THE BULLS AND THE BEARS: How the Stock Exchange Works

A hypothetical situation--George Bennett needs money to manufacture and market his newly-developed Instant Cleaner--sets off a chain of circumstances--incorporating, selling stock; growing, ""going public""--which provide an inside view of investment procedures generally and the stock market in particular. Advised by a local bank official, Mr. Taylor, George has no trouble disposing of his initial stock issue; the product catches on and he needs more money to expand than can be raised locally; he and Mr. Taylor emplane for New York, where they speak with an investment banker who agrees to handle the new stock, observe the Big Board in action and visit a broker's office; on the way home, Mr. Taylor explains the technique of reading a stock market report. George gets quite an education from his acquaintances (and is almost hit by a car crossing Wall Street, lunches at Fraunces Tavern); the author fills in the historical background for the reader, and provides a detailed plan for practice investment. A list of stock exchanges and a glossary (but no index) complete the equipment. If you can forgive the staged quality of the fictional episodes, this is a direct line to a tough topic.