Customer Reviews

Investing For Dummies, 4th Edition

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I won't go into why I needed this book but I'll just say that I was in desperate need of some solid, unbiased investing advice on all topics across the board from the stock market to retirement plans. All the other books on investment I tried to read were full of weird terminology, weird language and might have been trying to rip me off for all I know. Eric Tyson's reference is a godsend for those of us who need some information but are too naive to know good advice from bad advice when it comes to this subject. Tyson not only gives good, common sense advice but also shares his own tips with the reader on stock markets, mutual funds, IRAs and the like. Feel skeptical? He'll even guide you to the best government agencies that monitor this sort of stuff so that people like me don't get ripped off. Other books on investing that I picked up and put down in a hurry didn't bother with petty stuff like legalities! Tyson DOES and he wants you to do your homework before putting your hard earned money into someone else's hands.

This book is fantastically easy to follow, all the hard stuff is explained and Tyson will show you where to find the extra information you'll need. 'Investing for Dummies' is an investment in itself that will keep you out of trouble and the bankruptcy courts in the long run.

M.

This book should have been called "Investing for those Afraid to take Risks". Throughout the book Tyson pushes prospective investors to not play the stock market and only invest in mutual funds. This may be good advice for somebody who is turning 55 and is risk averse, but if you want your money to grow more aggressively than you may be more interested in "Stock Investing for Dummies" by the same publisher.

Loved this book. I bought it for my family members and employees. I have been approached numerous times by "financial advisors". This book finally explained to me what it was they we're trying to sell me and why. It also taught me how to invest on my own with confidence in good non-commission items.

I've read several "for Dummies" books, and in general the entire series is well written, concise, and gives you what you really need. However, I was very disappointed in this one. The book is really dedicated to the three methods of building wealth: equity (stocks, mutual funds, etc.), real estate, and small business. But there isn't enough info on any of the three subjects to do much with. You're better off getting a separate book on real estate if you plan on pursuing that. And nothing he says regarding small business is of much use to accomplish anything. That leaves stocks, bonds and mutual funds, which is what most users would purchase this book for. Regarding that, if you are completely new to mutual funds then this is the book for you as it will explain the basics. However, if you are beyond the very basics (i.e.; "What is a mutual fund?"), and are looking to seriously invest, then I think you'll be disappointed. And if you are looking to get into buying stocks directly, then this book seriously falls short. The entire section on stocks really just explains a canned stock report from a given company. Utterly useless unless you plan on subscribing to that service. No talk of forward PE's, valuation, etc.. Also, the author's continual insistence that you should stay in mutual funds because you "can't beat the market" since there are so many pros out there is utterly ridiculous. There are many gurus out there that have proven track records of generating higher than average returns. Just emulating Warren Buffet's portfolio will do that.

I was looking for a book to dig more into stock valuation, company analysis, etc. and this book barely even touched on any of that beyond definitions. I wouldn't even call it Finance 101, since there is very little about monetary policy, bonds, interest rates, etc.. If you've picked out at least one mutual fund in your life (or purchased a stock directly), then this book is way too simple. If you tremble at the thought of picking a mutual fund and have no financial sense whatsoever, then this is your book.

The "Dummies" franchise is built on giving accessible information quickly. This book has the information, but loses points on the "quickly" portion. There's a lot of writerly throat-clearing. Some good advice: Skip the first 3 pp of each chapter and the first couple of chapters. Save yourself the time. The writer is just warming up his computer. Also, you've got to deduct a few points for the lengthy caveats. The writer spends an inordinate amount of time warning the reader not to be overly-enthusiastic about the market. At least 20% of the book can be synopsized as: "Don't be heedy; the market goes down as well as up." Okay, we get the point. That said, once you get past the throat-clearing and caveats you get some information-dense material on investing. Worth reading.

Everything everyone should know about financial health, whether you have money to invest or not. This book is like having a financial advisor in the family. You can go into any investment situation with your eyes open and knowing the basics of investing after reading this book. I loved it.

Like many of the Dummies books, Investing for Dummies really provides a great overview into the market, and various securities. A great starting book for people interested in expanding their knowledge of how the market works. I highly recommend, especially paired with the Wall Street Journals Guide to Understanding Money and Investing...

I wanted to start investing and read somewhere you should first do some studies. That's when I came across this book. Very well written, and in simple to understand language. I used to dread 401K, IRA, Mutual Funds, Bonds. Now I am confident I know about them and what I am investing into.
Showed new ways to look at debts, as to if I clear my debt sooner, I am investing in something which gives be interest equal to the interest I pay the bank.

I would recommend this book to all who want to get into investing but are hesitant or don't know where to get information from.

This book is clearly written and the presentation of ideas, the analysis and the conclusions are intelligent and spot-on. You really learn a lot about investing from Mr. Tyson that will help guide you in your investing. I have also read his Personal Finance, Real Estate and Mutual Fund books in the Dummies series. I recommend them all. Personally, this book and the one on Mutual Funds have served me the best.

All spectrum of investors--newcomers to experienced-- can benefit from his books. Interestingly, one of the truly great ironies of my entire life is that Mr. Tyson's books are published in a series that is putatively aimed at "Dummies"--when his books will really benefit truly intelligent, in-depth readers who really care about knowledge and what to do with it. Essential Reading!!!

I found this book to be outstanding. It helps to dispel many investment myths and provides sound advice, while setting forth the essential information that will enable you to become a well-informed investor. The book mainly covers the basics, but it is an excellent and comprehensive starting point. I have taken much from this book and have already begun making changes in my financial life. I have begun building wealth rather than simply saving my money.

Main areas covered include real estate investing, stock & bond investing and small business investing. There are tips, warnings, reminders, technical information icons on every page that usher you through the book. If you pick this book up, you're already proving to be more than a "dummy", as it is explained early on in the book that being confused by and ignorant about investing is one of the main reasons that people don't live as comfortably as they could or should be.