Business Money Books

This book came to my attention through a class told by Crown Financial. I have recommended "Your Money Counts" to numerous people and purchased a copy for my son. It is an excellent tool in learning how to budget and be a good steward of the money we possess.

This is a great book. It really doesn't tell you anything you don't already know, but it reminds us of where we are and what we should be doing as stewards of His belongings. I am a Financial Planner and I give it to my clients as gifts and they love it !

This is a fantastic book. It's easy and enjoyable to read. It tells you all those common sense things about money that we often lose sight of in this world's culture of materialism and 'gotta have it now' attitudes. I've read it multiple times and it just keeps driving home those truths you need to be reminded of like figuring out contentment, the value to giving and saving, etc.

I teach a seminar at our church on the Biblical approach to managing one's finances, and I use this book as a starting point. My students love it (one said she needs to go back and "marinade" in each chapter. Another pointed out that the while the title is "Your Money Counts", what he got from the book is "Y our Money Counts.") The bottom-line is that this book is an easy-read and makes it clear why God cares about our money matters, and it is equally clear how to apply those principles to succeed financially. I teach it once a year, and so far 90 students would vouch that what this book teaches works!

Two parts warning about the corrosive effect of debt, one part encouragement that such slavery can be overcome, Howard Dayton's manual to a better way of living is an almost constitutional document in the Christian financial ministry movement. Dayton is the founder of Crown Financial Ministries, the benchmark institution in what has become an effort to counteract the personal indebtedness that increasingly pervades Western economies.

The book's subtitles cover the topics presented in seventeen brief, topical chapters. Dayton's no-nonsense style is softened by his transparency regarding his own one-time disorganized financial style. A box on the 'contrasts' between secular and biblical notions of finances and another on 'commitment' conclude most of the chapters, crystallizing the teaching that preceded them and adding a practical feel to a book designed as a guide-book towards D-Day ('Debtless Day'). Dayton is convinced that Christians can and should make that journey. The webpage of Crown Financial Ministries (...) provides additional information and tools.

Getting Loaded is packed with practical advice that everyone with an interest in financial stability and independence should be accustomed to. The information is not complicated and represents only a beginner's guide to the financial world, but lack of the the knowledge in this book would leave one with a rather shaky financial foundation.

The chapters include the fundaments of money management, credit, insurance, investing, and the essentials of personal money matters. The content is geared towards a beginner, thus those with general knowledge in these areas will find little new on these topics; however, as an introductory book on personal finance, I would happily recommend this book to anyone including my own child.

This book has been a real eye opener. I should have bought this book years ago! It made me realize that there are other avenues for my money to grow. Very informative and a great resource. I definitely recommend this book!

This is an excellent book. This book is a perfect gift for a recent college graduate. The author explains the basics of personal finance and provides solid advice to someone just starting out. The material is presented in a way that makes it engaging for someone who is not all that interested in finance, saving money, etc.

As Peter Bielgaus annunciates, "Make a Million...While you're still young enough to enjoy it. "Getting Loaded" is a sure read that can help you become a millionaire after smart investments and good savings. Bielagus uses step by step examples and explainations that make the hardest economic concepts easy to interpret and learn. "He shows how you can use your youth to your advantage--and take control of your finances while time is on your side." Specifically, Bielagus thoroughly introduces the stock market and how to invest with control and risk in mind and still get a great reward towards the future. Initially, he gives a broad overview of how to's within the stock market and then procedes to explain how to take as much advantage of the stock market as possible.

I've read several books on personal finances that were supposedly for 20 year olds and they were all a bore. Those books either were for 40 year olds or never progressed beyond "How to write a check". But, Peter Bielagus' book is just right.

He addresses all the concerns of a twenty year old and beyond with great advice and humor. Peter shows you how to budget without feeling restricted and frustrated. Getting Loaded explains the stock market in laymen's terms which makes you feel comfortable investing your money. All in all, Getting Loaded is a great book to help you set up your financial future and learn how to get your money to work for you.

College graduates should definitely pick up this book and it's also a great graduation gift. I highly recommend this book, it's a great read!

I was given this book as a gift. It has many wonderful suggestions in it for everyday living. It's not like other books that just talk about concepts for saving money; it tells you ACTUAL THINGS TO DO to save money, with directions and shortcuts. I bought a copy for a friend from amazon.com and may order more later. Dynamic book!

This book is definitely worth buying. It is loaded with good information and has pages and pages of specific references (particularly cyber for those who love to spend time on computer). I had taken it from the library and liked it so much that I felt it needed to be a permanent part of my library. Thanks, Amazon!

This is a great book to those new to frugal living and has a few hints for the "oldtimers".

Bought this book look for a few financial tidbits we might be missing and there was probably enough to make it worthwhile. A lot of basics and tried and true methods are repeated in this book and just reemphasize that we are doing things 'right.' I like repeating these to my kids as we travel. If we are willing to do a little more work, could save a bit more money with some of her suggestions. I also have to chuckle at the repeated sales pitches in the book for newsletters and templates to help you save money...Overall, a good quick read that can save you some dough.

This book is basically a regurgitation of 3 or 4 other frugality books on the market, but nowhere near as good. All of her good tips are common sense; the book seems to be written for status-seeking people who have never even thought of saving money before.
She advises making price lists and coupon-clipping, and then admits that she doesn't do it herself because she doesn't have the patience or mathematical and organizational skills. She doesn't even mention the concept of buying generic, just how to get deals to maintain your sold-out branded image to the corporations.
What are her skills? Well, throughout the book she's really good at plugging financial planning websites that charge monthly fees (and we're trying to save money here?).
She gives a long, drawn-out plan for trading in cars until you trade up to a new one, and you keep paying the savings to yourself to save up for the next upgrade. Why not advocate driving a decent used car and keep the money as real savings for the future, emergencies, etc.?
She says to spend within 80% of your income, save 10%, and give 10% to charity. 10%??? Now, I'm not saying stingy is good (I currently give 2% of my income to charity), but at 10%, that could be a good payment on a high-interest credit card. Yah, she tells you to pay your bills, but then gives no advice on how to do that when you're spending 80% and giving 10% away. As far as I'm concerned, if I'm in debt, the money isn't really mine- it belongs to my creditors. So, who am I to give away over $100/month of their money to charity? I suppose if you make a 6-figure income, you could manage to do that and still pay down your bills. (and still buy brand names and new cars).
There is nothing new or enlightening in this book. Mary Hunt is a spoiled housewife who's husband supported her with a generous salary, and she drove cars like new BMWs, and had to have the best (read:most expensive and image-shallow) of everything. She finally learned to reel in her compulsion and find a few thrifty ways to still get everything brand-name she wants, and having read a few books she repeats tips from, she thinks that makes her a professional. Here's a good tip on saving money: don't waste it on this book. Instead, get "Your Money Or Your Life." Though it's a bit outdated on the purchase info., the principles are timeless and it will change your life.

Broad overview of many of the choices that impact finances. Suggests an allowance plan, recommends matching child's savings (p26). Discusses saving for retirement vs. college (48). Teaches separating income into spending, short term, long term, and giving (54). Includes worksheets for kids of all ages about understanding what things cost, when to get a job, what kind of a car to get, living on your own expenses, and investing. Extensive list of internet resources.

This book is good for a variety of reasons, some things are no-brainers but then I understand there are lots of people out there trying to figure the value of money. So to those people...hang in there, being financially free can happen, it just takes some work.

This book has wonderful ideas to help parents understand why teenagers don't know how to manage their money as well as the ideas and worksheets to help correct the problem. The earlier you begin the longer you have to teach the necessary lessons.

This book has all the worksheets you can think of and some great ideas for your child(ren). Now I'm much more prepared and excited about teaching my little boy how to be responsible with money. He gives some fun and easy ways to teach children as well as adults how to handle money to your benefit.

The advice is very well put, and definitely will save you money, more than what the book sells for. I was in particular looking for advice for my son to get his first car. The advice was good and made sense, so as the rest of the book.

This book is pretty comprehensive in its scope. Overall it is pretty accessible to both laypeople and finance types. Might be improved with a slightly different layout with more structure. Overall though, I would recomend it for somebody who really wants to know about the world of Moolah!

I was curious to experience the source of Rhonda Byrne's inspiration which ultimately led to the creation of The Secret. The reader must keep in mind that though well intended; some of his advice is outdated and not applicable to modern day lives i.e. skipping breakfast as not necessary for our bodies when science has proven the opposite to be true. Skip the chapters which do not apply and enjoy the rest of the book, it is most inspiring!

I read the science of getting rich long before I ever found this book. I was interested in finding the other books by the author. The insights provided inside are excellent and worth the read. As Mr. Wattles states you must study them and make them a part of you to get the most out of them. My issue is not with the information, rather it is with the presentation of the book. I was in Barnes & Noble and found their hard cover version of the book: it had a better presentation of the work, nicer print and nicer looking for $4 less, even if you got the free shipping!

Arrived sooner than expected; great condition.
Def would purchase from seller again
Great job!

I've heard so many contemporary books that ape the concepts put forward here, but if you want one of the original "self-help" books, this is it. Mr. Wattles info does sound a bit dated, but this predates "The Secret" or any other books of that genre, and I like it. Not only does this book cover three major subjects, but it does it in a simple, effective way. Get this, get enlightened; it's not a "secret" at all:)

This is an amazing book by Wallace Wattles, and was the very book which inspired Rhonda Byrne's journey which culminated in her staging the brilliant project phenomenon "The Secret". I highly recommend Wallace Wattles's compendium of three-books-in-one like this one I'm reviewing. It is ageless, and was written 97 years ago, and as relevant information today as it was then. It is ONLY for those who are really serious about changing their financial destiny.
The Secret of Rhonda Byrne or The Law of Attraction in the BibleThe Secret [UNABRIDGED CD] (Audiobook)

Mulford and Comiskey have delivered a tour de force for the financial and accounting community in this book. Whether you are a financial analyst, corporate accountant, auditor or an executive with a small or large firm, you absolutely will benefit from this book. It is one of the most important books of the last 20 years, and in my opinion, it is the finest book ever written on the concepts and methods of deciphering Operating Cash Flow, it's relationship to earnings, calibrating and measuring free cash flow, as well as the mechanics and drivers (and sometimes deliberate manipulation by unscrupulous management) within the business system that can lead to distortions in the Cash Flow statement.

What about earnings supported by artificial means? What are the core drivers of cash flows? What should our view be, vis a vis the Operating Cash flows, regarding non recurring charges and depreciation? Are capital expenditures really as cut and dry as we like to think they are, under GAAP? How does it impact our cash flows, in the real world? How is it sometimes manipulated, to distort the underlying cash flow realities?

If you are a financial or accounting professional, read this book. Read it twice. Read it three times. An absolutely extraordinary book. Well written, insightfull, never boring, always intriguing with unique content. The authors have such an extraordinary grasp of accounting and financial flows, and bring such groundbreaking concepts and ideas to the field, that you won't put this book down, and there are not many accounting or finance books we can say that about !! "Creative Cash Flow" by Mulford and Comiskey is absolutely a virtuoso performance. Amongst, and compared to, the entire literature that exists in the field of accounting and financial analysis, this book is an extraordinary achievement.

While most accounting books tell you the basic mechanics of cash flow (not to mention being extremely dry), and most finance/investing books basically stop at `earnings can be manipulated wildly, cash is king, and thus free cash flow is paramount', this is the best book I have read that is focused on how cash flow can be manipulated/misclassified and how to think about sustainable cash flow from operations. For example, learn how an acquisition of a company can boost operating cash flow (CFO) by more than the CFO of the acquired company. Or how messing around with vendor financing can increase reported CFO. Representative chapter titles include: "Is It Operating or Investing Cash Flow", "Is It Operating or Financing Cash Flow?", "Nonrecurring Sources and Uses of Operating Cash Flow", "Measuring Sustainable Operating Cash Flow".

In summary, this is a well-written book with great examples of how cash flow can and has been manipulated by companies. I highly recommend this book for advanced and professional investors who focus on fundamental analysis, and anyone else who is interested in improving their ability to analyze cash flow.

I was a student of Dr. Mulford during my MBA, and I can say that the book is as great as his class. He definitvely was one of the best professors I ever had.
We are used to see in many valuation books to take Free Cash Flow as a given; therefore not understanding the real implication of FCF manipulation in enterprise value.
This book explains how the FCF can be calculated and what are the usual "tricks" that companies do in order to show better (or worse?) results. And that is what is all about: building financial criteria for managers in order to make the best decisions.

This is not your typical accounting/finance book (i.e., unclear, unfocused and boring). Creative Cash Flow Reporting is the best and most important accounting/finance book I've read in many years. The authors are certainly focused on the right area (determining sustainable cash flow from operations). The interesting nuances of cash flow reporting are laid out in simple terms (e.g., debt funding and repayments are reported with Financing cash flows, but the related interest expense is reported with Operating cash flows). The authors also go beyond the numbers to provide good background re: a number of strategic alternatives (e.g., why one might enter into a sale/leaseback transaction). There are many other reasons to recommend the book.

In summary, this book is a "must have" for accountants and financial analysts, and I would strongly recommend for CEOs, COOs, corporate and securities attorneys, and corporate middle managers.

this book serves more as a dictionary of cash flow related items rather than offering any prescription for active monitoring of cash flow related mischief.

save your time and money.

I have shared this book with family and friends. It is comprehensive, clear and encouaging in its Biblical approach to financial issues. In an age where debt is out of control, this measured and timeless wisdom is both refreshing and hopeful! I would recommend this book as well as the Crown Financial seminars to everyone that I know.

This book is like all the other financial books but one thing the other financial books don't offer is God's wisdom. I have read a couple financial books but this one I truely enjoyed reading.

This book is simple to understand. It makes people understand the importance of debt-free living and the steps to get debt-free. The book truly teaches God's way of handling money.

This book is geared toward Christians who want a better handle on their finances. Borrowing has become so much a part of the culture that it's easy to buy into the message that debt is normal and necessary. That is not God's plan. God wants his people to be free of bondage to debt. The problem is that so many have dug themselves in so deep, that they can't a see way to escape.

Howard Dayton lays out an easy to follow road map that shows you how to master debt, and begin to save and invest to provide freedom. Freedom that allows you to manage your (actually God's) money in a way that can eliminate stress and have eternal value.

How to escape debt and invest wisely is intimidating for many people. This book is not intimidating. It is clear and simple in its approach. Its credibility comes from an author who has a long track record of helping people manage their finances. The biblical platform for the principles is timeless and effective. Free and Clear is a fine start for the basics of personal finance from God's perspective.

This book is great, really ... how many investment books (especially for us novices) actually impart useful knowledge to the reader while also making him/her laugh? That's what keeps the reader reading, rather than drowning in a sea of completely dry text (pretty much any other book) they are instead led to the next page out of enjoyment.

I ordered this book for my sister who has just started to invest. I gave her my old "You have more than you think" by David and Tom Gardner, (1990's) and thought this would be a nice accompaniment. I skimmed through it after receiving it, and upon closer examination, got hooked! The Gardner brothers have done it again. This book goes from the beginner (my sister) to the experienced novice (myself) clear up to the expert (where I want to be).

This book has helped me see that, although I thought I was doing all the right things, there are changes I need to make (in the way that I think, as well as my record keeping) in order to make the next step of my financial goal obtainable.

Be prepared to work, as a couple of the projects are tedious as well as challenging (one chapter I had to re-read), but with the ever-present Gardner humor you are encouraged every step of the way.

I have since ordered another copy for my sister.

Half the battle of investing is actually **writing** down your personal finances. It's **much** too easy to pick up an investing book, read the material, understand it -- and do nothing. The TMF workbook succeeds in both providing easy to understand personal finance and financial advice to the new investor, and a workbook, so that the reader can actually apply what he learned. The book ends with two solid investing strategies: fundamental investing, which looks at the company and its balance sheet; and mechanical investing, through a variant of the Dow Dogs. One of the secrets to investing is to find a strategy that you feel most comfortable with, and the TMF Workbook will provide a number of options for **you** to find which is the best for **your** personal finances.

I bought this book after reading several other financial books by Peter Lynch, Roger Lowenstein, Arthur Levitt and John Murphy. I thought I'd add the Gardners to my variety of authors. While the concept that these other authors teach is great, the Gardners actually put the concept into action. They take you step by step through financial statements and number crunching. It is an excellent learning tool.

This is the investment workbook which goes along with The Motley Fool Investment Guide. However you do not need the Motley Fool Investment Guide to use this book.

I like that this book gets you down in dirty into the actual analysis of companies, they have you analyse P/E ratios, P/S ratios, growth rates etc... Howver I don't like that the answers are written write next to the question. (Kind of defeats the whole purpose.) I also think its ok to have some humor in a book but this one is overloaded with silly questions from the Fools.

Unless you want to have a book to just for filling in the blanks I recommend not buying this book. I think one of the other Motley Fool books such as their "Investment Guide" or "You have more than you think" would be worth it instead.

Reed Floren

I'm a personal trainer and this industry is full meat heads and corporate idiots that know zero about the fitness world. There main goal is to make numbers and get paid, while the trainer works his/her butt off to make a living. I saw Plummer speak at a seminar and he owns a chain of gyms in Colorado but he explains that in order to run a business you have to first take care of the employees and second creative a great workout atmosphere. Unlike Gold's gym or 24 hour fitness, kid's should be involved as well as grandma and grandpa.

Not meat heads that slam the weights down or overcrowded gyms where people ignore the 30 minute rule on the cardio equipment. Health problems in this country is on the high side of things just look at ur friends and family everyones getting fat and out of shape. We owe it to ourselves as Americans and to our families as fathers, mothers, etc to take care of our fitness and health cause its important.

Don't even think of starting or running a gym without reading this one! The ideas and lessons saved me thousands. Great for the staff too.

I am 18 years old and very interested in running a gym in the future. I believe this book can help me enormously. I worked at the front desk of a low budget gym, selling memberships for 6 months. I had a great time, but members constantly complained about the broken machines. Even so, members renewed their contracts at a pretty constant rate. By reading this book, I was able to target the pros and cons of the gym that I worked at, and I am even more excited about having a chance to possibly get involved in the fitness industry on a high level.

This book discusses gym busines: how to set it up, run it, attract members and so on. I was a little disappointed as I was expecting more info on becoming successful as a personal trainer.

The book is good and is based on extensive personal experience of the author. He goes into a lot of detail on how to deal with everyday realities of the gym business. If you want to run a gym, the information will be very useful. But not if you want to practice as a personal trainer.

This is the book that I used in a college-level hospitality course.
My department-hospitality management-was interested in showing that
the principles and orientations of a successful hotel or restaurant
applied to many other businesses as well.
One of the obvious choices was the fitness/spa business which depends
on customer perception of value received and on a strict attention to
cost controls and sales and marketing. This book was the only one that
had a useful perspective and that covered all the relevant aspects
of running a fitness operation. Of course, no book can prepare you with
all the answers about any business, but this one certainly started
students out with the right questions.

Lynn Hoffman, who interested in fitness, but really loves wine. New Short Course in Wine,The