Customer Reviews

The Stock Market Course

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Great idea for a book, but poor execution. The idea is to introduce novices to the stock market and teach them all the fundamentals. But this book is so poorly organized and biased that novices will be only confused, and more knowledgeable investors disappointed. The authors are the sponsors of a web service for options traders, and they never fail to recommend their service. The book is biased toward options trading, technical analysis, momentum trading, and chart analysis: not strategies for beginners.

The organization is extremely confusing, seemingly random, and with lots of repetition. For example, the chapter on option trading comes before the chapters on market analysis. At the end of each chapter there is a summary of the main points of the chapter; great idea, but the only problem is that the chapter summaries do not accurately reflect the chapter contents. For example, the chapter summary for "fundamental analysis" lists the PEG ratio as a key point of the chapter, but the chapter doesn't even mention the PEG ratio! PEG ratio isn't mentioned until a later chapter on "analyzing company reports." In that chapter(p. 237-8), the authors suggest that a P/E ratio of 143(!) is quite acceptable for a growth stock (EMC corp) and that a stock with such a P/E would make a good investment!! EMC Corp. fell from $101 in 2000 to $4 in 2002. It's trading now around $10, with a P/E of 21 (July 2006). On a similar note, Enron is described as a "green" or environmentally friendly stock.

Even worse, the book presents no coherent program for investing in stocks, just a bunch of random, often contradictory advice. It turns out that all the indicators for avoiding a stock are also good indicators for buying the stock if you are a "contrarian" investor. Hardly a coherent trading program for novices.

For years, a good friend of mine has been bugging me to learn more about the stock market. Well, I finally broke down and decided to start my learning process by purchasing a good book on the subject. I was overwhelmed to find a zillion books on subjects I was too intimidated to even try to pronouce, never mind understand... Then I found George and Tom's book, The Stock Market Course. I opened it at random to see if I could make heads or tails of it. To my amazement it was easy to read, consise and to the point, and covered everything from A to Z! These successful traders/superb writers have written a book that enables just about anyone (including me) to learn how to make their way into the complex world of the stock market. I especially found value in the "Roadmaps" at the end of each chapter that provide an in-depth synopsis of the material covered as well as helpful ideas for web sites I can visit to learn more. For the first time in my life, I can listen to business news and understand what the analysts are talking about. And let me tell you, it is an empowering feeling, especially for a woman. For anyone who is ready to have the markets demystified once and for all, READ THIS BOOK!

Most books I have found on this subject are written by writers, not traders. This one is written by experts in the field. The book was well organized and was great for all types of traders, from beginning to expert. One thing I did like was how Fontanills and Gentile described the trials and tribulations they went through to learn what worked and what didnt in the stock market. A MUST READ for anyone that wants to break into the field of stock and option trading.

This book is good since it covers overall stock market basics. However, a beginner stock trader will need more focused stock trading strategies to make it in this game.

Stock trading keeps getting competitive and the stock market doesn't care if you are experienced or a newbie stock trader. The rules and the opportunities are the same, so either youre going to make money stock trading or you are going to lose it in favor of the more seasoned ones.

As a stock trader your homework is all about studying and testing different market strategies that will help you take advantage of stocks and at the same time protect your investments. Just always keep in mind that a good strategy is simple and practical. Complicated stock systems will always make you slow in your decision making process or confuse you from the start.

There are some very good sites on the web where you can access practical trading strategies that are easy to implement. One of those sites is Profitable Stock Market ( ProfitableStockMarket com)

They focus on short term stock trading tactics that can help you identify and handle stocks while reducing your trading risk.

All in all, stock market trading is all about picking the best stock opportunities and following your buy and sell signals with ease and simplicity. Once you learn to master your trading decisions, you can aspire to produce consistent profitable results.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone seriously looking for a good book on how the market and its many facets work. The book is correctly named, it reads like a textbook from a 101 college course and it even has a companion book (sold separatly) to "test" your knowlege of what you read in the textbook.
Bottom line - easy to understand, thorough, informative. Will provide good general understanding of the stockmarket.

This book is by George Fontanills and Tom Gentile his partner. It is Tom's first book and boy what way to start your writing career. Congratulations guys, my comment to you is ".Wow ... this book delivers."

It is a complete analysis of the Stock Market. Starts with the basics of the market, brokers, moves to fundamental analysis, analysis of company reports, technical analysis, sentiment analysis and then options trading.

Then my personal favorite section is "studying the masters" a section where Fontanills and Gentile analyze the master traders that they admire and the lessons that they learned.

At the end of each chapter they included a "roadmap" which is a summary of the chapter that you can trade from. I use them to review so that I can check that I understand all of the chapter. Shortcomings ... hmm I could not see any. Brilliant stuff.

I loved this book and was not able to put it down.

I purchased this book along with the Stock market course workbook for my husband and he loves it. Being a novice on the workings of the stock market we both wanted to be prepared before investing any money into the market either with an online or a traditional broker. This book has such a wealth of inforamation in it that I suggest if you are interested in investing you need to check out this book along with its wookbook. It is money well spent.

The best book on stocks I've ever read. You'll find everything you need for traiding. The information carefully selected and explained in details. Chapters end with summaries, so you can check what you just learned (Do not forget The Stock Market Course Workbook!). The book very well written and organized. It is just the sample of nice literature. If you interesting in stock traiding you have to have this book in your library.

This book has been very useful. Real traders wrote all of the material and explained all the details in great depth, but easy enough for me (a new trader.) I highly recommend all of George Fontanill's options books.

I picked up this book again after having read it about a year ago. I highly recommend that any beginning investor read this book--more than once and at different times as his/her own investing experience and confidence increases.

There are many things to recommend about the book, but I'll focus on the the most key. First, the book is written in a conversational style that engages the reader. Second, the book discusses all of the major areas in which all investors need to develop skill--it provides the bones of competent and comprehensive investor education. Third, the book layers those bones with enough meat to give the beginning investor a foundational understanding from how the market physically works through technical analysis. Fourth, all of the material is reinforced through the summary "Roadmap of Success". I highly recommend this book. I also recommend George Dagnino's Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets for investors who want to ensure that their investment decisions are in tune with the natural economic cycle.