Customer Reviews

The First Time Investor: How to Start Safe, Invest Smart & Sleep Well!

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This book is not appropriate for a first time investor. It never really describes what a stock is, how a bond works, or why interest rates matter. If you have no knowledge of investment, I suggest you find a gentler introduction.

Make no mistake: I can see that Chambers is fairly intelligent, and his prose is actually not that bad. But he needs a harsher editor. The book drifts from topic to topic, and the sequence of chapters makes little sense. Especially poor are the discussions of academic theory. Chambers fails to make it clear whom he agrees with, or why. The strategy of "get in, stay in, and ignore the investment noise"--which Chambers is correct to recommend--does not need elaborate citation of investment theory to justify itself. It is becoming common sense, even for "ordinary" investors. (Or maybe I'm too optimistic?) The discussions of diversification contain some insights, but I've read other books that present the same points much more clearly (e.g. anything by Rick Edelman). No, I'm not an experienced investor, but I am a writer, and as a writer and reader I cannot recommend this book.

I'm no writer, but I've been an investor for 25 years. I have two kids in college. I bought books for both of them. The author makes it clear how to invest without taking needless risks understandable. I know the "On-line Day Traders" are today's hot books, but I've seen traders come and go. I like how the author refers to investment news as investment pornography. It get you all excited but that's about all. I think this is an important book because once this part of your life is handled, you can make different life decisions. Not decisions based on investment catch-up. Today's college kids are watching CNBC and CNN on their breaks. They think that kind of info gives them up to the minute answers. But so much of the news is mis-information. This book will help anyone who is serious about saving and investing. I recommend it.