OT: Book Recommendations?

[34f3f3f]

Trying to find a good read on the economy, politics and global affairs that isn’t too heavy, but doesn’t skimp over too much detail, and yet manages to find that balance of views is difficult. If you have any recommendations, please share.

My rather humble list for last year included:

IOUSA, by Wiggin and Incontera does a good job at persuading us to feel guilty towards the next generation who will inherit the debt pile up, but lacks somewhat on alternative solutions to the crisis.

The Smartest Investment Book by Solin convinced me to not trust my broker, and it to it’s credit is didn’t steer you towards investing in any sponsors, and so many investment books seem to do.

Bad Money by Phillips is a good read in a racey journalistic style for a good overall feel of all things economic from CDOs to oil. A little opaque in places, but that might be the individualistic style writing.

The Next Great Bubble Boom by Dent was boring, but might appeal to the graphibians and number crunchers.

The United Sates of Europe by Reid was an interesting take on what he sees as Europe’s attempts to counter balance US global hegemony. There are some interesting anecdotal cultural distinctions brought out.

Just How Stupid Are We by Shenkman was a little contrite, but raises some interesting points about voters’ motives. However, it lacked the biting, and sardonic wit of someone like Bill Mayer.

$700 Billion Bailout by Muolo brings out some delicious ironies such as the failed bailout vote and the subsequent market consequences, or Paulson’s (untimely) reassurances to world markets that every thing was under control. Sadly, he used half the book to reproduce extracts from EESA.

Has anyone managed succesffully to use the Sony eReader on a Mac?

[Rich Toscano]

For general overview stuff I thought Soros’ “New Paradigm for Financial Markets” was really good and an easy read.

For more of a bubble era retrospective thing you might check out Grant’s “Mr. Market Miscalculates.” Grant is a visionary imho, with a vast knowledge of financial history, and he probably understands our monetary system better than anyone. But he is never an easy or fast read so that might not make your cut. (I haven’t actually read this one yet but I know it will be good).

Rich

[Rich Toscano]

For general overview stuff I thought Soros’ “New Paradigm for Financial Markets” was really good and an easy read.

For more of a bubble era retrospective thing you might check out Grant’s “Mr. Market Miscalculates.” Grant is a visionary imho, with a vast knowledge of financial history, and he probably understands our monetary system better than anyone. But he is never an easy or fast read so that might not make your cut. (I haven’t actually read this one yet but I know it will be good).

Rich

[Rich Toscano]

For general overview stuff I thought Soros’ “New Paradigm for Financial Markets” was really good and an easy read.

For more of a bubble era retrospective thing you might check out Grant’s “Mr. Market Miscalculates.” Grant is a visionary imho, with a vast knowledge of financial history, and he probably understands our monetary system better than anyone. But he is never an easy or fast read so that might not make your cut. (I haven’t actually read this one yet but I know it will be good).

Rich

[Rich Toscano]

For general overview stuff I thought Soros’ “New Paradigm for Financial Markets” was really good and an easy read.

For more of a bubble era retrospective thing you might check out Grant’s “Mr. Market Miscalculates.” Grant is a visionary imho, with a vast knowledge of financial history, and he probably understands our monetary system better than anyone. But he is never an easy or fast read so that might not make your cut. (I haven’t actually read this one yet but I know it will be good).

Rich

[Rich Toscano]

For general overview stuff I thought Soros’ “New Paradigm for Financial Markets” was really good and an easy read.

For more of a bubble era retrospective thing you might check out Grant’s “Mr. Market Miscalculates.” Grant is a visionary imho, with a vast knowledge of financial history, and he probably understands our monetary system better than anyone. But he is never an easy or fast read so that might not make your cut. (I haven’t actually read this one yet but I know it will be good).

Rich

[HLS]

My favorites are books that were written years ago that prove cycles repeat, and human greed doesn’t change..

a) PANICS & CRASHES AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEM by Harry Schultz 1972

b)THE DAY THE BUBBLE BURST by Gordon Thomas 1979

c) THE GREAT DEPRESSION by Robert McElvaine originally written in 1984,updated edition 1993.

and coming soon

d) I UPPED MY INCOME, UP YOURS by Henry Paulson 2009

[HLS]

My favorites are books that were written years ago that prove cycles repeat, and human greed doesn’t change..

a) PANICS & CRASHES AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEM by Harry Schultz 1972

b)THE DAY THE BUBBLE BURST by Gordon Thomas 1979

c) THE GREAT DEPRESSION by Robert McElvaine originally written in 1984,updated edition 1993.

and coming soon

d) I UPPED MY INCOME, UP YOURS by Henry Paulson 2009

[HLS]

My favorites are books that were written years ago that prove cycles repeat, and human greed doesn’t change..

a) PANICS & CRASHES AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEM by Harry Schultz 1972

b)THE DAY THE BUBBLE BURST by Gordon Thomas 1979

c) THE GREAT DEPRESSION by Robert McElvaine originally written in 1984,updated edition 1993.

and coming soon

d) I UPPED MY INCOME, UP YOURS by Henry Paulson 2009

[HLS]

My favorites are books that were written years ago that prove cycles repeat, and human greed doesn’t change..

a) PANICS & CRASHES AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEM by Harry Schultz 1972

b)THE DAY THE BUBBLE BURST by Gordon Thomas 1979

c) THE GREAT DEPRESSION by Robert McElvaine originally written in 1984,updated edition 1993.

and coming soon

d) I UPPED MY INCOME, UP YOURS by Henry Paulson 2009

[HLS]

My favorites are books that were written years ago that prove cycles repeat, and human greed doesn’t change..

a) PANICS & CRASHES AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEM by Harry Schultz 1972

b)THE DAY THE BUBBLE BURST by Gordon Thomas 1979

c) THE GREAT DEPRESSION by Robert McElvaine originally written in 1984,updated edition 1993.

and coming soon

d) I UPPED MY INCOME, UP YOURS by Henry Paulson 2009

[Allan from Fallbrook]

“When Genius Failed”, Lowenstein. This is about the 1998 Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM) implosion and how it was a precursor, albeit on a much smaller scale, to what is happening now in the credit markets.

LTCM had two Nobel Prize Laureates on their staff, and also counted some of Wall Street’s “Best and Brightest” among their members.

Great read, if for no other reason than to watch what happens when you think you’re too smart too fail. Also, the almost religious reliance on their risk management models is eerily similar to that shown by today’s Wall Street banks.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

“When Genius Failed”, Lowenstein. This is about the 1998 Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM) implosion and how it was a precursor, albeit on a much smaller scale, to what is happening now in the credit markets.

LTCM had two Nobel Prize Laureates on their staff, and also counted some of Wall Street’s “Best and Brightest” among their members.

Great read, if for no other reason than to watch what happens when you think you’re too smart too fail. Also, the almost religious reliance on their risk management models is eerily similar to that shown by today’s Wall Street banks.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

“When Genius Failed”, Lowenstein. This is about the 1998 Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM) implosion and how it was a precursor, albeit on a much smaller scale, to what is happening now in the credit markets.

LTCM had two Nobel Prize Laureates on their staff, and also counted some of Wall Street’s “Best and Brightest” among their members.

Great read, if for no other reason than to watch what happens when you think you’re too smart too fail. Also, the almost religious reliance on their risk management models is eerily similar to that shown by today’s Wall Street banks.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

“When Genius Failed”, Lowenstein. This is about the 1998 Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM) implosion and how it was a precursor, albeit on a much smaller scale, to what is happening now in the credit markets.

LTCM had two Nobel Prize Laureates on their staff, and also counted some of Wall Street’s “Best and Brightest” among their members.

Great read, if for no other reason than to watch what happens when you think you’re too smart too fail. Also, the almost religious reliance on their risk management models is eerily similar to that shown by today’s Wall Street banks.

[Author]

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