Eric Tyson
1 Great Book, Unbiased Information
This book will provide you with the knowledge and the conceptual 'tools' that you'll need to evaluate your personal situation and develop an investing strategy based on cold, hard facts. If you're serious about being able to form your *own* opinion regarding how you should invest your money, throw out "Rich Dad, Richer Author" and buy this book.
It's written clearly in understandable language that those foreign to investing can understand, and is loaded with humor that makes learning about such a dry topic as painless as possible.
Much like any "101" (introductory-level) college course, this book provides a wide 'buffet-type' variety of information on all major topics that pertain to investing strategy. That is, there is more breadth than depth in the topics that are covered. Basically, after getting the facts from this book as laid out by Tyson, you'll be armed with a *very* solid base knowledgability in investing that will allow you to figure out exactly how and where to dig deeper to actually implement your strategy.
Like it or not, learning (properly) about a topic as complex as investing takes time. This book is where I'd recommend that most people that had minimal knowledge (like myself) start off learning in order to firmly grasp all of the most important fundamental concepts before they continue on to more advanced topics.
2 Gun control for Dummies
Investing for Dummies is a decent book but for straight information and less blather I like the Cliff Notes books that cover finance and investing. I was surprised that the authour could slip in so much junk regarding his anti second ammendment views into a book about investing. He is a jerk and wont be getting anymore of my money.
3 Not for dummies
This book is definitely not for the uninitiated. I was expecting the book to "spell out" how stock/bond markets work eg. what happens when a bond matures or what does the author mean by the "value" of a bond. Although a useful supplement, it probably should not be the first book you read on investing.
4 Very useful!
This book was very useful, not difficult to understand, had lots of great tips... A good buy!
5 Practical Introduction for Beginners
Considering that I know hardly anything about investing in stocks, real estate, etc., this book was a very good one because it introduced me to the basics. It starts with each topic on "level one" and gradually leads you to the level where you understand the topic but do not have useless information. It discusses stocks and bonds, real estate, portfolio buiding, and even the interesting psychological obstacles in investing. I thought an interesting idea was that to succeed long term in mutual fund investing, your portfolio must be diversified and well-researched. This book also discusses the pros and cons of having a financial advisor, and gives resources for more information. The book has cartoons, which add humor and taught me how investing would be applied to my life. The section of the book least applicable to me was about running and buying business, but it was interesting nevertheless. It was a great introduction to investing and I feel much more prepared than I did before reading the book.
6 Buy the Third Edition instead of this OLD one
The Third Edition of this book is already out. Why would you buy the second edition if the third edition is newer?
7 Lacking
There are very few good nuggets of information in this one.
I listened to the entire audio version in my car on the way to work. I didn't have to stop once to jot down anything important.
8 Mandatory Reading for Personal Investors
If you plan on investing, either by hiring a broker or doing it yourself, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It covers the range of potential investments, from stock and mutual funds to small business and real estate investing.
It is true that Tyson seems biased towards Vanguard's mutual funds and this book, like his other books on mutual funds and personal finance, carries that tradition forward. In this regard, Tyson is in good company: Vanguard is also highly rated by Consumer Reports and it consistently has the lowest costs. So far, Vanguard has avoided any hint of scandal that has plagued other mutual funds.
9 Helps you build a solid foundation for further reading
I have been investing in stocks, mutuals funds and real estate for about 8 years without ever reading a book on the topic. I bought this book to learn the nuts and bolts of investing. Despite the fact that I am not a beginner I still found the book informative. For example, Tyson says when a stock plummets don't bale out, buy some more at the lower price. I baled out of amazon.com at $11 and of course I deeply regret it now. I have since learned to hold during the bad times and now I am in profit territory with all of my stocks. He suggests that college savings accounts, such as 529 plans, may be a bad idea because it could hurt your child's chances of getting financial aid. He explains how bonds can go down in value and says instead of buying individual bonds it is better to buy bond mutual funds. I had been wary of bonds before reading this book, now I am thinking about buying a bond fund in the interests of diversification.
I didn't agree with Tyson on everything. He is more conservative than I am. I am only in my early 30s, so I believe I am young enough to take some financial risks. Also, he believes that it is a bad idea to pick your own stocks. Yet he also says that if you buy good companies and hold for several years you will always come out ahead as long as you have a diversified portfolio. I see no reason to pay a financial planner (who may put his/her own interests ahead of mine) to do this for me.
One thing I really like about the book is that he doesn't just focus on financial instruments. He also discusses investing in both real estate and small businesses. I will be buying a franchise within the next year and I found this information very helpful. Of course, I will need to do further reading on this topic.
This is an excellent book that I had a hard time putting down. If you want to learn more about investing I suggest that you start with this book. It will provide a solid foundation, and help you move onto more complicated financial books and magazines.
10 Really Helpful
I knew very little about this subject and this was a great introduction. It's easy to read with a dash of decent humor.
11 Especially relevant today
I preface my review with saying that I am a huge fan of the For Dummies series in general and those written by Eric Tyson in particular. This is another well-written, highly informative book in the series regarding finance and investing. I often conduct seminars on the subject of investing, specifically in retirement accounts, and borrow heavily from the advice and explanations provided in this book. Although the subject matter demands more complexity, and therefore more attention, than the other For Dummies books, it is excellent for those willing to take the extra time. I personally learned a great deal regarding individual stock selection by learning how to understand a company's financial statements. As with any other For Dummies book, you can easily decide how deep you want to go on any given subject.
I feel this book is especially relevant in an environment such as today, where many have equated investing with gambling. This statement may be true, if you don't understand the rules. However, this book provides a valuable service in explaining that investing, like anything else in life, will reward you to the extent that you are willing to take responsibility and understand how it works. For those willing to do so, I can not think of a better place to start than this book.
12 Excellent book for beginners
I bought this book on Monday night and finished it on Thursday. Great information on a variety of subjects. I am taking what I read and opening an account within a week of finishing this book. I recommend to anyone who is thinking of opening a brokerage account. Well worth the money.
13 Great book!
If you need a breather from the stock market's shenanigans then this book is for you. Mr. Tyson really goes out of his way to show that investing comes in multiple forms and is not limited to just stocks.
His entire section on investing in yourself by opening a business will ring true during this recession. His guidance and opinion on this "alternative" is the most valuable section of this book.
He glosses over futures, which is considered both as an investment and a business. But the information he does speak about will help you profit from the recent moves in oil, gold, and the potential move in interest rates. ... I can't help but advocate this books tone that securities aren't quite "secure".
Overall the "Dummies" series has done it again and am proud to own several of their books.
14 Very comphrehensive. Realistic, doable
I like this book by Eric Tyson. It is idea for both the novice investor as well as experienced. You will find great information on investing in stocks and mutual funds.It is also written in plain english so anyone can understand it. You don't have to be a Wall Streeter to appreciate the information in here.I also recommend Eric's Personal Finance for Dummies to fine tune your personal finance know how.Great books Eric!
15 Don't be a Dummy, invest in this book.
The world of investing can be complex and overwhelming. Stocks? Bonds? Real Estate? Too confusing for you? Just putting you money under your mattress?
Investing for Dummies explains different kinds of investments such as stocks and bonds in easy terms that anyone can understand. Its a great start for people who have never invested before by pointing out the upside and potential downsides of many different investments.
Invest in this book to help you invest in your future.
16 Introduction to investing
Tyson's book on investing presents useful information and covers just about all of the basic categories. This is a good place to begin learning about various investments. However, he book does not provide sufficiently detailed information for a anyone to become an active participant in some specific investment areas, and additional education is required for them.
One serious omission is the lack of coverage about stock options. As a remedy, I recommend either THE SHORT BOOK ON OPTIONS (Wolfinger) or Options as a Strategic Investment (Macmillan).
17 Investing for Dummies - Good book by Tyson
I really liked Personal Finance for Dummies. An easy read and high on content.Investing for Dummies is a great investment book. Also a easy read but packed with worthwhile information.My only argument is the title. This book is not for dummies. Although, if you read it and don't apply it's contents, you may become a dummy.Good book.
18 One of, if now the best sources for first time investors
This was the first book I read when I got into investing. It's an informative, easy, and inspiring read that won't put you to sleep. It's humorus also. I would highly reccomend this book to any young person who wants to learn how to invest, but doesn't know where to start. Well worth the initial investment of time and money:)
19 Good investment book by Tyson
This book is especially good for beginners. I bought this for my son and daughter-in-law along with Millionaire Next Door.Tyson covers all the bases and writes in an easy to understand and enjoyable manner. Even if you are not new to investing, you will learn a thing or two.Also recommend Millionaire Next Door and Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
20 Very good book.
Eric Tyson's Investing for Dummies in broad in scope, but still written in plain english. Even the most naive to investing can understand and apply what he writes.I also recommend Personal Finance for Dummies and Mutual Funds For Dummies.You will find these books more informative than Jane Bryant Quinn's books. What is the love affair with her anyway? I made the mistake of buying How To Make the Most of Your Money and found it to be a complete waste. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Read and apply Eric Tyson's great work. You'll be glad you did.
21 The Title Says it All
I think this is an excellent book for people who are completely brand new to investing (like me when I first recieved the book). Tyson does a fine job of explaining how financial markets function and the role of investing in such. He also gives some neat info on small business and real estate. I especially liked the section devoted to researching individual stocks. However, the book lacks depth once you have a firm grasp on money basics. Furthermore, Tyson ostensibly takes a conservative approach to investing, and probably for good reason since this book is dedicated to people who don't really understand investing or who simply don't want to spend a great amount of time managing their money. I would not use this book exclusively to make investment decisions. I would talk to a broker, visit mutual fund/stock broker web sites and consult other investment books to see what other adivce is out there.
22 Personal Finance for Dummies is better
In and of itself, this is a good book.
However, the vast majority of the information presented is merely a repeat of the information presented in "Personal Finance for Dummies" (also by Tyson). This book goes into a little more detail regarding the stock market.
However, if you are an aspiring day trader, or if you interest is very specifically focused on stocks and bonds, then you will probably be disappointed with this book. Tyson's approach is very broad, and not very deep. His target audience seems to be a group of people who have almost no knowledge of the types of investment vehicles that exist, rather than people who have basic financial knowledge, and are looking to focus on a specific area. If you fit into his target audience, however, you will probably find "Personal Finance for Dummies" to fit the bill even better than this book.
Tyson's approach to money management is classical and conservative. It will keep you afloat, but it will not make you rich. If you are interested in a more aggressive approach, I would recommend "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," by Robert Kyosaki.
23 A GOOD BASIC INVESTMENT QUIDE
I enjoyed this book and found the investment information certaintly more practical and useful than what I found in Jane Bryant Quinn's "Make the Most of Your Money", that book, leave alone.I disagree with the author suggesting that you mimic the stocks in top mutual funds though. Just buy the mutual funds. Mutual funds are safer than stocks (check out LU, CPQ, CPN, KM) and the no load funds don't charge a commission. I also recommend ETF's.The author does a good job explaining on how to find and pick a good mutual fund and is definitely a better read than Quinn's book.
24 This Dummy is ready to graduate!
I've always loved Dummies books. I own three of Eric Tyson's books, including Investing for Dummies, which is my favorite. My dilemma, however, was where to go after I read the beginner Dummies financial books. What I wanted was a book that delved far beyond the basics, but was just as reader friendly and dependable as the Dummies titles. I was delighted to find three books that fit my criteria--Making the Most of Your Money by Jane Bryant Quinn and the Investing Bible and Retirement Bible, which were both written by Lynn O'Shaughnessy. Quinn's book is a big fat tome, which covers nearly every conceivable investing topic exhaustively. It's a great book, but there is one slight flaw. It was released in 1997, which makes some, but certainly not the majority of information outdated. Interestingly enough, The Investing Bible and the Retirement Bible, which were both released in 2001, are new books launched by none other than the Dummies publishers. O'Shaughnessy picks up where Tyson leaves off by exploring such topics as college investing, saving for retirement, as well as investing during retirement, and choosing and analyzing mutual funds and individual stocks. The Retirement Bible, I've got to say, was the first book I've ever seen that made topics like estate planning fascinating to read. I'd say you can't go wrong with any of these books. But if you already know something about investing, Quinn's book, as well as the Dummies spin-off Bible books will be a better fit.
25 Poor investment advice
Mr. Tyson has attempted to do a great thing--to provide a very broad introduction to the world of investing "for the rest of us", as the Dummies series is known for. Unfortunately, several key errors and his overwhelming "do it yourself" idealism is unrealistic, and ultimately results in readers developing a false sense of security in their own abilities and chances.
From the very start he criticizes financial advisers, saying they are usually out for their own agendas (even though he himself is one???). He urges investors to take the time to research their own mutual funds and set up their own accounts through low-fee brokerage houses. Through newspapers, websites, books, and other sources of information, even the casual of investors have enough time to research on their own. The impression I got about his attitude was "if you want to invest successfully, you need to do your homework". Now, that's all fine and dandy in a perfect world, but if that was that easy why do 95% of Americans fail to invest properly for their own retirement? Why was the median income for retired persons only $13,700 last year?
The hard fact is that in today•À?s hectic society, people simply do not have the time to do their own research and are better off hiring the services of an experienced professional with a focus on the long term. While he pushes for mutual funds--which is a good thing--it is unrealistic for him to say that only "special situation" type people need advisers to help them pick which mutual funds, retirement options, and college accounts are right for them. It's commonly accepted that you hire a doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant to help with complex medical, legal, or estate purposes, why is it so wrong to hire a financial adviser to help you set up your retirement accounts?
On the subject of retirement accounts, his reasoning here is backwards. He urges readers to contribute to tax-deductible retirement accounts first (be it 401(k), 403(b), SEP, whatever) and THEN contribute to an IRA once those options are maxed out. His logic is in that way you can write off your contributions as currently tax-deductible. He says your tax bracket will be lower once you retire, so it is therefore better to pay the taxes on that money later rather than now.
This is blindly incorrect for two major reasons.
First, assuming the money in your retirement account grows (and what else is the point of it if not to grow over time?), the value will be MUCH HIGHER when you retire. As an example, let's say you put in $10,000 today and that money grows at 10% annually for 30 years. After 30 years that money will have grown to $175,000. Is it better to:
A. Pay tax on the $10,000 now
B. Pay tax on the $175,000 later
?
Regardless of your tax bracket now and later, the amount you pay on taxes will be much, much higher if you pay it in the future. Moral of the story: it's much better to pay tax on the money you put in than to pay tax on the money you take out.
Second, who says your tax bracket will be lower when you retire, anyway? What that means is that your income will be lower when you retire than it is now. While statistically this is true of most Americans, it is not true for any of MY clients. The whole purpose of investing for your retirement is to save in such a way that, upon your retirement, you have enough to let the principal sit and just live off the interest. If you planned PROPERLY, that interest you make every year will either equal or exceed your income during your working years. I don•À?t know about you but I wouldn•À?t want to have MY adviser tell me •À?you•À?re going to be poorer during your retirement than you are now•À?. Would you?
Another blatant mistake he makes is advocating term life insurance over any life insurance that has cash value. Term insurance is temporary whereas insurance with a cash value is intended to cover you for your whole life. Why would you want to pay for insurance that you most likely will never use and never benefit from? With whole life or variable life you can always surrender the policy (for example, upon retirement) or take loans on the money (that you never pay back and thus receive tax-free) and get a hefty sum of cash. If you spent your whole life paying for term you get nothing out of it. In the long run, term ends up being far more expensive than whole or variable life. This is one of the first lessons taught in Virginia Bureau of Insurance licensing training classes; I don•À?t know where Mr. Tyson got his insurance license, if he even has one.
I could go on and on about both the technical inaccuracies and his misinforming strategies but I am limited in space here.
In summary, Investing for Dummies really deserves it•À?s name•À?if you•À?re a dummy you might like this book. But if you are serious about wanting any sort of sound investment advice that uses tried-and-true techniques, look elsewhere. This book attempts to cover too many topics•À?and does so incorrectly, at many points, to be of any real use.
26 Tyson's money column is much better than his book!
"Investing for Dummies" gives readers, new to investing, some good advice, such as you need to save money to invest, and that you should generally fund tax-deferred retirement plans before paying down a mortgage. Tyson also advises keeping cash reserves, not in ultra-low-yielding bank savings accounts, but in a money market fund. He urges you to seek "ownership" investments, e.g., stocks, real estate, or your own small business, rather then buying bonds or borrowing your nephew money to start his business.
The above advice is common sense, as Tyson admits, and shows up in many good personal finance books. So, what does Tyson offer that the other investing and personal finance books don't?
Well, there are some really funny cartoons. Tyson also covers real estate investing and investing in small business in more detail than most investing books. However, if you contemplate starting a business or buying one, there are far better books to read. Same for real estate.
Of course, a small section devoted to starting a business won't do a complete job of teaching you what you need to know. But, at least "Investing For Dummies" exposes the reader to the small business and real estate possibilities, which many investing books fail to do.
"Investing For Dummies" also recommends index funds and foreign stock funds, which are very good directions to consider. Tyson, in fact, counsels investors not to buy individual shares of common stock, but, rather, to invest exclusively via mutual funds. Of course, he urges you to keep expenses low and select mutual funds carefully.
It seems Tyson runs out of meaningful investment advice to give and degenerates into promoting his views on tangent issues in several places. For example, he devotes a full section to criticizing radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh on issues like global warming. Come again? How does that help us become a better investor?
Tyson later gives a short plug for Handgun Control, Inc., saying its agenda is to "educate" people about the dangers of guns. At least Tyson does a better job of working this into the flow of the book, saying that some people who start businesses have goals besides money. And, non-profits have agendas other than profits. Thanks, Eric. We might have missed that!
OK. Everybody has his or her own ideas, and we can forgive Tyson for straying off the topic, occasionally, but it really galled me when he attacked ham-and-cheese-filled croissants, blaming them for heart attacks. Another story of a restaurant entrepreneur had the partially non-profit agenda of teaching people to eat healthy. Maybe, we can look forward to a "Eating Healthy For Investors For Dummies" in the future!?
Tyson also wisely suggests we not try to follow a stock market guru. I strongly agree. Nobody can predict the future. Tyson also criticizes other investment writers who try to sell ongoing investment advice, but, I think, when he criticizes Peter Lynch and Simon and Schuster for trying to sell Lynch's books, Tyson is going a little too far. After all, this is coming from a writer who is famous for pumping out For Dummies books!
Unlike Tyson, who is by trade a writer, Lynch retired rich, as a successful mutual fund manager, and Lynch passed up the opportunity to start his own mutual fund which would have earned him tens of millions of dollars more than selling any investing book. So, what is the ulterior motivation for Peter Lynch to write that he believes individual investors can beat the pros in buying individual stocks? None. Lynch believes this and explains why in detail in his books.
Tyson claims to have read hundreds of investing books, but he totally ignores Lynch's rational, that individuals can beat the pros. He never addresses this, just sarcastically dismisses it.
Lynch's rational, that the professionals are all consumed with short-term performance and need to diversify widely, not for diversification's sake, but simply because they have too much money to invest, should not be dismissed lightly.
Tyson tells investors who try to buy their own stocks to examine the portfolios of mutual fund managers to see what they are buying. Boink!! Never mind professionals often recompose their portfolios before disclosure, so it looks as if they have been buying the best stocks of the day. Never mind that these professionals might well be selling long before you are notified of the change. And, never mind that most individuals are seeking stocks to buy-and-hold, while professional money managers are more frequent traders. Not Tyson's best advice.
Tyson correctly mentions that your earnings power is probably your greatest asset and that you should give enhancing your career some attention. But, we assume you knew this, also.
Overall, I do recommend "Investing For Dummies" to those individual investors who are totally new to investment and who want a quick overview of mutual fund investing, real estate investing, and small business.
"Investing For Dummies" can be obtained at most local, public libraries. But, if you are already a saver, know how to evaluate an income statement and balance sheet, and have read a superior personal finance book, such as Jane Bryant Quinn's "Making The Most of Your Money", "Investing For Dummies" is probably too basic for you.
But, in fairness to Tyson, I think he has a great personal finance column! If you read the column, then get the book, you might be disappointed.
Peter Hupalo, Author of "Becoming An Investor: Building Wealth By Investing In Stocks, Bonds, And Mutual Funds.
27 no substance
There was so little substance in this CD that I'm sorry that I bought it. Judging by the reviews I see here, I'd guess that the book teaches a lot more than the CD.
28 Good Read
This book is written for even the most uneducated of people. The author does not use any fancy math or terminology only common sense ideas on how to invest money and keep a "cool head".
29 Get Ready for a Strange Agenda
When I first picked up this book, I assumed that it would explain the basic workings of the stock market and give me some tips on investing in stocks. Based on the title, it seemed obvious. But the author, Eric Tyson, strays from this focus so much that you may consider looking elsewhere.
Much of the book is devoted to the in's and out's of owning real estate and running your own business. Which is fine, unless you simply want to learn about the stock market. Also, Tyson spends ALOT of ink taking bizzare tangents that add nothing to help make his point, and reveal a strong liberal bias in his thinking. He takes shots at everyone from Rush Limbaugh (he's refered to as a "loud mouth"), to Ronald Reagan and George Bush (Tyson doesn't think Reagan had anthing to do with the collapse of Communism). Tyson also implies that we didn't really "win" world war II because we had to drop the atomic bomb to end it.
What does any of this have to do with investing? Beats me!
If you're looking for political tangents that are gratuitously divisive in a book that spends only part of its pages discussing the stock market, then this is the one for you! Otherwise, you'd do better to look elsewhere. Happy hunting. :)
30 BEST INTODUCTION TO INVESTING OUT THERE!!!
If you want to know the pros and cons of any investment(Mutual Funds,franchises, bonds, stocks, real estate, money market) this is the book for you. Helps you make the investment decision that is best for you as an individual!
The best investing book I have(and I have a lot)
31 Negative Negative Negative
I bought this hoping to get some basic info on investing and all it seemed to reflect on is what not to do. His advice on not buying individual stocks was somewhat insulting. He constantly writes about how no one reading the book could have the expertise to pick stocks like the "pro's" and should only buy mutual funds after years of research. The "years" part is snitty on my behalf but that's the kind of feeling you get from his positions.
In summary of what I got out of this, we are all too uninformed to do anything other than pay off our credit cards and then possibly, with correct research, put that extra $50 a month into a mutual fund. Buy "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" before you buy this and THEN see if you still want to purchase it.
32 Perfect for a new investor
I am finally just starting to learn about the stock market. I don't have much invested and I don't really know what I'm doing. This book has shown me that I have a lot to learn!! I really want to learn to invest, and I like how easy it is to understand this book.
I also like that I don't have to read it in order from front to back for it to make sense. I can pick almost any chapter and get a complete lesson right there. I recommend this book for anyone who thinks they'll never understand money. With this book it's not as hard as I thought!
33 Beginner information in PLAIN ENGLISH!!!!
This book is great for beginners (like myself) who are very confused about investing and all the jargon that goes with it. You don't just read this book once, you keep in on your desk and check back every time you are thinking of putting your money in a new investment. This book will never become outdated, well worth the money!!!!
34 Simply Fantastic.
This book is well written, well thought out, and easy to understand.
35 If you need to learn about investments, Get This Book Now!
Wow...this book was (and still is) such a great help to me.
I really do not like money-talk. But let's face it: in our world, you'd better be somewhat savvy in money management if you want to be able to retire on your own terms.
I do not find all the "Dummies" series books useful. However, this one by Tyson was indeed a gem. It took me a week to read through it, and in that time I was educated on all the different kinds of investments, debt reduction, and stock evaluation.
If you have debts, you need this book. If you want to be financially secure on only a modest salary, Tyson is full of all sorts of common-sense strategy.
Like I said, I do not particularily enjoy money talk, but this book presents the essentials in a surprisingly interesting-to-read format. Even now that I have read it, I know that I'll still go back and refer to it for many years to come.
If you are thinking of investing, invest in this book first. It's a wealth of investing info. A tremendous bargain!
(Also very helpful is Tyson's book on Mutual Funds, also in the "Dummies" series)
36 Good advice for every day people
I'm a medical student and my loans for my medical education have skyrocketed and realized I need to plan a financially secure future NOW. In addition, I'm pursuing a master's degreee in business. In reading Mr. Tyson's book, I found lots of information that my business courses failed to explain or did explain but at a level way above my head. Like many other people, I would prefer an intimidating subject such as investing to be presented in clear, logical, plain and easily understandable English. Kudos to Eric Tyson for doing just that. I recommend this book especially for those with absolutely NO previous experience or knowledge in investing.
37 a little about everything
I found this book useful because of its amazingly wide coverage of investment strategies (stocks, bonds, T-bills, mutual funds, bank accounts, retirement accounts, real estate, private companies...). It is also quite well written, compared to the other books from the "dummies" series. Nonetheless, the reading of this book did not give me all that I expected. The amount of information on each particular method of investing is not sufficient to use this book as the primary and the only reference, and the author himself occasionally recommends the readers some other books on the subject. On the other hand, the book is too detailed to be a basic simple introduction for people who have no clue what the investing is. While I certainly learned a few things from this book, I do not feel that this book was helpful enough to advance my knowledge far from its starting point. My advice: if you know what sort of investing you prefer, borrow this book from the local library to read a couple of chapters which you need, but buy a more focused and detailed book.
38 Know ANYTHING about investing? If yes, not for you.
Very, very basic. If you are a true beginner then this is for you. But if you have one ounce of experience avoid this book and find something more in depth.
39 Great for us idiots out there!!!
It gave me so much to think about. I know that my steps to getting rich were turned into leaps with this book.
40 Excellent Investing book by Tyson.
I bought this book after reading Mr Tysons first book on Personal Finance. This investing segment in the dummies serial takes the guesswork out of how to start investing. Like Personal Finance for dummies, this edition is also a easy read. I also strongly recommend "More Wealth without Risk" and "Financial Self Defense" for even more strategies on powerful investing. Read and grow rich!
41 Good Book For Beginners
I found the book to be quite helpful, however, there were some details he missed. Also, one concern I had was the overwhelming push toward Vanguard. I appreciate his enthusiasm for Vanguard, but when I contacted Vanguard to setup an account, their customer service was so delayed, unresponsive and disinterested that I chose not to do business with them. I found that a shock considering how much Tyson raves about Vanguard.
42 My new favorite investing book
I bought this book thinking that it would be a very basic book that would teach about the world of investing. While the book does a spectacularly wonderful job at covering the basics, I also gained a number of powerful insights that I didn't from reading more "advanced" investing books. The discussion of how the financial markets work was a real eye opener as was the insight that many people who accumulate great wealth do so not through investing in stocks but through small business. With the U.S. stock market at such nose bleed high levels, that alternative makes sense to me! The author also clearly lays out the case against following market gurus predictions.
43 Pretty lame. Definately for beginners.
I was surprised that this book didn't go into greater detail with regards to stock market investing and company research. I've only been investing for about 2 years now, but I learned very little from the book that I didn't already know. The information given is very basic and general, so unless you're a true beginner, you probably won't pick up much either.
44 Excellent soup to nuts investing book
This book covers all the bases and provided lots of great insights and ideas. I actually read Eric Tyson's Mutual Fund for Dummies first which I also thought was excellent.
Covers traditional investments as well as real estate and small business. Coverage of online resources and software also was strong. Highly, highly recommended
45 Great beginer for all just getting introduced to investments
Mr. Tyson has a good approach at explaining the ins and outs of the investing world without all the technical jargon. He summarizes different aspects of investments from stocks/bonds/mutual funds and real estate. He does not leave out the fact that any investing is risky, and one should do his/her homework before taking the risk. But without risk there is no reward. This is a good intro into investments when one is ready to move on to more technical novels. Definitely give it a look over.
46 Excellent, comprehensive and insightful
I have an MBA and a CPA and I have been underwhelmed by most investing books. This one was great. I was especially impressed at the coverage of the securities markets, real estate and small business issues, where Tyson points out that people can make really high returns (which is a pipe dream in the stock market). I also just read Tyson's Small Business for Dummies which he co-wrote and it's another must read for anyone planning to start a business or running a small business.
47 Outstanding book for novices and experienced investors
Finally, an intelligent and honest investment book! After wasting time reading so many books that either don't give specifics or hype techniques to promote the author's own agenda, this book makes sense. It covers investing in the financial markets, real estate and small business since these are the three major ways people build wealth. In each of these areas, Tyson explains what to do and what not to do. As for saving money to invest, the reviewer above who queries what a person should do who needs 20K cash for a new car, Tyson's advice in his Personal Finance for Dummies book is don't buy such an expensive car - buy a good quality used car you can afford!
48 Great book for first-time investors !!!
This book, written by Eric Tyson, MBA is a simplified reference book for all investors. Although this book is written most specifically for first-time or unitiated investors, it is a good all-around reference book for ALL investors. Most of his information is written in simple English and is very understandable. Although I don't agree with all of his opinions, you can safely make good money by following his advice. Covers all types of imaginable investments.
Rich Peternel, MBA ;
RPM Consultants, Inc.
49 Outstanding
Outstanding for anyone interested in taking control of their financial well-being.
50 very good for beginners
Tyson is very good at making a complex subject as simple as possible. He did repeatedly and strongly advise against taking out an auto loan, though, which I thought was going a bit too far. I agree in principle that borrowing to purchase goods which depreciate isn't a very good idea; however, I don't have $15-20k cash for a new car, and I can't keep driving the same old clunker forever, worrying about when it's going to break down again. Tyson doesn't seem to be in touch with this kind of "real world" economics.
I am thinking of buying his "investing for dummies" and/or "mutual funds for dummies" books to further my edification into the world of finance and investing.
51 excellent
best book ever in simple ideas of how to invest
52 Investing for Dummies
Eric Tyson is so great! he can make a complicated subject so easy to understand.
The book is so simple to understand that anyone can follow it and use the information.
Many books are so dry, but this book is funny and very entertaining. Read it if you want to know about Money and Finance.
53 A great objective book for math-phobic new investors
This book is a great find for our new investment club. Many members are math-
phobic, all are tired after a long day of work.
The down-to-earth advice, objectivity (not a
particular firm or product to push) and gentle
humor are a welcome addition to our educational efforts.
Jeanne B., Financial Partner, Heritage Investment
Club, Vincennes, IN
54 This book can help you make money!
Incredible as it may sound "Investing for Dummies" was a real
page-turner! I read the entire book in several hours and
actually gained some useful investing information. I have since
been able to make money in the three weeks since reading
the book. The recommended "Dummies Approved" lists are a great
resource. They act as good starting points for the novice to
research investing ideas.
