5 comments about Real Estate Development: Principles and Process 3rd Edition.

1. Coverage of theoretical, not application. Useful for referencing concepts and reinforcing a specific point, but much more of a teaching text than reference material.



2. This book is a well intentioned attempt at explaining the development process. Unfortunately, development is too specific depending on project type and region to be easily summed up in one volume. If you are looking for a lengthy and well detailed process overview, this book is for you. If you need something a little more specific, keep searching and let me know if you find something.



3. It's a school book with an enormous amount of information. It would take years to go through. Great for a class course where an instructor could teach the chapters quickly and point out all of the important details.



4. This book was just what we were looking for: A comprehensive professional overview of all of the aspects of RE development. Everyone who owns or develops commercial real estate, and has not formally studied development, should read this book regardless of their experience.



5. This book is exactly what the title says - Principles and Process of real estate development. It is written by professors and it describes development as a whole and I would definitely recommend it to every development student. Every possible segment of real estate development is captured. Don't think this book will provide various 'tricks' and 'secrets'. It will provide more than that. For those wishing more practical knowledge I recommend 'Confessions of a real estate entrepreneur' by Randel.

5 comments about Investing Without Fear: Protect Your Wealth in all Markets and Transform Crash Losses into Crash Profits.

1. This arrogant self-promoter acts like he's right and everyone else is wrong. He's be justified in acting that way if he were right. But he's wrong at least as often. He tries to scare people into buying his books, his newsletter, and (worst of all) his high-priced "trading services". He called for a real estate crash in 2003, a bond crash in 2004, and he's called for a stock crash every year for the past decade.



2. Go hide in a cave, put all your money in US government bills, bonds, and hord gold and wait for the financial nuclear winter to clear up. There..., now you don't need to buy this book.
   This book originally came out at about March 2003, at the end of the recent bear market, and was titled "Crash Profits..." at that time.
   The whole financial world did not end and the book was retitled to "Investing Without Fear...." so that more copies can be sold.
   Weiss is like a broken clock, always predicting that one thing or another is about to crash. He has been wrong so often. Even a broken clock is right twice in any given 24 hour period.



3. Given the way the economy is going, this book is a must read. There is a possibility that there will be a stock market crash in the near future: given the unfolding of the subprime mortgage crisis and untold numbers of foreclosures; banks that dabbled in hedge funds and subprime mortgages beginning to feel the pinch; the dollar spiralling downward; and the price of oil skyrocketing. Somewhere in all of this, one gets a distinct feeling of instability, and that is where Weiss's book comes in.
   
   His knowledge of the investing environment is refreshing and at the same time disturbing. He equips the average investor with knowledge that will help him/her in the coming difficult times. This is not a light read, yet the way he weaves story lines through the book, it places the reader comfortably into the investing environment. He gives worst-case scenarios and asks hard questions that makes the reader think. He also reveals astute insight and provides solutions to problems that help the reader feel equipped to tackle the upcoming turmoil in our economy.
   
   The most valuable parts of the book (I think) are
   where he mentions that he rates bank and brokerage firms and includes the websites. I felt as if I was reading the consumer report for banks! We actually visited a library and looked up Weiss's bank ratings books there. They rate banks on a quarterly basis, and include a thorough list of banks in every state, their rating and safety (some banks even get A+). We checked out the banks with the higher ratings in our state.
   
   This book provides peace of mind to the average investor trying to save and invest for the future when the economy looks dismally bleak.



4. This book is a must read for veteran or new investors. It tells a lot about the markets and how they operate. It warns about improper practices of some stock brokers. Included is advice on better stock trading.



5. This book has a great deal of valuable advice and Martin Weiss is an extremely reliable expert. HOWEVER -- This is the EXACT SAME book as his previously published "Crash Profits." They simply changed the title! I can find absolutely no updated or new information in this one. There is a mention of this on the back cover but you normally only get to see that until you've bought the book.
   
   I really hate when publisher's do this!

5 comments about FORTY YEARS A SPECULATOR.

1. This is the best book I have read regarding penny stocks and how to get started. There is more practical knowledge in these 142 pages than anywhere else. This is a down-to-earth book by a down-to-earth investor.
   One of the best parts for me is the section entitled "What a Bargin Looks Like" - listing seven key areas to look for when purchasing a stock. Big Al also list stocks from his own portfolio. This is a big help when evaluating your own picks - by reviewing his.



2. I read this book with great interest because for the past four years I have been using similar investment strategy. From my experience, I can confidently say that the strategy in this book really works. My own research convinces me it will continue to work for quite a long time to come. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to protect or enhance their wealth. In fact I would suggest reading it at least three times.



3. For grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, I would give "Forty Years" a 3-star review. It became more clear as I continued reading that the manuscript skipped a stage or two in the editing process.
   
   But who cares about that? Really, nobody reads an investing book and worries about grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. We're there for the meaty details of how to make the most with our hard-earned money, and "Forty Years" is chocked full of meat. I've never been one to accept the conventional manner of investing - buy and hold the blue chips - so I'm taking this as an opportunity to stretch my muscles a bit in the world of gambling, er, investing.
   
   Scared money doesn't make money, and, finally, with Carach's advisement, I have a channel to vent my desire to make money before I'm 70. Thanks Fred!



4. Although humor may be sprinkled throughout this whole book, it should be taken very seriously. He gives a very well thought out, and examined approach to very high risk investment. He gives not only relevant stock examples, but also relevant historical examples. My only recommendation is to read one or two general trading books, before reading this one, otherwise you won't be able to fully appreciate his alternative view of investing.



5. People stand up and listen. This is a book that can be a difference maker for you. Buy the book. Read it. Apply it! This gives the every day guy a chance. Don't be fooled by the title. This is an excellent well rounded and well thought out investment program that nobody it talking about...nobody! Don't wait.
   Joe - Woodstock, VA

5 comments about From Wall Street to the Great Wall: How Investors Can Profit from China's Booming Economy.

1. In my opinion, this is an excellent guide for any individual investor who feels he (she) may want to "profit from China's booming economy." Even if the reader decides not to invest in China, the account of how far China has come in a period of approximately three decades is an interesting and amazing read.
   
   The book is divided into three sections: The Setting, which provides a historical background on China and its people; The Investments, which explains how Chinese securities are structured and traded; and The Strategies, which provides advice as to how investors might go about investing in China's economic success.
   
   The final chapter, The Optimal Investment Strategy, presents the authors advice as to how an individual investor might pursue an investment plan and at the same time minimize risk. The authors throughout the book emphasis risk and in the final chapter clearly state, "We warn you in advance that it is not an exciting strategy that will make you a millionaire shortly after reading it - but it is a strategy that sharply curtails your risk."
   
   Another reviewer of this book has made comparisons of this book with Jim Rogers' A Bull In China. In my opinion, From Wall Street to the Great Wall is a far superior read. Burton Malkiel has the academic credentials and decades of experience in teaching investing to students. He has also been on the board of directors for many years at the Vanguard Group, a company dedicated to the best interests of individual investors. The average investor would be foolish to invest directly in Chinese companies as Mr. Rogers suggests. That would be like walking through a mine field. I suggest sticking with the advice of the professor.



2. The process of reading this book was very happy. It's really a very useful book to indicate me to invest in China no matter in the bull market or other types of the market.



3. As always, Malkiel's mantra is to diversify broadly. In all editions of his famous "A Random Walk Down Wall Street", he urges people to invest according to their means and situations, to diversify their investments across industries, and also to diversify internationally.
   
   But why write a whole book about one national economy if your mantra is to diversify across them? It's because, quoting the authors, "there is no question that China will shortly surpass the United States and once again become the world's mightiest economic power". As such, Chinese assets deserve a special place in anyone's portfolio.
   
   The book gives a very brief account of Chinese history, followed by an overview of the Chinese investment markets, and finally a collection of investment strategy. Of these, Malkiel only recommends one (diversify broadly within China, invest regularly rather than all at once) but he describes other viable strategies for people with a higher appetite for risk.
   
   It's open to debate whether the Chinese will come out on top in the near future. After all, as we can read in China's most famous work of literature "empires wax and empires wane". But given that China has the world's oldest continuing, recognizable national identity, given that she is becoming freer and freer, and given that China is intensely motivated at all levels to improve herself, it would be foolish and dangerous to dismiss her.
   
   Vincent Poirier, Dublin



4. Knowing that Malkiel is the father of efficient market hypothesis and wide diversification, I find it somewhat surprising that he has written a book on investing in a specific country. The brief summary of China's culture and history gives some background on how China found itself in the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution and why it lacks qualified accountants and financial analysts (an entire generation sent for reeducation).
   
   The chapter covering risks is titled "Perceived Risks", and Malkiel basically debunks most of them as fiction or explains away the risks by pointing to the cultural pride, work ethics, and other factors to overcome them. It seems one-sided much like apologetics and boosterism. Maybe I'm skeptical, but it's not a foregone conclusion that China will avoid all their problems, political, social, economical, and become the dominant economy in the world. And no stock market only goes up.
   
   What Malkiel does a good job of is explaining the tests of efficiency for Chinese stocks. He explains the alphabet soup of A share, N share, H shares, and concludes that as of 2005 the N and H shares a pretty efficient. However the A share market is still inefficient and subject to manipulation. He also explains the discrepancy of pricing between shares of the same company in the different exchanges. Furthermore it is confusing how to analyze the earnings, growth, profitability of state owned enterprises, who are 70% owned by the government and only float a small percentage of their shares on three different exchanges where they are all priced or bundled differently.
   
   He concludes with several strategies for small, medium, large investors, with portfolios of ETFs and/or index funds. And for the true speculator he covers a few of the stocks in each industry. But as in any book, the information will be woefully old and out of date by the time it is published, printed and read. For the average investor who wants to have an exposure to China, I would personally buy a mixture of China index funds (GXC, FXI) Vanguard Emerging Market Index (VWO), but don't let that be your entire portfolio. Malkiel recommends a percentage based on your risk tolerance. For this wisdom, I don't think you need to buy the entire book, unless you want to learn about the various ways stock is available (Chapter 4).



5. As a Financial Advisor I am always looking for different ideas/opportunities to incorporate into my clients' investment portfolio.
   While at the library with my son, this book and the title caught my eye and I immediately began reading the book thus checking it out.
   It is a fine read that begins with the history and politics of China and eventually leading into the markets, its efficiencies and some particular investment options/strategies to capture, what has been and should continue to be,an economic boom in China.
   
   It is a good, easy and enjoyable read but you must take the authors' somewhat biased opinions with a grain of salt - as with anything.
   
   I do agree that there is a huge opportunity for profits and a place in one clients' portfolio for an investment in China and have over the last few years been adding such.
   
   I would recommend this book.

5 comments about The Kid's ROTH IRA Handbook: Securing Tax-Free Wealth From a Child's First Paycheck or Money Answers for Employed Children, Their Parents, the Self-Employed and Entrepreneurs.

1. After reading "The Kid's ROTH IRA Handbook", I came away with a good feeling that kid's and parents can have hope for the future. Once we get the current generation of kids to understand saving instead of consumption, the problem is solved. This book explains a difficult concept in easy terms "Great job,Tracy"
   Art Patino ,CCPS.



2. Teaching children about saving money is critical for their success as adults. This book provides a step-by-step guide on how to teach your children about investing and specifically Roth IRAs. As an adult who had little knowledge on this subject, I found the book easy to understand without it being condescending. My children have both read this book (16 and 10) and were able to understand it completely. Even though they were resistant at first, both of my girls are now eagerly working on saving enough money to start their own Roth IRAs. This is a well thought out book and should be required reading for all parents and children.



3. The book is directed towards teens and above which I was not aware while buying it. Regardless of how it is written it includes very basic information that any parent should know and use with their children, including those that can't read yet. I'm staring a Roth IRA for my 4 year old daughter using the tips from the book. The most useful part of this book from the parent perspective is a list of resources to go to for additional information, like the IRS publications, other books or websites to review. Overall very handy resource, but should be priced below $10.



4. I try very hard to teach my 17 year old strong money lessons.. he needs a job if he wants to have a car, he has to pay the insuarnce on that car.. the gas, it's mandatory that he save 1/2 of every paycheck he gets for "emercencys" etc. But i have to admit, i never thought of him starting a Roth IRA.
   
   We used this book for a little bit of a different reason. This was the first year my son recieved a "w-2" from his very own job. He was so excited to learn he would be getting money back! So it came in the mail and of course "mommy was gonna take care of it". So there it sat.. in my in box for weeks along with all the other to-do's ~ and then I ran across The Kid's ROTH IRA handbook by Tracy Foote. I skimmed through and something caught my eye... on page 93 a chapter started called "Tax Talk - All about tax forms". It was a step by step explanation of how to fill out a 1040 as well as information behind the questions on the form. It has illistrations of what the form and documents look like and shaded areas with extra information to help them along. There is also a Glossary in the back for words they may not have learned yet. It is really geared towards a wide range of tweens/teens, or a fun read for the parent of a smaller child
   
   So, I grabbed the book, his W2, printed off a 1040 from the internet.. and told him good luck.
   
   Within 30 minutes he had his return ready to go LONG FORM, but even better than that it sparked conversations that will help him immensely in his financial future. Before you know it he has refund deposited into his bank account and he is offically a tax paying citizen!
   
   This book is well worth the money and I implore you to enrich your childs financial future with this excellent read.



5. This book is wonderful! It is a great read, and an easy read for any parent teaching their kids about working and what to do with their money. Their is a lot more to it then just saving your money in the bank, and this book does a great job of breaking down the steps of what to do with your money. It even makes suggestions of jobs that children can do, whether it be working for their parents or getting a job outside of the home. My daughter is only 6, but I started teaching her about money and working for her money about a year ago. Of course I did not go into any complicated details, but I felt the younger the better to learn about money and what to do with it. I learned things from this book that I did not know before, so it was not only helpful for me to explain things to my daughter, but it was helpful for me as well, considering I learned some valuable information that I did not know before. I will keep referring back to book as my daughter gets older, and when she is old enough to understand the book on her own, she will read it as well.
   
   Thank you Tracy, for sharing your knowledge, and making learning about investing your kids money not so scary or complicated.

2 comments about Business as Mission: The Power of Business in the Kingdom of God.

1. "If God has called us into business, our goal is to discover why and act on that purpose. As we do so, God's creation will be blessed, and He will be glorified." - Michael Baer
   
   This book is a great read! According to this book, there are four characteristics of a kingdom business:
   
   1. A kingdom business is vocational; something that God has called us to do.
   Col. 1:16-20, Eph 4:1, Rom 12:1-2
   
   2. A kingdom business is intentional; God has a very specific purpose for each business.
   Eph 2:10
   
   3. A kingdom business is relational; we are exposed to a vast network through business and God wants these relationships to be valued.
   Mark 12:30-31
   
   4. A kingdom business is operational; operations must honors and reflect God.
   1 Cor. 10:31
   
   Baer suggests establishing a kingdom business by doing the following:
   
   1. Create a kingdom foundation
   Write out what you believe about: profit, people, growth, service or quality, productivity and innovation. Examples:
   - We will always seek mutually beneficial outcomes in all that we do.
   - We will operate in a fiscally responsible manner.
   - We will maintain the priorities of family and friendship.
   - We will endeavor to find the maximum enjoyment in whatever we do.
   - We will seek continual learning and improvement so that what is done is done well and with full commitment.
   - We will live lives that invite inquiry.
   
   2. Articulate a kingdom direction
   Vision: broad, expansive statement of the general direction in which company is headed.
   Mission: a narrower definition of your vision - or your vision with metrics.
   Purpose: the expression of what you believe God has as his specific will for your company.
   
   3. Identify kingdom targets and objectives
   Target: a three year goal for your business.
   Objective: a one year goal.
   For example: revenues, expansion, staffing, profitability, ministry and missions.
   
   4. Focus on a few pivotal strategies
   For example: execute marketing/business plan, etc.
   
   5. Draft and assign quarterly action items
   Break down your plan into a list of 10 or fewer action items
   
   6. Schedule regular accountability



2. This is a good book. It teaches you about love and relationships and how they are vital in business. It is a very short book, but it has alot of content and will teach you alot.

No comments about Enterprise Project Management Using Microsoft Office Project Server 2007: Best Practices for Implementing an EPM Solution.

5 comments about Made-to-Order Lean: Excelling in a High-Mix, Low-Volume Environment.

1. Given the lack of "Lean for low volume" books out there, my hope was this book would be full of meaningfull tools. It ended up more like the a re-hash of any of the available Toyota books.
   
   Would have liked a more consistent stlye to the book. It ranges from digital photos to cartoonish sketches to Excel charts when giving examples.



2. This book is very practical and hands on. It shows a very practical roadmap for implementing lean when you have high variety and low volume. I found it easy to read and liked the actual examples and came away with many new ideas to go forward with in the job shop which I work. It is great to finally see a book that deals with lean outside high volume with actual methods and examples and even helps in the office and accounting areas.
   
   Sammuel Mason



3. Made-To-Order Lean provides the lean practitioner excellent guidance and instructions for applying the powerful concepts and methodologies of lean thinking to the most difficult of production environments, the job shop. As such, this book takes a major step forward in extending the reaches of lean thinking to high-mix, low-volume operations. It addresses the lean practitioner, someone who already has a basic understanding of lean principles and tools, and illuminates the ideas, tools, and principles that are most appropriate to the high-mix, low-volume environment. It is written in a very easy-to-read, down-to-earth manner. This is a guide book on how to do it with an abundance of great practical ideas and solid framework for implementing lean in the job shop. Mr. Lane starts off by showing how to use appropriate visuals to manage from the shop floor in real time. The use of visual management is built upon and emphasized throughout the book. For example, Mr. Lane explains how to use day-by-hour boards or FIFO boards and lanes to more effectively plan and control the flow of work through shared resources typically found throughout job shops. Mr. Lane is particularly effective in explaining how to use the powerful value stream mapping tool in the low-volume environment whereby the practitioner is faced with a multitude of products being produced across numerous shared resources. He gives great insight as to areas in the current state to evaluate for improvement in the future-state value stream. Mr. Lane explains how to manage inventories in the high-mix environment by having MRP manage the low-volume parts while utilizing a pull system (usually a kanban system) to manage the higher-volume repeating parts (the runners). This clever hybrid solution of combining kanban and MRP is thoroughly explained. These are but a few examples of the insightful explanations given for deploying lean principles in the high-mix, low-volume environment covered in Made-To-Order Lean. For me the book clarified many issues I was having applying lean thinking to the job shops with which I am associated. I came away with numerous ideas and a good grasp on how to greatly improve the operations with which I am involved. It is definitely a must-read book for the lean practitioner trying to improve make-to-order operations through the application of the powerful principles and tools of lean.



4. While this book claims to disseminate high mix, low volume production, it leaves the meat to Kevin Duggan's book "Creating Mixed Model Value Streams". Duggan's book is quite good, so the reference is appropriate.
   
   The book has some great visual management examples that are useful, but the planning and execution of high mix, low volume or even high mix, high volume is missing.



5. This book could have been better for me, but overall I liked it and found it useful. I work for a low volume Hi-mix company coming from a a hi-mix, hi-volume background. I found the traditional approaches were not going to work. Groping in the dark and some trial and error, I was coming to myown conclusions, when I found this book.
   
   It is not a complete compendium of all lean tools. It refers you out to Duggan's Book (Mixed Models) and others for deeper dives into particular tools.
   
   What is does do is give you a frame work to apply known tools to the low-volume problem. Traditional pull is ineffective if you make once or once or twice a year. Pull is still good, but the application of the tool is different because the circumstance is different.
   
   The big learning out of this for traditional lean guys is; the tools still work, how and when to apply them changes. The skill in the practioner is learning the new how and when.
   
   Quick overview in lo-volume: Traditional product families will be harder. Value stream maps are less important. Employee contribution and understand are much more critical. Focus on flow through the system. Focus on visual management of the team/cell, train the managers how to manage in that environment. Pull what you can pull... flow the rest. Mix kanban and MRP. Mix pull and push/flow. Focus on what works.
   
   I would have liked a more definitive answer, but as the author wrote, the different circumstances of company's varies so much at this end of the spectrum, what is right for the 4 a day guy may not be for the 4 a month or 4 a year. Principles hold.... tools and applciations change.

5 comments about God Wants You to Be Rich: How and Why Everyone Can Enjoy Material and Spiritual Wealth in Our Abundant World.

1. This book is PHENOMENAL, and I'm no rookie when it comes to reading this type of material. You name the author, I've gotten at least a piece of him/her: Kiyosaki, Robbins, Hansen, Hill, Carnegie, Orman, Schwartz.

   "God wants you to be rich" is PHENOMENAL, and I can't wait to track down everything else he's written. So far, the title has been completely misleading in that I was expecting something ENTIRELY different. Then again "economic theory and how it'll change" is hardly an interesting title.

   Did I mention that this book is PHENOMENAL, and that it's REALLY PROPHETIC?? This is a pre-internet book, and yet it discusses how technology changes the world and the economy. No matter WHAT the title suggests, this book is NOT AT ALL what you'd expect. This book is entirely engaging; he writes with enough examples so you know EXACTLY what he means, and each one of them is FASCINATING.
   PLEASE do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK- it'll COMPLETELY change the way you see the economic world- ESPECIALLY if you're completely UNINTERESTED in it!




2. I haven't decided whether or not the title of this book is making it more saleable or not. I had a totally different idea about what this book would be about because of the title, and since I hadn't read anything else by Pilzer at the time, I was skeptical.
   THIS BOOK IS PHENOMENALLY FASCINATING.
   Again, the title is extremely misleading, and after asking the author about it, he said that his publisher gave it that title. Of course, the title of "Why economics are like they are" might be more appropriate, but it is in no way indicative of how PHENOMENALLY FASCINATING this book is.
   I am EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that the title made me buy the book, and was happily deceived by it. One of my top favorites ever, and you'll note that I read ALOT. PLEASE read this book- it will make you INFINITELY more informed.



3. Yes, God does want you to be rich, but please avoid Judas' fate. He was mislead by his desire/attachment to wealth and as a result he betrayed Jesus. When he realized he had been used by well intentioned religious leaders, he killed himself. Beware of your own motive for riches. And yes, God has blessed me with wealth.



4. I have listened to a great many people talk about the poverty of people and portraying themselves as the saviors of the have-nots. It always made me feel like I was from another planet because their rhetoric did not make sense at all. These people think that robbing one group of people Marxist style and give it to another would some how bring an end to poverty. Driven by envy they have convinced millions to think that their lack was caused by the ingenuity and industriousness of others who recognized the benefits of a free market economy which Karl Marx dubbed Capitalism.
   
   Now I am back on earth because Paul Zane Pilzer debunked the poverty myth and confirmed my thoughts on the subject. It gives an excellent account of what is causing the never ending cycle of poverty. It is not ingenuity nor is it capitalism. Poverty is caused by the lack of faith and the continued indoctrination that government is responsible for peoples well being. I love the title because faith is the force that moves you to make things happen. The following excerpt says it all.
   
   "In his last great book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy the economist Joseph Schumpeter predicted that capitalism would eventually self-destruct because the people displaced by advancing technology would democratically vote in a socialist form of government."
   
   "The word "economics" comes from the Greek word oikonomia meaning the "management of a household." While today "economics" has come to mean the study of business and government issues by professional academics, the real economists in our society are the ones who practice economics--the hundreds of millions of people seeking to economically manage their own households or lives every day."
   
   And when it comes to continually proving Schumpeter wrong in what he regarded as his great triumph, there is nothing more important than the role that now befalls you, the real economist, the reader of this book--the role to continually teach every member of our society how and why we live in a world of abundance, and how and why God wants every one of us to be rich. God bless you."
   
   Instead of beating the same old poverty of the people drum the saviors of the have-nots need to read this book and give up the antiquated mindset that is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Poverty begets poverty but God wants all his children to be rich not just some...go for Yankee ingenuity!
   
   God Wants You to Be Rich: How and Why Everyone Can Enjoy Material and Spiritual Wealth in Our Abundant World



5. The author wrote an interesting book on economics and technology long ago. It was published in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Then he became a tiresome and annoying fundamentalist. Since then he has written nothing worth reading. A friend gave me his copy of this title after losing interest in it by the third chapter. I managed to read the entire book on a plane ride. Unfortunately, it was the only reading material I had.
   
   If god wants you to be rich, it appears that he hates 95% of humanity because it's poor.
   
   Don't waste your time and money on this tiresome religious propaganda.
   
   Here's a far better alternative: Randy Gage's Why You're Dumb, Sick, and Broke.

5 comments about Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians.

1. I ordered this book as a gift for a relative 6 weeks ago. After 2 delays the estimated ship date was still 4 weeks away. I contacted the pubilsher direct and they shipped the book the next day. Just an FYI.



2. This book was a splurge for me, but one that I can definitely say was well worth it! I thought I knew quite a bit about genealogy research, but this book has taught me so much more. Each chapter is written by a professional genealogist who specializes in the topic. While some chapters are geared towards genealogists starting their own research business, most are helpful to all genealogists. Lots of excellent examples of proper research methods and techniques.



3. I got this book for my dad who is really into geneology. He does small seminars at the Public Library and such. I thought for his birthday I would get him a geneology book so he could learn a little more. The reviews for this book said that is was for professional geneologists and teachers or die-hard people who are interested in it. So I thought he fit the category. He told me that is focused more on how to charge for your services than anything, more legal garb than insider professional hints to geneology. So we are returning the book.



4. Obviously this book was designed for the professional and is written for the professional. The amateur genealogist could be easilly snowed with all the technical jargon but once you get past these aspects there are a few things that are of value.
   
   Any amateur seeking help could do better by purchasing another source.



5. The book is excellent if you are researching how to structure your own business because it offers tips on billing, writing reports, etc. However, most of the book is not useful if you want to use it for non-professional reasons.