Fund-of-funds Books

It is difficult to overstate the brilliance of Ludwig von Mises' works. "Liberalism" is no exception, and is a great primer to tackle before reading more von Mises.

The most significant part of this book is probably chapter one, in which Mises discusses liberty, democracy and socialism. As anyone reading this review likely knows, Mises was a strict adherent of classical liberalism's emphasis on individual liberty and freedoms. He uses the United States' legislation of personal consumption of alcohol as an example of the dangers of centralized control over individual decisions. Mises is quick to admit that alcohol, cocaine and morphine are detrimental to our bodies; but by limiting consumption we embark on a slippery slope. How long until caffeine is restricted? Sex? The press?

By giving up on the principle of non-interference in personal matters, one allows for the possibility of the micro management of anything and everything down to the smallest detail. It is a frightening scenario that is being played out on the national stage by those in America who wish to legislate morality based on what they perceive to be "right." Mises would say that a government should exist only to guarantee basic human rights (liberty, the free flow of goods, property) and that to take them away is anathema to the principles of justice and liberty.

As the man himself puts it: "To give the majority the right to dictate to the minority what it is to think, to read, and to do is to put a stop to progress once and for all."

The audio version of this book makes an easy read even more accesible. Liberalism is hardly the most difficult book that Mises wrote. Yet it is well worthwhile, and the ability to listen to it fits with a busy schedule.

Mises wrote Liberalism in dark times. Depression and social unrest plagued Europe after the Great War. Fascists and Nazis were on the march in Italy, Germany, and Spain. Lenin and Stalin held Russia in an iron grip. It seemed that everyone was giving up on limited government and laissez faire. Mises understood that the future of civilization was at stake. Someone needed to revive the ideas of the enlightenment. Mises had already written lengthy books against inflation and socialism, but how many people outside of academia would read such long and sophisticated books? How could human reason prevail over the demagoguery of socialists and interventionists without a succinct statement of classical liberal arguments?

Liberalism is one of the most readable book that Mises wrote. It is concise and compelling. Mises makes a strong case for limited government in a mere 193 pages. The central message of this book is that capitalism is the only economic system that can deliver the prosperity and freedom that many of us take for granted in the West. Socialism leads inevitably to a rigid inefficient bureaucracy. Interventionism is a senseless, self defeating, absurd policy". Capitalism is the progressive system. Socialism is, in contrast, a reactionary system that would fail to feed the current population, were we to attempt to live under this system.

Given the length of this book, Mises does not explain his arguments as thoroughly, compared to Human Action or Socialism, an Economic and Sociological Analysis. Yet he does explain his main points, and these other books are long enough to deter many readers. For most people the detail of his other books is unnecessary, so reading Liberalism is a good way to economize on your time.

Times have changed. The fascists and Bolsheviks are long gone. Yet the ideas in this book remain relevant and important. There are still many people who reject the true liberalism of free markets in favor of welfare state liberalism. Also, socialism is not completely dead. Liberalism provides a means for people to understand the importance of liberty with relatively little effort. While the ideas in this book failed to turn interwar Europeans from socialism, it will surely contribute to the defense of liberty in the twenty-first century.

Mises wrote Liberalism in dark times. Depression and social unrest plagued Europe after the Great War. Fascists and Nazis were on the march in Italy, Germany, and Spain. Lenin and Stalin held Russia in an iron grip. It seemed that everyone was giving up on limited government and laissez faire. Mises understood that the future of civilization was at stake. Someone needed to revive the ideas of the enlightenment. Mises had already written lengthy books against inflation and socialism, but how many people outside of academia would read such long and sophisticated books? How could human reason prevail over the demagoguery of socialists and interventionists without a succinct statement of classical liberal arguments?

Liberalism is one of the most readable book that Mises wrote. It is concise and compelling. Mises makes a strong case for limited government in a mere 193 pages. The central message of this book is that capitalism is the only economic system that can deliver the prosperity and freedom that many of us take for granted in the West. Socialism leads inevitably to a rigid inefficient bureaucracy. Interventionism is a senseless, self defeating, absurd policy". Capitalism is the progressive system. Socialism is, in contrast, a reactionary system that would fail to feed the current population, were we to attempt to live under this system.

Given the length of this book, Mises does not explain his arguments as thoroughly, compared to Human Action or Socialism, an Economic and Sociological Analysis. Yet he does explain his main points, and these other books are long enough to deter many readers. For most people the detail of his other books is unnecessary, so reading Liberalism is a good way to economize on your time.

Times have changed. The fascists and Bolsheviks are long gone. Yet the ideas in this book remain relevant and important. There are still many people who reject the true liberalism of free markets in favor of welfare state liberalism. Also, socialism is not completely dead. Liberalism provides a means for people to understand the importance of liberty with relatively little effort. While the ideas in this book failed to turn interwar Europeans from socialism, it will surely contribute to the defense of liberty in the twenty-first century.

It's a shame that the liberalism von Mises espouses must be pre-classed as "classical," since the word "liberal" has come to mean precisely the opposite of what von Mises and his predecessors in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries meant by the word. In today's lexicon, his liberalism is closer to libertarianism, although I caution readers not to dismiss this book if they dismiss the political movement.

What von Mises intends to show in easy to read eloquent prose is that capitalism and democracy are natural complements to a free society. Betwixt the two, prosperity and freedom of choice have been maximized beyond all other systems, and the general well-being benefits all, even those on the lowest economic rung. This is not a comprehensive exegesis of economics that one will find in von Mises' "Human Action." Rather, it is a general survey of the dominant themes that are given their fuller voice in his more detailed analysis. Thus, this book is an excellent introduction to democratic economics in general and to capitalism in particular.

What makes the book particularly engaging is its polemical tone. It is not a polemic, but it never loses sight of its opponents, and frequently takes socialism and critics of capitalism to task for their anxiety over the merits of being free.

After a brief introduction that is thoroughly engaging, von Mises covers four broad themes: (1) The foundations of liberalism and its policies; (2) liberalism's economic policies; (3) implications of liberalism in foreign policy; and (4) how liberalism is manifested in the political process. It's in the last section that he deals with doctrinaire liberalism and why, short of necessary regulations, the market must be free if man is to be free. Von Mises is unapologetically extreme in his views, and those of us who have come to expect an interventionist economic system will see why a "well-regulated" market economy has shortcomings. Alas, however, von Mises does not address the circumstances surrounding deceit, fraud, and other malfeasance (which is the book's only shortcoming).

The "liberal" of today will also learn a great deal about himself. Von Mises explores the reasons for socialism's popularity and staying power, despite its predeliction towards despotism, totalitarianism, and ineptitude. Socialism has no rational basis for existence, but it does have a very strong psychological dynamic that von Mises admits (and frankly doesn't discuss enough in this book).

After reading this short volume, readers will likely want to investigate these ideas further. Von Mises was a prolific author, and tackles many issues in any number of his works. Certainly, "Socialism" and "Human Action" are two of his major works that may find interest. Furthermore, one of von Mises' pupils was Frederick Hayek, one of the preeminent thinkers of the twentieth century.

If you want a concise, short, and eloquent introduction to classical liberalism, I can think of no better book to serve this function. Eschew some of the latter-day libertarians, and read from the foundational author of our times.

Ludwig von Mises was a great champion of individual freedom and limited government. Much of his work was devoted to showing the impracticality of socialist and interventionist schemes. However, his work wasn't entirely negative. In the 1920s, he published LIBERALISM, which was his positive statement of the case for individual freedom, or what was then called "liberalism" (which is to say, "classical" liberalism rather than "Teddy Kennedy" liberalism).

There is much that could be said about this book, so I'll just hit on a couple points. First, as Hans-Herman Hoppe notes, von Mises argues for the right of succession. If one portion of a country (even down to an entity that can function as a "separate administrative unit") wishes to secede, it should have the right to do so. Although Mises opposed anarchism, this position "logically" leads to anarchism. If "the state" is a voluntary organization that permits small groups to secede, then it isn't much of a state. Murray Rothbard drew upon this insight in making the case for anarcho-capitalism. (See POWER AND MARKET.) Second, von Mises rejects the natural law tradition of other liberal thinkers. His case for equality before the law is based on utilitarianism. Men are unequal, but this limited equality permits the division of labor and promotes social peace.

This book also provides a good introduction to von Mises' thought. A couple other introductory works by him for the beginner are THE ANTI-CAPITALIST MENTALITY and PLANNING FOR FREEDOM.

With so many investing books out there, what a pleasure it is to read one that has practical information that actually works.

The "Profit-Line" Strategy will have you in the right investments at the right time and out before the roof caves in.
Dicks also goes into detail discussing sector funds and international funds. When to be in a money market fund and when to be in a bond fund. He also discusses "Investing for the times of your life" offering tailor made advice for people in their 20's, 40's and during retirement.

Overall, a very practical and workable book on how to successfully invest in funds. Also interesting is that Dicks was one of the first to warn about back-end loads and hidden fees and costs that most mutal fund companies used to keep hidden in the small print.

Although the book was written back in 1997, the principles are still very sound. I would like to see Dicks write and updated version with perhaps his feelings on ETFs which are low cost but charge commissions.

For business owners, I highly recommend Dicks "How to Incorporate series" and "Form Your Coporation and Launch a Business in Any State."

Mutual fund investment Strategies is 260 pages and 18 chapters, packed with powerful investment strategies. Mr. Dicks does make a strong case for mutual fund investing in place of individual stock investing. Dicks explains that you can invest in stocks and invest in a mutual fund, check your results in 1-2 years and see which has performed better. In most cases, it will be the mutual fund as most investors lose on individual stocks. On the other hand, if your individual stocks have performed better, then go with individual stocks...BUT...be sure to check your net rate of return.J.W. Dicks also talks about how to reduce risk and the fact that he discloses risk with mutual funds unlike other financial authors, is refreshing.Mr. Dicks also discusses investing for the "Times of Your Life" offering model portfolios for investors at various stages of their life.Overall, a very good investment book and I highly recommend it.

This excellent book by J.W.Dicks will take you from thinking about investing to actually investing and more importantly, investing profitably.Mutual funds are still the safest, most powerful way to invest in securities despite what is going on right now in the industry. The key is education and taking personal responsibility in lieu of turning your money over to a broker and saying "Here you invest it and watch it for me."J.W. Dicks will show you how to take control over your investments, start with little money but get big returns.I also recommend "Moonlght Investing", another book by Dicks as well as two other books by Dicks that were recommended to me and I jsut read are "Form a Corporation and Launch a Business in Any State" and"The Small Business Kit.Dicks is an attorney as well as a successful entrepneneur. Beware of other books written by people who are essentially brokers and write strategies to match the products they sell. There are also some book written by "How to Incorporate" by people who have yet to launch their own business, save selling used books and writing self published books.

This book by J.W. Dicks is possibly the best mutual fund book available today. I have been using his profit line strategy for the past 3 years and have made money while others have lost money. Dicks is one of the very few that recommends moving averages and relative strength factors with mutual funds.The chapter on how to reduce taxes was also very helpful.I also recommend Moonlight Investing also by J.W. DICKS.

I bought this book over 5 years ago and consider it the single best investing book out there. Especially when you consider what is going on right now in the mutual fund industry, the old mantra that "a mutual fund is a mutual fund" is not true at all.

Dicks shows you how to take the risk out of investing. How and when to move in and out of stocks, bonds and money market funds. He covers international funds as well and sector funds.

Dicks was also one of the first people to caution that mutual funds are not without risk. I believe that investors could have saved a small fortune (I know I did) had they had this information back in 2000 and even more recently.

I also recommend Moonlight Investing also by Dicks and the 100 Best Investments for your retirement by J.W.Dicks et all.

If you are in business then Form a Corporation and Launch a Business in Any State is a must read as well. Dicks is one of those authors that most people have never heard of, but he packs powerful information in his books that actually works and is based on experience not opinion.

Highly recommended.

A must read for any activists. Easy to understand and yet effective.

This is the how-to book I wish I had written. It's perfect for activists, charities, government agencies, even PTAs! No one can sell an idea or cause better than the person who believes in it--this book gives you the basics and more on how to get your campaign or event in the news.

The most difficult task for any activist or organization is getting noticed. With an influx of so many news agencies and mediums it's hard getting noticed by reporters and editors.

This book shows you how to make your cause 'interesting' to those who matter in getting your message across: the Media.

You'll learn how to do several things like give speeches, create an identity, use props & mascots and more.

Although it could have probablly included more in-depth detail and 'how-to' it was certainly worth the investment.

Bottom Line: Worthwhile addition for any activist or their organization. Invaluable for the person in charge of making causes and campaigns noticed!

Outstanding on all fronts. No jargon - all facts. Salzman shares his secrets and tells you how to figure out making your work into news. In this image-crazed age, this book is a must.

Gearing up a new issues education/activist organization, I read this invaluable tome. Then I called its author (Jason Salzman) to find proteges of his whom I might hire on the East Coast. After talking with him over a couple weeks, I hired him and have tremendously benefitted from his experience, wisdom and creativity. Not often we can hire the guy "who wrote the book." If you can't hire him yourself (try though), his book lays out the science and art of garnering media for you to tout your cause.

I am not associated with a non-profit, but I am an artist who is constantly looking for funding sources. I found this book
extremely helpful in suggesting ways to overcome my fear of confronting prospects face to face. It is written simply and reiterates the positive message that we need not fear requesting large amounts of money. Like in any sales game, the worst thing that can happen is rejection.
I haven't yet found people who are "thrilled to give", but doing confidence building prep before I try can only boost my chances.
Paula Taylor, Independent Filmmaker

Zimmerman and Lehman have written an encouraging and practical guide sure to help diffuse the fear and loathing with which most nonprofit board members face in fund development. Straight talk about board responsibilities sets the stage. Short easy exercises suitable for board meetings demonstrate fundraising skills and techniques. "Boards That Love Fundraising" provides the script for board presidents and staff to share the practice and the joy of successful resource development within any nonprofit.
-Marcia Rundle, Regional Resource Development Director, Western States Region, Habitat for Humanity International

We have an annual board meeting where we constantly emphasize the Board's role in fundraising. Some board members really get it, but some, especially new members, don't fully understand that their job is to raise money. This year, we wanted a book that we could use at the meeting and that members could take home with them and use to inform their fundraising through the year. We wanted something that specifically made fundraising seem doable for people who had never done it before and who may be intimidated by asking for gifts.

Members were very receptive to the book, it is short, sweet, and easy to follow. It is filled with training guides, examples, and exercises you can do with board members to prepare them for making an ask. Chapters are broken down into "chunks" which we found great - you can literally open the book up to any page and read a short chunk and get a lot of information. There are also helpful worksheets that will help you keep track of which board members are working in certain fundraising areas.

Bottom line, I think this is a great tool for both board members and staff and worth the price.

This book is a must for board members and anyone who works with boards. I have never fully understood the mechanics of how organizations raise money beyond grantseeking. This book lays out a number of alternatives and makes all seem doable. I especially appreciated the 'investing in social enterprises' concept of giving versus the more typical begging on bended knee for what are essential critical services to the community. The exercises are clearly explained and the language is straightforward and easy to follow. The underlying concepts go far to removing the mystery and fear of asking for money. The board recruitment grid, the fundraising planning section, working with consultants and the costs and evaluation sections appeal to my structured way of thinking. I can highly recommend this excellent resource.

The authors challenge traditional attitudes, and fears, about fundraising by arguing that we should view the activity not as "tin-cup begging" but as providing a way for people to invest positively in their communities. The authors break new ground by focusing on benefits that *donors* derive from philanthropic giving and strategies to enhance these benefits. With exercises entitled "What Moves People to Give," the book offers ample opportunity for readers to apply this refreshing approach to their specific circumstances. As a Commissioner on the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, I also serve on the PTA board of my daughter's public elementary school, always in dire need of funds, and fundraise on behalf of my alma mater, Bryn Mawr College, which relies heavily on alumnae financial support, and I have found this book to be an invaluable resource. I recommend this easy-to-read and comprehensive guide to anyone who serves on a board, especially those of you who have been afraid of fundraising. You won't be able to put it down!

Alan Sharpe's "Breakthrough Fundraising Letters" is a must have for anyone in the direct mail field who is searching for a better way of communicating with their donors. The examples of successful direct mail campaigns along with Sharpe's analysis of them are perfect.

Absolutely recommend this book to anyone working in the nonprofit area. While Mr. Sharpe's ideas tend to be geared more toward humanitarian causes, even those of us working in the arts benefit from his work.

In these days when thinking outside of the box is so important to generate much needed funds for small non-profits (I am Communications Coordinator for an Educational Program for individuals with autism), Alan Sharpe's experience and wisdom is a terrific asset.

While my group currently does not do much in the direct mail arena (except for an annual year-end appeal), the information contained and descriptive thought processes in Breakthrough Fundraising Letters has had an immediate impact on how we are approaching our letter campaigns for in-kind donations for numerous fundraising events (we host 3-4 major events per year).

All in all, time and money well spent!

Breakthough Fundraising Letters is worth every penny. In fact, it's worth much more than the cover price because it's filled with ideas that will improve your direct-mail and increase your donations significantly. The real-world examples are fantastic.

I am at a loss for adjectives to describe this book, Breaktrrough Fundraising Letters. Basically it can be described as simply dynamic. This book gives you the tools to make your fundraising letters personal, and appealing to a donor or potential donor. It has worked for us.

I got so much out of reading this book that I am not sure where to begin. There is a lot of very valuable medical information, but more importantly it gives the reader a chance to get to know many interesting breast cancer survivors including the author. They all become friends along the way, and the reader learns a lot about living as a breast cancer survivor as well as being part of a support system. Anyone who is touched by this disease (which is just about everyone) will benefit from reading this book. I highly recommend it.

Breast cancer changes you. How it changes you depends upon your intrinsic personality, the people who love you, the medical professionals who care for you. "Foot Soldiers" is a book about change, challenge, hope, love, and courage. You know these women; you are caught up in their life-affirming stories. Narratives spill across the pages as participants in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk tell their stories during events in 10 cities in 2004. Women, sometimes their husbands, daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends share their stories. Author Deborah Douglas weaves her own breast cancer story among those of the other runners, sometimes to clarify medical information or to share her experience in empathy with a storyteller.
Dr. Douglas does it so subtly that the reader almost don't realize it is the author speaking - until you read a phrase that perhaps only a Texan could write --"radiation treatment knocked the straw out of me." While the tragic is inescapable, comic relief and an overriding sense of hope balance the poignant stories.
Inspiring, comforting, or provoking anger, the honesty of these stories help those of us who are touched by breast cancer know that we and our families are not alone, that it is important to pay attention to our instincts regardless of what the experts tell us. This book challenges us to live with hope, great courage, and great love.

This is a wonderful book and exceptionally well written. Dr. Douglas touched my heart with every new chapter in the lives of the people with whom she walked. Each story was filled with the bravery, fear and success of each of the participants whose lives she became a part of during the walks. But most importantly, it raised my awareness of how fragile our lives may be and how we must live each moment to its fullest. Cowboy hats, pink of course, off to her!!

In 2001, San Antonio pathologist, Deborah Douglas learned she had breast cancer. She had already lost her husband and her father to cancer. Now, it was her turn to face it.

Actually, she had been facing cancer for years. In an active pathology practice, she had seen hundreds of cancers under microscope, had been the one to so often make the decision: benign or malignant. After getting her own diagnosis, she decided to retire from her medical practice. She went through all the treatments, was pronounced cancer-free, and in 2004, as a way to prove to her family that she was fit and well, she decided to walk in one of the Susan Komen Foundations 3-Day Walk for the Cure events. She got online, registered for the first one, and then on an impulse, decided to register for all ten 3-Days to be held that year. Each 3-Day Walk is 60 miles, done in twenty-mile increments each day. Later came the idea to write a book of the experience. And what a book it is.

Divided into ten chapters, each chapter representing a different 3-Day city where Douglas walked, she tells the breast cancer story through interviews with other participants and cancer survivors that she meets at each of the events. At the end of each chapter is a montage of photographs taken of those who shared their stories. Layered in between, in short passages, Deborah's own story also emerges. The result is a deeply moving and compelling work of literature that also happens to be of vital medical importance.

All of the people in the book are cancer survivors in one way or another. Most have been diagnosed with breast cancer, but some are walking for loved ones they have lost. One young husband saw a poster for a 3-Day event on his way home from his wife's funeral. Three months later, he was walking in her memory. Another walker wore a pink jacket from 2002 that read: "In honor of my mom. 13 cities. 780 miles." And yet "Foot Soldiers" is far from depressing.

Many participants come to the Walks as part of a team. Some dress up in wacky costumes like contestants on "Let's Make Deal." They have Opening and Closing Ceremonies, sort of mini-Olympics productions with people giving speeches, with music, a "survivor's circle" and a flag processional. They sleep in tents, thousands of walkers, on sleeping bags, with a big tent dining hall. During the Walk, comfort stations, theme-decorated Pit Stops or Grab & Go Stations, line the route, and driving crews "sweep up" walkers who can't make the whole 20 miles each day on foot. Other drivers ride along in vans with loud speakers playing Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" and other up-tempo songs to encourage the walkers. It sounds like great fun, summer camp for adults, the kind of place where you probably make friends quickly and for life. Douglas says, "For many participants, hugging is as integral to the 3-Day as walking. So is being nice, helpful, and emotionally open."

As I read I found myself wanting to join, wondering if I could possibly walk twenty miles in one day, let alone 60 in three, or 600 in a few short weeks as Deborah Douglas did. I went online and found a web site, www.the3day.org, that explains the Walks in detail. They have links to other sites with important information about breast cancer awareness. One excellent site is www.komen.org with particularly interesting and educational interactive features. You can also visit Deborah Douglas's site, www.the3-daybook.com, to learn more about her and "Foot Soldiers." It is a book to read and then to share.

after reading "dr. susan love's breast book" i was well versed in the technical aspects of my disease. "foot soldiers" spoke directly to my soul. i read dr. love's book in 2 days; i savored "foot soldiers" and extended the reading of it over several weeks. i re-read many parts and my copy's spine is now broken, so many pages are dog-eared that i might as well highlight every word in this book.

this book shows the reality of living with breast cancer through the eyes of the patients, survivors, their families and friends. it is an invaluable resource and a great source of comfort, humor and inspiration. the writing is impecable and the weaving of the stories into one is very well done. i've been buying books from amazon for years and never before felt compelled to write a review.

I first encountered this book in the mid-1990s while living overseas in a review of recommended non-fiction and fiction called, "The Common Reader." I don't know if this review continues today, but the author of the review of The Healing Hand so completely sold me on this book that I ordered a copy and had it shipped to me overseas. I found the book fascinating and authoritative. The reader comes away with not only an expert assessment of wound treatment from paleolithic times to the near present, but also with fodder for odd conversational interjections such as, "Do you know what the treatment for a sucking chest wound was during the period of the Illiad?" Over the intervening years, I've purchased copies for friends--friends either with or without an interest in the treatment of wounds for whatever reason--just because this is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read, and one worth sharing with your intellectual affines.

Excellent historical work regarding wound healing. If one can obtain the original edition of 1975 in good condition, I find it preferable to the reprint of 1992 in that it is paperback rather than hard cover, slightly smaller than the original and the quality of the photos and such were not reproduced all that well in the re-print.

This book is a wonderful resource for gaining knowledge and insight into ancient medicine. Guido Majno not only explains what these ancient cultures did, but in many instances he explains why. He discusses their practices against the foundatioins of their whole culture, including their cultural knowledge base, their religions, their laws, and their technology. He give a great deal of background. For example, when he discusses the medicine of the egyptions, he goes through a basic primer on heroglyphics and then shows the symbols used by the ancient egyptions. This book gives you a real understanding of what these ancient healers struggled with and why they chose certain practices over others. Because of Majno's modern investigation and testing of these practices you also gain an understanding of what they did that worked and what didn't work. I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in medical history.

Majno's book is not only magnificently informative but great fun. His prose is a positive pleasure, his research and knowledge are immense, and he has the gift of combining several perspectives to explain why procedures that now seem appalling made sense to the physicians of the period. He has experimentally tested a number of ancient remedies, and he is refreshingly willing to assume intelligence and craft among early physicians, even when they seem to be doing precisely the wrong things. His discussions of how we learn what medical techniques might have been is fascinating in its own right. Of his major sections (Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, and Roman), the Egyptian is probably best and the Chinese weakest.

Most books on the history of medicine read rather like either horror novels or dusty tomes, with few authors finding that rare balance between entertainment at the price of detail or dullness for the sake of completeness. Guido Majno's work THE HEALING HAND manages to entertain the lay reader without bogging down in too much medical terminology. THE HEALING HAND intrigues without succumbing to that all-to-tempting penchant many medical history writers have of detailing the most absolutely vile and disgusting medical practices in the world while sacrificing attention to the ones that modern readers will recognize and possibly even relate to.

The driving force of Majno's work, one that comes through plainly in his writing, is that he really wants you understand what it is he's talking about. By examining available historical texts, piecing together data from archaelological digs, and even experimenting his theories on himself, Majno take you on a "journey" through medical wound healing history, starting with ancient Egypt and the Pharoahs and moving on through Hippocrates's ancient Greece, Ceaser's ancient Rome, ancient India, and ancient China. Few authors could manage the detailed tapestry of cultures and medical information Majno deftly weaves. He treats the subject of ancient would healing as few other writers do and, in the process, exposes you to how his mind works by writing how he thinks the minds of healers worked concerning wounds during the aforementioned time periods.

It's that spark of looking into his mind that makes his writing intriguing to me. It's rather like getting an easily understandable peek into the mind of a genius hard at work on an earth-shattering discovery. Combine the easily accessible text with the understandable pictures and graphics, complete and unobtrusive footnotes, and the wonderfully extensive bibliography and you have an invaluable addition to your library.

As a lay researcher in a medieval re-enactment society, I found this work a true gem, well worth the price of adding to my collection. Even though it would only be considered a "secondary source," the details were too rich and the clarity of the information too valuable to think twice about its purchase. Majno gave me the "why" behind so many medical practices I'm rather saddened that I didn't find this book sooner. Despite being written originally in 1975, I've read and reread it many times using it as a springboard for further research and experementation.

Elsa is a frizzy lion-haired 10 year old who is NOT keen on staying at the rotting, peeling "Royal Hotel" or, as some of the letters have fallen off, Elsa would say "Oyal Htl" but there she has ALOT of adventures! She meets a group of vandalisms and eventually becomes great friends with them, along with Naomi, the girl who loves to read in the loos! She saves the hotel from burning to cinders with her loud voice and eventually moves to a 5-star hotel, where she has the time of her life! Have fun with Elsa in the 100% recommended, highly entertaining, incredibly amusing, and sidecrackingly hilarious "Bed and Breakfast Star"

A++

This book is about a little girl who moves from a lovely house to a evntualy a Bed and Breakfast Hotel . One night the girl smells smoke and goes to see what it is . She finds a fire and shouts to everyone to get up . They all hear her and run out of the building whilst someone calls the fire bragade . The fire is put out and the becomes a heroine .

I read this book at age 9 and couldn't put it down. This book is perfect for girls ages 7-10 who still have yet to master the art of reading. The story is about a girl who's parents are separated and she moves around very often. She is so witty and good- natured that she finds an adventure in every move she makes. The illistrations are simple and yet unique and I would recommend this book to any girl, around the age of 7-10.

It usually takes me ages to read a long book but I could not put this book down. It is one of very best books I have ever read!!!!!!!!

I read this book when I was younger, and I absolutley loved it. I'm 15 now, and I still have to say this is probably the best book I have ever read. I love all the titles by Jaqueline Wilson, but this one is my favourite. Probably because this story covers all emotion. It is at times sad, but others very funny. The main character is great, and Jaqueline Wilson captures the emotion perfectly. You can see the character clearly in your head. If this is an adult reading this review, considering buying it for a child, do! This is an excellent book, and even if your child does not like reading they will find it very hard to put this book down!

This book is a classic on the use of index mutual funds to achieve the performance of the market. Scott is a lawyer and has mastered all facets of investing. He is an expert recognized by the courts in law suits where the defendant has violated his fiduciary duty.After reading this book you will be convinced that passive techniques offer the best method to achieve superior returns.

Piscaqua Research in a study covering the period 1987-96 found that only 10 out of 145 major pension funds, or just seven percent, out performed a portfolio consisting of a simple 60%/40% mix of the S&P 500 index and the Lehman Bond index respectively.

Or is it logical I ask for you to believe that you can predict which actively managed funds will out perform, or are you overconfident of your skills? If you are trying to find the great fund managers who will out perform in the future ask yourself: what am I going to do differently in terms of identifying the future winning fund managers, than did the pension plans and their advisors? And if you are not going to something different what logic is there in playing a game at which others with superior resources have consistently failed?

If you a really serious in finding an investment technique that will provide you with reasonable return with less risk I suggest the following little book. This is a little book that I have written and contains the essential of how to invest. Just click on the title to find the book. How to Make Money in the Stock Market-Buy 2,500 Different Stocks-Pay no Commission The Investor's Cookbook

Scott Simon's book thoroughly reviews the many advantages of index funds, and the disadvantages of actively managed mutual funds. Many of the standard arguments are presented--the cost advantage of index funds, the difficulty in picking a superior actively managed mutual fund in advance, etc. But, the author has managed to add a few wrinkles here and there. Did you know that investing in index funds can reduce your stress? Well, according to this book that is one of the more important advantages.

The book is well documented (as you would expect from a former tax lawyer). Of note is a chapter devoted to the "nuts and bolts" of index funds which gives thorough details about the operations of index mutual funds. The appendix also contains good descriptions of the major indexes.

Simon clearly presents all the evidence as to why passive investing, also known as indexing, represents the best method for any investor to succeed in the market. He goes further by showing how investing in a portfolio of index funds allows the average investor to achieve both less risk and and an expectation of higher returns. Thus the investor is in tune with the precepts of Modern Portfolio Theory.

The proof is here - trying to beat the market is a loser's game. It's way against the odds and neither individual investors nor profesionals have deomonstrated any ability to beat the market on a consistent basis. Indexing provides market returns with lower costs, lower taxes, and less stress.

I have spent the last three months researching index funds for purposes of writing a professional paper, and this book is by far the best source of information on the topic that I have found. But it's more than that. In making the case for index funds, Mr. Simon provides a succinct, yet intelligible, description of modern portfolio theory and its place in the world of finance.

If you are interested in subjects like portfolio theory, decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, the efficient market hypotheses, game theory, the Third Restatement of Trusts and zero sum games, and just the mention of people as diverse as Peter L. Bernstein, John C. Bogle, Warren Buffett, Alfred Cowles, III, Eugene Fama, Mario Gabelli, Elaine Gazarelli, Edward C. Halbach, Jr., Roger Ibbotson, Peter Lynch, Burton G. Malkiel, Harry Markowitz, John Neff, William F. Sharpe, and Rex Sinquefield causes you to hyperventilate, then this book is for you.

Don't let the tacky cover put you off (It would be more appropriate for "How I Went From Nothing to Being a Billionaire in Three Weeks.") This is a well-written and useful book.

As an excellent review of index fund investing, I give this book an A.

Simon's book was one of the first books about index fund investing. He published this book prior to the index fund 1999 peak in popularity.

Simon points out that institutional investors put about 35% of their money into index funds versus actively managed funds. At the time he wrote his book, about 6% of individual investor's stock money went into index funds. In 2005, it has risen to about 10% of individual money in index funds.

He also pointed out that the smartest people with the most resources for choosing good investments choose index funds. TIAA-CREF indexed about 65% of their $81B stock portfolio to the Russell 3,000 index. CALPERS indexed 85% of their $41B stock portfolio to the Wilshire 2500. Other well known corporations who index a large portion of their pension funds include Deere, GM, and IBM.

He also does a good job of reviewing Brinson's famous asset allocation study including how to use index funds to achieve your desired asset allocation.

All-in-all, Simon has written a very good book on index fund investing. It will be interesting to see if his prediction of foreign countries (Japan, England, Australia) embracing indexing turns out to be true or not.

I would suggest companion books to supplement this book including The Richest Man in Babylon, Bogle on Mutual Funds, The Millionaire Next Door, The 4 Pillars of Investing, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, Wealth of Experience: Real Investors on what Works and What Doesn't, Index Mutual Funds: How to Simplify Your Life and Beat the Pros, The Coffeehouse Investor, and the Armchair Millionaire.

This book didn't quite hit the mark. I ordered this based upon my high opinion of Mal Warwick's other book, How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters. This book is very thin and a bit overpriced for the information it espouses. This book mainly addresses those fundraisers with big budgets, not your average small town, small organization fundraiser. I don't have thousands to spend on the "package." On the other hand, I highly recommend Mal's other book on successful fundraising letters. I increased my donation income by 30% last year by following those instructions.

It's all been said - and better than I could.

Mal Warwick is simply the best results-oriented writer in the field of nonprofit fundraising today!

The genuis behind Mal Warwick's incredible success lies in his ability to marry tried and true marketing techniques with the oftentimes straightlaced field of nonprofit development. You simply can't go wrong with his approach.

Today we are inundated with so many ads and appeals by unknown non-profits (usually on the phone during dinner time), that it is remarkable that any fund raising efforts are successful.

This book, written by a professional fund raiser and head of his own fundraising and marketing agency since 1979, gives several examples fund raising efforts that have not only been profitable, but have raised large amounts of money from relatively few doners.

The book is a combination of tutorial with descriptions of various campaigns that have been successful. The techniques of raising high dollar amounts from few contributors requires a different mind set, different techniques than the standard #10 envelope, bulk rate, and mass mailings. Instead the appeal package is usually more expensive ($5 each - no not a typo), and the mailing list is very selective.

Not every organization is ready, or even capable of raising money in these kinds of appeals. But when the right appeal is made to the right audience, the rewards can be great.

This book was a little shocking, to be honest. I raise money through the mail practically every day, but this book lays out a completely different approach that I am definitely going to try. It takes a lot more work, and I think it should only be used for very special programs, but it sounds like the high-dollar approach promoted in this book could work for just about any organization.
The book, unlike most fundraising books, is very easy to digest and written in a breezy style that makes it easy to get through. You can finish it in one sitting, easily. There are a lot of illustrated ideas from successful campaigns, and the author makes it sound easy. It's not, I don't think, but the book certainly encourages you to try.

As someone who has been raising money for many years, I was dubious that this book would tell me something I didn't already know. I was right and wrong. Much of what Mal says in his latest book on fundraising is not new to fundraising professionals. BUT, the book presents everything you know in a new and useful way that is focused on high dollar fundraising. It is well written, easy to follow, and provides great examples and techniques that will challenge even the long-time fundraising professionals to rethink their fundraising programs. I'm making it madatory reading for my fundraising staff!