No comments about PMP Flashcards (PMP Exam Audio Prep).

No comments about Option Spreads Made Easy Course Book with DVD (Trade Secrets Course Books).

5 comments about The Science of Getting Rich or Financial Success Through Creative Thought.

1. Wattles' philosopy is New Thought, popular at the turn of the 19th century. It is really just wishful thinking or magical thinking. It doesn't work. Just because you think something doesn't make it come true, and you should be glad, because some people think very unpleasant things. You aren't Harry Potter, and magical thinking won't get you what you want in life. As for Monism or the theory that God is in everything, that would mean that God also exists in evil things, which would mean that God is not all good, so Monism cannot be true. This is just an early self-help book that seeks to empower people who feel powerless by telling them they can get anything they want if they just think about it hard enough and long enough. It's a waste of your time. Wattles wrote the same thing about health, and he died at about age 51. If he had lived to be 100 in good health and been a multimillionaire himself, he theories would be more credible. In fact, one of the people Wattles criticized as being "competitive", John D. Rockefeller, did live to be 98 and was a multmillionaire, so who are you going to believe?



2. The "Thinking Stuff" which Wallace Wattles declares, permeates the universe really caught my attention. The noted theologian, Emanuel Swedenborg refers to this "Thinking Stuff" as the Divine Wisdom in the book Divine Love and Wisdom, (published in Amsterdam in 1763).
   
   I agree with the premise of Wattles book and as I reflect upon my life I can see where the Lord has indeed blessed me in ways I had desired.



3. This book if followed exactly how written can change your life forever with huge positive results. I suggest reading with a very open mind.



4. Don't be fooled, this book is difficult to read and comprehend. However, for those willing to tread the waters of early 1900s writing styles, the message in this book is wonderful and can potentially change your life.
   
   If you are interested in the money aspect of the law of attraction, you may also want to read "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill and "The 17 Principles of Creating Wealth" by Phillip Collinsworth.



5. Can there be any truth to the concepts expressed in this book originaly published in the early 1900"s? I read it a while back and still find myself thinking about the alternative theories expressed in the book ... and recycled in a thousand and one personal motivation books since.

No comments about How to Make a Fortune on the Internet: A Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Create a Massive - and Passive - Income for Life.

2 comments about The Winner's Circle: Asset Allocation Strategies from America's Best Financial Advisors (The Winner's Circle series).

1. The author interviewed the best in the business for their secrets on asset allocation strategies. A great book!



2. This book is written for financial advisor's NOT individual investors. I found it boring and not very helpful.

5 comments about Win Without Competing!: Career Success the Right Fit Way (Capital Ideas for Business & Personal Development) (Capital Ideas for Business & Personal Development) ... Ideas for Business & Personal Development).

1. I've read more than a few of these in my day and I must say that Dr. Barro's book is one of the very best. Lucid, no-nonsense advice that will help you with your career--and your life.
   Bill Gubbins



2. Dr. Barro's book will help anyone-hiring or looking to be hired-find the right fit. She really goes step-by-step to lead you to success. Her book helped me to really understand who I am in my career and how I can use my skills to improve myself in my current job! She teaches you to ask some hard questions about who you are (and who you want to hire), but ultimately all that hard work pays off in a very rewarding career! Her book is a 'must have' for any career minded individual.



3. It's a dog-eat-dog world. Only the fittest deserve to survive. And you can indeed win through intimidation.
   
   If anyone could be expected to attest to the above, it would be a corporate headhunter--which brings us to a new book with the unexpected title of "Win Without Competing" by Arlene Barro, Ph.D, a prominent search consultant, career coach, and educational psychologist. At first glance, the book would appear to belong in the "Warm and Fuzzy Self-Help Section" of your friendly neighborhood mega-bookstore. Well, Barro does convey warmth, but there's nothing fuzzy about her. She possesses the mien of a caring but uncompromising commander sending her clients into battle.
   
   She minces no words about the sometimes cutthroat nature of the job market; she'd be the first to warn of snakes in the tall grass. There are no mantras here, no clicking of ruby slipper heels--only solid strategy peppered with no-nonsense aphorisms.
   
   But, as implied by its title, the book is built on a fundamental paradigm shift. Barro's stated mission is to steer her readers to what she terms the "flawless fit"--the job and career for which one is uniquely suited. And when this concept is broken down to a molecular level of specificity, when a perfect DNA match is attained between the job-seeker and the job, it can be concluded with an almost scientific degree of accuracy that there is no real competition involved. The match by definition is symmetrical--not only must the individual fit the requirements of the job, but the job must fit the requirements of the individual.
   
   To know where to look for your own flawless fit, you need to know precisely what it means for you. Thus, attaining a clear-sighted understanding of your core self is the first step on the journey. This quest for self-knowledge is nothing new--witness the teachings of Lao-Tzu, the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, the writings of Thoreau. Barro stands squarely in this timeless tradition, but presents it from a modern, practical perspective. Included throughout "Win Without Competing" are revealing checklists and personal surveys she's developed in her years of coaching clients.
   
   One possible outcome of this personal assessment is the realization that you're not meant to be an employee at all--some of us, by nature, are entrepreneurs. Barro convincingly demonstrates that the principle of flawless fit also applies flawlessly in such instances.
   
   Key to the strategic aspects of job search or entrepreneurship is what Barro calls "managing the process." She presents a detailed discussion of how to take charge and avoid succumbing to the obstacles and turbulence you're bound to encounter on the road to success, covering such matters as email communications, resumes, initial discussions and final negotiations--even what kind socks not to wear to an interview (a true-life cautionary tale shows how such a seemingly minor detail can determine the difference between getting the job and not).
   
   Then Barro goes a step further and reveals a surprising reality: in many instances, the hiring company itself is unclear about what it's looking for. This presents an additional opportunity for the job-seeker to manage the process by presenting the prospective employer with options which could be to their mutual advantage. Here, as in its other sections, the book abounds with invaluable nuts and bolts advice.
   
   The final chapter extends the discussion of flawless fit to encompass personal relationships and life in general. But for the attentive reader, the entire book serves as a road map for finding one's place in the world. "Win Without Competing" is a tangible example of its own title. It's bound to be a flawless fit for anyone committed to meaningful personal success.



4. WIN WITHOUT COMPETING offers sound career management advice for MBAs as well as others seeking to take a more thoughtful and holistic approach. It flows methodically, yet Dr. Barro's stories and humor enable the reader to embrace the principles contained therein. The text and principles are interspersed with exercises similar to many of the things found in career services. The focus is on differentiating yourself sufficiently so that you find the "Right-Fit" rather than engaging in endless competitive job searches.
   
   Dr. Barro's book, released in 2007, examines career management from a whole-life perspective combining a methodical approach within a holistic framework. After an overview of the "Right-Fit" way, she begins with the importance of self-assessment, then branding yourself in order to present the "fit" to potential employers.
   
   The tone of the book is substantive, yet light-hearted with stories and humor to illustrate what could be dry formulaic concepts. The book views her take on career management (and life) as a drama in Four Acts:
   
   Act I Setting the Stage
   Act II How the Right-Fit Method Works
   Act III Apply the Right-Fit Method
   Act IV The Right-Fit Method and You.
   
   The heart of the book is Act II. It begins with self-analysis to discern your "Core Identity," in terms of:
   
   Focus: Profession (One Profession; Concurrent Different Professions; New Profession)
   Function: Setting & Situation (Status; Role; Industry)
   Foundation: Passion (Fleeting or Sustained)
   
   As the analysis continues, the reader develops a blueprint for approaching prospective employers and positions, providing a framework for goal setting. Using marketing analogies, Dr. Barro develops the concept of personal branding in terms of marketable transferable skills from the resume building stage through the interview and negotiating process.
   
   Dr. Barro's reinforcement of the career management process as a two-way street (you want to make sure the employer is right for you just as much as the employer makes sure that you are right for them) is something that needs to be reinforced. Finding the right job is more than just compensation. The book combines general ideas and concepts with concrete and specific suggestions, including: what to bring or not to bring to the interview, how to dress or present yourself, and the importance of the first impression with everyone in the company that you meet.
   
   Later chapters deal with strategies for fixing what's broken, and moving on when required. Finally, the book concludes with the application of her methodology to other areas of life.
   
   It is certainly a book that I would recommend to someone serious about their career management.



5. 
   Finally, a career book that focuses on "play your own game" rather than trying to outsmart your competition. According to Dr. Barro's Right Fit Method, there is no external competition. The only person you will compete with is yourself.
   Barro explains her method in an engaging, compassionate, and entertaining style. She entwines real people telling their own personal stories, coupled with her own anecdotes and interactive materials to convey her step-by-step system.
   I loved her style. It's hard to believe that a career book could be a page turner but that's an apt description of WIN Without Competing! which is a one of a kind in its genre. I highly recommend this book for employees and entrepreneurs who are searching for new solutions at any stage in their lives. It's always the right time to learn how to "win without competing" to succeed in your professional and personal life.

1 comments about Federal Income Taxation of Insurance Companies (2nd Edition).

1. I hereby nominate this book for a Pulitzer Prize for best book of all time. The title only promises a learned discussion of taxing insurance companies, but it delivers so much more. Reading this book turned my life around. I now look at things differently. I see the world in a whole new way. Mr. Burstein has a point of view concerning his topic that extends beyond the narrow confines of taxation to take in all of life. Thank-you Emanuel Burstein for this magnificent work. I can't wait for the next edition.
   Now for the particulars. The characters in this book, such as the IRS or the insurance companies, on a surface level are only large organizations. However, a careful reading will reveal that they represent much larger issues. The interaction of these large organizations is very complex. Out of this complexity Mr. Burstein finds ultimate truths that cannot be found anywhere else. To write more here would give away apparent "trade secrets" that can only be fully appreciated by a careful study of the entire volume. Therefore, to give justice to this great tome, I will only encourage potential readers to fulfill their potential in every possible way by interaction with Burstein's "Federal Income Taxation of Insurance Companies."
   I have only one caveat. This book is too intense for young children. It will only benefit those who are old enough to understand its subtle meaning.

1 comments about Mining Explained: Discovery, Extraction, Refining, Marketing, Investing.

1. This is much more than a geology book. The text has great info on evaluating mining management teams, drill results, and investment potential. Although I work in the financial industry, I found the book easy to read, yet with sufficient detail to convey essential material to help us tailor our precious metals investment portfolios.
   
   The first half of the book covers prospecting, drill results, processing ore, building a mine, and environmental issues. The remainder is dedicated to evaluating mining operators, the business of mining, feasibility studies and the metals market investing strategies.
   
   The book is filled with interesting pictures, diagrams, and charts. I searched far and wide and have not been able to find a text with similar breath and factual content. Even after the first reading many years ago I continue to refer back to it while researching new investment choices for my clients. I have given many copies away over the years and certainly will continue this tradition with the new updated 10th edition. 5 STARS

No comments about Leadership Success in China: An Expatriate's Guide.

5 comments about Investment Atlas.

1. This is a history, investment and art book all rolled into one!
   
   Not only do I recommend it to my business associates, I have had my teenage sons read it for school projects. In fact, a copy of this reference book is in our office lobby for our clients to review.
   
   The book points out how investors forget history and pay the financial price for these mistakes. Much of the same can be said of people who work in the investment business. This book should be required reading in the CFA program, as well as, MBA programs.



2. This is a wonderful book. The graphics are clear and understandable, and illustrate the author's point well. Further, it is a fabulous book for the layman who has interest in investing, but has little or no knowledge in the process or its history. An excellent use of reproduced historical documents and charts. Finally, a credible reference book on the subject that can also enhance any coffee table.



3. Wow! What an amazing book. For a person who has never done well in history classes, this book puts together our history in a colorful picturesque manner that keeps the readers interest throughout the book. I wish a book like this had been available when I was in school.



4. This is a great book for anyone interested in learning more about their investments. It combines fascinating history with beautiful illustrations to make a book that is both intelligent and attractive. Very highly recommended!



5. Technical analysts often look at charts of past price action to assess the current state of the financial markets. In this beautifully illustrated book, Winans has assembled a great deal of data to illustrate the history of stocks, bonds, commodities, and real estate markets around the world. And you can make money by studying the pictures.
   
   Winans asks, "Why did the majority of modern investors, the most knowledgeable and technologically advanced in history, mishandle the `Dot.com' stock bull market and the recent `nothing down' real estate frenzy?" His answer is that there is a general lack of knowledge about US financial history which results in investors making the same mistakes over and over.
   
   To address this lack of knowledge, he has assembled hundreds of charts, many spanning more than 100 years and some more than 200 years, to put financial market history into perspective. Each chart is accompanied with narrative that places it into perspective, and helps even short term traders identify applicable concepts.
   
   As an example of the innovative ideas in the book, I was startled to see the historic performance of mid cap stocks. It is very well documented that small cap stocks outperform large cap stocks in the long-term. I always assumed mid caps delivered performance between these two groups. This book showed that mid caps are actually the best long-term performers.
   
   Winans documents mid cap performance going back to 1927. Through 2007, these stocks would have delivered a total return of 1,071,395%, more than doubling the returns available through small cap or large cap stocks. This dramatic outperformance was also found through testing over the time period from 1958 through 2007, during which mid cap stocks also beat the returns available from global stocks.
   
   This insight alone is worth the price of the book.