2 comments about Panic-Proof Investing: Lessons in Profitable Investing from a Market Wizard.

1. This is a sweet book and Thomas Basso is a very friendly writer. His wisdom will help you counteract a most vexatious flaw of human nature, ie getting overfocused and overcommitted to a particular opinion. He gives ways of taking possible alternate viewpoints on a situation so that you can generate a balanced psychology. The benefit is flexibility of action. Helps avoid sticking with losing propositions and helps you move into winning ones. I dont think anyone could lose by getting acquainted with his thoughts. Good man. Thanks Tom.



2. Most of book is very , very basic;
   but I figured the Schwager interview was so helpful,
   couldnt lose much. William Eng books give better bang for buck.
   
   Its a keeper for me because of;
   Info in [a]Chapter on ''Beware of the 10 year track record'',
   [z]Solomon like comparison cartoon in ''Beware of the 10 year track record''.

5 comments about Fiscal administration: Analysis and applications for the public sector.

1. A previous reviewer incorrectly identified my father's (J. Mikesell) undergrad alma mater as Illinois. In fact John Mikesell earned his BA from Wabash College.

   Just setting the facts straight.




2. I am currently using this book for a graduate-level public budgeting course for a ranked MPA program. Mikesell's textbook is a poorly written, discursive and convoluted in scope. There are several basic grammatical errors in this textbook, and this is coming from someone whose first language is not English. The end-of-chapter computational problems are difficult to complete because nowhere in the chapters does the author explain how to do the problems.

   There is also too much information crammed into each paragraph; I'm lucky if I can read three pages in a row in one sitting. The author does not write well; he uses too many block quotes and lists (e.g, (1), (2), (3)...). Therefore, this book does not read well, and the information he tries to provide does not register in the mind.

   Most of my classmates have the same complaints as the ones I listed above. This book agitating for many to read, even for someone with a fairly solid economic background. Therefore, I'd strongly recommend not to use this book if at all possible.

   But to balance out this criticism with some good points, the first chapter is relatively easy to read and useful.




3. Are you looking for this book for your MPA course? Save some money and buy an older edition. They're all the same!!!



4. I didn't get the book until 20 days after delivery. Way too long compared to other services. I got books I ordered the same day, 5 business days after placing the order.
   
   Overall, Im pleased with the condition of the book.



5. Public Budgeting Systems by Robert D. Lee, Philip G. Joyce, and Ronald Wayne Johnson is written more clearly... if you have a choice, buy this book. The problem with Mikesell is that he has to write 200 pages (six chapters) to explain the concept of revenues in the budget process. Too many trees were wasted in the development of this book. Lee, Joyce, and Johnson can do this in 40 pages.
   
   The greater majority of my Public Budgeting Systems class at George Mason University feels that the Mikesell book is written in a manner to lull oneself to sleep... the benefit is that one could read the book rather than using drugs to induce sleep.
   
   However, if you are required to purchase the Mikesell book, you should go to the Amazon UK web site and complete your transaction there... you can save yourself about 70 to 80 dollars.

5 comments about The Elements of Successful Trading: Developing Your Comprehensive Strategy Through Psychology, Money Management, and Trading Methods.

1. The book with information about every element of market, but there is not too much information about specific of trading. It is a common instrument for learning of trading. You must read it if you look for a complex knowlege about exchanges and markets at all.



2. This book touches all aspects of investing. The author describes the different markets; the stock market, natural resources, foods, interest rates, options, etc. The author describes technical as well as fundamental analysis and helps you develop the mindset which is necessary to be a successful trader. After reading this book, you'll feel like you've earned a university degree in financial engineering. I expected the price of this book to be a lot higher.



3. Robert Rotella captures the essence of trading psychology. This book is a must read for all investors - regardless of timeframe, experience, or markets traded. I rank it in the top five trading books I've ever read.



4. There are 33 chapters in this 639 page book which practically put everything you can think of about trading or investment into it. Technical Analysis, Fundamental Analysis, Trading Psychology, Options, Commodities... simply everything. The problem is: dont know whether it's the intent of the author to give so general an idea of everything to its readers or he is too agressive to encompass so much in one single book. He just used a page or two to describe very complicated items like MACD, Stochastics, Gann Fan, Fibonnaci numbers, Bonds, Computer Trading, Crude Oil, Platinum, Gamma, Theta, Rho, Delta Neutral Trading........

   In case you just want to have a close to nothing idea of the highly complicated trading or investment market, it's for you. In case you read in order to earn an edge to profit in market where 90% to 95% of the participants are doomed to fail, forget about this.




5. There is an old joke about a guy who wakes up in a car in the middle of a field and has no idea where he is or how he got there. He flags down the first guy he sees and asks him where he is, to which he replies, "you are sitting in a car in the middle of a field". Our lost friend replies, "you must be an accountant, because while everything you say is totally accurate, it is completely useless".

   This 600-plus page book is written like a sterile academic textbook for a course devoid of any real world knowledge or experience. Ironically, the author states that the book evolved as a result of a course he teaches.

   It is stated that the author was a floor trader with many years experience on a Wall Street futures exchange (been there, done that). If this is in fact true, there is not a single anecdote about his own trading experiences in the entire book, at least what I read of it. What we would be interested in is a chronicle of how the author achieved competency and his experiences on the road to trading success, if in fact he achieved this. Did he have a successful trader as a mentor? How long did he lose money as a trader before achieving success? What were some of his significant breakthroughs as a trader? Did he have a "trading epiphany"? What were the major mistakes he saw traders make who ultimately failed? What is his greatest advice for new traders?

   Unfortunately, we will never know the answer to these questions, because this author completely missed the point in writing a book on trading.

5 comments about The Ultimate Safe Money Guide: How Everyone 50 and Over Can Protect, Save and Grow Their Money.

1. If you are going to look back and worry about big gains that you did not make, this may not be the book for you. If you hate losses, Martin Weiss could help you.



2. I actually purchased this book over three years ago but I still remember what Weiss wrote. How everyday people can save and become financially stable is what drove me and my wife to do the same. We do everything we can to save and only buy what we really need. Most of it really changed when we had kids. We stopped "treating" ourselves and really stuck to buying what our kids needed. To this day, I still subcribe to Martin Weiss' online periodicals as well. He may not be 100% (although no one is) but I believe in his philosophy and it actually does take some work on my part as well.



3. A well written, well documented, critical review of investment strategies for those who wish to provide for and maintain wealth during preretirement years and beyond.
   I find Dr. Weiss's analyses and advice to be practical and credible. Book was written in 2002; suggest follow up with his newsletter.



4. The information on the stock market and ratings companies was very useful.
   
   However, the suggested method for switching money between mutual funds in your 401k doesn't work. It doesn't work because many mutual funds don't allow you to change between funds as frequently as the method recommended by Mr. Weiss. In fact, some mutual funds require you to keep money in the fund for a year.
   
   I started to use the recommended procedure by Mr. Weiss but soon got a nasty gram from Fidelity telling me to stop.



5. My then girlfriend, now wife, bought me this book in 2002, shortly after I was laid off from my engineering job. I liked the investing theory of market momentum, but was unwilling to shell out big bucks for the software. Also, most mutual fund companies frown on the kind of frequent trading the system can dictate. Of course, there are always ETFs, and some companies, like ProFunds, don't care how much you trade.
   
   I have a diversified portfolio, based on Modern Portfolio Theory, but instead of rebalancing once a year, I use the indicators in the book to decide when to sell the excess value of a winning fund, and when to buy enough shares of an underweight fund to bring it up to its target weight.
   
   I almost never sell at the exact peak, but I generally take my profits before the fund tanks. And, I almost never buy at the exact bottom, but I generally get back to target weight before the fund starts a big run-up. So, I ultimately end up buying low(er) and selling high(er) than I would without his indicators.
   
   I still don't have the software. I found a page on Morningstar.com that seems to work about as well as the software he recommends, and its free.
   
   I really didn't pay much attention to the rest of the book, and don't subscribe to his newsletters, so I can't comment on them.

No comments about Budgetary Politics in American Governments.

2 comments about The Winner's Circle: How Ten Stock Brokers Became the Best in the Business.

1. A brilliant behind-the scenes look into the career path of 10 most successful stockbrokers. A must to everyone inspiring for success in stock broker's profession.



2. This book is very good and seems to lessen the apprehension of the initial marketing period for the young broker. To see the best of the best do it and the different methods by means of acheiving success,...this book does it all. You will definately come back with something.

4 comments about The Buy and Hold Real Estate Strategy: How to Secure Profits in Any Real Estate Market.

1. Many books on real estate usually tell you get rich quick schemes that never seem to work. This one however, show the important of buying and holding onto real estate much like stocks. The author stresses holding onto the estate, rather than trying to sell it quick to make a quick buck. Throughout the story, the author details his own experiences on his quest for his real estate fortune. After losing money gambling with the commodities, the author decided to try real estate. He started with virtually nothing, and eventually built his estate to be worth more than $15 million in four apartments, and 30 condominiums. This is a definite book to read for those who want to start investing in real estate



2. This is the best real estate book for the serious long term investor. I have bought four properties from 1992 to 1997 in the depressed Boston area real estate market and would have never been able to without this book. The focus of this book is that you can creat long term wealth by buying and holding real estate in the right location. It is not a get rich quick scheme. This is the serious real estate investors "bible"



3. I know this book is currently out of print and with the date of 1992, I was hesitant at first to purchase this book. It is a true gem of a discovery, his information can be applied to real estate investing in the year 2001 and beyond.

   He delivers the information very well written, and gives incredible ideas of ways to continually expand your ideas of how the appraisal business works, as well as many other timely topics.




4. I have been a lawyer for 25 years, with the first 15 years specializing in transactional real estate. I also have a broker's license and I have owned and rented two single family homes so far. My goal is acquire several more over the next few years.
   
   I have read many, many books on real estate investing, and most are quite superficial and unrealistic (many start with the presumption that you are consistently able to buy with no money down and for a large discount to current value). They also are commonly written by people who want, oddly enough, to sell you on taking one of their expensive, equally flawed, courses.
   
   This book, however, is the best real estate investment book I have ever read.
   
   It takes a long term prospective, is detailed, does not include a pitch for more product or courses, and does not assume away problems by assuming that you can buy under market with "no money down"; however, it is still is quite inspiring, to a large extent due to the author's own anecdotes re: his own investing experiences.
   
   Although I just read a copy from the library, and do not often feel a need to buy a book I have already read, I will be buying it today, as I expect to return to it often in the coming years.
   
   This is the first time I have been inspired enough by a book to write a review for Amazon. I am taking the time to do this today because I could not recommend any book any more highly than this one.

1 comments about New Money or None?.

1. I had read this book years ago and was sorry I loaned it out which of course I didn't get back.
   I wanted to read it again so I bought it used. A fun and interesting read.
   I recommend it.

No comments about Risk Reward: The Art and Science of Successful Trading.

2 comments about Steidlmayer on Markets: A New Approach to Trading.

1. I was first drawn to the works of Peter Steidlmeyer in 1993 as a futures trader by a colleague who explained that the features that I noted about the frenzied interest rate futures markets, had been encapsulated by this author. Without reading the book I tried to monitor the market activities in the profile that had been explained to me. Strangely enough, there was a pattern apparent on the daily sheets of paper that I started to collect.

   It was not until late 1999 that I revisited the phenonmenon when I started to trade on my own account from an office. I recalled the works and decided to pick up the book. It was an incredible revelation and revitalised my enthusiasm for day trading. Many people feel that they have a gut instinct in understanding where markets will trade, but Steidlmeyer's statistical approach formalises much of this. I was particularly interested in how his upbringing and his experiences as a child and the responsibilities he was given formed his approach to trading as a pro. From the writing you will learn the importance of watching rather than partaking in the opening hour of the market, which is often a money saver. it will teach you rules of discipline, because it makes sense.

   What I failed to take away from the book in working practice was the application of options volume from the 'far-traders,' the people who were bothered about the long-term haul, and how this could be witnessed in practice. There is certainly a lot of truth in it, but I could not match this with my experience as a day trader. The statistical comprehension of Market Profile is skillfully explained and is profitable to those who adopt it. the book is well written, understandable to the novice and is sound advice.




2. For those who like to take profit or survive in the stock market, this is the most practical method. This is essential to decision making no matter what the market will be. In down turn, survival is the most important than all.Up, take the best profit. Non-trendy, do nothing.