Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700 (Ancient Society and History)

Book Description

The premier form of Roman money since the time of the Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.), coins were vital to the success of Roman state finances, taxation, markets, and commerce beyond the frontiers. Yet until now, the economic and social history of Rome has been written independently of numismatic studies, which detail such technical information as weight standards, mint output, hoards, and finds at archaeological sites. In Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700, noted classicist and numismatist Kenneth W. Harl brings together these two fields in the first comprehensive history of how Roman coins were minted and used.

Drawing on literary and documentary sources as well as on current methods of metallurgical study and statistical analysis of coins from archaeological sites, Harl presents a sweeping overview of a system of coinage in use for more than a millennium. Challenging much recent scholarship, he emphasizes the important role played by coins in the overseas expansion of the Roman Republic during the second century B.C., in imperial inflationary policies during the third and fourth centuries A.D., and in the dissolution of the Roman Mediterranean order in the seventh century A.D. He also offers the first region-by-region analysis of prices and wages throughout Roman history with reference to the changing buying power of the major circulating denominations. And he shows how the seldom-studied provincial, civic, and imitative coinages were in fact important components of Roman currency.

Richly illustrated with photographic reproductions of nearly three hundred specimens, Coinage in the Roman Economy offers a significant contribution to Roman economic history. It will be of interest to scholars and students of classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as to professional and amateur numismatists.

Customer Reviews:

Addresses what many numismatic works don't.......2007-08-16

This volume is the only one I have come across to satisfactorily treat the question of economic context and actual usage patterns of Roman coins. It is both scholarly (containing voluminous footnotes) and readable. Of particular interest is the information pertaining to the frequently neglected period of the third and fourth centuries.

Excellent referance.......2005-04-19

By far the most complete work on the subject I was able to locate. The chronological orginization is both useful and intuitive and the writing style makes this book fairly easy reading considering the depth of information it provides.

First rate information about the role of coins in Rome.......2002-10-19

A previous Amazon.com reviewer of Kenneth Harl's "Coinage in the Roman Economy" expressed an interest in seeing a review of the book from the viewpoint of other than a numismatist. I suppose that I can at least partly do this. Although I do collect some ancient Roman coins, I am quite casual in my approach to it and, in truth, I am more interested in the history and people behind the coins than the coins as objects in themselves. In looking on the Internet for information about the use and "real world" value of coins in the Roman Empire, I came across mention of Professor Harl's book. Wanting to better understand how those discolored bits of silver and bronze had come to be and how they were used, I understood that there was no better source.

"Coinage in the Roman Economy" is unabashedly, unflinchingly academic in its approach to its subject. Expect no whimsical anecdotes about mad emperors; don't imagine that there will be thrilling descriptions of great battles. It is safe to say that Brad Pitt's agent is not negotiating for screen rights to the book. Page after page, Harl details the intricacies of Roman monetary policy, how emperors gradually (and sometimes not so gradually) diluted the precious metal content of the coins, reduced their weight, and repeatedly altered exchange rates in efforts to achieve financial stability. Yet, there is an oddly compelling flow and rhythm to that description of one thousand years of coin history as we watch the story of this instrument of Roman power and art play out against a distant background of civil wars, invasions, foreign wars, and calamities. To tackle this book, a reader should already be familiar with the central events and personalities in the long history of Rome. Otherwise, the information presented cannot be integrated with the larger story. But for the student of Roman history, there is much here not readily available elsewhere, including insights into the standard of living in those distant centuries.

For collectors of ancient coins, of course, there is another entire realm of information contained in this book: explanations of the how those treasured bits of metal were manufactured and distributed, how much a denarius could buy under Augustus and how little under Claudius Gothicus, why new eras brought new coins such as the aurelianus and the nummus.

The ideal reader of "Coinage in the Roman Economy" is one who blends interests in both Rome and the coins themselves. It is not light reading, by any means, but effort expended will be rewarded by a new appreciation of the real importance of these small pieces of metal to that complex and now-vanished world.

Tough to read.......2000-07-19

I found this book scholarly, and I think it is intended to be so. Were this book otherwise organized, it could be easier to manage. I found that the many (fifty or more per chapter) footnotes were cumbersome to look at, being grouped together apart from the main text. Furthermore, most of them refer just to the origin of data. But some have more extensive contents. I could have done without many of them, but not of all of them. That kept me jumping around. Plates with illustrations are similarly placed, but this is not so annoying.

This overview of the roman monetary system and coinage in use for a millennium in the Roman world is compelling. Prices and wages are also analyzed, as far as extant documents allow.

Politicians from around the world could learn a lot about how Gresham's law, the economic principle that bad money drives out good (good money automatically disappears because of hoarding) works; Rome provided good example that people can't be fooled easily.

Rating this book with four stars, I'm judging it as a numismatist interested in roman history and economics. I'd like to see ratings from people with other concerns.

Average customer rating:

Nice Book - Great Price at Amazon

Excellent material for beginners

Dripping with drivel

Not Again!

Full Frontal Fashion: The Insider¿s Guide to High Style in Every Situation
Melissa Sones , and Rebecca Budig
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Commercial | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Sam Saboura's Real Style: Style Secrets for Real Women with Real Bodies

Before You Put That On: 365 Daily Style Tips for Her

The Pocket Stylist: Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Look

Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That's Right for Your Body

The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece

ASIN: B000HIV0C2

Book Description

From the creators of the top-rated Women's Entertainment's hit show comes the definitive style guide

From the team behind the immensely popular weekly cable TV show Full Frontal Fashion comes this indispensable guide to putting together the perfect outfit for any occasion. What woman hasn't scoured her closet, anguishing over what to wear to a job interview, to meet her future in-laws, or on the dreaded “casual Friday”?

Filled with rich color photos, Full Frontal Fashion's ten chapters—from “Cubicle Couture” and “Gorgeous Get-aways” to “Editing Your Closet” and Become Your Own Stylist”—are packed full with expert opinions and insider secrets from a who's who of the fashion world, and from such magazines and stores as InStyle, Marie Claire, Barney's, Neiman Marcus and much, much more. Addressing the major dressing challenges today's women face, the Full Frontal Fashion Team solves these emergencies and more with humor and substance, offering practical, easy to implement advice, and of course, plenty of style. This entertaining, authoritative guide provides the same fabulous advice that has made Full Frontal Fashion's Top Ten one of the must-sees of the fashion world.

For business and for pleasure, for a trip to the grocery store and a trip to Tibet, for the health club and the hot new club, Full Frontal Fashion is a welcome guide to mastering every dressing dilemma in high style.

Customer Reviews:

Nice Book - Great Price at Amazon.......2006-08-14

It's a nice fashion book...not the be all end all, but nice.

Excellent material for beginners.......2005-10-12

Valuable information written in simple English. Perfect for common people without a fashion background. Good pictures and lots of tips and useful hints.

Dripping with drivel.......2005-09-29

I bought this book thinking it would offer some smart guidelines for building a stylish wardrobe that also reflects one's personality, and that it might dish its advice in a tone that is fun to read. Wrong on both counts. It was more along the lines of "You should so totally buy a beautiful, wonderful dress, maybe even a COLUMN dress, for that wedding you have to attend. But don't ruin it with icky shoes!" As far as the "fashion personalities" they listed, I didn't find myself in any category. Rather, I know what category I'm in, and they didn't think to list it. The only thing I liked about the book were the letters written by people with fashion crises--first date ever, etc, included at the beginnings of the chapters. Otherwise, the annoyingly chirpy generalizations that filled this book were nothing I couldn't get in any fashion mag for much less money.

Not Again!.......2005-08-29

I suppose it was unrealistic of me to expect any new insights or AHA! moments while reading this book...but the disappointment was especially bitter when I realized that 99 percent of everything I read I had read before. Learning to define my fashion style as "classic" or "preppy" really didn't do it for me, and my closets are already weeded, thank you very much. A waste...(waist?) of money.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Washington Monthly, published by Thomson Gale on July 1, 2007. The length of the article is 1851 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The sins of affluence: two prominent liberal thinkers offer impassioned critiques of modern capitalism--and solutions that are the policy equivalents of bake sales.
Author: James K. Galbraith
Publication: Washington Monthly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 39 Issue: 7 Page: 51(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

When a mysterious greenwood box is discovered in the rafters of an old barn in northern Finland, it is found to contain tiny bundles of paper, each revealing remarkable descriptions of the Christmas rituals of the gnomes. In every gnome home around the world, Christmas lasts an entire month, and it signals the coming of a new year, which the gnomes ring in with a blessing: "May this year be full of proud deeds and silly games, beautiful songs and hearty feasts, clever jokes, loving friends, and enough surprises to keep us on our toes."

Following in the tradition of Gnomes (which sold one million copies), The Complete Gnomes, and The Secret Lives of Gnomes, A Gnome's Christmas is the latest study on the lives and cultural habits of gnomes. Detailing their love of the Christmas season, this delightful book features songs, stories, games, and recipes for holiday treats, as well as captivating artwork by celebrated artist Rien Poortvliet. Including a special holiday ornament, A Gnome's Christmas is a must-have for gnomeophiles and Christmas fans of all ages. AUTHOR BIO: Bruce Goldstone is the author of Bip in a Book with Marcel Marceau and Why Is Blue Dog Blue? with George Rodrigue. He lives in New York City. Rien Poortvliet was one of Holland's most popular artists and the author of Abrams' Gnomes and Noah's Ark, among others. Although he passed away in 1995, his books remain classics.

Customer Reviews:

gnome's christmas.......2007-01-13

I enjoyed this book, but then I enjoy all of Poortvliet's work. I would recommend this to anyone.

Gnomes make me Happy.......2006-11-16

Book arrived in excellent(new) condition in a most timely manner-2 days if I remember correctly. I'm quite impressed.

Cute little thing........2006-11-13

This itsy bitsy work is great for the children. Gave three out to my GKids. For adults you might want Ms. Virtue's Healing book with Fairies. There is a World Guide if you want a vast historical review of what distant past generations have to say about nature people. If You Could Only See .. A Gnome's Story is a more modern, direct-channel of the Gnomes for those who want to learn how to see, sense, hear and feel the wee folk. If you want light reading, the Christmas book here fits in a stocking, looks real Christmasy and is a very simply written bookette that the kids will enjoy for their first introduction to Gnomes. Good for 6 - 12 years old, I would guess. Consider it.

Windy

Fun for All Ages.......2006-05-12

A Gnome's Christmas is priceless fun for all ages...I can vouch for that sinceI am 77 and love it. Poortvliet's gnomes are recognized anywhere. They are THE gnomes. If you are Finnish, you will like the mysterious box found in a barn in Finland containing this fun information about Gnomes and their lives in general, but especially Christmas customs. Anybody with crafting skill might be inspired to create a little gnome house instead of a dollhouse. I couldn't resist buying a half dozen books to give as gifts next Christmas. I'd give the book 100 stars if it were possible.

Look Gnome More!.......2004-12-06

If you're looking for the perfect Xmas gift, it's here. This charming continuation of the gnome saga is beautifully written, illustrated, and produced. It's a challenge to keep a story going even after its famed illustrator has passed on, but the author succeeds famously. Songs, fables, and even recipes capture the details of gnome life. A must-read for anyone who remembers gnome-mania from their childhood.

Average customer rating:

The gnomes book of Christmas crafts
Carol Endler Sterbenz
Manufacturer: H.N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Crafts & Hobbies | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0810909677

The Little Grey Men: A Story for the Young in Heart (Julie Andrews Collection)

Average customer rating:

A four-season adventure through the Warwickshire countryside
Nature and Fantasy
Little Grey Men
What a great find!
Who knows?

The Little Grey Men: A Story for the Young in Heart (Julie Andrews Collection)
BB
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060554495
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Book Description

Baldmoney, Sneezewort, Dodder, and Cloudberry are the last four gnomes existing in Britain. Until recently, the brothers have lived together in their oak tree home on the banks of the Folly brook. But several months ago, Cloudberry disappeared, and the others eventually decide they must try to find him.

They build a little boat to take them upstream -- and thus begins a magical and captivating adventure filled with surprises. The enchanting gnomes are forced to use all their courage and skill, and their bonds of love for each other are tested right up until the book's dramatic conclusion.

BB's classic English novel, now brought back into print as part of The Julie Andrews Collection, offers young readers humor, excitement, and the wonder of nature -- all from the perspective of four delightful, unique, and richly drawn characters.

Customer Reviews:

A four-season adventure through the Warwickshire countryside.......2007-09-08

The Little Grey Men tells the tale of three gnome brothers who left their tree house in search of a more adventurous brother who left two years before. Dodder, Baldmoney and Sneezewort travelled up and down the Folly river gleaning adventures as if they were escaping lions in the African veldt or fighting malnutrition while marooned on a desert island, a la Robinson Crusoe. Will they ever find Cloudberry?

BB paints the scenery of the Warwickshire countryside in such detail that one feels his love of this tiny patch of the world so powerfully. He ascribes this love to the gnomes, "being halfway between animals and our unhappy selves, they appreciated the world far more than a great many mortals. To them the whole year was lovely, ... and not an hour passed by but they found something to admire and relish."

As in every good quest, the gnomes make new friends, battle formidable enemies (yes! more than one!), survive natural catastrophes and finally come home to a roaring fire and a good Elderberry wine.

It is a good tale to follow as you walk along the banks of an English river, but it is just as good in the bedroom of your high-rise apartment.

Nature and Fantasy.......2007-04-20

This is a lovely little book. However, Julie Andrews is not the author, as another commenter noted. She loved the book as a girl, and wanted to make it available again via her Harper Collins imprint (and actually wrote the introduction). Although the cover cryptically lists the author as "BB", the man listed as the illustrator actually wrote the story as well as doing the woodcuts in the text. Reminds me a little of Watership Down....

Little Grey Men.......2007-02-08

This is a wonderful book. One can read this book over and over again and never become tired of it. Julie Andrews is a wonderful author, she just transports you into the story, very well written and a most enjoyable story for all ages.

What a great find!.......2006-08-23

I loved the details and the descriptions in this book. The author makes everything seem so real and beautiful. It is as if I were there. It gave me a tingly feeling.

Who knows?.......2006-08-09

It's just terrible that I cannot look inside this book without having made a previous purchase! Time to shop elsewhere. One star is for Amazon's treatment of potential new customers, NOT related to this book.

Average customer rating:

Sweet little story

At Home With Christmas Gnomes
Rh Value Publishing
Manufacturer: Crescent
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

Sweet little story.......2006-06-29

Did you know about the little gnomes who gather the flour and sugar we spill? This little book tells all about the Scandinavian sprites who do much of the work of Santa Claus- in a community, and therefore one presumes somewhat more efficiently than Santa Claus could do. The pictures are wonderful.

Christmas Wish (Mini Glow in the Dark Book)

Average customer rating:

Christmas Wish (Mini Glow in the Dark Book)
Justine Korman
Manufacturer: Troll Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

jp-unknown2 | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0816735115

Average customer rating:

Christmas wonderland
Vilhelm Hansen
Manufacturer: distributed by Crown Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

THE GNOME BOOK OF CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

Manufacturer: Harry Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HF9A7W

Average customer rating:

A gnome's Christmas
Bobbie Peterson
Manufacturer: Viking Woodcraft, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

A Story About Vladdie, the Evil Christmas Gnome

Average customer rating:

A Story About Vladdie, the Evil Christmas Gnome
Gregg A. Walter
Manufacturer: Authorhouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1420811169

Average customer rating:

AT HOME WITH THE CHRISTMAS GNOMES
Erik, Illustrated By Forsman
Manufacturer: Derrydale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VB5NN2

Average customer rating:

Order Who the Hell's in It and Who the Devil Made It Instead

A Provocative Look at Classic Cinema

Peter Bogdanovich's Movie of the Week
Peter Bogdanovich
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Guides & Reviews | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
History & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Who the Hell's in It: Conversations with Hollywood's Legendary Actors

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ASIN: 0345432053
Release Date: 1999-11-02

Amazon.com

Peter Bogdanovich's Movie of the Week is a gem of a movie guide: a whole year of guaranteed good rentals. Bogdanovich takes the reader all the way through the calendar, recommending and commenting on a worthy film every week. (Not to worry if you're reading this mid-year; while the book is divided up by date, starting with January 1-7 as Week One, it's not year-specific, so feel free to jump in wherever you are and cycle back around.) Some weeks are themed for the time of year--the movie for December 19-25 is Holiday--but most just feature darn good movies that would be a pleasure to watch any time, with choices ranging from George Cukor to John Cassavetes. Each movie is followed helpfully by additional titles to rent, organized by genre and director-star combinations, and occasionally cross-referenced with other titles in the book.

The essays are a joy to read because Bogdanovich's deep love of movies and moviemaking shines through on every page. Far from dry film commentary, he clearly wants you to enjoy the movies just as much as he does. It's like having your best friend tell you about his favorite flicks. And an incredibly well-connected friend at that; Bogdanovich is an accomplished director in his own right (his credits include Paper Moon and The Last Picture Show), and he understands the process of getting script to screen inside and out. He also knows his film lore and includes entertaining anecdotes about the selected films (the opening night audience of The Rules of the Game hated it so much that they pulled out their chairs and hurled them at the screen), and is actually able to start sentences with phrases like, "When I asked Hitchcock about this sequence...." With all this going for it, Movie of the Week is a terrific collection of rental recommendations and a truly addictive read. --Ali Davis

Book Description

A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO A YEAR'S WORTH OF MUST-SEE FILMS

Director, producer, screenwriter, author, actor, and film critic, Peter Bogdanovich knows movies. Now, in this unique new book, he shares his passion with a connoisseur's insight and delight by inviting the reader to join him for a year at the movies--fifty-two weeks, fifty-two films, fifty-two reasons to watch. Which films does Peter Bogdanovich call . . .

"The most hauntingly chilling, strangely prophetic science-fiction picture ever made."
(You'll be treated to it on Halloween)

"A scintillatingly directed comedy."
(Discover it with someone you love on Valentine's Day)

"A bittersweet human comedy of vintage genius [that] only becomes more precious as the years pass."
(Ringing in the New Year with it is reason enough to celebrate)

With recommendations specific to the seasons and holidays--from sparkling comedies, timeless musicals, landmark foreign films, powerful dramas and thrillers to legendary masterpieces and neglected treasures--Bogdanovich's eclectic cinematic calendar of classics, each available on video, each accompanied by an illuminating essay, and each followed by a list of tie-in recommendations, makes the perfect date for movielovers every week of the year.

Customer Reviews:

Order Who the Hell's in It and Who the Devil Made It Instead.......2006-05-24

I have great respect for Peter Boganovich as a director and especially as a film historian. But in comparision to his other writings such as "Who the Hell's in It" and "Who the Devil Made It," this book is a major disappointment. The reviews of the films have no substance. The pictures for the films were all placed on the pages that did not match the reviews. The photo quality was just horrible. I would recommend Roger Ebert's "Great Movie" and "Great Movie II" instead for a quality review and history of the films.

A Provocative Look at Classic Cinema.......2000-01-06

As a critic and historian, Peter Bogdanovich has written about the talents behind the screen, including memorable studies on Orson Welles, Fritz Lang and Frank Tashlin. "Movie of the Week" is a fascinating series of critical and historic essays, ranging from masterworks ("Citizen Kane" and "Grand Illusion") to cult favorites ("Artists and Models" and "The Merry Widow"). His telling observations on influential silents such as "The Crowd" and "Steamboat Bill Jr." -- and lesser-known filmmakers like King Vidor and Allan Dwan -- make it a book worth having. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to disagree with Bogdanovich's 52 selections.

Book Description

Roots of the Classical identifies and traces to their source the patterns that make Western classical music unique, setting out the fundamental laws of melody and harmony, and sketching the development of tonality between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. The author then focuses on the
years 1770-1910, treating the Western music of this period - folk, popular, and classical - as a single, organically developing, interconnected unit in which the popular idiom was constantly feeding into 'serious' music, showing how the same patterns underlay music of all kinds.

Customer Reviews:

One, among many great Palladium books........2006-11-04

This book would save you a lot to time when you are trying to find an odd spell in the many World Books. Overall, if you are a Palladium fan, or a Rifts fan, you need one.

Score one for Kevin!.......2003-08-11

Having read thouroughly the pages of this book. I am quite impressed with the completeness of its contents... long had I awaited a centralized location for this information. It is a massive compilation of nearly all the magical "stuff" in the Rifts Megaverse. A definate must have for GM's and players worldwide.

Average customer rating:

Spirit west, Rifts world book 15
Wayne Breaux
Manufacturer: Palladium Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 1574570021

Product Description

An indepth look at the new American Indian, various tribes, cultures, magic, and gods. While the White Man wars with D-bees, sorcerers and his brothers in the East, the Red Man is quietly building new nations in the West. 11 new O.C.C.s, including several different Shamans, Totem Warrior and others. New magic spells and powers. Fetish magic powerful magic items. Kachina Dolls and the cult behind them. Animal Totems that help shape and empower characters. A slew of ancient Indian Spirits and Gods. Indian history, culture and beliefs in the New West. Notable Indian nations, places, maps and world information. A Wonderful exploration of another culture.

Average customer rating:

The Starry Rift
Jonathan Strahan
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0670060593
Release Date: 2008-04-17

Book Description

Truly successful science fiction does two things: it gives credible glimpses into the future while entertaining the reader. With this in mind, noted anthologist Jonathan Strahan—who is also the reviews editor of Locus magazine—asked sixteen of today's most inventive, compelling writers to look past the horizon of the present day. Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys), Kelly Link (Magic for Beginners), Garth Nix (the Abhorsen Trilogy), Scott Westerfeld (Uglies; Pretties; Specials) and their colleagues have crafted a dazzling range of stories. Whether on spaceships, in suburbia, or in simulated gaming worlds, whether about cloning, battle tactics, or corporate politics, the stories of The Starry Rift will give every reader something to consider. This original anthology is crucial reading for those who want to see where the future—and the future of science fiction—is headed.

Average customer rating:

Basic investment guide for those who believe in the Random Walk theory

not much new idea

Expert Advice, Written for Laymen

Brilliant advice

OK for US residents

The Random Walk Guide to Investing: Ten Rules for Financial Success

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Book Big Profits)

ASIN: B000FUO0BU

Book Description

The perfect beginner's guide from the best-selling author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street.

For over thirty years, Burton G. Malkiel's informative, irreverent, and gimmick-free books, "the best investment advice money can buy," have been the first places investors turn to understand the market and to use it to their best advantage. With this concise new guide, Malkiel takes the mystery out of the money game by distilling his reliable plan into ten easy-to-follow rules.

Beginning with the basics—"Fire your investment adviser" and "Start now"—Malkiel carefully and with no small measure of humor lays out the rest of his plan, including such rules as "#3: Stiff the Tax Collector" and "#8: The Market Is Smarter than You Are." This 200-page guide is essential for anyone starting a portfolio, rebuilding after the dot-com crash, or simply looking for reassurance in the puzzling world of personal finance.

Customer Reviews:

Basic investment guide for those who believe in the Random Walk theory.......2007-09-06

Very basic advice for those who believe in random walk theory. Unfortunatley not of much use to anyone over and above a novice.

not much new idea.......2007-05-20

i spent $10 on this book and finished reading it in half an hour. To my disappointment I did not find anything special about it. Most of the ideas he talks about are fairly common for investors, such as investing earlier than later, keeping a constant flow of investment, balancing risk and return, etc. I think these are common sense to most investors. The only thing special about this book is the discussion on efficient market theory. The author is a strong believer of this theory and spends three chapters on it. The takeaway is to invest only in index funds. That's all I got from this book.

I think for a person with no investment knowledge at all, this is a fun book easy to read. But not that useful for more experienced readers.

Expert Advice, Written for Laymen.......2007-05-19

Malkiel's book is perfect for anyone interested in learning the basics of investing. It is simple, direct, and easy to understand. Even a complete novice could build a fairly sophisticated, diversified investment portfolio by following its simple recommendations.

One of the biggest problems facing novice investors is that there are so many products available that it is impossible to know where to begin. Malkiel solves that problem by identifying:

1. the four major asset classes that investors should consider (cash, bonds, stocks and real estate);

2. the specific percentages of one's portfolio to invest in each asset class; and

3. the best mutual funds in each asset class to invest in.

In addition to that specific guidance, Malkiel also gives 10 rules as a general framework. Specifically:

Rule 1: Start Saving Now! (Time is money; the miracle of compounding)

Rule 2: Save Regularly!

Rule 3: Be Prepared for Emergencies. (term insurance; emergency funds)

Rule 4: Pay Attention to Tax Benefits. (401(k) plans; IRAs)

Rule 5: Match Your Asset Mix to Your Temperament.

Rule 6: Diversify!

Rule 7: Pay Attention to Costs!

Rule 8: Nobody Can Beat the Market Consistently . . .

Rule 9: But Low-Cost Index Funds Can at Least Tie the Market.

Rule 10: Avoid Some Common Mistakes.

With traditional pension plans on the way out and Social Security under increasing financial pressure, it is now more important than ever for individuals to be knowledgeable about the basics of investing. Malkiel's book is a great way to get started.

Brilliant advice.......2007-01-29

A very simple and clear advice for 'investors to be' - how to simplify investing decisions and yet get it absolutely right.

OK for US residents.......2006-08-27

The book is everything it promises to be: no-nonsense, to the point, common sense, and with concrete investment advice. The problem (for non US residents) is that the recommended products, tax-advantages, etc. only apply to the USA.
If anybody knows about a European equivalent, let me know!

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