Power Failure: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Enron......Sad in a way
  • A Stockbrokers perspective
  • Exceptional Story of the Enron Tragedy
  • The most important reason for this book is to make the layman aware of just what a travesty the Enron scandal was.....
  • Chaser for "The Smartest Guys in the Room" - kind of Enron lite
Power Failure: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron
Mimi Swartz , and Sherron Watkins
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 076791368X
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Amazon.com

Something strange happened to the Enron Corporation in the early 1990s: It went from a company that traded in tangible goods to one that dealt in pure abstractions, with shoddy accounting practices, astonishing compensation packages, and smoke and mirrors to obfuscate this new reality.

Company auditors, Sherron Watkins among them, warned top Enron execs from CEO Kenneth Lay on down that the company's increasing reliance on cooked books and phony reports "will implode in a wave of accounting scandals." As anyone who played the stock market or watched Enron suits do the perp walk on the evening news a couple of years ago will remember, that's exactly what happened. Texas Monthly editor Swarz and Watkins team up to offer this account, rich in anecdote and numbers alike, of what went wrong and who made it so. Though even-handed throughout, they serve up plenty of righteous scorn for the corporate leaders who enriched themselves as the company disintegrated, and for the name-brand politicians who abetted them.

Though Osama bin Laden's pawns barely dented the U.S. economy, observes Alex Berenson in The Number, Lay and his lieutenants brought it to its knees. Swartz's and Watkins's eye-opening account will rekindle new indignation over unpunished crimes and well-rewarded hubris, and it ought to be required reading in business schools henceforth. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

“They’re still trying to hide the weenie,” thought Sherron Watkins as she read a newspaper clipping about Enron two weeks before Christmas, 2001. . . It quoted [CFO] Jeff McMahon addressing the company’s creditors and cautioning them against a rash judgment. “Don’t assume that there is a smoking gun.”
Sherron knew Enron well enough to know that the company was in extreme spin mode…

Power Failure is the electrifying behind-the-scenes story of the collapse of Enron, the high-flying gas and energy company touted as the poster child of the New Economy that, in its hubris, had aspired to be “The World’s Leading Company,” and had briefly been the seventh largest corporation in America.

Written by prizewinning journalist Mimi Swartz, and substantially based on the never-before-published revelations of former Enron vice-president Sherron Watkins, as well as hundreds of other interviews, Power Failure shows the human face beyond the greed, arrogance, and raw ambition that fueled the company’s meteoric rise in the late 1990s. At the dawn of the new century, Ken Lay’s and Jeff Skilling's faces graced the covers of business magazines, and Enron’s money oiled the political machinery behind George W. Bush’s election campaign. But as Wall Street analysts sang Enron’s praises, and its stock spiraled dizzyingly into the stratosphere, the company’s leaders were madly scrambling to manufacture illusory profits, hide its ballooning debt, and bully Wall Street into buying its fictional accounting and off-balance-sheet investment vehicles. The story of Enron’s fall is a morality tale writ large, performed on a stage with an unforgettable array of props and side plots, from parking lots overflowing with Boxsters and BMWs to hot-house office affairs and executive tantrums.

Among the cast of characters Mimi Swartz and Sherron Watkins observe with shrewd Texas eyes and an insider’s perspective are: CEO Ken Lay, Enron’s “outside face,” who was more interested in playing diplomat and paving the road to a political career than in managing Enron’s high-testosterone, anything-goes culture; Jeff Skilling, the mastermind behind Enron’s mercenary trading culture, who transformed himself from a nerdy executive into the personification of millennial cool; Rebecca Mark, the savvy and seductive head of Enron’s international division, who was Skilling’s sole rival to take over the company; and Andy Fastow, whose childish pranks early in his career gave way to something far more destructive. Desperate to be a player in Enron’s deal-making, trader-oriented culture, Fastow transformed Enron’s finance department into a “profit center,” creating a honeycomb of financial entities to bolster Enron’s “profits,” while diverting tens of millions of dollars into his own pockets

An unprecedented chronicle of Enron’s shocking collapse, Power Failure should take its place alongside the classics of previous decades – Barbarians at the Gate and Liar’s Poker – as one of the cautionary tales of our times.


From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Enron......Sad in a way.......2007-03-29

This book is a great account of what happened. When Enron collapsed, I was in my young teens so I really didn't pay much attention to it. However now seeing I'm in college as a business major I think it is an essential book that should be read by all business majors. It teaches what can go wrong when the wrong moves are put in place. Enron I think did everything possible to cripple itself with out seeing it until it was too late. The book takes off as rocket that a company is about to make it big. It takes from the early stages a company to a giant that falls to shambles.
The company employees the wrong people to the wrong positions. Andy Fastow I feel is the biggest crook outside of Skilling. Ken lay I feel was a good man who truly wanted to see the company prevail but with his blindness did not see the fore coming danger. Fastow reported to Skilling and Skilling just signed off on deals with out looking at them. If he would have seen what Fastow was doing with money from the company, chances are these deals would have never made it. However, with the wavering of the ethic code was just wrong. No company should ever break their code of ethics. If they do get out ASAP. Chances are it will lead to bigger breaks and will cause bigger problems and respect will go down the tubes.
This book is worth the cost and it will teach you what Enron did wrong. They should have just stayed in the Nat gas business and slowly dabble in other businesses instead of jumping into businesses without expertise. Go out and buy the book you should be pleased the way it is put together.

5 out of 5 stars A Stockbrokers perspective.......2007-02-26

This book offered an unseen perspective into details about ENRON's dealings and people which should illuminate both old and new views about corporate governance, accounting policies, regulatory climate and unseen involvement by parties which contributed to the collaspe of ENRON.

5 out of 5 stars Exceptional Story of the Enron Tragedy.......2006-11-10

With the recent sentencing of Jeffery Skilling, Mimi Swartz's work takes a complicated story of deciet and betrayal and explains the details in a concise and succint manner. A must read for all business leaders. A great read.

4 out of 5 stars The most important reason for this book is to make the layman aware of just what a travesty the Enron scandal was............2006-10-18

The greatest reason to read this book is to get an appreciation for the scale of the collapse that was Enron. Also, you will get a description of what life was like at Enron on a personal level from an insider's view, as well as their view on what it had to do with the Company's downfall. Yes - this is one person's account, but there's enough factual information to back them up on the important points.

There are many books that are more technically oriented and probably less biased. Unfortunately, for this layman, they don't make very good bedtime reading.

4 out of 5 stars Chaser for "The Smartest Guys in the Room" - kind of Enron lite.......2006-08-09

I recommend reading these 2 books together because TSGITR gets really dense in places, making for draining reading, but since the story is too incredible to put down, Power Failure takes it to a lighter level. I do think Power Failure hones in more on Andy Fastow, as co-writer Sherron Watkins worked directly with him, and the photograph of his little art project is downright chilling (you'll see what I'm referring to). Power Failure still has some great meat to chew on however; the proximity that Sherron Watkins had to the main players, particularly Lay and Fastow, lends itself to the amazing characterizations of these guys on paper. The two books follow a similar chronology and highlights, so it is interesting to compare the slight variations of the same episodes. Even though Sherron Watkins makes the most of her edge, being a primary player in the saga, the tip of my hat goes to TSGITR's writers for their downright nasty investigative reporting.
Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • You'll ease your stress if you use the advice in this book
  • Absolutely Incredible
  • Good Book
  • Indispensable primer for anyone considering bankruptcy
  • Finally, an understandable bankruptcy book!
Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies
James P. Caher , and John M. Caher
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764554980

Book Description

The number of new personal bankruptcies filed each year continue to increase. And there is no relief in sight. Bankruptcy is never a painless or easy decision, but with a little know-how, you can get through this process with a minimum of headache, heartache, and indigestion. With a clear focus towards the future, you can then begin to get your finances—and your life—back in order.

If you’re considering bankruptcy, are currently in the process of filing for bankruptcy, or on the brink of bankruptcy and looking for a way to get through debt, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies can help you make the best decisions about your financial future.

Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies is a nuts-and-bolts toolbox, which covers both Chap7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Written by two seasoned experts on bankruptcy law, this easy-to-follow guide walks you through the bankruptcy process and explains how to rebuild your credit after filing for bankruptcy. Straightforward answers and re liable advice can help you sort out all of your possibilities, with a clear understanding of what you have to gain and what’s to lose. This carefully written guidebook will show you how to:

Filled with expert tips and tactics for navigating the world of bankruptcy, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies gives you the ammunition and information you need to intelligently and confidently choose your own best path and get back on your feet again.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars You'll ease your stress if you use the advice in this book.......2005-05-05

Jim and John have a wonderful way of making you feel like you're sitting down at your kitchen table with a bankruptcy attorney who only has your best interests at heart. They don't pull any punches, and sometimes what they tell you isn't what you really want to hear, but you know they're giving you solid advice. Your anxiety level will plummet if you are thinking of filing bankruptcy and are looking for someone to hold your hand through the process.

Paula Langguth Ryan, Author, Bounce Back From Bankruptcy, 3rd Edition

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Incredible.......2004-07-31

Very solid, down-to-earth advice, and they make you feel a little bit better about yourself.

4 out of 5 stars Good Book.......2004-05-09

Good book although some aspects are very general. See also Surviving Financial Disasters By Tiffany R. Love it comes with a CD ROM.

5 out of 5 stars Indispensable primer for anyone considering bankruptcy.......2004-02-06

This tome is an absolute godsend for those who are considering filing for bankruptcy yet may not know much about the process. This book covers all the bases concerning Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings. From common mistakes and misconceptions to the highly specific legalese of bankruptcy law, this book addressed nearly every one of my concerns about this complex and emotionally challenging process. I opened the front cover a bankruptcy know-nothing and set it down feeling like an attorney.

This is not a DIY guide to financial rebirth (in fact the authors highly discourage this), but more of an "Everything-You-Ever-Wanted-to-Know-About-Bankruptcy-but-Were-Afraid-to-Ask" reference. The authors do not delve into the minutia of the process. They seek to be more like tour guides, leading you through the perilous wilds of US bankruptcy law with their collective wealth of knowledge on the subject. I found more useful information in the first 10 pages of this book than I did in six hours of web-surfing.

The most superlative compliment I can bestow upon this volume is that it helped to allay my fears and crystalize my plans for my financial future.

5 out of 5 stars Finally, an understandable bankruptcy book!.......2003-08-22

This book is clear, concise, understandable and even funny at times. The authors have done an incredible job of taking a very complicated topic and making it understandable for a lay audience. At the same time, they avoid talking down to the reader.

Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies is, first and foremost, a very useful tool for anyone even thinking about bankruptcy. It answers all the questions without preaching or browbeating. It ought to be read by every potential bankruptcy client before they meet with a lawyer.
Improving Accounting Reliability: Solvency, Insolvency, and Future Cash Flows
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Accounting: Understandable, Practical, and Useful?!
Improving Accounting Reliability: Solvency, Insolvency, and Future Cash Flows
Henning Kirkegaard
Manufacturer: Quorum Books
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1567201431

Book Description

Unforeseen, sudden collapses in business and banking are tragic, familiar phenomena. Creditors suffer huge losses and critics cry, "Where was the auditor?" Ironically, in most cases the balance sheet published prior to the collapse gave no warning signals. Often it showed a nice owners' equity, and thus the auditors failed to sound an alarm in time. Kirkegaard attributes the lack of advance warning largely to the inadequacy of financial statements. They are so unreliable that even the most meticulously prepared statement cannot give a true, fair view of a business's financial health. Statements should be dynamic, current, complete, and comprehensible. Most importantly, instead of focusing on profit and owners' equity, financial statements should concentrate on a firm's solvency or insolvency. It then becomes possible, using modern technology, to anticipate liquidity problems before they occur, therefore limiting or even preventing future losses. This is precisely the essence of the new model Kirkegaard proposes and develops with forceful clarity. His book will prove to be essential reading, not only for professional and academic accountants, but also for investors, corporate management, and skilled observers of the business scene. Some of the provocative, challenging ideas that Kirkegaard offers in his book: *The accounting theory which we know at present is in a state of apathy and resistance to change. *Enterprises which are already insolvent but not yet illiquid are dangerous to their creditors *It is impossible to accurately describe the financial position of a business enterprise using traditional financial statements *The concept of time has been a stepchild in accounting theory *It is wrong to believe that the task of accounting is to determine a firm's financial position. Accounting should be concerned with what we can say about the financial position *The financial statements of the future can be made logically complete, and therefore clean and easy to understand. They can also be made up to date, and used to show the financial situation right now, which will make them reliable.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Accounting: Understandable, Practical, and Useful?!.......1999-02-05

Why do people associate the words boring, useless, and difficult to understand with accounting? These misconceptions of accounting could be corrected if ever confronted directly. In his book, Improving Accounting Reliability: Solvency, Insolvency, and Future Cash Flows, Henning Kirkegaard does just that. He systematically clarifies the confusing terminology and introduces an accounting theory that demands attention. After reading this book, you'll agree that accounting is exciting, relevant, and easy to understand.

Improving Accounting Reliability: Solvency, Insolvency, and Future Cash Flows, is divided into two segments. The first identifies specifically what changes are needed while the second thoroughly explains a "new theory" and demonstrates its feasibility. This division, however, does not do the book justice. The six-page preface must not only be read, but also seriously considered. In it, the objectives, methods, and assumptions of the author, Henning Kirkegaard, are elaborated so that motivation for this book is clear to all prior to reading. Never assuming a patronizing voice, Kirkegaard presents the material in an objective manner with much consideration to openness and scientific logic. In also arguing for the scientific legitimacy of accounting, it is only fitting that he adopts a scientific model of presenting his views. Furthermore, by encouraging the reader to form his or her own opinion, much credibility is added to the theoretical ideas presented therein.

The first portion of the book exposes the inconsistencies of accounting theory. The position Kirkegaard assumes is neither new nor without support. Much attention is given to the related articles and ideas of those universally considered as the most influential accounting theorists of modern times. By including and explaining excerpts from Kaplan and Anthony, a solid basis for argument is established. The need for change can truly not be doubted. Following this, Kirkegaard systematically identifies the weaknesses in existing accounting theory. So complete in diagnosis, it is very difficult to answer the author's continual challenge to find fault with his statements. The key issues addressed are uncertainty, time, and the illogical nature of accounting concepts and definitions.

The second part of the book is dedicated to resolving these issues and demonstrating the viability of the new theory put forth. Paramount to this task, Kirkegaard directly addresses the concepts of time, uncertainty, and inadequate definitions. The new theory described by the author is not actually new; rather, it is an expansion and further development of accounting theory in general. First off, by redefining certain formerly vague concepts, specifically assets and liabilities in open, uncomplicated words, much of the confusion with the current accounting system is eliminated. Not stopping here, Kirkegaard reacquaints readers with the original purpose of the double-entry bookkeeping system. In doing so, he sets the stage for the "sensational" suggestion that follows. Why not expand the original purpose of using accounting to monitor liquidity and profitability to include the most current information using modern data processing technology? Pondering this idea for a moment should reveal the potential impacts this could have on the business world.

Up to this point, only the positives of Improving Accounting Reliability: Solvency, Insolvency, and Future Cash Flows, by Henning Kirkegaard, have been identified. Although the overall theoretical approach is definitely sound and conclusions valuable, the book is not void of criticism. First, I must question the attempt to write a book for accountants and non-accountants alike. The result is what could be referred to as a "shotgun" effect that is oversimplified for some (accountants) and overcomplicated for others (non-accountants). In alienating the various readers at times, there is a risk of turning the reader off to what is being said. Another point worth mentioning concerns the abundant use of scientific and philosophic information. Generally speaking, it adds much credibility to the argument being presented directly and also indirectly by emphasizing the well-researched position of the author. However, during the transition between the two different sections of the book, the overabundant use of academic jargon merely adds needless confusion. On the other hand, the task of shifting from attacking theory to offering new theory is perhaps the most difficult challenge of all. A clearer focus in transition would be much appreciated by all readers.

Finally, let me conclude this review by stating that I find Improving Accounting Reliability: Solvency, Insolvency, and Future Cash Flows, by Henning Kirkegaard, a very thought-provoking book. Despite the previous paragraph, I find it to be generally well written and very thorough. The information and theory contained in this book will definitely come into acceptance and practice in the near future, and I highly recommend reading it. Furthermore, this book reveals accounting as being exciting, relevant, and easy to understand.
Corporate Bankruptcy: Tools, Strategies, and Alternatives
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Handbook for Managers, not investors
  • Very practical reference, "thin" on theory and case studies
Corporate Bankruptcy: Tools, Strategies, and Alternatives
Grant W. Newton
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471332682

Book Description

No company should proceed toward a possible bankruptcy claim without a thorough understanding of the implications of all the available options. Corporate Bankruptcy provides CEOs, CFOs, controllers, and treasurers, as well as financial advisors and other professionals involved with bankruptcy filing, the tools they need to succeed.

Order your copy today!

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Handbook for Managers, not investors.......2005-10-22

Although helpful and well written, the book appears more appropriate for executives or managers of operating companies that may be faced with bankruptcy prospects. A good overview of how the process unfolds, players, objectives, legal issues, and procedures is provided. Managers at a financially distressed operation typically carry a different toolbox of experience and skills, and therefore, this book would be well worth the introduction to the topic.

However, for investors this book is somewhat superficial and lacks the roll-up-your-sleeves education neccessary for investing. In most cases, senior management is sacked because creditors understandably have little confidence in those who may have mismanaged or were responsible for the business's failure in the first place. Thus, the audience that I presumed above may not be appropriate nor the majority of individuals who surface after a Plan.

For investors or external parties, I urge you to consider:
"Distressed Debt Analysis: Strategies for Speculative Investors" by Stephen G. Moyer. It is more expensive, but its a much better book on this topic. Moyer is a stronger writer and seems to be more experienced in the matter than G. Newton. Both books do not include the 2005 Bankruptcy Code reforms, so you may wish to brush up on that separately.

4 out of 5 stars Very practical reference, "thin" on theory and case studies.......2004-01-24

Very useful and convenient reference guide for restructuring bankers / distressed debt investors. Probably too generic for experienced bankruptcy attorneys. The text and examples are efficiently presented and the author does a superb job of distilling the bankruptcy code into an easy-to-read format. The chapter on valuation is nothing more than the common stuff you read in any corporate finance book. A case study and a more extensive discussion on bankruptcy term sheets and negotiation tactics would have made this book more praiseworthy.
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Accounting, Volume 1, Practice and Procedure, 6th Edition
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Bankruptcy and Insolvency Accounting, Volume 1, Practice and Procedure, 6th Edition
    Grant W. Newton
    Manufacturer: Wiley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0471331430

    Book Description

    Considered the standard reference in the field of bankruptcy accounting, this two-volume set combines accounting, finance, tax and legal issues in an easy-to-understand resource. This updated and expanded edition contains major changes to the Bankruptcy Code and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and discusses the release of AICPA's SOP 90-7 with examples regarding the complications of applying it. Features new sections on business valuations, debtor-in-possession and post-petition financing. Volume 2 provides a unique collection of forms and exhibits and has been extensively revised to be more user-friendly with checklists and discussions to accompany the scores of sample documents and authentic exhibits. Supplemented annually.
    Business Turnaround and Bankruptcy Kit
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • For accurately assessing one's financial options
    Business Turnaround and Bankruptcy Kit
    John Ventura
    Manufacturer: Kaplan Business
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0793160448
    Release Date: 2003-04-14

    Book Description

    Recent economic downturns has transformed the American dream of owning a business into a virtual nightmare for many American business owners who are experiencing serious financial troubles. Filled with strategies, explanations, forms, worksheets, and acomprehensive glossary of terms, The Business Turnaround and Bankruptcy Kit offers help and provides business owners with the hope to save their company.

    Too often business owners who are in financial trouble are not familiar with the variety of options that exist for saving their company. Refusing to face facts and waiting to select the best option could be costly. In the Business Turnaround and Bankruptcy Kit nationally renowned bankruptcy attorney, John Ventura offers advice about which option to select, whether it be Chapter 7 turnaround/workout (liquidation) or Chapter 11 bankruptcy(reorganization). Ventura also provides valuable information and tools for owners of small to medium-sized businesses looking to navigate through difficult financial situations.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars For accurately assessing one's financial options.......2003-07-20

    The Business Turnaround & Bankruptcy Kit is a solidly presented guide for accurately assessing one's financial options when considering the possibility of declaring bankruptcy. Written by professional bankruptcy attorney John Ventura, The Business Turnaround & Bankruptcy Kit offers signs for recognizing serious business trouble, advice for finding quality professional help with one's business financing (recommending that one should never attempt to handle a turnaround or a bankruptcy by oneself), techniques for dealing effectively with insistent creditors and anxious employees, and much more. If you are contemplating bankruptcy for your business enterprise, then give serious attention to John Ventura's The Business Turnaround & Bankruptcy Kit.
    Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor: Examples and Explanations (Examples & Explanations Series)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Excellent Primer on Bankruptcy
    • The right tools
    • Excellent
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    Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor: Examples and Explanations (Examples & Explanations Series)
    Brian A. Blum
    Manufacturer: Aspen Publishers
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    FinancialFinancial | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    BankruptcyBankruptcy | Business | Law | Subjects | Books
    BankruptcyBankruptcy | Business | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Business & InvestingBusiness & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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    Similar Items:
    1. The Law of Debtors And Creditors: Text, Cases, And Problems The Law of Debtors And Creditors: Text, Cases, And Problems
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    ASIN: 0735528098

    Book Description

    To keep pace with the recent major changes in bankruptcy law, noted author Brian Blum presents a completely revised edition of his popular study guide, "Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor: Examples & Explanations." This comprehensive text is well known for its effectiveness in helping students understand the many rules, principles, and policies of the area.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent Primer on Bankruptcy.......2007-07-21

    I am an experienced lawyer and regularly read books (usually one-volume treatises) outside my practice area. Comprehensive books on bankruptcy are hard to find, and I purchased Blum's for lack of any alternative. The book is well organized, clearly written, and contains a lot of information. Even the attempts at humor are generally successful.

    To offer some unsolicited advice to law students, I don't recommend using this or any supplementary texts in your courses. Stick with the casebook and other materials the instructor assigns. It may seem as if this requires more effort to learn the subject than is warranted, but you won't regret it. You'll never have the time once you start working to reread and think about cases that you have while in school. That 3 years may seem like a long time, but if you take it seriously you will benefit significantly throughout your career. It is surprising how often I encounter exprienced lawyers who are ignorant of matters I learned in law school (now long past) and still remember.

    5 out of 5 stars The right tools.......2007-04-24

    If you are taking an introductory course in Bankruptcy, get a copy of this book - And use it! If your course also includes Chapter 11 Reorganizations, I would also recommend that you get a copy of Chapter Chapter 11 Business Reorganizations: For Business Leaders, Accountants And Lawyers. They are useful before exams. But I recommend getting them at the start of the semester.

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2007-04-10

    This is a great supplement that covers the 2005 changes in the code. Watch out for other supplements that are still owrking off of the pre-2005 amendments.

    5 out of 5 stars Awesome.......2007-01-03

    This book made the new bankruptcy code changes actually easy to understand. It saved my life and my grade!

    4 out of 5 stars Good job.......2004-05-10

    The author did a good job organizing the information in this book.

    I would also recommend Surviving Financial Disasters by Tiffany R. Love which comes with a CD ROM and actual sample court documents from someone who has been there and done that. Also tells what to expect after you filed your papers.
    The Executive Guide to Corporate Bankruptcy (Executive)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Excellent overview of the bankruptcy process
    The Executive Guide to Corporate Bankruptcy (Executive)
    Thomas J. Salerno , Jordan A. Kroop , and Craig D. Hansen
    Manufacturer: Beard Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Business LawBusiness Law | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    BankruptcyBankruptcy | Business | Law | Subjects | Books
    Private LawPrivate Law | Law | Subjects | Books
    BankruptcyBankruptcy | Business | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Business | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Corporate Bankruptcy: Tools, Strategies, and Alternatives Corporate Bankruptcy: Tools, Strategies, and Alternatives
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    ASIN: 1587980266

    Book Description

    Business guide to the procedures and processes related to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of the bankruptcy process.......2004-01-23

    This is an excellent book for the non-lawyer that needs to get up to speed quickly on the bankruptcy process. I found myself as the business person managing the creditor side of a bankruptcy and this book helped me become fluent in the process with minimal delay.

    The book is written in a light manner and is a rather quick read with a lot of detail available in appendices.
    Bankruptcy and Insolvency Accounting, Volume 1
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Bankruptcy and Insolvency Accounting, Volume 1
      Grant W. Newton
      Manufacturer: Wiley
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      FinancialFinancial | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      ManagementManagement | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 0471787612

      Book Description

      Completely updated, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Accounting, 7th Edition Volume 1 describes the process of turning around a troubled business and restructuring its financial aspects in an out-of-court setting and in bankruptcy.
      Bankruptcy and Insolvency Accounting, 2 Volume Set, 2004 Cumulative Supplement
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Bankruptcy and Insolvency Accounting, 2 Volume Set, 2004 Cumulative Supplement
        Grant W. Newton
        Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        Corporate FinanceCorporate Finance | Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        FinancialFinancial | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        ManagementManagement | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        Consolidation & MergerConsolidation & Merger | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Accounting | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
        All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
        Business & InvestingBusiness & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
        ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
        ASIN: 0471464724

        Book Description

        The 2004 Cumulative Supplement includes the following:

        Books:

        1. Practical Financial Management
        2. Practical Lean Accounting: A Proven System for Measuring and Managing the Lean Enterprise
        3. Pro BizTalk 2006 (Pro)
        4. Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Special Edition (Wrox Professional Guides)
        5. QuickBooks 2007 The Official Guide
        6. Quicken Willmaker Plus 2007 Edition: Estate Planning Essentials (Book with CD-ROM)
        7. Real Estate Loopholes: Secrets of Successful Real Estate Investing
        8. Restaurant Financial Basics
        9. Retire on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Planning Your Financial Future
        10. Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery

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