Fund-of-funds Books

A true "cult classic" among investment books. The authors take the traditional academic and modern portfolio theories of investing and turn them upside down in this straightforward description of how to become a true professional stock trader.
The method and logic used are down to earth so that the average aspiring stock investor can utilize the system.
For any stock investor truly after high consistent return with low risk, it is the only system you will ever need. The method is as relevant now as it was 25 years ago.

I first read this book for a Constitutional Law class as part of my undergraduate degree in political science. I would suspect that a good many people interested in American Constitutional Law, American political history, and theory and philosophy of law are familiar with this little book. It is actually an extended essay that first appeared in the Harvard Law Review in 1928-29. Professor Edward Corwin, professor of law at Princeton, was an historian of the Constitution.

Corwin begins the essay with a parallel very apt toward the sacrosanct way in which the American Constitution is regarded: 'The Reformation superseded an infallible Pope with an infallible Bible; the American Revolution replaced the sway of a king with that of a document.' Corwin quotes Thomas Paine who stated that 'in America the law is king.' He draws upon ancient Greek philosophers (most notably, Aristotle), Roman senators (Cicero), and medieval thinkers to develop the idea of higher power and higher law.

Corwin looks at both the transcendent and the practical nature of the law; indeed, Corwin sees them intertwined in many ways - the common law, for example, derives from common sense principles that are derived not from developed bodies of law but rather from a more natural law. Corwin states, 'Many of the rights which the Constitution of the United States protects at this moment against legislative power were first protected by the common law against one's neighbours.' Part of the idea of common law was the authority invested in the higher power, the King, and his justices. Also, the power of the King was seen as and intended as a power of justice, not injustice.

Just as authority and common law derived from natural, popular origins, so too did the idea of the limitation of human authorities (as the King was coming to be seen). Locke refers to this in his philosophy, so instrumental in the thinking of the founding fathers of the United States. The idea of the Constitutional Law being a higher law derives in part from a growing respect for the rights of individuals, a Protestant notion of 'the priesthood of all believers', and from philosophical developments.

In the American Constitution, Corwin argues, 'higher law at last attainted a form which made possible the attribution to it of an entirely new sort of validity, the validity of a statute emanating from the sovereign people.' This has led to an age of juriprudence unprecedented since the time of Justinian.

This essay holds up well over time, and gives a good historical and theoretical underpinning to understanding the Constitution of the United States, so much examined as the Supreme Court gains two new members in short order.

This book examines the life and political thought of the Catholic intellectual, Hilaire Belloc. Belloc was a radical along with his friend G. K. Chesterton and a Catholic intellectual who lived in Edwardian England. His political thinking was an attempt to provide a sort of third way between capitalism and socialism, which he christened distributivism. Much of this book deals with the turns his thinking took from his beginnings as a radical to his subsequent turn which lead to the publication of his famous book _The Servile State_ and his eventual favoring of monarchy as opposed to the party system. Opposed to socialism, distributivism allows for individual ownership of property and the means of production. Much of Belloc's thinking is opposed to modernism and retains a medieval outlook which is heavily influenced by his Catholicism. Also, Belloc broke with the party system, finding both parties to be driven by the same group of interests, and opposed the new legislation which would eventually give rise to the modern welfare state (which he predicted in his _The Servile State_). Belloc's thinking offers a unique perspective for Catholic individuals who look for an alternative philosophy to that of modern day consumerism, capitalism, and socialism. Unfortunately, society is heading more in the direction of Belloc's servile state and away from the alternative that Belloc proposed. This book offers a fine introduction to his life and the development of his political thought.

The best work I've seen on the subject yet. A must read.

Despite this book being written just shortly after the American Revolution, it is surprisingly modern in thought and attitude. It is also the very best book I've ever read on the American Revolution and really helped me to understand it much more clearly. Here is why I liked it: 1) Ramsay gives you a very clear and understandable situation of the colonies prior to the Revolution; it all now becomes crystal clear in the reader's ming; 2) he also gives you a very easy understanding of the events that led up to war and why they occurred; 3) he provides a good account of what our political leaders were doing during the war, and he provides an equally clear picture of the English king and politicians, especially the British Parliament; 4) he never says Benjamin Franklin but always Dr. Franklin, and makes you realize the power and respect that, may I say it, Ben Franklin had at the time both here and in England, making you wonder why he wasn't elected the first president; 5) he shows you the power of lawyers (no lawyer jokes here) and how, without them, we would never have gotten our independence; 6) he wonders about the same environmental problems we worry about today, causing the reader to feel he is ahead of his time, and, 7) most importantly, the accounts of battles, big and small, and especially how the civil population tolerated all this goings-on or opposed it... Despite some of his contemporaries saying Ramsay plagerized [sp] parts of the book, I really didn't care since it flows so well, presenting so clear a picture of events and an understanding of those events.

For those interested in the American Revolution, this work is a must. Mercy Otis Warren, a witnesss to the Revolution from start to finish, offers here an eloquent, inspired, profound, and even reliable contemporary account of the epochal events that occured in the crucial period of American history beginning with the Stamp act and terminating with the adoption of the Constitution. However, unlike modern scholarly accounts of the Revolution, Warren makes no effort to remain unbiased. Throughout the work, she firmly and passionately upholds the cause and values of liberty and republicanism. Despite this, she still makes a concerted effort to portray accurately and impartially the events that took place. And while she is at all times staunchly supportive of the cause of the revolutionists, she is quick to condemn cruelty, inhumanity, dishonesty, immorality, and barbarity wherever she finds it.

With these principles firmly in mind, she relates the key figures and events beginning with the reaction to the Stamp Act in the mid-1760s. From this point, she provides an able and suprisingly veracious account of the principal political, military, and diplomatic occurences, as well as the ideological status of both the American and British people. In addition to this, she also makes a point to illuminate several important yet neglected individual and the part that they played in the struggle. The historical significance of such accounts are further augmented by the fact that Warren herself was personally acquanted, either in person or through correspondance. Her relationships, fortunately enough, were not restricted to obscure figures, but rather extended to many figures of enduring stature, such as John Adams.

Ultimately, the main value of the work is that it presents a contemporary scholarly exposition of the events of the American Revolution through the eyes of an individual who clearly embodied the libertarian and republican tendencies of the era. In the same vein, the work garners further importance as an example of the Anti-Federalist tradition. Warren, as many may know, was an outspoken opponent of the Constitution, writing as the reknowned "Columbian Patriot." The final chapter of this work offers further insight into this aspect of her though, so much so that Herbert J. Storing included it in his 7 volume collection of Anti-Federalist material.

Although the value of this work is immense, it goes without saying that one should not engage it as the definitive account of the Revolution. One should, of course, consult the works of modern scholars to gain a more comprehensive account of era. Still, Warren's volumes stand as perhaps the finest contemporary account of the Revolution, and they certainly deserve more attention than they have received in the nearly two centuries that they have been available.

Avey Craven's Growth of Southern Nationalism covers the specific events of 1848-1861 that produce a sense of a southern nation. It is not light reading, weighing in at over 400pp. The Chapter breakdown is:
Publisher's Preface
Author's Preface
I. The Conscious section
II. Realignment of sections
III Prelude to Crisis
IV The first crisis--1850
V Compromise and the South
VI The Aftermath
VII Compromise on Trial
VIII The Center Shifts
IX Sowing the Wind
X the Harvest
XI Kansas, Douglas, and John Brown
XII The Campaign of 1860
XIII Secession
XIV Some Generalizations
Critical essay on authorities
Index

Taken in combination with the other published volumes of "A History of the South," Craven's work provides an essential piece of the Tapestry that is Southern History. I particularly enjoy this volume (and the series in general) because Craven often highlights important cultural and literary events that occur between 1848 and 1861, making the book useful not only to the scholar of history, but to all students of Southern history, literature, and culture.

This guide is 501 pages of amazing pictures, detailed instructions, and residential construction reference guide; I wish I had found this months ago. It thoroughly covers framing, plumbing, wiring, doors, windows, walls, flooring, attics, kitchens, and baths. The only home systems I can think of not covered are exterior roofing and siding.

I purchased a foreclosure house earlier this year in need of substantial renovations and have undertaken most of the projects myself. Coming in, I had moderate experience with residential plumbing and carpentry, but my only experience with wiring was knowing the materials through work at a hardware store. Over the past six months I've purchased a book about residential wiring, an illustrated guide to renovations to increase your home's value, and a quick reference manual for plumbing. I was in the store searching for two guides for interior lighting and cabinetry/trim work when I found this.

Everything I needed is in this one paperback!! The other manuals I've bought either had great text/charts with very few diagrams or pictures or focused totally on pictures for DIYer's but omitted needed calculation tables and building code information. I was purchasing new manuals left and right but none had a good balance between professional resource and detailed instruction.

That's why this guide blows me away...every page has great photography and detailed cutaway drawings to clearly illustrate, for instance, how my replacement windows will tie in to my brick veneer from the rough wall opening. Some of the explanations may be a little dumbed down for an experienced carpenter, but the editors have also included quick reference tables for the experienced handyman. Each section has an overview of general principles (planning a functional kitchen space, for example), a list of related tools/materials, and detailed instructions/photos for a few projects (installing laminate countertops). At 500+ pages, it's very thorough yet well-organized.

I've spent at least $50-60 on books so far and would easily be spending that again just for a base familiarity with the work I'll be doing. I bought this book for $15 and feel very pleased with the purchase.

Wow. And I thought that campaign spending was the root of all evil. That was before I read Professor Palda's book. In a way I hate and love this book. I hate it because the writing is so good it lulls you and draws you in, just like those sirens callig Ullyses. I love it because for the first time I get to see the opposite point of view. And it makes sense. Established candidates want to use the power of their office to block all new entrants into the political market. So they want to impose spending limits. Established candidates are already known so money does not matter that much to them. New candidates get much bigger bang per buck and so money is ALL IMPORTANT to them. This is how a spending limit or its analogue, a contribution limit, can be self-serving even though they sound very high-minded and public spirited. My central objection to this book is that it makes me feel like I have no valid objections left and that it completely overturned my preconceived notions about campaign spending. Apart from that, it is a witty, delightful eye-opener and I suggest it to anyone who is tired of the regulare media propaganda of the evils of campaign spending.

Dale Gillham takes you by the hand and explains step-by-step how anybody can beat the managed funds by 20%, in fact by at least 20%.

His simple do it yourself strategies are written in easy to understand language.

I found it lived up to its title, which is often not the case with self-help books. We tend to believe that the experts will achieve better returns than the average guy on the street, but this book proves this to be a myth.

This book covers simple and practical investment strategies such as:

Select winning stocks to suit your trading style.
Construct a powerful portfolio that performs regardless of the market direction.
Successfully reduce your risk and increase your probability of making a profit.
Accelerate your profits using leverage.

Fascinating read. He makes it sound so simple. Highly recommended.

P.S. This book is published in Australia and is focused at the Australian Stock Market.