3 comments about The 5S for the Office User's Guide.

1. I found The 5S for the Office User's Guide exactly what we needed. The 5S is a very simply concept. This book breaks 5S down into doable and actionable steps with great worksheets and checklists. The photos were also very helpful in seeing how others have implemented 5S. A great value!



2. I found the layout (i.e., forms, worksheets, and examples) the best on the market to date. We followed the book step-by-step in our customer service, accounting, and engineering departments with great results. This book did it for us!



3. The 5S for the Office User's Guide is the single most helpful tool for taking "lean" into the office. We used it to reorganize our own offices as well as using it with clients. It's truly a hands-on book with plenty of illustrations, concrete examples and excellent "how-to" steps for organizational lean efficiency. I strongly recommend it.

3 comments about Presentation Skills Training (ASTD Trainer's Workshop) (Astd Trainer's Workshop).

1. Just wanted to shoot you a thank you note for your work on the ASTD Presentation Skills Training text. I paid full price for it and have really been impressed with your work. The tone is approachable and humorous, the content is grounded in solid theory without the usual preaching or glazing, and the process is well-paced for adult learners.
   
   I have been teaching public speaking for 20 years at the college lever and even wrote a public speaking textbook, but when my college asked me to do 2 day boot camps for local businesses, I was at a bit of a loss.
   
   When ASTD sent out the news of your work, I ordered right away. I give one workshop Dec. 13-14 and another Dec. 17-18. I'm going to do exactly what you outline for the 2 day gig. If you want, I can let you know my results.
   
   Again, thanks for this excellent resource and good luck with the mid-life crisis book. That's going to be fun and therapeutic! If you have a mailing list, please add me! You have a fan in Austin!



2. I recently had to put together my first "Train the Trainer" one hour session for a management level group at an engineering firm. This book and the accompanying cd were invaluable.
   
   It would be easy to do a two day seminar using all the tools laid out; it's just as easy to pick and choose as I did for a series of shorter seminars. All of the handouts and slides on the cd are easily customizable to add in your company's logo.
   
   I got great reviews on my first session thanks to this guide (and an average survey rating of 4.6 on a scale of 1 - 5). I will be doing the same class for a THIRD time next week for another group due to word of mouth from the first session. Highly recommended!



3. I bought this book to 'help' me get some ideas to use in a two day Presentation Skills workshop that I was having. I opened the book and discovered that this book was actually ALL I needed for this workshop. It is excellent. I can find no fault with this book. The activities are completely relevant and they truly reinforce every learning concept. The course was a tremendous success, and at the end of the programme, attendees wanted information on how to go about purchasing this book. This book is by far my best buy of the year.

1 comments about Accounting for World Class Operations (Winner of the Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence).

1. This is an excellent book that explains in layman's language why traditional cost accounting standards that date back to the railroads are doing healthcare and manufacturing institutions a great disservice today. Cost accounting standards and traditional finance approaches to ROI, are 2nd only to change management (culture) as to why so many lean initiatives fail. This book offers concrete examples backed up by New Lean Profit and Loss statements being implemented at actual companies. These newly formatted statements support lean implementations and meet GAAP accounting requirements even better than traditional measures. This is a great addition to the four or five lean accounting books that have been published so far. Solomon, with his first book Who's Counting and now this book, is establishing himself as a lean accounting expert along with Maskell and Fiume.

5 comments about Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate: Fixer Jay's 2-Year Plan for Building Wealth - Starting from Scratch.

1. The author gave "how" examples and easy to understand explainations to help you build wealth.



2. I loved Fixer Jay's original book, Investing In Fixer Uppers, so I was thrilled to buy his second book as soon as I heard about it. It is an ok book, but it is his original book in a new cover. Even some of the sentences are the same. It was kind of like listening to a friend who tells you the same stories without remembering that he has told you already, using the same words, gestures and inflection. I was dissapointed that there is actually no explanation for creating a 2-year plan anywhere in the book. The closest thing that I could find to a 2-year plan, was a sentence on page 8 that said, "Two years after you acquire your first property, you should have a dependable income, assuming that you're following my strategies." Then comes an analogy that investing in real estate is like kissing frogs to find a prince. I suppose that it is, but it didn't help me with a 2-year plan. If you are interested in fixing up houses to rent for income, don't hesitate to buy Jay's first book-I have read it 5 times, and am using his strategies from that book right now, having just fixed up an older house in my neighborhood. With 3 month's part time work, I now have 28k in equity, and 209.00 per month positive cashflow, on my first fix-up ever, thanks to his first book. The house was even owner financed, 2% down, and deferred payments too! (Jay's strategies) Don't bother with the 2-year plan book though, because it isn't anything new.



3. This book has the strong qualities of Jay's first book - written in a easy-going, lay-back style that makes it enjoyable to read, and it presents an eminently useful model that really works.
   
   Jay says to avoid slick and flashy techniques because "slick is another word for slippery." He points out the gurus who formerly expounded on a wide assortment of get-rich techniques are "either bankrupt or working in gas stations." Jay advises to stick with run-down, fixer-upper types of properties. Buy low, and improve their value, and rent them out. I's a winning formula that I, and many others, have used to make money in real estate.
   
   I particularly liked Jay's technique of taking a low key negotiation approach, like the former TV-detective Columbo when he interrogated suspects. Instead of putting the seller on the defensive, don't directly tell them what's wrong with their house. No one wants a complete stranger to come up and criticize their house. Always show respect to the seller, and have the seller tell you what's wrong with the house by asking him a series of polite questions. Listen carefully to what the seller has to say. You can learn a lot by listening. Don't be critical, never talk down to anyone. Even sellers who must sell, won't sell to you if you try to intimidate them. Jay points out that you still must diligently verify any information you get from the seller. One way to do that is to ask for their "Schedule E" tax form.
   
   Another key to Jay's formula is turning motivated sellers into bankers. This is something that a lot of us, myself included, need to work on. If we follow Jay's advice and get the seller to finance at least part of the loan, the purchase process suddenly becomes much easier.
   
   I also liked Jay's memo system of dealing with renter problems. In using this system, I find it simplifies my dealings with renters. If you call and tell them to do something, they forget. If they see it in writing, in an official-looking memo, they will usually, but not always, do what you ask them to do. It reduces direct contact with them and it gives you written documentation in case you later need it later to remove them from the house. I like Jay's comment "tenants don't intimidate me because they are simply no match for my landlording skills." A bold attitude that we should all aspire for.
   
   Overall, there is a lot to like about this book. If offers sound advice for the new, and the seasoned, investor. The Columbo negotiating technique alone was worth the price of the book for me.
   
   
   Terry Sprouse is author of the book: "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time."



4. Author's basic premise makes sense-- there is money to be made buying fixer upper single-family houses that are rehabbed and rented for investment income. Author suggests focusing on houses that require cosmetic repairs and/or sweat-equity repairs that offer cost savings via investor completed repairs versus hiring and paying a professional.
   
   Book's shortcomings include ad nausea repetition, a lack of practical how-to advice and too many references to investment returns based on gross income versus net income or before tax cash flow (i.e., A $100,000 house that rents for $1,000 per month does not produce a 12% return unless the tenant covers all operating expenses, capital improvements and there is no debt service. John Schaub's single-family house investment books offer a more detailed road map.



5. There is some good, useful information in this book. But personally I found it hard to get past the country boy, hick lingo that he uses so much. For example, "Never Try to Milk a Steer". There are so many metaphors like this, I couldn't get through the whole book because I was laughing instead of absorbing the information. Most of the information is good, but if the book was more well written it would be alot better. I stopped reading this book and moved on to another one that I purchased at the same time, Millionaire Real Estate Mentor, I think its written by Russ Whitney or Ross Whitney, something like that. That one is awesome so far and I would recommend it above this book any day.

5 comments about Winning With People Discover the People Principles that Work for You Every Time.

1. I always thought the "Golden Rule" was to treat others how you want to be treated, but Maxwell's interesting take was that we should treat others how "they" want to be treated. It makes sense! Awesome read and practical application.



2. After reading only 60 pages I felt compelled to write a glowing review of this book. I had thought How to Win Frinds and Influence People would be a book that always stood out head and shoulders from any other self help book. This book is right up there with the best. John has much information packed in the first 60 pages and I am going to stop writing and go back to this fine work.



3. Great read, simplystic and profound, I highly reccomend it!!!
   I am a pastor of a church and yet even with years of experience in working with people, this book still challanged me in it's profound and simple principles, and improved my leadership ability by exposing some areas I could improve on. Since I bought this book for all my leaders to read, our church has even a healthier, happier environment than it had before, and I use to thnk it had a great environment before. I highly recommend it and plan on purchasing the rest of this author's books on leadership skill development.



4. In "Winning with People" by John C. Maxwell, the author intends to provide a reference for building and improving relationships. Doing so, according to Maxwell, requires that we first look at ourselves in order to determine if we are really ready to develop relationships. In essence, the first step to improving relationships is to realize that often our relationship problems originate within ourselves. Once we have moved beyond what is holding us back from succeeding in relationships, we can move on to developing them by investing in people with interest and trust.
   
   There are many good ideas in this book for developing relationships. However, the ideas will seem somewhat recycled. If you have read Dale Carnegie's book on influencing people, there won't be much new for you in this book. In fact, I got a sense of deja vu from reading this book. About the only thing new is Maxwell's stories of how he dealt with relationships as a pastor, which if you are thinking of reading this book for business purposes, will not add much to what Carnegie has already said.



5. This book was given to me as a gift on audio. I also bought the hard cover in that the material was exceptional. The content is easy to read and intuitive to apply to all life circumstances. I intend to have my Middle School child also read the book. Great work.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Real Estate Options: What Smart Investors Need to Know - Explained Simply.

1. "The Complete Guide to Real Estate Options: What Smart Investors need to Know - Explained Simply" by Steven D. Fisher is an astoundingly easy to read book. It provides step by step guidance to becoming a savvy real estate investor and especially in view of the Lease Option Strategy. This book has everything a consumer needs to know. Fisher covers both the advantages and the disadvantages of the Lease Option Strategy. The book also covers every aspect of what it takes to become a successful Real Estate Proprietor ranging from the importance of developing and maintaining the right attitude to becoming a wise and successful landlord.
   
   Fisher teaches you how to effectively get started as a new investor and how to avoid legal drawbacks by following steps to comprehensively set goals as you manage your business and property. You will learn the importance of organization in every area of your life in relation to success; from managing your credit properly to organizing your office. You will even learn how to organize and apply a successful "action plan."
   
   "The Complete Guide to Real Estate Options" teaches the real estate student how to build a rapport by using exercises that will help you to become a success in the real estate arena.
   
   This book, chapter by chapter will inspire any up and coming investor and even a seasoned investor to acquire his or her goals more quickly and easily. If you're looking for a good book that will teach you the ins and outs about real estate investing, this is the book for you. I give this book two thumbs up and without doubt a 5-Star rating.



2. One could well imagine Mr. Stephen Fisher, author of The Complete Guide to Real Estate Options What Smart Investors Need to Know - Explained Simply sitting down to write this book and applying many of the principles he's about to articulate to the production of the book itself.
   Aided by quotes from a variety of well-known personalities (Mark Twain, Warren Buffett, Tiger Woods, et al), Mr. Fisher sets out an exhaustive, step-by-step plan for anyone who is now, or ever has considered real estate investment as the best way to make a living. He does so very meticulously and with a great deal of attention to detail. Chapter headings and indeed, much of the text could be applied to starting any kind of business, or, as noted, to writing a book about starting any kind of business: Attitude is Everything (Chapter 2), Getting Started (Chapter 4), Some Basic Principles (Chapter 5).
   It is clear from reading carefully that Mr. Fisher has done his homework in the field of real estate options and in particular, believes that the `lease option' is the best way for investors to go. With over 25 years of experience in the fields of business writing and training and development, it should come as no surprise that he has crafted an excellent instruction book on the ins and outs of buying and selling real estate. He has included interactive options for the practical entrepreneur, like check lists, and blank forms that the reader can use to track his/her own progress, whether it be in evaluating a property, the neighborhood that it's in or the buyers who want to own it.
   He uses clever acronyms to crystallize reader thinking about specific subject matter. In an early section about "setting goals," he suggests that the reader/entrepreneur utilize the "SMART" method of creating those goals - Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic and Time-Bound. Near the conclusion of his book, he recommends that those seriously interested in pursuing real estate investment "SWOT" themselves; in other words conduct an objective analysis of individual Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
   His style is very casual, very confident and well within the grasp of an average reader. Fisher isn't speaking to experienced professionals here, although even the most seasoned of those could likely find a great deal of food for thought here as they continue their pursuit of real estate deals. He's talking to the person who's considering this particular career path and if it's one that interests you, you could do no better than to start with him and this book.
   Take notes. There isn't a quiz later, but if you head out on the route he's plotted for you, you're going to want to look back and remember some of the specifics



3. Having always wanted to make a fortune in property I've just bought my first house. But I wish I'd read this book before hand! It would have given me a tonne of knowledge about my options in property and I may have made a different decision.
   
   What I liked most about the book was that it really did assume no prior knowledge - it even started with a whole bunch of guides on how to get motivated and set goals and prepare yourself, before you even make your first step. Plus including things like real estate market psychology takes it beyond boring old numbers and statistics!



4. If you've been tempted to invest in real estate but the jargon, the paperwork and the cost seem a little scary, pick up a copy of Steven D. Fisher's handy book. This well-written volume offers a clear and concise picture of some of the basic tools you'll need to gain a foothold in the field. Whether your goal is to purchase just one investment property or create a massive portfolio, Fisher offers an understandable, common-sense approach to buying real estate.
   
   He begins by explaining both the advantages and disadvantages of real estate lease options, a method that allows potential buyers to invest only a fraction of their funds in a property. The examples provided by the author allow beginners to visualize how the process works. One of his most valuable chapters offers readers the opportunity to create their own "action plan," which outlines all the goals they seek to accomplish. Planning is key, Fisher advises, along with a positive attitude and the willingness to learn more about changes in the real estate market. Don't overlook basics like knowing your financial limitations and credit rating before you attempt to invest.
   
   But, Fisher does more than walk the reader to the front door of that new property. Once your purchase is complete, he takes you inside by explaining how to work with repairmen, how to find good tenants, and also provides an inside look at relevant matters such as taxes and maintaining your property. So, whether you're a newcomer to the field or someone who wants to brush up on investment techniques, let this clearly-written practical handbook be your guide.



5. The contemporary real estate market has left a wake of uncertainty in the minds of many investors. Though risk is inherent in any investment decision, the real estate market reflects real-world conditions as well as individual perception of market conditions.
   
   The Complete Guide to Real Estate Options: What Smart Investors Need to Know - Explained Simply is a non-nonsense guide to a specific type of real estate transaction: the real estate lease option. As explained by Steven Fisher, the book's author, the lease option is a lower-risk approach. As contrasted against the real estate purchase option, the lease option requires less money and limits exposure to the risks associated with property ownership.
   
   The Complete Guide offers strategies for researching, marketing and developing the necessary attributes to become a successful entrepreneurial investor. It also gives templates for sample letters and exercises that help build the skills required to build your own real estate business. The Complete Guide is a must for anyone interested in being successful in today's real estate market. It is a practical read as well as a handy reference for lease option investing. An added benefit: the publisher is donating a portion of their profits to the Humane Society, on behalf of the passing of their beloved office canine, Bear.

5 comments about The Teenage Investor : How to Start Early, Invest Often & Build Wealth.

1. Material is repeated over and over again. If your already familure with investing you probably should keep searching for another book.



2. Purchased Teenage Investor for my grandchildren but decided not to give it to them. While the book gives a reasonable survey of the stock market it promotes the negative theme throughout that we, average investors, cannot succeed and would be better off buying mutual funds. (So, why write a book about investing?)
   
   This boy-writer (in my opinion) must have garnered a lot of help from dad, a lawyer, an accountant, a broker, a writer, and an editor. I read the whole book hoping to find something that read as if a teenager actually contributed, but I couldn't find it.



3. This book is mainly for those who are extremely afraid of risking money in individual stocks or smaller kids (<12) The only stocks he likes are index funds. Otherwise, its CDs or something having to do with the bank. The author is ultra-concerned about risk, and he's 13 years old. His ultra-concern about risk gets very annoying and repetitive after you've read 50 pages.
   
   This is a great book for small kids, who aren't ready to take on the more risky stock market and individual stocks- it shows you the other options. (like the bank!) But for everyone 14+, I recommend "The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing".
   
   (I'm 15 years old)



4. this is a good, easy read and i definitely recommend it for teenagers or people that are just starting to build some financial knowledge. the basic concepts are explained quite well, and the language is clear and straightforward. however, he sometimes sounds like a broken record and constantly admonishes the reader to use mutual funds and save money and not take risks- again and again, and it kinda gets old after awhile. this book could probably be written in about half it's length if that weren't the case.



5. I bought this book for my son who is about to inherit a large amount of money. I loved it. As a mature adult, I wish this book had been around when I was younger. I'm going to buy some copies for my Junior High class so my students can learn the basics of the Stock Market. True, it's simple, it's low risk themed, but a great way for the younger generation to get started.

5 comments about Creating Contagious Commitment: Applying the Tipping Point to Organizational Change.

1. In less than 200 pages, Dr. Shapiro provides an informative, engaging overview of change management concepts, principles and tactics. The inclusion of brief cases and summary graphics facilitate understanding and memorization of key points. As a management consultant and educator, I look forward to recommending this book to clients and students seeking practical information on making change work.



2. I heartily recommend this book to anyone seeking insight into the peculiarities of organizational/workplace change. It has helped me understand why so many workplace "initiatives" seem doomed to failure almost before they have been launched. More important, the author provides concrete examples of remedies to prevent these failures. The author's writing style is clear, jargon-free, and to the point. The examples she uses to illustrate her ideas are clearly stated, and interesting. I read this book after reading the "The Tipping Point" (forgot the author's name, sorry) and found this book to be an excellent companion piece. It beautifully illustrates how tipping point theory is not only relevent but directly applicable to the work place.



3. This is a 'must read' for anyone working with groups of people of any size in any organization. Great application for business, schools, churches, volunteers, anyone wanting to motivate people with a common goal, purpose, or vision.



4. You could sum all of this book's content in just one page, even one paragraph: Design processes on the basis of usability. Include in process design activities people who will use the process. If you don't convince people about the merits of a new process, they won't use it, worse they will sabotage it. Once the process catches momentum, it will spread quickly.
   
   Now, if you repeat this a thousand times with slightly different sentences, add a thousand "tipping point" phrases, a lot of tables and graphs of questionable use, voila, you have a book.
   
   It is a wonder to me how it got such a high rating.



5. Dr. Andrea Shapiro is a friend and colleague from the days when we were both employed by Nortel Networks, a telecommunications firm recognized for "delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, securing and protecting the world's most critical information."
   
   As I opened the pages of my newly acquired copy of "Creating Contagious Commitment" I was thrilled to see another friend, Helen Sims, provide testimony for this work.
   
   Andrea Shapiro's book: "Creating Contagious Commitment, Applying the Tipping Point to Organizational Change" provides valuable insight on how organizations can optimize their effectiveness through proved decision making.
   
   Dr. Shapiro provides a unique perspective to organizational change because while working for Nortel Networks we experienced only one constant force... change... Throughout many projects and initiatives, such as our global attempt to fine-tune the Supply Chain Management of Nortel, from Customers to suppliers, we learned first hand how to utilize the Tipping Point computer simulations, developed by Dr. Shapiro.
   
   Today, many of us still approach our jobs by utilizing the tools we developed, the strategies we learned to deal with the dynamics that underpin effective organizational change. Simply... best-in-class!

5 comments about How To Live & Do Business In China.

1. I met Ernie in Shanghai a few years ago when our Dutch senior management development program with De Baak Management Centrum VNO-NCW included a couple of weeks in China to learn more about "doing business in another culture."
   
   Ernie gave us several cross-cultural lectures during our first days in Shanghai. We received a basic understanding of Confucianism, face and guanxi. His sharing of his personal experiences about adaptability and accommodation were very helpful for the company visits in the weeks that followed.
   
   Of course, when I learned that he had published a book,
   "How to Live and Do Business in China" I ordered it immediately.
   The book is a quick and easy read and brought back many good memories.
   
   I certainly agree with Ernie that one should respect and learn from other cultures, integrating the best of all worlds in order to find long-term stability for mankind in our era of globalization.
   
   Read the book, irrespective if you go to China. Don't miss his experiences about living and doing business in China.
   
   Andries E. van der Meulen
   Manager Projectacquisitie
   n.v. Nuon Netwerk Services



2. I just loved this book. It is a succinct education on doing business in China wrapped together with a heartfelt true story.
   It is usually easy to put down an educational book but the story here makes you want to read it right through, it is thought provoking and entertaining.
   I would certainly recommend this book to any person going to China for pleasure travel or business travel.
   Ernie Tadla does not over complicate the basics of understanding the Chinese people in fact he will help you enjoy your visit to China a great deal more with his excellent educational book.
   I might also add it may make us think twice about the way we live with each other here in North America.
   Enjoy
   Thomas G. Taylor



3. Ernie Tadla gets it right. You can't do business in China without really living. And these days, you can't really live in China without doing good business. Pre-Olympics, it's starting to get too damn expensive.
   
   So, How To Live & Do Business In China provides wonderful, insightful instruction into these two very necessary and intertwined areas that combine to make the best of China adventures.
   
   Mr. Tadla, though married (at least at the time of book publication), guides us through sex in Shanghai just as insightfully and humorously as he does through Chinese communication styles. I wish my significant other would let me write so honestly. Kudos, Ernie (and wife, Lovy).



4. I met Ernie some months ago not knowing he had written a book. Our conversation took us all over the world and we shared many views. It was only towards the end that Ernie told me he had written this little book which he would love to give me...
   
   The title of the book somewhat did not give me any indication that what I would read was my conversation with Ernie that evening - this surprised me, but only made me want to finish the story Ernie had started telling me. Its marvelous little book, that shows us how to be better world citizens, and for which I have only one suggestion; the title should be "How to Live and Do Business". No matter if we are living or doing business in China or the Middle east or South America, the book gives you a framework and examples for the type of openmindness any person should have towards a global world where cultures have intertwined as never before in the history of humankind.



5. I read your book "How to Live and Do Business in China" in two hours - could not put it down! It has to be one of the most caring accounts of experiences of a Westerner in China! I am hoping to move to Chengdu or Luzhou in Sichuan Province in the coming years and found the answers to many difficult questions.

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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




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



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



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