I am a BIG fan of Ludwig von Mises. I am aware of what his great contributions are to the science of Economics. All free-market believers are indebted to him for his work. That is precisely why I bought a copy of his Theory of Money and Credit.

I found it VERY DIFFICULT to read, even with a dictionary in hand. So much so that I never finished it. And this even though I have read Rothbard's classic "America's Great Depression" twice.

Admittedly, von Mises wrote the original in German (I think), and translating technical material from another language may be quite difficult.

I give von Mises 5 stars for his Theory, (which really isn't a theory, but FACT). But I must subtract one star for it's lack of readability.

--George Stancliffe

The late great Murray Rothbard described Ludwig von Mises's _The Theory of Money and Credit_ as the best book on money ever written. And so it is.

It is probably best known as the volume which first set out the distinctive Austrian theory of the trade cycle. For that alone, it deserves a place on the bookshelf of everyone who cares about such things (and more people should).

But there's much more to it than that. This volume sets out a complete and groundbreaking theory of money itself: what it is, where it comes from, what it means to speak of its "value," the differences between commodity money and fiat money, the demand for money and what it has to do with banking, and -- crucially -- the jiggery-pokery that becomes possible when the State starts messing around with unsound monetary policy.

This edition also includes a section on "Monetary Reconstruction" written in 1952 (and first included in the 1953 Yale University Press edition).

Plus there's a foreword by Murray Rothbard. And, finally, it's another beautifully crafted volume from the Liberty Fund, practically a steal at the price posted above. You'd have a hard time buying most such books _used_ at this price.

So what are you waiting for? Throw your Samuelson and Keynes in the trash and pick up a book of _real_ economics.

This is the first of the modern works to identify the cause of the business cycle: artificial credit expansion sending miscues to capital goods industries. Though written in 1912, it retains its persuasive power, especially in light of the current financial meltdown. Mises also covers the origin and nature of money and banking. As always LibertyFund puts out a beautiful book.

I may have received one of the first copies of this book and I found out the facts were as B. Tucker wrote about them. Self Publishing can be very cheaply accomplished. After checking out a few of her sources, I also found out how truthful Ms. Tucker And Mr. Brumagin were though out the text...And you know what, it was so well explained that I have passed it to other authors who have always wanted to be Published. Thanks for all your efforts in writing this important book.
Thomas Kemp

This book is an excellent resource for those who want to succeed at self-publishing. Though there are many other books on the subject, I found this one to be unique in that it contains a complete English manual, a test to determine if self-publishing is an option for the reader, and step-by-step guidance. By following the directions and taking the quiz at the end of each chapter, I knew that I was right on target. If you are truly serious about self-publishing, this book is the answer.

How to Self-Publish Your Book With Little or No Money, by Bettie Corbin Tucker. Is a must have tool for writers consideration self-publishing, and experienced authors. The book is an easy to follow reference guide to the self-publishing process, and gives writers needed information on formatting, copyrighting, and beneficial resources. Plus, her step-by-step instructions on marketing and promotion, combines with her experience to direct us into the world of successful publishing.

This book would get 5 stars for administrators (ministers, finance, church leaders), but only 4 stars for the average user. There is very good data taken across different denominations. Some of the analysis is very interesting -- I just wish there was more of it. Still, this should be in every church library for all to read.

I bought this book because, as treasurer of my church, I knew that there was insufficient financial planning taking place. I found this to be a very good study of the financial practices of major religions. It provides a wealth of statistics and was helpful to me to learn about how other churches handle their finances. It reads quite well and held my attention. I also recommend "The Crisis in the Churches: Spiritual Malaise, Fiscal Woe" by Robert Wuthnow, which is less statistically oriented, but more focused on interviewing peoples attitudes about church finances.

This is an excellent review of the e-commerce industry but don't be misled: it is NOT a how-to book in the classic sense; there are no step-by-step instructions or specific strategies. In this sense, the title is misleading. In all other respects it is a very good book.

I think his analysis is compelling, but can you really establish a methodology in a time when the nasdaq in constantly fluctuating

I can say without hyperbole that this book is 1,000 times better than any book ever published. Electronic commerce jumps to life and dances on the pages in front of you.

This book is very basic and gives advice about how to manage money. However the one mistake the book makes is that it assumes that collection agencies and/or creditors are legitimate and offers no recourse to how to dispute charges from less scrupulous companies and agencies. The text for dealing with credit reporting bureaus is very basic. There are more precise texts to tell how to clean up your credit report (naturally after you have closed the accounts).

Get out of debt and rebuild credit with the aid of this revised 6th edition of a classic, which tells how to take control of finances and repair credit. From repairing a bad credit rating to reducing alimony and responding to lawsuits, Money Troubles provides all the basics involved in consumer credit issues.

Now in a fully updated and expanded sixth edition, Robin Leonard's Money Troubles: Legal Strategies To Cope With Your Debts continues to be an invaluable instruction manual and guide for consumers seeking to pare down their debts by negotiating with creditors and prioritizing financial obligations; rebuilding personal credit; stop collection harassment; respond effectively to creditor lawsuits; learn effective alternatives to bankruptcy; determine if and when bankruptcy is the correct response to debt; and much, much more. Accurate, reliable, practical, comprehensive, and truly reader friendly, Money Troubles is an outstanding, highly recommended compendium of advice, counsel and strategies for dealing with credit cards, bill collectors, credit reports, credit bureaus, judgments, wage garnishments, repossessions, foreclosure, property liens and levies, refund rights, bounced checks, consigned loans, budgeting, and credit counseling.

Walk down a row of books on money in any bookstore and you will find that most of them say the same thing that this book says: nothing. It is an amazing industry where they can continue to sell books that do nothing but define what a financial product is without making applicable judgments. It reminds me of the financial service industry's repeated mantra "depends on your personal situation" so as to reserve the right to sell you anything later down the road. This is a long book of nothing but cursory descriptions of financial tools and terms. It is a long book only because it uses too much wordage to say what it does. A lot of the information was just plain wrong as well. On page 54, he displays a classic investment pyramid with high risk/return products on the top and low risk/return product on the bottom. "Collectables" are second from the top, corporate bonds are higher than blue chip stocks, and T-bonds are higher than utility stocks. Is this guy for real?

Everyone's Money Book is the most comprehensive,useful book on the market if you want to improve your personal finances. The book not only tells you how to invest, cut your taxes, get the best deal on insurance, etc, but gives specific resources like websites, associations, publications, government agencies that can help you put the advice into action. If you want even more detail on all these topics, check out Goodman's Everyone's Money Book Series by the same publisher on Credit, College, Retirement Planning, Financial Planning, Investing and Real Estate.

If you have this book on your shelf, you have no excuses. You may not read it cover to cover -- but any question you may have about managing your finances is answered somewhere in the 970 pages! Jordan gets you started and then provides you comprehensive bibliographies and webographies to explore your topic in depth. Every household needs an up-to-date reference guide and this is the best one out there right now. Unfortunately, it missed the latest changes to the tax code, but I'm sure the soon to be released Everyone's Money Book: Retirement Planning will catch them.

Chapter 1: What Ideas Are We Working With Here?
Chapter 2: What Is the Right Age to Start and How Much?
Chapter 3: How Do You Calculate the First Budget?
Chapter 4: The First Clothing Contract: Getting "The Card"
Chapter 5: My ATM Card is Broken
Chapter 6: Stepping Up to the Next Level: A Global Budget
Chapter 7: Going to the Prom for a Buck
Chapter 8: Lunch Money
Chapter 9: Will You Cut My Hair. Dad?
Chapter 10: The Real Cost of a Trip to Walgreens
Chapter 11: What Do I Need a Checkbook For?
Chapter 12: Is There Any Extra Work Around Here?
Chapter 13: Be Kind
Chapter 14: Charity, Savings, IRAs, and College
Chapter 15: Insurance: Medical, Auto, Home, Life
Chapter 16: You Gotta Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk
Chapter 17: What's the Least I Can Do to Get the Most Effect?

One of the few things about the book I liked was the 4 sample contracts he has presented. The 4 contracts were basic clothing, budget, safe driving and car use.

Some of his ideas I didn't agree with were
He mentioned giving a 9th grader an ATM card
He doesn't say much on how you can teach young children/schoolage kids on how to save money
He mentioned giving a 6yr. old a $6.00 a wk. allowance
He mentioned giving a 11th grader a credit card

Whitcomb's ideas are generally intelligent. He signs contracts with his kids to teach them the value of money and his concept is sound. Learning to be frugal (not wasteful) at an early age makes it much easier to become a successful handler of money in your adult years. My only beef is the author's frequent suggestion that charity comes first. It is much more reasonable to put away part of your earnings as savings first, then live within your means, and finally give to charity, if you are able.

Capitate in this book means a contractual arrangement whereby you pay to your child a specific sum of money each month to cover the cost of living that you would normally pay - clothes, food, entertainment, transportation, etc.

In mutual agreement, I actually tried this idea with one of my daughters many years ago, long before this concept was ever printed in a book. The "contract" was for four weeks. By week four, there were no new chic, trendy clothes coming from her favourite shop. While "all the other kids" spent Saturday night at the movies, she pumped up the volume on her stereo, had a stimulating conversation with her dog and the four walls (words which I shall never repeat) and drowned her sorrow in a pint of ice cream! She washed her hair with bubble bath because she ran out of shampoo. The charge to use the washer and dryer was $2, which she no longer had, so she washed her jeans and t-shirt by hand, also in bubble bath...and chipped a nail! About this time, she discovered fruit loops no longer look cute 'cause they float and cease to be comfort food after the the third meal of the day. I would have traded her for Oscar the Grouch in a heartbeat. One month was all it took to learn the value of money. Today, twenty years later, we can still sit down with coffee in hand and share a laugh over all that bubble bath we went through. Tough love, maybe, but a valuable life lesson was learned. Today, she is a married lady with her own personal finances, zero debt and can manage money like a pro.

While not all parents will agree with the approach in "Capitate Your Kids," it is an excellent book based on much the same principle I have just described. The book is a valuable tool in teaching children, especially teens, the value of a dollar and how to manage money - a realistic life lesson that, unfortunately, is not taught in schools.

I had very high expectations for this book, and, truthfully they were not met. Although it is a "workbook" and helpful in that way, I did not find the actual chapters helpful. As a psych major in college, I had access to similar "quizes," however it was helpful to compare my fiance and myself, which I did not have the opportunity to do in college. Plain and simple: it is cheeper than taking a course in Psych of Personality, or having a psychologist administer a psychological inventory, but if you have experienced something like this in the past, don't waste your money... Oh yah, one more thing.... If you are not religious, and don't want a book that discusses God's view of money, this is, again, not the book for you.

Though the first two chapters are filled with spiritual advice, the personality and spending surveys are eye-opening. If you're looking for spiritual guidance as well as financial advice, this is a book for you. However, if you just want to get down to the nitty gritty of how you can cut costs, and live comfortably you might want to look into a more personal finance type of book.

This is a great book! My now-husband and I bought two copies and went through it during the months before we got married, and it was really helpful in showing us how to put together our first budget. Even more than that, we learned a lot about each other (and this is after four years of dating) and about how we each deal with money. I'm sure those lessons will help us throughout our marriage as we deal with new financial circumstances and situations. I would recommend this book to any Christian couple planning for marriage.

The authors both are long-time consultants for Visa and it is very apparent in this book. The discussion of MasterCard, Discover, and American Express is limited. The treatment of various legal actions (Nabanco, US DOJ, WalMart, duality) is one sided. There is minimal study of the economics of the business from vantage points (consumer, merchant, acquirer, Issuer, co-branding partner, etc.) other than the card association.

It's clear from some of the statistical material prsented that Visa particpated in the book.

Ever see JAG? It's about a real portrayl of the Navy & Marine Corp as this is of the card industry.

I picked up this book because I have always been interested in the history of money and the power of gold as currency. If you are fascinated by the concept of money and how it makes the world go round, Paying With Plastic will whet your appetite.

To many a layperson, paper money has intrinsic value ostensibly because it is backed by gold. That, is furthest from the centre of gravity. Since Bretton Woods, paper money has not been backed by gold and has absolutely no value. The "value" of paper money is perceived and has "value" only because governments say so and because we believe in it. In fact, paper money forms only a very small portion of the money that is in circulation. These days, money is in the form of digits, bits and bytes - expressed as numbers in some computer harddisk.

Paying With Plastic explores a new form of money and how credit cards are the latest form of money - evolving from metal coins, bills of exchange, and paper money. The book traces the early and painful development of what was initially a clumsy mode of payment to what is today one of the most effecient, organised and widespread form of payment.

Paying With Plastic is the leading book of its kind - thorough, yet readable. If you are interested in the concept of money and how the credit card system works, then this book is for you.

The authors bring disciplined methodology to the study of "industrial development," using credit cards as a case study. The book is useful not just for its anecdotal review of how credit cards got started & how they are used; and not just for the wealth of statistics it provides on how card & other payment usage has changed over the years; but most importantly, by putting some structure around all that material so that we can understand it coherently. So many books on banking & on industrial development (like things by guru Tom Peters) are just so many anecdotes strung together for 100s of pages, with no "system" for understanding what's being talked about. This book's strength is that it provides the reader with a way of interpreting not only what's in the book but with a way of understanding the incessant new developments in the industry that we read about in the trade press every day. I recommend this book highly to anyone in banking or interested in what's going on in the payments system.

Ample and very entertaining cleverness is on display in the opening chapters of this book, as author Westlake constructs a truly imaginative yet believable scenario where an everyday middle-class New Yorker suddenly wakes up to find himself an undercover operative for a radical activist group from the Ukraine! Ample and very entertaining cleverness is also on display in the middle section, as our hero (the middle-class New Yorker) finds satisfying ways to regain a measure of control and turn the tables on his foreign handlers... for a time, anyway. The final chapters, alas, dispense with the ample and entertaining cleverness, but still deliver serviceable scenes of escape attempts, confrontation, and resolution. All in all, then, we end up with a pretty good thriller that is easily worth spending a couple of days reading on the porch or at the beach.

MONEY FOR NOTHING is Donald E. Westlake's latest novel. It is not his greatest or his best, though with a career consisting of so many milestones, that particular bar is a stratospheric one. It is certainly a great book though and, just so no one thinks that The Master is being damned with faint praise here, it is absolutely not to be missed. I'll get the complaint out of the way early, though it's not even a complaint or a quibble...not really. I simply would have preferred the book to have a darker touch. I'm a fan of Westlake's lighter work, such as last year's PUT A LID ON IT and SMOKE, as well as novels he wrote back before I could even hold a pencil properly, or even knew what one was, but that I've only read recently. However, there was a gravitas missing in MONEY FOR NOTHING that I think would have been appropriate.

Now let's go the premise. The premise that drives the plot here is worth the price of admission and gravitas shmavitas; it is absolutely brilliant. You take your average schlemiel named Josh Redmont, who is just starting off on his own with more outflow than inflow and all of a sudden he gets a check for one thousand dollars in the mail, issued by "United States Agent." He tries to find out who "United States Agent" is but can't. He figures 'what the hey' and deposits the check. He gets a second check the following month --- and then another and another. Twelve thousand dollars a year! And the checks keep coming. And coming. The seasons change and the years go by. Things get better, inflow matches outflow and then surpasses it on a regular basis. Whereas, at one point, the thousand dollars a month was more often than not a lifesaver, it slowly becomes a nest egg. Redmont marries, he and the Mrs. have a little Redmont and still the checks keep coming, one thousand dollars a month. Money for nothing. And then...

Redmont is waiting for the ferry that takes him to the family cottage on Fire Island, when a stranger walks up to him, sits down next to him, smiles and says three things: 1) Hello. 2) I'm from United States Agent. 3) You are now active. Oh, and the stranger also hands him a passbook account book for a Cayman Islands Bank, a passbook that is in the name of JOSH REDMONT, reflecting a deposit and balance, as of the previous day, of forty-thousand dollars. At first, all the nice, generous stranger wants is a safe house. Oh, but that's only where it starts. It doesn't take Josh long to figure out where all of this is going but, when he finds out, he doesn't want any part of it. He also has no idea how he got involved in all of this or how he and his family are going to get out intact --- if they get out at all. And even worse, how is he going to explain it to his wife? He even wishes that he'd never cashed the checks, though, as we find out, it wouldn't have done him any good to refuse them. And besides, what would you have done with them?

But...but...here is what is so astounding. Westlake takes this premise, this idea of monthly money for nothing and makes it so perfectly plausible that you can't help but shake your head in wonder. I'll tell you this much: it's not a case of mistaken identity, not at all. Redmont is supposed to get those checks. As they used to say in the old Superman comic books, when something implausible would happen, "It's not a dream! Not an imaginary story!" No, this could happen to you. It would be highly unlikely, but it could happen.

So dark touch, light touch, whatever. Westlake once again demonstrates that, in the twilight of a brilliant career, he can continue to achieve the impossible while making it look easy.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

What would you do if you started receiving a monthly check from United States Agent for $1,000? What would you do if you tried to locate this company, but could not find out anything about it besides the name and a basic street address with no house number?

In "Money For Nothing," Josh Redmont decides to cash those checks. Every month. For seven years. And stops thinking much about it until the day a stranger shows up to let Josh know he has now been activated. When Josh seems confused, the stranger tells him that the original contact, Nimrin, has retired and that he, Levrin, will now be his contact.

Josh meets up with Nimrin later and he explains that he recruited Josh and others as sleeper agents nine years earlier. The monthly checks were to go to Nimrin and they did until he was forced into retirement. By accepting the checks, Josh implied to those in charge that he knew what was going on.

When Levrin activated him and he did not refuse, Josh became involved in a plot to assassinate a visiting leader. The only way out now is kill or be killed. They killed one of the others who cashed the checks, leaving one other person not yet activated. Josh decides to find this individual, off-off-off Broadway actor Mitch Robbie, in order to warn him of what is about to happen.

At first scared, and then later intrigued, Mitch sees beyond the kill or be killed argument. He hatches a plot to keep the original plan from taking place and forces Josh beyond his myopic view of the situation. He shows Josh that they have the chance to regain control of their lives and keep the assassination from happening. And once again Josh signs on despite himself.

Even though this is a plot-driven novel, the characters stand out as original and real. The reader experiences Josh's fear and indecision and is more than willing to ride along with him as he tries to discover exactly who, and what, he is up against.

Westlake's addition of the actor Mitch Robbie is inspired as well as hilarious. Mitch brings a note of humor to the book, often acting as the spur for the slow-to-work-it-out Josh. Even the side characters, though somewhat stereotypical in the long view, have personality quirks in the short view that make them human and almost likeable.