The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth
By Ken Follett


From Publishers Weekly
With this book, Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner, escaping the narrow genre of suspense thrillers to take credit for a historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere and detail and memorable characterization. Set in 12th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The ambitions of three men merge, conflict and collide through four decades during which social and political upheaval and the internal politics of the church affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists. The insightful portrayals of an idealistic master builder, a pious, dogmatic but compassionate prior and an unscrupulous, ruthless bishop are balanced by those of a trio of independent, resourceful women (one of them quite loathesome) who can stand on their own as memorable characters in any genre. Beginning with a mystery that casts its shadow on ensuing events, the narrative is a seesaw of tension in which circumstances change with shocking but true-to-life unpredictability. Follett's impeccable pacing builds suspense in a balanced narrative that offers action, intrigue, violence and passion as well as the step-by-step description of an edifice rising in slow stages, its progress tied to the vicissitudes of fortune and the permutations of evolving architectural style. Follett's depiction of the precarious balance of power between monarchy and religion in the Middle Ages, and of the effects of social upheavals and the forces of nature (storms, famines) on political events; his ability to convey the fine points of architecture so that the cathedral becomes clearly visualized in the reader's mind; and above all, his portrayals of the enduring human emotions of ambition, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge and love, result in a highly engrossing narrative. Manipulating a complex plot in which the characters interact against a broad canvas of medieval life, Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale. 400,000 first printing; $400,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild main dual selection; author tour.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal
A radical departure from Follett's novels of international suspense and intrigue, this chronicles the vicissitudes of a prior, his master builder, and their community as they struggle to build a cathedral and protect themselves during the tumultuous 12th century, when the empress Maud and Stephen are fighting for the crown of England after the death of Henry I. The plot is less tightly controlled than those in Follett's contemporary works, and despite the wealth of historical detail, especially concerning architecture and construction, much of the language as well as the psychology of the characters and their relationships remains firmly rooted in the 20th century. This will appeal more to lovers of exciting adventure stories than true devotees of historical fiction. Literary Guild dual main selection.
- Cynthia Johnson Whealler, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Giiny Comment :

Follett primary strength in the book is his magnificent characters. By the end, Prior Phillip, Aliena, Jack, Richard, "Witch" Ellen, William of Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and a host of supporting characters are as real as people you know. Their strengths and weaknesses feel as sound as earth. I've just reached the part where the Cathedral is finished, and its magnificent image, built in love, hardship, and devotion, colors the whole book like light through stained glass. And I suspect the ending will be as immensely "right" as the entire rest of the book in its proportion in spinning out complicated human lives and emotions.

Follett manages to write of an age of religious devotion without tumbling into the two pits - making fun of medieval Christian faith, or uncritically adopting it. An IMMENSELY satisfying read.

I could quibble with what I feel is some gratuitous sex, some slightly contrived plot twists, but that's like complaining about some flotsam in the river as you're going over Niagara.

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Sub-prime Attack.

Sub-prime Attack.

Banks in the United Kingdom have not yet made the write-off of the prolonged sub-prime assets pledged by their American competitors, but they can not delay the disclosure of any loss much longer. Sean Farrell reports

Business Analysis

HSBC today the kick-off of the most eagerly awaited series of statements commercial bank in the years as investors seek reassurance that the contagion of the United States did not state a disaster for Britain's largest lenders.

HSBC is one of the first to alert the market to the looming crisis in the sub-prime US credit market when it issued its first profit warning last December. From the bank, once incursion into profitable loans to clients at risk rockets had exploded as defects caused bad debts to jump.

HSBC should also flag devaluations of the sub-prime fallout today, but, unless there is a huge shock, investors are likely to take the news in their stride. HSBC has stopped selling and trading US mortgage-backed securities and its shares have performed well due to the credit crunch.

The main concerns of investors in recent weeks have been Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland. These are the two British companies whose investment banking lenders and weapons rose most sharply on the back of the debt boom of recent years.

Investors were already nervous about the exposure of Barclays and RBS to the crash of the debt markets before the recent spate of statements by American banks upping their credit crunch devaluations. The huge increases in forced departures of two of the most powerful men on Wall Street

Things have come to a head of Barclays at the end of last week that rumors waved a question of rights, a $ 10bn depreciation, the Bank of England emergency funding, and the resignation of John Varley, chief the management, and Bob Diamond, the head of investment banking.

Barclays has stated publicly on Friday there was "no substance" to any of the rumors. This would once have been unusual step, but Barclays has been forced to reassure the market during the crisis credit, especially when he was rumoured to have borrowed from the Bank of England in September.

Investors' fears have mounted, in part because of lack of information. Considering that American and European rivals such as Citigroup and UBS report full quarterly results, Britain's financial giants publish their only twice a year, with the results of the next season does not begin until February.

The market will have to make do with British banks' trading statements, which appear in the coming months. Barclays is due to issue its declaration of exchange on November 27, with RBS next December 6. Despite requests from investors worried nor bank shows no sign of rapprochement statements before.

Given the record of American banks that had overwhelmingly to add to their initial estimates, it might be advisable for both Barclays and RBS to take their time and get the best possible information to investors. Both are expected to be aware of investor desire for detailed information on top of the usual coded language of trading statements.

Concerns revolve around three areas: the capital positions of banks, the scale of potential write-downs, and the loss of revenue.

Skeptics say analysts British banks' capital positions are stricter than those of many donors in the United States and Europe, as they used their own money to pay for acquisitions and have piled on assets in the investment bank that consumed the capital. With less of a buffer to absorb shocks, the pessimists say devaluations in the lower billion could force banks to raise capital.

Barclays is thought to be more prone to write-downs on complex structured credit products such as investment vehicles (SIVs) and collateralised debt obligations (CDOs), which are at the heart of the market fears over banks. SIVs issue short-term debt cheaper to invest in assets such as securities backed by mortgages and CDOs invest in the different grades of debt. La banque a l'obligation d'SIVs elle a mis en place pour inciter les clients aidés rumeurs d'un manque de liquidité, ce qui a été forcée de Barclays à contrer.

RBS its exposure in the United States credit markets is mainly by RBS Greenwich Capital, a major player in the packaging and distribution of mortgage backed securities. At the bank's interim results in August, Johnny Cameron, the head of corporate and investment bank, flagged 23 percent of the decline in volumes of asset-backed securities (ABS) in the first half. This will no doubt be struck by revenue, but he Cameron also noted that the ABS represent only 1.6 percent of group revenue.

But RBS capital position seems tight. Its core tier one capital ratio was 4.7 per cent, but is expected to fall to 4.25 percent by the end of this year after paying its share of the 71bn price of ABN Amro of the Netherlands . RBS, which is close to the 4 percent that is generally accepted as a minimum.

RBS has proved to be extremely cash-generating, in the past, and can be expected to add one percentage point of the capital generated within its ratio in a particular year as he did after Purchasing NatWest in 2000. But with so many uncertainties in terms of asset value and prospects for earnings, the market was scared.

But, despite several years of strong returns, many fund managers still think the UK market is underestimated, claiming that the recent slowdown presents a strong opportunity to purchase. We asked 10 of the UK's top investment managers and stockbrokers everyone to pick their favourite summer bargains

"Royal Dutch Shell B gives me security and stability. This is not the least expensive, but the investment available, compared to other actions, it is very solid and has the ability to survive the turbulence market. valued at 10 times earnings and with a gearing ratio of 6 percent of debt to total assets, the company has sufficient funds available for investment. Natural resources have been a favorite during the recent years and it is reasonable to assume that energy prices will not fall without a speedy recovery. oil prices are sustained To a greater extent by private demand. Demand for cars in China have more than tripled in Over the last few years, and while the Chinese GDP continues to grow at a rate of 11 percent, the United States far exceeds per capita car ownership in China. If you want to sleep in peace, this is probably the most reliable in the field of investment to its current price. "

Chris Watt, director of the Jupiter Environmental Income Fund: Hydro International

"This is a stock we have held for a long period, but it is very topical given the recent weather conditions in the United Kingdom. It specializes in the control and treatment of storm water and waste using proprietary technology based on vortex. This is a good example of the type of business that interests us: small, at an early stage of its development, but has developed real traction using a unique technology in a growing market. That is why we believe it has the potential to become a major market leader. "

Trevor Green, manager of the Allianz RCM UK Mid Cap funds: Cap --

"Cape Town is an international provider of essential support services to the energy sector. It provides services such as scaffolding, insulation, fire protection and cleanup specialist for blue-chip clients, including BP, Exxon, BNFL and Scottish Power in the United Kingdom. At its recent AGM of the company was able to increase significantly its profit forecasts for the full year, which is significant to their end of the year five months. This shows the high visibility it has on its order book, and it seems likely that next year it Retournera to pay a dividend. "

Felix Wintle, manager of the Neptune US Opportunities Fund: Crocs Inc

"Crocs is the manufacturer of a shoe phenomenon. Shoes sold in more than 40 countries, are sturdy and comfortable. We discovered this stock as a result of our investment process, taking a macro view down before seeking Business. we support for more than two years, as the market for advice on the American economy and its consumers is too bearish, Neptune has led to consider the consumer stocks. Crocs is in the growth phase d 'a global fund for the deployment and earnings will double this year. Notre Unrealized gain so far is 83 percent. "

Henk Potts, equity strategist, Barclays Stockbrokers: British American Tobacco

"One could be forgiven for believing that the increase in smoking bans and the constant bombardment of anti-smoking ads would be bad news for the big tobacco companies. However, British American Tobacco (BAT) has recently reported the results of the first quarter, which were better than the market expectations, with the band recording double-digit profit growth. This good performance was driven by emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa, where cigarette sales continue to rise. BAT is very cash-generating and plans to increase its dividend by 15 Percent per annum in the next two years. BAT also plans to spend 750 [pound] stock this year. stock currently trades at 1620p - we believe that its fair value is 1780p. "

Chou Chong, director of the Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust: Premier Foods

"Premier Foods is the largest in the United Kingdom and food company owns brands such as Branston and Crosse & Blackwell. It has recently added to its portfolio Batchelors in 2007 and early acquired RHM, whose brands include Hovis and Bisto. We are confident Prime Minister will be able To extract considerable production costs and synergies of the acquisition of RHM, refreshments and newly acquired brands such as RHM of Bisto and Mr. Kipling. shares are trading at about 12 times estimated 2008 earnings, the stock and also offers investors a dividend yield of 5.2 percent. "

George Finlay, one of the fund's managers Marlborough Special Situations: Hamworthy

"Hamworthy calls because it ticks all the boxes we love. This is a niche business providing products essential to global security growing businesses, shipbuilding and LNG (liquefied natural gas ). LNG is increasingly a vital part of World Fuel Mix and Hamworthy is the world leader in this market. On land, it has developed a technology that traps gases released during the development of oil and gas fields.Hamworthy is also the world leader in the provision of desalination systems for cruise ships. stock for a sit down. "

Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer)

Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer)
by James J. Cramer


BOOK INTRODUCTION: GET RICH AND STAY RICH

Most people don't think about it, but there's a difference between making a lot of money and building lasting wealth. When it comes to money we think that striking it rich is the ultimate goal. I know because I used to feel that way. In reality, getting rich isn't the financial finish line. It's the first lap of a much longer race. I'm talking about ensuring long-term prosperity for you and your family: not just getting rich, but staying rich. That's what each and every one of us truly wants to achieve with our money, and I don't care who you are, who your parents are, where you live, or what you do for a living: you can do it if you let me help you. I don't care if you don't have two cents to your name or if you owe thousands of dollars in credit card debt. I am confident I can get you there. You may think of yourself as someone who's awful with money; you could be a person who's tried and failed to get anywhere with every single financial plan you've ever been handed, like so many failed faddish diets. Whether you're 16 or 60, sending your kids to college or sending yourself to college, I'm writing this book to tell you everything you will ever need to know and everything you must do to create and maintain the kind of wealth that lasts a lifetime. I want you to get there and stay there.

A lot of people who try to sell you advice about your money are doing it to make money themselves. They don't care whether you succeed or fail with their advice because they're just looking to sell books or earn fees. I made more money than anyone ever needs working at my old hedge fund, and if I wanted more, I'd start another one. I am confident that I could raise a billion dollars to manage tomorrow, but frankly, I'd rather help you. That means more to me than working for people who are already rich. Perhaps it's because I'm a good guy, or because I just want to look like a good guy, or maybe I do it because I love positive attention. Maybe it's because after years of making money for myself, it just feels right. At the end of the day, the "why" isn't important, as long as you're satisfi ed that I'm writing this book in good faith to help you. What's important is the "what." I spent fourteen years running a hedge fund, which means that the only higher purpose my job had was to make incredibly rich people even richer. I used to joke that my job was to move people higher on the Forbes 400 richest people list -- not a higher calling.

I've now spent the past seven years since I retired from the fund writing books and columns for TheStreet.com and New York magazine and hosting a radio show and two television shows: first Kudlow & Cramer, then Mad Money. The venues have changed, but my goal was always the same: to share my experience and expertise with regular people to help them become rich. In this book, I'm aiming even higher than that: I'm teaching you how to make money and use it to ensure enduring prosperity and permanent financial security over the course of your entire life. The disciplines and the knowledge you need to build a firm foundation for your wealth and maintain it for the rest of your life are not the same as the ones you would need to make yourself rich by investing in stocks, the subject of my previous two books. If you're looking for long-term financial security, I would hope you'd set your sights higher. For long-term extravagant wealth, you need to know how to take advantage of tax-favored vehicles like 401(k) plans and IRAs; you need to know when you should buy bonds rather than stocks, not to mention the kinds of bonds you should choose; you need to know how to save for college; how to guarantee you have a smooth retirement; how to save; how to borrow; when you should buy a house; when you should be taking risks; when you should be avoiding risks; what you must teach your children about money; which mutual funds you should put your money in; and which stocks will look good for the long haul, the next twenty-five years. These are the subjects people beg me to address, and I am ready and willing to do so. I have the answers for all of the financial questions you, your parents, and your kids have about getting rich and staying rich. Don't be intimidated -- I'll explain everything in layman's terms, not in the Wall Street gibberish the professionals use to scare you into relying on them instead of using your own judgment.

But what about my judgment? You want to know where my advice comes from, and I don't blame you. Most of what I know about making money I learned in my years on Wall Street, first as a broker at Goldman Sachs, advising the wealthiest of the wealthy about all these lifetime issues, and then as the manager of my own hedge fund, Cramer, Berkowitz & Company. I've had a long love affair with stocks, but stocks are only one of many tools, albeit the most important one, that we're going to use to create lasting prosperity for you and your family. I know better than most people the difference between having money and not having it, or having it and having a whole lot of it. I'm a self-made multimillionaire, and I'm going to share with you the lifelong disciplines that made me rich and have kept me that way.

As I said, I made my own money. I've also been poor. In fact, I wasn't just poor; I was homeless and destitute. In 1978 I spent six months living in the backseat of my Ford Fairmont while I worked as a homicide reporter for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, unable to afford even rent money. By 1979 I had moved up in the world: I was living in the most spacious corner of my big sister's studio apartment in New York City. I was the last person in the world anyone was ever going to ask for financial advice, but even then I was diligent and self-disciplined about money. I may have skimped on the auto insurance and skipped on the rent, but I still put $50 a month into the best mutual fund I could fi nd, Fidelity's Magellan Fund. I have always been fascinated with mutual funds and managers, and I am going to tell you all about which ones you need and which ones you should avoid. I know what it's like to need money and not have it, and ever since those early days I have lived in desperate fear of poverty. Living out of my car with barely enough money to get by convinced me that I had to become rich, that no amount of money was too much, and that I would have to do it with more than just my meager paycheck. I would have to parlay that paycheck into something much bigger, using whatever financial resources I could get my hands on. I spent twenty years single-mindedly pursuing greater and greater sums of money until well past the point where more money made a bit of difference. I know it's possible for anyone to get rich and stay rich because I did it myself and I'm no different from any of you.

Like most things in life, getting rich and staying that way take a lot of hard work, a lot of knowledge, and a little bit of good advice. There are many ways to get your hands on a whole lot of money, though few of them can be called easy. You can invest in the right stocks, get a high-paying job, start your own business, or inherit the money, to name just a few. But there's only one way to make sure your newfound wealth leads to long-term prosperity: you have to use your money to make more money, and you need to do it the right way. It's hard work, and it takes diligence, but in this book I've already done a lot of the work for you. No, I don't have six easy steps to financial security, nor do I have three magic habits that will make you a millionaire, and I can't tell you the financial secrets of the superrich because as far as I know, they're just as feckless with money as ordinary people. People who promise that they can make you truckloads of cash and help you keep it as long as you follow their simple five-point program aren't telling you the whole story. Easy steps turn out to be not so easy, and advice that seemed great in theory turns out to be next to useless in practice. I suspect that many of these people have never made a dime except in book sales! I read a ton of these personal finance guides because every time someone writes a new one, which seems like every five minutes, the publisher comes to me to pen the introduction and give it my seal of approval. Many of these books are well-written, some of them by terrific people, but they generally don't tell you what you need to know. I swear, more books have been written about creating and keeping wealth than any one person could read in a lifetime, but I have yet to find a single one that actually tells you, in detail, what you must do during every stage of your life to develop enduring wealth and ensure that you never have to worry about your money again. So I decided to fix that problem by writing this one.

For most people, there are few things that are more confusing and frustrating than trying to manage their finances. I can't tell you how many people I've spoken to who agonize over trying to pick the right mutual fund and end up giving up, their money still in a checking account, because the decision was too hard and reliable information was too scarce. If you're looking for a financial plan, it's easy to get a broad outline, but very hard to fi nd anyone who will give you specific, detailed advice. But that's exactly what I'm going to do. Others are more than willing to show you the forest: save money, pay off your credit card debt, contribute to your 401(k), start an IRA. But no one will identify the trees, where the money is actually grown. How should you manage your IRA? What, specifically, should you own in your retirement and discretionary accounts? Which of the most popular mutual funds available in your 401(k) plan is the best place to put your money? I'll even recommend the best mutual funds, using all the data available as I write this book.

Too many books about money go wrong because they try to offer timeless advice. There's no such thing as great timeless advice. The really useful financial information is time-sensitive. I don't know if the people...

Giiny Comment :

Jim Cramer has really produced another great book. This one starts out as a personal finance book explaining how to budget and the importance of saving money in a retirement account each month. He advises to contribute whatever is needed into your 401K plan at work to get the match. (Most companies offer a 80%-100% return on your money off the top with the match). I can tell you from my experience that is the #1 reason I have a hefty net worth at 35 years old. Cramer then advises putting money beyond the match into an IRA for more investment options than the 401K offers.
His advice is to put the money in an S&P index fund if your 401K does not offer excellent funds to invest in. He advises to never put this money in your company's stock, the risk is to great. Cramer explains bonds, bills, and treasuries in this book along with the percentage of your money to hold in them. You will see that he is much more aggressive with his recommendations for the percentage of your money to hold in stocks as you age.

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The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing

The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing
by Jason Kelly

Book Description
A comprehensively updated edition of an essential guide to stock market investing

For over a decade, Jason Kelly has provided investors with the insider knowledge and time-tested strategies they need to maximize their investment programs. This thoroughly updated edition of The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing includes:
• Kelly’s Maximum Midcap Strategy, an innovative investment program that consistently outperforms the market
• Real-life examples of investment strategies that paid big dividends
• Tips from master investors like Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch, and Bill Miller

An accessible, intelligent, and highly effective approach to investing, The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing is an invaluable resource for investors everywhere.


Giiny comment :

Kelly's writing is very witty and entertaining. He has a gift for explaining complex issues in simple and easy to understand langauge. The title describes this book perfectly. Kelly is very concise: long on practical advice, without a lot of dry theory and argument. He covers the basics and terminology of Stock investing well; this book is an excellent introduction to stock market investing for beginners. There is a valuable chapter in which he summarizes the investment methods of some of the most successful and famous market wizards such as Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, William O'Neil and others. Kelly reviews the main factors that are essential for evaluating a potential stock purchase. I liked the chapter that reviews the available investing magazines, websites, databases and software. Finally he gives a practical method for finding the best stocks out there: A list of important criteria, where to find those criteria, and how to interpret the data you find.

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Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse

Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse
by Lynn Sonberg


Book Description
Praise for Crash Proof

"The dot-com implosion proves that we all need Peter Schiff's vision of investing.?His view is so global and so unique in its approach, and at a time when we all should be looking to crash-proof our portfolios, Schiff offers us this much-needed life-raft."
—Liz Claman, Cohost, CNBC Morning Call

"For those accustomed to America's economic dominance, Crash Proof is a frighteningly forthright wake-up call. But Peter Schiff is one Cassandra whose voice deserves your rapt attention. Devoid of the usual Wall Street spin, this frank and prophetic read will make you reconsider the very foundations on which your financial house is built."
—Jonathan Hoenig, Portfolio Manager, Capitalistpig Hedge Fund LLC and FOX News Channel analyst

"Schiff does an outstanding job of outlining the dangers to individual investors of the current economic environment and presents a plausible plan about how to deal with the risks."
—David W. Tice, Portfolio Manager, Prudent Bear Funds

"A sober assessment of the financial problems facing our country. Reading this book will prepare you for potential outcomes that Wall Street and the mainstream financial media are completely unaware of."
—Bill Fleckenstein, founder and President of Fleckenstein Capital and MSN.com Money columnist

From the Inside Flap
From both an economic and monetary perspective, the United States is a house of cards—impressive on the outside, but a disaster waiting to happen beneath the surface. In a relatively short period of time, the country has gone from the world's largest creditor to its greatest debtor; the value of the dollar has declined; and domestic manufacturing has given way to non-exportable services. While these and other issues could potentially spell disaster for your financial well-being, the situation could also present unique opportunities—if you're prepared.

For more than a decade, seasoned Wall Street prognosticator Peter Schiff has not only observed the U.S. economy, but also helped his clients restructure their portfolios to reflect his outlook. What he sees today is a nation facing an economic storm brought on by growing federal, personal, and corporate debt; too little savings; a declining dollar; and lack of domestic manufacturing.

Now, in Crash Proof, Schiff provides you with an insightful examination of the structural weaknesses underlying this impending economic meltdown, and discusses the measures you can take to protect yourself—as well as profit—during the difficult times that lie ahead. Using common-sense analysis, creative analogies, and easy-to-understand language, Schiff entertains as well as educates. While Schiff carefully details the grave economic forces pushing the United States closer to the edge, he also outlines a specific three-step plan that will allow you to preserve wealth and protect the purchasing power of the savings you have worked a lifetime to accumulate.

Step #1: Rethinking Your Stock Portfolio: shows you exactly how to replace your endangered U.S. dollar holdings with a portfolio of foreign securities that are safer, significantly higher yielding, and appropriate for any investment objectives

Step #2: Gold Rush: examines the various ways you can capitalize on the bull market in gold, as well as silver, and explains how these precious metals can add both safety and exciting growth potential to a conservative foreign stock portfolio

Step #3: Stay Liquid: discusses the importance of liquidity in times of financial uncertainty—from having enough money for living expenses to keeping a reserve of uncommitted cash that can be used to acquire assets at bargain prices

Investing using conventional wisdom will not work during times of financial distress. That's why Crash Proof has taken the reality of today's economic situation into account as it offers you guidance. Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, Crash Proof will help you survive and thrive during the coming years of economic uncertainty.

Giiny comment :

Crash Proof gave me the ammunition to educate friends and family using plain english. His book not only outlines the problems but provides solutions for investors. My favorite part is his recommendation for homeowners to swap the equity in their homes for assets of real value. Peter Schiff is providing a great service to America. This book should be required reading for all high school students(and teachers). Read it take action and make money.

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The Appeal by John Grisham

The Appeal
by John Grisham


Book Description

The jury was ready.

After forty-two hours of deliberations that followed seventy-one days of trial that included 530 hours of testimony from four dozen witnesses, and after a lifetime of sitting silently as the lawyers haggled and the judge lectured and the spectators watched like hawks for telltale signs, the jury was ready. Locked away in the jury room, secluded and secure, ten of them proudly signed their names to the verdict while the other two pouted in their corners, detached and miserable in their dissension. There were hugs and smiles and no small measure of self-congratulation because they had survived this little war and could now march proudly back into the arena with a decision they had rescued through sheer determination and the dogged pursuit of compromise. Their ordeal was over; their civic duty complete. They had served above and beyond. They were ready.

The foreman knocked on the door and rustled Uncle Joe from his slumbers. Uncle Joe, the ancient bailiff, had guarded them while he also arranged their meals, heard their complaints, and quietly slipped their messages to the judge. In his younger years, back when his hearing was better, Uncle Joe was rumored to also eavesdrop on his juries through a ?imsy pine door he and he alone had selected and installed. But his listening days were over, and, as he had con?ded to no one but his wife, after the ordeal of this particular trial he might just hang up his old pistol once and for all. The strain of controlling justice was wearing him down.
--From Chapter One of The Appeal

Politics has always been a dirty game.
Now justice is, too.


In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town’s water supply, causing the worst “cancer cluster” in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it.

Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case is ultimately decided?

The chemical company is owned by a Wall Street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the Court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him, and mold him into a potential Supreme Court justice. Their Supreme Court justice.

The Appeal is a powerful, timely, and shocking story of political and legal intrigue, a story that will leave readers unable to think about our electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way ever again.

More Books by John Grisham

Eat This Not That: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More!

Eat This Not That
by DAVID ZINCZENKO

Description
Eat what you want, when you want--and watch the pounds disappear!

Americans spend more than $400 billion a year eating out, and behind each burger, turkey sandwich, and ice cream sundae is a simple decision that could help you control your weight-and your life. The problem is, restaurant chains and food producers aren't interested in helping you make healthy choices. In fact, they invest $30 billion a year on advertising, much of it aimed at confusing eaters and disguising the fat and calorie counts of their products. All of that has changed with EAT THIS, NOT THAT!. This book puts the entire food industry under the spotlight, and arms you with the savvy tricks and insider information it takes to eat well no matter where you are. With EAT THIS, NOT THAT! you're the expert in every eating situation, from the frozen food aisle to your favorite fast food joint to your local sports bar. You control your food universe-and lose the pounds you want--because, unlike every other customer, you'll know the smart choices to make-instantly!

EAT THIS, NOT THAT! is jam-packed with secrets the restaurant industry doesn't want you to know. For example:
Burger King doesn't want you to know that a BK Big Fish. Sandwich and fries have a whopping 1000 calories-nearly half your daily caloric intake! (Fish is usually healthy, but not this kind. Find out why with this book.)
Pizza Hut doesn't want you to know that a standard pizza in Italy contains 500 to 800 calories, but the same meal at Pizza Hut can top 2,100 calories! (You'd need to ride a stationary bike for more than three hours to burn off this mistake. Instead, eat all the pizza you want by making smart choices. EAT THIS, NOT THAT! shows you how.)
Macaroni Grill doesn't want you to know that a single serving of their Grilled Teriyaki Salmon has more than three times your daily allowance of sodium! (Cut your risk of high blood pressure by making smart choices at the same restaurant. You'll find them inside.)

If only you knew the industry secrets, you could eat at any of your favorite restaurants-or chow down on everything from the company vending machine to your kids' Halloween buckets-and know that every decision you made was smart, healthy, and the best possible choice for you. For example, did you know:
At McDonald's, an Egg McMuffin. is actually a healthy choice, with just 300 calories. (The Hotcakes pack more than double that amount!)
At Krispy Kreme, all you need to do is order the Very Berry Chiller instead of the Mocha Dream Chiller, and you'll save 500 calories! (Do that once a week and you'll drop more than 7 pounds this year-without trying!)
At Chipotle, you can cut 570 calories out of your Chicken Burrito just by ordering it as a bowl (without the tortilla) and asking them to hold the rice. (Same great taste, but with 94 fewer carb grams!)
Choosing a cinnamon roll at Au Bon Pain over Cinnabon will save you 463 calories and 20 grams of fat!
In the freezer section of your local supermarket, a turkey pot pie from Swanson's has 610 fewer calories than a turkey pot pie from Pepperidge Farms.
In the produce aisle, you'll get twice the vitamin C-and nine times as much vitamin A-simply by picking red bell peppers over green ones. (Who said eating healthy was difficult?)

And that's why EAT THIS, NOT THAT! is going to change everything. It's time to level the playing field. We're all tired of sneaky calories adding to our waistlines, and having to starve ourselves or spend hours on the treadmill trying to burn off the damage. Now-for the first time-you're in charge. With this simple illustrated guide to thousands of foods--along with the nutrition secrets that lead to fast and permanent weight loss--you'll make the smartest choice every time!

About the Author

DAVID ZINCZENKO, editor in chief of Men's Health magazine, is the author of the New York Times best-sellers The Abs Diet and The Abs Diet for Women. Once an overweight child growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Zinczenko has become one of the nation's leading experts on health and fitness. He is a regular contributor to the Today show, and has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, and Primetime Live.

MATT GOULDING is the food and nutrition editor of Men's Health. He has cooked and eaten his way across the world, touching down in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he divides most of his time between keyboard and stovetop.

Giiny Comment :



Everybody in my office is fascinated by this book! This is NOT a "diet", but a realistic (and surprising!) view of the foods Americans actually eat and the choices they can make that will make a difference. You really don't realize how many calories or fat grams you are eating when you eat out until you read this book!

Most of the book is an Eat This/Not That of menu selections at a wide variety of chain restaurants. Other sections include what to look for on menus at different types of restaurants, an Eat This/Not That section for special occasions (like Valentine's Day or Christmas), an Eat This/Not That section on types of foods (crackers, soups, etc.), an Eat This/Not That section for different situations (like when you need to sleep or when you need to stay awake or when you feel low on energy), and a section on food for kids. There's also a list of 8 Foods You Should Eat Every Day and The 20 Worst Foods in America.

More Book by DAVID ZINCZENKO

Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World

After telling the story of his own trading days in Confessions of a Street Addict, Cramer appeases fans hoping for advice on how to duplicate his success with their own investment portfolios. But not without some strong caveats: his approach requires devoting at least an
hour a week to educating yourself about each stock you own. But since most pros are "rank amateurs themselves," anyone willing to do the work should consider getting in. Cramer
breaks down the fundamentals of his investment approach, built on the twin principles of diversification and speculation: while most of your portfolio should contain reliables like oil, financials and blue-chip

companies, 20% percent of your money should go toward a slightly riskier bet on a company's future ("owning a stock is a bet on the future, not the past").

He also explains techniques for figuring out when to buy rock bottom stocks and sell the ones that have hit their peaks. Cramer drills his main points over and over, which can get repetitive on the anecdotal level but reinforces the simplicity of his message: investing is for anybody willing to put the time into learning how to do it right. His enthusiasm should prove inspiring,
and even investors on the wrong side of Wall Street's recent shakeups may find the courage to get back in the game. Either way, Cramer's radio, TV and print platforms are sure to make this one another hit. Agent, Suzanne Gluck at William Morris. (Apr. 5)


Giiny Comment :
Real Money is a great title for this Investing book. Here Jim Cramer tells in a very readable, enjoyable way how he trained people to work at his hedge fund. I had read a few "beginner books" that mostly explained in general terms how the market operates and how to invest in that usual ultra-conservative way barely better than the bond market. But Real Money shows with some rigor how to go about finding and researching winners.
More Books by Cramer