5 comments about The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession.

1. The Power of Gold was lent to me by a colleague at work, a fellow market analyst. He and I talk monetary policy on a fairly regular basis, so he thought I'd like to give this book a read. Indeed, he was correct.
   
   In brief, this is a book which tracks the use of gold from a monetary perspective through most of human civilization. If you're at all interested in history, then this book is definitely right up your alley. It takes a look at world events from a perspective that you won't find in many other sources. Primarily that means focusing on how gold was (or was not) the main focal point of money and trade. I personally didn't care for the author's occassional forays into discussions of the decor of various palaces and whatnot, but they weren't too distracting. Beyond that, it was a very well written book, and a pleasant read.
   
   The really interesting stuff from a my perspective as a trader and analyst, of course, is the latter part of the book where it gets to modern times. I personally found the whole discussion of the 20th century, which was probably the last third or more of the book, to be the most meaningful. The author really presents an excellent discussion of various perspectives and efforts related to different countries being on or off the gold standard and how that all played out in both domestic and global economies.
   
   One of the things which has come up in modern political, social, and economic discussions is the idea of going back on the gold standard. There have been some very prominent proponents. If you want to get an idea of what that might look like, how that might play out in the global trade and economic modern environment, you'll definitely want to give The Power of Gold a read. It will really have you thinking about the complexity of it all, and the implications.



2. Peter Bernstein's "The Power of Gold" is an interesting read. It begins with a series of anecdotes on the history of hold - from the Israelites to King Midas to Crassus to Pizarro and everything in between.
   
   Suddenly, the anecdotes stop and instead the reader faces down some pretty hard core history of the gold standard and the economics therein. The change in tone was startling. Eric Conger, the reader on the abridged audio cassette handles it in stride and does his best to keep the tone and material light.
   
   Bernstein sets gold up as a villain in the lives of men and men's quest for gold does not usually turn out the way they plan. Bernstein details the evolution and subsequent gold standard and in so doing, uses the images of the anecdotes told previously. One of the more powerful and useful images was that of the merchant who was on a ship when it began to sink. Carrying all of his gold, the merchant jumped overboard and promptly sank - which poses the question, did the merchant possess the gold or did the gold possess the merchant?
   
   Once the nations of the world were off the gold standard, the market fluctuated wildly. It reached its zenith when it peaked at $850 an ounce in 1980. When Bernstein published the audio edition in 2000, gold had promptly gone downhill precipitously with a price below $300 an ounce. Bernstein all but closes the door on gold pronouncing that its time in the monetary system come and gone and its uses as a hedge non-existant.
   
   But just before Bernstein hammers in the last nail of gold's coffin, he quotes economist Robert Mundell who stated that gold would make a comeback in the 21st century. Sure enough, on January 14, 2008 (or 3 days before this review), gold was trading at a record $914 an ounce showing that gold's use as an enduring hedge seems as durable as gold itself.



3. The older edition (Aug 30, 2000) has more pages (448 instead of 304) but costs more ($39.00). Comparing the table of contents between the 2 editions, it appears that the first 14 chapters and 207 pages are identical between the two editions but the new 2004 illustrated edition may have discarded or condensed some of the later chapters. The older 2000 edition is still available from Amazon if you look further down in search results for this title.



4. Recently, I have noticed a decline in the value of the dollar in the market and great increase of gold. Even the gold went over one thousand dollar at one point. Then, I came to thinking: what if we might be heading to some kind of economy collapse in our near future where our dollars in the banks will disappear overnight and we will be left penniless and head into a great debt without much a warning. Then, it would be likely that gold and silver might return to being as values/standards of money for survival purposes in the event of economy collapse. At least, that is my understanding of using gold.
   
   Before this year, I rarely take notice of gold and often thought of it as just piece of metal. And, I often wondered why gold would be such a big deal or why would gold became a driving motivation behind every nation's growth. Again, I thought, "they are pieces of metals, nothing more...geez, it sounds like everyone is obsessed with such illusion. Why do we even bother?" Then, I was recommended to this book by Peter Bernstein.
   
   "The Power of Gold: The History of Obsession" is very intriguing and easy to read, with only twenty chapters and roughly four hundred pages. It is certainly a book that I could not put down because it answered some of my questions on the subject, or at least to my understanding. I really liked reading about the histories of gold from the ancient times to present, including the stories of Lydian and Greek as well of Johann Sutter in the time of California gold rush. Also, it was interesting to acquire an understanding about the attitude of the people towards gold in the aftermath of The Black Death during the mid-fourteenth century.
   
   I most certainly agreed with the author when he said the following:
   "Those who believed that gold was a hedge against the uncertainties of life failed to understand that the pursuit of eternity is not to be satisfied by gold, or by anything else we choose to replace gold - dollars, euros, whatever. Gold and its surrogates make sense only as a means to an end: to beautify, to adorn, to exchange for what we need and really want." (p. 372)
   
   After reading this book, I have gained a better understanding about gold itself: how it was viewed, how it was and is being used, and why were/are people obsessed with gold. Gold may be a piece of metal, but it seems to serve mult-purposes.
   
   I am no economist or trader, but I found this book to be an enlightening read and very informative about the gold's nature, its history, and its relationship with humanity.



5. The Power of Gold is the best history book I have ever read. The book traces the history of gold as currency from 500 B.C. through the 20th Century. It is full of fascinating vingettes. Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton was the last of the magicians? An academic recluse until the age of 58 he emerged from his chrysilis to become head of the English mint and a social dandy. Did you know that salt was as valuable as gold in Africa; or that the camel was introduced into Africa to replace the oxen for hauling gold across the Sahara desert; or that the Saharan gold traders never saw each other, but engaged in "blind barter" to conceal the source of the gold from the Europeans? The chapters on the demise of the Gold Standard and the Great Deprtession are a must read for anyone wanting to understand our present fiscal crisis. Simply a Materpiece!

4 comments about Hot Wheels The Ultimate Redline Guide: Identification and Values 1968-1977 (Hot Wheels the Ultimate Redline Guide).

1. This book is a must have for any serious Redline collector. It is a beautifully presented hardcover book of almost 400 pages; jam packed with photos, facts and figures for all Hot Wheels models from 1968 to 1977.
   
   Each model has its own page listing colours, variations and values for loose and packaged cars from Hong Kong and the USA. The book also has special sections on Gran Prix, Heavyweights, Sky Show, Spoilers, Carry Cases, Displays, Gift Sets, Playsets, Track Sets, Merchandise, Collector Buttons and more.
   
   I own the Tomart guide, the Schiffer guide and several others and none of them come close the detail and accuracy found in this book.
   
   In a word, "Indispensable!"



2. Finally!!! An accurate price guide for Redlines. Don't waste your money on Tomarts. This is the book you need!



3. This book is huge! About 400 pages in full colour.Where do you start? Every model and every colour variation is shown in this book and it just brings your memories flooding back.I dont even remember half of these toys.Its all in here.Each model,each variation,gift sets and so much more.
   
   This has to be THE ultimate book on these series for sure!
   A huge book,superb quality and good value make this book a legend.To the authors who put this book together,you guys are champions! Thank you.



4. This is the very finest volume on the subject -- bar none. Each and every car has a one- or two-page listing, complete with description, history, variations, and values by color. Photos are large and lavish. Hot Wheels playsets, accessories, and collateral merchandise are covered as well. Plus, the book is published in a sturdy library binding. It's well worth the price. You will not need another book about Hot Wheels Redlines.

5 comments about Diamond Ring Buying Guide: How to Evaluate, Identify and Select Diamonds & Diamond Jewelry (6th Edition).

1. This book was agreat help in helping me get the best value in a diamond for my engagement ring



2. this book has all of the fact giving information on diamonds like affects of cut color and clarity on value wich is helpful in understanding what a diamond SHOULD be valued but in real practice in the market place whether shopping online or in a brick and mortor store, diamonds (like most other merchandise) are not offered to customers with a honest description of their quality aspects, which leaves most people lost in the new information which they just learned from fact only books, i own the " thediamondstore" and recc. using the information in this book, but you also need to know the common tricks and methods for misleading consumers at the point of sale , and by combining the two it becomes very difficult to get mislead as to the real value of a diamond.



3. I personally found this book well written and informative. Every chapter covers the basics and gave me enough confidence to make a decision while understanding what our jeweler was talking about. The content is quite easy to grasp and the pictures are enjoyable. This book actually helped me to select an appropriate setting for my anniversary ring, see chapter 12: V-tips for marquise stones. I also found the chapter on clarity & trasparency very clear and to the point. The writer is indeed experienced and knows how to explain this diamond subject to us! After reading this one, I also bought the Diamond Handbook by Newman to acquire more knowledge. Anyone shopping for a diamond ring should get this book before your next trip to your jewelry store, it's flawless!



4. I liked the way Newman clearly explained ideas that a few of the diamond sales people I encountered were unable to explain. This book has lots of information that I didn't find elsewhere. The jewelry store owner I finally bought my diamond from actually uses certain chapters in this book to train his staff!! Excellent book.



5. This "Diamond Ring Buying Guide" does not go into as much detail as some other guides in its discussion of the 4Cs -cut, color, clarity, carat weight. It says little about price and nearly ignores laboratory grading reports. But where other books may only describe the 4Cs, Renee Newman shows readers lots of photos of diamonds under 10x magnification. An abundance of illustrations is the strength of Newman's guides. In addition to close-ups of the stones, there are photos of diamonds mounted in a variety of traditional and unusual rings, which may provide inspiration and ideas if you're shopping for a special ring. Chapters on Gold & Platinum, the pros and cons of different mounts, and advice on how to choose a mount that suits your lifestyle offer practical advice that I haven't seen in other diamond-buying guides.
   
   Newman expands upon the traditional 4Cs by separating cut quality from cutting style and adding 2 new criteria, so the diamond price factors addressed in this book are: cut quality, color, carat weight, clarity, cutting style, transparency, and treatment status. The author feels that transparency and treatments were not issues when the idea of 4Cs was established, but now many treated and low-quality stones are on the gem market, so these factors merit separate discussion. I and SI3 diamonds with poor transparency are now being sold in some jewelry stores, and about one-third of diamonds sold in the US are treated. Most of Newman's 5Cs and 2Ts are given their own chapter. We get the basics with lots of pictures, which helps. I found the discussion of fluorescence ambiguous. Criteria for cut grades are provided for GIA, AGS, and HRD grading systems.
   
   There is a lot of good information in the "Diamond Buying Guide", including some pointers and advice on choosing a ring that I haven't seen elsewhere. I found comparisons of the characteristics of white gold and platinum very useful. Likewise the descriptions of mounts and the practical considerations in choosing a ring style. The book concludes with some "do's and don'ts" of cleaning your diamond rings, buying tips, and a quiz so that you can test your knowledge of 5 crucial chapters. I would consult more than one buying guide before shopping for a diamond, but this one offers some valuable advice, and the photographs make it a pleasure to peruse. For more thorough coverage of how to judge quality through a loupe, try "Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide".

2 comments about Our Washington, D.C. (Our ...).

1. Terrific photographs. Ample coverage of the usual monuments and tourist must-stops. Refreshing attention is also paid to DC neighborhoods that make the city a great place to live as well as visit.
   
   Page #54 is excellent.



2. My daughter loves this book - Great Memorabilia from our trip to Washington D.C. This book has great photos!!!
   
   Billy Wannyn

No comments about Antique Trader Collectible Cookbooks Price Guide.

5 comments about Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry 1840-1950 (Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry).

1. I have serveral of J. Bell's books and I enjoy them all. This one is informative and I love the quality pictures.



2. Didn't provide the type of information I was looking for but had some helpful hints.



3. Book was not put together very good. It was also very boring in alot of areas. The middle section that has pictures...fell completely out of the book and into my hands. Very bad binding job and cheaply made book. Would not recommend this book to anyone.



4. Yet another excellent jewellery book by C. Jeanenne Bell. This book is primarily a pictorial pricing guide to jewellery dating from 1840-1950, but the photos are interspersed with detailed pieces of information on topics such as jewellery makers, precious metals, imitation gemstones and the historical context of the jewellery, all of which are likely to be of value to most jewellery collectors.
   
   The main criticism I have of this book is that it is extremely cheaply produced. With the exception of two sets of color plates, the majority of the pictures in this book are in black and white. Furthermore, even though I always handle my books with extreme care, and my copy of this book is only about a year old, the color plates have started to come adrift from the binding. The index is also very brief and not detailed enough for my liking.
   
   This is an excellent book and would be a valuable addition to any jewellery library, but make sure you handle it with care.



5. Another GREAT book from this author! Wonderful pictures and information. This book has already helped me to buy and sell on eBay and has paid for itself. I have lots of jewelry books and this one is not a re-hash of other old books, as so many out there are. I am a very satisified and happy customer.

5 comments about Statehood Quarter Collection Number 3: 2006 To 2008 (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. A great way to start your coin collection . I highly recommend this to everyone.



2. I am very unhappy with the new Statehood Quarter #2 book. I purchased 2 and wasted my money. The quarters do not fit in the slots that were made for them. The slots are way too small. I had to manually enlarge the slot in order to use the books.



3. I used the first Whitman binder for the first three years of the statehood quarters and it held the quarters pretty well. But something strange happened when they made the binders for years 4 through 7 (Vol. 2) and 8 through 10 (Vol. 3). They must have got the idea that the U.S. Mint shrunk the size of the quarter, because it is almost impossible to fit the quarters in the slots. All have to be raised up on an end to fit snugly, but it looks awful. That didn't work for me, so I have found another binder that does a better job. It's hard to believe the leading coin book maker missed the boat on this one.



4. Previous reviewers who said the holes are too small are right. It's almost impossible to insert quarters with just your hands. I found that it's not so hard when you use some kind of tool to help you, though.

   First, place the folder on a solid flat surface. Then position the quarter correctly, and push it in as much as you can by hand. Now find something to help you get it in the rest of the way without damaging it. I used the rubber-coated handle of a pair of pliers. Place the tool on the edge of the coin that's still sticking up, and apply pressure to force it into the hole.

   After I got the quarters into my folder, they looked fine. There was no noticable damage. Though the hole size is annoying, this is still a good folder, and I would recommend it, especially if you already have Statehood Quarters #1.




5. This version folder allows the coins to fit in much more easily. No longer that thumb-numbing fight I put up with the last few years.

5 comments about Nursery Knits: 25 Easy-Knit Designs for Clothes, Toys and Decorations.

1. This book's patterns are seriously flawed. My attempt to follow the "outdoor snuggly" for a 0-3 month old baby resulted in a 32 inch waistline snuggly with legs that were too long and arms that were too short. In addition, the photos of the snuggly did not match the pattern's instructions. My cousin used the baby poncho pattern and had a myriad of similar problems. Do NOT buy this book!



2. I bought this book after buying Adorable Knits for Tiny Tots and knitting several items from that book. From this one I have made the teddy, the cloud pillow and am about 70% of the way through the kaleidoscope blanket (I decided that knitting 49 squares was too much like hard work and so adapted the pattern to be knit all in one go on a circular needle- its going well but maybe the squares would have been easier!). My knitting friend has also made the dolly with fabulous results. With the exception of the cloud pillow I have substituted local yarns with no problems. the only problem I have had was with yarn quantities- The cloud pillow called for six balls of expensive Rowan yarn, which was more that enough for two pillows. I plan to knit the star and moon blanket and the kitty cat jumper next. This is a lovely book with plenty of fabulous patterns.



3. I really like the designs in this book - just as good if not better than the previous Adorable Knits (which I am also a fan of). I've knitted the Baby Snuggly and it turned out great, so I don't know what went wrong for the other reviewer. I know some of the patterns do have corrections to them but they're available from Hamlyn, the UK publisher (email info-ho@hamlyn.co.uk).



4. I really fell in love with this book. I am a young adult and my motherly instinct is kicking in. I absolutely loved the look of the baby snuggle. However, the book only came with the gauge for the smaller sized needles (which are used to create the edging on the hood and sleeves, I believe), so the main portion of the snuggle is turning out to be much too large (I calculated it out to be 36 inches!) I've only done a little more than half of the first side and I am getting so frustrated! My life would be so much easier if the gauge for both needle sizes were in the pattern instead of the gauge for the smaller needles only. This is the only pattern I really wanted to knit from the book because it is so unique to all the other baby patterns I've seen. I'm afraid that now I may have to rip out all of my work and start over with much smaller needles. I would love to know the previous reviewer's gauge as mine seems way too big for a newborn child. Maybe a 1-2 year old would fit it. I have no idea. [...]



5. I'm one of those knitters who will tackle any project--what's the worst that could happen, right? I've done just about everything, now, and I've made many a child's sweater. But the Boy's Own Jacket has some serious flaws. Just for starters:
   * The instructions for placement of increases on the sleeves are unclear.
   * The hood is the same size as the entire body of the jacket.
   * The whole jacket is simply too small to be intended for a 24-month-old child, though my gauge is accurate.
   
   All these problems, and yet no errata for this pattern. Bizarre!
   
   I'm wondering if these books are using test knitters at all? I just can't figure out why the directions always seem to be so vague, and I hate that there are no schematics. Such a shame, since the patterns are adorable.

5 comments about Les Petites Dames de Mode: An Adventure in Design.

1. I found this book very useful as a source for inspiration. Good quality pictures of very Victorian looking dresses. It is not a "how to" book, but if you have some experience in sewing, there you can find good ideas how it all must look then finished.



2. This book is a total delight for fans of couture, especially La Belle Epoch. Nothing will compare to seeing the exquisite Les Petites Dames in person, but this book comes close! I was fortunate enough to acquire some of these pictures when they were marketed in small groups, so I was thrilled to find that Mr. Burbidge had since expanded the collection and subsequently published it in its entirety (also the book goes into more detail). Just loved it!!



3. If you're into miniatures, or just fabulous seamestry, you will love this book and this man's work with textiles, and fashion of a romantic era like none you've seen. These are fashions we will never see again in our society, (thank goodness - can't imagine wearing this stuff). But at the same time, I love to see how elegant and fabulous ladies looked in these garments. This man was responsible for making some of the most fabulous wedding gowns in our country for over a decade and now has preserved for us a fashion era that won't be brought back in it's entirety ever again. A must see for those that are into preserving a culture and miniatures.



4. This book by Mr. Burbidge is a feast for the eyes. The book features dozens of 29-inch fashion dolls wearing costumes from the 1850s to around 1914. Being oversized dolls, each costume can have incredible detail. Mr. Burbidge has labored to create accurate period detail in each dress. Each doll is shown in a full-page picture with period hairstyles and accessories. Each accompanying page includes a description of the outfit, small inset pictures of close details, an interesting quote from historical sources about the time period and usually some tidbit about where the author found the material for the gown. Frequently the author will explain things about high society of the era and how certain items would be viewed - for instance, whether a gown would be considered racy because of its color or how young ladies didn't wear expensive jewelry with a gown until after they were married.
   
   There are only 2 things that I found lacking about this book and they are really trivial items in my mind. The first is that the color of the full-page images is sometimes a bit "off". The dolls often feature very soft colors and the images have a warm tone that can wash them out. The inset detail shots usually have a better color representation.
   
   The second is that the reader should not expect accurate period undergarments on the dolls. The crinolines and petticoats are fairly accurate, but there are no corsets shown.
   
   All in all, the book is beautiful and informative. If you didn't know better, you would almost think the images were of full-size mannequins dressed in real period costumes. And the accompanying text is suitable for anyone, even if they have no knowledge of the eras shown.



5. This is a wonderful book. The photography shows every detail of the exquisite designs, which are breath-taking. The commentary is very interestsing and gives an insight into life in the 1800's according to the way women dressed. I would love to be able to wear any of the fabulous dresses shown.

4 comments about Standard Catalog Of Schwinn Bicycles 1895-2004.

1. After reviewing this book I was very disappointed. The title should have been "just another picture book of a few guys bikes". The title "standard catalog" is very deceiving. The content does not even scratch the surface of the vast array of of bicycles built by Schwinn down thru the years. There are no charts of models built, no production numbers, no serial numbers, really nothing in the way of valuable information to the collector. Nothing more than pictures of a select few bicycles and some cheesy history thrown in for copy. Even my untrained eye spotted several inaccuracies in the pictures of the restored bicycles shown.
   I will say that the photography is quite good and the paper quality is great. My "new" copy arrived with the binding separating and some pages coming out. This would make an excellant book to keep next to the commode in case of emergency!!!
   Perhaps the next time the author decides to tackle such an undertaking, some amount of research would be in order instead of relying on the Schwinn name to sell a book. I'm not into burning books but this on comes close.



2. The book is well written for the casual interest, yet it does not detail the financial woes that Schwinn had prior to its demise. The photos are good, not enough information that a "Catalog" should have. I was hoping for model names and production fiqures year by year, but such was not contained. I'm sure there are better histories out there.



3. This book was disappointing. It's title lead me to believe that it would be an extensive and thorough compilation of most, if not all of the bikes Schwinn produced; not so!
   
   I own a 1970 Schwinn Twinn Tandem bike, and was hoping I would read and see information on tandems. They picture one tandem, and have very little information about it. They also fail to depict several other models. If you look at an orignal Schwinn catalog, you'll find that they built dozens of models each year! Do a google search and you'll find it.
   
   One of Schwinn's more popular models was the "Typhoon", and I don't even see a mention of it! What a crock!
   
   I have a Standard Catalog of Corvette, and it's is much more thorough than this one for the bike.



4. This review is for; Standard Catalog Of Schwinn Bicycles 1895-2004
   
   As pointed out by the other reviewers this is hardly an accurate "catalog" with the technical details that we usually associate with precise catalogs. Instead, this 160-page book is just a short pictorial and text reference for casual interest. As others pointed out this book does not have a complete catalog of all the Schwinn bikes produced (which would mean a much bigger book!), but just a random assortment of Schwinn bikes produce from 1895 to the present. Yes, unfortunately those but-ugly Schwinn choppers called "Stingray" (Stingray Imposters!) from a couple of years ago are also included. As a Schwinn enthusiast myself who proudly owns four Schwinn bikes that I refuse to let go of and I enjoyed the fact that my 1998 Schwinn Paramount was in the book.
   
   Don't expect detailed information for each bike such as specifications and frame measurements that you may have seen from actual Schwinn catalogs. The book only has a few photographs of the whole bike and a few close-ups of the bike and accessories. In terms of text, details of each bike described is limited to one paragraph at the most! If you are a Stingray or Krate enthusiast over 55 pages are dedicated to the Stingray & Krate (mostly original and a few pages of the later reproductions). I'm just a mild Schwinn enthusiast, so I was surprised to see some products that I never saw before such as the Stingray tandem bike called the "Mini Twin" (which was produced for only one year!) and the moto-cross bike called the "Hornet". The book shows all the odd yet unique accessories such as the Stingray "ram-horn" handle bars, windshield and baseball bat carrier. Some photographs of the Excelsior motorcycle and other motorcycles designed by Ignaz Schwinn (the 1895 founder) are included in the book. Other pictures included are some of the vintage Schwinn ads produced throughout the years.
   
   As far as the text, the book briefly explains the history of Schwinn, but most of the text is dedicated to explaining the various lines of Schwinn. I highly recommend the book "No Hands" by Judith Crown & Glenn Coleman if you want to get a better historical perspective on the history of Schwinn.
   
   My only mild complaint about the book is that since the 160 pages of roughly 8.5" X 11" pages (office size) are paper bound, the large center-fold pictures are somewhat difficult to see because the middle of the photo is "mashed" very tightly where separate pages are bound together. The "Schwinn Bicycle" book by Pridemore & Hurd was a slightly better book in terms of presentation because the pages were slightly larger 10.5"X 10.5" in a hardcover bound book. I think this "catalog" book would have been slightly better if the pages were wider.
   
   Despite the fact that this book isn't really a detailed "catalog" for the Schwinn die-hards, I still thinks it's still a pleasure for people with some casual interest to browse through and look at those wonderful Schwinn bikes that you have or use to have or wished you have!