5 comments about If You're Clueless About the Stock Market and Want to Know More.

1. First of all I like the way Seth writes. Hes a good writer and an expert on issues regarding the web.
   
   This particular book is fine as a general reference on the stock market, but frankly beginners will need concrete strategies to make it as online stock traders.
   
   The reality is that the stock market doesn't care if you are a beginner or not. It will gladly take your money away if you don't know what your doing. So the bottom line is, you better be well PREPARED before you even think about making the first trade.
   
   Stock trading is a very competitive field and in order to succeed you need to FOCUS on a set of simple strategies that you can implement without hesitation.
   
   This game is all about buying and selling according to your set ups. So the clearer your set ups are, the easier for you can be to make a profitable decision. You defenetly gotta know what kind of stocks and scenarios to look before you place your buy. Hopefully some sites on the web do offer more relevant and updated stock trading information.
   [...]
   They focus mainly on short term momentum stock trading strategies, that in my opinion are easier to implement than many other technical systems outhere.
   
   Stock trading doesn't have to be complicated as many people perceive. But you do need to follow a well organized set of rules and tactics, that once you master them, you can aspire to replicate profitable trades with consistency.



2. These days it's really hard to find trading knowledge that is practical & simple to understand.
   
   Most of the info outhere is full of the same thecnical analysis jargon that makes you lose a lot of times. Basically most tehcnical trading books tell you the same story but organized in different chapters using different words and charts as examples.
   
   Some places on the web have pretty practical information. One site that I recommend is StressFreeTraders com. They have a pretty clear way for trading stocks with momentum using easy to understand strategies. This is also one place where you can understand why knowing how to approach the rally is critical for your stock trading success.



3. An interesting read for anyone who knows very little about the interworkings of the market and global economics.



4. the book was fairly uninteresting and almost too broad. I felt like after every tiny section, he assumed you understood and just moved on. I was really clueless and was wanting just any information I could get my hands on. I did learn a little but it wasn't necessarily that helpful. The other reason I chose this book was because the author's name came up when I was discussing Malcolm Gladwell with a friend of mine. I assumed he might be just as intriguing but I got quite the opposite within the text.



5. Picked this up thinking it would be a good intro to the market. I was badly mistaken. You can tell the author knows a lot about the stock market, but he does not know how to explain it to someone new. I do not recommend this to beginners because of the wordage, and also don't recommend it to more advanced users as it is probably a rehash of what you already know.

5 comments about How to Open a Financially Successful Bed & Breakfast or Small Hotel (How to Open & Operate a ...).

1. The book is packed with valuable information for anyone who has ever dreamed of opening a bed and breakfast. The layout of the book is easy to use and simple to understand. The authors go into great detail on many aspects of the business. It begins with giving the reader a realistic look at the time and effort, as well as, the financial aspect of what goes into starting such a business so that the reader can decide whether or not it will work for them. It has details on everything from how to select a location to writing a business plan. Also has everything you need to know about hiring, laws, and even how much to charge.
   
   The book comes complete with an easy to use CD-ROM which has many samples of business plans and forms needed to run the business. Complete and comprehensive, this book is likely to be a asset to anyone who wants to open a bed and breakfast, whether or not they have experience in it or not. Even those who already own one may want to read this book for new ideas and refresh on some subjects. Chocked full of plenty of information that is likely to be overlooked when first starting a business; this book will help any entrepreneur get their business off on the right foot.
   
   Having worked in a bed and breakfast for several years, this book is sure to clearly help those who are thinking about starting their own bed and breakfast.



2. "HOW TO OPEN A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL BED & BREAKFAST: OR SMALL HOTEL" by Lora Arduser and Douglas R. Brown
   
   This book was a fascinating exploration of the intricacies involved with opening a Bed and Breakfast. The authors were able to provide a step-by-step process for the beginning B&B entrepreneur. The book guides you in the decision to own a Bed and Breakfast, helps you decide on a location or to buy and existing B&B.
   
   The authors make a fantastic effort to include real life business information such as how to make your own business plan and laws that will relate to your Bed and Breakfast business. They give you several checklists to help you format your mode of attack when starting your own business.
   
   With a whole chapter devoted to computers this book is cutting edge in the Bed and Breakfast industry. Today everyone needs to have a web presence in order to market his or her company.
   
   Guest are not going to be interested in a business plan. So the authors have developed several chapters on the operation of the Bed and Breakfast. They skillfully guide the reader from decorating, setting policies, what food you should serve, housekeeping, and your day-to-day staffing requirements.
   
   A bonus CD is offered with the book and provides valuable samples of over 30 forms that are needed when starting and opening your own B&B. The CD is simple to use and will save any entrepreneur tons of time.
   
   This book is a great introduction to the world of Bed and Breakfast owning and operation.



3. If you're planning to open a bed and breakfast as a hobby or with the notion that "you're not really running a business, you're just making profits in your free time," this is not the book for you. This book covers almost all potential areas that you'll need to know to run a professional B&B, and the level of detail will quickly dissuade anyone who isn't serious. That having been said, anyone who does want to run a professional bed and breakfast will find the information invaluable. The forms included on the enclosed CD pay for the book themselves--everything from employment applications to inventory forms, invoices, standard recipe cards, and kitchen safety inspection forms. The book covers all stages of the planning and setup process, including business plans, marketing and promotion, safety, and employees. Particularly useful is the section on marketing, something that most B&Bs that I've known tend to ignore. With a little creativity (and there are lots of suggestions contained in this chapter), your B&B can become part of the very identity of the neighborhood or city you live in, as in, "If you want to capture the flavor of X, go to this B&B!" The only change I would make to the book would be to make the section on writing business plans a more user friendly for those B&B owners who have never opened a business before. Nevertheless, the book contains lots of hardheaded business sense, presented plainly and clearly, with many good examples of existing B&Bs to illustrate the point. While you may not need all the information included when you first open your business, this book will provide you with lots of options for a time when you're able to expand. I recommend this book to anyone seriously considering going into the B&B business as a business, rather than just a way of pouring money down the drain!



4. I thought Lora did a great job with this book. It is well-thought-out and presented in a manner that the reader can easily grasp. I'd buy this book and "I'm Living Your Dream Life" by Michele Cozzens before going into the business.



5. As an owner of a Boutique Hotel in Cartagena, Colombia, Casa El Carretero www.CasaElCarretero.com I can say that this book was a great guide. However, the passion for the business is fundamental. Pay attention to the staff and level of service you plan to have in the hotel. That can make or break the business.

5 comments about Commercial Real Estate Investing For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)).

1. As a seasoned commercial real estate investor, let me say this is a horrendous book. Much of what they say is just plain wrong. THE REST IS FLUFF AND HYPE. It may sound good on paper but much of their advice will simply not work in the real world.
   
   I bought this for my son to "get his feet wet" and decided to peruse it prior to giving it to him. Thank God I did! It is now in the trash can.
   
   Additionally, much of it is just a sales plug for their other products. After reading it I doubt they are commercial real estate professionals but rather self proclaimed gurus. Those of us "in the know" see right through this book. SKIP THIS BOOK! IF I COULD RATE IT LOWER THAN A 1 I WOULD!



2. An excellent book covering all aspects of commercial real estate. Dominantly multi-family residential. Many enhanced checklists to follow, real life examples, and internet links for more info. I look forward to following Peter's techniques to one day be able to close large profitable deals, too!



3. I noted that most of the positive reviews occured in a 5 or so day period around the 1st of March -- all are *too* well written to be considered from the 'common' reader. And, each of the reviews only says positive things, where most people would find positive aspects of what was written, and at least one negative aspect. Be aware.



4. thanks Peter for this great publication
   Easy to understand and well developed.
   Looking forward to possible mentoring



5. I had just read four commercial real estate books and this one was by far the most comprehensive. Well-written, very accessible. This clearly illustrates that with a persistence and focus, one can dispel many myths about getting started with investing in commercial real estate.

5 comments about Dubai & Co.: Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States.

1. An excellent introduction to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. A text like this, available to everyone, probably did not exist prior to Dubai & Co. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an idea of how this region works.



2. I am fairly impressed with the book. While it does include good information clarifying The different areas of the Middle East and how each differs from the others, all too often it sounds like marketing fluff. Issues such as terrorism and human rights violations, though acknowledged, are often countered with reminders of how large a consumer base is just waiting for international companies.



3. With so much attention on China and India, the Gulf has been overlooked. Meanwhile, business is booming in Dubai and other countries in the Gulf. As the Dubai Ports World dust-up showed, a blanket fear of all things Arab only hurts business. For a level-headed introduction to the business world in the Gulf, Rehman's book is pretty much alone in its field.



4. "Dubai & Co. is a must read for any person or company that is interested in capturing the opportunity in one of the world's fastest growing markets. Having grown up in the Middle East, I can attest that the author has done a spectacular job of highlighting nuances that are essential for doing business in the GCC. I read the book cover to cover in three sittings and surprisingly learned many new facts about my own region. Even if you were born in the GCC, haved lived there for 20 years, or speak Arabic you will be hardpressed not to read this text. Indeed, the book is beautifully balanced in such a way that it sharply dissects through the popular press hype about the GCC and includes some thoughtful points on how the GCC can occupy a larger role in the global economy. In Dubai & Co. A.A. Rehman has written a long-needed book about doing business in the GCC. Not satisfied with a spectacular summary of the history and culture of a much misinterpreted people, Rehman has illuminated the many ways in which understanding the GCC can enrich your business. Just as no corporate strategy should be considered global without attention to the GCC, no business professional may consider him or herself forward thinking without reading this book."



5. Excellent and Well Researched. The book is a very good at listing why to do business in Dubai and how to go about it from the standpoint of a Large Multi National Company. Personally though I was looking for more of a guide to working in Dubai on an individual basis as either a company owner or employee. The book however was full of information, it almost requires a reread to absorb it all.

5 comments about Index Funds: The 12-Step Program for Active Investors.

1. This book is one of the true gems ever written on the subject of mutual fund investing. Mr. Hebner's book on index fund investing offers a 12 step cure for active investors who year after attempt to beat Wall Street with dismal results. He likens this strategy to gambling in a casino. The author builds a convincing case for investing in a globally diversified portfolio of no-load, low-expense mutual funds, and backs it up with tons of academic research, graphs, charts, and tables that are not only colorful, but very easy to read and understand even for the novice investor. If you are truly serious about achieving financial security without the stress of navigating through the volatile stock market, this book should be on the top your must-read list. Simply follow the advice the author lays out, and you will be well on your way to outperforming over 90% of the so-called professional money managers on Wall Street.



2. This is a very nice book detailing the advantages of index funds and the folly of paying large annual expense ratios for a manager to pick investments for you.
   
   It is also a very pretty book. I'm not so much for pretty, but I'm pretty much for good. The facts speak the truth and do it in such a way the emotions are satiated as well as the rational mind.
   
   There really isn't anything new here I've not read before in John Bogle's books, but Mr. Bogle is a scholar and very dry. (my hero)This book takes that and makes it almost fun to read.
   
   You can get this book in PDF format at his website at no charge, but, again, it's so attractive you'll want a hard copy just to look at for the art!
   
   A quick summary of the book goes like this. 95% of all people will not out perform the markets. The best you can do is to acheive the average returns of the markets and keep as much of this return as possible by paying the lowest expenses you can find.
   
   This holds true for US & foreign stocks, bonds, cash, real estate, and commodotites.
   
   ETF's are a new version of index funds that offers significant advantages and should be investigated because they have even lower expenses, capital gain tax advantages, and can be traded in real time.
   
   It's an attractive book with excellent information and the idea that active mutual fund investors need a 12-step program is humorous!



3. If you've ever wondered why, despite your consuming interest in investing and the markets, you're still poor - this book will tell you.
   
   Not only will it tell you, but it will prove to you that the financial deck is stacked against you in so many ways it will make your head spin. Despair not! It also walks you through the steps you can take to avoid the pitfalls that beset even the best and brightest among us.
   
   I've shared this book with dozens of my closest friends and family (for whom I manage their money) to help them understand the "right" way to think about investing. If nothing else, it helps to answer the inevitable "why did my investment account go down?" questions.
   
   I highly recommend spending the few hours it will take to read and digest the plentiful information contained in this incredible book. It will be one of the best investments you'll EVER make!



4. Hebner, covers all the bases to intelligent investing in a delightful manner. Once you understand that outperforming markets is a battle that can't be won over time you will be well on your way to successful investing. This book doesn't want you to roll dice, throw darts, or flip coins but to invest in Markets(essentially capitalism). Markets are known to grow over time and THAT is what you're investing in, the overall growth of economies.
   
   The book is very easy to read but advanced enough for seasoned finacial experts. Hebner leaves no stone unturned. The book contains lots of great data, facts, graphs and charts. Look at the returns of some of the portfolios in this book. They are more risk diverse than the S&P 500, achieve greater returns, and their is a portfolio for every need. The average investor can achieve returns of the top financial experts with the asset allocation knowledge in this book. You'll truely understand how markets and stock prices work after this read.



5. IF you "think" you understand the market, and you think you are smarter than the average bear (no pun intended) then you really ought to be smart enough to admit you did not understand your problem until you read Mark's book on Index Funds.

5 comments about High Performance with High Integrity (Memo to t Ceo) (Memo to the Ceo) (Memo to the Ceo) (Memo to the Ceo) (Memo to the Ceo).

1. High Performance with High Integrity is not only a vital subject for modern corporations--and for life--but also a description of this comfortably-sized book by Mr. Heineman, former Chief Counsel of GE. I am writing these comments both as a layman and as a former executive in a biotech venture capital firm, and I can vouch for the accuracy of the description of the problem, and the usefulness and clarity of the solutions the author offers. It's rare to have anyone be so concise and yet thorough, and what makes it come alive is the author's writing so elegantly about his own experience, not only with GE but with other areas of business, both in American and internationally. I found the trans-national/cultural analysis especially interesting. Heineman seems to have been everywhere and done everything. His concise points about both performance and integrity, and the nexus of them, are quite brilliant and extremely helpful to anyone who wants to move his or her company toward that integrated (and integrative) goal. Given the business climate in this country, everyone should want that! And it is of a size to fit into one's pocket. Bravo.



2. I would have given this book a 5 but a lot of it is full of corporate speak which may be the language of choice in mega corporations like GE but does litle to help the rest of us. When the book drills down to the mechanics of infusing performance with integrity it excels. Some of the excellent ideas: have employees report the more palatable(to them) "concerns", not illegal conduct and you will get more information on what may be going wrong in the corporation; ID employees at risk of corruption of ethics violations(such as those in overseas assignments or in purchasing etc) and focus customized training on them; explain to employees not only what to do but give them "red flag" examples of dangerous situations so they know if they are cruising off course; use case studies because a story teaches more than a lecture. One other insight: when a company confronts a crisis, one thing needs to be said asap to the corporate crisis team: we will be judged by what we do from this moment on.



3. 
   "I am certain this will become a classic. It is central message is important, new, crystal clear, compelling and I think inspiring. It is a mature and forceful book. The key points are driven home by understandable examples (which are sometimes themselves a wake up call e.g. the reference to "side letters" as "red flags" in financial deals). The recommendations are practical and actionable. Somehow it manages to be a theoretical treatise on the need for change and a practical, and reasonably short, handbook for how to change. I can not recall a recent book which was able to accomplish so much in such a compelling way in such a short space. No one can read this book and not come away with a list of "to do's" that will improve their lives. That said the capability of GE as revealed in the text can, or will soon be, matched by only a few. The issue is enormously complex and there are very few Ben Heineman's around who can grasp the issues and clearly understand how to approach them pragmatically.
   
   The messages here are important not only for business but for governments (and universities, particularly the scientific and medical research departments) as well. The problems in some corners of the world can only be solved through the Heineman methods. I hope they see it, hear it and read it."



4. Ben Heineman Jr., the former longtime general counsel of General Electric, summarizes his point nicely in this brief and thoughtful book: It's both whether you win or lose AND how you play the game that matter.
   
   In this handbook for the CEO's of the twenty-first century, Heineman rejects both the facile notion that corporations exist only to maximize profit and the similarly superficial idea that corporations should worry less about the bottom line and more about their impact on society. To Heineman, high performance and high integrity are equally important and are indeed inseparable.
   
   What sets this book apart from other business how-to books is the specificity of Heineman's writing and of his examples. In his twenty years at GE, employees who demonstrated lack of integrity were routinely disciplined and fired, and Heineman explains why and for what. GE didn't just talk the talk. Values and integrity mattered, and the company was the better for it.
   
   This would have been a five-star review were it not for the fact that Heineman repeats himself too much. This short book would have been better had it been even briefer.



5. Integrity is not something that has to be sacrificed for success. "High Performance with High Integrity" is a guide for business owners who want to be successful, but don't want to be a cutthroat at the same time. Advice on structuring a business to meet this level of morality while maintaining success, and how to keep one's employees going with the same beliefs and values, makes "High Performance with High Integrity" a seminal guide to the honest businessman. A must for any community library business collection.

1 comments about Managing Investment Portfolios: A Dynamic Process (CFA Institute Investment Series).

1. For someone wanting a technical textbook, this is very good. For someone who wants more than just a textbook, or just really doesn't have any professional knowledge in the portfolio management field, and wants advise for managing his/her portfolio that is easy to understand and comprehend, this book is not for you.

5 comments about 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
   
   this is a great book. I have to read it for one of my classes, but
   I am really glad I got assigned to read it.
   
   It is a great resource of knowledge that could help one throughout
   their whole life.
   
   I strongly recommend it!



2. I know a lot of people who have done great things after reading this book. Obviously, not right after finishing, but I think it helps your frame of mind if you are driven, and success and accomplishment is important to you. It speaks to some fundamental truths about human nature that allow the book to stand the test of time.



3. While I read through this wonderful book, I came to a striking realisation: There exist ways to deal with any situation in life effectively. Stephen Covey has put these into writing.
   The challenge remains to live by these universal principles - which Covey did not create but so prudently recognises - but realising they exist is the first step.
   How one person, through years of research even, put this vital gem so rich in content together escapes me. It's as if the book was written from the creator of these concepts themselves - a higher force.



4. A recipe for life success (I first heard it 8 years ago). Covey's style is compelling in audio - for me much better than reading the book.
   Listen to it twice (at least) to let it sink in.



5. Habits! Yes, consistent, belief-based, and optimized habits are the only way to be your best self. Thoughts are the parents of our experience and performance. This guy will guide you to it. You will also learn how to optimize these habits with Rosalene Glickman's book, Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self (endorsed by Covey). These books will bring that optimal consistency into every aspect of your life.

5 comments about Rapid Transformation: A 90-day Plan for Fast and Effective Change.

1. 
   With regard to this book's title and to the model that Behnam N. Tabrizi proposes in this volume, it is important to note at the outset that he does not believe that organizational transformation can be completed in only three months. What he offers is a framework with which to formulate a program that, once implemented, may require 6-12 additional months (or more) to achieve the desired objectives. The proposed model has these characteristics: all-encompassing (i.e. "all aspects of the company, looking under all the rocks and leaving no stones unturned"), integrative (i.e. "various functions and processes within the organization" are synchronized), fast (i.e. "fully engaged in all [its] efforts in parallel, looking at everything at once" expeditiously), and have full, passionate commitment and buy-in, "especially at the top layers of the organization."
   
   Tabrizi rigorously examines six companies that have used the 90 days model: 3M, VeriSign, Nissan, Bay Networks, Apple, and ACI. All of them proceeded through a multi-phase process. Here's the timetable:
   
   Pretransformation (30-90 days)
   
   Phase 1: Diagnosis (30 days)
   Phase 2: Envisioning the future (30 days)
   Phase 3: Paving the road (30 days)
   
   Transformation implementation (6-12 months)
   
   Of course, these are general guidelines and the timetable will vary among organizations that commit themselves to transformation initiatives and progress of such initiatives will also vary, once formulated and then implemented. Barriers are inevitable and some will probably be the result of what James O'Toole has so aptly characterized as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." He correctly points out that "today's executives believe they are struggling with an unprecedented leadership challenge to create internal strategic unity within a chaotic external environment." This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that so many companies are now competing in what Thomas Friedman has described as a "flat world."
   
   Of special interest to me is what Tabrizi has to say about envisioning the future during the second phase, in Chapter 5. "Now, it is time for the teams to shift their focus and start looking at solutions for [the problems previously identified]. Over the next thirty days, with [various] pain points in mind, the teams will work on identifying various alternatives for treatment and remedy" by following this sequence: cascading goals > creating a set of metrics > rationalization of key areas > developing a set of "big ideas" > gap analysis > ongoing organizational excellence > get an early start on implementation [i.e. "picking low-hanging fruit" > Day 60 integration meeting > tiger teams. Tabrizi carefully explains what each of the steps in this sequence involves, and, correlates the importance of each to the other steps that precede and follow it. Along the way, he cites real-world examples from companies that include Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Nissan, VeriSign, Telefónica de España, Bay Networks, and The Home Depot. By the completion of Phase 2, teams will have "rationalized and streamlined their portfolio of products and services and used gap analysis of revenue projections...[and will have] developed their big ideas, which were recommendations shared with the EMT [i.e. executive management team] at the day 60 integration meeting. In some cases, new rapid response teams, called tiger teams, need to be created to address areas that have been previously ignored or overlooked."
   
   Throughout the balance of his narrative, Tabrizi explains how to build on accomplishments achieved through the second phase so that those involved are well-prepared to meet the challenges that await them when they begin the 6-12 month process of full implementation. The model he proposes is not for every organization, as he duly acknowledges. Moreover, those organizations that that select it when planning and then implementing transformation initiatives must be sufficiently agile and flexible to make whatever modifications of the model may be necessary.
   
   "However, it is only a matter of time before change is required again. The question then is, How do I continue to change before I have to? The beauty of the 90 days model is that it spins out an army of change agents with informal networks and experience working across numerous boundaries, and who have internalized change and the change process." Tabrizi then goes on to point out that, by creating an organization of change leaders that think outside the box, "the company will be better prepared to change in the future, fir employees will be less resistant and more experienced...Instead of being something to be feared, change becomes something that is empowering. Change promotes growth. And that is the ultimate power of transformation."
   
   Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out James O'Toole's Leading Change: The Argument for Values-Based Leadership, Corporate Agility: A Revolutionary Model for Competing in a Flat World co-authored by Charles E. Grantham, James P. Ware, and Cory Williamson, Kevan Hall's Speed Lead: Faster, Simpler Ways to Manage People, Projects and Teams in Complex Companies, Dean R. Spitzer's Transforming Performance Measurement: Rethinking the Way We Measure and Drive Organizational Success, and Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution co-authored by Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, and David Robertson.



2. This book's utility comes from its specificity. Managing major change is very difficult, but Behnam N. Tabrizi spells out exactly what your organization should do over three 30-day stages of the process. He provides numbered lists, flow charts, diagrams and examples to illustrate his model. The 90-day (plus time before and after) model itself is exciting and demanding, though some elements of the book are stronger than others. Tabrizi's insistence on preparation before a change and his call for sharp execution during implementation is firmly grounded in realism. getAbstract recommends Tabrizi's visionary book to anyone who is guiding or involved in major organizational change. Beware, however, that the very ease of reading and the clarity of the model may gloss over some of the challenges of change. Sometimes, identifying where an industry is going or what the best response to larger trends might be isn't as easy as Tabrizi makes it sound. Likewise, getting people to commit to working double jobs for the three months this model demands may be difficult...but quite worthwhile.



3. This is an outstanding and relatively simple approach to transforming and organization - from a small company to large. The section of analysis of business processes is a little 'thin' and if combined with the 7FE Project Framework of Jeston & Nelis (Business Process Management: Practical Guidelines to Successful Implementions) it would be more complete.
   A highly recommended read.



4. Transformational change is what it's all about today. If you can do it quickly, and still do it right, then go for it! This book will help you get moving in the right direction.



5. As an Executive in the not for profit sector I find great value in this volume. While not specifically targeted for the not for profit sector the change process defined lends itself to faciliting change across the sector. I also find tremendous value for those not for profit organizations, who are funders, and need a concerted effort to make real change. We have added this book to our board members reading list.

5 comments about Venture Capital Due Diligence: A Guide to Making Smart Investment Choices and Increasing Your Portfolio Returns.

1. The book provides a great overview of the process, and is a tool I used in my decision making.



2. This book gives a good survey on the due diligence process and attempts to teach the reader other important aspects of venture capital by connecting it to the due diligence process. However, the author comes up short in addressing some of the more important subject areas.
   
   Overall it is a pretty good book but you will need to by a few more if you want a really good understanding of the entire process. "The Startup Company Bible for Entrepreneurs" is the best book I've come across on the topic of venture capital and it is almost three times the size of this one and contains a lot more material and topics. This book would definately fill in the gaps in "Venture Capital Due Diligence." You might want to get both since there aren't too many good books on the topic.



3. I was tremendously disappointed in this book. The cost of $35-50 is definitely a complete rip-off for what you get from the author. All you need to do is refer to pages 227-246. Those are the pages that represent the bibliography. I actually was so pissed off after reading this book that I counted them. In total the author referenced the words and work of 488 author people. There are only 223 pages of text and 6 chapters in the book. I am certain you can do the math but I'll do it for you.
   There are on average more than 2 references per page and over 80 per chapter. It's as though the author has never had an original thought of his own. If I wanted to hire somebody to go out and look up the work of other people I would have done that. I was expecting the author to use his own first-hand knowledge and experience in order to help educate and inform others such as myself about the process. Instead, what I got was something a high school student would do while trying to complete a report for homework. My only question is who is less ethical: the author or the publishing company that let this slide through the screening process. For all of those that gave this book 5 stars I can only guess that you don't enjoy actually reading.



4. This is a great book on venture capital due diligence.



5. 
   I enjoyed this book very much. Books on strategic planning, business planning, and due diligence interest me a lot. When I spotted this book at a B&N in Manhattan a month ago I swiped it up off the shelf in a heart beat. It didn't take me long to read it. But I was very disappointed that a new chapter inserted in front of Chapter 1 was not included.
   
   It would have been a great book if that new chapter had included an outline of the topics and the questions presented and discussed. Without such an outline, the reader has to wade through the entire book to understand what it is really about. Not good! To make the book more valuable to me I have taken the time to make such an outline for my personal use. It came to 8 pages in MS Word outline mode.
   
   This book is a great resource. But I think it is overpriced. It retails for $60 at a bricks-and-mortar store, and $38 at Amazon. But maybe it is worth it? It certainly should be interesting to a wide variety of audiences.
   
   Are you an entrepreneur with a start up company that you think might quality for venture capital funding? If so, you will want to study chapters 1 (screening) and 2 (management). The issues covered in these two chapters are the ones a venture capitalist will initially consider when considering whether your company is one they want to invest money in. Will your company pass the test?
   
   Are you an entrepreneur planning a start up company and in the midst of putting together a written business plan? If so, then you will want to study chapters 2 (management), 3 (business opportunity), 5 (legal), and 6 (financial). These four chapters should help you tremendously troubleshoot your business plan as you create draft after draft. It's your job to create a great company; venture capitalists like to find them.
   
   Are you a CEO or a CFO who runs a large company that grows sales through mergers and acquisitions? If so, you will enjoy the entire book. As will your subordinates who run your M&A department. Also, anyone who runs a venture capital enterprise will probably enjoy this book. But if they know what they are doing, then they probably won't learn anything new. 4 stars!