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Investing do's and don'ts from some of the most recognizable voices in personal finance

It's been a tough year for investors. Many have seen their retirement accounts dwindle dramatically and are looking for a safe way to protect what they have and make back some of what they've lost. That's why the bestselling author team of Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth have created The Little Book of Investing Do's and Don'ts.

When you invest, there are essential things you should do and many things you shouldn't. The Little Book of Investing Do's and Don'ts addresses this issue and shows you how to utilize the fundamentals of finance to achieve success in today's market. This practical guide contains proven advice on navigating today's treacherous financial landscape and will put you in a better position to make more informed investment decisions.

• Includes street-smart advice for the individual investor uncertain about their investment and retirement portfolios
• Written by a experienced team of bestselling authors whose investment advice is accessible to everyone
• Outlines the steps you must take to protect yourself from the financial calamities of modern life

The Little Book of Investing Do's and Don'ts offers quick, easy-to-follow, and entertaining advice for anyone looking to get back on the right investment track.Amazon.com Review

Investing do's and don'ts from some of the most recognizable voices in personal finance

It's been a tough year for investors. Many have seen their retirement accounts dwindle dramatically and are looking for a safe way to protect what they have and make back some of what they've lost. That's why the bestselling author team of Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth have created The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing.

When you invest, there are essential things you should do and many things you shouldn't. The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing addresses this issue and shows you how to utilize the fundamentals of finance to achieve success in today's market. This practical guide contains proven advice on navigating today's treacherous financial landscape and will put you in a better position to make more informed investment decisions.

• Includes street-smart advice for the individual investor uncertain about their investment and retirement portfolios
• Written by a experienced team of bestselling authors whose investment advice is accessible to everyone
• Outlines the steps you must take to protect yourself from the financial calamities of modern life

The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing offers quick, easy-to-follow, and entertaining advice for anyone looking to get back on the right investment track.

Do’s & Don’ts to Protect Your Financial Life

• DON’T assume that just because you are capable of managing your finances by yourself you will be better off in the long run if you do.

• DO trade as infrequently as possible.

• DON’T give any weight to market forecasts. All opinion pro and con is already built into the price of equities today.

• DO buy and hold; don’t buy and sell.

• DON’T assume that because you own a bunch of different-sounding mutual funds your investments are diversified.

• DO diversify globally with your stock and bond holdings.

• DON’T buy into a red-hot real estate market.

• DO park assets where they will suffer the least at the hands of the taxman.

• DON’T take Social Security as soon as you are eligible. It often pays to delay.

• DO postpone retirement as long as possible. The safest time to retire is never.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Whets the Appetite, but Doesn't Satisfy
Don't get me wrong.Stein and DeMuth deliver some excellent advice in this book.The embrace of stock and bond allocation as a primary step towards diversifying your portfolio, as well as the importance of investing in value stocks, small caps, and foreign equity, are just a few of the good points made within.My complaint is that they touch on these topics somewhat superficially, and given the lack of analytical depth, you are left with little guidance outside of the specific ETFs and mutual funds they recommend.For example, while I appreciate the value of investing in small cap stocks, to fully appreciate how much of your portfolio to allocate to this volatile class of equities, and whether you should begin with an index fund, a blend fund, or the value fund they recommend, you really need more than the page and a half devoted to them in this book.

I recognize this is a "little book" of investing guidance, but there were plenty of pages where the authors could have expanded on their main points without enlarging their pocket-sized presentation.Instead, they spent the last half of the book explaining how one should invest in oneself, rather than the capital markets, on a regular basis.Again, more good advice, but I hungered for the authors to elaborate on the book's first few chapters by erecting some guidelines and financial signposts a do-it-yourself investor could use to navigate the volatile landscape.In the end, the elaboration I longed for never came through, leaving me to question whether this book is more useful as a marketing tool for the author's recommended ETFs and mutual funds as opposed to an investor's guide.

Despite this shortcoming, I would recommend this book as an introduction to the general field of investing.It peppers you with lots of investing tidbits and delivers with the usual Stein-like humor any long time fan should enjoy.Before stepping off on any specific path in this large and dangerous landscape, though, I would read William Bernstein's The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio.Bernstein makes many of the same recommendations as Stein and DeMuth, but does so with much more analytical depth (as well as many more pages).While Stein and DeMuth may be a good introduction, I would spend considerable more time on the sideline studying the investor's game before stepping onto the field.

Excellent Little Book on Investing
This is a funny short book that packs in a lot of wisdom. If you read a lot ofinvesting books and are looking for new investing techniques and insights, this may not be the book for you. On the other hand I think this would be an excellent book to give or recommend to those who are new to the subject or have felt that money management was a black box activity best left to professionals.

Whets the Appetite, but Doesn't Satisfy
Don't get me wrong.Stein and DeMuth deliver some excellent advice in this book.The embrace of stock and bond allocation as a primary step towards diversifying your portfolio, as well as the importance of investing in value stocks, small caps, and foreign equity, are just a few of the good points made within.My complaint is that they touch on these topics somewhat superficially, and given the lack of analytical depth, you are left with little guidance outside of the specific ETFs and mutual funds they recommend.For example, while I appreciate the value of investing in small cap stocks, to fully appreciate how much of your portfolio to allocate to this volatile class of equities, and whether you should begin with an index fund, a blend fund, or the value fund they recommend, you really need more than the page and a half devoted to them in this book.

I recognize this is a "little book" of investing guidance, but there were plenty of pages where the authors could have expanded on their main points.Instead, the last half of the book is spent explaining how one should invest in oneself on a regular basis.Again, more good advice, but I hungered for the authors to elaborate on the book's first few chapters by delivering some guidelines and financial signposts a do-it-yourself investor could use.In the end, the elaboration I longed for never came through, leaving me to question whether this book is more useful as a marketing tool rather than an investor's guide.

Despite this shortcoming, I would recommend this book as an introduction to the general field of investing.It peppers you with lots of investing tidbits and delivers them with the usual Stein-like humor any long time fan should enjoy.Before stepping off on any specific path in this large and dangerous landscape, though, I would read William Bernstein's The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio.Bernstein makes many of the same recommendations as Stein and DeMuth, but does so with much more analytical depth (as well as many more pages).While Stein and DeMuth may be a good introduction, I would (and will) spend considerable more time on the sideline studying the investor's game before stepping onto the field.

A good place to start when learning about investing
Are you a novice trying to learn how to play the investing game? In The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing by Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth, you learn in a simple and easy to understand way the sociology of an investor and some of the most common tendencies and misconceptions of those trying to play the stock market investing game, both novice and guru alike.

Have you ever wondered what stocks and companies to invest in? What about the best way to diversify yourself in your stock portfolio? How about when to buy and when to sell your stock? I had questions like these that were answered by reading this book. Being young and somewhat ignorant to Wall Street and how to actually start investing some of my earnings, I picked up this book and found what I read very insightful for a beginning investor. Some of the advice was a no-brainer but there was also some very sound advice that I had never considered. Every time you decide to put your money into something you always run the risk of losing it.

This book is about how to build investing strategies to help "bulletproof" your investing. If you are hoping to find a book with a secret ingredient for making money through investing with no risk, it won't happen. The Authors said, "While we cannot control the outcome, we can control our strategy. We can try to prepare intelligently for this unknown future."There are tried and proved principles that can help you manage your risk.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a quick introduction into stock market investing do's and don'ts. Some advice I thought was well thought out was, "we need to take on more stress from our investments today so we can have less financial stress in our lives later."This book is a great easy read and really gives a real 101 look at stock market investing strategies and best practices for everyone.

Quick read, entertaining, informative
The humor is typical Ben Stein, the chapters were easy to read and apparently informative (I say "apparently" because, although they seemed to make sense, I haven't implemented the strategies yet, and even then, I guess only time will tell.

I certainly appreciate that 1) it uses 100 years of historical data to make the case, and 2) it includes the recent large-scale events which have significantly impacted the market.

I was disappointed that there was no mention of tithing, although contributions are mentioned towards the end of life. I think Stein is Jewish, and I thought the Judaeo-Christian perspective was that all creation came from God; therefore He is entitled to the first portion, not to what we have left over just before we die. Heck, what happens when you die? You render an accounting to Him of how you have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, etc.

Anyway, all in all it was a great book. I plan to purchase two more for my kids. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (20)

Basic Stuff
A friend gave me this book yesterday and it took about 2 hours to read.The information was basic stuff that most people know unless they are living under a rock.The government is broke.Social Security crisis, higher taxes, inflationary spirals, etc. can all be looked forward to in the future.Private pensions are broke and will depend more on government bailouts.The authors don't use scare tactic hype, but well documented facts.

Solution: You are going to have to save more and invest wisely.Retirement checklists are reviewed, along with investment strategies based upon age and income.Specific investment funds are listed, I wonder if the authors got a cut????But overall, the information that you would pay for by buying this book is out there on the internet.Dig a little and you can find plenty of information about the retirement problems, investment strategies, and funds.I would recommend the Millionaire Next Door if you want a general understanding on how individuals develop wealth.

An excellent book
This inexpensive paperback book was so good I bought a copy for my wife after reading a library copy for myself.Multiple worksheets to help a couple get ready for retirement.

Wish I had read this 39 years ago
Ben and Phil have written a retirement book that will scare the crud out of the average 60 year old and hopefully will motivate the average 20 year old.While presented with a good deal of droll humor and an easy to understand manner, the facts shared in this book are sobering.While I was comforted by the thought that I had intutitively accomplished most of what the authors say is necessary to retire comfortably, I see some holes in my plans that need to be shored up before pulling the trigger on the future.However, for the average American 60 year old who has not socked away enough and is somehow hoping that retirement will magically plop itself on their doorstep allowing them to quit work at 62 and continue their current lifestyle, this book is a terrifying wakeup call.

The quick summary is that there is no magic pill.If we expect to retire and not subsist below the poverty level, there has to be some sacrifice during our working years, and some serious investing for the future.There is no real safety net out there.Our employers are not going to take care of us.The government is not going to bail us out.We are on our own.Fortunately, the authors provide some practical advise on how to pull a plan together.

I wish I had read this book 39 years ago.If I had I would have done even more to prepare for what is now the not so distant future.This book is a must-read for every 20-year old.

Love Ben !!
Really enjoyed this book.I'm an experienced investor and still came away with useful information. For those who believe this was all gloom & doom....WAKE UP !While I do believe they used a worst case scenerio their messages are right on.Start saving now, live below your means and learn about various investment options so you can take care of yourself in retirement.Great book to help pull peoples head out of the sand.I love Ben !!

Retirement Planning Made Comfortable
Ben Stein & Phil DeMuth have a simple rule for the new millennium: "If you're old enough to have sex, you're old enough to save for retirement."The same could be said for reading"YES, YOU CAN RETIRE COMFORTABLY!"Though targeted primarily for Baby Boomers, many facing an immanent retirement crisis, this fact based easily understandable book will benefit every generation old enough to reproduce.

The news is not good. The government does not have the resources to handle the Social Security and Medicare obligations of the soon to retire Baby Boomers let alone the generations that will follow them. Nor is there a plan in place to remedy this impending crisis. So don't count on Uncle Sam. For the 16% of Americans that that receives guaranteed-benefit pensions from their employers, things look a little better, but that's assuming the plan is adequately funded and that you'll ultimately get the benefit. Don't count on that either. According to the authors, "The pension liability has the potential to mushroom into one of the largest financial crises in U.S. history."How about 401 K's, the do it yourself pension alternative? On average 401 K balances are abysmally low. Whoa!

That's a lot of doom and gloom to absorb, and if you're waiting to hear who's coming to the rescue: it's you. Stop spending, start saving and start making wise investment decisions. No quick fixes. Ninety percent of the book is devoted to addressing the problem. The plan you need to follow is laid out in detail. What's more, it's a fun read because Stein and DeMuth write with clarity and humor.

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (17)

One of My Favorite Self-Help Books
I read this book years ago when it was first released as "Bunkhouse Logic." At that point in my life I read every self-help book I could get my hands on. This book stood out in terms of its practicality and realism.

Reading the first chapter where Ben Stein details the nadir of his life is heartbreaking, but it does inspire you when you realize you can achieve success.

Outstanding Reading
How successful People Win, is a no nonsense approach to winning at what you want do in life. The information teaches you it's all on you, take life by the throat and say lets go! Figure out what you want, figure out how to get it and accept no excuses not to win. It also goes on to explain alittle luck is needed, but that's life. THE RULES explain the peramators needed to ahear in order for victory!

To conclude, Ben Stein has taken his past experience and put them to example of how to break out of the life blue print trap that most people find them selves in, including me. Thanks Ben.

Superb Book
Superb book! It reveals several surprising insights that make it well worth reading. Good job Ben Stein!

Never makes the connection
Regretably, this book was a huge disappointment.The analogy with the cowboy and the bunkhouse never rings true and actually gets in the way.Mr. Stein only teases you with a few personal experiences and insights, before falling back on unattributed anecdotes.Otherwise, it reads as the typical self-help book, probably ghost written.I consider it a waste of time.

That rarest of rare beast ...
... an inspirational book that actually has something to say. Moving beyond the usual claptrap that passes for wisdom these days, Ben Stein actually appears to have given some thought to what he wanted to say. And while his use of the cowboy as an archetype is a bit strained at time, I found this book so helpful that I immediate sent a copy to my brother.

Recommended. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

Okay, Okay Already!

Ben Stein is intelligent. Ben Stein is insightful. Ben Stein is sincerely concerned about the America he loves. Ben Stein can be funny. Ben Stein certainly has a dead-pan delivery. Okay, now you know my opinion of "How to Ruin the United States of America". You want I should go on?

Better maybe you should take a pocket edition of the Constitution and read it over a nice lochs and bagel.

Thought provoking book
The authors discuss six areas in which the policies and attitudes of the last few decades have served to weaken the United States. The book is well researched and easy to read. It shouldn't be viewed as an in-depth discussion of the topics, but rather as a starting point for your further consideration of the issues. It's thought provoking, and more than a little concerning for those who love this country.

Everyone should read this book
Great book, very interesting to read and I learned from it. This book will teach you about the things that are currently destroying our nation, and hopefully can be stopped before it's too late!

Reality hurts!
Ben Stein really hits reality with this book. He's one of the few who really understand what's going on with our country as we are flushing away everything our forefathers fought and died for. Maybe Obama needs to read this one. Go Ben!

ZzZzZzZzZzZzZ
I love Ben Stein, but this book is better than taking a full bottle of Ambien. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (29)

Don't Pay for Grandma's Common Sense
Since I loathed the "documentary" "Expelled:No Intelligence Allowed," I thought I would give Stein another chance.And this stinkbomb exploded in my face.

First off, Stein is obviously trying to be funny when discussing generic problems.But the humor is dead weight, bitter and dusty, even base.He's just not as amusing as he thinks he is.I am surprised his editor did not notice this and ask him to try to write a more straightforward book free from attempts at satire that come off as simply callous and even gleefully cruel.

There is absolutely nothing in this book that you could not get from talking to a loving, no-nonsense grandmother, and for free.Stein comes off, frankly, as a condescending boor, the paradigm of the stuffed-shirt "rich uncle" who seems to think that the world would be a better place if everyone was just like him.An exercise in the most appalling conceit that also seems to be disturbingly based on the assumption that every person and their situaton is more or less the same.It's so blandly conformist it's almost to the point of being a shade "creepy."

If you want real-world advice like this, talk to your mother, your grandmother, or your best a tell-it-like-it-is friend.And that won't cost you a copper farthing.And no one will intone, "Bueller, Bueller . . . . "But don't pay hard-earned cash for something you can get for absolutely nothing and from someone who actually cares instead of a wet blanket who only pretends to.

NO recommendation.

ben stein ruins my life better than i did! Loved it
This book is great.It really makes you think.You cant put yourself down more than ben stein does so there is no place else to go but up!!!!! Love the book.Great condition and arrived on time...whatelse could one ask for?

So funny
You will enjoy this book, and it will give you such good life lessons!A great conversation starter!

Not very good
This book is really not very good.It is a waste of time.The only thing I found funny was the chapter titles.The rest of the material is just fluff and a way for Ben Stein to cash in.I bought the book, read about 20 pages and finally gave up.

Teacher alert
Great tool for the high school classroom, throw these little jewels out during those "teachable moments". ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Great financial advice
I trully wish I had read this when I was in my 20's, and not now that I'm almost 40. No one at home ever told me to save money, and I never had much common sense for money matters, so I barely disciplined myself to save money for any rainy day until my mid 30's. I wish I had known better, but there's no use for regrets now. I have always worked for companies or people that offered no benefits or retirement plans, etc. So I have to be more wise as to how I invest and put my money to work. As I said, I'm not a finances genius and barely can balance my checkbook, but thanks to this book and others I have read I can have a better idea as to how much to save and where to invest it.

The authors of this book give you good advice and hints as to how you should save and invest your money on each decade, as well as how to plan your retirement. If you haven't started don't fret, it's better now than never. Start planning your finances today, no matter how old you are. It's really worth doing so. It will help you sleep better, trust me!

Totally awesome; read this book before it's too late
The authors might argue that it's never really "too late," but the earlier in life you really comprehend what they are saying in this book, the better off you'll be for the rest of your life.

This book, when properly used, forces you to not only acknowledge but to think about and ponder major expenses throughout your lifetime, and how best to prepare for them.Thinking of getting married and having children without any savings plan and dumping all of your paycheck into the best car/apartment/computer/whatever you can?You should probably think again.And this book will guide your thinking in logical directions.

Excellent primer for life planning
This book serves as a good overview of how all individuals should save for the major events of life - having children, buying a home and eventually retirement.The breakdown by decade and the charts indicating how much you should have saved by a particular age to meet your retirement goal make it easy to see if you are on track or not.The authors write in a sort of parental tone, not overly strict parents, but as parents trying to give you advice that will help you the rest of your life.

The authors focus mainly on retirement savings, but there is helpful advice on everything - mothers leaving the workforce to have children, life insurance, not overextending yourself to project a lifestyle you can't afford, and how to pay for your children's college (which they suggest the child do, they are acquiring an asset that will benefit them for the rest of their life and should be willing to pay for it).

I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone who feels they need a little guidance on financial planning.

Good financial book
Ben Stein & Phil DeMuth's Yes, You Can Get a Financial Life! is a practical, albeit, sarcastic book that is great for everyone from teenage on.While I don't know enough about the ESPlanner software that they recommend (it was reveiwed recently in Money or Kiplingers and didn't get outstanding support), the principles espoused within the first four chapters (see below) are insightful and in-step with the other publications and websites that I've seen for the middle class such as Fidelity's NetBenefits & 401k.com, Hewitt's Resources (Resources.Hewitt.com), Money (Money.CNN.com) and Kiplinger's.I recommend this book especially for those with teens and wish that I'd had the benefit of this insight in my early years.

Retirement
I think this book should be separated into three books. 20-30 year olds, 40-50 year olds and pre-retirement people. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (15)

Great book for beginner-intermediate investors!
My union's finance committee uses the QPP portfolio planner spreadsheet to help select portfolio choices for us.This book discusses the advantages and drawbacks of using tools like this, as well as many excellent points for me as a beginner-intermediate private investor.If someone was gong to start handling their own portfolio planning, I would recommend, in order, to read William Bernstein's "The Intelligent Asset Allocator", "The Four Pillars of Investing", and this book after the other two.Lots of highlighter material here!

Charts Fuzzy Illegible
The books is fine, so far, but the (few) charts and graphs are crap in the e-book.
They need a better process for embedding non-text items.A lot better.

Excellent reading.
I find Ben Stein to be one of the most intelligent and witty financial whizzes of today. Not only does he offer sound investment practices but he does it in a comical way reminiscent of Louis Rukeyser, another one of my favorite financial gurus. I highly recommend any of Ben Stein's books as you'll never be disappointed.

A big disappointment
I expected a lot more from Ben Stein. Too much that I just don't comprehend.Not for the average investor

Great book.
This is a quick read, but deserves a couple of readings, anyway. I liked how they start with a core portfolio, supercharge it with funds or stocks, then use fixed income instruments to reduce the volatility. They even go farther and show how to create a stock only portfolio.

I've read a lot of Geoff Considine's articles on Seeking Alpha, and he addresses the problem of single company risk in portfolios. Geoff also mentions that you can use leveraged mutual funds or ETFs instead of individual funds to increase your portfolio return. I wish the book had addressed leveraged funds and/or ETFs. ... Read more

Product Description
A good love relationship isn’t really that important. In fact, it uses up a lot of time you could spend thinking about yourself . . . and doing things all alone or with your drunken, loser friends. That’s why Ben Stein has written How to Ruin Your Love Life. Following up on the wild success of his pioneering "do-the-opposite-of-what-I-say" self-help book, How to Ruin Your Life, he now brings you, in 44 easy-to-follow-steps, ways to definitively and absolutely . . . ruin your love life.

The essays in this bitingly humorous book include such master strokes as: "Talk about Yourself Exclusively," "Make Fun of Your Lover’s Family," "Demand Expensive Gifts from Your Lover," and "Compare Your Lover with Lovers You’ve Dated in the Past." And then there’s the most important one of all: "If You’re Dating Someone Who Has a Lot of Problems, Is Generally a Mess, and All of Your Friends Dislike Him or Her, Get Married Anyway—Marriage Will Solve All of Your Problems."

This work will not only make you laugh out loud, it will allow you to honestly assess how many of these relationship-killers you (and your lover) are currently engaging in. Learn from this book—and for heaven’s sake, do the opposite right now! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A quick, fun read that uses reverse psychology to drive home its point
Instead of writing another book of advice on what to do to KEEP your guy or gal, Stein writes a tongue in cheek book on how to drive your prospective lover or mate away. By doing so, he underlines the fact that you should clearly do the opposite of following his advice if you want to find romance- and does so humorously.
The information he provides seems as though it SHOULD be second nature but it apparently isn't, since so many people keep making the same mistakes. So Stein suggests they use certain tactics to GUARANTEE they'll keep people at a distance - talk too much about themselves, be interested in marrying only for money, be overdramatic, pick fights when things get too calm, etc. You get the point. This book is such a quick read that you could probably browse through it in the bookstore in less than an hour... but you might want to buy a copy for that friend (and everyone knows one) who keeps making the same romantic mistakes over and over. Or just buy a copy and leave it on your coffee table. I guarantee people won't be able to resist looking through it.

What you always knew
In this book, Ben Stein reviews many of the things we always knew were unattractive in a prospective or current mate or lover.They're in a lot of movies about romance.We see the behavior in others and shake our heads.And as we read this little book, we nod and say, "I knew that."So if we already know all this, why read the book?

We should read this book now and every so often just to remind ourselves of the behaviors that could kill our romance.It's like holding up a mirror and really taking a look at ourselves.All of us can see in others what we can't see in ourselves, even when the behavior is as obvious as pointing out our lover's imperfections in front of his friends.Or when it's a bit more obscure, such as overdramatizing everything.When you read about people who talk about themselves exclusively, don't you just want to shake them and say, "Wake up"?Well, consider this a wakeup call.

Stein's telling of the behavior in a reverse psychology form helps to clarify and isolate the behavior.It's different from saying "thou shalt not," possibly seeming sillier to some, but even viewing his style in that way can make what he says more immediate.

Readers may not find this pleasant reading, but most will surely find it thought provoking.And those who are interested in the subject might also enjoy "He's Just Not that Into You" or even "Sex and the City."

Excellent!
It's witty, funny, and accurate! Now I understand why my ex is still single at 42, and why I couldn't put up with that relationship anymore. My ex was very proficient when it came to doing all that this book says you shouldn't do. Following all this rules helped her to ruin her love life. And somehow that helped me to realize that there are some kind of people that I don't want to be with at all. You also learn by being on the other side of the one person that follows these rules.

One of a great series, Good reverse Psychology
Ben Stein is one of those rare Renaissance men who seem to be able to put their talents to any task and do a good or better result. This Book is one of his better efforts! Unfortunetly, it won't be read by those folks who need it the most! (Not that I am any paragon of virtue myself.)Bless you Ben and save Ferris!

In a man's world ...
... everyone is born on an even playing field, and a chirpy, positive mental attitude combined with advanced degrees automatically = big money & nice cars (which seem to be Mr. Stein's definition of success). Mr. Stein, tell that to the people I know who have Ph.D.'s from prestigious institutions, but who work for $6.00 an hour because they weren't born with the right knobby connections that obviously surrounded you from the time you first drew breath.

In a man's world, "real-world" examples in self-help books for women always include references to "making their husband a home-cooked meal for the first time in ages" and "cleaning the house", while the examples for men contain references to "doing yard work" and "working extra hours on the job."

I have to say that I was a bit surprised to find the anti-working class, anti-female bias in this book, but I was actually flabbergasted to see Mr. Stein's childish blasts against vegetarians.

Because Mr. Stein is a household pet rescuer, I find it bizarre that he hates vegetarians so much and thinks that we should be chowing down on veal (in order to not appear "holier-than-thou"??) if it is offered to us at our friends' houses. Excuse me, but all of the vegetarians I know (including myself) are the most discreet people on earth when it comes to not eating meat and would not dream of even disclosing that we are vegetarians if we are guests somewhere; preferring to come up with some polite excuse not to eat the dish served or to simply say nothing at all and push the food around the plate to make it seem like we did indeed eat. In fact, we often find *ourselves* on the receiving end of unprovoked "holier-than-thou" verbal attacks from anti-vegetarian people such as Mr. Stein as our intelligence, personalities, and very souls are attacked by people who are very defensive about vegetarianism for some reason.

The fact that there are more female vegetarians than male vegetarians and the fact that being vegetarian is seen as a "feminine" characteristic in our society surely added fuel to Mr. Stein's petulant fire.

In a man's world, this is a great book. In my world -- it's not. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (28)

Back to Basics
I recommend this book for every American.Ben Stein still holds to the values of our youth.It's just so refreshing in this crazy world.

THE REAL STARS
LOVE THIS BOOK!!!This is a MUST read for anyone/everyone.Gives you a lot to think about and makes you appreciate the simple things in life and to think about just how lucky we really are.Being a retired MARINE myself, I'm glad to read and see that there are others out there who actually appreciate, respect, trust and need us.My THANKS to Ben Stein and I am now a new supporter and fan of this man.

Stein's real star is himself....

A few great hero essays... but mostly about his hero... himself and his excesses and the excesses of those he adores.Not what was expected at all. Using soldiers to sell a book this way is a sin.

The Truth
Mr. Stein hit the nail on the head stating that present day military personnel are the real stars. Considering there is no draft, they have an all volunteer military. Now that takes some courage to make that type of commitment.

A Grateful American Patriot Speaks
I have always been fond of Ben Stein for his keen intellect, sharp wit, and his refusal to conform to convention to further his career. This book is a collection of columns he has written over an almost 30 year span which contribute to defining his viewpoint that America is the greatest nation in the world. He is both eloquent and humble in his presentation, and makes it clear that Americans as a whole enjoy unparalleled freedom and prosperity because of the sacrifices of the men and women of the US military forces. The theme of gratefulness to the fine members of the armed forces is the focus of this book, although he often contrasts the banal trivialities of Hollywood as a backdrop to make clear that US citizens as a whole are less appreciative of the real heroes than in the false celebrity idols so common in Hollywood. Ben Stein is a brilliant economist and son of economist Herbert Stein who taught Ben the necessity of hard work, honesty, integrity, humility, and respect that have made America strong over the centuries. Ben clearly loathes self-importance: I cannot imagine how he deals with living in a culture that is essentially based on self-absorption.

The individual columns in this book are all interesting and absorbing, but I particularly enjoyed reading about Ben's encounter with Major Black, a member of the still-existent band "Rose Royce" (remember "Car Wash"?), who I found to be inspirational in his outlook (as did Ben). I also liked the essay on Nixon: it's easy to criticize Nixon, and less popular to defend him. Here Ben shares insights on his former boss without whitewashing his faults. I found his treatment fair-minded and interesting. I very much appreciated his article on an "employer's bill of rights" in which he called for employees to actually do a day's work for a day's pay, a character trait that is fast disappearing in our entitlement-minded world. Of all the columns in the book, though, the single most important is "How to Ruin American Enterprise" (beginning on p. 93), in which Stein explains what has made the US great and what the greatest dangers to the US are going forward. Everyone would be advised to read this before the next election.

There are two columns in the collection that seems a bit misplaced, one on Elvis' death, and one on Frank Sinatra. I understand the points Stein is trying to convey in each of them, but don't really think they enhance the overall thematic whole of this particular collection.

This is a wonderful and vital book from one of America's leading thinkers. Ben Stein is quiet, understated, self-deprecating, and sharp as a tack. I recommend this collection to everyone without reservation. ... Read more

Product Description
Anyone can write a book about how to get rich. The bookstores are full of them. They rarely work, though, which isn’t surprising since the people who write them rarely know much about money.

But it takes Ben Stein, economist, finance expert for Barron’s, commentator on finance for Fox News, and (fairly) successful investor to write a book called How to Ruin Your Financial Life. Written with the same tongue-in-cheek cheekiness as his bestselling How to Ruin Your Life, this book is a humorous road map showing you how to make something useful of the money that comes in and out of your life. Follow the rules—in reverse gear—and you’re bound to be a lot better off than you are now. Follow the rules as they’re written—and you’re highly likely to wind up in bankruptcy court—as millions do every decade.

Here are some of the rules, just to whet your appetite: Collect as Many Credit Cards as You Can and Use Them Frequently; Compete with Your Friends to See Who Can Own the Most Expensive and High-Status Possessions; Know in Your Gut That Only Suckers Work Hard for Money and That Smarties Like You Only Have to Find an Angle; Remember That Retirement Is a L-ooo-nnn-g Way Off, and Don’t Even Think about It Right Now; Bear in Mind That Only "Little People" Pay Their Bills or Taxes; Don’t Bother to Own Your Own Home Because Home Ownership Is a Hassle...and many more.

This book is a laugh-out-loud way to educate yourself, your children, and your friends about how money really works...and a way to smile while you’re straightening out that mess you call your financial life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Ben Stein you let me down
Very disappointed.Thought I was buying some great insights, rather got 52 tongue in cheek comments.

A quick throw-away book. This is **not** a financial planning book.
I like Ben Stein, find him particularly insightful and do appreciate his droll sense of humor. I have also bought other books Ben and they are in my stack to read. In particular, I appreciate his ability to cut through a lot of the B.S. that appears on TV, such as on 'Kudlow and Company' and speak to the masses. Although I don't always agree with what he says, I find his views refreshing for that reason.

This book would probably make a great 'audio book' and be a welcome companion on a drive to work if read by Mr. Stein. His dead-pan voice would add character to the book. However, as a read, it is a one-trick pony. The 45+ '1 and 1/2 page' chapters (about a one hour total reading time) lose their appeal as the book progresses, as the style of humor is repeated in every chapter. Chapters move up a pretty predictable list of reverse admonishments from "Spend every penny you earn and more" through "Don't pay your taxes" and "Don't save for a rainy day"...

This book is not a financial planning book. It is straight humor (and short that as well.)

What not to do with your money
I am in the financial planning business.I manage my money well.Often it is hard to recall some of the silly things folks do with their money and how they make financial choices.Thanks to Ben's book, it is obvious why a fool and his money are soon parted.

Perhaps the best personal finance guide yet written.
Sure, there are plenty of books out there about how to get rich. They almost always fail because the authors are ignorant of how money works. Ben Stein isa true financial expert and only someone of his caliber can teach us how to blow it all. A hilariously written book and a tongue in-cheek way of assessing one's own financial foibles. I must admit that I am guilty of more than a few of these tips (I won't say which ones!) The essay titles say it all. Here are a few:

*Save money only when you feel like it, and if you just don't feel like saving, then don't.

*Forget to pay your taxes.

*Collect as many credit cards as you can and use them frequently.

*As soon as you've succeeded in maxing out your credit cards, get new ones!

*Don't think about retirement- it's a loooooooong way off.

*Start a business with inadequate capital- in a difficult field and in a difficult location- and expect it to prosper. (also titled, "Open A Restaurant.")

and my favorite...

Find a man or woman with really expensive tastes and reckless financial habits- and marry him or her!

Read this and then read it WITH your kids (or give it to your teen)!
Ben Stein should be a keynote speaker on high schools (or even grade schools), because what he says could form the basis of an excellent class on financial literacy. After all, our kids are supposed to learn the basics of reading, writing and mathematics but...what about the basics of how to handle money? Isn't that equally important (and for those who say they learn it at home, the level of personal debt in this country is alarming, so I'd argue that point).
In any case, the humor and writing style of this book makes it very accessable and it should reach a readership that finds other financial books too dry or ho-hum. This one is not and if you simply do everything the opposite of what you'd do to "ruin" your financial life, you will be on a more solid financial path. Get this. Read it. Share it with a teenager or high school student or anyone being lured down the road to instant gratification, expensive cars and clothes and who is NOT looking at the larger picture - or their financial future.
Funny thing,too. With a little foresight and by starting early, it is possible to indulge (some) and have enough for the future. Read this book. You'll get the point. ... Read more

Product Description
Economist, actor, author, and former quiz show host Ben Stein teamed up with investment psychologist Phil DeMuth to examine a century of stock market data and discovered a profound and original investment truth: Yes, you can time the market! In their instant investment classic Yes, You Can Time the Market!, Stein and DeMuth show investors simple, readily available measurements that tell them when it's time to invest in stocks, bonds, real estate, or cash. Written for the investor who wants to preserve capital and build wealth steadily, this book offers prudent, bedrock advice for anyone who can no longer afford to play games with their money. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Obsolete. Not so many buy signals, either
There is some merit to this book. The authors highlight 4 buy signals. They say you can find these (updated) on their website, [...]. But you can't. S&P stopped publishing 3 of the indexes the authors rely on! Maybe you USED to be able totime the market, but it's much harder now.

No you cant !
A good primer on analysis, moving averages, and cheap vs. expensive. There is a major hole in this book: When is it time to sell? You will find no analysis. Ben and Phil only make the case for when to enter a position in a S&P500 index fund, and when to avoid adding to the position. When the indicator suggests stocks are high, buy t-bills until the indicator changes.

If you use one of the timing indicators to put money in, what about taking it out, thereby avoiding a "reversion to the mean"? If you are only timing an entry and not an exit, you aren't timing... So in my opinion, NO you can't time the market (not by reading this book).

A big disappointment
I had previously read, and definitely recommend, a book by the same authors "Yes, You Can Still Retire Comfortably!".It was straightforward, practical, to the point.And in that book, they referred many times to this earlier book of theirs.I thought ... wow! ... if these guys can make market timing as simple as they made retirement planning, the world is a wonderful place.

I was wrong.Simple?Yes.Totally simple.But, let me save you the time.While making a convincing case, they "prove" that only a fool (and I do not mean that with a capital F) would have bought stocks since about 1984.If you believe that, buy this book.

In short ... buy their retirement book.Skip this one.

Awful.Just awful!
The authors not only completely fail to recognize the roll that randomness plays on their poorly conceived "strategy", they also profess to being able to eliminate the single biggest risk of investing in the stock market.If their secret really worked, why sell it to anyone?Why not invest everything they have, make a killing, and retire to a country of their own?The worst part is that this pair has access to DFA funds.That's a shame.It gives them credibility when none is deserved.I guess Ben wants to win all the money back (from other peoples' wallets) that he lost in his last game show . . .

Specious Pseudo-Scientific Drivel
The authors provide a lot of sophisticated-sounding analysis to substantiate their "novel" approach to market timing.As evidenced by some of the reviews on this site, this approach succeeds in garnering the authors their share of believers.

However, their analysis is in reality quite unsophisticated.Scratch beneath the surface and you will come across profound breakdowns in logic and a host of invalid analytical techniques.Some of the book's most egregious failings are detailed by reviewer Gaetan Lion.I recommend you read his review---he hits the nail right on the head. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Basic Stuff
A friend gave me this book yesterday and it took about 2 hours to read.The information was basic stuff that most people know unless they are living under a rock.The government is broke.Social Security crisis, higher taxes, inflationary spirals, etc. can all be looked forward to in the future.Private pensions are broke and will depend more on government bailouts.The authors don't use scare tactic hype, but well documented facts.

Solution: You are going to have to save more and invest wisely.Retirement checklists are reviewed, along with investment strategies based upon age and income.Specific investment funds are listed, I wonder if the authors got a cut????But overall, the information that you would pay for by buying this book is out there on the internet.Dig a little and you can find plenty of information about the retirement problems, investment strategies, and funds.I would recommend the Millionaire Next Door if you want a general understanding on how individuals develop wealth.

An excellent book
This inexpensive paperback book was so good I bought a copy for my wife after reading a library copy for myself.Multiple worksheets to help a couple get ready for retirement.

Wish I had read this 39 years ago
Ben and Phil have written a retirement book that will scare the crud out of the average 60 year old and hopefully will motivate the average 20 year old.While presented with a good deal of droll humor and an easy to understand manner, the facts shared in this book are sobering.While I was comforted by the thought that I had intutitively accomplished most of what the authors say is necessary to retire comfortably, I see some holes in my plans that need to be shored up before pulling the trigger on the future.However, for the average American 60 year old who has not socked away enough and is somehow hoping that retirement will magically plop itself on their doorstep allowing them to quit work at 62 and continue their current lifestyle, this book is a terrifying wakeup call.

The quick summary is that there is no magic pill.If we expect to retire and not subsist below the poverty level, there has to be some sacrifice during our working years, and some serious investing for the future.There is no real safety net out there.Our employers are not going to take care of us.The government is not going to bail us out.We are on our own.Fortunately, the authors provide some practical advise on how to pull a plan together.

I wish I had read this book 39 years ago.If I had I would have done even more to prepare for what is now the not so distant future.This book is a must-read for every 20-year old.

Love Ben !!
Really enjoyed this book.I'm an experienced investor and still came away with useful information. For those who believe this was all gloom & doom....WAKE UP !While I do believe they used a worst case scenerio their messages are right on.Start saving now, live below your means and learn about various investment options so you can take care of yourself in retirement.Great book to help pull peoples head out of the sand.I love Ben !!

Retirement Planning Made Comfortable
Ben Stein & Phil DeMuth have a simple rule for the new millennium: "If you're old enough to have sex, you're old enough to save for retirement."The same could be said for reading"YES, YOU CAN RETIRE COMFORTABLY!"Though targeted primarily for Baby Boomers, many facing an immanent retirement crisis, this fact based easily understandable book will benefit every generation old enough to reproduce.

The news is not good. The government does not have the resources to handle the Social Security and Medicare obligations of the soon to retire Baby Boomers let alone the generations that will follow them. Nor is there a plan in place to remedy this impending crisis. So don't count on Uncle Sam. For the 16% of Americans that that receives guaranteed-benefit pensions from their employers, things look a little better, but that's assuming the plan is adequately funded and that you'll ultimately get the benefit. Don't count on that either. According to the authors, "The pension liability has the potential to mushroom into one of the largest financial crises in U.S. history."How about 401 K's, the do it yourself pension alternative? On average 401 K balances are abysmally low. Whoa!

That's a lot of doom and gloom to absorb, and if you're waiting to hear who's coming to the rescue: it's you. Stop spending, start saving and start making wise investment decisions. No quick fixes. Ninety percent of the book is devoted to addressing the problem. The plan you need to follow is laid out in detail. What's more, it's a fun read because Stein and DeMuth write with clarity and humor.

... Read more

Product Description
With the bursting of the stock market bubble, and after 13 rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, yields on CDs and Money Market funds tread at historic lows—a negative return after inflation. Gone are the days when investors could earn 5 percent interest, risk-free. With smaller savings coupled with lower returns on what savings remain, retirees and others living on fixed-income investments watch in horror as their income checks shrink with each passing month.

However, there are investments that still earn a significant rate of return—and do so reliably and consistently. These fixed-income securities include bonds, real estate investment trusts, preferred stocks, and emerging market debt, among others. They earn the kind of returns that baby boomers and the retirement community need in the same way they need to draw breath, yet hardly anyone knows anything about them. As 70 million Americans reach retirement age in the next 15 years, fixed-income investing will become a sociologically inevitable megatrend. Yes, You Can Be a Successful Income Investor! shows you how you can safely secure the highest possible yield from your savings, even in a treacherous investment environment.Amazon.com Review
Aimed at those living on a fixed income or on the cusp of retirement, Yes, You Can Be a Successful Income Investor! explains the basic building blocks of fixed-income investing and offers advice on getting the highest possible yield while minimizing capital losses. At a time when interest rates are unusually low and with more Americans than ever reaching retirement(a trend that will continue for the next 15 years), this is particularly timely information. Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth sift through dozens of investment options and highlight the stocks and bonds with the greatest income yields in recent years as well as some strategies and investments that should be approached with caution. They also discuss how to develop a diverse portfolio, name specific investments and explain their yields and risks, and help readers develop an overall strategy based on goals and needs. There are also chapters on the bond market, annuities, winning stocks, various investment products, real estate investment trusts, and a look at the hard numbers on various mutual funds.

Stein, an economist and part-time TV and movie personality, and DeMuth, an investment psychologist, make a good writing team. They combine a wealth of information, including hard data, graphs, and charts, with a clear and precise writing style that investment novices will appreciate. The book also contains practical tips and advice designed to help readers do their own research and know the questions to ask when dealing with investment professionals. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

In retrospect ...
...these guys gave some dreadful advice.They recommended the bonds of Bear Stearns, Lehman and ABN Amro.All are worthless now.

Income Investor
Excellent book ... short, easy to read with good illustrations. Would have liked an explanation as to how to select dividend stocks rather than using the recommended list since the recommended list will change over time.

Great Primer on Income Investing
Fine book on income investing. Good for all. Highly recommend this to all who are interested in increasing their income and preserving capital. Hats off to the authors.

Take with a grain of salt
A good book but not as complete as Yes, You can still Retire Comfortably.
Does not fully elaborate on the risks of bonds in dealing with Financials (sub-prime) and Bond defaults. Perhaps an update of this book is in order.

Invest for Yield people
This is an excellent book to teach you how to invest for the highest yield. I should add that Jeremy Siegel's books are also good for this type of investing.Say bye to the Apples, Microsofts, retailers, Googles, and other growth stocks, and hello to high yield, income producing securities. The key is to buy and hold forever, reinvesting your dividends along the way. As the years unfold you will find your portfolio grow larger and larger. Who cares if the market is up or down? Let it go down, and your reinvested dividends will buy you more shares.
This book is highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
In ancient Hebrew prayers, the highest wish that any worshiper can offer to another is that the Almighty will give the worshiper "the greatest of all gifts—the gift of peace." Ben Stein’s latest book, The Gift of Peace, comprises more than 500 lessons about how to live life in a state of peace.

Drawing from wisdom learned in 12-step meetings and from his own meditations, Stein reveals the guideposts that have taken him (over the last 16 years) to a life incomparably more serene and uncomplicated than it once was.

The lessons in The Gift of Peace are about surrender to God, turning envy around, realizing one’s own unimportance in the universe, and achieving humility through actions as well as thoughts. Think of this book as a lifetime supply of non-addictive, no-side-effect tranquilizers and antidepressants and you have it just about right. Thorough, repeated readings of these homilies, especially upon waking and at bedtime, offer genuine calm and peace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

amazing and touching
what can i say, when i am still so stunned by the beauty and depth of this wonderful new book ! mister ben stein, you helped me so much ! thank you

Great Little Book
The Gift of Peace gave me a glimpse of Ben Stein's life journey. It helped me look at my life in a more positive and less fearful way. Most importantly, it gave me hope for peace in my life. When feeling overwhelmed I frequently go back and read Ben's sayings to help me get back on course. A very special little book.

Really like this book
I really like this book.Just received it today, flipping through I found much I can relate to.Now, I will go back and give each one thought.Thank you Ben Stein!

Some was good, some was disappointing
Some of the sayings are good, but a lot of them were disappointing.Still, I'm going to pass it along to one of my friends who is in need of help and hopefully enough of it will be helpful to her to be worthwhile.It is a quick read, as the type is large, but I would have liked it to have more "meat" in it and not just be a book with a collection of sayings.

For my sister
I loved this book. When mys siter went into the hospital I gave it to her, and it gave her some much inspiration.
Thank you Ben Stein.
Patti ... Read more

Product Description

Ben Stein has proved himself a jack-of-all-trades in a series of jobs: author, magazine columnist, lawyer, film and TV actor, presidential speechwriter, professor, and television game show host, to name a few. But the career he has loved the most is that of raising his son, Tommy.

In Tommy and Me, Ben Stein gives us an intimate look at life with his "angel boy." Adopting a son in his forties challenged Stein in a way that no other relationship ever had. Spending time with Tommy transformed Stein's values, leading him to abandon the self-absorption that had consumed him since law school days in the 1960s. In his life today, Tommy comes first.

This whimsical and warm story reveals that life can begin when you think you have nothing left to learn. Through Tommy, Ben Stein learns to value the generous, nurturing side of himself. He also gains new insight into his relationship with his own father by becoming one. Most of all, he learns gratitude for the "perfect angel" he has as his son.

Fatherhood was the role Ben Stein was waiting for all his life. His intimate and revealing journey through parenthood in the late 1990s will delight all Ben Stein fans who watch the TV program Win Ben Stein's Money and the vast numbers of parents who need to value the best job on earth: "Daddy." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Check out Stein's later parental "success"
If you are interested in this book, I hope you check online for Stein's later parental "success" stories.When his son is in his teens, he plays violent videogames obsessively and Stein at first does not see this as dangerous--not until his son stops going to school, anyway.Just recently in January 2009, commenting on the economic crisis, he notes that his son, a recently-married student in his early twenties, relies on Stein for his sole support and has no sense that he can't eat in any restaurant he wants.So I think you should question Stein's actual parental experience before taking his advice.

A good book for soon to be dads to read
This is a good book to read for men who are or who will be dads. It highlights the importance of being a good dad, especially being a good dad, and role model, for a son. I did not like Stein's constant patting himself on the back for his being a good dad - that was his responsibility when he adopted Tommy. Nonetheless, a good read. One think Ben Stein needed to do for Tommy, which I did not pick up on, was to be a good husband to Tommy's mom.

A poignant, insightful memoir by a real dad
Ben Stein is probably best known for his game show "Win Ben Stein's Money," and for his work as a character actor in the cult classic "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."But some of us have known about Ben Stein for years based on his excellent work as a journalist and writer. In this poignant and beautiful little book, he demonstrates why some of us loved him even before he started giving away money.

In TOMMY AND ME, Stein recounts his small family's experience in adopting a baby (Tommy) and relates how is life was changed as a result. He illustrates in a deeply personal fashion who he was before he became a dad, and the insecurity (and yes, jealousy) he experienced when Tommy first entered his life. Most beautifully, he shows how he overcame these problems and became a real father. Along the way he records many memorable and occasionally profound observations on what it is to have what he calls "the best job in the world" -- being a dad.

There are some who've criticized this book because they don't agree with all the decisions Stein and his wife have made. For example, he mentions that he buys his son all the video games he wants and, because he makes a pretty good living, buys Tommy far more toys than most parents can. Many people (myself included) question the wisdom of such a policy. Stein and his wife also spank Tommy, which some people would question, but also spanks only very, very rarely, which other people might question (although in this case his policy matches my own).

But this sort of criticism misses the point; the book is a memoir, not a "how-to" manual. Stein describes the thinking that went into his decisions, and along the way shows us what being a real father is all about: making countless decisions that affect your child's life, and making them with the deep contemplation, love, and commitment that all parents owe their children. As Stein notes, young children are inherently selfish little barbarians, and our task (and blessing) is to love them for all their flaws while we do our (inevitably imperfect) best to guide them into decency and maturity.

Another criticism you may hear is that Stein's wife, Tommy's mother, is absent from long sections of the book. This criticism, again, misses the point. Stein's book is not about motherhood, nor is it about generic parenthood. Stein's recountings of vacations and other times he's spent one-on-one with Tommy are meant to show us about the unique nature of being a father. Not a "buddy," an "authority figure" or a "partner in parenting," but a good and decent FATHER, that unique and incalculably important person that, sadly, many children lack in their lives. He also gives us some profound insights into what a lousy father, or a missing father, can do to a kid. As the child of a broken and dysfunctional home, I found his insights on this subject perhaps the most penetrating of all.

If all of this makes the book sound long or pedantic, fear not. Stein's style is light and fun to read, and the book itself is rather short. I imagine most people could finish it in one or two sittings. I first read it a couple of years after the birth of our first child, and I benefited greatly from it.I can't imagine that any serious father or father-to-be would not.And although we did not adopt, I can't imagine that any man going through the unique process of adopting a child will not benefit as much as I did, if not more.

This is funny, engaging, insightful memoir by a man who has found incredible joy in being a father -- and become a better person as a result.I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Decency Taken to the Superlative
Ben Stein's book was just wonderful in an entirely pleasant, decent and thoughtful way.His devotion to his family and household is not much more than what everyone's should be, but on a little reflection it is amarvelous and almost unheard of example of what ought to be but seldom istoday.Mr. Stein's pursuits and accomplishments are too numerous andvaried to repeat here, but he surpasses all of them in his level of (I sayit again) decency.More importantly, his stories and reflections aboutTommy and other friends serve as a genuine model for others to live up toand Stein never in the least part succumbs to a temptation to preach ortalk down.After reading Tommy and Me, I get the impression that inaddition to being a writer, television host, lawyer and economist he couldhave done quite well as a clergyman too.

classic memoir of a boomer dad
a refreshingly candid look at a (formerly) jaded"boomer" whose perspective is altered and made richer by the inclusion of a joyously rich father- son bond. A delightful read on many levels, and one that will leavethe reader deeply moved.Ben Stein has shown himself to be a top notchmemoirist with this truly splendid work. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive guide to the design of environmental control systems.

For more than half a century, this book has been a fixture in architecture and construction firms the world over. It has also been the primary means by which generations of students have acquired the basic knowledge and skills needed to design environmental control systems. Twice awarded the AIA's Citation for Excellence in International Architecture Book Publishing, Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings is recognized for its comprehensiveness, clarity of presentation, and timely coverage of new design trends and technologies.

Faithful to its proud heritage, this Ninth Edition provides students and professionals with the most complete coverage of the theory and practice of environmental control system design currently available. Encompassing mechanical and electrical systems for buildings of all sizes, it provides design guidelines and detailed design procedures for each topic covered. It also includes information on the latest technologies, new and emerging design trends, and relevant codes and zoning restrictions-and its more than 1,500 superb illustrations, tables, and high-quality photographs provide a quick reference for both students and busy professionals.

Emphasizing sustainability in architecture throughout, this new edition includes expanded coverage of energy conservation and renewable on-site energy resources. It also features a new chapter on interior air quality, expanded coverage of building acoustics, and many new and updated tables and illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Must Have
used as a textbook, but even if not would make an excellent companion to any elec mech class.

MEEB Bow Down
If you want to know more than most Architects and Engineers about how to design the guts of buildings this is the book to use. It's a fat guy though! Sometimes the text seems to weigh you down. Most architectural students consider it a sloug! But, once they graduate, they use it throughout their careers as design professionals. If you want to know how to develop a regional climatic response strategy for your building or development, calculate passive ventillation rates or heat gains and losses on unique configurations of wood, siding and insulation; size gutters or a rain water catchment system or plan for an elevator, this is the book for you.

review of Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings, 9th Edition by Ben Stein
This is the best reference for Architects and students studying mech. & elec. equipment

Best One-Volume Resource For Engineers
If you are an engineer engaged in the design of mechanical and electrical systems for commercial and institutional buildings, you may find this your most valuable reference for an overview of theory and best practices for the entire gamut of building systems.

I did find a bit too much enthusiasm for environmentally friendly and energy-conserving new ideas. Many of these technologies are worth following but have economic results that will not serve your clients well.

I am a professional engineer (leading my own firm) with 40 years of experience and have a huge library including the eighth and ninth editions of this book; it's one of my favorites.

It's must reading for a new engineer because you will be able to understand the basics of areas that are new to you with an hour or two of study.

An author's view:
My part of this book (mechanical and plumbing) is designed to first show how to minimize the need for mechanical equipment by designing with the climate and site firmly in mind. First configure a building to optimize daylighting, solar heating, and various climate-appropriate passive cooling methods. Also, to store rainwater when appropriate. Then, proceed to choose and size the back-up equipment. In this way, designers conserve non-renewable energy, utilize natural (on-site) energy sources, and also help building occupants stay in touch with the outdoors. I believe that we'll tend to care more about a clean outdoor environment if we are kept aware of its condition.
For a summary of this approach, read Chapter One. I hope you enjoy this book, even when it is your textbook! That was my object. Suggestions? I'm at jreyn@darkwing.uoregon.edu ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

From Back Cover
IT'S 1981, THE ARABS HAVE THE FINANCIAL WORLD BY THE THROAT.AND THEY'RE STARTING TO SQUEEZE...


It begins when OPEC doubles the price of oil.As costs go up, Europe goes down.And a desperate President gluts the U.S. with useless greenbacks in an effort to save the economy.

Instead - he sets off a wild inflationary spree that brings the country to its knees...

Wall Street crashes.Riots and arson raze cities.And a grass-roots governor named Whitelaw preaches a simple, fascist gospel to the American Masses.Already, two million call him leader.Already, they are a people...

ON THE BRINK
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Book About TV Written By....Anyone? Anyone?
Years before his role as a high school economics teacher in "Ferris Buller's Day Off", Ben Stein penned this short book about the view of America from the perspective of a small group of highly paid Hollywood writers and producers.

Whilst in law school, Ben Stein had read "From Caligari to Hitler" by Siegfried Kracauer.In this book, Herr Kracauer attempted to advance his theory that the films of the Weimar Republic reflected the attitudes and thinking of the German nation.The text was obviously a big influence on Mr. Stein.After practicing law, working as a Nixon speech writer and teaching college, he moved to Los Angeles and began working in and around television.Operating under the theory that television is the dominant mode of communication in America, he attempted to learn as much about the thoughts of the people who create it as possible.The author spent a lot of time working at Norman Lear's production company.He also interviewed many writers and producers.The result is an easily read, anecdotal study of the attitudes and beliefs of the men and women who were creating the television of the 1970s.

After giving us an introduction to what is involved in the making of a TV show, as well as the roles of writers and producers, we are given 12 chapters on various groups and their television archetypes.For example, there are chapters entitled "Businessmen on Television", "Police on Television", "Small Towns on Television", etc.The pattern of each chapter is to introduce the way in which the group currently under discussion is portrayed, cite supporting examples from television shows and then provide interviews with producers and writers that are illustrative of the attitudes that are reflected in the television portrayals.Those interviewed range from the famous (e.g. Gary Marshal) to the lesser known (e.g. Stephen Kandel).The chapter then concludes with a summation and interpretation provided by Ben Stein.The last two chapters of the book examine possible sources of Hollywood's attitudes and the new American culture that has developed.

Throughout the book, the author makes clear his fondness for the people that he worked with and interviewed and also for the business itself.This does not, however, prevent him from being chagrined at the eccentric and occasionally conspiracy-prone beliefs of those he interviewed.We see well-off, successful and educated adults proffering theories of there being a strong link between business (all business)and the mafia or the belief that 8 wealthy families rule the world.This book was published in 1979 and may seem dated to some who read it.All of the shows referenced in the book have long since disappeared from the television landscape and Jimmy Carter is no longer president.Cable was not widely available, video games were primitive and the modern Internet did not exist.On the other hand, it is interesting to note how many of the stereotypes created by television are extant.The superficially idyllic small town with dark secrets to hide is but one familiar example that persists today.

The conclusion that Mr. Stein draws is that to whatever extent Siegfried Kracauer's thesis was correct in regards to German movies of the 1920s and 1930s, a similar theory relating to 1970s American television does not hold.Television of the 1970s (and quite likely of today) is not a reflection of society, but instead of the experiences and beliefs of the relatively small group of writers and producers who are in creative control of it.The author concludes by writing that he doesn't have any great sense that something bad will result from the views of the TV community.I think it would be quite interesting to see if his views have changed.In any event, it is unfortunately the case that this book is no longer in print.I do recommend tracking down a copy and reading it.Doing so will very likely change, if not the amount of television you watch, then at least the way in which you watch it.

Taught me how to watch TV.
I read this book over 20 years ago.It taught me "how to watch TV."Critics have compared it to the film book classic, FROM CALIGARI TO HITLER (an analysis of how Weimer Germany films reflected German sociological undercurrents).

Ben Stein watched popular TV shows from the 1970s, both sitcoms and dramas, then analyed how various social groups are protrayed: businessmen (as criminals), the military (psychotic sadists), minorities (good-hearted), criminals (driven to do bad by racism and poverty) clergy (nice but ineffectual), govt social workers (noble, idealistic, hard-working).

Watch any episode of a 1970s show (Beretta, Kojak, Good Times, Rockford Files, The Jeffersons), and you'll be amazed at how consistent the formula is.

Ben Stein also interviewed many TV writers and producers, and demonstrated how their own backgrounds and lifestyles gave rise to the liberal biases reflected in their shows.(They really believed the world was as they portrayed it).Maybe half were Jews, the rest mainly Catholic, who were raised in working class environments and felt the sting of prejudice from "country club WASP Republicans."

Today, TV is not so liberal as in the 1970s.TV writer Rob Long wrote in National Review a few years back that 1990s sitcoms are apolitical, because a newer generation of TV writers has replaced the old.Most modern TV writers come from wealthy Hollywood families, or from the Ivy League (as was Long), so they no longer have the same liberal biases.

Even so, Ben Stein's book is STILL AS RELEVENT today as ever.Not because of what he discoverd about 1970s TV, but because of his method of analysis.Stein's book TAUGHT ME HOW TO WATCH TV.It's simply the best TV analysis book out there, great reading for anyone who wants to be a TV critic, or just to see TV more clearly.

Plenty of film theory books, but this is one of the few really great TV theory books.Also, it's a quick, easy read.Much intelligence, but in accessible language.

And YES, this is the SAME Ben Stein who hosts Comedy Central's WIN BEN STEIN'S MONEY. ... Read more

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R. Bronson ... Read more