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Stock Investing For Dummies

From For Dummies

Author : Paul Mladjenovic
Binding : Paperback
DeweyDecimalNumber : 332.6322
EAN : 9780470401149
Edition : 3
ISBN : 0470401141
Label : For Dummies
Manufacturer : For Dummies
NumberOfPages : 384
ProductTypeName : ABIS_BOOK
PublicationDate : 2009-01-27
Publisher : For Dummies
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Customer Reviews

Rating:
Summary: Great book, covers many basics.
Comment: Keeps things fresh and avoids being dry. The author was great at making you feel like your reading something with personality rather than a stocks rule book. 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: It's ok - but only if you're solid on macroeconomics
Comment: The book is decent as a 30,000 foot overview of the mechanics of buying stocks.

That said, I would not touch it with a 30 foot pole if you do not have a good basis in macroeconomics. Its important to have an idea of how the economy as a whole will do, because you'll pick different investments if the economy is expanding than if it is failing or going into deflation. Instead of educating you about the major macroeconomic theories and then telling you why his is best, he treats the majority theories unfairly to try to convert you to his (very minority) view by default.

Of the two best-supported theories of macroeconomics, he doesn't mention one (the Chicago school) and spends his time distorting and engaging in fifth-grade name-calling about the other one (Keynesianism). For instance, he takes Keynes quotes out of context and attributes to Keynesians actions taken by Chicago economists. The author does not, however, critique his own theory, Austrian economics, at all - which is a problem since one thing the vast majority of the economics profession will agree on is that Austrianism is inconsistent with itself and makes empirically incorrect predictions.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent beginner book
Comment: I knew very little about the stock market before I read this book (only what I learned in High School). I read it from cover to cover and it is very informative covering what I believe is all the bases. Some topics were covered more in depth than others. An example is discussing what options are, but not going into incredible detail about them. However, the author cites several web sites and other books that one could read to understand more about any subject that he covered. The focus of the author's strategy is more fundamental analysis than technical analysis. Both are discussed, but fundamentals are stressed. After having read it, I would describe it as a reference. Each section is self explanatory and when needing answers, one could skip to that page/section and understand it without having to read previous chapters (although that does help). I am still not an expert, but I feel I know enough to begin a small portfolio and start my retirement now.
Rating:
Summary: Good but basic
Comment: If you have no clue at all about stocks/investing, this might well be a good starting place. It is a very easy to read book, well written and informative, but it does start right at the basics and only takes you a little way up the ladder of knowledge.
Rating:
Summary: Very helpful guide
Comment: Well written, does not bore. If you want to invest in stocks a must read for beginners and novice. You have no idea how little you know until you read this. Lots of helpful resources in there as well.