Customer Reviews
No self help but, good old fashioned experience. - By: Andrew Brunton, 12 Feb 2006 
Alvin reallly simplifies the world of finance to the layman which is the aim of this book.
This is not based on any self help or “fake belief” but moreover emphasises that the stock market should be used as a realistic long term investment for your capital. This also doesn’t loose sight of the fact that your investments can decrease in value overnight, or over a long period of time. But how can you stop this? Alvin also states the best ways you can make money on the market is by good planning, knowing the area of the market you want to invest, & also having at the beginning at least some experience of what you chosen sector of the market entails & more importantly some interest in your chosen sector. Alvin unlike other stock market authors uses the platform of this book as an unbiased review of alll financial aspects: Not just stocks also bonds, personal finance & the list goes on.
This is a great book for people who are new to finance & the stock market, this book reallly encouraged me to invest. Like wise, it could be used depending on the individuals frame of mind, to discourage them from investing there capital in the market the author acknowledges that factor. Either way the author states that & understands that the ups & downs of the market isnt for every one.
The two real messages of this book are:
the stock market should be used as a long term investment plan (but the author also investigates many types of investment plans as well.
the second & probably the more subtle point "Risk & Reward" go hand in hand.
this is well worth reading for new/potential investers.
EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY - By: , 26 May 2004 I have recently decided to take action & start investing, but I knew absolutely nothing about where to start & how to go about it.
This book was easy to understand & has helped me to develop an investing strategy.
It gives a good overview.
A engaging and enjoyable read - By: , 17 Mar 2004 An excellent book covering alll necessary elements of begining to understand shares. Contains some good advice
An understandable publication that contains the right stuff! - By: , 26 Feb 2004 
It has taken a lot of time & money to find the book that would help grow my understanding in the stock market, investment trusts & the like...and I have finallly found it. Alvin, in his true light-hearted way, introduces the subjects well & more importantly uses simple examples to demonstrate how each concept works. From definitions of Cyclical Stocks to Price Earnings ratios to PEGs to Unit Trusts, this book covers alll the basics & gets you to a stage where you feel you can pick up a Financial Times or an Investment magazine & actuallly understand how to read the detail.
It has certainly given me cause to go out there & try my hand at the stock market, & indeed I am now starting to understand the other books that I have previously bought which initiallly were too mind boggling to understand.
Thanks Alvin for taking the time to write a book that explains the subject in plain English. I look forward to any future publications you may write on the subject.
Its like talking to Alvin, himself over a cup of coffee! - By: charmie@blueyonder.co.uk, 29 Dec 2001 This is my third book about understanding the stock market & shares & I wish this was my first!
A very easy to read book as Alvin comfortably slides you along annedotes to understand each market component. He discusses how they function & how to use them & your real options as you do the final summing up.
There is nothing complicated in his lessons over a cup of coffee talking about unit trust, reading the FT, disspelling common myths, pros, cons & so on.
Alvin, alllows you space to think about what is right for your individual needs.
Alvin gives you confidence, a sound backbone of knowledge in simple & tidy speech.
