Harry D. Schultz
1 Disappointing
If you're looking for specific methods for trading or investing you'll be disappointed. Most of his advice reads like a collection of conventional investing wisdom, with his own bent. It's almost like a theory of investing and he doesn't give specific techniques or examples. More "Look to do this or that". Much of it is vague. Lists over 20 indicators to look at, suggestions on what to look for, but there are no examples or charts. It reads like a general overview of his investing philisophy or a primer. You won't come away with any new techniques. The main theme is don't buy and hold, there are times to go short and look at the big picture.
He does touch on cycle theory and Elliot wave briefly. He list many sentiment and breadth indicators to look at or calculate. Some can be gotten through data services, others you have to calculate by hand from data from sources like Barrons. I was expecting a lot more from someone with his reputation. There was no solid material here.
2 Bear Market Investing
The book was very straight forward and very interesting,. I have found alot of the information was true.
3 A must, if you want to make money.
I just finished ready this book for the second time. I had ordered it prior to release on the basis of Harry Schultz's reputation, alone. This book is worth ten times it's cost. If you are committed to wealth creation, if you are willing to do the work and are open to other's opinions, then read this book. Harry does not preach the merits of technical analysis; he presents the history of market action, correlates it to technical indicators and lets the reader accept or disregard the evidence. He also challenges the "Ameri-central" view of geopolitical and geoeconomic events and activity, and further challenges the reader to seek the most accurate information on which to base decisions. Lastly, he's a fluid and entertaining writer. The book is filled with relevant quotations from Dow, Churchill and Emerson.
4 Save yourself from the raging bear!
If you had acted on the advice in this book 3 years ago you would be rich, but don't let that stop you from reading it now. By most historical models the stock market remains wildly overvalued and the information in this book retains its validity today. This book is a joy to read and offers balance to the talking heads at CNBC and the other mainstream media outlets that could never call a top to the market, but issue new prognostications about a bottom every week. The information on short selling alone is worth the price of the book.
5 Important To Read This Book Now (7/02)
In the late '90s, when the market was going up almost every day, investing was easy and everybody was a genius. Things have changed, and those who haven't changed their strategies have gotten clobbered. Mr. Schultz gives good ideas for preserving your account in rough times. I subscribe to several great sites, among them thestreet.com and tradingmarkets.com, and this, combined with some strategies in Mr. Schultz's book, have helped me to keep most of my account intact through this market.