Fund-of-funds Books

Verdaderamente este es un libro para las personas que quieren comprender lo que esta pasando en el sistema económico, financiero y político mundial actual.
Stiglitz nos demuestra como las políticas económicas impuestas a regiones del mundo como América latina por el Fondo Monetario Internacional y la Banca Mundial han tenido resultados desastrosos. Estas instituciones no han hecho que aumentar la pobreza en los países "en desarrollo".
Recomiendo este libro 100%.

This is an amazingly stirring book for meditation or prayer, or simply to understand the reality of the 1980s in El Salvador. It captures the struggles of the Salvadoran people through the period of their civil war through their own stories.

Ever since the founding of our country, American scholars and political observers have commented on the bicameral experiment. The U.S. House and Senate share many constitutional responsibilities, but in other ways (district size, election cycle, size of the chamber), they are very different. But do we think that voters see these same differences when they walk in to the voting booth? Gronke's research show, in general, that the answer is "No." Voters apply a similar set of standards to American legislative candidates, regardless of the office being contested.

Gronke's study compares campaigning and voting behavior in the U.S. House and Senate over a two decade period, from 1980 through 1996. He covers such varied topics as media markets, campaign spending, candidate characteristics, voter evaluations of the House and Senate, and models of electoral choice. By use of a rich archive of contextual, campaign, and survey data collected over two decades, Gronke dismisses many of the conventional accounts of House and Senate differences. Instead, Gronke shows that common elements dominate. Except for the higher profile and higher spending rates in Senate races, U.S. House and Senate elections are marked less by differences than they are by similarities.

Paul Gronke's path-breaking study compares electoral contexts, campaigns, and voter decision-making in House and Senate elections. Gronke's book offers new insights into how differences - and similarities - across the U.S. House and Senate help us understand American elections, showing that congressional elections are united more by common elements than they are separated by an institutional gulf

Ross Baker calls Gronke's book "audacious" and "fresh", written with a "felicity of expression."

I came across Tristan Yates' writing and research from the website Seeking Alpha. Interested in his careful and clear explanation of why leveraged index ETFs don't deliver their expected 2x returns over time, I visited his website to read more of his work. There I discovered he'd recently published a book looking at well, enhanced indexing strategies and also using options--especially LEAPs--for better returns. I've always suspected there were "structural" opportunities with LEAPs, but don't have the knowledge to estimate returns. So I was eager to get a copy of Yates' book.

Although Enhanced Indexing Strategies isn't exactly what I expected, it is a very helpful resource. Yates is meticulous in his research and stats, showing how various combinations of options and alternative approaches to index investing will perform in a variety of conditions. I shudder to imagine the amount of number-crunching hours that went into the calculations. Yates answers questions like a) what kind of returns can one expect if they put the bulk of their assets in treasuries and buy LEAPs with the balance b)What option writing and buying strategies look the most promising-not just at this moment, but over the course of years and different market conditions. And c) how to use leverage in an index portfolio for maximum benefit. It easy to follow, as Yates is a clear writer. Still, this is not a book for beginners. I'd say intermediate to advanced. Happily, there isn't any intimidating math.

So what I was expecting? I was thinking the book would be a bit more definitive in telling you what to do. In retrospect this was naive as Yates can only lay out how strategies have performed, not tell you which ones to choose, given that depends on your risk profile and tolerance. Overall definitely recommended [if I had more control would give it 4.5 stars], as Yates looks and carefully quantities investing ideas few publish about in detail.

I loved this book, a true tour-de-force. Although I am a fairly fast reader, it took me a while to get through this, because after reading 10-15 pages, I would have to stop and assimilate the information Schoeck was presenting. Absolutely fascinating.

Schoeck has assembled a vast array of information on the manifestations of envy in societies spanning the globe and across time. He has ferreted out information from the sociological and anthropological literature, fiction literature, cultural fables, crime data, political debates, among other sources. He uses example after real world example to show how ubiquitous envy is as a state of mind, and how various cultures deal more or less successfully with it. Societies that are successful in dealing with envy are essentially those that largely suppress its active, overt expression.

Numerous cases from the sociological and anthropological literature indicate how primitive societies, where objective differences between society members are much smaller than in more developed cultures, actually have more severe problems with the expression of envy than do cultures where such differences are larger. He shows how world-wide in primitive cultures, the 'evil eye' is universally regarded as the sorcerous expression of envious malice, and further shows the lengths to which primitive peoples will go to avoid or deflect the evil eye. Schoeck reveals from objective sources that such envy appeasement is not limited to primitive societies, but that egalitarian redistributionist policies are merely the manifestation of envy avoidance and/or appeasement in industrialized nations.

Schoeck spends extensive energies analyzing the egalitarian-utopian impulse and its various practical experiments. Those of a socialist/egalitarian bent [generally known as 'liberals' in the US, and contemporary as opposed to the classical type] will not like this book, because Schoeck makes an iron-clad case that their reasons for promoting such an unattainable society are either 1) envious malice seeking to deprive others of envied assets or 2) the appeasement of envy in others. Schoeck shows, from the writings of people who have promoted utopian social models, that the motive for doing so is to create an envy-free society. He marshals an impressive body of documentation showing that policies such as progressive taxation are essentially institutionalized envy.

The so-what of all this is where Schoeck shows that uncontrolled envy inhibits all innovation and technical progress, and the destruction of achievements made in a society. He cites evidence showing further, how the legitimization of envy, and its subsequent appeasement, results in a vicious cycle in which the crocodile must be continually fed, as each social difference successively assumes the position of the BIGGEST difference, and becomes the new target for elimination by those who are envious of differences.

Essays on Church, State, and Politics collects six texts of classic literature by German jurist, philosopher, reformer, and early advocate of separation of church and state, Christian Thomasius (1655-1728). Translated into English for the first time, Essays on Church, State, and Politics argues forcefully for religious tolerance while lauding the role of sovereign power to preserve secular peace. Chapters further discuss natural law, the condition of the universities, the extent and limits of princely power, and the questions of whether heresy and witchcraft should be considered crimes. A powerful advocational text of why the state should withdraw from judging morality yet maintain its right to oversee matters influencing social peace, Essays on Church, State, and Politics is overall as relevant today as it was virtually three hundred years ago.

This book is an effort by Henry Home, Lord Kames, (1696-1782), to "construct a moral science based on the principles of natural law". He was a barrister with Whig principles and became a justice on Scotland's highest civil court. He had a reputation as an excellent jurist. Lord Kames was an avid reader with broad interests and was a patron of the "literati" club. He also sponsored Adam Smith's public lectures in Edinburgh. This book of essays helped found the "Scottish Common Sense School". It raises issues of the foundations of morality, free will versus determinism, the nature of self and identity." In his longest essay on "Morality and Justice", Lord Kames agrees with Francis Hutcheson that man is inherently social with a natural inclination toward benevolence. We humans use institutions, morals and laws to keep our passions within due bounds, this is very similar to Aristotle's belief that moral virtues are not natural, but acquired by means of education and example. Lord Kames points out that humans are social creatures and we are governed by different laws than animals that see each other as food. Lord Kames has a wonderful quote to illustrate his belief in the benevolence of man. "A lion has claws, because nature made him an animal of prey. A man has fingers, because he is a social animal made to procure food by art not by force". Lord Kames sense of justice and how it makes for a good society is espoused in his statement "justice is the moral virtue which guards the persons, the property, and the reputation of individuals and gives authority to promises and covenants". This is one of the main teaching points of the Scottish Enlightenment and embodied by our own "Founding Fathers" as evidenced by the language in the "Declaration of Independence".

Lord Kames essay on "Liberty and Necessity" looks at the development of civilization. His reading of Homer illuminates the fault of the psyche of the otherwise inquisitive and enlightened Greek people, the doctrine of fate or destiny prevails over man's free will. He takes great issue with the idea that man's fate is preordained, and is a great proponent of the idea of man having free will to act in the world. Lord Kames advocates for the idea that man using free will and acting out of moral necessity are consistent with liberty or absolute freedom. With free will comes responsibility and Lord Kames preaches moderation in our reasoning and behavior. For Lord Kames and most Scottish Enlightenment moral philosophers the laws of morality are the laws of nature.

This is a most illuminating book on virtue and morality and the influence Lord Kames ideas had on our founding fathers. If you are truly interested in a classical education put this book on the top of your reading list! I recommend this book for anyone interested in philosophy, history, political science, and history of America's founding era.

I liked this book a lot. I can't say I loved it because I'm not in love with the topic. As a licenced attorney and CPA I have had to study ethics as they relate to my two true professions: law and accounting. But I think this book does a wonderful job covering the different aspects of ethics that pop up in the nonprofit sector. Most of which have to do with fundraising. In broad terms the subject of ethics is broken into (1) Ethical Fundraising, and (2) Ethics as a guiding force. And I group the topics of this book as follows:

CODES AND STANDARDS
>>Ethics codes and standards
>>The context and development of international codes and standards
>>Web sites for international fundraising codes of ethics and standards
>>Statement of values and standards for excellence of the Tuscon Symphony Society dba Tucson Symphony Orchestra

NONPROFIT SECTOR
>>Restoring public confidence in the nonprofit sector
>>Regulation in the nonprofit sector
>>Between the real and the ideal: A meditation on the future of ethical reflections for philanthropic fundraisers

FUNDRAISER ETHICS
>>Honesty and full disclosure
>>Ethical decision making
>>The appearance of impropriety
>>Tainted money
>>Compensation
>>Ethical considerations of making The Ask
>>Choosing a leadership role

NONPROFIT ETHICS
>>Using donations as intended

DONOR RIGHTS
>>Rights of donors
>>Public privacy: An exploration of issues of privacy and fundraising

GRANTS
>>Both sides now: The ethics of grantmaking and grantseeking
>>Ethical relationships between grantees and funders

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is going to be responsible for the fundraising function at any NPO. This book was well researched, planned, outlined, and written. 5 stars!

In his book entitled Ethics for Fundraisers, Albert Anderson sets out to provide an ethical decision-making framework for practitioners involved in philanthropy: nonprofit staff and volunteers, professionals, and grantmakers. In essence, he hopes "to enhance the level of ethical fundraising throughout the nonprofit sector equipping development professionals and volunteers with the frameworks for understanding and taking principled action for preventing unethical behavior, and thus for building bridges of trust in the charitable community."

Throughout the book, Anderson activates a methodical approach to guiding practitioners in ethical decision-making by fashioning what it means to think and act in an ethically responsible manner. He expands on ethical insights provided by classical and contemporary theorists, such as Aristotle, John Stuart Mill, and Immanuel Kant through several theoretical cases depicting issues likely to be encountered in the world of philanthropy. In overview, Anderson emphasizes the importance of developing and employing ethical frameworks which guide a set of primary ethical principles (i.e., trust, respect, beneficence) used in making and justifying sound ethical judgments when engaged in ethical decision-making. He concludes by presenting the need for philanthropic organizations to create and implement a code of ethics.

In summary, Anderson makes a strong case for doing the right thing by presenting this book not as some typical self-improvement tool but rather as a scholarly book that emphasizes how to be ethically responsible in the profession of philanthropy. There appears to be a simplistic model to help guide one to think and act in an ethically responsible manner. This model involves the following steps: identify the ethical issue at hand and engage in a decision-making process to resolve the ethical tension. When engaged in ethical decision-making, according to Anderson, one must work from a developed ethical framework, such as utilitarianism or formalism, which guides a set of primary principles used for doing the right thing given the circumstances in a situation. Moreover, there lies great truth, in my opinion, in the information that Anderson presents throughout the book. For example, in order for a code of ethics to work, it must not be "printed and distributed merely to elicit good will" but rather be "woven strategically into the fabric of day-to-day experience" in the organization.In short, one cannot simply pay lip-service or simply verbalize that they make ethical decisions.

I found this book to be particularly interesting, even fascinating in many ways. I highly recommend this literature for leisurely reading if one is interested in how to better serve philanthropic organizations and their recipients. Furthermore, one will find Ethics for Fundraisers easy to read and the information presented as useful and meaningful. Everything you need to know about making ethical decisions is right there in the book: the author has left no stone/rock unturned. Two thumbs up for Anderson. He has made a wonderful contribution to society as a whole and, specifically, to the philanthropic world.

Every community library benefits from its 'Friends of the Library' support group. Not just in fund raising, but in raising community awareness of what modern libraries have to offer everyone in their service area from children's services to InterLibrary Loan Services. But for libraries to maximize their usefulness to the community and to expand community support, every librarian will need a range of ideas and 'best practices' specifically designed and implemented to build enduring good relations between library staffs and the surrounding community. That's why Sally Gardner Reed and Beth Nawalinski have collaborated in "Even More Great Ideas For Libraries And Friends", a compendium of practical and 'user friendly' strategies, tactics, and events designed to accomplish a number of specific goals ranging from raising money, developing community appropriate services and outreach programs, creating and enhancing public awareness in support of the library, building and maintaining active membership in their 'Friends' group, as well as recruiting and utilizing volunteers. Enhanced throughout with samples and examples, "Even More Great Ideas For Libraries And Friends" should be considered an essential addition to all community library staff resource reference collections. Also very highly recommended is the companion title published by Neal-Schuman, "101+ Great Ideas For Libraries And Friends".