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 Customer Reviews
Excellent Book, 18 Sep 2008
This book has full of practical trading tips and summarises the top ten mistakes made by traders. The book is written in plain English, so it's easy to understand and good fun to read too. I have found this book is very useful in my trading.
Without doubt..., 01 Sep 2008
.... the best book currently around for understanding the stock market. Robbie Burns is very good at explaining all the market jargon in a friendly and humourous tone, and there's masses of advice - particularly what not to do! The webiste is well worth a look too.
good book easy to read, 20 Jul 2008
good book easy to read, emphasises doing own research. Gives some usefull advice, such as avoiding shares with debt more than 3 times of Annual profit ( I would say rather Cash Flow)
Only regret is not buying it soon enough, 12 May 2008
I wish I bought it a year ago when I started trading... If I read this earlier, I could have avoided mistakes I made NT pointed out in the book.
The author's writing style is light and friendly so it's not a boring book to read. Clearly pointed out mistakes all newbie investors would make along with good habit of trading. It's not the investing bible nor get rich quick book but it definitely is investing 101 for newbies and intermediate investors.
Great., 05 Mar 2008
Although I have yet to find the time, spare cash or the confidence to start trading I do think that this book will prove invaluable to me when I finally do. The advice is not going to guarantee you a fortune over night or even guarantee you success. However it will make the whole world of stocks and shares much less of a mystery whilst providing you with some very useful hints tips and information. Looking over some of my friend's dealings and losses I now understand approximately where they may have gone wrong. Had they read this book first they may have saved themselves some money. Even such seemingly simple advice about setting loss stops and never buying into the `falling knife' stocks is very helpful. The author includes many examples of winning and losing scenarios as well as pointers on where deals often go wrong.
As other reviewers have said the book is very easy to read in a sitting or two, and also amusing in places.
I will be passing this on to my unsuccessful share dealing friends, and recommend it to anyone still in their early days of dealing.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent Book, 18 Sep 2008
This book has full of practical trading tips and summarises the top ten mistakes made by traders. The book is written in plain English, so it's easy to understand and good fun to read too. I have found this book is very useful in my trading.
Without doubt..., 01 Sep 2008
.... the best book currently around for understanding the stock market. Robbie Burns is very good at explaining all the market jargon in a friendly and humourous tone, and there's masses of advice - particularly what not to do! The webiste is well worth a look too. good book easy to read, 20 Jul 2008
good book easy to read, emphasises doing own research. Gives some usefull advice, such as avoiding shares with debt more than 3 times of Annual profit ( I would say rather Cash Flow)
Only regret is not buying it soon enough, 12 May 2008
I wish I bought it a year ago when I started trading... If I read this earlier, I could have avoided mistakes I made NT pointed out in the book.
The author's writing style is light and friendly so it's not a boring book to read. Clearly pointed out mistakes all newbie investors would make along with good habit of trading. It's not the investing bible nor get rich quick book but it definitely is investing 101 for newbies and intermediate investors. Great., 05 Mar 2008
Although I have yet to find the time, spare cash or the confidence to start trading I do think that this book will prove invaluable to me when I finally do. The advice is not going to guarantee you a fortune over night or even guarantee you success. However it will make the whole world of stocks and shares much less of a mystery whilst providing you with some very useful hints tips and information. Looking over some of my friend's dealings and losses I now understand approximately where they may have gone wrong. Had they read this book first they may have saved themselves some money. Even such seemingly simple advice about setting loss stops and never buying into the `falling knife' stocks is very helpful. The author includes many examples of winning and losing scenarios as well as pointers on where deals often go wrong.
As other reviewers have said the book is very easy to read in a sitting or two, and also amusing in places.
I will be passing this on to my unsuccessful share dealing friends, and recommend it to anyone still in their early days of dealing.
Not for the beginner, 14 Mar 2004
Nice dictionary for the price but many words I have looked up are just not there. If you are new to the subject perhaps give this one a miss, but if you have been studying the subject for some time and are looking for your first dictionary go for it.
The best quick and easy reference book around, 08 Jun 2002
Reber's text is thoroughly excellent; if possible, an improvement even on the second edition. Terms and perspectives are clearly explained with the occasional thought provoking comment thrown in (see the entry for 'binding'!). Moreover, Reber opts for a personal prose which distances the text from more stock, 'cookbook' competitors. Highly recommended and valuable at all levels of professional attainment. Buy it -- you won't regret it.
An invaluable tool for the psychology undergraduate, 08 Feb 2001
This book saw me through my undergraduate years and is still useful now that I'm postdoctoral! The clarity of expression and the range of individual entries provide an excellent start to any essay or topic. There are also some gems which you'll come across by accident - try the entry for psychoceramics!
Good general dicitionary but don't rely totally on it, 02 Dec 2000
It is good for people who are new to Psychology. If you are a degree student, it is worth bearing in mind that it is of most use in the first year. As the course gets more advanced, you are unlikely to find many new terms in the dictionary. Since the field of Psychology is so wide, it is difficult for a dicitionary of this size to give detailed definitions and explanations: if these are what you want, you are better off looking them up in the glossary in a more specialised textbook.
Great book for those new to psychology!, 23 Feb 2000
this book is a great book for all those who are new to psychology be it A level or even degree level. Technical words and phrases are expained and Important words and phrases are explained in detail it really helps with essay writing,and in easy to understand language too. well worth buying!
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Customer Reviews
Excellent Book, 18 Sep 2008
This book has full of practical trading tips and summarises the top ten mistakes made by traders. The book is written in plain English, so it's easy to understand and good fun to read too. I have found this book is very useful in my trading.
Without doubt..., 01 Sep 2008
.... the best book currently around for understanding the stock market. Robbie Burns is very good at explaining all the market jargon in a friendly and humourous tone, and there's masses of advice - particularly what not to do! The webiste is well worth a look too. good book easy to read, 20 Jul 2008
good book easy to read, emphasises doing own research. Gives some usefull advice, such as avoiding shares with debt more than 3 times of Annual profit ( I would say rather Cash Flow)
Only regret is not buying it soon enough, 12 May 2008
I wish I bought it a year ago when I started trading... If I read this earlier, I could have avoided mistakes I made NT pointed out in the book.
The author's writing style is light and friendly so it's not a boring book to read. Clearly pointed out mistakes all newbie investors would make along with good habit of trading. It's not the investing bible nor get rich quick book but it definitely is investing 101 for newbies and intermediate investors. Great., 05 Mar 2008
Although I have yet to find the time, spare cash or the confidence to start trading I do think that this book will prove invaluable to me when I finally do. The advice is not going to guarantee you a fortune over night or even guarantee you success. However it will make the whole world of stocks and shares much less of a mystery whilst providing you with some very useful hints tips and information. Looking over some of my friend's dealings and losses I now understand approximately where they may have gone wrong. Had they read this book first they may have saved themselves some money. Even such seemingly simple advice about setting loss stops and never buying into the `falling knife' stocks is very helpful. The author includes many examples of winning and losing scenarios as well as pointers on where deals often go wrong.
As other reviewers have said the book is very easy to read in a sitting or two, and also amusing in places.
I will be passing this on to my unsuccessful share dealing friends, and recommend it to anyone still in their early days of dealing.
Not for the beginner, 14 Mar 2004
Nice dictionary for the price but many words I have looked up are just not there. If you are new to the subject perhaps give this one a miss, but if you have been studying the subject for some time and are looking for your first dictionary go for it.
The best quick and easy reference book around, 08 Jun 2002
Reber's text is thoroughly excellent; if possible, an improvement even on the second edition. Terms and perspectives are clearly explained with the occasional thought provoking comment thrown in (see the entry for 'binding'!). Moreover, Reber opts for a personal prose which distances the text from more stock, 'cookbook' competitors. Highly recommended and valuable at all levels of professional attainment. Buy it -- you won't regret it.
An invaluable tool for the psychology undergraduate, 08 Feb 2001
This book saw me through my undergraduate years and is still useful now that I'm postdoctoral! The clarity of expression and the range of individual entries provide an excellent start to any essay or topic. There are also some gems which you'll come across by accident - try the entry for psychoceramics!
Good general dicitionary but don't rely totally on it, 02 Dec 2000
It is good for people who are new to Psychology. If you are a degree student, it is worth bearing in mind that it is of most use in the first year. As the course gets more advanced, you are unlikely to find many new terms in the dictionary. Since the field of Psychology is so wide, it is difficult for a dicitionary of this size to give detailed definitions and explanations: if these are what you want, you are better off looking them up in the glossary in a more specialised textbook.
Great book for those new to psychology!, 23 Feb 2000
this book is a great book for all those who are new to psychology be it A level or even degree level. Technical words and phrases are expained and Important words and phrases are explained in detail it really helps with essay writing,and in easy to understand language too. well worth buying!
The true craft - and graft - of writing, 08 Aug 2008
This book won't write your novel for you. It won't tell you how to get it published. But what it will do is guide new (and not so new) writers through the essentials.
If you have a great idea for a story and are basically literate, this book is a very good way to turn out an excellent book. It guides writers through the basics of plot and character, point of view and setting, and through to those final elements such as rewriting and editing many writers try to avoid. It is thorough and understandable, and, being written by a wide variety of accomplished professionals rather than just one know-it-all, it provides the best advice available from many sources.
It is often partnered with What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers, and for good reason. What If adds valuable exercises to this book, and is worth buying alongside it.
This is not a short-cut to getting published. It is a rigorous manual containing many exercises that while maybe not appealing on first glance, are well worth doing. It is a guide to the true craft - and graft - of the writing process. Ironically, it is increasingly apparent that publishers and their editors have little knowledge of these building blocks of good writing. This book can make sure what you present for publication is as good as it should be; whether editors actually recognise that fact is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of even this terrific book.
Beside the point, 20 May 2008
I think some reviews of this book are beside the point - it's more of a course-book for people who go to "Creative Writing" courses at uiversity, or ideas for teachers of same rather than a book about how to improve technique. Neither do I have any quibble with its not being a WRITE FOR PROFIT! piece of puff that hopes to fleece naive hopefuls. That said, it's just not a very good course-book. Most of the "ideas for writing" are flat, flaccid or just plain time-wasting stuff for teachers to use in a crisis ("imagine your bedroom or a pair of shoes" twaddle, while Ali Smith's comparative sentence-matching exercises take "pointless" to a new level). It's not a book about what writing might mean in a wider context either. The whole book is beside the point. The best way to get a serious handle on how to write is to read and read as deeply as you can - genre fiction will not teach you much, except what someone else has worked out as their "formula". Writing well is not success-based, and no book can be a 12-step programme. READ.
two thirds of this book is really useful, 08 Feb 2008
I bought this book quite a while ago and still dip into it now and again for inspiration. Different writers give their advice, and i have earmarked those chapters written by the writers i found the most inspiring/helpful. There are two or three 'advisers' whose advice is a little superior and somewhat irritating, but this is made up for by those whose advice i have gleaned plenty from. I have recommended this book to several writing friends, and was certainly glad to discover it myself. You WILL find this book useful and an ispiration when you are stuck for where to go next in your story. If you read this book with 'your story' in mind, you will end up writing down copious notes for ideas...my copy of this book is full of margin notes!! Certainly worth the money.
Not helpful at all, 11 Jan 2008
This book implies that is is a guide to creative writing. I found it irritating. It's more like a group of people discussing elements of writing from their own particular perspective, with little to no constructive advice.
Yes there are excercises suggested, but the instructions are often badly laid out. There is a certain element of literary 'snobbery' - commercial success appears to be frowned upon by the authors and contributors.
I would not recommend it to anyone who is looking for an introduction to creative writing, especially if their interest lies in popular fiction.
Not actually much use, 17 Dec 2007
Imagine you wanted to learn wood working. But imagine you bought a book full of sentences like, "Wood is as old as the world", or, "To be human is to need wooden furniture...".
You'd feel a little ripped off. You want actual instructions on how to work with wood, not thoughtful aphorisms, no matter how clever.
That's the problem with this book. Need advice on plotting? Well, in the "Plotting and shaping" section you'll read, "We write things in order to make sense of the world". That's true, I guess. Even profound. But not a great deal of use. Where's discussion of narrative arcs? Where are real examples of plots taken from real books, showing how it's been done in the past, complete with expert commentary? In short, where's the substance?
There's a lot more exactly like that. This isn't a book that teaches. It suggests and implies. It waves a hand in the direction of travel but doesn't give actual directions. Sadly, this is all-too common in creative writing literature. Authors can be as secretive as magicians in guarding their techniques and methods. There's a reluctance to closely analyse technique, perhaps for fear of breaking it.
Others reviewers have suggested that this book is "inspiring". That might be true but for that to be the case you'd need to have already learnt the skills this book purports to teach (it is, after all, a "coursebook"). Above all, I keep coming back to the thought that this book teaches its readers to suck eggs... To tread water when you want to learn how to swim.
The book can also be annoyingly patronising and has definite concepts of high and low literature. Of "Bestselling plots", one contributor writes sniffly that they belong to "books sold in dump bins at airports". Thanks for that opinion, but is it helpful? This rather cynical theme runs throughout the book. You're unlikely to find discussion of books by Harold Robbins, or Stephen King, or Frederick Forsyth, or Catherine Cookson (or any other popular author -- the books that people actually buy and enjoy). But you will find mention of Virginia Wolfe. I'd check for more examples like this but the book lacks an index -- another annoyance.
There is some good stuff in this book, and I've given it 3 out of 5 for being so readable and entertaining. But it's perilously close to being a useless frivolity. Reading it is a matter of sifting the silt to find the gold. Worse than that, there's a lot of iron pyrite sprinkled in there, in the form of aphorisms and vague advice that looks valuable, but is actually worthless.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent Book, 18 Sep 2008
This book has full of practical trading tips and summarises the top ten mistakes made by traders. The book is written in plain English, so it's easy to understand and good fun to read too. I have found this book is very useful in my trading.
Without doubt..., 01 Sep 2008
.... the best book currently around for understanding the stock market. Robbie Burns is very good at explaining all the market jargon in a friendly and humourous tone, and there's masses of advice - particularly what not to do! The webiste is well worth a look too. good book easy to read, 20 Jul 2008
good book easy to read, emphasises doing own research. Gives some usefull advice, such as avoiding shares with debt more than 3 times of Annual profit ( I would say rather Cash Flow)
Only regret is not buying it soon enough, 12 May 2008
I wish I bought it a year ago when I started trading... If I read this earlier, I could have avoided mistakes I made NT pointed out in the book.
The author's writing style is light and friendly so it's not a boring book to read. Clearly pointed out mistakes all newbie investors would make along with good habit of trading. It's not the investing bible nor get rich quick book but it definitely is investing 101 for newbies and intermediate investors. Great., 05 Mar 2008
Although I have yet to find the time, spare cash or the confidence to start trading I do think that this book will prove invaluable to me when I finally do. The advice is not going to guarantee you a fortune over night or even guarantee you success. However it will make the whole world of stocks and shares much less of a mystery whilst providing you with some very useful hints tips and information. Looking over some of my friend's dealings and losses I now understand approximately where they may have gone wrong. Had they read this book first they may have saved themselves some money. Even such seemingly simple advice about setting loss stops and never buying into the `falling knife' stocks is very helpful. The author includes many examples of winning and losing scenarios as well as pointers on where deals often go wrong.
As other reviewers have said the book is very easy to read in a sitting or two, and also amusing in places.
I will be passing this on to my unsuccessful share dealing friends, and recommend it to anyone still in their early days of dealing.
Not for the beginner, 14 Mar 2004
Nice dictionary for the price but many words I have looked up are just not there. If you are new to the subject perhaps give this one a miss, but if you have been studying the subject for some time and are looking for your first dictionary go for it.
The best quick and easy reference book around, 08 Jun 2002
Reber's text is thoroughly excellent; if possible, an improvement even on the second edition. Terms and perspectives are clearly explained with the occasional thought provoking comment thrown in (see the entry for 'binding'!). Moreover, Reber opts for a personal prose which distances the text from more stock, 'cookbook' competitors. Highly recommended and valuable at all levels of professional attainment. Buy it -- you won't regret it.
An invaluable tool for the psychology undergraduate, 08 Feb 2001
This book saw me through my undergraduate years and is still useful now that I'm postdoctoral! The clarity of expression and the range of individual entries provide an excellent start to any essay or topic. There are also some gems which you'll come across by accident - try the entry for psychoceramics!
Good general dicitionary but don't rely totally on it, 02 Dec 2000
It is good for people who are new to Psychology. If you are a degree student, it is worth bearing in mind that it is of most use in the first year. As the course gets more advanced, you are unlikely to find many new terms in the dictionary. Since the field of Psychology is so wide, it is difficult for a dicitionary of this size to give detailed definitions and explanations: if these are what you want, you are better off looking them up in the glossary in a more specialised textbook.
Great book for those new to psychology!, 23 Feb 2000
this book is a great book for all those who are new to psychology be it A level or even degree level. Technical words and phrases are expained and Important words and phrases are explained in detail it really helps with essay writing,and in easy to understand language too. well worth buying!
The true craft - and graft - of writing, 08 Aug 2008
This book won't write your novel for you. It won't tell you how to get it published. But what it will do is guide new (and not so new) writers through the essentials.
If you have a great idea for a story and are basically literate, this book is a very good way to turn out an excellent book. It guides writers through the basics of plot and character, point of view and setting, and through to those final elements such as rewriting and editing many writers try to avoid. It is thorough and understandable, and, being written by a wide variety of accomplished professionals rather than just one know-it-all, it provides the best advice available from many sources.
It is often partnered with What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers, and for good reason. What If adds valuable exercises to this book, and is worth buying alongside it.
This is not a short-cut to getting published. It is a rigorous manual containing many exercises that while maybe not appealing on first glance, are well worth doing. It is a guide to the true craft - and graft - of the writing process. Ironically, it is increasingly apparent that publishers and their editors have little knowledge of these building blocks of good writing. This book can make sure what you present for publication is as good as it should be; whether editors actually recognise that fact is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of even this terrific book.
Beside the point, 20 May 2008
I think some reviews of this book are beside the point - it's more of a course-book for people who go to "Creative Writing" courses at uiversity, or ideas for teachers of same rather than a book about how to improve technique. Neither do I have any quibble with its not being a WRITE FOR PROFIT! piece of puff that hopes to fleece naive hopefuls. That said, it's just not a very good course-book. Most of the "ideas for writing" are flat, flaccid or just plain time-wasting stuff for teachers to use in a crisis ("imagine your bedroom or a pair of shoes" twaddle, while Ali Smith's comparative sentence-matching exercises take "pointless" to a new level). It's not a book about what writing might mean in a wider context either. The whole book is beside the point. The best way to get a serious handle on how to write is to read and read as deeply as you can - genre fiction will not teach you much, except what someone else has worked out as their "formula". Writing well is not success-based, and no book can be a 12-step programme. READ.
two thirds of this book is really useful, 08 Feb 2008
I bought this book quite a while ago and still dip into it now and again for inspiration. Different writers give their advice, and i have earmarked those chapters written by the writers i found the most inspiring/helpful. There are two or three 'advisers' whose advice is a little superior and somewhat irritating, but this is made up for by those whose advice i have gleaned plenty from. I have recommended this book to several writing friends, and was certainly glad to discover it myself. You WILL find this book useful and an ispiration when you are stuck for where to go next in your story. If you read this book with 'your story' in mind, you will end up writing down copious notes for ideas...my copy of this book is full of margin notes!! Certainly worth the money.
Not helpful at all, 11 Jan 2008
This book implies that is is a guide to creative writing. I found it irritating. It's more like a group of people discussing elements of writing from their own particular perspective, with little to no constructive advice.
Yes there are excercises suggested, but the instructions are often badly laid out. There is a certain element of literary 'snobbery' - commercial success appears to be frowned upon by the authors and contributors.
I would not recommend it to anyone who is looking for an introduction to creative writing, especially if their interest lies in popular fiction.
Not actually much use, 17 Dec 2007
Imagine you wanted to learn wood working. But imagine you bought a book full of sentences like, "Wood is as old as the world", or, "To be human is to need wooden furniture...".
You'd feel a little ripped off. You want actual instructions on how to work with wood, not thoughtful aphorisms, no matter how clever.
That's the problem with this book. Need advice on plotting? Well, in the "Plotting and shaping" section you'll read, "We write things in order to make sense of the world". That's true, I guess. Even profound. But not a great deal of use. Where's discussion of narrative arcs? Where are real examples of plots taken from real books, showing how it's been done in the past, complete with expert commentary? In short, where's the substance?
There's a lot more exactly like that. This isn't a book that teaches. It suggests and implies. It waves a hand in the direction of travel but doesn't give actual directions. Sadly, this is all-too common in creative writing literature. Authors can be as secretive as magicians in guarding their techniques and methods. There's a reluctance to closely analyse technique, perhaps for fear of breaking it.
Others reviewers have suggested that this book is "inspiring". That might be true but for that to be the case you'd need to have already learnt the skills this book purports to teach (it is, after all, a "coursebook"). Above all, I keep coming back to the thought that this book teaches its readers to suck eggs... To tread water when you want to learn how to swim.
The book can also be annoyingly patronising and has definite concepts of high and low literature. Of "Bestselling plots", one contributor writes sniffly that they belong to "books sold in dump bins at airports". Thanks for that opinion, but is it helpful? This rather cynical theme runs throughout the book. You're unlikely to find discussion of books by Harold Robbins, or Stephen King, or Frederick Forsyth, or Catherine Cookson (or any other popular author -- the books that people actually buy and enjoy). But you will find mention of Virginia Wolfe. I'd check for more examples like this but the book lacks an index -- another annoyance.
There is some good stuff in this book, and I've given it 3 out of 5 for being so readable and entertaining. But it's perilously close to being a useless frivolity. Reading it is a matter of sifting the silt to find the gold. Worse than that, there's a lot of iron pyrite sprinkled in there, in the form of aphorisms and vague advice that looks valuable, but is actually worthless.
Would recommend, 05 Sep 2008
I bought the 2001 version when I was a student and purchased this one because I wanted to get back into writing again. It has definately improved with age and still contains every contact an aspiring writing could ever need. There's a very in-depth article in this addition on the UK tax implications for the writer which I found interesting (perhaps, that says more about the reviewer than the book!).
Would highly recommend and best to read with a notepad, pen and highlighter handy.
Comprehensive listings guide - but the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook is better, 23 Oct 2007
There are two books on the market which are widely touted as 'must-haves' for any writer looking to get into publication. One is this book, "The Writer's Handbook" (TWH), published by Macmillan. Its rival, the "Writers' and Artists' Yearbook" (W&AY), is published by A&C Black. Both contain roughly the same extensive listings of publishers, agents, print media, TV/radio producers, festivals, writing courses etc. You only really need one of them - but which one?
In truth there's little to choose between them. Much will come down to personal preference regarding the layout of the two books, and so if you can get the chance to compare them before you buy, all the better. However, to me the W&AY appears the more polished product, with a clearer table of contents and a more easily navigable structure.
What the TWH really lacks compared to the W&AY is the latter's many detailed and informative articles written by publishers, agents and successful writers (J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Bernard Cornwell, Joanna Trollope, to name a few). The W&AY has about 170 pages' worth of these in total (100 on books alone), discussing different genres and aspects of the writing process, as well as covering diverse issues such as self-publishing, marketing, writing for TV, radio and theatre, and e-publishing. TWH, by comparison, has only about 30 pages of such articles. This in my opinion sets the W&AY apart and makes it far more than simply a listings book - it is, in effect, an introduction to the entire world of writing.
This is not to say that there is anything particularly wrong with TWH - it is perfectly adequate for what it is. To be certain, buyers interested mainly in the listings (perhaps those already looking for an agent or publisher) will not be disappointed. All in all, however, my recommendation has to go to the "Writer's & Artist's Yearbook", for the added value of the sheer wealth of information and advice it contains.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent Book, 18 Sep 2008
This book has full of practical trading tips and summarises the top ten mistakes made by traders. The book is written in plain English, so it's easy to understand and good fun to read too. I have found this book is very useful in my trading.
Without doubt..., 01 Sep 2008
.... the best book currently around for understanding the stock market. Robbie Burns is very good at explaining all the market jargon in a friendly and humourous tone, and there's masses of advice - particularly what not to do! The webiste is well worth a look too. good book easy to read, 20 Jul 2008
good book easy to read, emphasises doing own research. Gives some usefull advice, such as avoiding shares with debt more than 3 times of Annual profit ( I would say rather Cash Flow)
Only regret is not buying it soon enough, 12 May 2008
I wish I bought it a year ago when I started trading... If I read this earlier, I could have avoided mistakes I made NT pointed out in the book.
The author's writing style is light and friendly so it's not a boring book to read. Clearly pointed out mistakes all newbie investors would make along with good habit of trading. It's not the investing bible nor get rich quick book but it definitely is investing 101 for newbies and intermediate investors. Great., 05 Mar 2008
Although I have yet to find the time, spare cash or the confidence to start trading I do think that this book will prove invaluable to me when I finally do. The advice is not going to guarantee you a fortune over night or even guarantee you success. However it will make the whole world of stocks and shares much less of a mystery whilst providing you with some very useful hints tips and information. Looking over some of my friend's dealings and losses I now understand approximately where they may have gone wrong. Had they read this book first they may have saved themselves some money. Even such seemingly simple advice about setting loss stops and never buying into the `falling knife' stocks is very helpful. The author includes many examples of winning and losing scenarios as well as pointers on where deals often go wrong.
As other reviewers have said the book is very easy to read in a sitting or two, and also amusing in places.
I will be passing this on to my unsuccessful share dealing friends, and recommend it to anyone still in their early days of dealing.
Not for the beginner, 14 Mar 2004
Nice dictionary for the price but many words I have looked up are just not there. If you are new to the subject perhaps give this one a miss, but if you have been studying the subject for some time and are looking for your first dictionary go for it.
The best quick and easy reference book around, 08 Jun 2002
Reber's text is thoroughly excellent; if possible, an improvement even on the second edition. Terms and perspectives are clearly explained with the occasional thought provoking comment thrown in (see the entry for 'binding'!). Moreover, Reber opts for a personal prose which distances the text from more stock, 'cookbook' competitors. Highly recommended and valuable at all levels of professional attainment. Buy it -- you won't regret it.
An invaluable tool for the psychology undergraduate, 08 Feb 2001
This book saw me through my undergraduate years and is still useful now that I'm postdoctoral! The clarity of expression and the range of individual entries provide an excellent start to any essay or topic. There are also some gems which you'll come across by accident - try the entry for psychoceramics!
Good general dicitionary but don't rely totally on it, 02 Dec 2000
It is good for people who are new to Psychology. If you are a degree student, it is worth bearing in mind that it is of most use in the first year. As the course gets more advanced, you are unlikely to find many new terms in the dictionary. Since the field of Psychology is so wide, it is difficult for a dicitionary of this size to give detailed definitions and explanations: if these are what you want, you are better off looking them up in the glossary in a more specialised textbook.
Great book for those new to psychology!, 23 Feb 2000
this book is a great book for all those who are new to psychology be it A level or even degree level. Technical words and phrases are expained and Important words and phrases are explained in detail it really helps with essay writing,and in easy to understand language too. well worth buying!
The true craft - and graft - of writing, 08 Aug 2008
This book won't write your novel for you. It won't tell you how to get it published. But what it will do is guide new (and not so new) writers through the essentials.
If you have a great idea for a story and are basically literate, this book is a very good way to turn out an excellent book. It guides writers through the basics of plot and character, point of view and setting, and through to those final elements such as rewriting and editing many writers try to avoid. It is thorough and understandable, and, being written by a wide variety of accomplished professionals rather than just one know-it-all, it provides the best advice available from many sources.
It is often partnered with What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers, and for good reason. What If adds valuable exercises to this book, and is worth buying alongside it.
This is not a short-cut to getting published. It is a rigorous manual containing many exercises that while maybe not appealing on first glance, are well worth doing. It is a guide to the true craft - and graft - of the writing process. Ironically, it is increasingly apparent that publishers and their editors have little knowledge of these building blocks of good writing. This book can make sure what you present for publication is as good as it should be; whether editors actually recognise that fact is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of even this terrific book.
Beside the point, 20 May 2008
I think some reviews of this book are beside the point - it's more of a course-book for people who go to "Creative Writing" courses at uiversity, or ideas for teachers of same rather than a book about how to improve technique. Neither do I have any quibble with its not being a WRITE FOR PROFIT! piece of puff that hopes to fleece naive hopefuls. That said, it's just not a very good course-book. Most of the "ideas for writing" are flat, flaccid or just plain time-wasting stuff for teachers to use in a crisis ("imagine your bedroom or a pair of shoes" twaddle, while Ali Smith's comparative sentence-matching exercises take "pointless" to a new level). It's not a book about what writing might mean in a wider context either. The whole book is beside the point. The best way to get a serious handle on how to write is to read and read as deeply as you can - genre fiction will not teach you much, except what someone else has worked out as their "formula". Writing well is not success-based, and no book can be a 12-step programme. READ.
two thirds of this book is really useful, 08 Feb 2008
I bought this book quite a while ago and still dip into it now and again for inspiration. Different writers give their advice, and i have earmarked those chapters written by the writers i found the most inspiring/helpful. There are two or three 'advisers' whose advice is a little superior and somewhat irritating, but this is made up for by those whose advice i have gleaned plenty from. I have recommended this book to several writing friends, and was certainly glad to discover it myself. You WILL find this book useful and an ispiration when you are stuck for where to go next in your story. If you read this book with 'your story' in mind, you will end up writing down copious notes for ideas...my copy of this book is full of margin notes!! Certainly worth the money.
Not helpful at all, 11 Jan 2008
This book implies that is is a guide to creative writing. I found it irritating. It's more like a group of people discussing elements of writing from their own particular perspective, with little to no constructive advice.
Yes there are excercises suggested, but the instructions are often badly laid out. There is a certain element of literary 'snobbery' - commercial success appears to be frowned upon by the authors and contributors.
I would not recommend it to anyone who is looking for an introduction to creative writing, especially if their interest lies in popular fiction.
Not actually much use, 17 Dec 2007
Imagine you wanted to learn wood working. But imagine you bought a book full of sentences like, "Wood is as old as the world", or, "To be human is to need wooden furniture...".
You'd feel a little ripped off. You want actual instructions on how to work with wood, not thoughtful aphorisms, no matter how clever.
That's the problem with this book. Need advice on plotting? Well, in the "Plotting and shaping" section you'll read, "We write things in order to make sense of the world". That's true, I guess. Even profound. But not a great deal of use. Where's discussion of narrative arcs? Where are real examples of plots taken from real books, showing how it's been done in the past, complete with expert commentary? In short, where's the substance?
There's a lot more exactly like that. This isn't a book that teaches. It suggests and implies. It waves a hand in the direction of travel but doesn't give actual directions. Sadly, this is all-too common in creative writing literature. Authors can be as secretive as magicians in guarding their techniques and methods. There's a reluctance to closely analyse technique, perhaps for fear of breaking it.
Others reviewers have suggested that this book is "inspiring". That might be true but for that to be the case you'd need to have already learnt the skills this book purports to teach (it is, after all, a "coursebook"). Above all, I keep coming back to the thought that this book teaches its readers to suck eggs... To tread water when you want to learn how to swim.
The book can also be annoyingly patronising and has definite concepts of high and low literature. Of "Bestselling plots", one contributor writes sniffly that they belong to "books sold in dump bins at airports". Thanks for that opinion, but is it helpful? This rather cynical theme runs throughout the book. You're unlikely to find discussion of books by Harold Robbins, or Stephen King, or Frederick Forsyth, or Catherine Cookson (or any other popular author -- the books that people actually buy and enjoy). But you will find mention of Virginia Wolfe. I'd check for more examples like this but the book lacks an index -- another annoyance.
There is some good stuff in this book, and I've given it 3 out of 5 for being so readable and entertaining. But it's perilously close to being a useless frivolity. Reading it is a matter of sifting the silt to find the gold. Worse than that, there's a lot of iron pyrite sprinkled in there, in the form of aphorisms and vague advice that looks valuable, but is actually worthless.
Would recommend, 05 Sep 2008
I bought the 2001 version when I was a student and purchased this one because I wanted to get back into writing again. It has definately improved with age and still contains every contact an aspiring writing could ever need. There's a very in-depth article in this addition on the UK tax implications for the writer which I found interesting (perhaps, that says more about the reviewer than the book!).
Would highly recommend and best to read with a notepad, pen and highlighter handy.
Comprehensive listings guide - but the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook is better, 23 Oct 2007
There are two books on the market which are widely touted as 'must-haves' for any writer looking to get into publication. One is this book, "The Writer's Handbook" (TWH), published by Macmillan. Its rival, the "Writers' and Artists' Yearbook" (W&AY), is published by A&C Black. Both contain roughly the same extensive listings of publishers, agents, print media, TV/radio producers, festivals, writing courses etc. You only really need one of them - but which one?
In truth there's little to choose between them. Much will come down to personal preference regarding the layout of the two books, and so if you can get the chance to compare them before you buy, all the better. However, to me the W&AY appears the more polished product, with a clearer table of contents and a more easily navigable structure.
What the TWH really lacks compared to the W&AY is the latter's many detailed and informative articles written by publishers, agents and successful writers (J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Bernard Cornwell, Joanna Trollope, to name a few). The W&AY has about 170 pages' worth of these in total (100 on books alone), discussing different genres and aspects of the writing process, as well as covering diverse issues such as self-publishing, marketing, writing for TV, radio and theatre, and e-publishing. TWH, by comparison, has only about 30 pages of such articles. This in my opinion sets the W&AY apart and makes it far more than simply a listings book - it is, in effect, an introduction to the entire world of writing.
This is not to say that there is anything particularly wrong with TWH - it is perfectly adequate for what it is. To be certain, buyers interested mainly in the listings (perhaps those already looking for an agent or publisher) will not be disappointed. All in all, however, my recommendation has to go to the "Writer's & Artist's Yearbook", for the added value of the sheer wealth of information and advice it contains.
Brilliant! I wish Id had one!, 19 Apr 2008
I bought this because my own school maths wasnt brilliant.. of course much was forgotten when I didnt use it and now I have children Im being asked to help!
My daughter (11) constantly dips into it. Its not like a 'textbook'which you might find in school, its informative and clear with steo by step explainations and diagrams which are very easy to follow and useful.
I really wish this had existed when I was in school! I can see it being useful when shes sitting her GCSE maths!
Great book for homework, 18 Dec 2007
This is the first review I have done as it is the first book I have felt strongly enough to recommend! I bought this book two years ago when my daughter started in Year 7. I don't always have the time to help with homework, and it has clear instructions for each topic. This book has consistently helped her with both homework and revision. The sections are clear and there are samples laid out for you to follow. I have now started using it with my other children and so far it has not let us down! Brilliant buy.
Excellent reference book, 12 Jul 2007
I bought this book when my eldest was 9 and 3 years on it's still proving to be an invaluable guide for reference, explanation and revision. It provides a good level of depth for all levels within core and key areas succinctly and clearly. I've recommended this book to a number of friends with children who've all found it really helpful (especially when your child has a maths exam the following week and you can't remember how to do long division!). I would expect this book to continue to be indispensable when my children sit GCSE. I can't praise it enough!
Memory aid, 09 May 2004
Excellent, easy to read and understand. I am currently just starting a degree in maths, many years after failing my GCE and had forgotten much of the terminology and meanings and found this invaluable and comprehensive in jogging the memory and informing me on areas that I do not know.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent Book, 18 Sep 2008
This book has full of practical trading tips and summarises the top ten mistakes made by traders. The book is written in plain English, so it's easy to understand and good fun to read too. I have found this book is very useful in my trading.
Without doubt..., 01 Sep 2008
.... the best book currently around for understanding the stock market. Robbie Burns is very good at explaining all the market jargon in a friendly and humourous tone, and there's masses of advice - particularly what not to do! The webiste is well worth a look too. good book easy to read, 20 Jul 2008
good book easy to read, emphasises doing own research. Gives some usefull advice, such as avoiding shares with debt more than 3 times of Annual profit ( I would say rather Cash Flow)
Only regret is not buying it soon enough, 12 May 2008
I wish I bought it a year ago when I started trading... If I read this earlier, I could have avoided mistakes I made NT pointed out in the book.
The author's writing style is light and friendly so it's not a boring book to read. Clearly pointed out mistakes all newbie investors would make along with good habit of trading. It's not the investing bible nor get rich quick book but it definitely is investing 101 for newbies and intermediate investors. Great., 05 Mar 2008
Although I have yet to find the time, spare cash or the confidence to start trading I do think that this book will prove invaluable to me when I finally do. The advice is not going to guarantee you a fortune over night or even guarantee you success. However it will make the whole world of stocks and shares much less of a mystery whilst providing you with some very useful hints tips and information. Looking over some of my friend's dealings and losses I now understand approximately where they may have gone wrong. Had they read this book first they may have saved themselves some money. Even such seemingly simple advice about setting loss stops and never buying into the `falling knife' stocks is very helpful. The author includes many examples of winning and losing scenarios as well as pointers on where deals often go wrong.
As other reviewers have said the book is very easy to read in a sitting or two, and also amusing in places.
I will be passing this on to my unsuccessful share dealing friends, and recommend it to anyone still in their early days of dealing.
Not for the beginner, 14 Mar 2004
Nice dictionary for the price but many words I have looked up are just not there. If you are new to the subject perhaps give this one a miss, but if you have been studying the subject for some time and are looking for your first dictionary go for it.
The best quick and easy reference book around, 08 Jun 2002
Reber's text is thoroughly excellent; if possible, an improvement even on the second edition. Terms and perspectives are clearly explained with the occasional thought provoking comment thrown in (see the entry for 'binding'!). Moreover, Reber opts for a personal prose which distances the text from more stock, 'cookbook' competitors. Highly recommended and valuable at all levels of professional attainment. Buy it -- you won't regret it.
An invaluable tool for the psychology undergraduate, 08 Feb 2001
This book saw me through my undergraduate years and is still useful now that I'm postdoctoral! The clarity of expression and the range of individual entries provide an excellent start to any essay or topic. There are also some gems which you'll come across by accident - try the entry for psychoceramics!
Good general dicitionary but don't rely totally on it, 02 Dec 2000
It is good for people who are new to Psychology. If you are a degree student, it is worth bearing in mind that it is of most use in the first year. As the course gets more advanced, you are unlikely to find many new terms in the dictionary. Since the field of Psychology is so wide, it is difficult for a dicitionary of this size to give detailed definitions and explanations: if these are what you want, you are better off looking them up in the glossary in a more specialised textbook.
Great book for those new to psychology!, 23 Feb 2000
this book is a great book for all those who are new to psychology be it A level or even degree level. Technical words and phrases are expained and Important words and phrases are explained in detail it really helps with essay writing,and in easy to understand language too. well worth buying!
The true craft - and graft - of writing, 08 Aug 2008
This book won't write your novel for you. It won't tell you how to get it published. But what it will do is guide new (and not so new) writers through the essentials.
If you have a great idea for a story and are basically literate, this book is a very good way to turn out an excellent book. It guides writers through the basics of plot and character, point of view and setting, and through to those final elements such as rewriting and editing many writers try to avoid. It is thorough and understandable, and, being written by a wide variety of accomplished professionals rather than just one know-it-all, it provides the best advice available from many sources.
It is often partnered with What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers, and for good reason. What If adds valuable exercises to this book, and is worth buying alongside it.
This is not a short-cut to getting published. It is a rigorous manual containing many exercises that while maybe not appealing on first glance, are well worth doing. It is a guide to the true craft - and graft - of the writing process. Ironically, it is increasingly apparent that publishers and their editors have little knowledge of these building blocks of good writing. This book can make sure what you present for publication is as good as it should be; whether editors actually recognise that fact is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of even this terrific book.
Beside the point, 20 May 2008
I think some reviews of this book are beside the point - it's more of a course-book for people who go to "Creative Writing" courses at uiversity, or ideas for teachers of same rather than a book about how to improve technique. Neither do I have any quibble with its not being a WRITE FOR PROFIT! piece of puff that hopes to fleece naive hopefuls. That said, it's just not a very good course-book. Most of the "ideas for writing" are flat, flaccid or just plain time-wasting stuff for teachers to use in a crisis ("imagine your bedroom or a pair of shoes" twaddle, while Ali Smith's comparative sentence-matching exercises take "pointless" to a new level). It's not a book about what writing might mean in a wider context either. The whole book is beside the point. The best way to get a serious handle on how to write is to read and read as deeply as you can - genre fiction will not teach you much, except what someone else has worked out as their "formula". Writing well is not success-based, and no book can be a 12-step programme. READ.
two thirds of this book is really useful, 08 Feb 2008
I bought this book quite a while ago and still dip into it now and again for inspiration. Different writers give their advice, and i have earmarked those chapters written by the writers i found the most inspiring/helpful. There are two or three 'advisers' whose advice is a little superior and somewhat irritating, but this is made up for by those whose advice i have gleaned plenty from. I have recommended this book to several writing friends, and was certainly glad to discover it myself. You WILL find this book useful and an ispiration when you are stuck for where to go next in your story. If you read this book with 'your story' in mind, you will end up writing down copious notes for ideas...my copy of this book is full of margin notes!! Certainly worth the money.
Not helpful at all, 11 Jan 2008
This book implies that is is a guide to creative writing. I found it irritating. It's more like a group of people discussing elements of writing from their own particular perspective, with little to no constructive advice.
Yes there are excercises suggested, but the instructions are often badly laid out. There is a certain element of literary 'snobbery' - commercial success appears to be frowned upon by the authors and contributors.
I would not recommend it to anyone who is looking for an introduction to creative writing, especially if their interest lies in popular fiction.
Not actually much use, 17 Dec 2007
Imagine you wanted to learn wood working. But imagine you bought a book full of sentences like, "Wood is as old as the world", or, "To be human is to need wooden furniture...".
You'd feel a little ripped off. You want actual instructions on how to work with wood, not thoughtful aphorisms, no matter how clever.
That's the problem with this book. Need advice on plotting? Well, in the "Plotting and shaping" section you'll read, "We write things in order to make sense of the world". That's true, I guess. Even profound. But not a great deal of use. Where's discussion of narrative arcs? Where are real examples of plots taken from real books, showing how it's been done in the past, complete with expert commentary? In short, where's the substance?
There's a lot more exactly like that. This isn't a book that teaches. It suggests and implies. It waves a hand in the direction of travel but doesn't give actual directions. Sadly, this is all-too common in creative writing literature. Authors can be as secretive as magicians in guarding their techniques and methods. There's a reluctance to closely analyse technique, perhaps for fear of breaking it.
Others reviewers have suggested that this book is "inspiring". That might be true but for that to be the case you'd need to have already learnt the skills this book purports to teach (it is, after all, a "coursebook"). Above all, I keep coming back to the thought that this book teaches its readers to suck eggs... To tread water when you want to learn how to swim.
The book can also be annoyingly patronising and has definite concepts of high and low literature. Of "Bestselling plots", one contributor writes sniffly that they belong to "books sold in dump bins at airports". Thanks for that opinion, but is it helpful? This rather cynical theme runs throughout the book. You're unlikely to find discussion of books by Harold Robbins, or Stephen King, or Frederick Forsyth, or Catherine Cookson (or any other popular author -- the books that people actually buy and enjoy). But you will find mention of Virginia Wolfe. I'd check for more examples like this but the book lacks an index -- another annoyance.
There is some good stuff in this book, and I've given it 3 out of 5 for being so readable and entertaining. But it's perilously close to being a useless frivolity. Reading it is a matter of sifting the silt to find the gold. Worse than that, there's a lot of iron pyrite sprinkled in there, in the form of aphorisms and vague advice that looks valuable, but is actually worthless.
Would recommend, 05 Sep 2008
I bought the 2001 version when I was a student and purchased this one because I wanted to get back into writing again. It has definately improved with age and still contains every contact an aspiring writing could ever need. There's a very in-depth article in this addition on the UK tax implications for the writer which I found interesting (perhaps, that says more about the reviewer than the book!).
Would highly recommend and best to read with a notepad, pen and highlighter handy.
Comprehensive listings guide - but the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook is better, 23 Oct 2007
There are two books on the market which are widely touted as 'must-haves' for any writer looking to get into publication. One is this book, "The Writer's Handbook" (TWH), published by Macmillan. Its rival, the "Writers' and Artists' Yearbook" (W&AY), is published by A&C Black. Both contain roughly the same extensive listings of publishers, agents, print media, TV/radio producers, festivals, writing courses etc. You only really need one of them - but which one?
In truth there's little to choose between them. Much will come down to personal preference regarding the layout of the two books, and so if you can get the chance to compare them before you buy, all the better. However, to me the W&AY appears the more polished product, with a clearer table of contents and a more easily navigable structure.
What the TWH really lacks compared to the W&AY is the latter's many detailed and informative articles written by publishers, agents and successful writers (J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Bernard Cornwell, Joanna Trollope, to name a few). The W&AY has about 170 pages' worth of these in total (100 on books alone), discussing different genres and aspects of the writing process, as well as covering diverse issues such as self-publishing, marketing, writing for TV, radio and theatre, and e-publishing. TWH, by comparison, has only about 30 pages of such articles. This in my opinion sets the W&AY apart and makes it far more than simply a listings book - it is, in effect, an introduction to the entire world of writing.
This is not to say that there is anything particularly wrong with TWH - it is perfectly adequate for what it is. To be certain, buyers interested mainly in the listings (perhaps those already looking for an agent or publisher) will not be disappointed. All in all, however, my recommendation has to go to the "Writer's & Artist's Yearbook", for the added value of the sheer wealth of information and advice it contains.
Brilliant! I wish Id had one!, 19 Apr 2008
I bought this because my own school maths wasnt brilliant.. of course much was forgotten when I didnt use it and now I have children Im being asked to help!
My daughter (11) constantly dips into it. Its not like a 'textbook'which you might find in school, its informative and clear with steo by step explainations and diagrams which are very easy to follow and useful.
I really wish this had existed when I was in school! I can see it being useful when shes sitting her GCSE maths!
Great book for homework, 18 Dec 2007
This is the first review I have done as it is the first book I have felt strongly enough to recommend! I bought this book two years ago when my daughter started in Year 7. I don't always have the time to help with homework, and it has clear instructions for each topic. This book has consistently helped her with both homework and revision. The sections are clear and there are samples laid out for you to follow. I have now started using it with my other children and so far it has not let us down! Brilliant buy.
Excellent reference book, 12 Jul 2007
I bought this book when my eldest was 9 and 3 years on it's still proving to be an invaluable guide for reference, explanation and revision. It provides a good level of depth for all levels within core and key areas succinctly and clearly. I've recommended this book to a number of friends with children who've all found it really helpful (especially when your child has a maths exam the following week and you can't remember how to do long division!). I would expect this book to continue to be indispensable when my children sit GCSE. I can't praise it enough!
Memory aid, 09 May 2004
Excellent, easy to read and understand. I am currently just starting a degree in maths, many years after failing my GCE and had forgotten much of the terminology and meanings and found this invaluable and comprehensive in jogging the memory and informing me on areas that I do not know.
Excellent, 01 Oct 2008
Great book, easy to read and full of good tips. I used it with the Job Interview DVD that I bought on Amazon Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD as this shows the employers talking about what they look for in interviewees.
Both fantastic!
well worth it , 25 Aug 2008
I agree with all the other folk here. This is a really helpful, short snappy little guide for interview preperation. A friend suggested it and every time she reads this book before an interview she gets the job !
More Top Stuff, 09 May 2008
Further on from my CV literature review, this book got me through two intense interviews resulting in me getting the job. While some of the content doesn't necessarily need to be taken in, some specific items made ALL the difference!
Rewrite your CV, get this book, read it and prepare for your interview at least one week before the event. You will not regret it, just put the effort in.
Really good book - covers all you'd expect and hope for..., 29 Feb 2008
Excellent book. Works really well to cover all the interview fundamentals. Read it alongside "How to Handle Your Recruitment Consultant". Both these books are excellent, and perfect for finding and landing your perfect job. Cannot recommend them both highly enough.
To the point - perfect!, 02 Dec 2006
Very concise, to the point and packed full of useful suggestions.
It seems inconcievable that in the past I went to job interviews so unprepared!
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Customer Reviews
Excellent Book, 18 Sep 2008
This book has full of practical trading tips and summarises the top ten mistakes made by traders. The book is written in plain English, so it's easy to understand and good fun to read too. I have found this book is very useful in my trading.
Without doubt..., 01 Sep 2008
.... the best book currently around for understanding the stock market. Robbie Burns is very good at explaining all the market jargon in a friendly and humourous tone, and there's masses of advice - particularly what not to do! The webiste is well worth a look too. good book easy to read, 20 Jul 2008
good book easy to read, emphasises doing own research. Gives some usefull advice, such as avoiding shares with debt more than 3 times of Annual profit ( I would say rather Cash Flow)
Only regret is not buying it soon enough, 12 May 2008
I wish I bought it a year ago when I started trading... If I read this earlier, I could have avoided mistakes I made NT pointed out in the book.
The author's writing style is light and friendly so it's not a boring book to read. Clearly pointed out mistakes all newbie investors would make along with good habit of trading. It's not the investing bible nor get rich quick book but it definitely is investing 101 for newbies and intermediate investors. Great., 05 Mar 2008
Although I have yet to find the time, spare cash or the confidence to start trading I do think that this book will prove invaluable to me when I finally do. The advice is not going to guarantee you a fortune over night or even guarantee you success. However it will make the whole world of stocks and shares much less of a mystery whilst providing you with some very useful hints tips and information. Looking over some of my friend's dealings and losses I now understand approximately where they may have gone wrong. Had they read this book first they may have saved themselves some money. Even such seemingly simple advice about setting loss stops and never buying into the `falling knife' stocks is very helpful. The author includes many examples of winning and losing scenarios as well as pointers on where deals often go wrong.
As other reviewers have said the book is very easy to read in a sitting or two, and also amusing in places.
I will be passing this on to my unsuccessful share dealing friends, and recommend it to anyone still in their early days of dealing.
Not for the beginner, 14 Mar 2004
Nice dictionary for the price but many words I have looked up are just not there. If you are new to the subject perhaps give this one a miss, but if you have been studying the subject for some time and are looking for your first dictionary go for it.
The best quick and easy reference book around, 08 Jun 2002
Reber's text is thoroughly excellent; if possible, an improvement even on the second edition. Terms and perspectives are clearly explained with the occasional thought provoking comment thrown in (see the entry for 'binding'!). Moreover, Reber opts for a personal prose which distances the text from more stock, 'cookbook' competitors. Highly recommended and valuable at all levels of professional attainment. Buy it -- you won't regret it.
An invaluable tool for the psychology undergraduate, 08 Feb 2001
This book saw me through my undergraduate years and is still useful now that I'm postdoctoral! The clarity of expression and the range of individual entries provide an excellent start to any essay or topic. There are also some gems which you'll come across by accident - try the entry for psychoceramics!
Good general dicitionary but don't rely totally on it, 02 Dec 2000
It is good for people who are new to Psychology. If you are a degree student, it is worth bearing in mind that it is of most use in the first year. As the course gets more advanced, you are unlikely to find many new terms in the dictionary. Since the field of Psychology is so wide, it is difficult for a dicitionary of this size to give detailed definitions and explanations: if these are what you want, you are better off looking them up in the glossary in a more specialised textbook.
Great book for those new to psychology!, 23 Feb 2000
this book is a great book for all those who are new to psychology be it A level or even degree level. Technical words and phrases are expained and Important words and phrases are explained in detail it really helps with essay writing,and in easy to understand language too. well worth buying!
The true craft - and graft - of writing, 08 Aug 2008
This book won't write your novel for you. It won't tell you how to get it published. But what it will do is guide new (and not so new) writers through the essentials.
If you have a great idea for a story and are basically literate, this book is a very good way to turn out an excellent book. It guides writers through the basics of plot and character, point of view and setting, and through to those final elements such as rewriting and editing many writers try to avoid. It is thorough and understandable, and, being written by a wide variety of accomplished professionals rather than just one know-it-all, it provides the best advice available from many sources.
It is often partnered with What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers, and for good reason. What If adds valuable exercises to this book, and is worth buying alongside it.
This is not a short-cut to getting published. It is a rigorous manual containing many exercises that while maybe not appealing on first glance, are well worth doing. It is a guide to the true craft - and graft - of the writing process. Ironically, it is increasingly apparent that publishers and their editors have little knowledge of these building blocks of good writing. This book can make sure what you present for publication is as good as it should be; whether editors actually recognise that fact is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of even this terrific book.
Beside the point, 20 May 2008
I think some reviews of this book are beside the point - it's more of a course-book for people who go to "Creative Writing" courses at uiversity, or ideas for teachers of same rather than a book about how to improve technique. Neither do I have any quibble with its not being a WRITE FOR PROFIT! piece of puff that hopes to fleece naive hopefuls. That said, it's just not a very good course-book. Most of the "ideas for writing" are flat, flaccid or just plain time-wasting stuff for teachers to use in a crisis ("imagine your bedroom or a pair of shoes" twaddle, while Ali Smith's comparative sentence-matching exercises take "pointless" to a new level). It's not a book about what writing might mean in a wider context either. The whole book is beside the point. The best way to get a serious handle on how to write is to read and read as deeply as you can - genre fiction will not teach you much, except what someone else has worked out as their "formula". Writing well is not success-based, and no book can be a 12-step programme. READ.
two thirds of this book is really useful, 08 Feb 2008
I bought this book quite a while ago and still dip into it now and again for inspiration. Different writers give their advice, and i have earmarked those chapters written by the writers i found the most inspiring/helpful. There are two or three 'advisers' whose advice is a little superior and somewhat irritating, but this is made up for by those whose advice i have gleaned plenty from. I have recommended this book to several writing friends, and was certainly glad to discover it myself. You WILL find this book useful and an ispiration when you are stuck for where to go next in your story. If you read this book with 'your story' in mind, you will end up writing down copious notes for ideas...my copy of this book is full of margin notes!! Certainly worth the money.
Not helpful at all, 11 Jan 2008
This book implies that is is a guide to creative writing. I found it irritating. It's more like a group of people discussing elements of writing from their own particular perspective, with little to no constructive advice.
Yes there are excercises suggested, but the instructions are often badly laid out. There is a certain element of literary 'snobbery' - commercial success appears to be frowned upon by the authors and contributors.
I would not recommend it to anyone who is looking for an introduction to creative writing, especially if their interest lies in popular fiction.
Not actually much use, 17 Dec 2007
Imagine you wanted to learn wood working. But imagine you bought a book full of sentences like, "Wood is as old as the world", or, "To be human is to need wooden furniture...".
You'd feel a little ripped off. You want actual instructions on how to work with wood, not thoughtful aphorisms, no matter how clever.
That's the problem with this book. Need advice on plotting? Well, in the "Plotting and shaping" section you'll read, "We write things in order to make sense of the world". That's true, I guess. Even profound. But not a great deal of use. Where's discussion of narrative arcs? Where are real examples of plots taken from real books, showing how it's been done in the past, complete with expert commentary? In short, where's the substance?
There's a lot more exactly like that. This isn't a book that teaches. It suggests and implies. It waves a hand in the direction of travel but doesn't give actual directions. Sadly, this is all-too common in creative writing literature. Authors can be as secretive as magicians in guarding their techniques and methods. There's a reluctance to closely analyse technique, perhaps for fear of breaking it.
Others reviewers have suggested that this book is "inspiring". That might be true but for that to be the case you'd need to have already learnt the skills this book purports to teach (it is, after all, a "coursebook"). Above all, I keep coming back to the thought that this book teaches its readers to suck eggs... To tread water when you want to learn how to swim.
The book can also be annoyingly patronising and has definite concepts of high and low literature. Of "Bestselling plots", one contributor writes sniffly that they belong to "books sold in dump bins at airports". Thanks for that opinion, but is it helpful? This rather cynical theme runs throughout the book. You're unlikely to find discussion of books by Harold Robbins, or Stephen King, or Frederick Forsyth, or Catherine Cookson (or any other popular author -- the books that people actually buy and enjoy). But you will find mention of Virginia Wolfe. I'd check for more examples like this but the book lacks an index -- another annoyance.
There is some good stuff in this book, and I've given it 3 out of 5 for being so readable and entertaining. But it's perilously close to being a useless frivolity. Reading it is a matter of sifting the silt to find the gold. Worse than that, there's a lot of iron pyrite sprinkled in there, in the form of aphorisms and vague advice that looks valuable, but is actually worthless.
Would recommend, 05 Sep 2008
I bought the 2001 version when I was a student and purchased this one because I wanted to get back into writing again. It has definately improved with age and still contains every contact an aspiring writing could ever need. There's a very in-depth article in this addition on the UK tax implications for the writer which I found interesting (perhaps, that says more about the reviewer than the book!).
Would highly recommend and best to read with a notepad, pen and highlighter handy.
Comprehensive listings guide - but the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook is better, 23 Oct 2007
There are two books on the market which are widely touted as 'must-haves' for any writer looking to get into publication. One is this book, "The Writer's Handbook" (TWH), published by Macmillan. Its rival, the "Writers' and Artists' Yearbook" (W&AY), is published by A&C Black. Both contain roughly the same extensive listings of publishers, agents, print media, TV/radio producers, festivals, writing courses etc. You only really need one of them - but which one?
In truth there's little to choose between them. Much will come down to personal preference regarding the layout of the two books, and so if you can get the chance to compare them before you buy, all the better. However, to me the W&AY appears the more polished product, with a clearer table of contents and a more easily navigable structure.
What the TWH really lacks compared to the W&AY is the latter's many detailed and informative articles written by publishers, agents and successful writers (J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Bernard Cornwell, Joanna Trollope, to name a few). The W&AY has about 170 pages' worth of these in total (100 on books alone), discussing different genres and aspects of the writing process, as well as covering diverse issues such as self-publishing, marketing, writing for TV, radio and theatre, and e-publishing. TWH, by comparison, has only about 30 pages of such articles. This in my opinion sets the W&AY apart and makes it far more than simply a listings book - it is, in effect, an introduction to the entire world of writing.
This is not to say that there is anything particularly wrong with TWH - it is perfectly adequate for what it is. To be certain, buyers interested mainly in the listings (perhaps those already looking for an agent or publisher) will not be disappointed. All in all, however, my recommendation has to go to the "Writer's & Artist's Yearbook", for the added value of the sheer wealth of information and advice it contains.
Brilliant! I wish Id had one!, 19 Apr 2008
I bought this because my own school maths wasnt brilliant.. of course much was forgotten when I didnt use it and now I have children Im being asked to help!
My daughter (11) constantly dips into it. Its not like a 'textbook'which you might find in school, its informative and clear with steo by step explainations and diagrams which are very easy to follow and useful.
I really wish this had existed when I was in school! I can see it being useful when shes sitting her GCSE maths!
Great book for homework, 18 Dec 2007
This is the first review I have done as it is the first book I have felt strongly enough to recommend! I bought this book two years ago when my daughter started in Year 7. I don't always have the time to help with homework, and it has clear instructions for each topic. This book has consistently helped her with both homework and revision. The sections are clear and there are samples laid out for you to follow. I have now started using it with my other children and so far it has not let us down! Brilliant buy.
Excellent reference book, 12 Jul 2007
I bought this book when my eldest was 9 and 3 years on it's still proving to be an invaluable guide for reference, explanation and revision. It provides a good level of depth for all levels within core and key areas succinctly and clearly. I've recommended this book to a number of friends with children who've all found it really helpful (especially when your child has a maths exam the following week and you can't remember how to do long division!). I would expect this book to continue to be indispensable when my children sit GCSE. I can't praise it enough!
Memory aid, 09 May 2004
Excellent, easy to read and understand. I am currently just starting a degree in maths, many years after failing my GCE and had forgotten much of the terminology and meanings and found this invaluable and comprehensive in jogging the memory and informing me on areas that I do not know.
Excellent, 01 Oct 2008
Great book, easy to read and full of good tips. I used it with the Job Interview DVD that I bought on Amazon Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD as this shows the employers talking about what they look for in interviewees.
Both fantastic!
well worth it , 25 Aug 2008
I agree with all the other folk here. This is a really helpful, short snappy little guide for interview preperation. A friend suggested it and every time she reads this book before an interview she gets the job !
More Top Stuff, 09 May 2008
Further on from my CV literature review, this book got me through two intense interviews resulting in me getting the job. While some of the content doesn't necessarily need to be taken in, some specific items made ALL the difference!
Rewrite your CV, get this book, read it and prepare for your interview at least one week before the event. You will not regret it, just put the effort in.
Really good book - covers all you'd expect and hope for..., 29 Feb 2008
Excellent book. Works really well to cover all the interview fundamentals. Read it alongside "How to Handle Your Recruitment Consultant". Both these books are excellent, and perfect for finding and landing your perfect job. Cannot recommend them both highly enough.
To the point - perfect!, 02 Dec 2006
Very concise, to the point and packed full of useful suggestions.
It seems inconcievable that in the past I went to job interviews so unprepared!
A practical, easy-to-use resource for minute-taking, 23 Jan 2007
The unsung hero of any corporate meeting is the minute-taker, quietly and diligently recording the decisions, big and small, that fuel the engines of business. Minute-taking is not simply the process of scribbling notes on a pad. A skilled minute-taker distills lengthy discussions down to their essential messages, and creates order and harmony from the often discordant process of reaching a consensus. Office communication consultant Joanna Gutmann carefully explains every aspect of the process, from setting up the meeting and distributing the agenda to taking notes and formatting the minutes. You will encounter quite a bit of redundancy if you read the book cover-to-cover, but we believe you will find it to be an indispensable reference if you are assigned to take the minutes.
Fantastic Step-By-Step Guide, 19 Sep 2003
I have a new job where I am required to take minutes of meetings. I've never taken minutes before in my life. I bought this book in my hour of need. It is fantastic! It takes you through the process step-by-step offering advice in plain English. I have taken a few meetings now and everyone is shocked at my ability - they all think I've been minuting for years! Highly recommended!
Great value for money, 17 May 2003
Saved a fortune with this easy step by step guides. Local training centre was offering tuition at high cost.
Very convenient to teach yourself to achieve great proffessional results. Ideal for first time readers. Now I can up-date my CV
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