5 comments about U.S. Master Tax Guide (2008).

1. This book is a tax preparer's dream, with all the answers for any questions that might arise in processing 2006 returns. It's simple language and full explanations of new tax law changes that impact 2006 filers is extensive. I use these guides every year and as always I am never disappointed. Thank you.



2. My one-stop source for updated Federal tax information. I don't prepare taxes, but I buy a new copy every year to stay current on tax law and IRS regulation changes. A must-have for financial/accounting managers and executives.



3. As a tax preparer this manual gives just the facts enough samples to work to the preparers advantage. Cut and dried! Just what I wanted. We'll see how well when I sit for my EA :-)



4. An automatic must have every year. This handbook is a great reference tool for any level of staff.



5. This product has a ton of information. It was recommended by a friend because I am not an accountant by trade but work in a position where it comes up daily. However the writing is quite small and reading some things requires a re read.
   Over all, I would recommend this book for information seekers.

5 comments about Entries & Exits: Visits to 16 Trading Rooms (Wiley Trading).

1. I recommend this book not for the trading methods you will find it in (because I don't recommend using these methods at face value to trade), but in order to see how different people trade, and in particular the contrast between amateurs and experts. There are several amateurs, they tend to use a lot of technical methods and over rationalize their entries and exits. The professionals may not have better methods, but they are less fooled by the accuracy of the method. If this book is a good sampling of the trading population, then it would seem most traders, or at least beginners, fail to appreciate the unpredictability of the price action of markets. When they make a losing trade, rather than simply recognizing the probability of entering into losing trades at any given time, they rationalize it by saying they didn't "follow their method" or some such. Likewise, when completing a winning trade, they tend to give credit to their method, rather than recognizing that it was probably pure chance. As someone who trades by scalping, I was rather intrigued by the account of the gentlemen who developed a simple formula to trade against the public from the dealing desk. I'm curious about the success rate of this strategy. Alas it does not seem to be available. On a final note, Alexander Elder is a good writer, honest, clear and descriptive. In this book and others, he does a good job of describing technical analysis and other methods. My word of caution, especially to beginners, would be that there is a high failure rate of any method, including those described in this book. You must recognize that as the simple and unchanging truth and develop a strategy that deals with it.



2. This book and a book by John Carter, Mastering the Trade, are two of the very best on trading information. Very highly recommended. I own about 50 books on Option trading, Forex, chart analysis, stock trading, day trading, swing trading, you name it. This book and Carter's book easily could have replaced 40 of the 50 books I bought previously.



3. I have read Elders first two books and put off buying this one for a while. I finally picked it up last week and I must say that it is excellent. The writing and charts offer a very clear perspective on different stock trading techniques. Each technique is these reviewed by Elder and his rules. I enjoy very much sitting down for an hour and studying a chapter which consists of a different traders techniques. I always pickup a valuable piece of insite as well as reinforce the ideas from his other books. This is a very good book which I highly recommend.



4. Dr Elder's book takes you through 16 different trading styles, giving you two examples of actual trades for each. You'll meet the trader (Elder's students and peers) and read the set up and entry point. You'll then be asked whether you think the trade will win or lose.
   After seeing the result, Elder gives his analysis of the enery and exit.
   
   It was enjoyable to challenge my skills deciding why a trade will go good or bad. And like a lot of other trading books, I drew nuggets of knowledge I continue to use today. This in itself was worth the price of the book.
   
   While readers may good gain insight from both the trader's and Elder's thought processes, the book is based on Elder's Impulse System; software available for purchase through his website.
   
   I'm a fan of Elder's work and have learned quite a bit the classic, "Trading for a Living". However, I don't care much for books that serve to push more products rather than sell itself on it's own merits. Hence the 3 star rating.



5. Let me start off by saying this book wont help you very much until you read Dr. Elders other book "Trading for a Living." In "Trading for a Living" he lays out the ground work and teaches you all the general "book smart" knowledge. "Entries and Exits" helps apply some of those concepts by walking through various trades with different types of traders from all over the world to help you learn how to think for yourself.
   
   I found the book very interesting. I didn't learn as much raw skill as I did in "Trading for a Living" but it made me think more and exposed me to different trading styles. It also helps to see what professional traders do wrong and learn from it. Elder does a great job of staying consistent with his trading methods and has developed a straight forward trading strategy. He did a great job covering the realm of different types of traders and techniques. The book is well made consisting of glossy color photos and is neatly laid out.
   
   PROS: Detailed explanations, great examples, stresses risk management, and helps the reader develop decision making skills.
   
   CONS: Sometimes the charts become confusing or are hard to understand when they change time frames. Also all of his explanations use his Impulse system and Force Index. The Impulse System and Force Index are great systems but unless you have them and are planning to trade with them they are sort of useless. The price of the book is also high but the information in the book really has the potential to make or save you money, so just bite the bullet and buy it.
   
   Overall it's a great book. Don't buy it unless you have read "Trading for a Living." He is a great author and has really has done a great job writing books that allow traders of all levels to improve their skills.

5 comments about Rich Woman: A Book on Investing for Women - Because I Hate Being Told What to Do!.

1. Bought this as a gift for my wife as I have loved the Rich Dad/Poor Dad series. She really enjoyed the book...so much so that she enrolled in one of Kiyosaki's courses.



2. This book is nothing more than advertisement for her husband's accomplishments. She should have titled it "Rich Woman: Marry an accomplished man and then make money by helping him make more money." She does not appear to have any ideas of her own. The book is FULL of typos that a simple proofread should have caught. I do NOT recommend wasting money or time on this book. I am very tolerant of things I read, but this one is absolutely infuriating.



3. It's all "conversations". I wish I could learn something from it. I love reading, but all I have in conclusion for this book is tedious, waste of time and money. There are bunch of great books about investment and especially for women. Rich Woman is not the one.



4. I understand the title is "Rich WOMAN" and that it is geared towards a female audience, obviously, but some of the examples were a little off target for me. I am a 24 year old who has always supported myself, looking for something that would help me better my financial intelligence and understanding. However, this book considered "women who's dream husbands divorced them". What? THAT is not why women should be fully financially literate, just in case their "plan" to marry a rich guy falls through. I think bringing the fact that women live longer then men is completely irrelevant to FINANCE. If you picked up a finance book geared toward men (what I mean is a book not SPECIFICALLY geared toward women) there is none of the nonsense. I wanted a female perspective, but was definitely not expecting or appreciating what I got. Read "Cashflow Quadrant" by Robert Kiyosaki- best one in the series. Now they are just getting out of control.



5. Rich Woman wasn't very helpful. I found myself getting bored reading through the stories of Kim and her friends reminiscing. It seemed like Kim couldn't decide whether to write an autobiography or an investment book, and ended up doing both badly.
   
   The book was extremely repetitive, and not in a good way. Kim was so busy trying to promote her Rich Dad products, the advertised purpose of the book was lost, and the plugs were very annoying.
   
   There was also no thought continuity through out the book. I felt like I was reading a term paper and there was a word count to be meet. There were paragraphs that served no purpose. They didn't bring a point home, or shed any light on what was being discussed.
   
   Ladies save your money and pass on this one.

No comments about Harvard Business Review on Green Business Strategy (Harvard Business Review Paperback Series) (Harvard Business Review Paperback Series).

5 comments about The Little Book of Value Investing (Little Books. Big Profits).

1. Don't let the small size of this book fool you! For anyone who is looking to build, over time, a valueable (read: multi-million dollar) portfolio of stock investments; this book might be all you would need. This book started a path for me that lead me to works by value-investing notable as Benjamin Graham, David Dodd, Mary Buffett, and more. After reading very famous texts by the above authors and more, I decided to revisit this work. I am floored by what Chris Browne presents here now I have a much more through understanding of the details.
   
   My advice is to BUY BOTH THE BOOK AND AUDIO-CD. Play the audio cd in your car or I-POD a few times to get the general idea. From there, take the text and follow the CD; highlight any ideas that grab you attention as well as any tips/techniques that he gives (particularly at the end of the book). You may not want to delve into the chapters on reading foreign financial statements--a little advanced for the beginner, I assure you!
   
   One you have a good understanding--get started. As I write this (02/2008), there are an abundance of good values in the market. I'm currently investigating a couple of wonder-investments as we speak. I argue this: anyone thinking of buying this book should buy it ASAP! As Chis Browne would say, there are too many stocks on sale....."...and you want to buy stocks when they are on sale".



2. The author states that over a long period of time value companies have outperformed the growth companies. You buy a value company when you pay less its intrinsic value (Buy Stocks On Sale). The key aspect of value investing is an ability to analyze financial statements of the company. The author explains, in the very friendly manner, such indicators of an intrinsic value like Operating Income, Current Assets vs Total Assets (and liabilities), Operating Margin, EBITD Margin, "Margin of Safety" and so on.
   
   The author declares that you can reduce the risk of loss in case of one stock's failure by building a diversified portfolio. However, when it comes to emerging markets, the authors suggest bewaring of them because of the frequent political disasters in particular countries. I do not agree with the author's advice of totally avoiding emerging markets. As an ETF of U.S. stocks like SPDR Trust (SPY) saves from one company's failure, an ETF that includes most of emerging countries, like iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (EEF) can save from a failure in one of the countries. Alternatively, you can build a portfolio of stocks in different emerging countries (as if you do this for U.S. stocks) by yourself without using an ETF or an index mutual fund.
   
   The author also proclaims that cognitive psychology explains why some investors make huge losses because of fear, panic, or following the crowd when it comes to hot sexy stocks. If you like the topic of how cognitive psychology affects investors, I can recommend "The Only Three Questions That Count: Investing by Knowing What Others Don't" by Kenneth L. Fisher.



3. Great book as an introduction to the principles of value investing as laid out by Benjamin Graham. Very easy to read. With about 140 pages, you can get through this book in a couple of hours.
   
   I'd use this as a warm up book to Intelligent Investor.



4. I learned from a broad range of investing books, and I got this one primarily because it was a short book. I'm only about half way through it, but I think it is very well written. It has some important information on how to approach researching a company. One of the glaring failures is how rapidly the trading environment can change. The book specifically tells investors to avoid China, and I've been making a lot of money investing in my first Chinese company. Read and learn, but ultimately decide for yourself on what you want to buy.



5. This a very clear and concise book--another one, all of which seem lately to contain the same wisdom: buy low (and buy smart). I'm trying. You can still pay too much, or buy too soon, or catch the wrong end of a falling knife, etc. But it's certainly a far better idea than taking hot tips from e-mails, or from brokers.

5 comments about Your Money and Your Brain: How the New Science of Neuroeconomics Can Help Make You Rich.

1. "Know thyself" was the recommendation from the Greek philosophers. This books leads you to that same objective. The impressive difference is the Greeks did not have MRIs to scan their brains when we were thinking deep thoughts.
   
   Zweig does two very important things.
   
   He brings science to the process of making investments. It's not quant models of the S&P, but an understanding of the 'investor.' We are human and we respond, even in the Wall Street world, based on circuitry configured over a million years of living off the land. His prolific description of experiment after experiment convinced me that his lessons were real and based on the best behavioral science available (and I hope there is more on the way). The book is not a screaming-head extorting the wonders of the magic method of getting rich. What a relief!
   
   The second very valuable aspect of this book is Zweig does not talk down to you. He takes you on a journey through your brain -- much more complicated than I understood. But you don't get swamped by the complexity -- this is not an anatomy text. As a matter of fact, it was a little scary for me because I'd stop to contemplate what I was contemplating. It's a little zen-like.
   
   He encourages you to examine your investing failures and successes then relate those decisions to the mechanisms between your ears.
   
   "If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
   If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim,
   If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
   And treat those two impostors just the same."
   'If' by Ruyard Kipling; 1895
   
   Will you become a billionaire? Not likely. But then, that wasn't likely anyways. You will say, ten years down the road of investment, I'm here because I want to be here and here is where I belong. With all the millions of baby-boomer Americans (I'm one of those) facing the retirement future -- this book sets the tone. Read, enjoy, learn, prosper.



2. This book provides awesome insight into how we make investment decisions. I read lots of investment books & highlight the sections I think are important to reread later. It would've been easier to black out the passages that wern't important to me. Hopefully, with this knowledge I'll make better decisions. Everyone should read this book



3. I usually enjoy books on personal finance and psychology as I believe these two subjects to be quite interesting and fascinating so when I came across this book, I was really excited since it puts these two subjects together in one reading. Basically it explains how your emotions can sometimes disrupt logical thinking when it comes to your personal finance. The writing is not as focused as I would like, but there are some pretty interesting points. The most important one that seems to repeat throughout the book is that what you expect is always better than what you finally get. My wife is living proof.



4. If even a blindfolded chimp can pick stocks successfully, how come you and I can't?
   
   Part of the problem seems to be that the human brain was programmed by thousands of years of evolution to operate in a particular way; and while human brains are very, very good at tasks that are similar to the tasks our ancestors faced a couple of hundred thousand years ago, investing in financial markets requires us to perform new analytical tasks that just don't come that naturally to us. The habits learned over thousands of years of evolution just don't work that well in today's financial jungle.
   
   But help is on the way!
   
   Zweig's book presents some interesting information about studies in behavioral finance, evolutionary psychology, and neuroscience (e.g., MRI studies of the brain activity of people pondering "investment" decisions), and then uses that information to help explain how people make investment decisions and how they could do better.
   
   The book is very well done. Each chapter covers a separate topic like Greed, Confidence, Risk, Fear, Surprise, Regret, and Happiness. Most chapters contain a brief "man in the street" discussion of how the chapter's subject emotion influences investing behavior, followed by a discussion of brain activity in subjects actually engaging in behaviors relevant to the chapter's topic. It was very interesting to see how "man in the street" views are supported or contradicted by controlled, scientific studies.
   
   Most chapters contain anecdotes illustrating the chapter's topic. There are some pretty sad stories. Even people you'd think would know better frequently do some really dumb things. "Human nature" is hard to overcome, even for professionals.
   
   For example, I think everyone knows that when Enron collapsed, its employees lost not only their jobs but also their nest eggs, because their 401(k)s contained so much Enron stock. Everyone knows that sad story, and certainly no professional would ever let the same thing happen to him/her, right? Well, during the recent Bear Stearns meltdown, I heard a news report about the 401(k) plans there. Do you think the Bear Stearns employees learned anything from the painful lesson that Enron taught? Sad, sad, sad.
   
   The bottom line, as Zweig's book shows, is that investing generates very powerful emotions. Recent, scientific studies can help us understand why our emotions are so powerful and why they make us do some of the things we do, which in turn can help us control our emotions and make better investment decisions.
   
   The book's actual investment advice is pretty standard: diversify, re-balance, pay attention to costs, don't chase performance, etc.; but knowing more about how our brains work helps show why that standard advice is so appropriate.
   
   P.S. There is some technical language about brain anatomy, but it is pretty limited; about what you'd hear in an episode of "CSI: Las Vegas" or "Bones."



5. Wealth Odyssey: The Essential Road Map For Your Financial Journey Where Is It You Are Really Trying To Go With Money?
   
   Jason Zweig does an excellent job at summarizing the research about what happens inside our heads when we think about our different relationships (feelings, greed, confidence, risk, fear, surprise, regret, and happiness - each with their own chapter) with money and investing. Our brains have spent more time evolving in hunter gatherer and agrarian settings than they have in the modern technological age. That hard wiring inside our heads affects our thinking and reactions - often without us even realizing it has happened.
   
   Among the observations in the book: Our expectations are more intense that the experience. Most of us don't understand our own behavior. And much more.
   
   The work may disappoint some in that there are few suggestions about how to use this kind of new found knowledge when designing an investment allocation. In my opinion, this is not a major weakness with his work. There has to be research with modern medical machinery on the phenomenon before application can follow. This is not to say that works applying this research are not out there, only to say that the purpose of Zweig's work was to review the research to date on the inner workings of the brain, period. The first step in recognizing what we do is to recognize how our brains actually think: when and where the thinking, or reacting, processes occur.
   
   A companion book to this one would be Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely which researches our behavior through experiments on people, how we act and react to different situations related to money, rather than the mechanics and chemistry of inside the brain when confronted with those situations.
   
   Ariely's work also does not include how to design a portfolio allocation. Neither of these works intended to. They intended to describe our behaviors. Knowing how and why we behave the way we do is just as important, maybe more so, as portfolio design. In fact, my observation is that people are often in more of a hurry to design the perfect portfolio, as an end in itself, than understand the what-and-why of the portfolio and their relationship with it and investing.
   
   A fascinating field of study, which is just beginning to be able to explore the inner workings of our minds through modern non-invasive methods, to tell us why we behave the way we do with money - we're only human.

5 comments about The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of (Motley Fool).

1. I only skimmed this book (after all, I own almost all the other TMF books!), but I think this book is by far one of the best financial books for **any** new investor, regardless of age. While other books may have more content, this is one of the most approachable financial and investing books I've read. (Plus, its worksheets **force** you practice what you read!) Readable by adults, too!



2. This book will basically focus on the way the stock market works and how to invest in it. It also tells you how much you can save in the future. It is the meat of the book when it comes to the stock market, but the book will also teach you the cost of bad habits such as smoking and the upsides of credit cards if used right. The book teaches you how to get your money's worth in the bank, teaching you everything from how they make money to what a cd is. The worst thing about this book that annoyed me so much, I took off a point, was that they try to write the book in a type of slang format. Going from saying the word dawg and writing rock lyrics about the book. This is very annoying, but the tips this book gives are just too valuble to detour you alway.
   
   I recommend it to anyone of any age.



3. This books gives the true value of savings: a life worth dreamings about and investments we make for it to see it happen. This is a sweet and funny little book that makes money look exciting as a tool and token. I see this book as the clues to playing a cool video game. (More, like the hint book.) It's so casual that you think your reading Reader's Digest. You never feel confused! Math teacher's, parents, middle schoolers, high school students, college students, retirees: you'll love this book.



4. This book has reinforced what I have been preaching to my 17 year old for years......1) save and invest your money early, 2)live within your means as you get started in life (used vs new car), 3) attend the local university (keep student loans to minimum) and 4) practice a healthy lifestyle and you will soon learn that by the time you are 30 you will have more financial freedom and less debt than 90% of Americans.
   
   I wish I had been taught the discipline for the first two items as it wasn't until age 40 that I reached financial freedom. Fortunately for him, he is a believer after reading this book. Maybe along the way he will guide others in the right direction.



5. This is an excellent first book to give a teen who is not sure about investing as a good place to put his or her money. It is written with teens in mind and has tons of real-world examples to which teens can relate. It is a good start to get teens exciting about making their money work for them. I got it for my 16-year-old nephew who was skeptical, but is on board with taking control of his own financial future.

5 comments about Trade What You See: How To Profit from Pattern Recognition (Wiley Trading).

1. This book is one of the easiest reading technical analysis books I've read. The book lays out a fairly simple mechanical system which can be implemented immediately to improve one's bottom line. I've been using the patterns and techniques in this book for a little over a month and it has helped me more than just about any other book out there. I now have a specific plan of action and rules to follow when I enter the market every day.
   
   I would say that the only area lacking in the book is the mental side of the equation. But this isn't a book on the psychology of trading. The psychology of trading is far too important to be covered in a chapter in a book on technical pattern recognition. Those looking for guidance on the psychological side of trading would do well to read books by Dr. Brett Steenbarger, and the first half of Trading Chaos by Dr. Bill Williams.
   
   I would say that reading the first half of Trading Chaos and then Trade What You See could be a real recipe for success for a lot of traders. Every trader has a different perspective and style, and every trader needs to find their own style. These two books fit my style best and I think they could help others as well.



2. Should be used by Advanced Traders...Also if you like to use triangules and Fibonnacci as tolls for trading decisions.



3. Respect to the author, but a lot of this material can be found on the internet already, such as the AB=CD and Gartley patterns. For a book about visual pattern recognitions, the b/w blurry charts were a disappointment. Authors take note, shell extra for some color and larger charts will convey more than words, it would become a bestseller fast. Still, I've timed some profitable options trades using the geometric patterns.
   A Pesavento must have book is Astro Cycles...if you are ready for it



4. I am new to the world of trading, and I have already read many books, seen seminars, etc.
   
   Out of everything I have read, this book is not only the most practical and objective, but it also includes many poignant examples of both successful and failed trades. The patterns in this book are consistent and all build from Fibonacci ratios as well as the classic AB=CD pattern.
   
   I cannot recommend this book enough. Out of every trading book I have, this is my favorite. It is well worth the money.
   
   One note: it does take a little time to break into at first. I don't know that the opening of the book eases the reader into it, but if you get frustrated just skim the Fibonacci parts and go into the AB=CD pattern. It gets clearer from there.
   
   One of my favorite books!!



5. Great Book on simple TA... It was not what I expected but a cool book..

5 comments about How to Sell Used Books on Amazon: The Stay-at-home Mom's Secret Step-by-step Guide to Making Thousands of Dollars a Month.

1. I purchased this guide in April. I was very pleased with the quality of info on the subject of selling used books on Amazon. The content was easy and fun to read. The book it self reminds me of a college term paper. I think the price is a little high for a book in this format, but the content makes up for it. I recommend this book for anyone starting out in the world of online bookselling.
   
   Phil,
   Reading Room Bookshop



2. This book is excellent and has me really fired up! It is a quick and easy, but very informative read. The seller is great! She even checked back with me to see if I was happy with my book. I highly recommend this book. It is easy to understand, and gives me the confidence to give selling my books a try! What is there to lose?



3. Although I am no longer a stay-at-home mom, I chose this book from all of those available since it seemed like it would best fit my beginning approach to selling books online. I picked the right book and it has been well worth the price. It covered almost every question I had and presented the information in a friendly encouraging manner. I could identify with the author's experiences in many ways: "selling handpainted t-shirts", home parties, etc. Been there done that! Selling books is less time intensive and more fun and you learn while doing it. You can be out with kids and shopping for books at the same time. I especially liked Christine's encouraging style and view that "there are enough books out there for everyone" as I am not a competitive, cutthroat person and would like to enjoy the process rather than become stressed out. This book encourages you to do just that. Christine's book helped me to focus in on the types of books to look for by giving examples of her own sales and pricing strategies. Books I would have discarded as worthless now get a second look. I will refer to this guide over and over again as I learn more about the process of selling. Thanks for taking the time to write this and share your knowledge. Donna B. Elkins Park, PA



4. I bought this book to learn about selling books on Amazon after my daughter brought books home from college and asked me to sell them. I think this book is very thorough and well written. It is also a quick read but didn't overwhelm me like some other books I've read on this topic. This book gave me the motivation I need along with practical advice on how to get started and grow this type of home based business. I would highly recommend it.



5. When I decided to attack my book buying & selling religiously, I turned Christine E. Miller's manual into my bible & my prayers were answered.
   
   Before reading this guide, I thought I knew what it took to search out used books, list them, and make $1000/month. The author convinced me that I didn't have to settle for this if I expanded my search area, invested in what she calls a "look-up tool," and expanded my inventory three-fold.
   
   She walks the neophyte through the process of buying, stocking, listing, and shipping in an upbeat, sometimes humorous tone. Especially strong was the section on pricing, sales rank, and availability. How many of us have looked at price alone without taking into account how long it make take to move the book or how many other copies were listed?
   
   Before reading the book, I had thought I could pick up some tips on where to buy books online, but she makes it clear that her suggestions on locales were for brick and mortar only.
   
   A new bookseller tends to list a title quickly just to get the process going. Christine's Appendices section helps new and seasoned sellers learn/review Amazon's listing guidelines and terminology. Who knew that words like "sunned," "cocked," and "foxed" can be used to describe books?
   Many new booksellers are stymed by other bookscouts' special beeping devices. This manual's list of "look-up tools" and pricing software websites, while not complete, answers many of these questions.
   
   Just because you've shipped out a book doesn't necessarily mean you're finished with it either. This manual deals with confirmation letters and letters to request negative feedback removal.
   
   I've read Christine Miller's book cover to cover, and am confident that I made the right decision in giving up a career teaching middle school Language Arts for the "rush" that comes from seeing that Amazon email telling me I'd sold another book. Thank you Christine.

5 comments about All About Hedge Funds : The Easy Way to Get Started.

1. I've recommended this book many times to people who are new to working in the hedge fund industry. Though it's a couple of years old, it's a very readable overview of what hedge funds are about and how they work. Unlike many hedge fund books on the market, this one is both reasonably priced and useful.



2. In the realm of how-to books, "All About Hedge Funds" by Dr. Robert Jaeger is a real winner. Instructive, analytical and easy to read, it brings down to earth an investment tool that has long been a mystery to me and many others. The author, for more than 20 years the chief investment officer of a well-respected hedge fund, explains in a clear insightful style risk assessment, hedging techniques and many other facets of this intriguing method of investing. He includes the historical background which has shaped the hedge fund we know today. I found the book invaluable.



3. Forget 'Hedge Funds' for a moment - - this is a great book for introducing you to stocks, shares, buying and selling - ie, the whole business of the stock market.
   
   The bonus is that the last 2-3 chapters, which finally get around to looking at Hedge Funds, are really clear and helpful.
   
   Most useful.



4. This book was what I was looking for. It's a nice introduction to hedge funds and the industry. The book does an excellent job of providing the information in complete and concise detail. I bought my copy used so I'm even more happy with it.



5. Lately, I have been having conversations with people who are engaged in the hedge fund business. For a while, I didn't know what they were talking about and that was probably because my knowledge of how financial markets work was limited.
   
   
   I bought this book from a regular bookstore because I thought it would help me make sense of what hedge fund managers, hedge fund marketers and partners in hedge funds were talking about.
   
   I learned that what they were talking about was basic market knowledge. Hedge funds are the pinnacle of information sourcing and trading. It's not that there is something magical about them. Hedge funds are simply the conglomeration of the most sophisticated and innovative trading techniques that can be brought to action in capital markets.
   
   This book doesn't tell you how to run your own hedge fund, but it totally helps you understand the context in which hedge funds operate, and therefore, what makes a hedge fund a lucrative and necessary tool of the market.