Cost Accounting (12th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not impressed
  • Good starting book for Managerial Accounting
  • It is really useful in real business world!!
  • Excellent book
  • Poorly written
Cost Accounting (12th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
Charles T. Horngren , Srikant M. Datar , and George M. Foster
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  1. Intermediate Accounting Intermediate Accounting
  2. Cost Accounting Student Guide, 12th Edition Cost Accounting Student Guide, 12th Edition
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  4. Student Solutions Manual to accompany Cost Accounting, 12th Edition Student Solutions Manual to accompany Cost Accounting, 12th Edition
  5. Auditing and Assurance Services (12th Edition) Auditing and Assurance Services (12th Edition)

Accessories:
  1. Cost Accounting Student Guide, 12th Edition Cost Accounting Student Guide, 12th Edition
  2. Student Solutions Manual to accompany Cost Accounting, 12th Edition Student Solutions Manual to accompany Cost Accounting, 12th Edition

ASIN: 0131495380

Book Description

Horngren’s Cost Accounting defined the cost accounting market and continues to innovate today by consistently integrating the most current practice and theory. This acclaimed, number one market-leading book embraces the basic theme of “different costs for different purposes.” It reaches beyond cost accounting procedures to consider concepts, analyses, and management. This latest edition of Cost Accounting incorporates the latest research and most up-to-date thinking into all relevant chapters. Professional issues related to Management Accounting and Management Accountants are emphasized. Chapter topics cover the accountant's role in the organization to performance measurement, compensation, and multinational considerations. For future accountants who want to enhance their understanding of–and ability to–solve cost accounting problems.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Not impressed.......2007-10-03

I am not sure whether my negative perception of this book arises more from my disliking the book or the subject matter, but I felt like I had trouble learning from it as well as I have from other textbooks. I generally rely on the text to clarify anything I missed from a professor's lecture, but this one was not that helpful for me. I'm sure this is related to the fact that I am absolutely horrible at accounting, but I was hoping that the textbook could save me and teach me whatever I was missing in class... no such luck!

4 out of 5 stars Good starting book for Managerial Accounting.......2007-02-26

Clearly written. Although it assumes some basic knowledge about accounting, the writing technique is such that there is very little background knowledge that you have to go refresh yourself with in order to make sense of the new information. For a novice at accounting like me, this was easy to understand, with good examples and illustrations.

5 out of 5 stars It is really useful in real business world!!.......2006-11-16

I am a MBA candidate in US and will return to Japan next year.
My background is engineer in Japanese manufacturing company.
Even now, this textbook teaches us powerful tools and especially in factory accounting. The knowledge for budgeting and how to evaluate it will help me in the future.
I will bring this book back to Japan and try to use it in the real world!!

4 out of 5 stars Excellent book.......2006-10-11

The writing may not be perfect, but it's still a great textbook, probably the best you can find.

After all, there is a reason that so many colleges use this book. You will learn a great deal whether you use this book for a class or for your own study.

1 out of 5 stars Poorly written.......2006-02-15

This is a poorly written textbook; rambling and fragmented information is presented on a piecemeal basis rather than in a clear, concise and well-organized manner. Important information belonging to one subject-matter chapter, is often presented as "aside" information in other chapters on wholly different subjects. This textbook appears to have been written by an author who forgot to take his ADHD medication. This "substandard" quality has become common place with this particular publishing company, Prentice Hall, to include its many subsidiaries (Pearson, Thompson, Southwestern, etc.), to the detriment of the education system.
Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Case study is worth reading...
  • good case study
  • Useful if cumbersome
  • Required Text
  • Excellent Capstone Book
Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases
Krishna G. Palepu , Paul M. Healy , and Victor L Bernard
Manufacturer: South-Western College Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  1. Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, Fourth Edition Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, Fourth Edition
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ASIN: 0324118945

Book Description

Financial statements are the basis for a wide range of business analysis. Managers, securities analysts, bankers and consultants all use them to make business decisions. There is strong demand among business students for course materials that provide a framework for using financial statement data in a variety of business analysis and valuation contexts.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Case study is worth reading..........2007-04-21

First part of this book is about reading financial statements. If you already know the statements, you don't need to read the first part. However, even if you can read the statements, the second part, case study, will be helpful to your real analysis.

3 out of 5 stars good case study.......2006-04-30

I found the chapters are not very in detail. I was using it as the textbook and the lecture notes are way better. I read the book at the begginning but stopped in the middle as it doesn't really help. However, the end of chapter case studies are pretty good.

4 out of 5 stars Useful if cumbersome.......2002-12-16

This review applies to the edition WITH CASES. This isn't recommended for anyone who is just starting out with choosing investments. Beginners might be better off with a more general overview of financial statement analysis (FSA) like Higgins' "Analysis of Financial Statements" or Fraser and Omriston's "Understanding Financial Statements".

This was one of two textbooks used in a financial statement analysis course I took for my MBA. Most chapters are down-to-earth and as a whole the book is well-written.

The other text we used was Penman's "Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation" which was also a great resource as far as gaining a basic understanding of the mechanics of financial statements and how to build a valuation model.

I contrast the two books because while Penman provides a run-down of several different models analysts can use (and does a good job of arguing for the Residual Income Model of valuation model as being the best), Palepu delves into the implications of companies' choices of accounting methods and provides more insight into what different kinds of businesses should look like in terms of their financial statements.

The cases at the end of each chapter add a lot of value to the text because they get students to focus on the specific issues detailed in each chapter. By picking apart different companies' financial statements we learned to use financial statements to assess the success or failure of companies' efforts to carry out their business strategies.

I rate it "Good - 4 stars"

2 out of 5 stars Required Text.......2002-09-17

This is a required text at my school, but after having read the first 5 chapters there is almost nothing of value that I have read. I have spoken to several people that have used this text for the class in prior semesters and they told me that they had stopped reading it after the first several chapters also.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Capstone Book.......2000-10-12

This book is an excellent description of all the elements that would go into reviewing a potential investment opportunity. It is not a detailed book in one category, such as financial accounting, but it ties business strategy analysis, financial analysis, forecasting analysis, and valuation analysis together. Most other books focus on one area and don't tie all of these together well. This one takes you down the path to evaluating the opportunity to its fullest. It is an excellent capstone book after you have sifted through the details of strategy, finance, and accounting.
Cost Management: Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Performance (Management Accounting)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Cost Management: Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Performance (Management Accounting)
    Leslie G. Eldenburg , and Susan K. Wolcott
    Manufacturer: Wiley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0471205494

    Book Description

    Cost Management" was written in response to changes in the global business environment. Unbridled access to information and intense competition has meant that cost accounting has become an increasingly important tool for managers and accountants alike. Most textbooks focus on content knowledge and then expect students to 'magically' demonstrate skills such as decision-making and critical thinking. "Cost Management" better prepares students for professional success by bridging the gaps between Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Many students fail to recognize the assumptions, limitations, behavioral implications and qualitative factors that influence managerial decision-making. The dynamic, new author team focuses on cost accounting methods, techniques and the quality of cost accounting information used for decision-making to deliver a thoroughly modern treatment of cost accounting topics.
    MP Financial and Managerial Accounting: The Basis for Business Decisions w/ My Mentor, Net Tutor, and OLC w/ PW (Financial and Managerial Accounting)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      MP Financial and Managerial Accounting: The Basis for Business Decisions w/ My Mentor, Net Tutor, and OLC w/ PW (Financial and Managerial Accounting)
      Jan Williams , Sue Haka , and Mark S Bettner
      Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/Irwin
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 0072942827

      Book Description

      Financial and Managerial Accounting has been updated to incorporate detailed information on recent legislation affecting the accounting profession, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The accompanying CD and PowerWeb applications give you greater interaction and continuously updated information.

      Food and Beverage Cost Control
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Easy to understand
      • Food & Beverage Cost Control
      • An excellent edition!
      Food and Beverage Cost Control
      Jack E. Miller , Lea R. Dopson , and David K. Hayes
      Manufacturer: Wiley
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      Accessories:
      1. Food and Beverage Cost Control, Student Workbook Food and Beverage Cost Control, Student Workbook

      ASIN: 0471273546

      Book Description

      Broad, helpful guidance and information for controlling costs for foodservice managers and students

      In order for foodservice managers to control costs effectively, they must have a confident command of accounting, marketing, and legal issues, as well as food and beverage sanitation, production, and service methods. This fully updated Third Edition of Food and Beverage Cost Control provides students and managers with the wide-ranging knowledge and specific solutions they need to keep costs low and margins high.

      Throughout the text, this updated edition integrates the latest material on new technologies that impact cost control in the foodservice industry and the business world. Complete with an accompanying Student Workbook that helps readers earn a certificate from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, highlights of this Third Edition include:

      Students in foodservice management courses will find Food and Beverage Cost Control, Third Edition a modern and focused treatment of this vital subject. Working managers will appreciate this useful reference as a source of ready-to-use forms and formulas that can be easily applied to their operations.

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Easy to understand.......2006-02-25

      This text book is very self-explanatory. Makes learning the information easy and helpful. All books should be written like this one.

      5 out of 5 stars Food & Beverage Cost Control.......2002-06-12

      As a culinary educator, I find this book both informative and user-friendly. The Excel spreadsheets and "Fun on the Web" exercises add interesting and useful technological components. The text gets to the point on all issues without belaboring the theoretical aspects of food and beverage cost controls. The book covers junior and senior level concepts in a readable format suitable for freshmen and sophomores. It is a book for all levels with real life examples. I would recommend it to anyone, be it from education or industry.

      5 out of 5 stars An excellent edition!.......2001-06-19

      This book is a must-read for any foodservice manager who is interested in an accurate, to the point, and technologically advanced review of food and beverage cost control methods. Controlling labor and food costs have never been more important than in today's environment. Those managers who master control procedures will succeed, and this book helps them to do just that.

      The author's use of Excel spreadsheets really helps learning, as does the large number of realistic industry examples. Even the Internet plays a part in the book's usefulness when the authors refer readers to applicable web sites. Best of all, the concepts (especially those related to labor control) that are presented are useful to the managers I work with regardless of their culture or even the continent in which they work.

      I recommend the book to all hospitality managers, and I would recommend it to any serious student of hospitality.
      QuickBooks 2007 The Official Guide
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • The Practical Side of Quickbooks
      • QuickBooks 2007
      • QuickBooks 2007 The Official Guide
      • A Disappointing Guide
      • Quickbooks 2007 for Dummies
      QuickBooks 2007 The Official Guide
      Kathy Ivens
      Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0072263458

      Book Description

      The only official guide to QuickBooks--the number-one small business management software

      Fully reviewed and authorized by Intuit, this bestselling book shows you how to create a comprehensive small business financial management system using QuickBooks 2007. All the new and updated features are covered in full detail.

      You will learn to customize QuickBooks for specific business needs, enter transactions quickly and accurately, track funds, manage payroll, process invoices, and monitor inventory. You will also find out how to create budgets, develop fiscal reports, streamline bookkeeping tasks, and much more. QuickBooks 2007:The Official Guide is the ideal guide for learning how to use this powerful software.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars The Practical Side of Quickbooks.......2007-09-26

      Intuit products, such as Quickbooks, have excellent pull-down Help, among the best written in the software industry. Information is well indexed and clearly written with step-by-step instructions. Quickbooks also has an excellent set of video tutorials, which take about 90 minutes if you view all of them (which I recommend).

      But what the Help and the video tutorials can't really do is give you advice on how to use the accounting system works in practice. How do the individual parts fit into the big picture and what are your choices, depending upon your business, for handling things like Vendor Bills, Customer Sales Receipts, petty cash, etc.? Why would you want to choose one method over another?

      This is where this book comes in. Ivens answers the very practical questions that everyone has starting out. For example, should I log deposits against customer sales, or should I treat deposits as a lump sum? Why would I want choose one method over the other? This book answers this, and many other practical questions, clearly, with step-by-step instructions for each method and the rationale behind it.

      I would highly recommend this book to supplement the pull-down Help and the video tutorials to answer the many practical decision that you will have to make about how to set up your system so that it will work best for you.

      4 out of 5 stars QuickBooks 2007.......2007-07-29

      QuickBooks is well designed for use by the financial manager of a small business. This "Official Guide" for the 2007 edition is well written and well organized.

      3 out of 5 stars QuickBooks 2007 The Official Guide.......2007-05-29

      I am only doing the basic functions with Quickbooks including automatic downloads from my bank. I have not used this book at all and frankly have trouble finding what I need. I feel the small guide that comes with the software and the online tuorials and 30 day free 24/7 support is adequate.

      2 out of 5 stars A Disappointing Guide.......2007-05-23

      Although I haven't gone very far with the Guide, it is generally a disappointment, at least for this Mac user of Quickbooks Pro. (It is possible that the Guide is intended for Windows users, but it was sold by Amazon as a package with Quickbooks Pro for the Mac. While this difference might explain problems with suggested keyboard shortcuts and depicted windows that aren't the same as those in the application, it does not excuse the shoddy index.)

      The procedural sections (e.g., Do This First in the appendix) are passible. However even here, the instructions are often incorrect. For example, in Creating Accounts, the Guide instructs the user to press CNTL-A to open the accounts window, whereas the actual keyboard shortcut is Shift-Apple-A. Moreover, the two windows shown in the book to create an account are really just one (different) window in the application.

      My major problem with the Guide is my inability to use it as a reference manual for answering specific questions. For example, finding specific pieces of information (e.g., how do I enter To Do Notes as Reminders?) is impossible. Even more frustrating, entries listed in the Index are incorrect. For example, if one looks up "Accrual-based accounting, About", one is directed to p.153; unfortunately, there is no reference to accrual-based accounting on page 153.

      All-in-all, for those wanting more information on how to use Quickbooks Pro, I'd recommend using the Help feature in the application or the material on Intuit's web page.

      5 out of 5 stars Quickbooks 2007 for Dummies.......2007-03-10

      This book really helped me get a grasp on the everyday tasks of quickbooks! Definitely would recommend for a first-timer!
      A Demon of Our Own Design: Markets, Hedge Funds, and the Perils of Financial Innovation
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Spectacular info... but ah what to do, what to do
      • Great risk insights, and lots of useful reminders on liquidity mechanics
      • The Wisdom of the Cockroach
      • A MUST READ for all financial markets professionals
      • Demon
      A Demon of Our Own Design: Markets, Hedge Funds, and the Perils of Financial Innovation
      Richard Bookstaber
      Manufacturer: Wiley
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 0471227277

      Book Description

      Inside markets, innovation, and risk

      Why do markets keep crashing and why are financial crises greater than ever before? As the risk manager to some of the leading firms on Wall Street–from Morgan Stanley to Salomon and Citigroup–and a member of some of the world’s largest hedge funds, from Moore Capital to Ziff Brothers and FrontPoint Partners, Rick Bookstaber has seen the ghost inside the machine and vividly shows us a world that is even riskier than we think. The very things done to make markets safer, have, in fact, created a world that is far more dangerous. From the 1987 crash to Citigroup closing the Salomon Arb unit, from staggering losses at UBS to the demise of Long-Term Capital Management, Bookstaber gives readers a front row seat to the management decisions made by some of the most powerful financial figures in the world that led to catastrophe, and describes the impact of his own activities on markets and market crashes. Much of the innovation of the last 30 years has wreaked havoc on the markets and cost trillions of dollars. A Demon of Our Own Design tells the story of man’s attempt to manage market risk and what it has wrought. In the process of showing what we have done, Bookstaber shines a light on what the future holds for a world where capital and power have moved from Wall Street institutions to elite and highly leveraged hedge funds.

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Spectacular info... but ah what to do, what to do.......2007-09-22

      This book is very well layed out and is an excellent primer on what is going on behind the scenes in the financial markets.

      The end is a bit disappointing in that the issues are clearly explicated but the solution seems a bit murky and maybe impossible. The author does acknowledge the difficulty of implementing a truly workable solution.

      5 out of 5 stars Great risk insights, and lots of useful reminders on liquidity mechanics .......2007-09-21

      A finance-related book like this one is always something I open with a fear of "deja vu". To Bookstaber's credit, his numerous insights quickly got me over this. It is a constant reminder to risk practitioners and traders that liquidity supply is a serious matter. It does indeed move mountains. For new comers into risk management and trading, it explains the sources of the LTCM debacle, and its learnings. By all standards, I recommend this book to any finance graduate, experienced trader, or risk manager. A very useful read.

      4 out of 5 stars The Wisdom of the Cockroach.......2007-09-14

      In recounting his time as risk manager at a number of prominent houses (Morgan Stanley, Salomon Brothers, Citigroup etc.), Bookstaber completes the i-banking trifecta. First there was the Michael Lewis classic, Liar's Poker, detailing the juvenile bravado and macho antics of the trading floor. Then Jonathan Knee gave an intimate portrait of the i-banker deal making culture with The Accidental Investment Banker.

      And now, in A Demon of Our Own Design, we get a glimpse at the risk management side of things... a sort of master plumber's walking tour through the bowels of the system, with technical descriptions of exactly what happens when pipes burst and boilers explode. (Some will find Bookstabers' level of detail intolerably dull; others will find it quite fascinating. I was in the fascinated camp.)

      Nature of the beast

      In describing the finer points of risk arbitrage, Bookstaber explains why it's normal -- expected even -- for trading desks to take a good whack every so often. The nature of the beast is to make relatively steady profits, month in and month out, and then give back a chunk of those profits when something goes haywire. (That's how you move huge sums on an arb desk; grind out small bets that are almost guaranteed to work, juice up the returns with leverage, and try not to be in the vicinity when the rare position goes kablooey.)

      In light of this general modus operandi, perhaps it isn't surprising that the "quant" funds recently took a major hit (as of September 2007). They had been minting money for an extraordinarily long period, had the leverage to show for it, and now, after the recent "oops," seem to be generally back in business.

      In fact it appears natural for much of Wall Street to work in this "make a little, lose a lot" fashion... the key idea being that all the little updrafts make up for the once-in-a-blue-moon downdrafts. (Such calculus works better for the fee collectors than the fee payers, but that's a different kettle of fish.)

      Bookstaber's detail-rich description of the various trades that investment houses put on, many of them lasting years, is also enlightening. The details seem to confirm that, by and large, Wall Street is a gigantic, slow moving, conventional-returns type machine. (And what else could it be, really, with such an ocean of capital to allocate and so many jobs to fill? There is only so much creativity and contrarianism to go round.)

      A dangerous combination

      Risk manager war stories aside, Bookstaber's goal is to hammer home a key philosophical point regarding risk. He wants readers to understand that financial markets are inherently unstable, and this reality places limits on how far we (or anyone) should go in pursuit of outsized returns.

      To make his point, Bookstaber uses various analogies to describe how the market is a highly complex, tightly coupled system... and to explain why the combination of high complexity and tight coupling is particularly dangerous.

      The counterexample Bookstaber gives of a highly complex, loosely coupled system is the US Postal Service. The USPS has countless potential points of failure and myriad moving parts, but there are no catastrophic linkages involved. A lost package does not set off a disastrous daisy chain of events in which millions of packages are lost.

      In contrast, the classic example of a highly complex, tightly coupled system is a nuclear reactor. The reactor is tightly coupled because any point of failure can lead to a knock-on chain reaction; one small thing going wrong can set the entire mechanism on a path to disaster. Being a highly complex, tightly coupled system, the market is less like the postal service and more like the nuclear reactor, in that the combination of aggressive leverage, complex methodologies and heavily interlocking parts leads to significant potential for catastrophe.

      Exquisitely adapted

      Another serious problem is Wall Street's deeply ingrained tendency to push the envelope. (Richard Lowenstein put it exceptionally well in his book Origins of the Crash: "Finance has its own Peter Principle, by which a successful model will be adapted to progressively riskier causes until it fails.")

      In this habit of fighting for every inch of profit, Wall Street is like a self-evolving animal overquick to embrace the particulars of its immediate environment. The more precisely an animal is attuned to a particular "fitness landscape," the better that animal can thrive... in the short term at least, as long as everything stays just so. To be exquisitely adapted (as opposed to robustly adapted) is to be vulnerable to the slightest change.

      Thus when the fitness landscape DOES change -- as it inevitably will -- the heavily specialized competitors tend to get crushed (if not go extinct). If a strategy-gone-sour broadsides a large enough group of market participants, the entire financial ecosystem can be thrown into turmoil. When the turmoil from this upheaval spills into the broader economy, wreaking havoc in its wake, the "demon" spoken of in the book's title is unleashed. (As this reviewer interprets it anyway.)

      Wisdom of the cockroach

      So the problem, in sum, is Wall Street's tendency to `overadapt' to every appealing landscape it encounters, building up complexity and leverage to dangerous levels in doing so.

      Bookstaber's suggestion is to heed the wisdom of the cockroach.

      The cockroach has survived a longer time span, and a wider variety of harsh environments, than humans could ever match. It is one of the creatures man cannot wipe out no matter how hard he tries. And yet, the cockroach's key risk management strategy is embarrassingly simple... simpler, even, than putting in a stop loss. The deeper point is that simple equals robust; by refusing to get fancy, and sticking with the tried-and-true, the cockroach ensures its reign as champion survivor.

      Bookstaber uses the cockroach (and other examples from nature) to argue that we, too, should consider cutting back on our excessively specialized ways. The cost of a rough-edged strategy is forgoing excess profits in accomodative environments... but the benefit is increased likelihood of survival in a much wider range of environments, including the truly harsh ones. (As Jim Grant likes to joke, if so many of these credit-driven vehicles can barely handle prosperity, how are they supposed to fare when adversity hits?)

      Harrumphs all round

      Bookstaber's finger-wagging solution (be less fancy; take less risk) has the ring of common sense to it, especially in the way it frustrates all those market participants determined to have their cake and eat it too.

      For those who seek to wring every last nickel out of the market (as LTCM used to brag of doing), Bookstaber argues persuasively that flying too close to the sun will always be perilous. The commitment to leveraging every edge on a broad scale inevitably leads to disaster-prone configurations, no matter how smart the players.

      For those who think the answer is greater regulation of markets, i.e. more rules, Bookstaber shows how extra layers of bureaucracy can actually bring about the exact opposite of the intended affect. Perversely, layers of red tape can (and often do) make a situation more risky, by increasing confusion and complacency simultaneously.

      Nor is greater information disclosure the answer. If the market's traditional liquidity providers (traders, market makers, speculators etc.) are forced to disclose their positions to the world in real time, they will react in the manner of poker players forced to play their hands face-up. To the extent that disclosure resolves uncertainty, it also drives market participants from the game. And because "liquidity is a coward" as the old saying goes, always running away when you need it most, strict disclosure rules would likely make bad market conditions worse at the least opportune times.

      Some left smiling

      Two groups in particular may be left smiling at the end of this book -- value investors and trend followers. In both the theory and practice of their normal operations, value investors and trend followers intuitively embraced Bookstaber's message a long long time ago, favoring longevity and robusticity over the temptations of adjusting to the moment.

      It is perhaps not surprising, then, that value investors and trend followers are arguably the most profitable market participants by far on an absolute-dollar basis, hauling in hundreds of billions in profit over the course of many decades. They are champion survivors too... with a touch more class than the cockroach.

      5 out of 5 stars A MUST READ for all financial markets professionals.......2007-09-13

      This is an excellent book. I cannot say enough good things about it. Unquestionably one of the best books on financial markets of the hundreds that I have read. This book provides a ringside view of how the major banks and hedge funds work and why financial risks have become more magnified than before.

      Derivatives, trading and hedge funds are here to stay. They perform a valuable service to the financial markets, though Warren Buffet will disagree with me. Nevertheless, it is the mis-use of derivatives and the excessive use of leverage that leads to financial disasters. This book provides an excellent insight into why we witness financial turmoil in some of the most liquid markets.

      I strongly recommend it to all MBA finance students as well as to financial markets professionals at hedge funds, prop trading desks, risk managers, quants, bankers, pension fund managers.

      5 out of 5 stars Demon.......2007-09-12

      I found this book very interesting and full of information I haven't seen elsewhere. A Wall Street "quant" insider's perspective, focused on what can and does go wrong. The author also ties his analysis of famous Wall Street tailspins to other notable failures, including Chernobyl and the Challenger, and finds common themes.
      Financial Management: Principles and Applications (10th Edition)
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Great textbook
      • Great Book for a hard course
      • Financial Management : Principles and Applications (10th Edition)
      • EXCELENT BOOK
      Financial Management: Principles and Applications (10th Edition)
      Arthur J. Keown , John D. Martin , John W. Petty , and David F. Scott
      Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      Corporate FinanceCorporate Finance | Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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      ASIN: 0131450654

      Book Description

      With its exciting introduction of the Harley-Davidson focus company theme, this book continues to provide a solid, enduring foundation of the tools of modern theory while at the same time developing the logic behind their use. The “10 Principles of Finance” (formerly “Axioms” ) provide the framework, or “the big picture” of finance, which ties the major concepts of the book together. A six-part organization covers the scope and environment of financial management, valuation of financial assets, investment in long-term assets, capital structure and dividend policy, working-capital management, and special topics in finance, and special topics in finance. For an enduring understanding of the basic tools and fundamental principles upon which finance is based.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Great textbook.......2006-10-04

      I'm usually very critical of textbooks, but this one reads extremely well. It is clearly organized and progresses in a logical manner. The subject material is inherently difficult, but the authors do an excellent job explaining both the common-sense and mathematical basis for each topic. I have no formal background in finance or accounting but I'm doing well in a 300-level course with just this book to thank. Anyone who wants to educate themselves about stock/bond values, interpreting balance sheets, etc, would benefit greatly from this book.

      4 out of 5 stars Great Book for a hard course.......2006-03-27

      The class is hard no matter what school you attend. The book is easy reading and has many great exercise for you to practice to help you understand the text. The exercises had help me tremendously.

      4 out of 5 stars Financial Management : Principles and Applications (10th Edition) .......2005-10-10

      The Book was not plastic covered and plus there was no cd included in the book

      5 out of 5 stars EXCELENT BOOK.......2005-09-11

      This is a very good and updated book. It brings excelent cases and is well designed and easy to read.
      Healthcare Finance: An Introduction To Accounting And Financial Management
      Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
      • Could be greatly improved
      • Cram 101
      • Straight to the point and practical
      • A Great Intro Into Health Care Finance
      • Superb textbook
      Healthcare Finance: An Introduction To Accounting And Financial Management
      Louis C. Gapenski
      Manufacturer: Aupha Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 1567932320

      Book Description

      Like its predecessors, this introductory text teaches students the fundamental concepts of healthcare finance, including both financial management and accounting. It was developed to be used in clinical and health services administration programs, in which students are primarily trained for careers in provider organizations.

      New to the third edition are coverage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the impact of cost structure on risk, a revised approach to variance analysis, and revenue.

      Customer Reviews:

      2 out of 5 stars Could be greatly improved.......2007-10-08

      The problem with this book is it is written too much like a book and not like a textbook. It is nearly impossible to find the equations that are embedded in the text if you are trying to do a quick reference on a concept. In addition, the index is horrible which leaves me constantly googling concepts that I need for the case studies since you can never find them in the book. Also, I'm not really sure how the book distinguishes itself as "health care" there is little to no health care specifics as far as finance goes. In all reality it isn't a great book especially if it is for your first finance class and you're better off looking up academic journals for a the health care finance perspective.

      1 out of 5 stars Cram 101.......2007-05-30

      This purchase was to help me with my course and go hand in hand with the engimatic book. However, it hit highlights but was not helpful to me in question answers and reviews for test. If you want a book with definiton's to help you , this is a 5 . If you want help with the Gapenski engima , its a 1.

      5 out of 5 stars Straight to the point and practical.......2007-02-07

      Very good textbook: gives you all the necessary foundations for understanding the financial issues in healthcare.

      5 out of 5 stars A Great Intro Into Health Care Finance.......2000-12-01

      As stated in the preface of the book, the goal of the book, "was to create a text that introduces students to the most important principles and applications of healthcare finance..." This book was an excellent introduction into finance. Not only did it explain accounting and financial terms and theories, it uses excellent examples of real life health care situations to further the reader's understanding of the topics. This was my first time exposed to finance of any type. At the end of the book, I felt like I had a firm understanding of the basics. Excellent book for beginners.

      5 out of 5 stars Superb textbook.......2000-11-30

      As a cardiologist, I have used many textbooks over the years. I am now a hospital's Chief Medical Officer and am enrolled in an MHA program. Dr. Gapenski's book is one of the best-written textbooks I have ever used. It clearly and consisely discusses financial concepts as they apply to healthcare. He has the ability to make the most complex concepts easily understood.
      Cost Management: Accounting and Control
      Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
      • TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY; THAT'S A QUESTION!
      • Filled With Useless Information
      • FOR THE PRICE, THIS BOOK SHOULD BE BETTER
      • Want to Cheat Someone
      • Too much info.
      Cost Management: Accounting and Control
      Don R. Hansen , and Maryanne M. Mowen
      Manufacturer: South-Western College Pub
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      Accessories:
      1. Study Guide for Hansen/Mowen's Cost Management: Accounting and Control, 5th Study Guide for Hansen/Mowen's Cost Management: Accounting and Control, 5th

      ASIN: 0324233108

      Book Description

      COST MANAGEMENT emphasizes that changing conditions often require a change in systems. Emphasizing this point stresses the dynamic and exciting nature of the field. By taking a systems approach -- one that first covers functional-based cost and control and then activity-based cost systems -- students understand how to understand and manage any cost management system.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY; THAT'S A QUESTION!.......2007-03-16

      The text is pretty comprehensive and covers the subject of Cost Management broadly and deeply. Since there are not too many textbooks on the topic; therefore, authors are admired for their devoted efforts they put into. The publisher should understand the matter inside the book and manage the cost of this book and make it afforable to the students.

      For students, it's tough beginning before learning "Cost Management", the book incurs too much cost and puzzles students how they should manage their own budgets. Anyway, it might be the strategy of the authors or the publishing company to begin the lessons from the sale. As one scholar said, "Experience is a tough teacher, which gives exams first and teaches lessons thereafter."

      As far as the contents are concerned, the book is highly recommended, but at a lower price. Thank you for your time for reading this review.

      1 out of 5 stars Filled With Useless Information.......2006-09-01

      If you want to wade through useless babble to get to the actual cost accounting, go at it. However, you'll probably buy this book anyway if you have an unscrupulous accounting professor who received a gift basket from the publisher.

      In other words, it's useless to the student. However, I'm sure its very profitable for the publisher and the authors.

      3 out of 5 stars FOR THE PRICE, THIS BOOK SHOULD BE BETTER.......2006-03-23

      This book should have been written better when you consider its expensive price tag. However, the review excercise at the end of the chapter is extremely helpful. I would recommend the book if serious improvements are made. Overall, it is not that bad.

      1 out of 5 stars Want to Cheat Someone.......2005-09-30

      I made a mistake and chose the book they listed in the Amazon.com. When the book arrived, I saw that what they have listed was only a Study Guide from a really old edition. I must say that they have said this on the listing. That was my mistake. But I wrote them back that I do not want this book, and want to return it. But they do not accept the return and refund of money. They do know that it is hard to find someone again doing this mistake. I looked at the book. This is $ 10 worth, not more. And impossible to sell again. I am a student. I do not have so much money to afford the required book. So I got really frustrated and faced losts of problems in the following weeks and spent a lot of time and energy to get the right book. It is a really sad story and an experience for me. I hope the seller is right know enjoying my $ 139.71.

      2 out of 5 stars Too much info........2005-01-04

      Too bad we're stuck with whatever book the professor assigns. Often reads like the authors needed to write 1,000 pages, regardless of the complexity of the material. I caught them several times referring to the same item with different terms. In-class instruction on methods will save you a ton of time.

      Books:

      1. Cost Accounting (12th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
      2. Cost Accounting (12th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
      3. Cost Management: Accounting and Control
      4. Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse (Lynn Sonberg Books)
      5. Currency Overlay: A Practical Guide
      6. Designing Forms for Microsoft Office InfoPath and Forms Services 2007 (Microsoft .NET Development Series)
      7. Designing Forms for Microsoft Office InfoPath and Forms Services 2007 (Microsoft .NET Development Series)
      8. Detail Process Charting: Speaking the Language of Process
      9. Financial Accounting: An Introduction to Concepts, Methods, and Uses
      10. Financial Accounting: Information for Decisions

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