5 comments about Career of Gold: Defeat Age Bias by Re-Careering for the Second Half of Your Life.

1. A wonderful resource guide for anyone looking to create a sense of job security. Although titled for the 'second half of your life' this book is suitable for the younger generation as well. BIG thumbs up!



2. My first reaction while reading this book was one of surprise. I'd been expecting just feel-good inspirational stuff, but was pleased to find it dealing with the nuts and bolts of our changing world and the struggle it can sometimes be to survive in the new reality.
   
   I'm a fan of various financial advice columns and shows; one of the topics that never fail to appear is how much longer people live today --- and the associated costs of doing so. CAREER OF GOLD addresses this issue head-on, as well as the taboo topic of age bias encountered when trying to finance a longer life, later in life.
   
   It offers advice on how to deal with this mountain of a problem: climb it while you can. People will be surprised to discover that it's possible for the average person to function --- and thrive --- in the new world of global opportunities. I was fascinated to see how you can develop a new business, and tap into the tremendous growth potential of emerging markets like China, India, and Brazil. It's shown that the online world of the internet can be harnessed to create your second career.



3. The idea of using your experience and knowledge to start a new career doing something you really like sounds too good to be true - which is probably what stops most of us from ever trying. Yet this book proves that we should try. Career of Gold provides down to earth advice on how to identify core skills which are very much in demand in today's changing world. The book then provides the tools and information to turn these valuable skills into real opportunities. It isn't easy but it's easier than you think. The book provides numerous examples of people who have tried and shows how using these techniques gave them the power to reorganize their careers successfully.
   
   People are living longer and the quality of life is continuously improving in that extended life. The Career of Gold is not a get rich quick scheme.
   However, most people will find it provides the information necessary to use their knowledge to find a career which suits their lifestyle and which they can enjoy and at the same time bring in extra income. The book deals head on with issues like age bias, gaining recognition for the knowledge you possess and using the internet as a gateway to the global marketplace.
   
   Career of Gold is a valuable resource for everyone over the age of fifty looking to restart or supplement their career. It also provides many useful links to resources which most people probably don't know exist.



4. The author provides the reader with support and encouragement in an easy to read and practical guide. His excitement and positive attitude jump out from the first page and carry you through to the step by step fulfillment of self-directed employment. Bracken provides examples, inspiration and concrete advice in defining your assets, determining a market, developing your "product", utilizing computer technology and more. This book is a great resource for baby boomers who want to follow the dream of making money doing what they love.



5. Easy to read. Chock full of practical information and resources as well as real-life examples that are as entertaining as they are inspiring. Would make an excellent gift for a new retiree, someone contemplating a career change, celebrating a 50th birthday, a college graduate...

5 comments about Portable Wealth: The Complete Guide to Precious Metals Investment.

1. Well, what have we here? In the last 2 weeks, gold has been in the news more than Alan Greenspan! Although analysts can't pinpoint any single reason for the most recent surge, which has driven the price of gold to an 11-month high, there are a number of things that appear to be contributing factors: (1) The Royal Bank of Canada Dominion Securities Gold Analyst raised the estimate for the spot price of gold from $275 to $300. (2) There seems to be a short squeeze caused by a story that a large Australian mining company may declare bankruptcy. The company in question has profitable gold hedge positions in place and may be buying the contracts back right now! (3) The series of cuts in U.S. interest rates this year has prompted worries about a revival of inflation (which historically drives the demand of gold). (4) Distrust of the equity markets.

   I found this book to be very helpful in understanding the historical context, and then in learning how to use gold as an asset allocation tool to help diversify and protect my stock portfolio, but best of all was the direct practical advice on how, who and where to go to get things done in making gold investments economically.




2. You couldn't kill the demand for platinum with a shotgun or an atomic bomb.

   In fact, without platinum you couldn't even make a gun or an A-bomb! They are just two of that one-fifth of all hard good requiring platinum, either as a component or in the manufacturing process.

   Even ignoring all such goods, we would still run shy of platinum very soon simply because of fuel cells and catalytic converters (ten million a year of them). Skyrocketing demand is a lock. It's now woven into the fabric of our civilization.

   But how to cash in? In this book, Adam Starchild shows how. If you like easy decisions, this book will warm your heart.




3. In 1967, a 35 years younger Alan Greenspan wrote an article called Gold and Economic Freedom (which is reprinted in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand).

   Greenspan wrote that: "An almost hysterical antagonism toward the gold standard is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions. They seem to sense - perhaps more clearly and subtly than many consistent defenders of laissez-faire - that gold and economic freedom are inseparable, that the gold standard is an instrument of laissez-faire and that each implies and requires the other? This is the shabby secret of the welfare statists' tirades against gold. Deficit spending is simply a scheme for the confiscation of wealth. Gold stands in the way of this insidious process. It stands as a protector of property rights."




4. I purchased this book mainly because of it's high Amazon feedback rating. However, I was a little dissapointed. Although Starchild covers some good background history of precious metals, I felt his analysis was a little shallow. First, Starchild's argument that precious metals are a deflation hedge is controversial. Government's fixation of gold prices during the deflationary 1930's supported gold prices. Second, Starchild makes strong statements such as that silver prices can't go lower because they are already so low. Well just because something appears cheap does not mean it can't get any cheaper. We learned that during the tech stock meltdown. Lastly, Starchild has absolutely nothing negative to say about the subject. Everything is positive. There is no section covering pitfalls of owning or purchasing precious metals. I believe the volatility in precious metals make ownership of precious metals riskier than most investments and an assessment of risk needs to be addressed. Overall I felt this book did not a give a critical analysis on precious metals.



5. Upon closer inspection, I believe the reviews were rigged.
   The feedbacks look awful suspicious. Note that no positive reviews have have an identity, it just says "a reader". Secondly, the reviews have almost nothing to do with the contents of the book itself. The reviews are most likely an "advertising" ploy. Third, is the unusually high, "so and so found the review helpful" ratings. If you see my other review, you can see it is a bit more objective than the other reviews. I should have given a lower rating. I can't believe I was tricked into buying this book!

No comments about Guidebook to California Taxes (2008).

3 comments about The Learning Annex Presents Making Money in Real Estate: A Smarter Approach to Real Estate Investing.

1. Robert Shemin has a great reputation as a master teacher in real estate, and this book does not disappoint. I am a homeowner and thought I knew enough to get by -- to make a small residential real estate investment and to even start to dabble in small commercial properties. But I am grateful that before I parted with my money, I got a chance to read Shemin's Learning Annex book. It is a gem. He distills a lot of complicated stuff and it is even fun to read.



2. It is almost everything you need to know in one book for real estate investing. I would highly recommend this book.



3. Bob Shemin is a genius,one in a million.
   You want to really LEARN about the subject matter,this is the book,this is your man.

2 comments about Marketing Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations Volume 1: Develop the Plan, 2nd Edition.

1. A companion book to the popular "Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit organizations", it takes you through the stages of getting the information about your organization and its programs to the community. You dont need to read it all to gain benefits - any of the steps can be of assistance.



2. I purchased this book because it was recommended reading for my Peace Corps service. I have a degree in Marketing and found this to be a good summary of what I have learned at the very basic level. if you have little to no business background then this is a good place to start.
   
   I have been reviewing it at site and think I can make even further use of it. I think if translated it could make a good tool for villagers to use on their own with little to no explanation. I have reviewed it with some of the people that speak a Little English and they seem to like it.
   
   It breaks down like this:
   Part 1; Demystifying Marketing
   Part 2; Your Marketing Effort
   Step 1 Set marketing Goals
   Step 2 Position Your Organization
   Step 3 Conduct a Marketing Audit
   Step 4 Develop a Marketing Plan
   Step 5 Develop a Promotion Campaign
   
   The greatest thing for me is its simplicity. It really gets back to the basics of marketing. I mean stuff that was assumed we knew when we signed up for our first marketing class in college or high school even. These are the basics that developing countries may not have ever heard of. This helps to teach the concepts and get them started.

No comments about Food and Wine Festivals and Events Around the World: Development, management and markets.

No comments about Getting Started in Investment Clubs.

No comments about Brand Prototyping: Developing meaningful brands.

No comments about Winning with Options: The Smart Way to Manage Portfolio Risk and Maximize Profit.

1 comments about No Marketing Excuses.

1. This is NOT a book that puts a marketer to sleep or leaves you with a cloudy mind. As a Director of Marketing, I need the latest information on marketing methods. Brian Gibson transforms marketing from guess-work, faux-clever themes and mysticism to a real-world, manageable system that just makes sense. The book is refreshing, direct and punctuated with humor. As I've become more familiar with the marketing concepts in the book, I've been using them in my marketing campaigns. They work. I recommend "No Marketing Excuses" to anyone who is looking to understand today's marketing climate, who does not have the luxury of a million dollar budget to play with, and who wants to make a significant difference NOW in trackable profit.