Business Money Books

This dude knows his street slang! I was sorta worried when I found out he was a Canadian cop...Mathers covers pretty much every racket and how it launders the proceeds...He is a pretty funny writer as well..I felt like I was sitting down with an old cop having a beer....If you always wanted to know about how money is laundered...This book does it in a funny way...

I've had a curiosity about money laundering for many years. I've heard about it on the news. It is often a shadowy subject, involving complex financial transactions and foreign intrigue. Here is a book that finally explains the subject to laypersons in a way that is accessible.

Mathers does an excellent job of explaining this subject to a layperson. He explains the various schemes, how they are executed, and how the criminals get caught. The explanations are backed up by examples from Mathers' long career in law enforcement. Most books about money laundering are intended for law enforcement personnel, so the authors assume some familiarity. Mathers' book is the first primer on the subject for laypersons. The jargon used by criminals and law enforcement are clearly explained as well, so those wanting to read further on the topic won't be bewildered by more advanced texts.

This is a great introduction for non-law enforcement persons to learn about money laundering. A great jumping off point.

Showing how Organized Crime uses real estate transactions to launder large amounts of cash, this volume presents the clearest explanation yet of the Republican "Ownership Society" as the premier money laundering tool of the very rich and very criminal.

The future reader should not be naive to think that this will be a book that teaches you how to launder money. Is a great book that shows the problems that crime causes to our everyday life. Chris Mathers reflects his style and way of thinking in this book, it will bring the reader down to the earth and teaches about things we all should know, it has good humor . Even if you upset that this book does not give out big secrets about police work and crime tricks , you should still read it ... it will make you see things that is not easy to see.

The book is aimed at those who legitimately handle large amounts of money. It doesn't have to be 'their' money, any supervision of cash will do. This includes bank tellers, small business owners, and corporate executives. Since they all 'handle' money, they all risk 'being nice' and going to jail for their troubles.

Mathers tries to shares some street smarts. The book doesn't try to 'explain' money laundering as much as put you 'inside' the process. The look and feel is given first priority. Thus, the author spends a lot of time toying with the lingo. You will learn about 'backstops' (a false history), 'beards' (intermediaries), 'bottoms' (what you owe), 'busting a cap' (discharge a bullet), 'Diming out' (informing), 'Dry conspiracy' (cop talk for an arrest with no contraband), 'juice' (interest rate), 'pooch' (fellow with no respect) and 'playing for shape' (willing to kill to curry favor). Mathers constantly belittles the intelligence of the crooks. Crime is easy, but getting away with it for long is difficult.

Along these lines, Mathers works hard to debunk popular perceptions. First, Hollywood doesn't do a good job of familiarizing us with 'real' crooks. Crooks don't look like Hollywood gangsters, they look like Joe average. Second, the crooks don't need high tech tricks to pull off their capers. All they need is a little, apparently harmless cooperation. For example, Mather describes the 'muffin man' method. The muffin man simply offers his bank teller a muffin every time he visits the bank. After giving away $5 worth of muffins, the recipient bank teller is likely to bend a rule. That bent rule may launder $100,000 in cash ($10,000+ profit to the crook). Additionally, it is all that is needed to put the teller in jail.

Mather makes his points by relentlessly bringing the reader down to the gutter level. Half the message is just the lingo and description of the terrain. Learn how to talk prison lingo, how to survive standing in line with a bunch of crooks, and most important, how a silly, everyday mistake can put you behind bars.

This is a book about avoiding the mistakes that have put many an otherwise innocent person in jail. Read and learn!

Although this book is written for African American women, I was able to relate much of their background to my own family's history. I especially loved the exercise where she has you do a family history on your parents and grandparents to see where a lot of your "beliefs" come from.

I highly recommend this book.

After reading the first few chapter I could relate to how my poor spending habits were inherited from my family. This book is a wake up call for not only the sisters but women who have dealt with debt and have a poor finanical future. Glinda Thank you

I love this book because Glinda's writing style and information make me feel so comfortable. I feel as if I'm sitting at the kitchen table sharing with a knowledgeable sisterfriend, who understands what I'm going through from her actual experience. It's also good to know I'm not really going through this alone. The exercises help prepare me for the recommendations that follow. So I'm on the "same page" with Glinda as I move forward to getting a clean bill of financial health. This is also a good book for young women to use to build a healthy lifestyle around finances before they run into problems as well. I am so impressed, I've already purchased the other 2 books Glinda has written!

This book prompted me to really think about the emotional aspects behind my debt and money problems. Relating her own story really helped. She helps you to see that you are not alone and gives you real ways to get you to where you need to be in your financial life. I commend her for her efforts to help women - especially African American women on their road to financial security. Way to go Glinda!

Nothing in here you couldn't have figured out yourself. I could have SAVED the money I spent purchasing this book.

This is a very informative book for those who don't understand the system or conformation for those that do. It confirmed what I thought I had known for 35 years. I highly recommend it.

Mr. Ruff is right on the money (or gold). In a short and succinct volume he lays out the rationale for owning gold investments ( physical as well as gold stocks) In these perilous times, his book is a veritable 'Bible" on owning precious metals. His "down home" style of writing adds to the enjoyment as well. The book is not for the professorial type and academic but for the middle class American who simply wants to know WHY he should have gold and silver in his portfolio. I would like to recommend a wonderful website for gold investments that will add to the information in his book: WWW.GOLD-ULTIMATESAFETY.NET. Highly recommended!

I particularly value the author's 1970s investing experience, not because his (claimed) excellent market timing -- as I have no resource to verify that -- but metal investment story in 1970s has always been one of my interest.

Another wonderful EZ to read book by our long time advisor, Howard Ruff. The message is always the same and it is refreshing to learn that we are still on the same track or trail. I'm loaning my copy to my friends who are a bit behind times but are anxious to learn how to save themselves from the big flush and I don't mean anything about playing cards or action in the bathroom.

The book is mostly, though not at all exclusively, about silver investing. The first half of the book makes the case for owning the precious metals. While interesting, it has little to do with investing.

I did find some valuable information about silver.

I found a few problems with what Ruff says. He, and many authors on this topic, make the same mistakes. He suggests the investor use ETFs if they want to. ETFs that specialize in gold and sliver and the like, are great. But what so many people do not know and fail to report is that they are not treated like investments by the IRS. So when you sell, you pay 28% because the IRS treats gold and silver as collectibles. With cap gains, they charge the regular lower cap gains rate if you hold an asset over one year.

So when an author makes a glaring mistake like this, I question some of the other things he says. For example, he says that ALL GOLD COIN sales are reportable to the IRS unless they're semi-numismatic. That's not true.

While I'd want you to verify what I say, it's my understanding that you can own gold or silver American Eagles without any reporting being done when you buy or sell (unless the amount you sell meets certain criteria.)

The California Numismatic Investments has a report on its site, which says in part:

First: You can place any size order and pay with a check. No one cares, not even the government. The only time they want to hear from us is if you invest more than $10,000 in cash. Then you must fill out I.R.S. Form 8300. There is nothing wrong with large cash transactions, but the government wants to know about them. And, by the way, you can't spend $5000 today and $6000 tomorrow, for Uncle Sam does not like to be fooled.

Second: There are rules which apply only to bullion and only when you sell. They have nothing to do with your purchases, and do not apply to rare coins. Kilo bars are 32.15 troy ounces of gold and are subject to reporting. We are also required to report any gold bar sale totaling 32.15 ounces are more. Concerning 1 troy oz. gold coin transactions: If you sell 25 coins or more of the Krugerrand, Maple Leaf or Mexican Gold Onza we are required to report them on I.R.S. Form 1099B. Such reporting is not required on transactions involving the U.S. Gold Eagle the Australian Kangaroo or the Austrian Philharmonic. There is also no reporting on any small gold bullion coins.

Third: We are required to report $1000 face 90% silver bags and 1000 ounce silver bar transactions only when you sell to us. We are not asked to report the sale of 40% bags or less than $1000 face in 90% silver coin. The 10 and 1 ounce silver bar is exempt as long as the sale does not exceed 1000 ounces."

Another gold company says, "Totally Private Gold, Non-Reportable - We keep all American Eagle transactions strictly private and do not report your the purchase or sales of American Eagle gold coins to the IRS or any government agency."

I bring these issues in only to point out that the author may not be totally correct in his information and that the reader should study other material. When you start investing in gold or anything, you enter legal areas that can complicate your life. You also meet up with unsavory sorts who tell you numerous lies. I've run into several. So you should know the real truth and not what a few ill-informed people say.

Ruff doesn't really go into what to buy to a large degree. But for the person just getting into gold or silver investing, I recommend this book as a good starting point.

According to some studies, asset allocation can determine up to 90 percent of a portfolio's performance. Yet neither investors, money managers, nor the financial press seem to give much attention to this topic. In "Asset Allocation: Balancing Financial Risk," author Roger Gibson explains the importance of asset allocation not only in helping investors to realize higher returns, but also in controlling risk. "Asset Allocation" is designed to help investors who have already mastered basic investing concepts to take the next step and practically apply these concepts to design a better portfolio for themselves.

Gibson emphasizes that successful money management requires the successful management of investors' expectations. Therefore, before actually managing their money and allocating assets to classes such as bonds and stocks, investors should develop an investment philosophy that incorporates a realistic outlook as far as the risk and return they should expect with each asset class, and the relationship of asset classes to one another. As part of this discussion, Gibson provides great detailed information about the historical performance of various investments, including Treasury bills, bonds, and stocks, showing their returns in comparison to their volatility, as well as their correlation to one another. Gibson also discusses the two most important money management risks - inflation and volatility - and illustrates how investors' time horizons are the key variables in determining which risk they should be most concerned with.

Only after investors' expectations are managed - and they realize that, with reward, comes risk - can they begin to make asset allocation decisions. In discussing the choice between assets, Gibson provides a framework to show investors how diversification can benefit a portfolio but limits most of the discussion to a four-asset-class portfolio, including the S&P 500 (large domestic stocks), EAFE (international stocks, NAREIT (real estate securities) and GSCI (commodities), to provide broad generalizations about the rewards of multiple-asset-class investing. In addition to providing this general discussion, Gibson includes sample asset allocations for investors based on risk preferences. However, the discussion concerning these asset allocations is limited, with no explanation, for example, of why investors with a low risk tolerance would include international bonds and commodities as asset classes in their portfolios and what type of returns these portfolios might generate. Without going into more detail about sample recommended portfolios for different investors, or at least more detail about guidelines he would use for choosing asset classes and allocating percentages to them, Gibson falls short of providing a comprehensive tool for investors to use to actually design their own portfolios.

In the end, "Asset Allocation" spends less time giving practical advice about how to allocate assets and instead spends more time explaining the concepts of why asset allocation is important. For readers looking for more practical guidance on how to allocate their assets, "Asset Allocation" may not be the final answer. However, it still provides valuable information in order to get investors to realistically think about the risk and reward of various asset classes and develop an investment philosophy grounded in the basic concepts of controlling costs and diversifying assets. In his classic investing book, "The Four Pillars of Investing," Dr. William Bernstein included "Asset Allocation" on his recommended reading list for investors who are "good with numbers and don't mind a little effort." Although it lacks the easy accessibility and organization of "The Four Pillars of Investing," "Asset Allocation" provides just as much information, particularly in the various tables and figures, to give investors who are willing to put in the effort a solid foundation on the important topic of asset allocation.

Good overview. Perhaps a little technical. Graph oriented. Author does a good job of explaining his view point and backing it up with historical data.

The book was in excellent condition and was received in about five days.

I had to read this book when I was taking a course to get a CIMA designation. I thought the book would be dullsville. But to the contrary, his strategies when tested are nothing short of amazing. To move away from the simple stock bond mix that every other book pimps out, is brave, but more importantly, he is right. Since reading the book I have obtained as many of his writings as possible. If you take the advice in this book and implement it, it will create a low stress, high return strategy. Good near term and long term advice. I will look to by more of this book to give to others. BEST BOOK ON ASSET ALLOCATION I HAVE EVER READ.

Among the many books on this subject, this is one of the best. Unlike most of the other authors, Gibson does not limit himself to list the different asset classes and then provide recommended allocations. He goes one step further and describes in very practical terms the different issues that one faces when developing a portfolio and how to resolve them. In my view, Gibson ranks next to Bernstein and Malkiel. A good buy!

Maybe this book can help some but with the questions and work needed with a spouse even though the book says you can do the excersises by yourself its impossible..Im glad I bought it used..I read it..and tossed it..if you have someone you can do the work with great..but it dididnt do anything for me at all...B.W.

Authors who write about debt and getting out of it, overspending and overcoming it, tend to fall into two categories: there is the P.E. coach who is going to whip you into shape, shout to you that you can do one more crunch, and perhaps throttle you if you screw up.

Then there are the understanding therapists who want to help you understand the source of your compulsion and assemble around you a small team of trusted advocates who will stick with you through your relapses and help you to get well.

Olivia Mellan is a therapist.

Her book declares that upfront, so I am hardly outing a softy with this observation. If you want somebody to threaten your feeble, self-loathing little overspending life with an early demise if you don't cut up that last credit card, this book is not for you. But if you want somebody who understands you or your overspending partner, Mellan's Overcoming Overspending may be the one. You may need to supplment it, however, with something a bit more stern.

Mellan herself is a `recovering overspender', 12-Step language that alerts you to the origin of her interest in this topic and the remedies she'll propose. Where others will begin with lurid descriptions of the living hell that absorbs the indebted masses--I do not intend to make light of this society-wide but deeply personal ill--Mellan's first chapter is entitled `What is Overspending All About?'

In my judgement, her strong suit is probing gently at the scarcity of soul that generates overspending as a futile attempt to fill the void.

Her second section is perhaps even more collegial: `How Spenders' Partners Can Help', followed by `Tools and Techniques You Both Can Use'. Pay attention to these section titles, since Mellan (or her editor) is what I call an `Honest Titler'. The names of her sections and chapters tell you exactly what to expect. Significantly, it is not until the book's fourth of five chapters that we read `How Overspenders Can Overcome', a remarkable postponement--though not an evasion--of the spender's responsibility.

This is a classic therapeutic approach and may well be what you and your partner need. The final section--`The Long and Winding Road'--suggests that you'll suffer relapses along the way but you'll get to your destination if you and your partner keep at it.

Given the sea of get-out-of-debt literature that is available, what ought we to make of Mellan's opportunity. I consider it a valuable tool for those who love an overspender, less so for the overspender himself or herself. Mellan is particularly good on what `hoarders' bring to the mix and how the overspender's partner is likely to change in order to compensate for the compulsion that comes here under review.

The overspender will benefit from reading Overcoming Overspending, but is likely to need some backbone from a supplementary work.

The reader who said the exercises in "Overcoming Overspending" are ridiculous does not want to examine his/her feelings about money. I have worked on many of the exercises and have found them enormously helpful with my own compulsive spending issues. Overspending is such a widespread problem now that a number of useful books have been written on the subject. Olivia Mellan's book shows gives readers the benefit of her years as a professional money counselor. Readers will find it well worth their time and thoughtful contemplation.

I am a compulsive book buyer. When I stop buying books I replace the books with some other obsession. I have bought most of the books that amazon offers on compulsive buying(trying to help myself through my compulsiveness).I have learned something in each one that I have read. This book "Overcoming Overspending" is the worst book on compulsive spending that I have read so far. I actually skipped the entire middle of the book(I did read the chapter headings and skimmed through). In the beginning of the book I had hope that the book was going to be real good but it started talking about doing these ridiculous exercises. I felt that these were things that were a total waste of time and absolutely were not helpful at all. I would like to know if anyone out there that has read this book actually followed the program. I have just started another book called "Consuming Passions" and already in the first few pages of the book I have learned more than I learned in the whole "Overcoming Overspending" book. I hope this helps someone, because now I have a book that I feel was a total waste of my time reading it and the money I spent on it. ...

I can't say enough good things about this book. It has helped my husband and me enormously. But for the book to work, I think you have to truly want to change your spending habits as individuals and as a couple and commit to the exercises. Skimming it (as the reviewer below did, to his or her disappointment) and hoping for magic is not going to bring about change. Let me just give a couple of examples from our experience with the book .... For my wonderful husband (a classic overspender) and me (a chronic underspender aka penny pincher), money was the one thing we argued about. I dreaded Christmas because my husband would buy loads of expensive presents, certainly many more than I wanted--and we'd spend the months after paying off debts. He tended to make impulsive purchases and frequently ate out. Over time, with the help of this wise book, we learned to make changes and capitalize on our strengths as a couple. I took over financial matters, we set up a budget, we commited to savings, we considered purchases carefully and went into stores at Christmas with a list to avoid impulsive purchases. Most importantly we learned how our childhoods, especially the models of our own parents, contributed to our present money woes. Getting a handle on our money issues, helped us move forward in other areas of our lives: having a child and considering adopting another, buying a new car, investing, saving for a house. So the book does work--if you're willing to invest the effort to change!

Over the years i have read this book about a dozen times. I find this book incredibly inpsirational, and a very interesting and educational read. For myself, it has changed the way my family has earned, saved and spend. However, I don't aspire to be like the millionaires in this book. Many of them don't actually enjoy the pleasures their money can earn. This begs the question, whats the point of all this money. Is money there just to be hoarded? Or is money there just to be spend (which is what the authors argue against.) Or could it be possible that the key to true financial happiness and wealth lies somwhere in the middle. Not spending needlessly and being disciplined while at the same time enjoying the rich rewards your money can give you? For ourselves, we (i believe) have been able to find the golden middle. At the end of life its not about how much stuff you acumulate, or how much money you acumulate. Its about how you spend your life, and how much you enjoy it. So read this book, and find the balance for youself.

I think people are missing the point if they think that this book intends that you should have a "miserable life and save and have no fun". I think the point is that our economy has conditioned a consumer hungry, non saving society and it is a lot a question of values and balance. If you are on either extreme of the scale, then you should rethink your ideas. You cant take it with you but you also should leave a little for rainy day and waste not-want not, lol.

This is another interesting book that could have been a 5 to 10-page brilliant article. Repetitive to the extreme, the authors go on and on and on and on...
But I am glad I read this book.
There is only one issue I wish was addressed. Being frugal and living below your means is good. After all, there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars in a watch or in shoes. However, there MUST be a balance in life. What is the point of having money if it is not to spend? Who needs lead a miserable life only to die with 5 million in net worth?
I wish the authors would address this issue, or at least mention that there is a balance and this choice is beyond the scope of their book. Instead, it looks like the "pursuit of wealth" is a constitutional obligation of every citizen.

A book like THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR has a value that goes well beyond its subject matter: It shows how often we have misconceptions about what is really going on around us. Such misconceptions can stall our progress by having us act in the wrong ways.

Unless you had done similar research, you will probably be surprised by at least some of the findings of this book. The millionaires described here remind me of the ones I knew as a child, so the overall picture is familiar. What impresses me is that that model has continued to be true for the 50 years since I was a child.

I hope that this kind of research will be continued so it can be tracked to see how the lessons are changing.

I read the reviews of this book below, and think I understand why some people were disappointed. I think that many people would like to live an expensive lifestyle and be independently wealthy. That model is not examined here. Perhaps in a future book, that subject should be explored. Also, some people want to know what to do today, and would benefit from looking at those who got to be millionaires the fastest and most recently. That information, too, is missing.

The orientation of this study is heavily on how to sell things to rich people, and that is valuable. For example, the richest people I work with will normally ask me what kind of car I drive. They want to hear that I drive an inexpensive car before they feel comfortable with me. I do drive an inexpensive car, a 7 year old Saturn, and that has helped me get consulting clients on many occasions.

I think the possibilities of this research are endless if it is turned into best practice research, something that readers are clearly hungry for. But it is a good beginning to simply do the measurements, and learn the value of measurements.

To make enormous progress, our reserach has shown that people need to go through the following process: (1) Learn the value of measurements (which this book helps with). (2) Measure every aspect of important activities (something this book starts to do). (3) Measure the existing best practice, and estimate where that will be in five years (this work remains to be done). (4) Implement pieces of other peoples' best practices in new ways for a more effective combination than any one else has done before. (5) Identify the ideal best practice (in this case, get rich quick with little risk -- an example today would be to found an Internet-based business and sell it quickly) (6) Begin to approach the ideal best practice (that might be to establish Web sites and experiment with creating Internet businesses inexpensively). (7) Create the right rewards to motivate yourself and others to get the job done (daily feedback is a good way for many people). (8) Repeat the process. Here's where the main benefit comes in.

I hope this model will help you expand on the lessons of this book to become much wealthier yourself, if that is what you desire, or to create something else that you care about.

I personally like to help others get rich more than doing the same for myself. I believe that if everyone is more successful, I will have plenty for myself. My personal goal is for everyone to get 10,000 times or more benefit from what clients spend in time, money, and effort on our services and books.

Please do read, think aobut, and build on the lessons of this book to meet your life's goals.

If you do not yet have written goals, including financial ones, that's an important first step.

This is not a how-to book, nor does it claim to be.

What it does is examine the habits, attitudes, and demographics of "prodigious accumulators of wealth" (i.e. The Millionaires Next Door), compared to those that consume and consume, living from paycheck to paycheck. It dispels some myths about millionaires, showing that just because you flaunt it, doesn't mean you have it.

For example, the authors explain that most consumers of luxury goods are living dangerously. People who live in homes that are too expensive (i.e. with a mortgage more than twice that of their yearly taxable income) are living dangerously. Their lives are precariously balanced between earn and spend, and any number of major life events could leave them in serious trouble.

The book doesn't tell you how to live, but it does explain the common-sense principles required to accumulate wealth. It's not perfect, and reads too much like a spreadsheet at times. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book for two main reasons.

1) Common sense is uncommon. Sure, it sounds easy. Make wise choices in life, and you will live securely. But how many of us do it? The book explains why being a millionaire doesn't take being well-bred or brilliant, using illustrative stories of real people, and how they earn and spend. Admittedly, one person's "frugal" is another person's "tightwad". We wouldn't always want to be these people, but they do have good ideas.

2) Life expectancies are on the rise. You may argue that you work hard for your money, so why not just spend it now? Thanks to modern medicine, there is a significant likelihood that you will live (in reasonable health) to age 80. Will you be able to work until you're 80? What will you do when you retire at 65 or even 70, with nothing left in your bank account to last you the next 10 to 15 years? Wait for handouts from your children and grandchildren, or the government? The millionaires next door can afford to retire earlier, and maintain their standard of living.

In short, being a millionaire isn't about hoarding money or living extravagantly. It's about common-sense security and independence.

Whether you are starting your own internet business or just in the midst of cleaning out your basement, you have probably asked yourself how much you could make if you sold your inventory on eBay. The online auction site has largely become a household name and given thousands of entrepreneurs a platform for starting an online business. Regardless of the size of your business, eBay's Secrets Revealed provides numerous tools and insights that will undoubtedly help you find success.

Blacharski provides detailed step by step instructions to guide you in the most important aspects of making your business succeed. Aimed at the new or existing entrepreneur who wants to add eBay to his or her web-based marketing arsenal, eBay's Secrets Revealed provides specific insight to most concerns that can emerge when using eBay, such as various costs and expectations of customers. The detailed descriptions are especially useful for the newly initiated making the process of getting started less intimidating. Although the book may seem like more information than you need if you just plan to sell a few items, it is still a valuable resource for helping to make sure you do not encounter any of the most common pitfalls.

Full of advise from those who have made their eBay business soar, eBay's Secrets Revealed covers all of the business owning fundamentals as well as special sections on specifically eBay related topics such as protecting yourself from fraud and web-based marketing strategies. In addition to useful eBay information, Blacharski provides an overview of other similar websites as well as their comparative strengths and weaknesses. With concise and well written explanations of all tools and services eBay offers to facilitate smooth management of your auctions and easy transactions, eBay Secrets Revealed is highly recommended to anyone starting an eBay business.

Dan W. Blacharski's EBAY'S SECRETS REVEALED is for any who would expand their eBay business by tapping into expert advice. From watching out for spyware and understanding search engine optimization to cross-selling techniques, this is designed to help eBay sellers expand upon basics.

These days, it seems that everyone's had an experience with buying or selling on eBay. In the book eBay's Secrets Revealed, Dan Blacharski gives the reader everything he or she needs to know the set up and run a successful eBay business. Competition is fierce in the eBay business, states Blacharski, and any edge can translate into bigger profits for a business. This book gives you the edge that other successful eBayers may not want you to know - the secrets of the trade.

Blacharski starts at the beginning by describing the origins of eBay, and gives a comprehensive look at all aspects of running the business, from finding products through business accounting. Blarcharski also describes the technology that will make your business a success, such as anti-spam software, auction tools, photography editing software, and working with search engines.

The step-by-step guide is so encouraging that it seems easy to get started selling. There can be many pitfalls to running a business where the customer and seller never meet, and the product isn't seen until after it is purchased. Blacharski reassuringly addresses common problems and helps the business owner avoid trouble through proper planning.

The book has a colorful, attractive layout. Sidebars offer interviews and tips from the pros, checklists, and warnings. A logically-arranged table of contents steps the reader through the process. The chapters are clear and free of jargon, and the reader can easily jump to the topic he or she needs the most. Cute graphics are sprinkled throughout the book, and crisp photos end each chapter.

A new eBay business owner, or someone considering the business, will need this book. All you need to learn to start selling is addressed within the pages, and at less than 300 pages, it is an easy read.

Ebay's Secrets Revealed
By Dan W. Blacharski
5 out of 5 stars


In the 21st century, almost every American with internet access has either searched Ebay or at least heard of Ebay. There are multiple books out that have a reoccurring theme, which is "make money, make money," but that is about all that is to them. This book not only is a guide to making profit, but it takes you through the in depth steps to get there. It even goes into all of the different branches of information that will answer any almost any question imaginable that has to do with Ebay.

I have found that this book contains an abundance of valuable information to both current and future Ebay sellers. Meta tags are a key tool that are commonly over looked by Ebay sellers, but in this book Dan Blacharski not only covers the topic, but gives examples and even basic tutorial information on the subject. This book truly is revealing the secrets of Ebay.

Reading all of the advice and informative stories from actual accounts is another benefit of this book that gives the reader a personal connection. I also like how the author even gives resources as to sites that are similar to Ebay. I think that any person that needs guidance about Ebay should most definitely read this book. You are enlightened on every subject such as the history of Ebay, how to promote, shipping and handling, and even the legalities.

This book is magnificent, because once you finish reading it, you are truly educated on all of the possible in's and out's Ebay. I have stayed on the side of being a buyer on Ebay, and have never bothered with the selling aspect of Ebay, because I have always thought that the entirety of being a successful Ebay seller was too complicated. After reading this book I feel like I have gained not only a complete understanding of how to be a successful Ebay seller, but I have also gained the confidence to pursue being a seller, because I was finally able to comprehend how easy it can actually be.

eBay's Secrets Revealed
by Dan W. Blacharski

I laughed the first time a buyer sent me postage stamps for a payment. I returned the stamps and told them I accepted money orders or payment through pay pal. She did not laugh. She wrote a negative comment about the transaction and then filed a complaint against me. The litigation lasted for months and I was frustrated and confused. For several years I struggled with my site on eBay. I learned a few tricks on my own through trial and error.

Many powerful eBay sellers were reluctant to pass along any of their secrets. My site was floundering. I decided this enterprise was not for me. If only Dan W. Blacharski's book, `eBay's Secrets Revealed' was available to me way back then, my business would have been a success.

In the very first chapter Dan discusses name recognition. This is an extremely important concept in eBay auctions. Studies show that consumers feel comfortable with items and locations that are familiar.

Dan's information contains simple information regarding keywords that a first time seller may not even consider. The in depth chapter on accounting and taxes can literally save your business. Dan takes a step by step approach on how to succeed in your eBay business.

Make no mistakes eBay is a business and a livelihood for many individuals. Dan lets you know about security, customer service, fraud, payment methods and everything one needs to know to be a success in this burgeoning enterprise. Even the images you post reflects whether this item will be looked at and possible purchased.

Chapter 10 states the importance of positive feedback. This is not something you can shrug off. It can mean quitting your day job or failure. If terms like, second chance, reserve price, buy it now, absentee bid and insertion fee are foreign words to you, purchase this book.

This book can direct a novice, inform a buyer and lead an entrepreneur to success. The money invested in this book will ensure an easy and attainable transition in the art of selling on eBay. This information can also be applied to any other business project. After reading Dan's book, `eBay's Secrets Revealed' I feel confident to once again try my hand at selling and buying on eBay.

I give this book a rating of 5.

How to increase the value of your property. Paint it. Mow the lawn.

Don't waste your money on this one!

this book is full of useless ideas, good ideas, yes, but common sense...not worth the money...

Is that all???? Felt book was waste of money. Few pages and 101 "ways" were common sense ways such as improve landscaping, add carport/garage, paint house, brighten up rooms, etc. Disappointing.

There is not much in this book that was surpricing. Most of the ideas you can think of are in here and then some.
I have been in RE investments for 2 years and I really liked every single one of the ideas in this book. There are ideas in this book that have made me thousands of dollars.
For less then $20 that is a great return on investment.

Attention: Seasoned RealEstate investers don't waste your time purchasing this book. Ideal for amatuer investors who want to add more value to their piece of real estate.

I liked this book. I purchased a copy back in 2005 when I was learning everything I could about fundraising. It certainly covers many of the things I had learned (and was learning) during my stint as a consultant to nonprofits regarding capital campaigns. I found this book to be a marketing vehicle for the authors' Internet-based fundraising consulting firm. It has the feel of a blog since most of the book is written in question-answer format. And the questions and answers are lifted from work product produced by answering questions of patrons of the firm's Web site.

This book was a very easy read for me. It covered its topic well and flowed pretty good from beginning to end. It explains that successful fundraising requires the mastery of three key concepts:

1. Develop a Case Statement
2. Develop a Campaign Plan (Fundraising Plan)
3. Identify the strongest possible campaign leadership

Since I visualize a Campaign Plan as starting with an annual effort (annual campaign), I would have liked the book better if the chapters were reordered as follows:

5. Annual Campaign
4. Prospect Research
6. Direct Mail
11. Grants
12. Corporate Dollars
7. Special Events
8. Major Gifts
10. Planned Giving
9. Capital Campaigns

I'm used to the Range of Gift Table to be referred to as a Donor Pyramid (DP). And I didn't see a reference to DP anywhere in the book. This surprised me. I found Chapter 1 to be pretty good. I found Chapter 2 to be lacking in substance and good organization. There was content there, but it just did not help pull the book together. Why jump into capital campaigns at the outset? I would have liked the book much better if Chapter 2 were to be expanded and broken into 2 or three chapters. And it seemed like the blurb on prospect research was out of place by being included in Chapter 2.

I loved Chapter 3 about Nonprofit Boards. I thought it covered its topic very well. I think I would have liked the book better if each of the chapters had better introductions and conclusions. Since most chapters are not very long and the "blog entries" that filled the book were each headed by a boldfaced question, I don't think the chapter intros needed to include bulleted lists of the blog entry headings. All in all, this was a good book. And I recommend it for any fundraising expert's resource shelf. 4 stars!

The quest for funding is a high-pressure, never-ending process for nonprofit organizations large and small. Authors G. Douglass Alexander and Kristina J. Carlson break the process down into manageable pieces while covering each major avenue that fundraising professionals travel in the search for financial support. The authors use a question and answer format to explain and illustrate the premise outlined at the beginning of every chapter. Packed with useful, applicable information from cover to cover, this book deals with a range of topics including the basic principles of fundraising, annual and capital campaigns, special events, major gifts, foundation funding and stewardship. Such a comprehensive, well-organized analysis of any one subject is rare. We strongly recommend this book as a primer for any individual or group seeking guidance for a strategic approach to raising funds.

I've served on the boards of a number of organizations that have developed very strong fundraising capabilities -- and some that have not. The latter group could catch up quickly by reading this book. Authors Carlson and Alexander have covered all the key topics in an easy to read and easily referenced format. Their depth of experience is evident throughout. Anyone involved in nonprofit fundraising should invest the time to read and appreciate these "essential principles."

I just finished reading the book. After serving the non profit sector for over 20 years it is nice to have an easy to read, yet comprehensive publication for everyone to learn from. It will be required reading for all of our new hires at my organization. I cannot think of a better way to learn how to properly raise money in a variety of manners.

Jay

Although others will be doing fund-raising for Earth Intelligence Network, to fill in whatever our parent sponsor cannot provide, I found this book to be extraordinarly useful to me, so that I could understand in detail what is expected and required.

Bottom line: Fund-raising is a *professional* *year-long* orchestrated, documented *demanding* endeavor. It is neither easy nor an after-thought.

Over-all this book is a best in class offering that is superbly organized, superbly presented, and clearly authoritative. I noticed right away on the jacket blurbs that both givers and seekers of funds were represented.

The quick summary (there is no substitute for reading the book in detail, and probably annually as well), is found in the 9 principles on page 6:

1) Face to face solicitation is the most effective means
2) Individual giving (not foundation or corporate) is the greatest return
3) Money FOLLOWS involvement
4) Challenge gifts can solve most fund-raising problems
5) The board must lead if others are to follow (in giving)
6) Make it personal
7) Believe in volunteers
8) Offer opportunities
9) Practice sequential fundraising, starting at the top (the big gift)

A few highlights that stayed with me:

+ Range of Gifts table very useful device for planning and presenting
+ Core concepts credited to Ms. "Be" Haas--the authors are respectful
+ Key ingredients are the case statement, sequential fundraising, and the strongest possible campaign leadership
+ Connect to donors (DEVELOPMENT) first, ask LATER
+ 80% of giving is individual
+ Board membership (another book, not this one, says put them on the stationary) is the most powerful signal
+ Focus on personalized, face to face wherever possible
+ Volunteers are both a form of giving, and a form of connecting to others
+ MAKE YOUR CASE--"Need" is NOT a case, "Impact" is...
+ Prospect research is a sub-discipline now
- Helps find donors who are both able to give and passionate about the cause you represent
- Philanthropic history is more important than total wealth
- Websites exist for "conducting prospect research"

The authors shy away from recommending specific individuals or institutes but they are very professional and provide more than adequate pointers to specialty websites that I would not have been able to find myself.

+ Ethics matters
+ Annual campaigns are life-blood of the organization
+ November-December are the hot months for end of year deductable giving
+ Philanthropy 400 is a key reference
+ Capital campaigns every ten years or so
+ Planning giving is a long-term strategy but hugely promising
+ Foundations are NEXT TO LAST with Corporations LAST.

The chapter on technology is excellent, and covers the basics:
01 Website including "donate now" button
02 Fundraising software, one size does NOT fit all
03 Avoid spam, know the STATE law, quality matters
04 Email delivery of newsletters or other value is good

Stewardship is its own sub-dsicipline, the nurturing and appreciation of those who give and cannot be forgotten or taken for granted.

I have a full two pages of notes, not for this review, but really great ideas tailored to our program that I would never, ever, have thought about without reading this book.

This is a great book, a serious book, one you cannot do without (IMHO).