5 comments about Options Trading 101: From Theory to Application.

1. I got somewhat impatient with the basic and repetitive nature of the first third of this book, but pace and complexity really picked up as things went along. The description of synthetic options was eye-opening, and introduction to spreads near the end was very good. Recommended as beginner to intermediate text.



2. Bill Johnsons Options 101 trading book is an excellent introduction to the how's and why's of option trading. The style of this book is exactly like many college math and science textbooks with examples and problem sets. I personally have benefited from the discourse on the "roll-up," which is a strategy I had not come across previously in other training material.
   
   The book suffers, however, from poor proof-reading of the arithmetic. There are many places where the numbers don't add-up to what the words are saying, and vice-versa. Some may find that scribbling the corrections in the margins improves comprehension but if your arithmetic skills are weak then this book may not be for you. I think Options Trading 101 deserves a 2nd edition to correct the errors.



3. I'm a newbie to options and find this book very understandable. The analogies in the book help one understand the nature of options.
   
   My only criticism is that the book is not indexed. If I want to review a certain concept, sometimes it's difficult to relocate it because there is no index.



4. A very good book. Written in a very easy way. Just can't stop reading it.



5. This book had so many errors and blatant contradictions it was more confusing than the genealogy of Jesus. It will have your head spinning so fast some may mistake you for Linda Blair! The author blitzes the reader with math and details the understanding of which simply is unnecessary in order to trade options and could easily intimidate someone new to trading. The excessive errors found throughout the text are inexcusable, especially for a technical book. When practical applications are finally covered in the final third of the book, we aren't presented with anything really interesting. The Iron Condor strategy is mentioned once earlier but is quickly dismissed in a condescending manner as if someone who could thread through all that math wouldn't easily pick up that relatively simple concept! If you are new to trading and don't want to be more confused after you read this book than before you picked it up, this one should be avoided.

1 comments about Asset Allocation, 4th Ed.

1. Asset Allocation is a well written informative book. It explains the theory behind allocation strategies and the math and examples are comprehensible for readers, such as myself, without a formal finance background. The book stops short of recommending specific allocation plans for the reader, but it certainly gives the raw tools for the reader to make more intelligent choices about proper diversification methods.

5 comments about The Way to Wealth.

1. I can't say that there's any eye-opening information in here, but it's pretty neat just to take in the writing style. The best lesson I got out of this book is even when you're spending $5, think of where else that $5 can help you out. Which one is more important?



2. You read and consistently practice whats in this book and you will be on your way to wealth.



3. I think that The Way To Wealth is very good. Benjamin Franklin includes a lot of useful saying in it like, "It is hard for an empty bag to stand up right." After he writes a saying, he explains it. It's contents could very well be true to it's title.



4. Benjamin Franklin's Way to Wealth is incredible for its practical advice explained through examples. A short and easy read, the book is full of useful information and I think as far as financial books go, this is the starting point. Before spending money on books by the newer authors, start with this one.



5. Franklin used the principles he spells out here to amass a fortune in the turbulent colonial economy. In his will, he left two trust funds for the cities of Boston and Philadelphia, with orders to cash them in after 200 years. When they were finally cashed in a few years ago, they were worth about 4 million dollars! Read this book to find out how Franklin did it...

5 comments about Even Buffett Isn't Perfect: What You Can--and Can't--Learn from the World's Greatest Investor.

1. Incredibly bad book. I invest at one of the largest hedge funds so have some credibility in this commentary. You will not become a better investor by reading this book, you will only waste your time and there are many other better books out there to read. Problems that I have with this book:
   
   -The main recommendation comes from Steve Forbes (which is ok I guess) with the problem being that the author writes for Forbes and that Steve Forbes' intro is more a promotional piece / argument for the Steve Forbes tax policies than any kind of a value add.
   
   -The book isn't written by a professional investor. The guy is a market commentator but really doesn't have much talent in deducing overall generalizations about how to invest money and I really wouldn't give his advice much credit. Sorry
   
   Overall I was just really frustrated with the buying experience of this book and that I was stuck on a 4 hour plane ride with nothing but Sky Mall, a dead laptop battery, and this book to keep me company. Sky Mall and staring at the back of my dead laptop was the better read.
   
   I wouldn't get online and make such a negative commentary unless I really thought it was that bad. Believe me. Don't waste your time with this.



2. In a few short pages, the author summarizes the wisdom, and occasional errors of the greatest investor of all time. The executive summary for each chapter, makes the author's analysis available to even the most impatient reader. Defintely a top choice for summer time investment reading, particularly in these troubled times.



3. This book is short, easy to read and to the point. While the author does an excellent job of explaining Buffett's favored investment strategies, he also looks at other strategies, such as momentum, that work well. The book's real strength comes in the second half. Buffett has few faults when it comes to investing, but he has been pushing policies that make no sense. This is the only book I've seen that examines these issues and isn't afraid to ciriticize the man. The chapters on corporate governance, taxes, options and earnings guidance are particularly enlightening.



4. Mr. Buffett may not be perfect, but given his "extreme" level of net worth, he must have done something right with his investment portfolio. And let's be clear - Berkshire Hathaway has always been managed like an investment portfolio. Vahan Janjigian provides a clear and concise explanation of Buffett's strategy and investment process, and gives the reader some insights on successful wealth generation. And this is the only book that criticizes his views on taxation. Not too long; not too complicated; but very informative and well written. A perfect "end of summer" read.



5. Congratulations to Mr. Janjigian for writing a book that not only does a great job in discussing Buffett's investment styles, but also and more importantly communicating the key investment concepts that individual investors should be aware of, in a very easy to understand manner. While there have been many, more detailed books written on Buffett's investment approach, I think Vahan effectively uses the different investment approaches employed by Buffett to highlight and to some extent caution individual investors who attempt to emulate Buffett by stating that what might be good for large long term investors like Buffett (who have access to top level managements), may not necessarily be true for individual stock investors. An investor like Buffett can make big concentrated bets based on his understanding of management and management's strategies, something that an individual stock investor may lack as a function of limited/no access to top level managements.
   
   I recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a good understanding of the basic and key investment concepts, and I would recommend that colleges handout this book to incoming students in order to educate them with the basics of sound investing principles. I sincerely hope that this book is the first in many more to come!

No comments about The Either/Or Investor: How to Succeed in Global Investing, One Decision at a Time.

5 comments about Crucibles of Leadership: How to Learn from Experience to Become a Great Leader.

1. Recently I read a book called Crucibles of Leadership - how to learn from experience to become a great leader by Robert J. Thomas. I found the title to be interesting and when I did an informal poll, most people did not know what a crucible was. (It is a vessel that is used by chemists. Originally in medieval days it was used by alchemists (people trying to make gold out of base metals.)) People's definitions were from being a bowl to a religious symbol.
   
   One troubling thing about the title is that alchemist were never successful so does this mean that these crucibles of leadership won't work?
   
   The gist of the thesis is that often it takes a transformative occurrence to transform a leader who in turns transforms a company.
   
   According to Warren Bennis in the Forward of the book:
   
   This invaluable book reminds us that talent is only the beginning of greatness, that leading and learning are inextricably linked, and that the crucibles that break some people can give rise to serial leaders and learners as well.
   
   Three qualities, in particular, stood out as common to outstanding leaders, young and old:
   
   Adaptive capacity is the ability to learn - about yourself, about the world around you, about what it takes to adjust to, and to make, change.
   
   Engaging others through shared meaning is teaching and, in turn, listening - being an interactive leader, one who can enlist as well as command, and one who is capable of mobilizing the best in people through shared vision.
   
   Integrity is about knowing what you stand for - possessing a strong moral compass - and having the courage of your convictions; it is a process of self-knowledge that provides a core identity and a spine that remains strong even when circumstances demand that you adapt. Integrity is what keeps the leader from becoming a hollow dissembler of a leaf in the wind.
   
   Often a crucible was not just the experience but people gained insight into how they learned.
   
   I liked the short clip about Sydney Harman (founder of Harman-Kardon) who spoke about how his daily journalling gave him insights into what was on his mind.
   
   Surgeon Atul Gawand underscores the central role of practice: People often assume that you have to have great hands to become a surgeon, but it's not true. It is practice that builds skill. I know I need to practice more on those things I which to excel in.
   
   I liked how positive the book was. Even bad experiences can lead to greatness and learning. I liked the books focus on learning and change. It meshes with my belief that as long as I can learn, adapt, change and grow, I can succeed. It is growth that is one of my primary drivers.
   
   Interesting book.



2. CRUCIBLES OF LEADERSHIP: HOW TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE TO BECOME A GREAT LEADER provides keys to understanding leadership qualities and practices, through finding meaning in adversity and using such experiences to improve and change performance. The techniques and achievements of successful leaders around the world are profiled in stories of leadership ranging from the business world to political and religious circles. An outstanding survey.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. In 2002, Robert Thomas (the author of this book) and Warren Bennis discovered something important about how leaders developed. They had set out to determine the differences and similarities between young leaders (geeks) and older leaders (geezers).
   
   But the key finding of their book, Geeks and Geezers, turned out to be the importance of the defining moments that shape leaders. Thomas and Bennis called those moments "crucibles."
   
   Crucibles are emotionally charged situations that produce great learning and growth in some leaders. This was something a lot of us knew intuitively, but no one had ever stated or supported with research.
   
   Once upon a time we believed that you could learn leadership from books and classes. Then, slowly, it dawned on the leadership development community that you can learn about leadership from a book or in class, but you learn leadership on the job.
   
   Some of us call that the Apprenticeship Model. And the "academy companies" like GE, Pepsico, and P & G have taken to it with gusto. They've made developmental assignments a core part of their leadership development programs.
   
   Robert Thomas decided to dig deeper into the phenomenon of crucibles. This book shares the results of that research. There are four key findings.
   
   Crucibles contain two vital lessons, not just one. The second lesson is how to learn.
   
   Practice can trump talent.
   
   Outstanding leaders devise a strategy for transforming crucibles into learning.
   
   Organizations can grow leaders faster by helping them learn from experience.
   
   The book is divided into three parts. The first, Experience Matters--But Then What? includes the first four chapters. You'll learn about why some people seem to thrive and grow during a crucible experience while others wither.
   
   There's excellent material on how to learn from a crucible experience and turn it to good. This also where you'll learn about the three types of crucibles.
   
   In part two, Crafting a Personal Learning Strategy, Thomas gets down to the business of teaching us how to learn to be better leaders. The idea is to learn the basic lessons from an experience that you can pass on to others. There are several self-assessments for you to use.
   
   There's another finding here that's very powerful. For leaders, as for other practitioners of a performing art, learning and doing are often one and the same. While you are doing, you are learning. And you learn by performing.
   
   The final major section of the book, The Big Picture, lays out the lessons that organizations can learn from this research when they put together their own leadership development programs.
   
   This is an excellent book. It brings together a number of insights that seem obvious once you've heard them, but that still make you say, "Yes!! That's exactly it!"
   
   Buried in here is a finding that I think is a "missing link" in leadership development. It's the idea that learning and doing are often the same activity for leaders and others who practice performing arts.
   
   If you are a leader, this book will show you how to learn from your experience and get the most value and growth from it. If you are responsible for leadership development for others, you'll learn how to use the natural way that people learn to lead as a core of your program.



4. I've had my share of reading many different business leadership books. They roughly divide into two categories: 1) exposition of things/principles that you need to do and live in order to become a better and 2) reviews of successful companies or events and gleaning, in hindsight, principles of success. Regarding category 2, isn't the case that in hindsight, everyone is a genius? In general, these books are not very helpful because the basic premise of leadership is leading in a situation where the future is unknown. What worked in one successful situation, will not work in another situation. Regarding category 1, these types of books are bit more helpful than category 2 books. After reading one book of category 1, all of the others begin to sound the same. I hope that I saved you some money with this advice.
   
   This book is different from the rest in that it hits the nail on the head by focusing on the fact that it is the experiences themselves that serves as that rare window into what you are made of as a person. After all, it's you not Jack Welch that will be doing the leading and you're going to have know what you're made of and what your character and strengths/weaknesses are. It's the crucibles of life such as a demotion or, God forbid, the death of a loved one, that you begin to really see what you are made of. This book gives a greater reason to embrace challenges and situations that would force you out of your comfort zone.



5. 
   Robert Thomas is the co-author with Warren Bennis of Geeks & Geezers, later reissued as Leading for a Lifetime with a new introduction. In it, he and Bennis respond to this question: "Why are some people able to extract wisdom from experience, however harsh, and others are not?" They asked successful geeks to share the secrets of their youthful triumphs and distinguished geezers to tell them how they continue to stay active and engaged despite the changes wrought by age. They selected and then interviewed a group of 43 effective leaders, ranging in age from 21 to 93. Their research also included others who were not interviewed. As many as possible of the interviews were videotaped because Bennis and Thomas knew that "taping would preserve a wealth of information that no transcript could capture."
   
   They developed a theory that describes, they believe for the first time, how leaders come to be. "We believe that we have identified the process that allows an individual to undergo testing and to emerge, not just stronger, but better equipped with the tools he or she needs both to lead and to learn. It is a model that explains how individuals make meaning out of difficult events -- we call them [begin italics] crucibles [end italics] -- and how that process of 'meaning making' both galvanizes individuals and gives them their distinctive voice." They cite and then discuss a number of individuals who underwent that process and, as a result, became highly-effective leaders.
   
   What we have in this volume is Thomas' further development of many of the core concepts shared in his earlier works as he shifts his focus to exploring "what life is like inside a crucible" to suggest various ways "to leverage the critical formative and transformative experiences that men and women have in their own lives that can reveal to them who they are and where they stand." Also, "to illuminate the process by which leaders learn and the skills and circumstances that accelerate their learning."
   
   Thomas responds to even more specific questions such as these:
   
   1. How to find what matters most in experience?
   2. How to extract insights from that experience?
   3. Why is having an "adaptive capacity" (i.e. resilience) so important?
   4. How and why "can practice trump talent"?
   5. How to recognize and transform crucible experiences?
   6. What does a candid self-assessment involve and why is it imperative?
   7. How to formulate a personal learning strategy?
   8. How to formulate an experience-based leadership development program?
   9. How to align organizational needs with individual capabilities?
   10. Which issues must be addressed when preparing the next generation of leaders?
   
   Thomas includes several dozen real-world examples of individuals who were able or unable to "extract wisdom from experience, however harsh." He also examines a number of exemplary companies that have designed and implemented an experience-based leadership development program. Although the details are best revealed within his narrative, in context, I will include three brief excerpts from the final chapter because they provide at least an indication of the thrust and flavor of Thomas' thinking.
   
   "It is essential that organizations do more than compose lists of desired leadership competencies and address them through a menu of courses and workshops. They must also encourage each individual - or, at a minimum, each individual who aspires to a leadership role - to craft a [Personal Learning Strategy] and to use it as a living document, not something sketched once and set aside."
   
   "If deep learning of the sort we encounter in crucibles is an important part of a leader's journey, and if strong emotions commonly accompany deep learning, then we need to know that strong emotions are very likely to be a part of leader development. If learning from experience is not a desirable part of leader development, then we can ignore it and hope it goes away; if we elect to pursue an experience-based approach to leader development, our only alternative is to find ways to work with emotions."
   
   "Leaders must adapt and learn if they are to fulfill what we expect of them, and - if this study is any guide - if they are to fulfill what they expect of themselves. Albert Einstein put it best when he said, `Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.'"
   
   Please review the list of ten questions provided earlier. Note that the word "how" is used to introduce seven of them. Although I would never describe this volume as a "how to" book, Thomas does identify and then explore a number of key issues for his reader to consider when determining whether or not an experience-based leadership development program would be appropriate for her or his organization. If the decision is at least a tentative "yes," he then offers a wealth of practical suggestions (strategies, tactics, do's, don'ts, etc.) that will guide and inform the design of such a program. I need to add that some of the most valuable advice in this book is provided by those men and women who took full advantage of a "crucible" as a learning opportunity. What they learned helped to take them to a higher level of performance. The lessons to be learned from their personal experiences can help others to do so, also.
   
   
   * * * * *
   
   Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out the aforementioned Geeks & Geezers or the renamed reissue, Leading for a Lifetime, as well as The Talent Powered Organization that Thomas co-authored with Peter Cheese and Elizabeth Craig. Also Bill George's Authentic Leadership and his more recent True North, Michael Ray's The Highest Goal, Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture, Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life, Chip Conley's Peak, and Resonant Leadership co-authored by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee.

1 comments about The Art of Asset Allocation: Principles and Investment Strategies for Any Market, Second Edition.

1. Financial advice with a smile!
   I found this informative and easy to understand.
   Great gift for anyone who is interested in personal finances.
   I ordered a couple as graduation presents.
   Who is Uncle Frank?

5 comments about How to Become a Million Dollar Real Estate Agent in Your First Year: What Smart Agents Need to Know Explained Simply.

1. Real estate agents who are newly licensed can't afford to miss this guide, which surveys the successful strategies of top seller and creates a business plan from these strategies. Any who want to learn how to begin a real estate business will find plenty of material from agents' personal experiences, paired with lessons from the author's own viewpoint. From handling competition and gaining referrals to setting up Internet marketing and keeping clients close by mailing out reminder cards, any business library catering to real estate agent clientele needs this.



2. Susan Smith Alvis writes an extremely informative and practical guide on becoming a million dollar real estate agent. Everything an up-and-coming real estate agent needs to know to be a top performer--finding listings and clients, self-marketing, budgeting, and planning for success--is in this book. But what makes this book special is her take on running your business. She stresses the importance of work-life balance to maintain one's sanity and that ethical business practices will take you further than shady ones. And as a seasoned professional, she has much sage advice about how to avoid the shady practices of others. Great advice for not getting taken by the brokerage house and for paying yourself is also included. This book has it all!
   It is clear Susan Smith Alvis knows her stuff. Her energy and expertise come through on every page.



3. As a newly minted real estate agent, I bought this book to start learning what I really need to know about real estate, other than what is required by law, and this book does a good job at hitting on important things that a real estate agent should know.
   
   Two things that bothered me though, are first, the author (as I believe I understood it), only worked in real estate for four years and is now retired from real estate. If the advice she gives about how to be a successful real estate agent is so good, how come she no longer practices, after only doing it for 4 years?
   
   Also, the product description on Amazon listed many topics that were the content of this book. Some of those topics were covered by 2 or 3 sentences which was not enough depth to do them justice. Also, where was the part about the vehicle and insurance...I must have missed that. I'll read the book again and see if it is there, but I don't believe it was.
   
   On the positive side I appreciated what the author had to say about keeping a positive attitude and being an ethical real estate agent. I do recommend this book as a good starting point for a new agent as you will be able to create a list of things you need to further investigate for your new career in real estate.



4. How to Become a Million Dollar Real Estate Agent in Your First Year, written by Susan Smith Alvis, is the perfect book for anyone who is undertaking or considering a career as a real estate agent. Written in a conversational tone that makes for a quick read, this book gives the reader step-by-step instructions for everything from how to set up his business, how to find clients, how to deal with other realtors, and how to, ultimately, close a deal with clients.
   
   As an added benefit, How to Become a Million Dollar Real Estate Agent in Your First Year is also filled with great tools for the beginner real estate agent. The glossary of terms is a comprehensive listing of real estate terms and their meanings. The included telephone scripts and canvassing letter formats will prove to be solid starting points as the reader begins to develop and increase his own client base. The section of the book titled "A Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent" also provides valuable descriptions of the types of things a successful real estate agent does and even how often he does them. What more instruction could you ask for?
   
   How to Become a Million Dollar Real Estate Agent in Your First Year is one book that should become a part of any new real estate agent's reference library. Its no-nonsense advice and well-developed reference section will make the reader glad to have it on his bookshelf.



5. As a new member to the realestate community I was very nervous as to how I would make a good start in my new career. This book is full of great advise to set you up for success. With all of the huge competition in this cut throat business it is very important to do all you can to position yourself for success. I do recomend this book if you are serious about making money as a real estate agent.

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!

5 comments about 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me: Practical Advice for New Real Estate Professionals.

1. This is one great book about what it is like being a real estate agent. It gives you the good and the bad. Read this before deciding on a real estate career.
   Gary



2. This is a good book with time tested ideas. While none of the information is new nor earth shattering, it does cover the basics.
   
   If you are considering a career in Real Estate, this book is a must read--even before you enroll in Real Estate school. You *must* know this information before you get started.
   
   If you work at an office with little or no training, this book is also a must have. If your office provides excellent training, and some do, then the information in the book may be somewhat redundant.
   
   Consider your situation carefully, if you need an extra push, considering a career in Real Estate, or struggling for information--then this is a must have addition to your library.



3. Finally, here's the new and improved version of the industry classic "21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me." It has everything in the original, plus it's updated with the latest industry trends. Here's the basic information on the real estate industry, and what new agents need to know to survive and prosper. Hard to believe -- but it's even better than the original! A must-read for every new agent!



4. This is an excellent book for any real estate agent. I am a new agent, and I gave the title to my Broker, who purchased a copy. She has 30 years of experience in real estate, and she thought the book was awesome as well. I think that is a pretty good recommendation.



5. I am very pleased with this book and the service from this vendor was exceptional.