5 comments about Naked Guide to Bonds: What You Need to Know--Stripped Down to the Bare Essentials.

1. I was not expecting to gain this much insight on the topic of bonds and investing but am delighted to have picked this book up and savoured it to the last page in the course of one plane ride!
   Adept, succinct without compromising depth, this young new author has really delivered on his promise to give us the "bare essentials" that anyone should know!



2. I read the Motley Fool Investment Guide and really liked it, so when I saw this at the bookstore with Tom Gardner's endorsement on it, I thought I'd give it a shot. Just like the Fools, this book is written for regular people and is pretty humorous (for an investment book!). The chapters are well organized so that you learn about bonds "step-by-step". It includes discussions about every type of bond and advice on how to put them into your
   portfolio. It's definitely not written like a textbook -- even the complicated concepts come across clearly. In short, this is a great book. I found it easy to understand and, most importantly, full of extremely useful information.



3. In this very good beginner's guide to the bond market, author Michael V. Brandes addresses all of the fundamental questions clearly and concisely. Bond math can be daunting, but while the author includes a few equations for illustrative purposes, he clearly addresses his book to the general run of individual investors. The book, which has moments of surprising good humor, says right off the bat that bond investing can be dull in comparison to stock investing, not because the stakes are lower, but because the elements of personality and surprise are considerably more muted in the debt market than in the equity markets. We highly recommend this book, even though it is pedantic at times - a risk you take when you venture into the complex realm of bond investing.



4. As a former techie who found his way to the wonderful world of supporting a fixed income desk, I found this book to be an excellent overview of the bond market. The author explains complex concepts such as duration and yield in terms that anyone can understand. This is by far the best introductory book to the bond market I have read (and I have read many)!



5. I highly recommend this book. It gives thorough and strait-forward information on every aspect of fixed-income investment vehicles. This is a great way to learn about this market if one is new to it.

5 comments about Investor's Business Daily Guide to the Markets.

1. This book is a *primer*, and as such will likely be neither the best nor the worst book you'll ever read on the subject of investing (fwiw, I actually found the content average, and the writing style a bit like summertime in the Sahara). For me though, the book earned its fourth "star" for a single--yet *really* important--reason: its connection to the IBD newspaper. For about $25, _Guide to the Markets_ explains much of its information using the same graphs and other formats as you'll find in the company's daily. *That* is a great deal considering that IBD is one of the best, if more expensive, investment tools available. For its ability to cheaply provide access to that very powerful tool, while also providing other occasional insights, _Guide to the Markets_ is a very good value. (It's nicely indexed enough to serve as a solid reference as well).



2. This book is actually half decent it isn't near as good as How to make money in stocks but it covers a lot of relevant information for newer investors.

   The chapters cover these wonderful topics:

   * Capitalism: What it is and why it works
   * The stock market: Primer on what stocks are and how the market works
   * Mutual funds
   * Options
   * Bonds
   * Futures market
   * Economics and economic indicators

   The book reminds me of Investing Smart however Guide to the Markets is at least 10 times better and covers more topics, not to mention the writers are much better than Dhun H. Sethna.

   I recommend this for beginning CAN SLIM investors.

   Reed Floren




3. This book is pure gold for investors who are just getting started in playing the market. Coupling this book with a subscription to Investor's Business Daily will help you make good decisions quickly and minimize the punishing losses that naive investors sometimes take. IBD does a good job of explaining technical issues in easy to understand language along with showing pertinent charts and graphs.



4. Even a novice could learn the working of western
   economics ( capitalistic ), the influence of Government
   intervention, the mechanics of the stock market, and
   the way to use the best investment paper today: Investor's
   Business Daily. Only criticism: you should have noted
   that the book is the same as the one published 10 years ago,
   and not a new edition!



5. This is one of the best books on the market for beginners. It contains all things that a beginner needs to know about what a stock is, how the stock market operates, capitalism, how free markets operate and much more. It explains how to really invest and trade for profit using valuations, technical stock movements and emotional factors. It also expands into the futures and bond markets and explains options and selling short. I found the chapter that tracked all the greatest performing sectors for each year over the last century very informative. This book is just packed full of information that you will learn from and be able to profit from in the markets. The only reason I did not give it five stars was due to it needing an update, it is a 10 year old book and I would like to see the last ten years added in to an updated version of this book.
   
   Also check out Jason Kelly's "Neatest little guide to stock market investing" for another great book for beginners.

No comments about Bond Investing For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)).

5 comments about Bonds: The Unbeaten Path to Secure Investment Growth.

1. My husband gave me this book for Christmas.When he gave it to me, he told me it was the best gift he would ever give me. Thank you, Ms. Richelson, for writing it. He was right.
   
   You see, my husband is sixty-two, and he is retiring when he is sixty-five--a decision he made when he was ten, I think. I retired when I was 49. Three years ago he took all our money out of the stock market and put it into an all bond ladder of treasuries, agencies, and corporates S & P rated A or higher. The ladder includes both our 401ks and IRAs. I wanted to believe that he was smarter than everyone else, but as the author points out the common wisdom tells you to stay in the stock market pretty much forever. Even though I trust my husband and know he is brilliant, this book has given me the assurance and confirmation that his all bond strategy is sound. There is a great deal of security in that. The book will also be my reference guide if I ever have to manage our bond ladder by myself.
   
   No, it's not easy to read. Yes, I am having to re-read parts and ask questions, but it wasn't easy for us to make and save all that money for years either. Our money needs to last as long as we do, and I need to understand it. We plan to leave our children a substantial amount of money, too.
   
   I have friends who can't believe I am reading this book. They are clueless and rely on their financial advisors. That is really a lot riskier to me than reading this book and understanding it.
   
   Read the book. Stretch your mind. Find financial peace.



2. As an introduction to different types of bonds, this book is very good. But this book purports to be more than just an introduction to bonds. Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver on its key premise: that your portfolio should only have bonds. They say that after taxes and transaction costs, your return from stocks will only be 6 to 7% annually. This argument has three glaring problems: First, many people have the bulk of their investments in their tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Second, there are taxes (except on low-yielding munies) and transaction costs (unless you buy exclusively from treasurydirect, which this book does not really recommend on account of its push for diversification) on bonds too. And finally and most importantly, you cannot even expect 6 to 7% returns from bonds, especially after taxes! Additionally, their characterization of zero-coupon bonds as "growth" vehicles, as opposed to boring old income vehicles, is almost insulting to one's intelligence.
   
   The bottom line is that all the information in this book is available for free. But maybe you like to have it in one place, or you want to read it on the airplane, or you want to build an impressive library. But these investment books have relatively short durations of usefulness; tax laws change over time, and the different classes of bonds will have new rules. In any case, there are no interesting insights in this book. Even the recommended portfolio breakdowns are exactly what you would see if you were to google "bond portfolio." If this book convinced even one financial professional or economist that they should invest only in bonds, then I would be highly suspicious of their credentials.



3. Overall, this is seems to be an excellent simple first primer on bonds. I have no formal background in investing or finance. With all due respect, I disagree with 'Texas Critic's' analysis of the complexity of bond trading and bond portfolios. Additionally, I think despite getting to the "meat of the matter", much of the value or meaning of book and investment style may have been lost on 'Texas Critic'. I believe portfolio appreciation is not the goal of bond portfolios. It seems that the authors have gone to great length to point that out. Certainly you may see portfolio appreciation, but at the end of the day downside risk mitigation with sustained income seems to be the underlying theme.
   
   The material is dry, succinct and throughly approachable. Moreover, I have found bond traders (through various financial institutions and independent traders) who will buy/sell analyze bonds for you with relatively small portfolio maintenance charges (much less than seen in the leveraged bond funds or most mutual funds). I can not debate the viability of a 100% bond portfolio or any other investments. The ideas presented at worst will force you to think about alternative(s) to current mainstream "dogma" on asset diversification. Particularly useful may be the shift from asset appreciation strategies to liability coverage strategies. I highly recommend this book (and the one by annette thau) if you're interested in learning more about credit markets/bonds. I would emphasize that this is likely a book for beginners who want basics about bonds. I sincerely hope this review is useful.



4. I purchased this book after reading an introductory article on bonds in the recent American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) article.
   
   I was impressed with the basics of bonds presented in that article and felt this book might be worthy of reading.
   
   My goal was to obtain a beginners view of the bond market and I'd say this book fulfilled that goal quite nicely.
   
   I found the book easy to read and the information to be readily understandable. That's always a concern with a new subject.
   
   I only gave the book four stars because I have no others from which to evaluate it. I guess I'm always hoping for the five star book!
   
   In summary, this book provided the basic understanding of bonds I was looking for and presened it in a usable fashion. For that I give it an A+.



5. There are no new ideas in this book. It is being hyped to death on the Bloomberg website, billed as some alternative investment strategy. But although it does a decent job of superfically covering the various types of basic bond investments, its only surprising feature is that the authors ignore the effects of inflation. They do not even discuss real rates of return (adjusted for inflation), and many of their recommendations will not even keep up with inflation. That is not only a major oversight; it is a disservice to readers who look to this book for good advice. It's OK advice about various bond investments, but it is woefully inadequate advice for overall investment strategy. I like bonds (within a broader portfolio), but I feel I simply wasted my time in reading this book.

No comments about High-Powered Investing All-In-One For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)).

5 comments about Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money and Investing (Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money & Investing).

1. As many have said in their reviews, this is a great starting point for those new to investing and financial markets. In fact, it's the best I've ever found and I've looked a lot. The simple, plain English explanations are what makes this book stand out. For the nuances and more detailed information regarding the topics in the book, look to a textbook from a college finance class. But for the person who knows very little, start with this.



2. This book is excellent for learning the basic concepts in investing and finance. If you would like to iniciate in this area, i recommend this book as an entry door with the basics.



3. I cant believe that I went through college without taking business or econ classes (except for political economy). This is a way for me to catch up.
   I like this book because it is easy to read and understand. So easy even an elementary school kid could understand....ok maybe junior high.
   Eventually I would hope to read the Intelligent Investor.



4. Just finished reading it. Wow, what a mind trip. Fast shipment too!



5. If a picture is worth, as is said, a thousand words, The Wall Street Journal Guide to Money and Investing is worth many times its purchase price.
   
   The book takes a very basic approach at explaining the components of the investment world. Taken together, the components explained represent a comprehensive view of what is a very complex and broad topic.
   
   One reading doesn't do this book justice, though. Read over and over, however, this book will earn a place on any serious investment student's bookshelf as a resource to return to for a periodic refresher or for clarification.
   
   Bumped to the side by The Wall Street Journal in favor of Dave Kansas' The Wall Street Journal Complete Money and Investment Guidebook, Kenneth & Virginia Morris' book lives on as The Standard and Poors Guide to Money and Investing. Where Dave Kansas' book is complete and chock full of words, the Morris' still succeed at conveying the basics in a way that will forever add value.

5 comments about The Bond Book: Everything Investors Need to Know About Treasuries, Municipals, GNMAs, Corporates, Zeros, Bond Funds, Money Market Funds, and More.

1. This is an accessible introduction to bonds by a financial professional whose first book - as unlikely as it may seem - was a study of Max Jacob, the French poet. The literary background of the author, Annette Thau, may account for her book's clear, easy-to-read style. Most authors who write about bonds tend to get lost in the complex mathematics and specialized jargon of the bond markets. Not Annette Thau. Whether you are an individual investor trying to balance your portfolio with bonds, or a student of finance looking for a more lucid explanation of the subject than you can find in your textbooks, we highly recommend this book to you.



2. Thau over complicates her points. The book is too difficult to understand. I am an attorney who has been investing in stocks and bonds for over 10 years. This book is not appropriate for any level investor.



3. Am nearly finished reading the 2nd printing of this excellent tutorial. Although I have been an avid buyer & seller of fixed income products for many years, the author did a superb job of furthering my mid-level expertise especially in the area of municipal bonds. Her plain language explanations were most welcome as opposed to the plethora of financial techno-babble tomes that share the bookshelf. 5 Stars without reservation.



4. I ordered this book for my business library. I enjoyed the book, but if you want more specifics on the methods of detailed bond calculations, I would recommend a good financial investments text book.



5. A great introduction to bonds and there place in a portfolio. The perfect place for the individual to start if they are considering purchasing individual bonds for their portfolio.
   
   However, anyone looking for more in-depth information and strategies will likely be disappointed. Relatively little information about Zeros, TIPS and other products that are likely to be of interest. Start here, and then increase your knowledge with a title specific to your interests (i.e. municipal bonds, etc.).

3 comments about A Trader's Money Management System: How to Ensure Profit and Avoid the Risk of Ruin (Wiley Trading).

1. Just got my book delivered from Amazon a couple of days ago -- two weeks early! Was at the LA Trader's EXPO last week and everyone was trying to buy this book but it wasn't out yet -- so I'm glad it's here early.
   
   The book covers McDowell's philosophy on Money Management which encuorages you to always set a stop BEFORE you enter a trade. By doing that you can then determine your risk amount on each trade by adjusting your trade size to ensure no more than -- say -- 2% loss on any one trade - based on your entry and your initial stop.
   
   Then based on your current payoff ratio and win ratio you can go to the risk-of-ruin tables and customize what your risk truly should be. Based on your current performance maybe you should be risking less than 2% or maybe more. Thing is you want to refer to the risk-of-ruin tables to find out what percent risk gives you a ZERO "probable" (not guranteed) chance of ruin. This subtle adjustment can make a difference on improving your payoff ratio. And there is a sample of a risk-of-ruin table in the book so you can see how it works.
   
   The other tool in the book that I like is the record keeping forms that help track and calculate payoff ratio and win ratio. Anyway, this is a great money management book with lots of formulas and tools to help design your own system.



2. This one's a brand new book to add to your collection of Ralph Vince and Nauzer Balsara. Difference, though, is that this book really simpllifies the essentials and makes it easy for even the beginner to understand the sometimes complex money management formulas that truly are essential to trading success. I've got the other books too -- but this is the one that helped me effectively and profitably implement the formulas to calculate what percent of risk to take on each of my trades so that I'm not risking too much (which has exposed me to risk of ruin in the past) and then again -- McDowell's formulas help me not risk too little so that I'm not maximizing my return. The formulas are all based on your performance statistics at any given moment (which will be different during drawdown VS a winning streak) and they are basic algebra -- so you don't need to be a mathematical expert to use them. The other really valuable tool that has helped me is the record keeping forms that come with the book. Now I'm caputuring the data I need on each transaction and my analysis gives me the answers I need.



3. I have a bookshelf full of trading books and this one is one that will be used over and over again. The key to making money in the stock market is using a money management system that will protect you against big loses. The wins come along every once in a while , but when your wrong, (which for me is a lot) a system that can keep your losses small so you can stay in the game is critical. This book gives you straight forward, easy to understand advice on how to determine how much you should be risking based on your experience level and how to keep track of your successes and set backs. I provides you with examples of tracking forms and the how-tos for all of the advice. The book is simple, yet very detailed and to the point. Great Book!! I highly recommend it to experienced and novice traders alike. Thanks Bennett!!

1 comments about Trading Options For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)).

1. What this book lacks in detail, it makes in subject completeness.
   
   There are dozens and dozens of great websites out there describing options and trading strategies in far better depth and completeness than this book. So, if you're looking for complex spreads or techniques, this book will not satisfy you.
   
   However, online searches are so saturated in trading strategies that it's actually difficult to become aware of real world transactional details (like, "who are the market makers? how does assignment work?"). this book nicely wraps up those "loose ends" that are hardly ever mentioned on your favorite search engine.

5 comments about The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition).

1. This book has some great chapters that can be used to create a good stock screen to purchase value stocks. One point in this book that I found very valuable is this: No matter if you are in a bull market or not always keep at least 30% of your funds in cash or bonds. This at least saves some of your cash if the market turns around and heads lower. Think of the Nov 2007 to March 2008 downturn. Many people fully invested in at least stock founds in 401ks (that did not sell) lost up to 20%. How long will it take the old "buy and hold" to recover from that?
   
   [...]



2. I have been reading the intelligent investor for a couple of days now and just finished chapter 4. The book can seem a bit long but it is not. The arguments are easy to understand and comprehend. Graham argues that investment, as great as it could be, also contains significant risks and for long periods of times have not outperformed bonds when considering inflation. He thinks every intelligent person should have no more that 75% in equities in best of times and should have up to 75% in bonds in bad times. It is definitely a book worth reading not only because he reaches sensible conclusions and warns you not to blindly follow pundits but simply because it gives you overview on market performance by analyzing the historical data that should be mandatory knowledge for everyone serious about investing.



3. Having being for some time a small investor with mixed results I was trying to learn more about the dynamics of the stock market. Benjamim Graham makes an excellent case for value investing which distinguishes true investors from speculators. It is as actual today (if not more then) as it was first written several decades ago. If you only read one book about stocks, be sure you pick this one. Highly recommended!



4. Whether you are an investor or speculator, this book provides more detailed information than any book I have read. To get the most from this book, one must be willing to devote time to absorb what the author is writing about. As it is a rather large book, it is easy to put aside; however if one is serious about the "market" the vital information is available in this book. I firmly believe if one will read and understand this information, your financial program will benefit. Sam Harris



5. Simple like that: if you are a layman investor and don't want to lose a dime, stop your investment actions right now and start reading this book immediately.
   
   I've started composing my stock portfolio a couple of months, before reading this book. At that time, I didn't know any of the Graham's wise lessons and took many decisions, some Graham-complying ones and some not. After six months, all bets on companies in a strong financial position, with a dividend payment history of more than 20 years, offering shares with a discount as consequence of the market fluctuation, and so on, proved to be right, even during crisis time.
   
   A must read book for anyone aspiring to be a fraction of what a true investor is.