Customer Reviews

Confessions of a Municipal Bond Salesman

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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As a work of writing, I only give this a 3. Although short and in very readable format, the style sometimes plodded for me...especially the account of Mr. Lebenthal's lunch with his advertising man. Sometimes it seemed a little too self-congratulatory. However, I have been in the municipal bond business for 20 years now and happened to be reading this book while I was on a sales trip to Detroit trying to sell muni funds. I, along with Mr. Lebenthal, believe munis should be sold as he sold them: for income...tax-free income. So I was very reassured to get this legend's thoughts and approach in one volume and to be able to nod along as what I say in my presentations is validated by this giant in the industry. I had the honor to sit next to Mr. Lebenthal once at an SEC roundtable in D.C. and to exchange pleasantries with him. One of the highlights of my career. This book will really benefit today's muni professionals who have perhaps lost sight of what muni bonds are meant to do and not do. It will also benefit many people who want to learn of a life live with zest and passionate devotion to his life's work.

This book is full of wit and humor. The art of sales is universal. Highly recommend for everyone, especially if you want to know more about the municipal bond.

This book is no more just about investing than Lewis Thomas's "Lives of a Cell" or Primo Levi's "Periodic Table" were just about microbiology or chemistry. It's about using what could have been the dullest job in America, selling munis to the masses, to grab life by the big toe.

Excellent and down to earth book; Jim Lebenthal tells it like it is; Jim's ads for selling muni bonds were very effective. It is sad that the Lebenthal brand and Lebenthal name is no more, since the company was sold to Advest in 2001 and Axa, and now Merrill Lynch. At least Advest, Axa saw the value of the Lebenthal name; Merrill Lynch will not use the moniker.

This book is a quick and easy fun read about municipal bonds in the 70s & 80s. If you are new to the muni industry or born after 1980 and live in New York, this is a must read.