5 comments about Making Dollars With Pennies: How The Small Investor Can Beat The Wizards On Wall Street, Second Edition.

1. If you can consistenty beat Wall Street you will be headed for the record books. I do agree with the author that you can beat Wall Street but you need to put in allot of time and research. There are books like The guide for penny stock investing that can help. The key is to do your research and then to hold on to your stock as it moves up. Donny Lowy in his guide and Max in his book do supply the extra leverage to make it happen.



2. This is possibly the worst written book that I could conceive of giving four stars. The reason I am rating "Making Dollars with Pennies" so highly is due to its content and because Max Bowser, who has been publishing his "Bowser Report" for over 25 years, is the real deal. Actually, the book is a quick and easy read, with a folksy demeanor. No high finance here. The book may be most helpful for people who have already been in the market for a little while (and perhaps been burned). The book is weak as a work of literature due to its poor organization and repetitiveness (stressing diversification among 12 to 18 stocks several times).

   I believe that to succeed as an active investor in today's market, you need some kind of an "edge" or a niche. One way to obtain that is to focus on stocks trading under $3 per share, as Max does. Let the book serve as your trail guide into the jungle of smaller stocks. While Max rails against the studious ignorance among institutions of these supposedly risky shares, in practice he is quite careful about what he does. Although the selection of new issues is somewhat shrouded in mystery (with Bowser encouraging readers to subscribe to his monthly report in order to get new picks) he gives sufficient detail of his "Bowser Rating" system to uncover his thought process. Two significant ways Bowser reduces risk of investing among smaller stocks is by having a bias towards companies with strong balance sheets and a consistent record of past earnings - no development-stage, long shot concept stocks here.

   One important caveat to keep in mind about Bowser's system is that it was honed during the mid-to-late 70s, when treading water was often difficult. To the extent that his methodology or conclusions have become stale or outdated, it may trace to ideas he tested at that time. Personally, I find the vintage comforting as our 2000-2010 market may possibly have more in common with the 70s than the 80s or 90s bull runs. Also please note that some of his suggestions, particularly for the mechanics of setting up and monitoring a portfolio, appear to have been made obsolete by the internet.

   Aside from diversification, Bowser's possibly most important other safeguard is a formula for selling. First of all, whenever a stock's "Bowser Rating" falls below 8, the stock is sold, forcing an investor to sell companies with deteriorating fundamentals. Secondly, whenever a stock doubles, an investor is encouraged to sell half of his or her position, recouping cost. The remainder of a rising position is then held until it declines 25% from its most recent high.

   How have Bowser's picks (from over 25 years of newsletters) done over time? As he says towards the end of the book [p. 157], 47% of the companies are still in business, 26% have been bought out and 27% are bankrupt. Over their holding periods, more recommended stocks have declined than have advanced. However, absent audited statistics, it appears that tiny minorities of winning stocks have more than made up for the losers. These big winners are mentioned in an "honor roll", and include firms such as Semtech, Smithfield Foods and Alpha Systems. The great hope of the investor in small stocks is not that the average pick will do well, but that a small number of them will be big winners - which is why diversification is so important.

   "Making Dollars with Pennies" is only a beginning. It is no substitute for doing more work on your own.




3. I have read several investment guidance books where the only guidance offered is to buy the authors newsletter/consulting/mutual fund/etc. "Making Dollars with Pennies" at least explains the methodology of how the "Bowser Report" picks stocks before recommending that instead of spending your free time analyzing stocks you pay Max Bowser to do it for you.
   
   The "Bowser" system is simple enought to understand and follow, with a list of "buy" indicators that can be learned from any financial page, and most refreshingly a system for when to sell. Although I have my reservations about whether the mechanical application of this system will make money, I have to give Mr. Bowser credit for explaining his system. If nothing else, it is a basis for further esploration.



4. R. Max Bowser's 1st book, Making Dollars with Pennies, is a great book for those individuals looking for a manual to introduce them to the stock market, its inner workings, and those vital parties involved in it. The terms of the stock market are clearly defined and the down-to-earth writing makes the reader feel like the author is speaking directly to the reader. The author very quickly develops a rapport with the reader. There is a certain humor written into every sentence as Mr. Bowser pokes a little fun at himself and occasionally at fellow investors that have in some way fouled themselves in the stock market game.
   
   The main purpose of Making Dollars with Pennies is to introduce the reader to the program he uses to determine which stocks to purchase and when to sell. Some points that are very precisely followed are: Why an investor would be interested in "ministocks"; What the Bowser Game Plan is; Its evolution; and even how the Bowser Ratings are determined.
   
   Mr. Bowser does a very good job in showing the reader exactly why he/she should consider "ministocks", even taking into account the relative volatile nature of the minipriced stocks. The author succeeds in convincing the reader that if he is patient, has a versatile portfolio, and follows Mr. Bowser's suggestions as to which stocks to buy, that the reader will do fairly well. Mr. Bowser backs up his statements by showing the reader a piece of his past in which he was not so successful in the stock market and how he learned how the stock market works. He explains how these findings of how the stock market works were developed into The Bowser Game Plan. He also explains in depth the mysterious Rating System and what it entails, raising the veil on how Mr. Bowser finds these little moneymakers.
   
   As for the book, its layout and other mechanical factors of the book, I found the large print very easy on the eyes, making it a pleasant to read. The catchy titles of the chapters and subchapters encourage the reader to continue on with the next chapter. Plenty of charts help explain anything the reader may not understand. Perhaps the only thing that might be considered slightly off is that there doesn't seem to be any real order in which the chapters are presented. The first half of the book is devoted to explaining the stock market basics and the value of "ministocks" and the second half of the book is devoted to the explaining the Bowser Game Plan and how it is used. Otherwise, there really isn't any method to the chapters. However, it doesn't affect the readability and enjoyment of the book. It's kind of a go-with-the-flow type of reading.
   
   All in all, R. Max Bowser's Making Dollars with Pennies is a greatly useful and enjoyable book that should be read by anyone considering entering the stock market. Mr. Bowser is very knowledgeable in the ways of the stock market and is obviously very willing to help those who are willing to learn and succeed in it. He very clearly demonstrates how his program works and how it should be used to make it work, and he does it in a charming and humorous way, making it easy for the reader to continue in what can be a very boring subject. This reader found the book very useful and enjoyable. A definite must-read for those entering into or interested in the stock market.



5. In a first sight, it's like a sales letter, trying to push you to buy Bowsers newsletter. But after all, the Bowsers rating system based on FA is revealed and it's not so bad. So, in this case you need decide - will you pay for several pages "meat". If yes, OK.
   But all other book of course is impolite sales letter

1 comments about Lean Cost Management: Accounting for Lean by Establishing Flow.

1. Jim Huntzinger has been one of the prime movers of the lean accounting movement and is the founder of the Lean Accounting Summit. In this book he provides the historical context for lean accounting, explains the reasons why many lean transformations fail when confronted with traditional accounting methods, and then provides a clear roadmap to implementing lean accounting. The book is well-organized, easy to read, and designed for both the accounting and non-accounting professional. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Monster Stocks: How They Set Up, Run Up, Top and Make You Money.

1. The book's title is misleading to say the least. The book offers little new information than his previous book - How Legendary Traders Made Millions. It just simply repeats the same principle in the chart again and again. Buy stock in the break out, pyramid buy more when stock drops to its support level, usually at 21 or 50 day moving average. Sell when the stock has its finally climax run. It could have been a 5 to 10 pages brochure.
   
   If you really want to find out how a monster stock got setup, started and finished, I strongly recommend you read Brad Koteshwar's book - The Perfect Stock: How a 7000% move was set-up, started and finished in an astonishing 52 weeks.



2. Fire up your charting software. Scan for stocks that have gained greater than 200% in the last 250 trading days (1 year). Review. You have just saved yourself $29.00. There is nothing new in this book. O'neil was quoted so many times I began to think this was written by him. I congratulate anyone who has the moxi and staying power to finish and publish a book. That doesn't mean I have to like the finished product.



3. I had previously purchased his other two books. The first covered the best US traders (this is a very good book) and the second book covered the US equity market and the best US traders through history, this book also was pretty good in terms of detail and explanation. His current book was shallow lacking in detail and appears to have rushed to the publisher. I was throughly disappointed.
   
   I agree with some of the other reviews you would be much better served by purchasing the books on trading written by William O'Neil



4. Boik's term "Monster Stocks" refers to stocks that have at least doubled in price within 18 months. This book describes the practical application of a set of rules for identifying and profiting from such high-growth stocks. These rules involve criteria both for a stock's fundamentals, and subtle details of price and volume action of the stock and of the general market.
   
   What I liked about the book is that it profiles about 30 such stocks as brief case studies, which include the chart basing setups that may have been evident, key points and characteristics of corrections during the stock's growth, and indications that presaged of the end of their run-ups. These are accompanied with annotated charts of relevant market indices and of the stocks profiled. The attendant commentary on these particular growth stocks and the events in the markets allowed me to learn by comparing the rules to how I would have reacted in the same situation. Most of the examples occur during the period 1996 through 2006.
   
   Much of the methodology aligns with and makes mention of the Investor's Business Daily rules as described in their educational material and in Bill O'Neil's books. This book builds on IBD's teachings in that it uses the methods to focus on the special case of stocks that at least double in price including the psychological challenges, buying and pyramiding tactics, and the significance of moving-average support.
   
   Boik describes methods that are relatively simple, but adds that the attention to detail and discipline required is not easy. I know from experience that many of us will find it difficult to make a large commitment to a high-growth stock, at least in its early stages, because the characteristics go against much of the conventional wisdom. Many investors will sell such a stock when it makes violent corrections - only to watch it make new highs soon thereafter. Similarly, it takes great discipline to act on the various warning signs and sell even though the stock is making successive new highs and the fundamentals have never been better. Boik does a reasonable job of explaining the details of what to observe, and rules by which to buy, add more, sell or hold these stocks through such observations. Among other things, the rules limit your risk and provide assurance when holding such stocks during their growth phase.
   
   The book concludes with a Monster Stock finding and handling template, and a summary of the Monster Stock rules.
   
   A criticism that led me to rate this book four stars instead of five was that the writing style tended to be wordy and repetitive, making the book longer than it needed to be. Also, the graphics were sometimes difficult to follow, and required some study before I was able to relate them to the text. I was able to endure this however, and found a lot of valuable content.
   
   I can also recommend the following to those wanting more on growth stock investing:
   
   The Zurich Axioms by Max Gunther ©1985
   
   Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre ©1923
   
   How to Trade in Stocks by Jesse Livermore ©1940
   
   How to Make Money in Stocks by William J. O'Neil ©2002
   
   The Successful Investor by William J. O'Neil ©2004 (*a true gem)
   
   Trader Vic-Methods of a Wall Street Master by Victor Sperandeo ©1991, 1993
   
   The Market Wizard series of three books by Jack D. Schwager



5. John Boik presents a well thought out method for acquiring wealth. The big money he claims is made in finding those few companies who can change the world. If an investor can recognize these monster stocks and manage them correctly, the result will be life changing wealth. Boik gives the reader a history lesson--that all monster stocks display the same characteristics just the names of the companies and their symbols change.

5 comments about Deflation: How to Survive & Thrive in the Coming Wave of Deflation.

1. I had hoped for more specifics.



2. Having left Wall Street over a year ago I am amazed at how little attention the media, Wall Street & the Fed have given to Deflation. In my opinion the probability of a deflationary scenario is higher than ever. This book helps you prepare for such tumultuous economic times. I rank it a 5 star book, an increasingly rare rating for me. I gave this book five stars due to the excellent analysis and insightful commentary about what occurs in deflation and, more importantly, the graphical depictions the book has throughout it. It would be ignorant to mention that Mr. Shilling has been talking about deflation non-stop since the late 80's - especially after the '87 stock market crash. Can anyone remember the story about the boy who cried "WOLF!" too many times?

   Talking finance without graphs is tough for the reader so I give kudos to Mr. Shilling in this regard.

   As I like to say (and Mr. Shilling points this out), the 1980's was the age of government spending. The 1990's was the age of the consumer buying binge as individual debt levels have soared. The average person has $8500 in credit card debt vs. 2500 in 1990 to put it into perspective.

   Moving forward, what will drive top-line growth in worldwide sales? - Did you know that the G-8 countries account for roughly 80% of total purchases worldwide and, as a result, weakness in those countries dramatically affects the world economy?

   Will we end up with too much capacity due to stagnant growth or a retraction in corporate spending?

   What will be the catalyst to drive economic growth? - The government has over $5 trillion in debt, corporations and individuals are tapped out and factories are running at about 76% of their utilization right now.

   Buy the book........Read the book........Anyone can learn from this........By the way, bond prices have already soared so the easy money in bonds has been made.........

   ...If you are interested in economic history book I would encourage everyone to read The Worldly Philosophers by Robert Heilbroner since it is more international in scope and deals with the lives and times of the most famous economists in history. If you are interested in economic development I would encourage you to read Hernando DeSoto's Mystery of Capital but note his lack of focus on corruption in certain countries. A great general business book is by the management guru Peter Drucker entitled "The Essential Drucker."




3. I read this book years ago just when it came out (mid 90s). I did not pay that much attention afterwards. I thought at the time, it was mildly interesting. Man was I wrong. This book was right on the money half a decade ahead of time. In his book, he depicted perfectly well all the trends that would lead to a rather formidable deflation factor. At the time he wrote the book, Japan was probably close to entering its deflationary phase. But, no other country was. The rest of the World's central bankers were still busy fighting inflation.

   Now, the picture has changed radically, and Gary Shilling anticipated current economic times perfectly




4. This is a good book, but it is in need of a serious rewrite. Originally published in 1999, it misses the following events:

   * Stock market calamity in 3/2000 and subsequent decline
   * 9/11
   * corporate accounting scandals
   * The multitude of interest rate cuts
   * Real Estate bubble
   * War on Iraq

   As a result, a lot of the information in this book has to be interpreted with these events in mind. For instance, a whole chapter is devoted to "The Strengthening Dollar" - which may have happened had the landscape not changed so drastically. Another example is a mention of Enron as an example of a company that might be a winner in the electric utility industry as utilities are being deregulated.

   The above is not intended to be a slight on the author or the book. Who could've foreseen the events above? The point is that the landscape has changed a lot since this book was originally written.




5. The author predicts certain economic conditions when the book was published in 1999. A stock market pullback has since happened. Rents in the Boston Market have declined for the last two years. Deflation pricing on goods that can be manufactured in the 3rd world. Quite remarkable.

   He's wrong on some of the trigger mechanisms and admits that he may be. (Who could have predicted 9/11, or when the fed would raise rates..., or the bond rally causing a current real-estate bubble.)

   Other authors try to scare you with hype or wave theory garbage. This book backs things up with hard data and graphs from different economic periods that run similarities. Then he explains the mechanisms at work that will drive the deflationary process. Also explains how much of it is beyond the control of the feds short term rate mechanisms.... Could be why the fed isn't jawing about it, just hoping it won't happen.

   Five stars, read it. If it happens, you'll be prepared. If it doesn't happen, you'll be better educated anyways.

1 comments about Tools & Techniques Estate Planning (Tools & Techniques).

1. Book came in great condition. Satisfied with price and free delivery. Would shop for additional titles

5 comments about The Right Stock at the Right Time: Prospering in the Coming Good Years.

1. Easily this book paid for its self in the first couple chapters. If I knew before I bought it how enlightening it would be, I would have been willing to pay much more than the retail price.



2. We all get different things from a book depending on our personality, experience, investment style, etc. I look for the positive things I can get from a book, not for things to critize.
   
   I have over 300 books in my Investment Library,and this is one of the few I set aside as a reference.
   
   I always read Larry's books. He is not just an academic, a writer, or a peddler of his products. Larry Williams is one of the premier investors of our time. You can count the people more successful at investing on a few fingers. Anytime a person like this writes, I want to read it. Is the book perfect? Of course not. I too wish there were more detail and clarity. I count my- self lucky if I get one good idea from a book, I got several from this one. I have investment books that I have paid well over a hundred dollars for. I paid less than twenty dollars for this book. I can't imangine why anyone would hesitate to purchase a inexpensive book like this from an author with Larry's credentials. I am not the least concerned if he includes a few commercials.



3. Good research into the stock market, presented in a clear and positive manner. Best of all it works I bought in early 2003 and have a handsome profit on all my stocks.



4. There are a number of good books on "Market Timing" and this would be in the top five. If you could afford to read three books on market timing, I would get Les Masonson's book, Deborah Weir's, and this one. If you want to first learn about market timing one a book at a time, get them in the same order I just listed them.
   
   Each book covers some of the same ground but each offers a few nuggets that aren't as well covered in the other two. Larry William's book has the better documentation on the "Decade Effect", an interesting correlation between each year in a decade and how the market has done in each of those ten years.
   
   So, all in all, buy those three books and you will have a pretty complete understanding of timing the market on a macro-basis.



5. the first few chapters have built the anticipation for a good strategy to learn , HOWEVER, there were no formulas, nothing to learn.
   book talks about theories about market timing with no proof.
   i wouldent take it seriously as i thought

2 comments about Rath & Strong's Guide to Minitab: Release 15.

1. This guide for Minitab 15 is an excellent reference tool for anyone who uses Minitab but, not necessarily on a daily basis. The materials are well laid out and easy to understand. Almost like a memory jogger. Very nicely done.



2. Please, Please DON'T buy this!!! it's just a gimmick. No content just screen shots of Minitab. You can learn NOTHING. I purchased this book thinking this book will be good as the other books published by the publisher finding this is the worst. Buy the Six Sigma Advance Tool guide it is quite worth. This is total rubbish. You can learn much more than this by just browsing the internet. Please don't waste your money on this.
   Thanks.

5 comments about Selling the Secret to Success.

1. The book focuses on dispelling the myths "we all" have (in the way of our own success)...For me, I discovered that many of my so called "rules for success" were not really rules for MY success, but actually barriers to it!
   
   This is a very quick read - and, combined with one of Grant's seminars (which are THE BEST!) - it provides the recipe needed for anyone to achieve any level of success in ANY area of their life. I am so happy he has written this book...I can't think of a person who I know that wouldn't greatly benefit from reading it.



2. Wow! The best book on selling I have ever read. This book is nothing short of incredible. Basics defined as never before. The truth of life and selling as one entity exposed. A fantastic journey to YES!
   
   John C. Hamlin
   President
   Hamlin & Associates



3. Grant's book is the definitive book on improving your approach and attitude towards sales and selling. An inspirational, fresh perspective that will change your life. A great book full of concepts that will enable you to maximize your full potential. I'm looking forward to the next book from this innovative author!



4. Really smart. Really Practical.
   I'm not interested in "feeling good" or getting some "explanation" of
   how to improve my selling, or for that matter, "tecniques" that are
   robotic or unreal or limited.
   
   I'm interested in doing. And this book is about doing!
   Think of the times that you were doing WELL. You were doing the stuff in this book!
   Sometimes it just goes away and this Book reminds you of what you were doing right. PLUS a whole heaping of OMG! Insights. R. Barnes



5. I bought books for every salesperson in my dealership. YTD, our Toyota dealership has more than doubled our marketshare in a "down" economy. I have seen dead careers transformed through the powerful ideas presented in Grant's dynamic book.
   
   This is not a typical "self-help" book. The ideas presented within will transform not only your selling career, but it will massively impact your life.
   
   If you are emotionally invested in the status quo - don't read this book. On the other hand, if you are ready to relinquish old beliefs and if you are open to new possiblities, this book will revolutionize your thinking and create new and exciting possibilites for your life
   
   You must own this book..It is pure rocket fuel!

No comments about Removing Obstacles to Safety: A Behavior-Based Approach.

1 comments about ITIL V3 Process Map [11 x 15] laminated.

1. An improvement over their v2 Process Map, this is my personal choice for v3 process map. The reverse includes an updated RACI matrix which I find quite useful for both teaching RACI and as a personal reference.
   
   Some may find the process map side somewhat busy with the inclusion of the ITIL book covers associated with each process stage. They certainly attempt to pack in as much as possible here. In the end, I feel the additional visuals are worth the it, particularly when you have a need to provide staff new to ITIL (or v3 for that matter) a quick reference/study guide.
   
   ILXgroup also makes poster-sized versions of each side of this map, which is especially useful for hanging in your work place.