5 comments about Technical Traders Guide to Computer Analysis of the Futures Markets.

1. This book is nothing special. I really disagree with the author's interpretation of the ADX indicator. Absolute level is far more important than slope. The day trading systems shown will lead you to the poor house in no time. Presents some novel ideas though.



2. I know Charles Lebeau. He does occasional system seminars with my father Dr. Van K. Tharp one of the "Market Wizards" and author of Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom. Charles Lebeau is a great trader. When anyone ask me about a technical indicators book this is the one. Charles is very through. He noticed the best traders in the industry are usually right 30% to 40% of the time. They just cut their losses short and have these huge winners. Charles tested most of the major indicators against random entry i.e. (Flipping a coin) most of them don't do any better. Your exits, psychology, and money management determine if you are making money or not. Don't pay too much attention to your entry. This book explains his results and how to use each indicator. Almost any indicator will work with proper money management. I done well even with flipping a coin and the right stop. The indicator best for you is one you feel comfortable with and will stick with. BUY THIS BOOK and hopefully what I wrote may make some sence to you.



3. I only discoverd this pretty old book recently. I am suprised to find there are quite a lot of trading tips. What make this book stands out of the crowd is the tips were very concrete and practical. The discussions about exit and stop loss are parcticular good. Many other books just said cut the loses quick. How quick? When? This book gives you some hints. The authors also give some tricks in using indicators which I hope I could know earlier.



4. This book gets a 4 stars rating because of its expensive price (the book is only 220 pages and full of empty spaces). But, price is always subjective. You may treat it as the cost of your education.

   Anyway, what makes this book so very valuable is the fact that it is easy to read, clear, definitive, and yes it has so many valuable information on what parameters to use for each indicator. How many of you left confused on what parameters should be used? This book will definitely clear away the clouds in your mind.

   LeBeau has done extensive research on indicators such as ADX and his insights on other popular indicators are extremely valuable.

   The title may be slightly misleading because bulk of the contents is explaining each technical indicator (120 pages), while only 45 pages on explaining how to build a trading system. Yet, it is clear and concise.

   The final Chapter is also valuable. It deals with 12 Day Trading systems that the author has selectively chosen out of all day trading ideas he has or has received from other great traders.




5. This book is a must read for Trading System Developers. The concepts can be applied to many markets. The section on testing alone is worth the price of the book.
   
   www.iExpertAdvisor.com

2 comments about Don't Tell Me It Can't Be Done.

1. This memoir is a good and interesting read. I found the positive attitude and work ethic of Mr. Hickey very refreshing. The photos are a nice touch also.



2. To become a respected entrepreneur to all around you - something nice to shoot for indeed. "Don't Tell Me It Can't Be Done: Your Career Is Your Ship - You Be the Captain" is Ray Hickey's story behind his success running a successful barge company and retiring comfortably at a good age. He rose up from the lowest ranks of the company to the owner of it, and he grants out his inspirational wisdom to encourage others, that no matter where you are in life, reaching the top is something that can be done. "Don't Tell Me It Can't be Done: Your Career is Your Ship - You Be the Captain" is highly recommended to any community library career collection.

5 comments about How to Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett: Profiting from the Bargain Hunting Strategies of the World's Greatest Value Investor.

1. 1) The first quote on the back cover is from Mary Buffett. Mary's claim to fame is that she divorced Warren's son and then got into the investment book business. If you can't do that 'math' or you buy into the '*****' reviews for this book I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you. 2) Throw out the chapter on 'Warren on Arbitrage'. I've worked in equity arb. Most of this chapter is either outright false or highly misleading. 3) Entire sections of this book read as if they were excerpted from Hagstrom's or John Train's books. 4) The only reason I didn't give this book zero stars was it had some nice quips about value investing in general.



2. This is book says it about Buffet's way of picking stocks, but it is not. I'm sure Buffet would scream if he ever read this book. It not only isn't Buffet's strategy, it is bad advise too. Don't buy this book. If you've read it, disregard everything you learned before you lose money. Read Buffet or Graham and get it straight from the horse's mouth, and learn the intelligent way to pick stocks. This book stinks!



3. I am an avid reader of Warren Buffett's writings, and I believe that Warren Buffett would disagree with many items in this book. For example, Warren Buffett previously described his method of discounting companies in other articles, and it does not match the author's description.
   
   I can see how this book would be highly rated to someone not familiar with the details of Buffett's own articles and letters. But in my opinion, the book appears to only about 80% in agreement Buffett's previous writings. This book can give the reader a good overview of Warren Buffett's methods if they do not pay strict attention to the author's details.



4. A $10,000 investment in Warren Buffett's original 1956 portfolio would today be worth a staggering $250 million ... after taxes! What are his investing secrets?
   
   How To Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett contains the answers, and shows, step by profitable step, how any investor can follow Buffett's path to consistently find bargains in all market conditions: up down, or sideways. Relatively short and easy to read, How to Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett is an excellent introduction to the world of value investing.The book is relatively short and should provide a satisfying read.



5. I've read about 5 "Buffett" books and they ranged from utter garbage (the daughter-in-law books) to the mildly interesting. None really helped me invest better.
   
   This book is different. I've read it probably 10 times now. Every chapter can change they way you think about investing.
   
   The writing is clear and simple.
   
   What follows is a totally groundless statement - i have zero evidence of this - but... the only other writer I know who writes so clearly on investment is Buffett himself, which leads me to suspect he may have been involved in the writing of this book ...or maybe Buffet is the real writer. (apologies to mr vick - take my comment as a compliment if you really did write this)
   
   Even if Buffett isnt the real writer, my guess is that this is the book he would write.
   
   It's my favourite book on investment. I have five or so copies at any one time and hand them out to friends who ask me for investment advise.

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 Speak for a Living: The Insider's Guide to Building a Profitable Speaking Career.

1. Bruce's latest book is one of her best yet! Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned speaker, there are tips and lessons in here that are invaluable. I like her style of writing as it is to the point,direct, and best of all, she writes from experience. Thank you Anne Bruce for another book like only you can write.



2. This is a comprehensive, practical look at the speaking industry. Anne Bruce's book doesn't sugarcoat or try to glamorize what can be a physically-demanding and competitive career. Anne, a successful speaker in her own right, interviews many experts to help the emerging speaker save time, money and heartache. I highly recommend this for anyone who's ever given a talk and thought, "Hey, that was fun! I wonder if I could get paid to do this?"



3. I am a 28 year law enforcement officer who is transitioning to a new career as a professional speaker/presenter. Simply put, Anne's book is outstanding!! She provides you with the tools necessary to succeed in this very competitive business. She has credibility. She backs up her statements with many, many years of experience. If you are considering a career as a speaker, you must read this book.



4. Anne's book is a wonderful "how-to" guide for individuals who are thinking about starting a career as a professional speaker or trainer. She provides a realistic look at the profession itself and lays out, in specific and straightforward terms, what people need to do to succeed in this very competitive but exciting profession. I would highly recommend Anne's book to anyone starting in this business and also to seasoned professionals. This book is a winner! Buy it!



5. If you want a book to sell you on how easy it is to make a fortune as a public speaker, this is not that book. However, if you seek one that will help you assess whether or not you really have what it takes to stand a chance in this competitive field, this is the book you must buy, read, and follow. Whether Anne's advice launches your dream, or awakens you from it, it will have been money well spent.

5 comments about The Beardstown Ladies' Common-Sense Investment Guide: How We Beat the Stock Market-And How You Can, Too.

1. Allow me to chime in a little, too. The ladies were probably running a ponzi game. It's hard to say whether it was intentional or not, but am I glad they are totally forgotten at this point. This episode does prove that not everything in print is true. A cynic's corollary: most things in print are not true.



2. If you are planning to read this book to learn about some "Beardstown Ladies magical formula to beating stock market", then forget it. This book is not for you.
   
   "The Beardstown Ladies Common-Sense Investment Guide" is a self-glorifying book by the "Beardstown Ladies", about the "Beardstown Ladies". In brief, this book is all about how some small town ladies got lucky in the stock market.
   
   In no way can this book be considered a "Investment Guide". Most of the ideas presented in this book are self evident and already known to the general public. There are no specifics on how much they made but based on some of the numbers quoted, it does not look like they made millions or anything close to it. Again the pompous ladies have quoted just the beginning and ending numbers, so it might seem that they got good overall returns, but if you try to find the compounded rate of returns, it turns out to be mere few points above or close to the market and that too over a not so long period.
   
   The book just talks about its so called "great" successes. But fails to tell any of their failures.
   
   This book should probably have been renamed as "Beardstown Ladies book of recipes".
   
   All you can take from this book is ... If some small town ladies can make "some" money in the market, you too can :-)
   
   -Sachin



3. The S&P 500 Index returned 14.9% per year. The Beardstown Ladies, when their returns are calculated correctly, earned 9.1% per year. See A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton G. Malkiel, quoted by en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beardstown_Ladies



4. Forget trying to beat the market. Most people can't do it over the long run, no matter how many hours of work you put into it. Instead just put your money in an S&P 500 or Total Stock Market index fund and forget it.



5. When you think of your grandma do you associate her with being savvy with the stock market? This group of 16 women aged primarily in the 50 to 80 year old range began an investment club in the early 1980s for the purpose of learning more about the stock market and as a good social outlet. Among the group was a school principal, a secretary, a pig farmer, and assorted other professions.
   
   Some of them had a general understanding of the stock market prior to meeting together and some did not but all of them gained a much better understanding of investing and business in general over the course of the club meetings.
   
   The structure was such that they met once per month to discuss various companies and the pros and cons of investing in them. They used various financial metrics on income statements, balance sheets, and analyst opinions to make informed decisions about stocks to invest in. Each member contributed $25 per month to the club and when enough money had accumulated shares of stock were purchased.
   
   Each member of the group was assigned a company to track and perform research on through various methods such as observing local businesses like Walmart, reading the Wall Street Journal, watching financial shows on television, and the nightly news.
   
   From 1984 to 1993 they claimed to have earned more 23% in the stock market but later audits revealed the actual percentage to be closer to 9%. Regardless of the actual return the women became substantially more knowledgeable about the stock market and much more savvy about investing.
   
   The club also provided them with a great social outlet where they swapped recipes and stories in addition to investing money. Many of these women were widowed and the club gave them a great deal more confidence when managing their finances.
   
   The first half of the book describes the club structure and how they originally started and the second half deals primarily with their investing principles and how they went about selecting stocks to buy, hold, and sell. Interspersed throughout are the ladies personal comments about various investing and other topics. There is also a recipe section towards the end of the book.
   
   This book provides a good vehicle for learning how investing clubs work as well as general tips on growing one's knowledge of the stock market and how to evaluate individual stocks. The beginning investor would do well to first thoroughly research mutual funds and their benefits prior to investing in individual stocks.

5 comments about 101 Movie Clips that Teach and Train.

1. For anyone who needs to design, develop and facilitate presentations, workshops or meetings in a hurry, this book is a GREAT resource. Easy to use. Intuitively organized. I highly recommend it as a reference book for any teacher or trainer's bookshelf.



2. The book was a good book to get you thinking about movies that could be used in training and questions that could be asked. However, I was unable to use most of the suggested movies in the book. Many of the clips were inappropriate for the classroom but it did not reference in the book. Some of the movies were dated and you could no longer get them or rent them.



3. It's a good book set up for quick references and teaching points. The only negative that I had was it would have been nice if the chapters were included for the clips, since we are now completely in the digital era. Otherwise an excellent guide to help.



4. I am an educator in a hospital and this book helped me develop a presentation for managers where I work. They're a tough bunch, but they loved it. Using movies is a great stool to teach leadership.



5. This book is very helpful in identifying movie clips that will engage an audience, get them talking about a topic and set the stage for further learning. The discussion questions in the book are very helpful and encourage audience participation. Movies are categorized for specific topics which help with determining what movie to use. Saved me lots of time!

1 comments about Revenue Recognition Guide 2008.

1. When I ordered this book, I was afraid that I would get something that basically repeated the literature already available from the SEC and FASB. While the concepts in the book are based on authorititive GAAP literature which is already available to me, I find the book useful in applying the guidance to specific situations which I face on a daily basis.

5 comments about Achieve Brand Integrity: Ten Truths You Must Know to Enhance Employee Performance and Increase Company Profits.

1. Gregg Lederman lives five years in the future, so if you want to know how to motivate your employees and have more profitable growth in your company, just ask him.
   
   Lederman sets it all out so well. This is a huge contribution that if used will empower any business of any size to distill brand integrity in their employees. This book is easy to read and makes it all so easy to understand. I really wish I had this resource to refer to 15 years ago. I make it a common practice to give this book to every new employee that I hire.



2. I like this book because it starts with a simple yet powerful concept missed by the vast majority of business leaders. Brand Strategy is "The process of aligning what we say with what we do, to positively influence what customers think." Simple because it is what your customers expect. Powerful because in my experience most competitors don't get it. They're wrong. Great brands are fueled by strong cultures, cultures that strive to bring their brand's promise to life. Chapter 6 is worth the entire price of admission. In this chapter, you begin to understand the underlying psychology of your workers and how beliefs drive behavior. And what you must do to change them to become a "visible" brand. Not from a strategy standpoint, rather from a get your hands dirty point of view. When Gregg Lederman says process, he means that literally. He spells out in clear steps what you need to do to align what "we do" with what "we say." In fact the book refers you to [...] to access templates that allow you to progress this concept on your own. Achieve Brand Integrity is a small investment that can pay huge dividends if you embrace the power of a designed culture.



3. Finally a book that didnt leave me hanging. Achieve Brand Integrity goes the extra mile. Gregg didnt let the book fall into the business-book-trap of only telling us "what we need to do"...he actually gives us access to the tools on "how to get it done." Pretty selfless stuff. If this read doesn't get you off the dime towards competing globally in the 21st Century...then stop buying books on Brand. C-Level Mgmt should take notice from Mr. Lederman...change is coming with or without them!



4. As a MBA student, I found this book a must-read. Unlike other books I have read, this book looks beyond classroom branding theory and teaches you how to successfully implement a brand strategy through the alignment of a company's employees with its vision. I look forward to executing the truths as I head into the "real world," now better prepared!



5. This book has a number of practical messages for anyone who is managing or learning how to run an organization. Unlike most books, the author explains how to implement the ideas. For my company it helped us build a foundation of principles by which everyone can live by not just talk about. The end result was a more enjoyable workplace and five star customer experience.

5 comments about Active Index Investing: Maximizing Portfolio Performance and Minimizing Risk Through Global Index Strategies.

1. Steve Schoenfeld's edited volume, "Active Index Investing," is a welcome addition to the literature on financial management. Although rigorous in content, its clear-to-follow chapters and illustrative sidebars combine to make this book extraordinarily useful as a primary textbook on MBA or executive education courses on financial analysis, financial instruments, fixed income asset pricing, and portfolio management. In addition, several chapters, including those dealing with enhanced indexing and benchmarks, will be of particular interest to scholars who are interested in the theoretical literature on portfolio management. Overall, "Active Index Investing" is a winner and gets my highest recommendation due to its clarity and breadth.



2. This book is quite simply contains the best information on the subject of indexing.
   
   It tracks the beginnings of index products and pays respects to the pioneers that developed this type of investing. Mr. Shoenfeld thoroughly decribes the myriad of vehicles that are available for investors today (this list grows every day it seems).
   
   But what really makes this book shine is the real-life examples and guest writers. Books about investment theory often lack concrete illustrations of the theories they espouse. Mr. Shoenfeld descibes in detail how and why individual investors, pension plans, and hedge funds use index products. In many cases, fund managers write the chapters. Getting this information "from the horse's mouth" allows insight into thought processes of those responsible for investing millions of dollars.
   
   The scope of the book is amazing, and even more is available on the e-ppendix on the Web. Congratulations to the author on putting together a massive reference book on the subject of indexing.



3. An important disclaimer: I am a specialist index portfolio manager a major index fund manager
   
   This is an excellent book that contains all the important reasons why your asset allocation should start with indexing and then think about active managers (not the other way around - pick the market haystack, not the active manager needle). The important points have not changed over the years, including during the bear market of 2000-2001. The bottom line is that costs matter.
   
   I was most impressed with chapter 19, which well describes the index portfolio management process and demonstrates how much more difficult it is to deliver benchmark returns than what people think. Every person who glibly retorts 'a trained monkey could manage an index fund' and 'what do you guys do all day anyway?' should read this. Index portfolio management is a unique challenge and we're always on a hiding to nothing to achieve this outcome.
   
   The chapters are well researched and there are plenty of references for the interested reader.
   
   It is a large book, but all the chapters are self contained and there is no loss of continuity by reading chapters individually.
   
   I ended up giving it four stars however as the low quality paper on which it was printed makes the book feel a little cheap. For a $90 book the publishers could do better.



4. Indexing is definitely the most cost effective way to invest and to control how your assets are allocated. At the end of the day, what ultimately drives return, is an intelligent asset allocation strategy and minimizing costs. A good financial planner who believes in this strategy should help you implement the asset allocation and monitoring processes. If the proper investment tools are used you can have the investments and the investment advice for less than the cost of the average mutual fund.



5. I found this book to be informative and relevant to my investing style. I liked the format and the specific chapter headings...It's a good sized book but there is a lot to cover.