Monetary-policy

This book does a great job of explaining the reasons for commonplace hang-ups about money and offers a very workable solution. I actually struggled with being an "over saver" - and there aren't many books written for us. Laut outlines a great way to live for today (spending what you have) while also saving for the future. It's easy to read and easy to implement.

I first read this book in my early twenties when I was a lost soul living on welfare (not a difficult thing to do in this town). The first word that comes to mind is PHENOMENAL.

Money Is My Friend explores the philosophical, psychological and emotional aspects of wealth. The purpose here is to eliminate Poverty Consciousness and replace it with Prosperity Consciousness. Money is a force beyond good and evil, neutral as electricity and powerful enough to rival even the forces of love and war. It is a creation of the human mind. All currency simply consists of symbolic representations of a mental construct that cannot be clearly defined. Therefore, poverty and wealth are merely states of mind which manifest themselves on the physical plane. By altering the contents of your mind you alter the contents of your bank account, so to speak. In order to do this Phil Laut takes us through exercises of self exploration and reprogramming which REALLY WORK. Also, his guidelines for managing money are unsurpassed and he devotes an entire chapter to the art of salesmanship (which should be a basic life skill for everyone). I seriously believe this book should become a standard in High School curriculum.

I am now in my late twenties and well on my way to earning a 6 figure income. This book should have been entitled The Magical Secrets of Wealth Creation.

I read `Think and Grow Rich' when I was 23, and in the ensuing 25 years had read most of the how-to books on success and wealth (including Magic of Thinking Big, The Greatest Salesman in the World, Spirit of Appollo, The Richest Man in Babylon etc.). However none of them did me any good in improving my financial situation.

So when I came across this gem of a book, it was like a breath of fresh air. For once I found something that did work - for me! While the other books left me feeling guilty (I had not persisted enough, I did believe enough, I had not visualized properly etc.), Money Is My Friend did just the opposite! It explained that there could be hidden mental blocks within my subconscious that caused negative results, and not just the lack of proper application of principles. Furthermore it helped me uncover and clear some of these mental blocks.

The breakthrough came for me when I was on Chapter 4 and reading about `Parental Disapproval Syndrome'. It suddenly flashed upon me just how the tutelage of my parents and my teachers had helped me make the strong subconscious association that MONEY IS EVIL. That was the reason why I found it difficult to attract money.

The affirmations given in this book are wonderful. Within a few months of my writing my first affirmation `My income exceeds my expenses', my financial situation began to improve.

But this book is much more than about money. The ideas in the book may seem controversial at first glance, but are in fact true. Some examples just to whet your appetite: `Financial problems cannot be solved with money!' `All human wealth is created in the human mind!' `Anger is intention contaminated with the idea of helplessness' `My wealth increases daily, whether I'm working, playing or sleeping!'

Read the book before you dismiss or condemn any of the above statements. I can only end with the words of the author `Make a special note to re-read the sections that make you angry, skeptical or afraid!'

I believe you will be glad you did. After 25 years of religiously studying hundreds of books on attaining success and wealth, I think Money is My Friend stands out as the ultimate.

I still buy copies of MIMF to give to my friends.

Make an estimate of the amount of time you have spent on preparing yourself to earn money, on getting it, and of taking care of it when you have it. Wouldn't it be worthwile to really understand what it is you are spending all this energy on?
Tom Greco has been doing some of that work for you, with integrity, passion and enormous dedication.
The time has come to shed some light on the mysterious workings of our money. Read why it is a losing game for most people, of why it is our master instead of our servant. More important still: what you can do to change it for yourself and for your own community.

This book is a fruit of the author's "warm heart and cool head." The value of this book is to demonstrate a theory and a method for democratizing the power to issue money. We can understand the necessity for local currencies in order to decrease the concentration of power in monetary and financial system.

MONEY, by Thomas Greco, is one of those books that will cast a light on the shadows of economy as we've known it. But as it happens with every time light is cast, other shadowy areas emerge. The dark side of a system which we take for granted. If anyone suffers or has concerns about money, by reading this book it'll become clear that most people suffer and are concerned about something they didn't even know what it was. What IS money? Why do we suffer under it? What's the problem with money? Most of the world uses it today, though few realize that Legal Tender has legal implications, is part of a legal contract which we agree on even though we haven't even read the large print, much less the small print. By reading MONEY, both large and small print become clear and understandable. This is a book that is both easy to read and easy to understand, and what's perhaps most interesting, a book which will make us realize that our economic problems might not be our personal fault after all, but rather the fault of a system which was never quite right. Money is a technology with side effects. Poverty is a result of money for money functions under the rule of scarcity. If it's scarce, it's more valuable but if it's too scarce, its function as a 'tool of exchange' does not work properly anymore.
MONEY is the beginning of a long road we have ahead of us. A few aspects, especially at the end, might still be too close to our present paradigm about economy, but this should change as more people around the world experience different systems of Alternatives to Legal Tender and thus see their very lives changed for the better. MONEY is only one step -but perhaps the first step most of us need- in the path towards a more humane future.

Having spent the past two years learning everything I could about the workings of the Federal Reserve and fiat currencies I was pleased to be introduced to Ewarts excellent book on money. It is a first class book in all respects, content, format, quality of paper, photos and binding. I have three sons in their 20's and I am giving them each a copy, that is how important the information in Money is! There is a growing awareness of the abuse of our money system, our Constitution and our government. Books that would complement what you learn in Money include, Cracking the Code, Creature from Jeckyl Island, The Grunch of giants, and The Peoples History of the United States. Also do some research on filing a UCC-1 in a step to owning your freedom.

This would be a perfect graduation gift for a high school student. Give him or her a dose of vital truth before subjecting them to economic B.S. on the university level. If only I could have read this book 20 years ago. James Ewart does a magnificent job exposing how the banking system operates and how ongoing unconstitutional expansion of the money supply waters down the value of our wallet and checkbook money. When you are the victim of a continuing con-game, the sting is not comprehended, the propaganda has been effective and the billionaires make out like bandits. Now you have the key to the magic trick in "Money" and all economics becomes very simple, only the slight of hand and propaganda was the source of confusion. So, if you are of a state of mind which could not contemplate the possibility of criminals running the United States, then this book isn't for you, stick with looser job and Sunday football and boring spouse, and ride ol' nellie down; on the otherhand, if you have been curious, or sensed something was wrong, but couldn't put your finger on it, JUST WHY SHOULD ALAN GREENSPAN BE ALLOWED TO MANIPULATE YOUR MONEY ANYWAY? DOES LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRIZE MEAN ANYTHING? , then this book is for you, It rates a 5 star, and every patriotic American should have a copy nearby.

Jim Ewart has produced a classic work entitled Money. More than simply a fine 'coffee table' exposition on our understanding of the nine most important monetary terms (money, currency, dollar, pay, note, bill, tender,usury, and inflation), it is THE premiere showcase work on the pictorial history of money. This expensively designed and printed book is the first to show all of the original American forms of coinage and paper currency in full color plates. They are gorgeous. Ewart walks you through all the fascinating fine print on each bill showing how government has slowly changed the fiduciary relationship between citizen and currency -- to the citizen's detriment. While I think Ewart sometimes makes too much out of the nuances of etymology (tracking the root meaning of words), when you get through his conversational explanations on money, banking and credit,you'll be an expert on the terminology of money and much better equipped to see through the deceptive fine print still in use in many of today's bank loan documents. Again, this is a showcase-quality hardback book printed on glossy paper -- a treasure house of color reproductions. It's priced none too high for the value, in my opinion.

Joel Skousen, editor World Affairs Brief

Having read several books on the move to EMU, this is definitely one of the most thoughtful and incisive (and by far the best written!!). Clearly the French perspective on the EMS and EMU is absolutely crucial to understanding why European monetary integration happened at all. Well done! This book enters into impressive detail about the French perspective but places the development of French policy clearly in the context of wider European developments so that the non-specialist can follow the text and learn about monetary integration more generally.

This is a well-balanced, thoughtful study of French policy on European monetary integration. For those looking to understand EMU go no further!

This is a detailed yet highly readable account of the reasons why the French sought European monetary integration. I recommend it all those interested in why the French embraced EMU.

Someday humanity will look back on this book and wonder why its methods were not put into practice generations sooner. Better late than never. Free yourself. Become part of the solution.

No need to reinvent the wheel. This book explains how money works for those who already have too much and against those who are really creating the wealth. Then it shows examples of systems tried and shown to be effective in keeping the productivity in the hands of the creators and at the same time allowing the already-rich to keep their security. No guesswork necesary. A complete guide to making changes that are long overdue in this nation and hopefully on this planet. Imagine working your fair share of time and prospering while the earth has a chance to recover from merciless plunder. Don't dream it: BE it!

If people only understood the concepts in this easy to read book, freedom would return to this land. People would be able to keep the profits from their labor. Americans who have been taught to endure hardship simply to earn a living would find that their life-energy has been stolen and would be empowered to take it back. Land would be redistributed and it would be profitable to live lightly on the earth once again. The system described in this book is tried and proven. Many communities are using its example to restore prosperity to their citizens.
Small but powerful book. Should be required reading for all high-school students. At least the next generation would taste freedom and prosperity.

Managing Bank Risk, An Introduction to Broad-Base Credit Engineering, takes on a Herculean task of capturing an extraordinarily extensive array of risk management subjects. Having spent several years in my prior career as a Corporate Banker to Fortune 500 Companies, I was familiar with some of the material within the book. However, I found that the most critical tools that I accumulated and have come to rely on have by and large been aggregated and explained clearly through both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Going beyond definitions and methodology, Managing Bank Risk lends focused perspective and context through the use of case studies. Having built various articulating sensitivity models over the course of my career, I appreciated the book's foundation of credit metrics, financial statement analysis with focus on cash flow analysis, proper asset-based lending approaches and detailed explanations of several forecasting techniques. From a pure banking perspective, Mr. Glantz commits significant time to portfolio management, hedging techniques, and understanding derivatives. Having seen only a small fraction of the statistical forecasting tools from business school that Mr. Glantz covers in the book, I found both the theory and practical software-based tools fascinating. Managing Bank Risk also evaluates and lucidly explains many corporate finance concepts and valuation tools such as Real Options and Pricing Models, which I have found important to have a controlling knowledge of in my career as an Investment Banker. Finally, but certainly not in summation, Managing Bank Risk reviews and identifies important Accounting and Corporate Structure insights and lessons that can be taken from recent corporate scandals. Given the sheer volume and quality of topics covered from the most fundamental to some of the most sophisticated, cutting-edge models available today, I would suggest this well-written and comprehensive book as a must-read for business school students or as a reference guide for finance professionals.

Glantz provides an astonishing and comprehensive overview of current banking practices. The book provides the necessary approaches for managing risk and uncovering discrepancies in today's environment of corporate shenanigans. The chapters on credit derivatives and pricing models are the most impressive of all writings on these subjects and are presented in a very clear and concise manner. Finally, the resources and risk rating system included on the CD is worth the price of the book alone.

This book is simply brilliant! Not only did I learn about new techniques for managing bank risk but found it similar to a novel that I never wanted to put down. I never take the time to write critiques but this book definitely warranted it.

Dr. Rahn explains advanced concepts of economics in a format that the beginner and simpleton, like me, can understand and use. It is an easy four hour read, is a primer in economics and is must reading for anyone who thinks the way of spending money will continue just like it is at this time. The big question is whether government will grow up in time not to get in the way of the monetary changes and whether you and I will be able to spend our money as we wish without Big Brother's nosing in. What Dr. Rahn fails to point out is that the concepts expressed in his book are basic to our constitution and to our freedom. If we do not take heed, we stand to lose both. It is must reading for every citizen.

This is a must read book for all those people trying to understand how the internet and the digital revolution will change their lives. It will bring fear to politicians and civil servants who love big Government. It describes how the internet will provide the ordinary citizen with the ability to avoid and evade excessive taxation whilst at the same time being better informed to manage his or her life without Government interference. If you are a knowledge worker, and in Rahn's digital world of tomorrow, we will virtually all be knowledge workers then you have everything to gain from the information in this book. Its comparison of two Governments, one that is minimalist and understanding of the digital age as opposed to one that is maximist and lacking in basic comprehension of the digital revolution, is timely in terms of describing the digital battleground of the next millenium. This book is a must read, it provides a real vision of where the digital future is taking us.

OK, so you have your guns, you've studied the law and you've got your gold and 10 years of food stashed.

Guess what?

It's not necessary. Not now. Not anymore.

No violence, no protests, no writing your congressman.

This is a revolution that is happening one person at a time, anonymously, securely, privately and instantaneously. Each individual voluntarily removes his energy from the system that is enslaving him.

The government will simply lose revenue until it can only function within its justified duties, which is the protection of the property and lives of its citizens.

This book shows the convergence of multiple truly revolutionary technologies that will give us back our freedom and force government to adjust to this new world. This is the way we will return to true freedom.

I bought this baby as the background for an advanced level international econ paper on the fluctuations of the Euro, and it is wicked good. It hands out the basic knowledge like the Rams hand out touchdown balls, and even though it was written before the Euro's current problems, you can easily piece together the reasons behind the malaise.

The only caveat is that if you're really into the mathematical and graphical side of economics -- this puppy ain't for you. If you look at the overload of math that Krugman's International Economics textbook gives you, this pales in comparison. I wish it had more of that, if only so that on those nights I can't sleep, I have one more resource to use. But that's what I have my girlfriend's stories for.

Anyway, go buy it. It's good.

I have read 2 other books about the Euro and this one is by far the best. It offers an unbiased view of the Euro unlike most other books. It is very easy to read, informative, well organized... I could go on and on. If you want to learn about the Euro if you are a student or businessman, get this book.

This is an excellent introductory book. It is very easy to read and is very concise. It is written from a general rather than a particualar nationalist view as are several other books on the EURO. It also has a large listing of web sites where other interesting information is available.

In one word, AMAZED. Being a college student and working full time it is hard for me to take personal time to sit down and read a book. A Distant Crossing was a fast and grabbing read in which kept me wanting more. This book came to me as a strong recomendation from close friends, and I can't thank them enough. Thomas Parks just wrote the most amazing book, and I hope it isn't the last. He is a gifted writer that is going to be BIG soon. You ready for the competition Tom Clancy?

Thanks Mr. Parks

Before reading "A Distant Crossing", I was apprehensive about the subject matter. It seemed likely more appealing to men than to women. Having been glued to its pages from beginning to end, I can now say that anyone who reads this book will gain hours of enjoyment. It tells a story of how a decent, caring individual can find themselves in the most tragic of circumstances. The reader will experience the full gamut of emotions - from joy to sorrow and desparation - from serenity to chaos - from beauty to repulsiveness. "A Distant Crossing" causes the reader to ponder the lifestyles and values that we all take for granted. I highly recommend it.

What a page burner! Thomas Parks draws his characters so well I felt as though I could invite Barnes and Sullivan home for dinner (minus the weapons, of course). Each time I felt Barnes had faced the last of his ordeals, the author kicked it up another notch. I finished the book in three days and then hated to see it end. The next step should be a movie script. Someone ought to send the book to Mel Gibson, it's definitely his type of material.

I'll be watching for Mr. Parks next book with great anticipation.

For the realtively uninitiated. These days, anything related to the Austrian school of economics is worth al least looking at. Rothbard is a bit extreme, proposing that un-backed credit creation is equivalent to counterfeiting. In my opinion there is a difference, since money supply based solely on credit can evaporate into bad debt write-offs if a credit bubble bursts, while money supply cannot evaporate if based on the issuance of counterfeit currency. Nevertheless, this is interesting material in a concise book with no fluff. If you're reading a dozen books on the Fed and money, this might as well be one of them.

Ever since the creation of the Federal Reserve Board ("the Fed"), the American economy has been subject to a cycle of boom and bust. Most recently, we saw a bubble in technology stocks in general and telecommunication stocks in particular, fueled by the creation of credit. But no one wants to blame the culprit -- the Fed. Why has an institution that was created allegedly to bring stability to the economy caused such havoc? Equally importantly, why is an institution that has so much power so unaccountable?

Murray Rothbard (1926-1995) provides in this book an outstanding discussion of money, banking, the Fed, and U.S. monetary policy. As usual, Rothbard sees the "big picture." There was no need for a central bank, however the Banksters ' in combination with Big Business and Big Intellectuals -- pushed for the creation of the Fed. Rothbard's discussion of the battles between the Rockefellers and the House of Morgan is fascinating. (See his Wall Street, Banks and American Foreign Policy for a more elaborate discussion of this great "conspiracy" in U.S. history.)

The foundation for this work is Austrian economic theory. Through fractional reserve banking ' which is little more than legal counterfeiting ' banks are permitted to print new money, thus creating inflation. Yet the central insight of Austrian theory is that this creation of money doesn't simply increase prices, but distorts the cycle of production as it works its way through the economy. This creates the boom and bust cycles that have plagued our economy.

For a more detailed discussion of many of the issues raised in this book, the interested reader should consult Rothbard's The Mystery of Banking.

Murray Rothbard once again cuts through the popular dogma and conventional knowledge which government would prefer we all simply take on faith. In this case, the subject is money and the creation of it. Rothbard, an exceptional economist, showcases his ability to set aside the technical jargon and higher mathematics of the profession in favor of language accessible to everyone. In "The Case Against the Fed," Professor Rothbard examines the roots of money, as a commodity with subjective value which, because of wide-spread acceptance and other desireable qualities, becomes a medium of exchange for a people. Furthermore, he exposes the government's, via the Federal Reserve, monopolization of money. Rothbard shows how the Fed uses the power of the printing press to tax the people via inflation, to redistribute income, and to artificailly lower the interest rate leading to the infamous "business cycle" and the roller coaster of depressions and booms which our eceonomy is regualraly subjected to. Anyone who is concerned about the purchasing power of their income and about the unemployment which the business cycle regularly brings should read this book. Professor Rothbard portrays the federal government as what it is: the self-proclaimed, legitimate counterfeiter