Book Description
Investing is all about common sense. Owning a diversified portfolio of stocks and holding it for the long term is a winner’s game. Trying to beat the stock market is theoretically a zero-sum game (for every winner, there must be a loser), but after the substantial costs of investing are deducted, it becomes a loser’s game. Common sense tells us—and history confirms—that the simplest and most efficient investment strategy is to buy and hold all of the nation’s publicly held businesses at very low cost. The classic index fund that owns this market portfolio is the only investment that guarantees you with your fair share of stock market returns.
To learn how to make index investing work for you, there’s no better mentor than legendary mutual fund industry veteran John C. Bogle. Over the course of his long career, Bogle—founder of the Vanguard Group and creator of the world’s first index mutual fund—has relied primarily on index investing to help Vanguard’s clients build substantial wealth. Now, with The Little Book of Common Sense Investing, he wants to help you do the same.
Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing will show you how to incorporate this proven investment strategy into your portfolio. It will also change the very way you think about investing. Successful investing is not easy. (It requires discipline and patience.) But it is simple. For it’s all about common sense.
With The Little Book of Common Sense Investing as your guide, you’ll discover how to make investing a winner’s game:
- Why business reality—dividend yields and earnings growth—is more important than market expectations
- How to overcome the powerful impact of investment costs, taxes, and inflation
- How the magic of compounding returns is overwhelmed by the tyranny of compounding costs
- What expert investors and brilliant academics—from Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham to Paul Samuelson and Burton Malkiel—have to say about index investing
- And much more
You’ll also find warnings about investment fads and fashions, including the recent stampede into exchange traded funds and the rise of indexing gimmickry. The real formula for investment success is to own the entire market, while significantly minimizing the costs of financial intermediation. That’s what index investing is all about. And that’s what this book is all about.
JOHN C. BOGLE is founder of the Vanguard Group, Inc., and President of its Bogle Financial Markets Research Center. He created Vanguard in 1974 and served as chairman and chief executive officer until 1996 and senior chairman until 2000. In 1999, Fortune magazine named Mr. Bogle as one of the four "Investment Giants" of the twentieth century; in 2004, Time named him one of the world’s 100 most powerful and influential people, and Institutional Investor presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant by a financial guru.......2007-10-16
This is the most important book on retirement. if you don't buy anything else, get this one!
In the Peter Lynch mode of thinking
Beat the pros with common sense!
Outstanding Investment Book.......2007-10-15
This is the best investment book I've ever read. John Bogle's common sense approach to investing is easy to follow and very profitable. I wish I had this knowledge 25 years ago! Highly recommended!
Celebrating the 30th anniversary!.......2007-10-14
John Bogle is an investing guru.
But this entire book is him pitching his prized mutual fund that he created 30 years ago:
The Vanguard Standard and Poor's 500 Index Mutual Fund.
That's it!
So instead of reading the 214 pages, you can just read the following sentence:
"Buy the Vanguard S&P 500 Index Mutual Fund"
I already have, directly through Vanguard, so it was not new information.
Valuable Investment Advice.......2007-10-02
I have been "investing" for years without a sustainable strategy. The information provided in this book is educational, reassuring and eye-opening. Mr. Bogle showed that Investing need not be complicated and provided many examples and facts to support his assertions. If you need good, sound proven financial advice from an industry giant, this is invaluable and a must-read book. I bought 5 copies (one is audio CD) and gave them to my friends and sister.
An aptly titled book.......2007-08-14
As a professional portfolio manager since the 1960's [now retired] I most highly recommend this book. I have purchased copies for my adult children, as well as for some for-profit and non-profit boards on which I serve. I am telling all that this easy, one-day read has the potential to be a financial life-enhancing event, if they agree with the basic premise. And that there is no reason not to agree with the premise. I very much like that Bogle includes supporting data at the end of every section. A true five-star book.
Book Description
"Investing well isn't easy, but it is possible. My goal in life is to make it easier for you to make money."
Jim Cramer is the champion of the middle-class investor. Every night on Mad Money, he provides valuable information about stocks, steering investors away from danger zones and leading them to the investments that can turn a lackluster portfolio into a powerhouse of profit. In his new book, he shows investors how to take the advice on his TV program and put it into action.
Cramer walks investors through the key decisions they have to make: understanding their tolerance for risk and defining their goals, doing the essential homework on a stock, and knowing how to buy and sell stocks the right way -- the Cramer way. This is a true nuts-and-bolts guide to investing, from Cramer's detailed discussion of the sort of homework investors must do to his own guidelines for knowing when and how to sell stocks.
Mad Money is a hugely entertaining television program, but it also offers valuable information that can be the basis for a winning portfolio. Cramer shows how to turn the "Lightning Round" into a terrific tool for investing; it's stock-market strength training. He reveals how he can assess a stock in only seconds -- a valuable skill that every investor can acquire and put to good use. He explains what to look for in his CEO and CFO interviews, and how to use those conversations to make successful investment decisions. He reviews some of his best calls made on Mad Money, as well as some of his worst ones, to extract ten lessons from each that can profit every investor. And for the Mad Money junkies who just can't get enough, Cramer goes behind the scenes to explain everything from the reason behind his deliberate mispronunciations to his notorious chair abuse to the zany props and buttons that keep things humming.
From the first "Booyah" to the last roar of the bull, Mad Money is every investor's favorite television program, and Jim Cramer's Mad Money is the book that can turn a TV program into a top-notch stock portfolio.
Customer Reviews:
Cramer's Best.......2007-10-20
I have read Cramer's first two books, enjoyed and learned from them. I liked Watch TV and Get Rich the best. It tells of a TV show more complex than what meets eye. I get more out of his TV show, having read the book. I make fewer mistakes on my portfolio! It is an easy, fun read. I enjoy Cramer's manic, complex style.
Very good insight into the stock market.......2007-09-25
provides very good insight into the stock market and breaks investing down into basics which are necessary to understand market jibberish
For serious newbies, great for those with little time.......2007-09-22
I recently started trading online thanks to Prof. Cramer. I have both Mad Money & Real Money books including the audio books (read by Cramer) which are great companions. I've downloaded the audio books on my iPod and listen while driving (thru my car radio) or anytime I wish. I would highly recommend this to those who are serious about trading on their own. I admit the first trade I made I had to take a deep breath. The great thing is Cramer is there everyday to Cheer us on and discuss the current events in the market. He's funny and down to earth and makes school fun. I have Phil Town's Rule #1 based on Buffet and Grahams style to not lose money, but after you get his book you are on your own, literally. Phil Townsend does not have the STREET experience that Cramer has. Rule #1 is a good book to start with in your library but if you are serious and don't want to trade alone enroll in Cramer's school on making MONEY. I've made some great money and look forward to making more. I watch his show and own all of his books except for 'You Got Screwed'. BooYah!!! Good luck.
Thanks Prof Cramer
Patty, WV
excellent investment information.......2007-09-01
i have been watching his show on cnbc and purchased this book. It is loaded with good information on investing and recommendations on how and what to buy and what to look for.
For the curious begginer trader.......2007-08-31
This book delivers. Granted you might find some of this info online, but if you like sitting down with a book, or reading something on the train while going to work, pick this one up. It has a lot of good pointers and constant references to watch the show but hey I already do. I liked it, an easy read, a book that is both entertaining and educational, and kept me interested.
Book Description
Over 30,000 online investors daily flock to pristine.com, the top-rated Website run by day trading legends Oliver Velez and Greg Capra, for up-to-the-minute strategies and market commentaries. In Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader, Velez and Capra revisit and completely update over 100 of their daily commentaries from the past four years, with new material explaining what worked, what didn't, and why.
This no-nonsense, easy read, meant to be referenced by traders every trading day, covers everything from potent trading strategies to intuitive insights on psychology and discipline. Proving once again that the best teacher is experience, Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader will help any trader log on with the technical skills, market knowledge, and confidence they need to capture more winning trades, and reap new profits.
Customer Reviews:
THE best book on trading I have ever read........2007-09-09
I had to get this book after reading such a mix of reviews. I was really curious how it would turn out since reviewers were either raving about it or trashing it.
After reading the 1st half of this book I was shocked to say the least. The first half of this book is worth more than all of the books I have read on trading combined. If someone trashes this book then they are either very new to trading and don't understand the points being made in this book(which I can understand because you have to get some experience under your belt to really appreciate what is being said in this book) or they are looking for a quick strategy they can read in 5 minutes and start making money. For one thing, that's never going to happen anyway.
The trading strategies in this book are very basic, so for newbies that part of the book has some good info. I was hoping for a little more advanced analysis of trading techniques, but I really didn't need that anyway. The knowledge and wisdom in the first half of this book is going to take my trading to moon.
For the newbies who didn't like this book, get a couple years experience under your belts then go back to this book and re-read the 1st half. I guarantee you, you will want to come back here and write a positive review.
Interesting book with lack in details by very self-confident authors.......2007-06-09
When I started reading the book by Oliver Velez and Greg Capra: "Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader", I thought it was one of the better books on day trading. It starts out with the importance of discipline, and the lessons to be learnt from losses. It also outlines the concept that you don't buy from the market, but there is always another person on the other side of the trade that has exactly the opposite market expectation as you.
Then come four chapters with lists of rules: 7 deadly sins, 12 trading laws of success, 15 things every trader should know, and 10 lessons for the master trader. Altogether 44 rules, which don't seem to be in any systematic order. It looks like the authors were brainstorming to come up with as many rules as they could think of, and then divided them up among the four chapters. Some rules contradict one another, some important rules are next to irrelevant ones etc. Also the "Seed of Wisdom" does not help to sum up the rules because it often is not related to the part that it is supposed to summarize.
In Chapter 10 and 11 the authors talk about tools and start out by explaining things as basic as a candle stick or support and resistance. Then they dedicate two chapters to Order Systems and Level II data, and it takes until page 293 when they finally talk about trading techniques.
After having talked redundantly about general things for three quarters of the book, the authors give their ideas of entry, stop and exit techniques. What I missed most in this part is the lack of exact trading rules. Everything is expressed vaguely (e.g. p.219 "you can also opt to keep the break-even stop. This is a matter of choice." or p.322 "Sell at least half your stock if and when the stock breaks below the 5-minute low. ... These are just guidelines. We don't want to be stupid. ... Many traders will be best served selling the whole lot at this point."). This is exactly the vagueness you can't afford as a day trader. I was also disappointed that there was so little variety in the trade setups (just three entry techniques).
So my hope was high that in chapter 17 "How to put it all together" there would finally be concrete entry and exit descriptions. Instead, the authors just describe common chart formations like any other book on technical analysis (and do a worse job, too).
Throughout the book I noted an arrogant tone (p. 317: "Let's assume a master trader, let's call him Mr. Velez."). The authors speak about master traders, as if they were some kind of rock stars. No matter, how successful you are, if you quit being humble, the market can easily take everything away from you.
I am giving the book three stars because it does cover important topics for day traders like discipline, and learning from your mistakes. If you want to read a more effective book, however, I recommend the one by John F. Carter "Mastering the Trade".
Seeds of Wisdom !.......2007-05-18
Tools and Tactics for the Master DayTrader: Battle-Tested Techniques for Day, Swing, and Position Traders.
Velez and Capra give me the impression they have traded before and are not just book writer's. You can learn a few pointer's from this book whether you are just learning or have been trading a while. It covers Candlesticks,Moving Averages, Fibs, Volume and drawing a few trendlines on the charts intraday and daily charts.
It does not go into some of the mathematical lagging stock indicators that some trader's think it might be the "Holy Grail". Those lagging indicators act like delayed instrument gages on your dashboard. Sorry, there is no Holy Grail on WallStreet predicting the future for you... better look elsewhere like yourself. The only "Holy Grail" you will ever find trading stocks is yourself there is no quick fixes to learn to trade stocks it all takes lots of time and practice.
Its to look and observe what a chart's history or footprints tell you with some seeds of wisdom.
I see so many negative reviews here about this books. I am starting to wonder whether those reader's have ever traded stocks or are just rookie trader's learning from their mistakes the first 2 years.
I have traded full-time for years and I can tell you they must be all rookie trader's hoping that a book might have all the answer's for them and their future. It would help them if they read this book a few times until it really sinks in their minds.
This book is a concise,no nonsense approach and covers everything traders need to win consistently.
As a prior reviewer mentioned which I agree...
"The key buy setup, alone is worth many times the price of the book."
Nothing new.......2007-04-18
nothing new, nothing exciting. Everything can be found in books that are half the price. Save your money.
FIVE STARS!!!.......2007-02-27
I would definitely give this book five stars. I really learned alot from it. If you gave it a bad review you either need to go back and read the book again or just skimmed through the book.
and to the person who sid that he "Heard" that they don't actually trade they are wrong and I thought everyone knew not always to believe what they hear. But hey, some people just believe things more easily than others.
and you can't even RATE this book one star because YOU HAVEN'T ACTUALLY READ IT!!!
You skimmed through the book and rate it one star??? WOW. that's all I have to say: wow. I'm not even going to say anything else. and people don't listen to all of those bad revievs out there. It really was a great book and is worth the money. (and so is his newer book)
and to the person who said: "This book TOTALLY rocked. I read it alot because it was so awesome"
YOU TOTTALY ROCK TOO! LOL!
Book Description
Two years in MBA school won't teach you how to double the market's return. Two hours with The Little Book That Beats the Market will.
In The Little Book, Joel Greenblatt, Founder and Managing Partner at Gotham Capital (with average annualized returns of 40 0.000000or over 20 years), does more than simply set out the basic principles for successful stock market investing. He provides a "magic formula" that is easy to use and makes buying good companies at bargain prices automatic. Though the formula has been extensively tested and is a breakthrough in the academic and professional world, Greenblatt explains it using 6th grade math, plain language and humor. You'll learn how to use this low risk method to beat the market and professional managers by a wide margin. You'll also learn how to view the stock market, why success eludes almost all individual and professional investors, and why the formula will continue to work even after everyone "knows" it.
Download Description
Two years in MBA school won't teach you how to double the market's return. Two hours with The Little Book That Beats the Market will. Let Joel Greenblatt, Founder and Managing Partner at Gotham Capital (with average annualized returns of 40% for over 20 years) show you how ""beating the market"" can be made simple and easy. The Little Book does more than simply set out the basic principles for successful stock market investing, it provides a ""magic formula"" that is easy to use and makes buying good companies at bargain prices automatic. Though the formula has been extensively tested and is a clear breakthrough in the academic and professional world, the common sense method is convincingly explained using 6th grade math skills, plain language and humor. Readers will learn how to use this low risk method to beat the market and professional managers by a wide margin. Along the way, readers will also learn: how to view the stock market; why success eludes almost all individual and professional investors; and why the formula will continue to work even after everyone ""knows"" it.
Customer Reviews:
Great book, simple and easy to follow.......2007-10-22
Great book for people that don't want to spent too much time making money. Accompanying website pretty well does all the work for you. A great book from a great performer in the investment world.
Basic, but very good.......2007-10-19
Many have criticized this book as being simplistic. And it is. That's because it's really a very simple concept that has been around for a while. That is, that buying a basket of undervalued stocks will provide better returns than the market average. The system presented here is just a refinement of the low P/E approach that has been tested in many studies and that has been proven to work.
I believe the reason it is presented in such a simplistic manner is that it's meant to be accessible to novice investors and people who simply want to earn higher returns than an index fund without having to invest a lot of time and effort into it. Though that's not to say that more experienced investors won't benefit from reading it also.
Another criticism is that the author stresses that you must have faith in the method to be successful. Some have misrepresented this to suggest that you are asked to blindly believe in the method. This is far from the truth. There is plenty of data presented and nothing about this method conflicts with common sense or with other studies. What the author is saying is that you need to fully accept and understand the rationale of the method and not be shaken by periods of under-performance.
Great Starting Point.......2007-10-17
This is the perfect book to start as a Value Investor.
Greenblatt will show you the way to find out of favor stocks that are poised to make a comeback and putting statistics on the table as good books do. No accounting background needed and no need to suffer boring technical stuff and even better is that after finishing the book you won't have to walk alone because Greenblatt offers his website for free to find investment candidates.
After you finish with this book I would suggest you to try the Little Book on Value Investing by Christopher Browne.
A Solid Buy.......2007-10-16
If you're looking to invest in individual stocks and incorporate a method on how to make your picks, don't miss this truly fantastic book that will hold your hand along the way.
Good Investment Advice.......2007-08-23
He wrote this so anyone can beat the market average--especially beat most of the mutual fund adverages with little risk and little tracking. It is O.K. to buy Blue chip stocks at a lesser cost and hold them as the price goes up. This is not for active traders, but general investors who think they can invest at least as well as many mutual fund managers. You can!
Book Description
From the time of its first publication five years ago, The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing has established itself as a clear, concise, and highly effective approach to stocks and investment strategy. Since the dot.com crash and ensuing bear market, significant changes have come about in the investing world, and The Neatest Little Guide takes this into account. In this revised edition, readers will learn:
€ Strategies on how to double the Dow with one simple investment and the latest products required for this approach
€ Methods investors can use to avoid disasters such as Enron and WorldCom
€ Thoroughly updated reference lists, including new websites, new software, new brokers, and new publications
With the right information for investors to keep pace, and rooted in the principles that made it invaluable from the start, The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing is a resource that no serious investor can be without.
Customer Reviews:
Best Investing Book I have read so far!!!.......2007-10-15
AS I was looking for another book, someone left a book saying,"... if your a beginner at investing check out The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing." I am so thankful to that person, best decision of my life. If you know nothing about investing this book is for you. If your an investor and want to add a different strategy to your porfolio, check this book out.
Out of the several books I have read on the subject of investing this was not boring at all. At times, the author throws humor into this book. I love this book and can't wait to get the 2008 edition.
Review of Revised Editon NLG to Stock Market Investing.......2007-10-14
I am constantly on the lookout for books that I am comfortable sending my children to educate them about investing. Particularly with respect to managing your own portfolio rather than settling for the SP500 with mutual funds (or chasing it depending on your funds). This book is a good introduction to the language of the stock market, develops a model for stock picking, and a system to manage stocks currently invested and stocks under consideration for investing. This lays the groundwork for investing in a non-emotional way.
I can only add; I purchased a second copy for my daughter after passing on the first copy to my son with my recommendation.
EXCELLENT LITTLE BOOK!!!.......2007-10-02
If you are looking for simple and direct answers on how to invest in the stock market, then this book is for you. I also would recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn the basics but does not have the technical background needed to go deeper in financial analysis. Great book!!!
Great Book for Market Begginers.......2007-08-28
I found this book a great starting point in my investment journey. There are lots of great basioc information, yet i found the book a joy to read.
Great Introduction to stock market investing!.......2007-08-28
An easy to read introduction to stock investing! I have not yet finish it (since I just got it recently) but what I have seen so far could get someone from having no real knowledge to having a kick start about stock market investing. The great thing about the book is that the end of the book is not really the end, as there is the website, which provides even more useful articles on investing and personal finance. For those who are really interested in investing could also subscribe to the news letter that the author has put out, which has a small subscription fee but it is really nothing compared to other sites that offer similar services.
Book Description
Inside the House of Money lifts the veil on the typically opaque world of hedge funds, offering a rare glimpse at how today's highest paid money managers approach their craft. Author Steven Drobny demystifies how these star traders make billions for well-heeled investors, revealing their theories, strategies and approaches to markets. Drobny, cofounder of Drobny Global Advisors, an international macroeconomic research and advisory firm, has tapped into his network and beyond in order assemble this collection of thirteen interviews with the industry's best minds. Along the way, you'll get an inside look at firsthand trading experiences through some of the major world financial crises of the last few decades. Whether Russian bonds, Pakistani stocks, Southeast Asian currencies or stakes in African brewing companies, no market or instrument is out of bounds for these elite global macro hedge fund managers. Highly accessible and filled with in-depth expert opinion, Inside the House of Money is a must-read for financial professionals and anyone else interested in understanding the complexities at stake in world financial markets.
"The ruminations of supposedly hush-hush hedge fund operators are richly illuminating." --New York Times
Customer Reviews:
Insightful visit to the world of the global macro investor........2007-09-28
This fascinating book will take you into the world of current global macro investing. Steven Drobny interviews 13 successful traders, analysts and fund managers who participate in global macro investing in many different ways. Although some of the discussions are technical (but never mathematical), they are readable and easy to understand. Drobny also provides some information on the origins and early years of global macroeconomic investing, from John Keynes to George Soros. He talks to his interviewees about their backgrounds and asks their investment advice. His question-and-answer approach keeps things moving. We enjoyed Drobny's descriptions of the people he interviewed, though the interview-style format leads to somewhat choppy data. This book is surprisingly fun for what could have become a very dense, technical tome in less skilled hands.
Find out what the experts think about investing in the global marketplace .......2007-09-17
This is a terrific book about how 13 investors use global macroeconomics in their work. The shorthand term is global macro. Since the field is pretty much undefined and can include investments of any time anywhere in the world, it is hard to define what exactly it is. In fact, the book isn't about Steven Drobny telling you about what he thinks it is. Instead, the chapters are question and answers with each of these practitioners of this technique.
The first few chapters offer some context and history of global macro investing. The earliest people doing it were probably John Maynard Keynes and Alfred Winlow Jones. Drobny takes us through the key macroeconomic crises of the past several decades and offers a few thoughts about the future.
The people he interviews are Jim Leitner of Falcon Management, Siva-Jothy of SemperMacro, the author's partner, but no relation - Andres Droby, Dr. John Proter of Barclays Capital, Dr. Sushil Wadhwani of Wadhwani Asset Management, Peter Thiel of Clarium Capital, Yra Harris of Praxis Trading, Jim Rogers, Dwight Anderson of Ospraie Management, Scott Bessent Capital, Mark Dimitrijevic of Everest Capital, Rob Standing of London Diversified Fund Management, and an anonymous currency specialist.
All of these folks look for people who are motivated, and have a passion and talent for math, economics, history, and have a demonstrated aptitude for training. You will notice that many have doctorates, but not all. Some learned the trade by trading, all were captivated by the process soon after they first came in contact with it.
I found the range of investments and their thoughts about the global economy fascinating. This is a very interesting book, especially so if you are interested in markets and trading. Their generally gloomy view of the future of the American economy is quite disturbing, though.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI.
A Rare Opportunity that Leaves One Wanting More.......2007-08-21
I love to have extended conversations with experts. I feed off their enthusiasm and expertise. These conversations are even more exciting to me, when the person with whom I am speaking is an expert in a field I love.
With only one lowly exception, Steven Drobny has written a winner for me. By interviewing as assembling the edited transcripts of his conversations in his book, Inside the House of Money, Drobny opened a gateway into the thinking and experiences of 13 successful Global Macro investors.
Although many have the reputations as being secretive and reluctant to discuss their market approaches, the author gives the reader a glimpse of the thinking that goes into placing a multi-million trade on currencies, economies and securities.
Drobny is uniquely qualified to do these interviews. As a partner in an international macroeconomic research and advisory firm, he brings a seasoned professional's insight to the interviews. Key historical events that shaped the experiences of these traders are explored. Nuances of the current crowded markets are discussed intelligently. As a result, the reader gains precious insights into the subtleties of running a Global Macro Hedge Fund.
There is only one problem with the book. I found myself wanting more from the interviewees. Drobny gave me access to people with whom I would never have the opportunity to speak. What I read was great, but I wanted more. But then again, I trade like that.
Excellent book.......2007-08-20
I found very interesting and rich of insights.
It's very useful in understanding hedge fund manager's approach to the markets.
Decent overview of global macro traders.......2007-08-15
The book kept my interest and was very informative. Some of the interviews were excellent. I say some, because those that trade closer to my style are obviously more interesting for me. but theres plenty here for everyone.
I liked the interviews of so many different styles because it just proves my personal theory that anyone can make money. Every trader in the book trades differently and they still all make money.
I also like the comments from many of these traders that said that we were heading for a sub-prime meltdown and that the banks would be having problems. This was written more than a year ago, and thats exactly whats happening today. Dow is now down 8.6% off the high it made last month. The volatility is crazy. And these guys predicted it long ago. Lots of good insight from their interviews.
Product Description
The Great Bust Ahead is a concise, straight to the point short book laying out in stark terms the case for a coming depression of historically unprecedented magnitude. It will be worse than the 1930s, beginning nominally in 2012, but perhaps as early as 2009-2010 and lasting up to thirteen years. Centered on hard fact demographics, the book boldly claims that the data presented are so irrefutable, that the outcome predicted by the book is equally as irrefutable. The compelling proof presented accurately accounts for the detailed trend of the economy from 1920 to today (something never before accomplished), and projects out to 2030. The book is very easy to read and understand, and requires no prior knowledge of economics. Down to earth things the average person can do to prepare for what is coming are covered. A summary of the catastrophic domestic social and international consequences is offered.
October 2007 Update: In 2002 when this book was published, in addition to the massive depression beginning around the end of the decade, it forecast:
1. The economy, as reflected by the DJIA, would resume its upwards march in late 2002 or 2003.
This is exactly what happened.
2. The DJIA would have a snapback to 13,000 to 14,000 and the FTSE to 6,000 to 7,000 by 2004, but delayed possibly by wars/politics/terrorism/scandals.
This is exactly what has happened. Although the full snapback has been delayed for the reasons described, the DJIA has now closed over 14,100 and the FTSE over 6,700.
3. The DJIA returns from 2003 to 2012 would average a historically long-term normal of 7% to 8%. So far, with the delayed full snapback for the reasons described, DJIA actual returns have averaged a more modest 5.8%, as would be expected.
4. Interest rates would increase from 2003 onwards.
This is exactly what has happened.
Customer Reviews:
It is just an indicator!.......2007-09-12
Everyone is forgetting that the book is talking about a correlated indicator for the DJIA. There are many things that drive an economy and make things happen like the weakening dollar, monstrous deficits, the Federal Reserve, cheap credit and the housing market bubble, peak oil, etc. These are some of the things that move the DJIA, NOT just demographics. The fact that the 45-54 age group correlates to the DJIA is very interesting and CAN be used to predict what MAY happen to the DJIA in the long term. Demographics of the 45-54 age groups are a strong force pushing the markets, but not the only thing. Even the author says that some things like "the New Deal, the pill and the NASDAQ" affect the correlation with this indicator. The politicians and Wall Street are not going to lie down and let this monstrous depression happen without a fight. They my not win the War, but where the DJIA goes in the future has not been case in stone. The future highs and lows of the DJIA are still unpredictable.
The book is a high school treatise on this relationship and to the economically ignorant is a real eye opener. Most economists know about this force, but the key is what to do about it and when. The author's advice to get out of the markets by 2010 is silly at best. We are now in September of 2007 and the housing market bubble burst is probably the beginning of the down turn of the markets. Wait until 2010 to protect your assets and you will far less assets to protect. The author's advice to sell your home and rent and plow your money into bonds is simplistic at best. Investing in gold, foreign currencies, TIPS etc. to protect your assets are other stratigies that are not addressed. We are all speeding towards this economic depression, but the answers to when it will happen and what to do about protecting your assets is NOT even close to being addressed by this book. The book is $8.95 and you get what you pay for, "a wakeup call for the economically ignorant". Read the book and move onto a more advanced book for a better in depth discussion on economics and your money like "The Second Great Depression (Paperback) by Warren Brussee (Author)". I do agree that a lot of pain is ahead for the world.
Not Bad But Too Short and Too Extreme.......2007-08-22
Let me start by saying that this is a pretty good book for the price and if you don't know what is going on in the economy. The problem is that the book has very limited data to back up the predictions. If you are going to make huge predictions you had better justify it with a lot of credible data that has been referenced. As well, some of the predictions are just too extreme. However, all of these shortcomings aside, the author provides a nice short treatment on what will most likely occur; just not to the extent he has presented in my opinion. Of course, opinions are like debt in America - everyone has their own!
A much more useful book in my opinion is "Cashing in on the Real Estate Bubble." It not only shows you many different ways to profit from the current bubble collapse, but it also shows a lot of detail about the economy and how to profit from America's overall credit bubble. Cashing in on the Real Estate Bubble
Interesting theory but..........2007-07-09
This book is short and easy to read. The author has an interesting concept that the stock market follows the number of Americans at their peak buying age. His graphs and explanations on modifying factors make everything fit. I agree that some correction of our economy (inflation, recession, or worse) is likely in the future, but I feel other factors (energy issues, our national debt, terrorism, etc.) will come into play that he has not taken into account. I also don't agree with his investment suggestions and feel they may be reckless.
If you're concerned about possible bad times ahead, this is one book that may helpful, but I better liked the reasoning and proposals on what to do in Stephen Leeb's book The Coming Economic Collapse: How You Can Thrive When Oil Costs 200 Dollars a Barrel.
Excellent Read.......2007-05-14
Pros:
1. Brief: to the point, no fluff book(let)
2. Logical: Numbers support theory all along
3. Simple: Easy to understand
4. Value: Could save your shirt
Cons:
1. May sound too negative
2. May not consider all factors into forecasting
Pretty interesting read.......2007-05-12
This book and the argument that it lays out is pretty eye-opening. It shows you, through logical argument, how the demographics of our country will impact our coming future economic health. With these baby-boomers greying and falling from their peak spending years, our country will experience a downshift that will really challenge our concept of prosperity... A must read!
Book Description
THE NATIONAL BESTSELLING BOOK THAT EVERY INVESTOR SHOULD OWN
Peter Lynch is America's number-one money manager. His mantra: Average investors can become experts in their own field and can pick winning stocks as effectively as Wall Street professionals by doing just a little research.
Now, in a new introduction written specifically for this edition of One Up on Wall Street, Lynch gives his take on the incredible rise of Internet stocks, as well as a list of twenty winning companies of high-tech '90s. That many of these winners are low-tech supports his thesis that amateur investors can continue to reap exceptional rewards from mundane, easy-to-understand companies they encounter in their daily lives.
Investment opportunities abound for the layperson, Lynch says. By simply observing business developments and taking notice of your immediate world -- from the mall to the workplace -- you can discover potentially successful companies before professional analysts do. This jump on the experts is what produces "tenbaggers," the stocks that appreciate tenfold or more and turn an average stock portfolio into a star performer.
The former star manager of Fidelity's multibillion-dollar Magellan Fund, Lynch reveals how he achieved his spectacular record. Writing with John Rothchild, Lynch offers easy-to-follow directions for sorting out the long shots from the no shots by reviewing a company's financial statements and by identifying which numbers really count. He explains how to stalk tenbaggers and lays out the guidelines for investing in cyclical, turnaround, and fast-growing companies.
Lynch promises that if you ignore the ups and downs of the market and the endless speculation about interest rates, in the long term (anywhere from five to fifteen years) your portfolio will reward you. This advice has proved to be timeless and has made One Up on Wall Street a number-one bestseller. And now this classic is as valuable in the new millennium as ever.
Customer Reviews:
The most famous book from the legendary investor .......2007-10-16
This was the book that catapuled individual investing. He teaches you how to beat the market just by keeping your eyes and ears open.
Unfortunately, most investors don't follow his rules.
A reread for those who have questions about their returns.
This book is the Bible for investing!
Teaching From a Master.......2007-10-12
(This is a review of the full-sized edition, not the ill-advised miniature that has garnered so much negative comment.)
Why listen to Peter Lynch? He's one of the greatest stock market investors of all time. From 1977 to 1990, Lynch managed the Magellan mutual fund for Fidelity Investments. The fund's assets increased more than 2,700%.
Is that a lot? It's like Barry Bonds hitting 200 home runs in a season. It's a staggering achievement, unlikely to ever be duplicated.
There is a small industry of financial advice out there from people with no documented success. Lucky for us, Lynch decided to share his methods.
One Up on Wall Street puts stock picking skill into the minds of everyday people. The book is written in a breezy, accessible style that non-financial types will appreciate. Lynch also gives a glimpse at his life at Fidelity during his tenure running Magellan.
Stock picking is an art. Lynch delves into the intuitive side of investing. It's not all about financial statements and balance sheets, although he gives you a quick rundown of those too (Chapter 13: Some Famous Numbers). The book has more ideas per page than any of the several stock market books that I have read.
Information overload can paralyze the mind of a stockpicker. If you're not a data type of person, stock research can make your head explode. Lynch spells out a way to find good investments without suffering brain damage.
To use a food analogy, he doesn't give you a recipe, he teaches you how to cook.
Must Read for any new Investor.......2007-08-08
I've been looking for more information on how to invest into this stock market. This book was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Not only did it help me figure out what kinds of companies to keep my eye out for, it also gave me ways and formulas to check out to verify if the stock was a good buy or not. I highly recommend this book!
THE SMALLEST BOOK EVER.......2007-07-31
This is a MINIATURE book. Literally. 3 inces x 3 inches, "95 pages" with 30 or 40 big words on each page. Ridiculous. I can't believe such a thing was manufactured.
Good start for investing basics.......2007-07-15
Excellent primer for how to consider investments from a qualitative perspective, rather than the number crunching quantitive perspective put forth by so many other writers. Peter Lynch demonstrates how amateur investors can have an edge on Wall Street professionals through our day-to-day interactions with businesses.
Product Description
By the early 90s, a raging bull market was delivering spectacular returns, causing some to believe that a market collapse and subsequent depression would soon appear. As a result of these fears, some exited the capital markets altogether. Thereafter, the Internet took off causing the market bubble to swell, many high-tech stocks with seemingly limitless valuations. Over the course of its 13-year stretch, the market appreciated by over 600 percent, with average annual returns in excess of 18 percent. And we all remember what happened at the start of the new millennium. Even after the deflation of the Internet bubble, cautious investors who pulled out of the market a decade earlier missed out on spectacular returns since then. Many investors who entered the market near its peak suffered devastating losses. But most who remained invested since the early 90s are still much better off today. While this correction revealed the most recent illusions embedded within the economy, it s only a small part of what will be a larger correction in the coming years. Despite the scandals in corporate America and Wall Street, many investors fail to recognize that the post-bubble period is quite different from the Bull Run in the 90s. But today, the capital markets have been realigned with authenticity, and economics now control the investment cycle rather than hype generated by Wall Street. Accordingly, Wall Street and the U.S. Government can only hide the realities of America s decline for so long. Unfortunately, America entered the free trade paradigm as a losing participant from the start. While America remains as the centerpiece for the global economy, it relies on record debt to maintain its status as the world s strongest consumer marketplace. But this cannot last much longer. America s vulnerable role in the new economy threatens to erode the strength of its empire. Already, America has witnessed a gradual disappearance of its core citizens; the middle class. As well, poverty continues to grow while America s wealthiest quintile increases their wealth. These trends have been masked by record levels of credit-based spending and manipulation of economic data. For over two decades, several nations have benefited at the expense of America s job base and living standards. This led to a long period of excessive consumption relative to productivity. When the economic boom from the post-war period began to lose steam in the 60s, consumption began to exceed productivity, as Americans refused to acknowledge a decline in living standards. Up until the 70s, America fueled this consumption-production disparity using the surplus wealth generated during the post-war boom. During the 80s, America s growing consumption was compounded by massive government spending and a devastating oil crisis. Shortly thereafter, the consumer credit industry grew to meet the demands of a nation experiencing large productivity deficits. And today, America is vastly different than the post-war period. Rather than increases in net wealth, America s growth over the past two decades has been fueled by credit spending which has created the illusion of impressive productivity, while serving to mask declining living standards. As a consequence of these changes, America s financial industry is now one of its biggest and most profitable. Today, America is more dependent on foreign nations than anytime in its history. Declining oil reserves and a foreign-funded credit bubble have positioned the fate of this nation in the hands of the world. Soon, America will face the economic burden of 76 million aging boomers. Beginning in 2011, mandatory expenditures for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will start to grow rapidly. By 2025, these expenses will have swelled to unthinkable levels.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent presentation of data, some mistakes.......2007-10-11
The author did an excellent job compiling data that is extremely important to understand if one is to thrive in America in the next 2 decades. There will no doubt be sweeping changes to rectify our current account deficit and aging boomer population. The author shed light on the politics behind Greenspan & Co's delay when our country needs to address these problems now. Other topics include: the .com bubble, real estate / credit bubble, free trade, health care, social security, energy crisis, and education.
Yes there are typos and some minor implications that are incorrect, but I don't believe they affect the overall concepts presented. I have also read "The Dollar Crisis" and find both books to be honest presentations of America's current economic state. I would have enjoyed even more information on developing nations, but the title of the book focuses on America, so be it. Overall, I felt this book was an excellent read that is neither conservative nor extreme but simply a presentation of data and well-thought hypothetical analysis of what is to come for America. Only the typos keep it from getting 5 stars.
Riddled with inaccuracies.......2007-07-30
This book manages to cover all major problems faced by the United States in the next 20-30 years - trade deficit, healthcare crisis, education crisis, etc. - and it does so in a fairly comprehensive way, with large numbers of facts and graphs.
The reason why I can't give it more than 3 stars for this achievement is that the number of mistakes it contains (from misspellings to factual errors) is absolutely incredible. It seems that no one (other than the author) so much as read the book before it went to the printing press.
First of all, there are spelling errors. English is not my native language, yet I've been able to notice one spelling error every 20-30 pages. "Notices in-lue of gold" (p.2). "Right to bare arms" (p.25). "America will loose its technology edge" (p.61), and so on. There are factual errors as well. According to the author, Statue of Liberty was erected on Ellis Island (p.27), Berlin Wall fell "a few years" after 1991 (p.10), and Albert Einstein immigrated into the United States in 1940. He thinks that women who give birth after entering the United States illegally are guaranteed citizenship because their newborns become U.S. citizens (p.32) - but he either does not know or fails to mention that they have to wait for their child to turn 18 before they even have a shot at legalization. He frequently claims (or implies) that Chinese goods are cheaper because Chinese government and Chinese companies do not provide healthcare or retirement benefits to their workers (p.41), when in fact they do. All these problems make me wary of any other claims he makes in his book.
There are many interesting graphs and charts in the book, but at least some of them were "cooked up" by the author from third-party data, so they are not always reliable. One rather puzzling chart is located on p. 113. It is a pie-chart labelled "Factors Driving Rising Costs in Healthcare (2001-2002, in $ billions)". However, pieces of the pie are labelled with percentage values and clearly add up to 100% (e.g. "Increased Consumer Demand, 15%"). Author comments, "Someone explain to me the economics of increased consumer demand leading to a 15% increase in healthcare costs in one year". It's clear that he has no idea what's really shown on the chart.
The book is heavy on portrayal of various weaknesses in modern U.S. economy, but rather light on attempts to predict the future. There is almost no discussion about the impact of American crisis on the rest of the world. Author predicts major revaluation of the dollar, but does not provide any macroeconomic analysis of consequences of this revaluation. He seems to think that collapse will not occur at least until 2012, but he's not very clear why he thinks it won't be triggered by deflation of the real estate bubble.
Overall this is an interesting and comprehensive book that's worth reading for anyone who thinks that U.S. economy is doing well, but it's not scientific or reliable enough to be of real value for an investor.
I recommend "Dollar Crisis" as a complementary treatment of the U.S trade deficit / credit bubble problem.
A chilling but accurate expose of how we came to be in such economic peril as a capitalist nation.......2007-06-10
In writing "America's Financial Apocalypse: How To Profit From The Next Great Depression", the author draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as a business, financial, and investment consultant for two of Wall Street's largest investment firms and elsewhere in private financial markets. Strathis provides an impressively analytical explanation as to how the liberals on the left and the conservatives on the right are working in differing ways to destroy America's fiscal and economic well-being; how the federal government in Washington is dominated by corporations; how China has taken total advantage of America's trading policies to our nation's detriment. Readers will be shocked to learn how America is legally bankrupt; how today the 'American Dream' cannot be achieved by most American citizens; the truth concerning the future of Social Security; the inevitable and looming consequences of the present pension plan crisis; and why most Americans working today will not be able to retire as their parent were able to in the past. "America's Financial Apocalypse" also addresses just how the American government manipulates economic data; how the Bush administration is responsible for the worst economic recovery in American financial history; how the real estate bubble could cause the stock and bond markets to collapse; how America's political and economic fate is in the hands of foreign countries; why the American government is really allied to the Saudi Arabians despite the established identities of the 9/11 attack; the looming global oil crisis; Alan Greenspans dismal performance as a Fed Chairman; the plummeting value of the dollar in the international currency markets; and the continuing rise in value of precious metals and oil. After laying out all of these 'inconvenient truths' about America's economic future, Strathis also lays out how the wise and savvy investor can still profit from an inevitable depression that will collapse America's economy in the very near future. A chilling but accurate expose of how we came to be in such economic peril as a capitalist nation, "America's Financial Apocalypse" is especially recommended reading for its clear and methodical explanation of just how the individual investor can survive what will prove to be the 'Next Great Depression'.
This Book Has NO Comparable!.......2007-04-05
Finally, an insightful, detailed, and massive compilation of America's economy and investment markets. This book is HIGHY recommended.
The reviewer below is actually wrong in his simplistic assumption that deflation is the exact opposite of inflation. While deflation tends to cause a relative increase in buying power, this effect is only when deflation is modest and in the early stages. During a more prolonged period, deflation creates a decline in GDP and therefore purchasing power due to the relative effects on currency exchange rates.
I find it amazing that a person could give such a bad review over one statement that he thinks is wrong (when in fact it is not) despite all of the massive data and extensive coverage of material. If a reader chooses to cherry pick from within a massive resource such as this book, they will miss the forest from the trees.
Hold on there...........2007-04-05
After spending $55+ for this book, I started to leaf through it and promptly came across the following comment: "...rising gold prices usually result from a deflationary economy not an inflationary one, as investors seek to minimize the loss in buying power of their currency." So far as I know, a deflationary environment INCREASES the buying power of one's currency, as prices generally decrease during a deflationary episode. In other words, one can buy more loaves of bread per dollar in the bank. Gold is generally a hedge against inflation or fiat currency collapse, not deflation. Given what seems to me a basic error of this nature, I will be skeptical of other information in the book.
Product Description
An accessible, reliable course for the trader looking for profits in the competitive, dynamic world of trading. Each section of the book offers clear examples, concise and useful definitions of important terms, over 90 charts used to illustrate the challenges and opportunities of the market; and how you can take advantage of patterns. Written in the parlance of the day trader s world, you ll enjoy the experience of being taught trading skills by the best of the best. This focused and effective trading resource features seven key lessons to further a trader s education including market basics, managing trades, psychology in trading and planning, technicals, utilizing charts, income versus wealth building producing trades, and classic patterns. It truly is as Paul Lange says, Many of these lessons have been taught to students worldwide over a span of 4 years. These lessons contain powerful information that goes far beyond the basics you may find in many introductory trading books.
Customer Reviews:
A disappointment.......2007-06-10
Although there are many insightful and terrific lessons to be learned here if you are a Pristine Trained Trader you will recognize the book to be a compilation of Paul Lange's weekly trading lessons. A free weekly service from Pristine. I suspect Mr. Velez' name was added for name recognition and, thus more sales. It is Mr. Lange's book, however, make no mistake. That said Paul Lange is one of the most astute traders and best educators around. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Lange and was constantly amazed at his trading prowess and his ability to convey the information. It's simply this book offered nothing new.
A very poorly written book !.......2007-05-25
I went through this book and its not as good as the original
Velez/Capra "Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader" which I purchased in the past.
It's a book you just skim through and that's about it.
I agree with the last reviewer comments. Close to the poorest written book I've read...
Very poorly written, but some useful info.......2007-04-28
This is close to the poorest written book I've read. However there is useful info in it if you can decipher Velez's lingo. Basically Lange, the "co-author" typed what Velez recorded in his classes at Pristine. After I started crossing out hype and BS, I found the book much clearer.
Also I agree with other reviewers comments that the book is an advertisement for Pristine. You can get some details on how Pristies are taught to trade, but don't think like I did that Velez covers much of it.
The hardest part in finding useful info is that it appears Velez is so "elite" that he has to use his own slang in lieu of standard trading terminolgy (Ex: a play ILO a trade, topping tails ILO shooting stars on candle charts.) Velez names trade set-ups as though he discovered them. If he knew candlesticks he would realize many of his ideas are not his discovery. So why name them? Maybe because Velez seems to have a "special" word for almost every normal trading term. That's not teaching, nor conveying information which is what books like this should be written for, that's probably just to intimidate clients, make them feel like he is the master.
I don't know that I would recommend buying it as I own it and am not sure I will ever reread it to jot down the useful parts.
Sloppy edition.......2007-03-20
The senior author uses green and red candles in his website. Hasn't any reviewer, including Velez himself, noticed that the candles' colors should have been changed to black and white before publishing the book? A bad start for an otherwise welcome addition to every trader's library.
Not to be Missed.......2007-03-18
I just finished "Strategies for Profiting on every trade". Just a couple of comments up front; first, I suspect that Paul Lange had much more to do with this book than he was given credit. Second, there were constant references to the color of bars and indicators in the book but the book is in black and white. At one point they labeled the lines "red", "blue" etc. but otherwise, throughout the book you had to find the lines based on the text, not the color.
Having said that, this is not a book to be missed, especially for intraday traders. Although the writers make it clear that most of the techniques can be applied to any time frame and that the daily charts normally set up the trade, you will find charts all the way from the weekly level to the 2 minute level, with the majority of the lessons seemingly taught and the trades played out on the 5 and 15 minute time frame.
This is a much smaller book that the original Velez/Capra "Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader" and doesn't contain the psychology offered in that book, but it is, never the less, a book packed with information and insights focused on bar by bar chart analysis, much of it, I believe, gleaned from Paul Lang's daily, live, real world experience in the Pristine trading rooms.
If you are new to Pristine trading methods, this will give you an insight and depth into chart reading that you may not have realized is possible. If you are a Pristine trained trader, as I am, this book reinforces what you should already know but will give you many "gems" that I am sure will be new and of value. In either case, this is a "must" book for the serious trader.
Books:
- The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Book Big Profits)
- The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Book Big Profits)
- The Love Languages of God: How to Feel and Reflect Divine Love (Chapman, Gary)
- The Market for Virtue: The Potential And Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility
- The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of (Motley Fool)
- The Nature of Risk (Contrary Opinion Library)
- The Option Trader's Guide to Probability, Volatility and Timing (A Marketplace Book)
- The Portable MBA in Entrepreneurship
- The Second Great Depression
- The Secret (Unabridged, 4-CD Set)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole
- The Color Scheme Bible: Inspirational Palettes for Designing Home Interiors
- James Baldwin : Collected Essays : Notes of a Native Son / Nobody Knows My Name / The Fire Next Time
- Love Your Dog Pictures: How to Photograph Your Pet with Any Camera
- Smart Soapmaking: The Simple Guide to Making Traditional Handmade Soap Quickly, Safely, and Reliably
- The Map of Innovation: Creating Something Out of Nothing
- The Dreaming Tree
- Essentials of Accounting Review
- IFRS, Fair Value and Corporate Governance: The Impact on Budgets, Balance Sheets and Management Acco
- Peach Cobbler Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery with Recipes
General
| Popular Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
The Little Book of Value Investing
The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing
The Little Book That Makes You Rich: A Proven Market-Beating Formula for Growth Investing (Little Book Big Profits)
The Little Book That Beats the Market
