fainancial

Dave Ramsey presents some very good information and IF most people appled it they could indeed create Financial Peace. The truth is as Dave says on page 271, "..Reading this book and obtaining knowledge is good, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH." Over 7 trillion dollars in consumer debt has families struggling with not only money but with time. They need a system that takes less than an hour a month, which is about all of the time and energy they have to break free. Dave certainly has the heart of his reader in mind when he wrote the book.

If you're sick and tired of living from paycheck to paycheck, Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace is an excellent guide of learning how to manage your money. Dave's teachings are Christian-based and emphasize learning to budget, getting and staying out of debt, bargain shopping, and ultimately accumulating enough wealth to retire with peace of mind.

My wife and I first became aware of Dave's teachings through his syndicated radio program. Since we have been following his teachings, we have learned to live on less than we make and have managed to pay off over $12,000 of debt in only 8 months.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is struggling to keep their finances in order. I have also given several copies of this book as graduation and wedding presents.

This is the best book I have ever seen on personal finance. It is easy to read and uses entertaining anecdotes to keep the reader interested.

So much of the world of personal finance is dominated by people and institutions selling financial products. Ramsey calls for people to be cautious about financial products in favor of simply living on less than they earn and paying down debts. When a salesperson approaches us and says "May I help you?" we prepare ourselves to talk to someone who is trying to sell us something. With financial products, especially debt, people are often too eager to be sold. I think it's rare to hear this point of view because a lot of the information we get about personal finance flows from lending institutions. Think of this book as the other side of the story.

This book gives hard-to-find advice about how to deal with financial emergencies. There's a whole other side to the unctuous, friendly-sounding credit card offers that are so common-- they lend money to people who cannot afford it. When people cannot pay, they sell the accounts to bill collectors who try to get people to put their obligations ahead of basic necessities by using lies, obscenities, threats, insults, and any other tricks they can think of. Where else do you read about this?

As other reviews have pointed out, Ramsey has an abrasive personality and right-wing political views. I totally disagree with his right-wing values, but he doesn't spend enough time on them to detract from the valuable personal finance information.

Another criticism is that Ramsey uses his "ministry" as an advertising vehicle for the very financial institutions he's criticizing. He claims that institutions that he endorses operate by his principles. I doubt, however, that he is picky about his endorsements, so follow Ramsey's advice from this book-- be skeptical about financial products, even ones he endorses on the radio.

I highly recommend this book. It can be easily understood by someone without a high school education and no experience with money. It has advice aimed at helping such a person with financial problems. At the same time, it has equally valuable advice for someone with an advanced education and high-paying job. High-income people often feel pressure to live an affluent lifestyle at the expense of other priorities. This book is a good antidote to that pressure.

I bought Market Wizards because I am working at an Ibank trading bonds this summer. But what I found is not so much a book that tells about stochastics, models, spread swaps, or other technical stuff , but what I did find is a book that takes you into the mind of a trader. Some of these guys have made and lost millions in a day, and the thoughts that must go through their head are mind-boggling when you control millions of demanding investors' money. The value of Schwager's book lies in its potential to teach you about what mental qualities these guys all possess that make them such good traders. Using real-life examples, they preach seemingly easy tenets all traders should follow but often do not. A lot of these psychological mindframes are difficult to maintain - cutting losses, trading without emotion, confidence in positions, and above all, not to be greedy. The interview with Ed Seykota (consummate yet eccentric trader) almost makes the book worth the money. A lot of what they say seems very simple and straightforward, but until you manage millions like these guys have, you will have to settle with a vicarious lesson that teaches you these important mental traits. All of his lessons should be absorbed before you step onto the trading floor thinking you are going to own Wall Street.

This book contain the interview of some of the more 'senior' well-known personalities in the trading world. Sometimes I share my view on something and people tell me they don't think it is possible. One such area is the idea that it is possible to pick tops and bottoms accurately, which goes against the conventional wisdom. I am happy to quote from the interview of Mr. Paul Tudor Jones who says: I believe that the best money is to be made at the market turns. I have caught a lot of bottoms and tops."

If you believe that you have a view on a subject matter which is being shunned by the majority, then this book may have just about the same idea given in one of the interviews, thus strengthening your confidence in what you stand for.. Remember, in this business it pays to be unconventional, because 95% of traders follow the standard principle and thats just about the same percentage of traders that lose their money in trading commodities!

I was told about this book from a friend of mine who worked at Chase in the FX market, he calls it his bible. If I didn't already have a bible, this would be it for me.

Had I read this book before I started trading (FX - Euro/Sterling/Yen) I would have saved thousands!! This book is a must read for anyone who is going to trade.

I have read Murphy (Technical Analysis), Jiler (Charts), and Zweig (Winning on Wall Street). And while these books are also very good, this book by Schwager really speaks to my experiences in the market.

I have read other customer reviews on this book, most of them giving a well deserved 5 stars, some of them complaining that this book didn't disclose 'secrets' or 'how to', there is no book that is going to tell you the 'secrets' of 'how to' win, but this book tells you how to look in yourself to make a winner.

Forget fundementals and technical, if you can't understand timing, risk, loss, entry, etc., your dead, or will be soon!!

I did attempt to look up each of these people who were interviewed to see where they are now. Many of them seem to have stopped trading, or I simply couldn't find any info on them. I also bought the book "New Market Wizards" but haven't read it yet. I wish there was a book like this that was written after 2000, as the market place is a whole lot different now with the Internet and the computing power that we have in order to do research.

Mr. Schwager if you are reading this PLEASE write another book, I would like to understand how the Internet has changed the market (for both big and small players). As many of you know, a lot of publicly traded companies that exist today would not have had an IPO had it not been for the ability for millions of small investors (via eTrade, Ameritrade, etc.) to invest into these companies. The small investor can play where only the big boys used to.

Bottom line if you want to play in the markets you should read this book. Hey if you don't like the book you can always sell it on Amazon (or ebay - but Amazon won't be happy!!).

Good luck to you, and remember it is only money!!

I almost didn't make it through the first part of the book.
The first two chapters are a waste of time unless you are a Detroit sports fan. (And I live in Detroit)
The next two chapters talk about wills and life insurance and have some useful information if you don't know anything about either of these two areas.
Start on Chapter 6 for retirement
If you are already a home owner, invest in a 401k or some other type of IRA, and have some idea of what you do with your disposable income then skip this book.

IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT, I must say this book has much more "real" concrete financial advice than a book like Rich Dad Poor Dad. If you had to pick between the two, select this one

This is the book I generally recommend to anyone interested in their future financial state or looking to get started in investing. It really is simple, and its innovative style (revolving around a few trips to the local barber-slash-investment guru) makes it a real pleasure to read. The simple steps and clear suggestions in each chapter give you an easy checklist of how to get started, rather than just putting it off. I really like the writing style and characters, but the strong investment advice is definitely an added bonus! The only qualm I have is that the book doesn't relate money and possessions to the rest of one's life - a real strength of a book like 'Neither Poverty Nor Riches ' by Blomberg. But overall, an excellent read for all would-be investors...

"The Wealthy Barber" is a financial primer written in the form of a fictional story with characters who grow in the area of financial management and independence. I would describe it as sort of a financial parable. There is a lesson to be learned here and instead of telling the lessons in either a boring, or too-technical book, this author has chosen and woven a fictional story with a lesson or a parable. Cathy, Tom and Dave get together with the local barber, Roy who shares his years of wisdom. There are chapters in the book involving wills, life insurance, retirement planning, personal residence, saving, investments and income tax. The lessons are basic and conservative. No day trading here or get rich quick schemes. Seasoned investors will probably find this book too elementary and simplistic. But some knowledgeable investors might find it to be a refreshing, thought provoking, simple overview. The primary reader target is really the novice or the uninformed. For this group I would heartily recommend the book. I would even recommend it for teenagers curious about investing and financial subjects. There are so many people that don't have a financial clue, for them this book would be excellent. The message is easy to read, simple and easy to follow. After reading this book an excellent follow on would be "The Millionaire Next Door" which expands some of the same themes of conservative saving and investing being a path to financial security, independence and a comfortable retirement. The book does not have an index, which I consider a shortcoming for the reader's future reference. I would also recommend as a companion read "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" by Andrew Tobias.

After he spent years managing mutual fund that is bigger the GDP of most countries, Peter Lynch has learned a few things about how to invest wisely.

While a lot of investment books will tips that claim will triple your money (but only make you broke instead) Lynch preaches from the pulpit of common sense when it comes to making investments.

One up on Wall Street should be required reading for every investor who wants to succeed if you have never invested a nickel or hold stock in 1,000 companies, Lynch's life time of investing experience can help you make better investment decisions.

This book helps you categorize and what phrase different stocks (and the companies behind them) are in and then what strategy you can use when investing in these different stock categories.

It will help you sort through the maze of financial numbers and makes it easy for anybody to perform simple stock research that professional perform everyday and are often overpaid for.

Lynch's lessons are timeless and his common sense approach can work in any market, up or down. If you have never invested before and looking for some help or you have spent years investing, buy two copies of these books in case you lose the first one.

I borrowed my copy of "One Up On Wall Street" from a friend who is a longtime professional equities investor. He received this gift as recommended reading from a veteran investment analyst he knows. While Peter Lynch has written an easily comprehendible advice book on common stock investing - very much written in layman's terms and without emphasis on industry jargon - the principles he puts forth are fundamental and worth reviewing by anyone, amateur or pro.

Within the 300 pages of this book, Lynch outlines a useful rubric against which all stock selections might be measured. His stocks fall into six categories: Slow Growers, Stalwarts, Cyclicals, Fast Growers, Turnarounds and Asset Plays. Screening, buying and selling advice are outlined for each of these six flavors, although nothing revolutionary (eg., Sell a slow grower when the dividend is unattractive.) He delivers a wealth of the basic analytical tools (well, more like rules of thumb) for stock research, explaining price earnings ratios, the import of tax loss carry-forwards, goodwill accounting, inventories, and other basics of P&L statements and Balance Sheets. It's a pocket guide financial course for those who may have slept through Accounting 101.

Lynch urges stock pickers to do their homework, and suggests the regimen of a "Two Minute" drill, whereby an investor can recite a brief monologue of reasons for selecting a security: Reasons for selection, what the company needs to do to succeed, and pitfalls that stand in the way. Obviously, this is not a book for the technicians or chartists. Nor even speculators, as Lynch reminds the reader that his "ten-baggers" or "forty-baggers" all come as a result of having held at least three to four years.

Quite a bit of the book carries a populist bent. There is plenty of advice to pay more heed to what's happening in the local shopping mall than to investment brokers ("oxymorons"), and to avoid stocks with exotic names or that may have been whispered to be hot. Of course, we've all been aware of this, and we're all wealthy and drinking daiquiris on the beach now, right?

In sum, it is worth the investment of the few hours it takes to swallow this information. At worst, it is an entertaining look at some high-fliers the former Magellan manager scored with, but at the very least it serves as reminder that basics need to be followed, and nothing works as well as solid research, good discipline and old fashioned hard work.

A Good book of investment for beginner as well as veteran.
I like the most about how he classified companies into six categories and talk about what you should reasonably do to make a profit out of them.

Also, the witty writing will give you a laught even if you are not interested in investment.

As a part-time FreeLance Commercial Writer ("FLCW") who has long aspired to genuine full-time status, I knew INSTANTLY that this was a book written for me and others like me. It is full of sound, practical, real-world advice and information, and illustrates with unmatched clarity and wit the abundant opportunities available to us all in this lucrative field. Peter Bowerman deserves kudos and thanks for putting it all together in such an effective, entertaining package!

I was knocked out by the candid comments of senior people at some of the nation's largest and most respected corporations concerning the scarcity of good writers to help them keep up with their workload. It is absolutely true, of course, yet I found myself feeling awestruck at the scope of the shortage as reflected in their words. They're practically pleading for competent, reliable writers. I feel their pain! (And am more than willing to heed the call.)

Don't feel dejected that YOU didn't write this book. Just read it and put it to work. It has had an immensely powerful impact on my outlook toward this entire genre of professional penmanship and I know I am by no means alone in that sentiment.

Write on!

The Well-Fed Writer is the best "how-to" manual I've ever read. Its simple step-by-step instructions clearly define how to start a freelance writing career and keep the momentum going. By following this guide, I've already taken steps to start my own writing business, and feel certain that I'll achieve my goal. Peter Bowerman is to be congratulated on his well-written book. No writer should be without a copy.

Wow, what an inspiring book. In all fairness I started a completely different kind of writing business than the one Bowerman suggests, but I still work with corporations. The point isn't WHAT you do, but rather the idea that writers should be well-paid for it. You can read this book, decide commercial writing isn't your thing, and still find ways to sell something that's closer to what you love.

I left academia shortly after reading this book (I was sick and tired of essentially donating my services to a wealthy and prestigious university), and in about a year I was earning a near-six-figure salary on my own. It was hard work, and I can't imagine it taking "six months or less" like he claims (still, a mere year ain't bad), but I am so much happier working for myself than being an underpaid professor. And the best part? I still have enough time to teach one class, at the same university! It's nice to stay in touch with my students, but driving home in a paid-for car to a lovely house I can afford feels even nicer. Thank you Peter Bowerman for an inspiring book!

This updated version of Beth Kobliner's work (5/2000) can help the folks in their 20's and 30's get a handle on their finances. Even with a college education, most students fail to come away with sufficient knowledge on how to manage their dough. This book is an easy read, not filled with useless info. There is special emphasis on paying off college loans, getting credit cards, buying a car, and financing a first house or apartment. Things that you really need to know. The main chapters include: Figuring out Where You Are and Where You Want to Go, Finding the Best Loans and Getting Yourself Out of Hock, How to Get the Most from Your Bank for the Least Amount of Money, All You Really Need to Know About Investing, Living the Good Life in 2030 !!, Getting an Apartment or House of Your Own, What Insurance You Need and Don't, Finding the Right Policies and Forgoing Coverage You Don't Need, Making Your Life Less Taxing. There is info on using the Web to help you save, spend and invest wisely, how to refinance your high-rate debt and avoid hidden fees and traps, taking advantage of the latest tax breaks- including deductions for student loans, and planning your long range savings program. In addition, there are details on car leases, credit reports, mutual funds, and more. A wealth of information available for less than 12 bucks. Highly recommended. A great gift.

First, I would like to disagree with the two extremely negative commentators that found this book patronizing. Although this book is obviously intended for beginners, I don't think Kobliner intended for anyone to take the beginner level content personally. For example, Kobliner did not insinuate that Gen. X-ers can't use credit cards responsibly. For those who can't, however, or for those who feel overwhelmed with the amount of debt they have taken on, Kobliner provides the financial framework for knowing why you should pay your credit cards as soon as possible. I think that the summary of the book & the cutesy cover should have given these two readers a clue that the book was intended for those with a limited financial background. Lynch would be terribly heavy reading for people unfamiliar with the business world.

That said, I found this book very informative. Obviously, personal finance is a vast subject and so this book serves as a brief overview of such topics as different types of bank accounts, paying your student loans back, saving for retirement, what to look for when renting an apartment, and how to buy a house. I bought this book a couple of months before my dad cut the purse strings and I graduated from college. Although I majored in accounting, I learned mostly theory in school. I found the investing content particularly informative and I opened my IRA ASAP. It is now been a little more than a year and I do think that I have "outgrown" most of the subject matter, but I still use this book for reference. When I buy a house, I will now know about the different types of mortgages and how much I should set aside. Of course, if schools taught personal finance, I wouldn't need this at all.

I do agree, however, that this book needs to be updated, if not for the creation of the Roth IRA alone. That is the only reason I'm not giving it five stars. Internet resources would be helpful, too.

I would recommend this book to people who are starting out in life (early twenties) or to those in their mid to late twenties who have no clue when it comes to personal finance. I plan on giving a copy to my younger sister for Christmas. I would not recommend this book to anyone in their thirties, though, despite what the cover says. I think the only topic that a thirty-something might find useful would be the house-buying chapter. Here in San Francisco, though, that is how long it takes to save for a down payment on a house, so you might not even need it in your neck of the woods.

This book served me well as an introduction to the fundamentals of personal finance. By following each step before moving on to the next, this book helped me formulate a financial plan and make it a reality. I repaired my credit, bought my first house, paid off my student loans, eliminated my credit card and automotive debt, and created a way to save/invest 28% of my gross monthly income. It required a few years of sacrifices on my part, but I credit this book with teaching me the "how, what, when and whys" of financial freedom.

That's the central thesis to Edward Chancellor's book on the history of financial booms, busts, swindles, panics and manias: the more things change, the more they stay the same. As a law student taking a few securities classes and a dabbling buy-and-hold investor, the book provides incredible insight into the way markets have worked and failed since they came into existence. Written in chronological order and ending in 1998 as the tech bubble burst, Chancellor is your tour guide to the cheats, robber barrons, over-rated innovations, emerging markets and herd mentality behind financial euphorias and depressions from Holland to Japan, Britain and the States. Chancellor's greatest accomplishment is pointing to the commonalities behind every crash and letting people know how to identify the signals of future bouts of irrational exuberance. The book demands limited sophistication, but the less you know about currency exchanges, derivatives and hedge funds, the more you will be resorting to an online investment dictionary. You will have to learn in order to enjoy this book. Chancellor's subject matter necessarily demands a critique of economic and political theories, and it is clear that he champions Keynes and greater government control over markets. His criticisms of conservative political/ economic philosophies, however, are relatively restrained, intelligent, and do not irritate those of opposing viewpoints. In the end, you may not be thinking on the same page as George Soros, but this book is a great education that may even have you making better investments.

Chancellor's book is a highly entertaining history of market speculation taking in everything from the Tulip Mania of 17th century Holland and the English South Sea Company bubble to Japan in the '80s, the Savings and Loan Rip Off, Michael Milken's Junk Bonds, the Long Term Capital Management fiasco and the Internet craze of the late 1990's. Chancellor even covers the 90's art market.

One constant stands out about market piracy: what is new is old - only the names and games have changed. Markets have always been manipulated and always will be. The reforms that follow in the wake of each bubble plant the seeds for the next. Often because the legislators who enact the reforms are beholden to those positioned to benefit from the loopholes.

There are several phrases that seem to pop up with every bubble:
"This time it's different."
"It's too big to fail."
"The business cycle is no more," or some nonsense about reaching a plateau of permanent prosperity.

Reading this book will make you think twice about investing in the market.
It'll make you doubt the foundation of the efficient market hypothesis.
It'll show how often the experts are wrong.
It'll show how often Nobel Laureates in Economics turn out to be fools.

It will make you think three times about investing in Japan.
Four times about investing in Latin America.

And you'll run away screaming from derivatives of any stripe.
In fact, one wonders why the whole shooting match hasn't imploded yet, ala Baring's Bank or LTCM.

Devil Take the Hindmost is a fun read. More important, the next time a Mania strikes - and it will - this book and a general understanding of the history of speculation just might just save you from rushing over the cliff with all the other lemmings.

This is not just a history of financial speculation. This is really a history of mankind, of greed, of all the evil that we have repeated again and again through history. The author finished writing this book in Dec 98. Theoretically, if more people had known and read this book, much fewer would got "drown" in the internet bubble. However, when the Greater Fool theory was in full throttle, as prescribed by this book, that made no difference.

Basically this book had covered all the financial catastrophes of the past 5 centuries: Tulipomania, South Sea Bubble, Fool's Gold, Railway mania, Great Depression, Japanese Bubble Economy ba ba ba. You name it. The most valuable thing being that the author had not just given an exhaustive account of what happened, but some reasoning why things repeated themselves, and how. Say, the government officials were corrupted, there came a so called technology innovation or a new market (the terms "New Era/Never coming back of the business cycle" were also there in 1929), the Greater Fool Theory in full gear, all the simple things you can tell from hindsight.

As a CFA Level III candidate (I might become a charterholder this August, ha ha), I strongly recommend AIMR to put this book into the required list of reading to warn its members of the limitation of the financial techniques/theories/calculations we try to preach. Anyway, a must read for anyone, especially serious players!

Despite my skepticism of many technical analysis (ie. charting) techniques, I bought this book a) because it was widely acclaimed; 2) I had hoped John Murphy, a prominent technician, would address some of the major criticisms leveled against TA. I was sadly mistaken. Only 2-3 pages are devoted to answering the claims of credible research that suggests stock prices are essentially random. Murphy's best answer seems to be that because some charts exhibit trends, technical analysis is validated. This is a complete non sequitir.

The first half of the book is devoted to charting methods, which he characterizes as both reliable and _subjective._ Excuse me, but how can a technique be deemed reliable if two practitioners cannot agree on what the data mean? This section is heavy on claims, but lacking any solid evidence.

Fortunately, the book isn't a total waste. There is an extensive review of more reliable and quantitative techniques, such as moving averages, oscillators, Boillinger Bands, etc. This part is probably the most useful portion of the book. Of further interest is the use of TA for intermarket analysis, developing trading systems, and the method of Japanese Candlestick charting, which might have something of value.

A good rebuttal to the exaggerated claims of TA is _Stock Market Logic_ by Norman Fosback, who has developed some powerful trading systems of his own.

If you are already a convert to TA, you will love this book. If you are a skeptic, nothing in this text will change your mind. My advice: absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and (most importantly) add something specifically your own. (Thank You Bruce Lee!)

Investing isn't easy. Investing profitably is even harder. As a result, investors are always looking for that 'angle', that 'edge' that will help them realize more consistent profits.

In the past 2 decades, many on Wall Street have come to believe that technical analysis of stock charts is one of those tools. Having worked in the financial services markets since 1987, I do believe that technical analysis can be a helpful tool. And if you are looking for a definitive source of TA, then look no further.

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets by John Murphy covers all the basic aspects of TA: philosophy, chart construction, fundamental vs. technical analysis, trends, major technical pattern recognition, moving averages, oscillators, times cycles, computer trading systems and much more. He also covers different methods of charting, including bar, point and figure and candlestick (be aware that most of the analysis techniques he presents apply to bar charting, not PnF or candlestick).

What I like most about the book is that it written clearly, simply and logically. It uses many graphical examples that SHOWS the reader what to look for. It does not rage on about the merits of TA (which many investors feel is complete hooey) but how to apply basic (and sophisticated) TA techniques. I use TA frequently in my business and find that it helps me manage my client's portfolios more effectively, especially when it comes to SELLING a position, whether to lock-in gains or limit losses.

If you are a TA convert, or if you have an interest in learning more about it, this book is a useful guide and should be purchased. Today, it remains one of the few investment reference books that I keep in my office.

This is a great book on technical analysis. The fundamentals are all here from pattern recognition to indicators. TA is essential anyone who wants better entries and exits on stocks and other financial instruments. This is the building block to using trading strategies to win in both bull and bear markets. For actually trading strategies, I recommend Dave Landry on Swing Trading or Street Smarts, but this book is the perfect start.

Van Tharp gives some good examples from a vareity of sources on how to monitor one's trading habits. He discusses many key aspects of the game and takes a non biased stance on which way is the best for his audience. His soft sell approach and open minded attitude is quite refreshing when compared to other authors who seem to have altierior motives.

However, some of the chapters are written from an overly technical point of view. Mr. Tharp assumes his audience knows what he is talking about but really he fails to introduce some key analytical concepts. The Arbitrage Theory is extremely difficult to interpret. The use of statistics helps in spots but it is recommended that you study this book many times over which the author does suggest. Many of Tharp's examples are dry and a bit disconnected from the stock market world. Instead of displaying random statistics that merely displays his ideas from an academic person's point of view, Van Tharp could have simply cut to the chase and displayed a trend on a well known stock like IBM or Hewlett Packard which illustrates his and any other theories discussed in this book.

As a reference, this book has the potential to provide longer term value than other readings that deal with concepts that became obsolete several years ago as well as other sources that have a narrow focus/bias. This books provides a reasonably sized suggested reading list which adds to the value over the long haul. For those who have the time, this book could be worth four stars or even more for those academians out there. However, others who do not fit the above criteria will have limited returns from this source. To be fair to all, I rate it 3 1/2 stars.

Dr. Van Tharp's excellent book "Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom" is truly a work of groundbreaking proportions. It is the single most important book I have ever read on the subject of trading sucessfully. Using a very organized and readable format, Dr. Tharp leads the reader step by step through the maze of myths about trading and arrives at the true meaning of the Holy Grail -- that the secret of success is inside you. Dr. Tharp serves as your personal guide, taking you safely through the treacherous terriroty surrounding information about trading systems. In the end we are much wiser for the experience, arriving at our destination stronger for having completed the journey. In short, we gain the wisdom that comes with knowing one's Self and become very clear on what works...and what doesn't. By interviewing thousands of successful traders during a 15 year period, Dr. Tharp was able to find out what was common in their individual systems of success. He then created a "model" of those variables, arriving at these basic truths: Low risk ideas combined with appropriate exit strategies and position sizing create the foundation for developing successful trading systems. Dr. Tharp shares his research with the reader, supporting his conclusions with rich examples. After finishing Tharp's book, even a layman has the tools to design a highly profitable trading system that contains all the strengths common to the best trading systems but also "fits" that particular trader's personality. This book transformed my experience of trading and allowed me to trade with the confidence that comes from knowing the truth about what works. Since implementing Dr. Tharp's strategies to my trading style, the results I have experienced are nothing short of miraculous. Quite frankly this is the first and last book you will ever need if you are serious about trading (or investing) your way to financial freedom. If you want to develop a highly profitable, low risk trading system that produces consistently strong returns, then read this book! All you need is an open mind and the courage to put some of Dr. Tharp's innovative research to the test. I promise you, if you read this book and apply Dr. Tharp's proven concepts, your trading will immediately improve and your bottom line will stay in the black. Without a doubt, Dr. Tharp's book is the best "investment" I have ever made. My return on this "position" is incalculable...

The book is very well written and covers material that is important to new and/or experienced traders. The information I've learned by far exceeds the price of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who contemplates trading.

I can't say enough good things about this book. What I like best about it is that its useful no matter how much time you have left until a scholarship application is due. As a high school senior, I have some applications due in a couple weeks, some due in a couple months, and others I'll apply for when I'm in college. The author shows you how to package you application in a short amount of time for those coming deadlines, expand upon what you've done for those medium-term deadlines, and employ "content strategies" to position yourself for those long-term applications. This book is a really, really good starting point for any student serious about winning scholarships.

This book is literally the best resourse for scholarships. Period. I'm a high school freshman, and I got this book to start a quest for keeping my financial stabibility. I've read pretty much the whole thing in no time and I'm ready to apply the strategies and tactics to my scholarship quest.

Now, I really can't tell you if this book WILL suceed in paying for most of my college tuition but, frankly, I realize it is really up to me. If I am ready to put in the time, if YOU are ready to put in the time, I am sure either you OR I could win, with or without the book. But, this book will surely make it a lot easier. It has strategies of how to win as well as a fair selection of scholarships to begin applying to. Enough to keep you busy for a very, very long time. Even if these aren't enough, it offers suggestion of how you can find more scholarships you're eligible for. Supposedly, the author is also putting together a companion book with many more scholarships, though it's not out yet. All and all, I highly recommend you get this book. It won't win the scholarships for you, but, with a little preserverence, it will certainly assist you win the contests yourself!

When I saw the title of this book, I began salivating uncontrollably. Imagine, having someone else pay to send your kids to college. That may have been an overreaction. Surely anyone else that has college-bound kids should sympathize.

The book is well organized and written on a level that will not challenge a high school student. However, there are tips for a wider audience including the very young, older returning students, graduate students, and students that fit into special groups.

Clearly, the competition for scholarships can be intense, but with a logical game plan engaged in consistently, an applicant's effectiveness can be increased. The one consistent theme in the book is that a steady approach will lead to success.

I will take issue with a combination of techniques mentioned in the book. Kaplan suggests that students get their recommendations in electronic format so that they can print them out as needed. He also suggests that you solicit "small" changes to recommendation letters to make them "great" letters. I feel this may present many an ethical challenge to some applicants. To be clear, he does not suggest manufacturing recommendation letters.

He also provides access to his companion web site to add extra punch to the process.

In the final analysis, it is hard to argue with his success, and Kaplan was very successful on his own behalf. He interviewed many of the people involved as applicant and administrators and their tips appear in the book.