and not clearly answered is how a country using the proposed gold-pegged money can defense itself against currency attack by speculators. When there is sell-off of the currency, according to the author, the central bank needs to retire the excess currency (money supply) it took in from people for exchanging gold. This is to maintain the value of the paper money pegged to gold. Reducing money supply seems to push up interest rate and restrain economic growth. A large scale currency attack may also push up gold price as the demand of gold for exchanging the currency intensifies. To keep the pegging creditable, the central bank has to exchange gold for the currency when it is demanded. The central bank either has to keep a gold reserve large enough or buy/borrow gold from the market. To buy gold, the central bank may have to borrow foreign currency (hard currency) to do so, especially when its currency is under attack (weak). Then the problem is essentially no difference than the familiar one we have seeing for a currency-pegging exchange system except the author claims that the value of gold, in the long run, is more stable than all paper money including "hard currencies" such as the dollar, pounds, etc. The author claimed that if the central bank maintains its credibility, then it does not need to keep a large gold reserve. However, if the credibility is better or at least as good as gold, we wouldn't need a gold-pegging or any pegging system. The whole idea to have the money pegged on something is because that people believe the value of that "something" in itself is stable.
   
   As society has not find any universal stable measurement for "value" as we did for length and weight, we just don't have a stable media to store the value. Actually length and weight are only relatively stable under normal conditions on earth. The light of speed is probably the only constant in the universe we know so far. The value of gold, just like all other currencies and commodities, changes when the supply and demand fluctuates. It may be arguably more stable than other paper money. Nevertheless, it does not totally eliminate some major problems faced by the paper money. Plus, gold system may have its own problems. Is it immune from short-term speculations that could bring down a nation's economy?
   
   Overall, I found the book valuable in providing a lot of economic insights on historical events. But I found the argument for a gold-pegged standard as the solution unconvincing. The ultimate solution may be, when globalization reaches its summit, one world currency is created. Then there is no currency risk. Only business cycles need to be dealt with. Then the money does not have to be pegged on anything except people's faith in the stability and survivability of themselves and responsible management on money supply. When there are multiple currencies, good management of and consistency among policies of exchange, monetary, and fiscal seem to be the gold standard demanded.



3. The book starts and finishes strong--the first 100 pages or so and the last 50. But the middle gets very bogged down in intricate economic history with lots of minutiae. The author begins in the mercantile ages, perhaps the 1600s or thereabouts, and continues to the early 2000s. I was disappointed that the last few years were pretty much not covered, as that is what I'm most interested in. Discussion is not limited to the USA and covers the entire world. I think every economic event, significant or not, was touched on. Discussions of US presidents are mostly limited to Nixon, Carter, and Reagan.
   
   So aside from the start and finish of this, this is mostly a book of economic history. Maybe I was expecting something otherwise when I picked it up. I support the author's premise, and he seems very confident in it. I'm new to the gold standard and I plan to learn more about it. I ended up skimming the middle 200 pages or so as I could not bear to read them in depth anymore after entering them. I understand that history is important for lessons, but I prefer summaries of it. It's never been my strong point, and this book is littered with dates and years that have always been anathema to me.
   
   If you're new to the subject of the gold standard like me, this may not be the best initial choice. Or you might want to skip it entirely and instead seek other books or shorter articles online. This review might be somewhat useless, but if anything I would say to be mindful of the history in this book. Consider using Amazon's preview feature to see what I mean.
   
   *Wow, coincidentally it's unbelievable how much I'm in agreement with Average Joe. I also have "The Coming Collapse of the Dollar" on my reading queue.



4. This book is absolutely unbelievable vuluable and probably worth paying 1000$ for it (or should I say, 1 oz of gold!).
   
   Not only does it explain in details what the gold standard is, and how it has worked in the past, but it also gives a very good overview of the various currency systems used in the past, the various fallacies about currencies, gold, politics, economics schools, etc.
   
   It also reviews the history of our society through a different angle/lens. I feel like I understand the history now, and all the crises, wars, chaos that seemed to come out of nowhere has found a rational and sensible explanation. I had turned off my TV set and my radio receiver about 10 years ago, stopped reading the news papers and any other kind of useless noise, and all of the sudden, the world makes sense again.
   
   Unfortunately, ignorance is bless...
   
   Many thanks to Nathan Lewis for sharing his knowledge and wisdom. I just wish that the book was twice as thick, so that you could go into more details about the causes and consequences of the various policies and actions taken by the governments or the IMF, etc. because sometimes the short cuts you take are more than hard to follow and even though I think I was able to follow you, I would have preferred to be sure about it.



5. This is a great book discussing the reasons why Gold will be the ultimate monetary standard and why an individual should consider making gold a part of his personal portfolio. However, the people looking for an investment guide should look elsewhere. This is a history book discussing the possible future of the gold standard in America by historical example from the US and select countries.
   
   It doesn't take 400+ pages to give you reasons why to put some of your money into gold, but this kind of historical detail helps a potential gold buyer understand the yellow metal is not so much an investment as it is an insurance policy. This book reinforced my already skeptical leanings towards the Fed and US monetary policy. It also made me wonder what's being taught in high school history nowadays with respect to economics as it relates to the causes of war. The sections discussing the civil war and WWII in particular were great gap-fillers for me, and the authors explanation of the Japanese financial slump made perfect sense.
   
   Importantly, the author makes it clear on page 114-155 that he does not advocate a 100% gold-backed currency. That is, it is not possible and we should not be expected to back every last dollar with gold. Rather, gold should be part of the system to include a convertibility aspect. The strength of the gold standard comes not from digging up gold and burying it again in government vaults, but from the strength of the governments promise to uphold the integrity of the monetary system. A fixed reserve requirement would assist this promise tremendously. Currently, there is little to reassure anyone of the validity of the "full faith and credit" we now depend upon.
   
   The sections discussing IMF and the upheaval for which they are responsible should be required reading for all members of congress. The IMF is directly responsible for the Asian monetary crisis, the Balkan upheaval and countless other disasters and yet they escape blame every time. The author points out the IMFs hypocritical habit of meddling in less-developed countries with ridiculous and irresponsible policies that would be laughed out of the room in stable economies.
   
   Though the author picks apart nearly every US administration with regard to the dismantling of the gold standard, the book is refreshingly bare of the usual tin-foil-hat-wearer conspiracy theories - always a problem when reading anything about gold standards and monetary policy in general.
   
   There are two small negatives to this book: First, the look forward suggested by the author is highly unrealistic. I pessimistically think there needs to be outright economic collapse and perhaps even conflict before anything will budge bureaucratic inertia. Second would be the books length, but that's a small price to pay for a very worthwhile history lesson.
   
   Overall its a great read.

5 comments about The Art of War for Women: Sun Tzu's Ancient Strategies and Wisdom for Winning at Work.

1. Back about 2,500 years ago, a Chinese man named Mr. Sun went through many hardships and lived in a world full of civil war. Seeking to gain employment with the current leader, he wrote a "military resume". This work outlined his tactics in an obscure manner so that the leader would be intrigued enough to talk to him - and would need to keep Sun around to interpret and put into action the words. That opus was of course The Art of War, and "Mister" in ancient Chinese was written as Tzu.
   
   2,500 years later, it seems that this deliberately complex and vague work has become the guidebook for men and women in all aspects of life. Its advice on how to approach a problem, how to deal with adversity and how to handle the whims of fate are as valid today as they were back then. People are still jealous, deceitful, and harsh. Businesses still undercut each other. Co-workers still back-stab to get ahead. The problems that Sun Tzu wrote about are problems we face today. The answers, in essence, are the same.
   
   Chin-Ning Chu, an accomplished female Chinese business strategist, has taken on this work in a fresh light. Yes, the tactics are great for men facing battles in a male world - but in modern times, women have stepped up to gain their stage. A revolution not seen for thousands of years is taking place, where women are educated, can vote, have full and equal rights alongside men. As they say in the movies, with great power comes great responsibility. For perhaps the first time in history, it is no longer enough to blame the glass ceiling, the upbringing, the pressures of the world for our success or failure. We have - more than perhaps any generation which came before us - the ability to take the reins in our hands and give it our very best shot.
   
   That's the straight-from-the-hip advice provided by the book. With numerous examples, we hear how women claimed they were helpless and unfairly turned down for promotions and advancement, when investigation found that these women actually sabotaged their own chances. Life isn't always fair, but in order to succeed in whatever arena you choose - family life, charity work, the boardroom - you have to do your very best to shine. Success won't be handed to you just because you think you deserve it. You need to be your own most vocal advocate - and to do that promotion in a way most in line with the atmosphere you are in.
   
   The book is realistic. If you've got a nasty co-worker that is always undermining you, various techniques will be offered to help you overcome the situation. However, in the end, it may be best to find another job. You might claim that the job is perfect for you - but a job is a complex combination of many factors, which includes the people you work with. Another job will be *more* perfect because its combination is more in line with your path for yourself.
   
   You also get a message echoed in many other current releases, which is to make sure the path you're on is one you really *want* to be on, deep down. People strive to be top in business because it's expected of them, not necessarily because it will make them personally happy. If you'd rather be home with the kids, running a small business from your home office, then find a way to make that work. It is critical that your daily life reflects your dreams and goals if you want to be truly happy, for your family and friends around you to share in that joy, and to find a real measure of success.
   
   I found a few of the sections to be a bit extreme. One area talks about sexual harassment and says that women get offended by a pat on the shoulder. Perhaps some women do - but I don't! I find encouraging physical contact like that to be an important part of our society. It's very sad if we've gotten to the point that patting someone on the shoulder as a congratulation is grounds for legal action.
   
   In general, though, I found a lot of helpful advice in here. At its very core, the entire book is a reminder that nothing is new under the sun. Issues that we find pressing in our current modern world were just as important 2,500 years ago. People are simply the way they are. By reading through the wisdom of the ages, we can help make our own world one which are are proud to live in, and our path one we are happy to follow.



2. 
   I enjoyed reading this book. It didn't set my world on fire, but it was fairly well written and easy to follow. I don't like being told too much what I'm going to be told later. The author did a little more of this than I usually put up with. I would have liked the book better if it had just said what it wanted to say.
   
   It contained 13 chapters as follows:
   
   1. Planning: The Elements of Strategy
   2. Doing Battle: Speedy Victory
   3. Strategy: Know Thyself & Others
   4. Disposition: Win First, Then Fight
   5. Momentum: Use Timing to Generate Momentum
   6. Real & Unreal: Illusion is the Other Side of Reality
   7. Conflict: Don't Show Your Hand
   8. Imagination: See Things No One Has Seen
   9. Managing the Troops: The Principles of Management
   10. Terrain: Move According to Your Environment
   11. Nine Battlegrounds: Be More Competitive by Doing Less
   12. Attack by Fire: Fireproofing Yourself
   13. Espionage
   
   If you have goals and dreams, then you may find this book helpful when trying to put together a strategy for trying to reach them. It will remind you that you have strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in your life. And a little strategic planning can help you solve your problems in an efficient manner.
   
   My favorite chapter was #1. The six elements discussed there were:
   
   >> Righteousness: How to make winning decisions.
   >> Timing: From universal to personal timing.
   >> Resources: Turn your liabilities into assets.
   >>Leadership: A state of mind.
   >>Managing: It's all about execution.
   >> Deception: Appear weak when you are strong.
   
   The book is just as applicable to men as it is to women. But the author's target audience is women. Everything in the book is written as though the author is speaking to a woman. 4 stars!



3. As a women in the midst of working towards changing careers and moving up in the work place, I found this book very useful. This book has made me think about how I present myself at work, what I really want to do with my life, and what I need to do to get there. This book is not at all about feel-good, mushy things, it has us look at our strengths and weaknesses and strategize to succeed. I would recommend this to any women that is career-orientated. In fact, I will be getting this for several friends for Christmas.



4. Once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down. It helped me with some situations that I currently go through at work. I have a better understanding of how to handle a few things.



5. I bought this book for my sister, a teacher, looking for a job and a friend, who recently went back to school to earn her masters. Both people loved the book, said it was easy to read and apply to all aspects of life!

5 comments about The Wall Street Journal Complete Money and Investing Guidebook (The Wall Street Journal Guidebooks).

1. This book provides novices, such as myself, with a straightforward explanation of various investment vehicles and the basics of the economic cycle.
   
   Reprints of charts, tables, etc. from the WSJ, the SEC, and others are included to give readers of sense of what to look at and how to read the charts/tables/etc.
   
   The book also includes a glossary with basic definitions.
   
   What I really liked about this book is that at the end of each chapter, the author includes additional resources, both electronic and hard copy, that are relevant to that particular chapter. So for example, in the chapter on Money and Economics, the author's suggested reading includes Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations". Electronic resources include websites for government agencies (like the SEC, IRS, the Treasury, etc.), organizations that provide a wealth of information to investors, and tools to research and track various types of investments.
   
   This book should not be the only book that interested people read about investing, markets, business, money, etc. (no book or other resource can cover it all) AND it does not pretend to be such a book. However, if you are starting out, this book is a great one to begin with.



2. The information provided in The Wall Street Journal Complete Money and Investing Guidebook gives a comprehensive look at the structure of financial markets. The title of this book can be misleading given that the information presented does not offer a guide on "how" to invest, merely a full scope of the elements of financial markets. This would be tantamount to an auto and driving book with a focus on the engine and instruments of the car as well as the highway and road systems, but not on the operation of the car itself. There is considerable importance in understanding the design of the financial markets and this book easily achieves success in this area; however, in terms of investment advice, this book represents only an initial foundation of knowledge.
   
   For those with an interest in the historical background of financial markets and systems this book will be as enjoyable as it is informative. One also will acquire the full scope of financial terms needed to speak intelligently in the finance world. The presentation of the material is done quite well with an abundance of imagery. I would recommend The Wall Street Journal Complete Money and Investing Guidebook as a starter on the subject of finance and to anyone seeking to understand the fundamentals of the market.



3. Everyone today spends little time going over their financial picture as people feel investing is too complicated in their busy world of working long hours along with responsibilty raising children etc. This book is written for the novice investor as well as the more advanced investor. It is easy to follow and should be kept on your night table so you can read a page or two each night It explains all the types of investments from money funds to stocks and bonds. Even if you have never read the Wall Street Journal the authors made the chapters interesting and easy to follow . All households should have one investing primer and this one is it. Hopefully you can grow your assets with the knowledge and advice you will obtain from this book. Pick it up today!



4. I am 50 pages into the first edition (2005). It's an enjoyable read because I love the subject area, but its lack of depth makes it a little unsatisfying, and it does contain errors.
   
   Was it worth $11? Yes. Is it a good introduction for a novice? Yes, but it's only a first step and you'll need deeper more specialized knowledge to actually invest/trade/work in the markets.
   
   In the introduction, on page 7, the contents are sold as good for slipping into dinner party conversation. The errors in the first 50 pages do not, however, give me confidence about the next 150 pages. Don't use this (first edition) at a dinner party with market professionals unless you want to break the ice by asking about the errors.
   
   I would be happy to buy the second or higher edition to give as a gift to a friend or family member (assuming these and any other errors are cleaned), but I would not give the first edition.
   
   Examples of errors in first 50 pages:
   First example: the discussion of ticker symbols on page 36 may have been correct 20 years ago, but not now. NASDAQ stocks are no longer restricted to four-letter symbols, and five-letter symbols are not necessarily primarily listed overseas (look at CA, or PWX, or CMCSA as counter examples). Second example: the definition of a "growth stock" on page 26 is just plain wrong; I almost coughed my lunch up when I read it. I showed it to two CFAs in my office who each laughed out loud. Third example: in the discussion of the dividend payment timeline on page 35 and 37 the "date of record" has been confused with the "ex-dividend date." Even after correcting that, the discussion is still misleading.
   
   A WEEK LATER: OK, I kept reading. No more blatant errors. Kansas does talk about Growth versus Value (pp 139-140) and that sounds much more sensible than his earlier analysis. I do, however, find his description of options (pp178-181) to be too light. I know it is complicated, but you cannot really compare profitability from owning 100 shares to profitability from owning an option on 100 shares unless you also compare all that to profitability from investing the same amount in each alternative. Contrary to his assertion (page 180), I would feel much happier owning the stock and watching it drop (mabye lose 50%) than owning the call option and watching it expire worthless (lose 100%)---because I would be thinking of having the same investment in each.



5. This book should be required reading for *everyone*. After 12 years of public school and 4+ years of college, I still didn't know exactly what the NYSE was for, what an investment bank was, what was the difference between stocks and commodities, and so forth. Yet these things comprise some of the basic building blocks of our economy, and have made big news recently. This book is a painless, easy-to-read introduction for someone like me who doesnt read the WSJ or have an MBA in finance.

5 comments about Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, Second Edition.

1. The great thing about this book: not only will you learn about accounting prestidigitation from the world's expert in this subject (Schilit's forensic accounting firm, the CFRA, is used by hedge funds worldwide to find problem companies), you can actually learn pretty much all there is to know about corporate accounting and financial statements. I found his explanations tremendously lucid; easily understood by an intelligent person who can add, subtract, multiply and divide. What is more; he made accounting not only accessible, but also somewhat exciting; not an adjective that generally describes accounting. He makes finding the cheating companies a jolly detective game of "spot the weasel!"
   
   Who should read this? If you are a serious investor; someone who treats investments like something other than gambling, this is an absolute must. I'm not talking about speculators; you can speculate well without this stuff (though you can speculate better with it), but for investors you can't afford to be without it. This will teach you how to read a company statement, and a 10-k. Even those who have a more casual interest in investing or business will likely find this an amusing and rewarding read.



2. This is the best summary of major earnings manipulation techniques that I have seen to date (The appendix: "Comprehensive Checklist of Warning Signs" alone is worth the investment). As a practitioner, it wasn't as in-depth as I hoped it would be, but as others have noted, it is very well written, and has many brief, but interesting examples. The lack of depth is understandable because it allows the author to reach a much broader audience effectively.
   
   This book should be part of your investment library, and reviewed often, as it is so easy to overlook early signs of faltering performance from companies. Highly recommended.



3. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who invests in individual stocks or who runs a business. This details many different ways to commit accounting fraud. Perhaps the best part of the book is that there are many detailed examples of each kind of fraud. Also, the book is highly readable and not dry at all. I could hardly put it down once I started.



4. This book is very through. It assumes that you have some background in accounting or finance. I do not, I am an average person who has never taken an accounting class or business class in my life but I'm able to follow the author. Schlit writes in an effective manner that keeps you involved and interested in what he's talking about. He also gives you hints and clues to follow when you are reading a financial statement. He tells you what to look for and what that may imply. This is a must have for any investor. If you have ever had any misgivings or questions about a corporation's management and accounting, this book will provide you with the tools to sniff out the shenanigans on your own. Well written, interesting and very insightful.



5. As a college-level lecturer in Forensic Accounting, I seriously considered using this book, but decided not to. While it is clearly the most readable book in the area of forensic accounting, it is lean on examples and does not include citations to the cases and other materials it describes.
   
   A far better, though more difficult, book on the narrow subject of financial fraud is The Financial Numbers Game: Detecting Creative Accounting Practices and a better book on Forensic Accounting generally is Forensic and Investigative Accounting (Third Edition).
   
   In any event, you'll be better off avoiding Fraud Examination (with ACL CD-ROM), which spends most of its time (i.e., your time) moralizing and psychoanalyzing those who commit fraud.

5 comments about Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-up & Rental Business in Your Spare Time; or, Investing in Real Estate and Creating Wealth with Fixer-Upper Houses.

1. Having read numerous books on investing in real estate, I agree with a lot of the other reviewers on this site that these books' strategies don't apply to a lot of people. No matter what the infomercial or the tag line on the books state, you often need more start-up funds than the average person has. In this book, though, Sprouse gives advice to the "average" person and does not take a get-rich-quick approach to real estate. Instead, he has an almost zen-like approach to fixing up and renting out homes--start slowly and enjoy the journey (even when it is difficult). The advice is straightforward and can work in any type of real estate market, which is especially important now when so many house flippers are in trouble.



2. This is a great book for those looking to learn more about the work involved in and the strategies for making money buying homes that need work. Sprouse covers the main issues involved in selecting, financing, fixing and renting out (or living in) fixer uppers. With all the foreclosures on the market right now, there maybe no better time to purchase a home that needs work in order to make a few repairs and hold the property while the market rebounds. This is a great resource for those looking to take on the risks, work and rewards of the current housing market.



3. Terry Sprouse's was very helpful. I appreciated the way he helped me figure out how to assess whether a property would be profitable, how to find tenants and how to make the tax laws work for me.
   
   Even in this depreciated housing market, all too often finding a house that will be profitable is a trick. It requires the right house, the right price, the right renters and an understanding of the tax considerations.



4. 
   
   I found this book to be loaded with sound advice. I was able to gleam much information based on the authors actual experience in the rental property business. Not only was his experience appreciated but I also appreciated the fact that he was able to start this venture while still keeping his current job.
   
   In chapter two, Terry covered some of the reasons our family has gotten started into the buying and fixing up of rental properties. Retirement and concerns with the current state of the economy ranked high for us. As we approached the age of 40 we were looking for a better way to secure our future retirement years. Since my husbands work field is in home building & remodeling it seemed foolish not to use our knowledge and skills to work for us. This book helps us learn the areas of the rental business we are not so familiar with.
   
   I think anyone reading this book would feel confident to try the rental property business. In Terry's book he covers the best way to learn, by watching and than doing it yourself. He also supplies plenty of tips about what to watch for when considering a property you want to purchase. Not all properties will work in our favor. Terry makes several points as to some of the things you need to watch out for. All very good and needed advice for anyone starting out.
   
   Let's face it we all wish we had a bag of extra money lying around so we can buy our first property. We didn't! This is a big challenge for many people who wish to get started. Terry discusses different types of financing so you can consider what would work best in your situation. Terry also suggests his favorite method of starting out which allows you to takeadvantage of the
   1997 Taxpayer Relief Act. This is valuable information.
   
   My favorite chapters included Terry's wise advice on how to keep track of items for tax purposes and how to handle problems with tenants. With 6 children, I especially appreciated his understanding on how to involve children in the process. I have read several real estate books and none have ever touched on this topic.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about the rental property business. Not only is it easy to read and understand but it is also ideal for anyone wanting to start out fixing up homes or for anyone already involved in the rental property business. We all have so much to share about our experiences and Terry does just that, he shares his experience with a great outlook to the future that others can follow so that they to can succeed.



5. I have long been intrigued about investing in real estate but have hesitated because there are so many scam artists out there willing to trade on one's naivete and lead you down paths that will end in ruin.
   
   Making money in real estate the old-fashioned way -- by the kind of hard work and staying power that Terry Sprouse advocates -- appeals to both my conservative self and my risk-taking self. For people like me who haven't yet taken the dive, the best part of this book is the author's upbeat conclusion that you can accomplish far more than you ever imagined possible if you're willing to invest the time and learn the business. If you are intimidated, as I am, by the thought of even picking up a screwdriver, this kind of encouragement is invaluable. Terry Sprouse is a credible advocate because he's been there, and truly has done that.