Douglas Gerlach
1 If You Are a Complete Idiot, This Book is For You
Believe the title! If you read BusinessWeek and have Internet access, this book is a waste of your time. While it defines the most basic terms of the Internet and investing (which you already know if you read the business section of your newspaper or a business magazine), it does not explain the more intricate methods of investing. The book is really a compendium of web sites. For example, instead of explaining HOW TO DO fundamental analysis, it tells you to go read a web site. Save your money. Search the web at www.dogpile.com with the term "investing" and get the same results free, in an instant.
2 Road Map for beginners
I am a self-confessed rank beginner in the world of investing in general and online investing in particular.
This book starts you off with the REAL basics - ie assuming no knowledge of connecting to the internet (admittedly tedious for most these days...) and then guides you by the hand through various websites where enourmous amounts of information are found...
I don't imagine it is the almanac of investing for a moment...but it doesn't promise to be either. More of a roadmap - showing what's out and about to use as you get more proficient at investing.
I would like to see what an actual trader thinks of it...but seems to be a refreshingly unpretentious place to start for the utterly confused...if not completely idiotic.
-h@wkspy
3 very helpful!
This book was a lifesaver when I decided to jump into the waters of investing. With chapters to devoted to different aspects of investing, it was very easy to find exactly what I was looking for. And the book didn't stop with definitions like so many of the books I picked up -- it told me where to go on the Web to apply what I'd learned. This book is great for anyone that knows they should be investing, but who needs that extra "push" to get moving!
4 Too much of a spoonfeed!
OK, the book says it is for idiot's but come on, don't mean that literally! If you are a wee bit technical and understand the online world this book has a few chapters you can easily skip. Also, the author does not care to explain stuff like index funds, the various industry indexes, etc. The book has a load of good web links in it though. I wish the author had listed all the links at the end of the book in an appendix.
You can live without this book. The same information is available for free online.
5 What are ya waitin' for?
I didnt know anything about investing, not even what tickers are...but now after reading this book....i learned SOOOOOO MUCH!!!
6 "I've read several books pertaning to the "Idiots Guide"
I've found this book in particular one of the greatest to start me from "first grade" and keep me going until I graduate to the "highest grade level" I hope anyone who reads this book will read it as it is their last book ever!!!!
7 A must have for old or new online investors!
This book is very easy to read and understand. It would allow anyone the opportunity to start investing online with a feeling of confidence. It is a must for all do-it-yourself investors.
8 A gift of priceless advice!!!
I just got this book from a friend. It's the first clear, concise and comprehensive guide to online investing I've read. Also, visit the Investorama web site - what a great pair of investing tools!!!
9 A great reference guide to online investing.
Doug Gerlach's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Investing is a pithy and well organized tome on the world of online investing. A wonderful gift for friends and family who are interested in going on line. It's also a great companion to Mr. Gerlach's Investorama web site.
10 this book is terrific
Like Doug's acclaimed Investorama website, this book delivers on the (oft-promised, rarely delivered) goal of investing made simple. And this truly is one stop shopping. New to investing? This book is for you. Got some experience managing your money, but intimidated by the world of online investing? This book is for you, too. Doug just may know more about online investing than anybody else alive -- and he has poured his knowledge into this book. Yet, despite being packed with info, the book is well organized and easy to read.
