Financial Statement Analysis: Theory, Application, and Interpretation [Hardcover]

Leopold A. Bernstein (Author), John J. Wild (Author), John Wild (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0256167044 | ISBN-13: 978-0256167047 | Publication Date: August 1, 1997 | Edition: 6th

An exploration of the link between current financial statement analysis theory and practice. Using one entire annual report and two complete financial statements the book requires students to analyze the statements from the perspectives of investors, creditors, managers, auditors and analysts. Graphs, charts and tables are also used to relate topics to business practice using information from annual reports, surveys of business practices and specialist reports of investors and credit agencies.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 864 pages
• Publisher: Richard D Irwin; 6th edition (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0256167044
• ISBN-13: 978-0256167047
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,262,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Am I the only one with some common sense here?, August 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Financial Statement Analysis And Annual Report Booklet Package (Hardcover)

I was not impressed with this text. Apparently, the folks at AIMR thought it would be a good idea to make guinea pigs out of last year's CFA Level One candidates by forcing this book down our throats. My experience as well as those who worked alongside with me on this book (and numerous others on CFA message boards!) found the text to be as pleasant as eating a cement brick.

To me, the two professors who wrote this book, while very smart, have little or no ability to communicate in clear and simple english the finer points of financial statement analysis. It is a book written by a clique of musty, tome-reading academics, for a similar group of academics. Examples are sparse, obscure, and insufficient. The text is nothing more than a regurgitation of rules, with little attempt at clarification in plain English.

The text can be characterized by its economy of text; outline the point, and let others figure out what it means; move onto the next subject, and be similarly tight-fisted with explanation.

If you want a book that will cost of a lot of money, and one that will likely only line your bookshelf, this is definitely one for you. However, if you want something that you can actually use and understand, then I suggest you pick up Sondhi & Fried's version of "The Analysis and Use of Financial Statements." I opted to buy this text as a companion to the CFA curriculum because of its clarity and generous use of examples. Apparently, because of all the ruckus and distaste for Bernstein & Wild's text last year, AIMR has decided to drop this text from the curriculum, and move back to the tried-and-true Sondhi & Fried text mentioned above.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A dreadful book. Do not buy it., September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Financial Statement Analysis And Annual Report Booklet Package (Hardcover)

Tried using this turgid volume for 1999 CFA level 1. It is appalling. Technically the authors know their stuff - as one would hope - but they make it as dull as ditchwater. Very hard to read without feeling a pressing need to do something, anything, else. I only give it 1 star because I cannot give it none. AIMR have reverted to the Sondhi & Fried book for L1 and L2. Thank you thank you thank you.

Anyone want to buy a doorstop? One careful owner.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good content, poor communication, July 5, 2000

By 

James Boyd (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Financial Statement Analysis And Annual Report Booklet Package (Hardcover)

I read this book because it was the official textbook for CFA Level 1 test. AIMR later dropped it and returned to White and Sondhi for the year 2000. Personally, I agree.

This should be a fairly good financial analysis book, but because of its uncommunicative wording, it is not appealing indeed. Agree with a reader from England, it is dull.

If the authors add their comments and pour some additional opinion and insights, this book will be much better.

It appears that the book lost its good image (since 1973?) because most of its current readers have read the White & Sondhi's book. If they not read the White & Sondhi before they read this book, they might viewed this book much much better. In my opinion, the readers will get relatively the same knowledge from both books.