Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth: The 8 Secrets of How 5,000 Ordinary Americans Became Successful Investors--and How You Can Too

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What's the secret of getting this lousy book published?

Informative book

One of the worst financial books on the market

Don't be a follower, don't be a Lemming!!!

Rachel Capil

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth: The 8 Secrets of How 5,000 Ordinary Americans Became Successful Investors--and How You Can Too
Ric Edelman
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0062736868
Release Date: 2000-12-26

Book Description

How did a secretary, a firefighter, a retired naval officer, a housewife, a construction worker, a schoolteacher, and a pharmacist become wealthy? Bestselling author Ric Edelman has studied the wealth–making habits of these 5,000 other ordinary Americans and reveals his findings in this extraordinary book that outlines in eight easy, practical steps to secrets to achieving and maintaining wealth.

Here you'll find a lifetime of wealth–building experience from people just like you –– people who have figured out how to arrange their finances and make wise investment decisions so that they can reach their goals and achieve financial security. Plus, you'll find tips on

How to turn your mortgage into a wealth–enhancing tool
Why small investments work better than big ones
How to max out on your employer–sponsored retirement plan
When to hold investments and when to fold them
When to pay attention to financial news and when to turn it off

Let your neighbours lend you a hand. And let Ric Edelman guide you through their lessons in this eye–opening journey with thousands of ordinary folks who found their way to extraordinary wealth.

Download Description

"How did a secretary, a firefighter, a retired naval officer, a housewife, a construction worker, a schoolteacher, and a pharmacist become wealthy? Bestselling author Ric Edelman has studied the wealth-making habits of these and 5,000 other ordinary Americans. What he found is revealed for the first time in this book: the eight great secrets to attaining wealth. This extraordinary book is filled with the advice of everyday people--people like your own friends and neighbors--who entered the world of personal finance, often with no real plan at the start, but who found ways to accumulate astonishing amounts of money. A rich, irreplaceable lifetime of wealth building experience is now at your fingertips. Here you will learn to arrange your finances and make your investment decisions so you can reach your goals and achieve financial security. Including: · How to turn your mortgage into a wealth-enhancing tool · Why small investments work better than big ones · How to max out on your employer-sponsored retirement plan · Your investments: when to hold them and when to fold them · Financial news: when to pay attention and when to turn it off · Plus, of course, much, much more."

Customer Reviews:

What's the secret of getting this lousy book published?.......2007-07-30

This book is full of half-truth and false promises.

As the author knows too well how thin his book is in terms content, there are stupid sections called "In Their Own Words" after each "secret". And, as if it's not enough, the author inserts a "primer" on behavioural finance in the middle of the book. I really wonder how he can get this published.

And, this book seems to testify again to my own rule of choosing books:

"Never, never, buy a book with a portrait of the author on the cover, unless the author is already dead for a decade."

Informative book.......2006-11-24

The book came pretty quick in perfect condition. Very imformative to those who are new to this kind of money advise. Excellent service from the company it came from. They have great business practices. I just joined a financial service and what they taught me really caught my attention and I wanted to know more so they recommended this book to me. It is an excellent book for anyone who is just starting in the financial business.

One of the worst financial books on the market.......2006-11-16

The premise of this book is to reveal the 8 secrets of how ordinary people became successful investors. Yet there really are no secrets revealed. The whole book is basically one big, thinly disguised advertisement for the author's financial advisory services. One of the secrets in the book is to devote less than three hours per month to personal finances, and that includes paying bills. I fail to see how that is "secret" that will ever help anyone get a handle on their finances. While the author encourages readers not to spend any time reading up on personal finances, the book is filled with comments about how the smartest thing many of the author's clients ever did was getting a financial advisor. So evidently the path to financial success, according to the author, is to not read anything about personal finances on your own and instead pay someone else to do all of the financial thinking and planning for you. I don't think anyone with any basic logic skills would believe this is really true. If you want a good book on how ordinary people really became wealthy, I'd recommend reading the Millionaire Next Door instead.

Don't be a follower, don't be a Lemming!!!.......2005-12-31

I ask that you please bear with me in my response to the other reviewer's responses about this book as well as my review.
As for my review, I felt that the author presented some very good axioms about money and finances in general. I felt that the "In Their Own Words" sections were extremely insightful and prove that the average person can obtain wealth. Overall, I would recommend this book to others and I would recommend that you keep an open mind about his ideas, as they most likely are not the same ideas that your parents touted about money.
As for the other responses, many readers commented along these lines and I would like to rebut them because it is obvious that those readers are following rules about money that where probably passed to them by others who had very little financial success.

-Some readers say the Mr. Edelman talks down to the readers; I think that they feel this way because like a lot of people, they don't like being told that they are wrong. Their pride gets in the way. When it comes to money lessons, you need to shelve your pride!

-Some suggest that this advice is dead wrong even though they admit that their way of amassing money didn't work or that they have very little to show for it; This is pride getting in the way of clear rational thinking. Why not try a different approach if yours isn't working?

-Some gave it a bad review because they felt that Edelman was trying to push his own products. Other than promoting his other books which was annoying at times, he never suggest that you should use his insurance, brokerage or financial advice services!

-It's amazing how many people gave this book a bad review but how most gave a book titled, "Die Broke" five stars!? This proves the overwhelming trend towards instant gratification in today's world, which is in direct contrast to this book.

-Still others point to the recent downturn in the market as evidence that the stock market or investing in equities can't be counted on. Yet these same people forget that the market has had historical highs and lows but over the long term has produced an average return of +7%. These people are nothing but a modern day chicken little. Should we just put or money under a mattress and do nothing because we may loose money in the short run? Remember we are supposed to be investing over the long term.

-Still others reference that many people "they knew" lost everything in their retirement accounts just years shy of retiring due to the recent stock market bust. If these people had done their homework they wouldn't have had their entire retirement accounts 100% invested in equities. That's their fault. Again are we supposed to NOT invest because "they said this" or because of fear? Many people get in bad situations with finances because they act on Emotions and not out of Rational decisions.

-Still others give the good old Enron standby as a reason not to follow Mr. Edelman's advice. If they did even a little research they would have found that those employees lost everything because they were 100% invested in Enron stock. Whose fault is that? They were riding the cash cow like everyone else until it all fell apart. Remember the old adage, that `Pigs get slaughtered'? Yes, the company did require every employee to invest at least 20% of their 401k in Enron stock. Shouldn't these employees have used some deductive reasoning and asked if that was a company that they wanted to work for if they were forced to buy company stock? Does that even sound logical? No, those employees had dollar signs in their eyes like everyone else.

-Another talking point that other reviewers referenced was the hotly debated idea of carrying a Mortgage. Most people tie emotions with paying for a home. While I understand that there are some feelings tied to home ownership it shouldn't dictate your financial decisions. As an example, one reviewer said this in reference to paying extra on their mortgage; "The piece of mind that came with owning our home free and clear was worth more to us." This is a perfect example of what Mr. Edelman talks about in his book. Will that piece of mind pay the bills if you get laid off, loose your job? I don't think it will. Why do people beat themselves over the head to pay off a 5%, 6%, or 7% mortgage? Truth is, it's the cheapest debt you can ever have. As an example, I know people that have 15-year mortgages or people that send extra payments while at the same time having two or three credit cards charging 17%-30% interest. Or they have one or two car payments totaling $500-$1000 a month but they are consumed with paying off their mortgage!?

-Still others ask if he would still follow this advice after the recent loses in the stock market and down turn in the economy. Well he does. It is obvious that these people didn't do their homework and bother to find out that he wrote another book after 9/11 suggesting and reinforcing the same principles he had prior to the economic downturn.

-Lastly, why would you want to follow the nepotism of these readers if after all their way hasn't worked or they haven't tried Mr. Edelman's way? After all, the 5,000 or so in this book were able to do it! I think that many forget that slow and steady wins the race. The author isn't offering a quick fix but a sensible plan to put one on the road to wealth! Regardless of what these readers say, success isn't measures against the DOW or S

Rachel Capil.......2005-11-02

When I started at a new job this book was recommended to all new hires so I read it and I thought it was a great book. I really believe anyone that wants to learn more about investing and being finically knowledgeable should read it. I am not an expert by any means, but I thought it was well written and kept me interested in reading it every day. He has helpful suggestions to growing your financial future and that can never hurt anyone who is open to learning.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth: The 8 Secrets of How 5,000 Ordinary Americans Became Successful Investors and How You Can Too

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Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth: The 8 Secrets of How 5,000 Ordinary Americans Became Successful Investors and How You Can Too
Ric Edelman
Manufacturer: HarperBusiness
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY4R20

Book Description

Intensifying global financial liberalization and integration has been accompanied by increased financial volatility over the past two decades. This has been revealed most dramatically by the Asian financial crisis and the more recent crisis in Argentina. These and lesser-known crises in emerging economies have focused attention on determining the most appropriate role for international and national financial institutions to play. This volume offers a wide-ranging overview of the problems and possible policy responses involved in resolving the issues discussed.

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Persistent episodes of global financial crises have placed the existing system of international monetary and financial governance under stress. The resulting economic turmoil provides a focal point for rethinking the norms and institutions of global financial architecture and the policy options of public and private authorities at national, regional and transnational levels. This volume moves beyond analysis of the causes and consequences of recent financial crises and concentrates on issues of policy. Written by distinguished scholars, it focuses on the growing tension between global market structures and national policy imperatives. Accessible to both specialists and general readers, the analysis is coherent across a broad range of theoretical and empirical cases. Offering a series of reasoned policy responses to financial integration and crises, the volume grapples directly with the institutional and often-neglected normative dimensions of international financial architecture. The volume thus constitutes required reading for scholars and policy-makers.

Book Description

Agriculture is often viewed as causing harm to the environment. But farmers, as "stewards of the countryside," also provide environmental benefits. The Helsinki Seminar examined the links between agriculture and the environment and how policy can affect enviromental quality.

Oecd Proceedings Environmental Benefits from Agriculture: Issues and Policies

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Oecd Proceedings Environmental Benefits from Agriculture: Issues and Policies
Oecd
Manufacturer: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 4259517449

Book Description

"Understanding the Earth System" aims to contribute to the timely discussion on Global Change of the Earth system. The discussion centers around the synthesis of procedures effecting both the natural and social sciences. The concept of Earth System Analysis, although controversially discussed, will be the focus of future scientific programs related to Global Change. The main problems are overpopulation, water shortages and climate change.

Book Description

This book presents a consistent, up-to-date description of the extremely manifold and varied experimental techniques which nowadays enable work with neutral particles. It lays the physical foundations of the various experimental techniques, which utilize methods from most fields in physics. Hence this book is intended not only as a reference standard for researchers, but also as a textbook to enable students to gain a solid background and introduction to the field and its techniques.

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Fiction and fact blend in a satisfying story of radio life

Wonderful book

Don't try to read this before you fall asleep!

Arguably THE Great Overlooked American Novel

Changed my opinion of Keillor

WLT: A Radio Romance
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0140103805

Customer Reviews:

Fiction and fact blend in a satisfying story of radio life.......2007-02-03

WLT: A RADIO ROMANCE also receives Keillor's warm and familiar voice as it tells of brothers who found a radio station to rescue their failing business - and become the Sandwich King of south Minneapolis. Fiction and fact blend in a satisfying story of radio life and its special meaning for both audience and creators.

Wonderful book.......2006-12-12

I love this book, I've read it now several times; in fact, whenever I feel like a spiritual pick-me-up, I will turn to WLT. Soft without being mushy, moral without being preachy and out and out side splittingly funny. Even now, recalling the Dad Benson 'winging it' scene at the family kitchen table ("Yo clematis...what?") and the haemerroid afflicted announcer ("Why can't I hear the music you *******?"), I'm chuckling. I worked for a number of years in radio - after the golden age, well after it in fact - but I recognise behaviour, I recognise characters. An all-round excellent book.

Don't try to read this before you fall asleep!.......2006-11-25

I never laughed so hard!!! And then trying to fall asleep....I'd giggle some more! If you have a good imagination and a little sense of mischief, you will not be able to put it down. By far one of my favorite books.

Arguably THE Great Overlooked American Novel.......2006-04-25

You want yer prose style? We got yer prose style. You want your OUTRAGEOUS humor... um... read what happens when your top writer for live radio programming doesn't get enough sleep...

I laughed so hard, I couldn't breath.

His prose pacing is like a psychedelic journey: just when you think things are slowing down, you're already off on another wild excursion. He seemlessly accomplishes what Ken Kesey did somewhat awkwardly in Sometimes a Great Notion-- no slouch of a book in its OWN right.

If you're wondering where the Great American Novel has been hiding, wonder instead how someone as well known as Keillor could get away with writing something like this, only to have it languish in obscurity. If American literature is dead, it's only because Americans have COMPLETELY forgotten how to read.

(excuse my rant)

Changed my opinion of Keillor.......2006-01-27

After reading this book, I have cleaned my shelves of Garrison Keillor. He has become increasingly ascerbic on "Prarie Home Companion" and this crude, poor excuse for a novel was the icing on the cake for me. I am fully convinced that Keillor is not joking about small-town America with a wink and an "I can make fun, I are one," attitude, but is just making fun of people with traditional values from middle America.

Let me first of all say that I am not a prude. I realize that people have sex, some people have sex with lots of people, and that this has been going on since the beginning of time. I can laugh at a dirty joke if it was clever even if it offends me. That said, this book is crude from the first chapter on. I would have put it down, but I had already put it down several times and was determined to read it. As a another reviewer said, the book seems to build for several chapters and then just gets bogged down in its own muck. I slogged through the final 2/3 of the book. The only part of the final chapters that I enjoyed was in the final chapter between the two brothers - I laughed so hard I cried. Anyone who has read the book knows what I mean, to the persistent reader who still wants to read this drivel, I won't spoil it for you.

There was potential for this to be an interesting novel, but Keillor seemed more interested in getting out every nasty thing that came into his head. Perhaps this could have been a good short story, if he had stuck to the story about the boy conquering the rotten hand he was dealt. With the exception of this character, (I would look up his name, but my copy went out with the trash) there was no one in this book that I cared about. There was no depth, as Keillor is truly capable of, but instead every character was either hollow or a characterization.

In short, this is not just a bad Garrison Keillor book, it is a poorly written novel on any level.

Don't waste your time or money.

Average customer rating:

Wlt a Radio Romance
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: Viking Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FSH8C0

Product Description

1st Viking Paperback edition of this Garrison Keillor classic published in 1991

Average customer rating:

WLT : A Radio Romance
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIZ3V4

Average customer rating:

Wlt : A Radio Romance
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UQEDDY

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WLT A RADIO ROMANCE

Manufacturer: Viking
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HT54PA

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Wlt a Radio Romance
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: VIKING
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WLTN46

Average customer rating:

WLT. A radio romance.
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: New York Viking 1991.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P7C060

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Wlt: A Radio Romance
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: VIKING
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLC1PW

Average customer rating:

WLT: A Radio Romance.

Manufacturer: Viking Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HHQZ3M

Average customer rating:

WLT; A RADIO ROMANCE.
Garrison. Keillor
Manufacturer: Viking Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RJ07SO

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