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Entertaining, even if its not enlightening

What's the news here?

Interesting read....It should be reprinted now that Cramer is Hot

For those of you who enjoy Cramer's personality on Mad Money......

Mr. Yodhia Antariksa, Jakarta, Indonesia

Trading with the Enemy: Seduction and Betrayal on Jim Cramer's Wall Street
Nicholas W. Maier
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Confessions of a Street Addict

You Got Screwed! Why Wall Street Tanked and How You Can Prosper

Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World

Confessions of a Wall Street Analyst: A True Story of Inside Information and Corruption in the Stock Market

Devil Take the Hindmost: A History of Financial Speculation

ASIN: 0060086513
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Book Description

In January of 1994, Nicholas Maier hopped on a train that took him from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he lived with his parents, to New York's Penn Station.With his wallet stuck in his sock, he headed down to the heart of the Wall Street district for a meeting with Jim Cramer that would change his life forever. For the next five years, Maier would work like a slave inside Jim Cramer's hedge fund, a limited partnership that included only the wealthiest investors, where rules were scarce and where, in his glory days, Jim Cramer managed almost a half a billion dollars, raking in phenomenal returns.

Entranced by the game, Maier quickly rose from the office assistant fetching sandwiches from the deli downstairs to a trader playing with a fifty-million-dollar portfolio. But under the pressure of Jim's constant war, Maier's adrenaline rush wore off, and the dark side of Wall Street was revealed: Maier had become exhausted and money driven -- at his worst moments swapping tranquilizers with his coworkers and passing out on a New York subway.

This is a true insider's story -- an honest, raw, page-turning account that takes us on a journey through the volatile, anything-goes world of hedge funds. From Cramer & Company to the brokerage houses and analysts to the reporters who cover the market action, we are shown a Wall Street where almost everyone is dirty -- a world where even the SEC fails to maintain order.

At the heart of this narrative is an incredible character study of Jim Cramer, one of Wall Street's brightest stars. Employing any means possible to make money, Cramer engaged in brilliant but questionable strategies that danced on the edge of ethics and legality. A typical day inside the fund would begin with Cramer's declaration, "I love the smell of money in the morning," followed by a boom-box serenade of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise." At the first sign of trouble, however, Cramer would turn paranoid and vicious, smashing phones and computer monitors and screaming insults that would leave even the toughest employees in tears.

In the tradition of Liar's Poker, this fascinating account of greed and excess on Wall Street will inevitably force the business world to reassess itself through the story of one young man who walked away from it all.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining, even if its not enlightening.......2006-06-16

Reviews I've read of this book seem to paint it as an all-out assault on Jim Cramer's character. The impression I got was that the author was trying to profit from Cramer's success by releasing a book about him, and that turned me off. I hate when people try to capitalize on others' success by publishing `unauthorized accounts' or `insider's looks' which are often based on very little personal experience and composed almost entirely of hearsay and public rumor, and that kept me from reading this book for quite some time. When I finally decided to read it, though, I discovered that this book is anything BUT a pathetic attempt to discredit Cramer-instead it's a candid look inside Cramer's Wall Street by a man who worked for him for 5 years.

That having been said, there's really very little here about Cramer that isn't public knowledge, especially after his autobiography "Confessions of a Street Addict." Cramer acknowledges that he's egotistical and craves attention, he admits that he sometimes made his money using questionable tactics, and he certainly doesn't try to cover up the fact that he has an awful temper and that he completely lost control of his emotions on a regular basis. In other words, the "Cramer bashing" aspect of this book is pretty minimal, and there's no need for fans of Cramer's TV show or any of his other avenues to `read this book and see what he's REALLY like.' If you can see him chewing on rubber bulls and bears every night on TV and think he's totally right in the head, this book isn't going to enlighten you any.

Maier's book is a great look inside an incredibly successful hedge fund. I found the "typical day" chapter the highlight of the book, where we get an intense look at the frantic buying and selling and relentless playing of the market that is common in many of these funds. It's here that Cramer, even through Maier's tainted view of the man, really shines, as he keeps mental track of several stock positions at once, talks to 3 people and on 2 phones simultaneously and somehow keeps the pulse of the market and calls each and every move before it happens with stunning accuracy.

Maier, of course, is not complimentary in his analysis of Cramer and certainly paints the man in a bad light, but I think there is a good amount of objectivity in his work. He does make some accusations that are probably baseless or based on rumor (I believe Cramer sued him for claiming there would be a second SEC investigation on him), but overall it didn't seem to me like Maier was really calling for Cramer's head. If you're into Jim Cramer or if you're interested in a look inside Wall Street through the medium of a hedge fund, certainly check this book out-it only takes a couple hours to read. If you're thinking its going to "expose" Cramer, though, you'll probably be disappointed. Reading this book along with his own autobiography certainly makes for a fascinating look inside the world of Wall Street.

What's the news here? .......2006-03-20

One reviewer here wrote: "Read this to see the other side of him. He was not always the smiling friendly guy that he looks like (and it's possible that in reality he still isn't). He was a screaming, cursing, jerk and lunatic. According to the author, Cramer was only about making money and no person or laws or ethics were more important to him than making money."

You don't have to read THIS book to get all that information. All you have to do is read Cramer's memoir, Confessions of a Street Addict, to discover that he freely acknowledges that he screamed, cursed, threw phones, bottled water and other items at people and acted like a raving lunatic. He also admits to being a workaholic, ignoring his family, etc. In THAT book, however, you'll read of feelings of guilt, distress and sorrow about the people he hurt, sometimes accidentally, sometimes on purpose. He admits to betraying the loyalty of a friend for a guy who turned out to be an alcoholic.

So why does the reviewer (or the author of this book, for that matter) think this is "news" or a revelation about the "other side" of Cramer? At the end of his memoir, Cramer has a change of heart, quits his company and decides to spend more time with his family. Before then, he was a self-avowed workaholic who often neglected to make it home for his daughter's school events, conducted business on vacation, etc.

So yes, it is fully possible that during the time frame he was working with Maier, he had the traits described above. So what? It isn't like he didn't admit to such behavior at various times in his life. So where's the secret, the revelation, the news?

Interesting read....It should be reprinted now that Cramer is Hot.......2005-12-25

I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it. It is difficult to get a copy and Maijer would be wise to do another printing at this time in paperback. It would sell well now. Cramers books are hot and this book give another perspective.

For those of you who enjoy Cramer's personality on Mad Money.............2005-08-19

Read this to see the other side of him. He was not always the smiling friendly guy that he looks like (and it's possible that in reality he still isn't). He was a screaming, cursing, jerk and lunatic. According to the author, Cramer was only about making money and no person or laws or ethics were more important to him than making money. As he says now at the opening of his Mad Money show, "Other people want to make friends; I just want to make money". Well, this can be revised. "I only want to make friends if they can help me make money" is what we actually see in this book as Cramer exploits every tidbit of information (legally gained or not), exploits every relationship he has, burns bridges, and illegally influences the movement of stocks through starting rumors that will benefit his current position in the stock in question. We see that twice he allegedly (the SEC investigated but never charged him) tried to pump up stocks that he owned in columns that he wrote, without disclosing his ownership of said stocks (and this guy is good friends with Elliott Spitzer? amazing). If you believe that he has no agenda on his current show, I think you also believe that a leopard can change its spots. Jim Cramer is all about himself; he fooled people in the 90's and he's fooling them again now. BTW, don't buy his 'everyday guy' image; some basic calculations from info. in the book tells me that Cramer is probably worth about $200 million right now. And you think he cares about helping you? His current show and all the praise you viewers heap upon him is just another big ego boost for someone who clearly does not need a bigger ego.

Mr. Yodhia Antariksa, Jakarta, Indonesia.......2005-06-05

I am a fan of Jim Cramer...and this book enables me to understand more comprehensively about Jim's behaviors. Overall, this book is excellent, blended beautifully between sad and happy/funny stories. I wish Nick could have written more about his peers, Mark and Sal, and why the guys were fired. Anyway, I love this book. Thanks, Nick; and have a better life in the future!

Book Description

Prominent attorneys debate web censorship and school vouchers in a compelling new book-and-CD series inspired by the popular National Public Radio program Justice Talking. The New Press is proud to announce a major new collaboration with the National Public Radio series Justice Talking, an acclaimed radio program that features leading attorneys debating controversial contemporary issues. In book-and-CD sets that include the complete audio recordings and transcripts of the Justice Talking shows, overviews of the legal and other arguments relating to each issue, and a variety of primary source materials, the Justice Talking series of publications are unparalleled introductions to the leading debates of our time.

Freedom of speech, one of the most hotly contested issues in America, has entered a new battleground: cyberspace. The very qualities that make the Internet an ideal tool for communication are those that facilitate the exposure of children to potentially harmful material, typically protected for adult use under the First Amendment. Now, in the first volume of a remarkable new book-and-CD series published in conjunction with National Public Radio's acclaimed Justice Talking program, Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union, goes head-to-head with Bruce Taylor, executive director of the National Law Center for Children and Families, in a debate about web censorship. Moderated by the popular NPR host Margot Adler, this is a thoughtful, informed discussion of an emotionally charged subject that doubles as a primer for those who want an engaging and accessible way to get up to speed on this cutting-edge issue. The compact disc contains the complete audio recording of the debate; the accompanying book contains the transcript, along with a history of related First Amendment law and a comprehensive overview of the arguments for and against the Communications Decency Act, and other laws regulating sexually explicit material on the web. The book also contains a range of supplementary primary source documents.

Book Description

Computational Neurosciences is a burgeoning field of research where only the combined effort of neuroscientists, biologists, psychologists, physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers and other specialists, e.g. from linguistics and medicine, seem to be able to expand the limits of our knowledge.

The present volume is an introduction, largely from the physicists' perspective, to the subject matter with in-depth contributions by system neuroscientists. A conceptual model for complex networks of neurons is introduced that incorporates many important features of the real brain, such as various types of neurons, various brain areas, inhibitory and excitatory coupling and the plasticity of the network. The computational implementation on supercomputers, which is introduced and discussed in detail in this book, will enable the readers to modify and adapt the algortihm for their own research. Worked-out examples of applications are presented for networks of Morris-Lecar neurons to model the cortical connections of a cat's brain, supported with data from experimental studies.

This book is particularly suited for graduate students and nonspecialists from related fields with a general science background, looking for a substantial but “hands-on” introduction to the subject matter.

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Supercomputational Science

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Science and technology have created many of the problems besetting us at the turn of the century, yet, paradoxically, we cannot address them without their assistance. This beautifully illustrated book takes a fresh approach to resolving the problems of progress and modernity by reframing science and technology. br In an eclectic and highly original study, Turnbull brings together a wide range of traditions as diverse as cathedral building, Micronesian navigation, cartography and turbulence research. He argues that all our differing ways of producing knowledge, including science, are messy, spatial and local. Every culture has its own ways of assembling local knowledge, thereby creating space through the linking of people, practices and places. The spaces we inhabit and assemblages we work with are not as homogeneous and coherent as our modernist perspectives have led us to believe-rather they are complex and heterogeneous motleys.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing.......2007-01-18

I knew D Turnbull by reading John Law's work. Turnbull's work encompasses quite of an eclectic array of case studies (ranging from Gothic cathedral building knowledge transference to Micronesian navigation or the 'art/science' of the cartographers) where he analyses knowledge production and the intricacies to transfer (by transforming) such knowledge. I really recommend this book.

the shape of twentyfirst century thinking.......2002-01-31

Professor Turnbull's particular speciality is the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge. This is a controversial field, since some argue that science (Western techno-Science) is objective truth itself and therefore can not be a subject for sociology whose subject is people.

Turnbull shows that knowledge systems are always local human constructs. Masons building cathedrals without blueprints, Australian aborigines navigating across a trackless land through the dream-time, and western scientists engaged in turbulence research are a few of the examples of what he calls "knowledge spaces."

While this is a textbook-and a very radical and bold one at that-Turnbull is a very clear writer. This isn't jargon wars, and the material presented is truly fascinating.

David Turnbull evidently hails from down under. His excellent 1993 work "Maps are Territories: Science Is an Atlas" is available to us on amazon.com thanks to the University of Chicago Press. (This book, with its beautiful "Fool's Cap" world map, is from Holland).

Turnbull argues for the validity and worth of all knowledge systems. We need science to deal with the problems science itself has created (nuclear waste, for example), but we need diversity of approach to deal with local problems and to understand what approaches other knowledge systems employ. Turnbull's examination of malaria vaccine research best demonstrates these issues.

It's hard to stay calm while writing this review 'cause the book was just so exciting. Reading "Maps Are Territories..." might prepare the cartographically inclined for this witty and way deep book.

Amazon.com

God, Albert Einstein famously observed, does not play dice with the universe. Much of quantum physics, a field of study that Einstein helped initiate and that has extended his theories into the oddest of corners, is so materialistic that it can find little room for speculation about the role of chance in the universe--and, indeed, for a supreme being at all.

Shimon Malin, a professor of physics at Colgate University, notes that we are in the midst of a paradigm shift in our thinking about the universe and our place in it. With its "principle of objectivation" and its positing of a mysterious "collapse of quantum states" and multiple realities, among other theses, the new physics suggests that "nature is an organism whose functioning cannot be reduced to a set of mechanisms." The resultant uncertainty has undermined traditional views of religion and human purpose, and philosophy has only begun to account for it. But, Malin suggests, that uncertainty need not lead to meaninglessness or nihilism. If we consider the universe to be alive and intelligent, and if we nurture "conscious attention" to it, then we become witnesses to and participants in its order and completion, even if we do not completely understand it.

Confused? It's easy to be confounded, for lines of thought in modern science and philosophy alike can be difficult to follow. Malin writes lucidly about the new physics, the quest for an overarching "theory of everything," and the search for meaning in an apparently inanimate creation. If his discussions sometimes get a little tangled, well, that's the nature of the subject itself. Whatever the case, there is much to ponder in his well-written book, and much to learn. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

In Nature Loves to Hide, physicist Shimon Malin takes readers on a fascinating tour of quantum theory--one that turns to Western philosophical thought to clarify this strange yet inescapable description of the nature of reality. Malin translates quantum mechanics into plain English, explaining its origins and workings against the backdrop of the famous debate between Niels Bohr and the skeptical Albert Einstein. Then he moves on to build a philosophical framework that can account for the quantum nature of reality. He draws out the linkage between the concepts of Neoplatonism and the more recent process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. Writing with broad humanistic insight and deep knowledge of science, and using delightful conversation with fictional astronauts Peter and Julie to explain more difficult concepts, Shimon Malin offers a profound new understanding of the nature of reality--one that shows a deep continuity with aspects of our Western philosophical tradition going back 2,500 years, and that feels more deeply satisfying, and truer, than the clockwork universe of Newton.

Customer Reviews:

Seek and go hide.......2004-02-29

Quantum physicists are shifty-eyed blokes,with a tendency to talk from the side of the mouth. Studying their public communications I often get the impression they aren't telling us the full story, or else are simply talking rot. They must be hiding something, or else forced to fit a round peg into a square hole, or perhaps their subject is in hiding and they are struck dumb but continue with grammatical sentences. This charmer of a exposition of QM exposes this pyschology and brings out the unsaid 'scandals' of the subject with its trek through the possibilities of Whiteheadean philosophy used to resolve quantum paradox. Many might slam their shutters shut at that, but the treatment shows such restraint and grasp of the issues as to seem effortless. There are many ways to botch such a thesis, with Plotinus brought into the picture, but the account survives and thrives. After a clear exposition of the basic Bohr-Einstein-Bell difficulties, it embarks on a quite exotic tour of the Platonic aspects of the subject clearly present in the musings of Heisenberg,but filtered out of the current harebrained treatments. The problem, by the author's testimony, is the removal of the subject of cognizance from the domain of explanation, the principle of objectification. Next we look at Whitehead's notion that concrete facts are experiences rather than objects. Then this is used to reexamine the 'collapse of quantum states' and we are in the realm of the idea of the potential becoming actual. Now it's clear, a case of the phenomenal and noumenal. Current physics is in transition to a new paradigm, and this one is an aberration. He ends with a quote from Einstein to Heisenberg about his allegiance to Mach, "Possibly I did use this kind of reasoning, but it is nonsense all the same". And so evidently with QM, on its way. I will credit my suspicions from now on. You see the problem, how speak about this in the current environment? Better to go into hiding, or speak through the side of the mouth.

An experience: "object" meets "idea".......2003-07-14

The book provides a key that unlocks a doorway between science's world of objects and philosophy's world of ideas. The scientist might be disappointed that the book is not scientific enough and too philosophical. The philosopher might be disappointed that the book is too scientific and not philosophical enough. This book however is about neither science nor philosophy but a dialog that connects and relates the two worlds.

Stories and imagined dialogue between friends are used to assist the reader in absorbing the significance of scientific discoveries and philosophical ideas. Each chapter is self-contained in terms of its intent, summary, conclusion and implication. The hallmark of this book is the way in which it brings out the essence of both worlds, simplifies it to a point of understanding and mutual enrichment.

Written in the style of a mystery that is unravelled with each step and then leaving the reader to write his/her own ending. Every paragraph provides solutions and insights but then asks new questions that keep the curious reader glued to the book. The reader is challenged to ascends from the world of science into the world of philosophy. To enable this challenge the author provides a rich foundation by elucidating the discoveries of scientist like Einstein, Bohr and Heisenberg as well as the ideas of western philosophers like Whitehead, Plato etc. The author does not claim to be enlightened with all the answers but rather invite the reader to explore the possibility of a new paradigm.

The new paradigm destroys a mechanical objectified universe where man is an insignificant spec of dust in a big universe and introduces a dynamic vibrating universe of interconnectivity. In this paradigm, nature is "alive" and man has a particular universal role to play. A paradigm is proposed where experience is the fundamental building block of the universe. This book is recommended to the layman that wishes to enrich and challenge his own worldview with the best of scientific thinking and philosophical contemplation.

Nature Loves to Hide: Quantum Physics and Reality, ..........2002-09-21

This book is a magnificent gem of thoughtfulness and connectivity. The clarity of the author's presentation has been of enormous help to me in my investigations into the nature of reality.
The author, a first rate Quantum Theorist and Cosmologist, presents the thinking of the great scientists of the 20th century, such as Niels Bohr, Erwin Schroedinger, Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, P.A.M. Dirac, and others in a clear and concise way accessible to all thinking individuals. His expositions and ideas deal with the central challenges of human investigations into the nature of reality as questioned by these great scientists. He wonderfully describes the famous Bohr-Einstein debates, the principle of objectivation stated by Schroedinger, the thinking of Dirac and Heisenberg. Dr. Malin elucidates Bell's theorem and its implications by the use of himself, Peter, and Julie all characters in this book who actually help to clarify many of the fine points.
Dr. Malin states that Quantum Mechanics provides a vital hint as to the nature of reality in its description of quantum collapse. In one of several examples Dr. Malin indicates that the release of an electron from one end of a cathode ray tube and its arrival at the other end - the screen - is a complex process in quantum physics. It is inaccurate to be speak of the electron's trajectory, since the electron is really an infinite field of potential wave functions in the intervening space, each with respective probabilities of appearing at a point on the screen. Of all these potential wave functions only one will become actual - the quantum collapse or the appearance of the electron at a definte spot on the screen. What or who chooses which actuality occurs is the question Dr. Malin asked Dirac. Dirac answered: "Nature chooses." Here begins Dr. Malin's deeper search into the presence of intelligence behind the visible world. Dr. Malin cites Plato's Timaeus, the fourth century Platonic philosopher Plotinus's Enneads, and the modern philosopher A. N. Whitehead's writings as sources for his view of reality. His reasoning is compelling.

I find myself reading and rereading this book and recommend it for those who sense that there is more to the world we see and sense.

Wanted Dead or Alive.......2002-08-20

Wanted Dead or Alive.

It has taken me many months to read Professor Malin's book, `Nature Loves to Hide.'. As an interested layman I am fascinated by the whole question of the `Unified Field Theory' that is the Holy Grail of modern physics. Will this happen in my lifetime? What will it mean to our worldview?

There are some very fundamental principles and difficult concepts presented in this wonderful book. What is reality? Can anything propagate faster than light? Is the universe alive? What role do we humans play?

The very concept of Quantum Mechanics is baffling. Electrons, one of those elemental particles that are the stuff of which we are made---do not exist! They are fields of possibilities, predictable by wave equations but nevertheless are only real when observed, when the quantum state collapses.

This book asks one to 'contemplate' some pretty heady concepts... somethings do travel faster than light, real objects do not exist, at least not in the way that we normally think, experience is part of the equation of existence, the universe is alive and not just dead cold matter.

Our age has been called the age of materialism, Hegel wrote at the turn of the last century that the ultimate conclusion of materialism is war, the mass production of goods for their own destruction. Science as the `new religion' has not changed human nature. We have not `advanced' as planetary beings and learned from our mistakes.

Professor Malin quotes Einstein, `The theory determines the observation.'

If modern scientific theory is based on a materialistic principle that denudes science of humans (objectivation), is it any wonder that we produce inhuman results; war, famine, greed etc. This is not the conclusion of the author but the conclusion that comes to me as a result of reading this book.

The above is a personal reflection that came unexpectedly as I was writing this review of a book that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Whether as a quantum state collapsing or ` a throb of experience' I will now have to go and `contemplate' and if Professor Malin is correct I will be fulfilling a fundamental role as a participant in this evolving universe.

One last thought, with or without the new paradigm presented in this book, that the universe is in fact a living being, it is the burning question of our day that we all want to know the fundamental nature of the universe. A variant on the old western posters. The Nature of the Universe. Wanted Dead or Alive.

A Bit Hookey Pookey.......2002-05-31

One review for this book says: "Confused? It's easy to be confounded, for lines of thought in modern science and philosophy alike can be difficult to follow." This reminds me of Lao Tsu's famous writing in the Tao Te Ching: "When a wise man hears the words of the Tao he immediately embraces it; when the fool hears of it he scoffs and laughs at it. It wouldn't be the Tao then if he didn't." So if you are confused, then, I suppose it is because that its underlined by great truth and not because, say, there might just be a bit of nonsense to the writing?

What Malin writes is the common quantum mysticism that has made such people like Deepak Chopra and his cohorts so undeservingly famous and rich. There is no real evidence to suggest what Malin claims: that we are at a next great paradigm shift in physics, which suggests the universe is akin to an organism.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Antioch Review, published by Antioch Review, Inc. on January 1, 2002. The length of the article is 459 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: Nature Loves to Hide: Quantum Physics and the Nature of Reality, a Western Perspective. (Books).(Brief Article)
Author: Lia Purpura
Publication: The Antioch Review (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2002
Publisher: Antioch Review, Inc.
Volume: 60 Issue: 1 Page: 165(1)

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Nature Loves to Hide: Quantum Physics and Reality, a Western Perspective

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Nature Loves to Hide: Quantum Physics and Reality, a Western Perspective
Shimon Malin
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKISUA

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