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THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

UNCOMMON SENSE FOR THE THOUGHTFUL INVESTOR

The chairman and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management explains investing.

The world of market investing is often complex and uncertain, but Marks presents his knowledge and experience in an understandable style. The author's debut originated from a series of “investment philosophy” memos he wrote for clients over the past 20 years. Marks’ advice is meaty and useful, and covers a number of dense economic concepts, such as market efficiency versus inefficiency, understanding and controlling market risk and defensive investing. His thorough reckoning of the material leads to savvy, in-depth economic advice. Investors are encouraged to employ second-level thinking, Marks writes, because the “buy low, sell high” philosophy is just a simple, first-level thought—determining a stock’s intrinsic value delves deeper and often results in better return. Interestingly, Marks wrote a memo 10 years ago that described the 2008 financial crisis. While the author is aware investing has very few certainties, his two core principles hold firm—the market is cyclical, and the greatest opportunities arise when others forget the cyclical nature of the market. Readers should not miss "The Poor Man’s Guide To Market Assessment," an exercise Marks recommends as a gauge. Also includes charts and graphs to help investors avoid the many potential hazards along the way. A clear and expert resource for all investors.

 

Pub Date: May 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-231-15368-3

Page Count: 192

Publisher: Columbia Univ.

Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011

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THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF JOBS

A welcome contribution from a newcomer who provides both a different view and balance in addressing one of the country's...

A fresh, provocative analysis of the debate on education and employment.

Up-and-coming economist Moretti (Economics/Univ. of California, Berkeley) takes issue with the “[w]idespread misconception…that the problem of inequality in the United States is all about the gap between the top one percent and the remaining 99 percent.” The most important aspect of inequality today, he writes, is the widening gap between the 45 million workers with college degrees and the 80 million without—a difference he claims affects every area of peoples' lives. The college-educated part of the population underpins the growth of America's economy of innovation in life sciences, information technology, media and other areas of globally leading research work. Moretti studies the relationship among geographic concentration, innovation and workplace education levels to identify the direct and indirect benefits. He shows that this clustering favors the promotion of self-feeding processes of growth, directly affecting wage levels, both in the innovative industries as well as the sectors that service them. Indirect benefits also accrue from knowledge and other spillovers, which accompany clustering in innovation hubs. Moretti presents research-based evidence supporting his view that the public and private economic benefits of education and research are such that increased federal subsidies would more than pay for themselves. The author fears the development of geographic segregation and Balkanization along education lines if these issues of long-term economic benefits are left inadequately addressed.

A welcome contribution from a newcomer who provides both a different view and balance in addressing one of the country's more profound problems.

Pub Date: May 5, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-547-75011-8

Page Count: 304

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Review Posted Online: April 3, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012

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HOW GOOGLE WORKS

An informative and creatively multilayered Google guidebook from the businessman’s perspective.

Two distinguished technology executives share the methodology behind what made Google a global business leader.

Former Google CEO Schmidt (co-author: The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business, 2013) and former senior vice president of products Rosenberg share accumulated wisdom and business acumen from their early careers in technology, then later as management at the Internet search giant. Though little is particularly revelatory or unexpected, the companywide processes that have made Google a household name remain timely and relevant within today’s digitized culture. After several months at Google, the authors found it necessary to retool their management strategies by emphasizing employee culture, codifying company values, and rethinking the way staff is internally positioned in order to best compliment their efforts and potential. Their text places “Googlers” front and center as they adopted the business systems first implemented by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who stressed the importance of company-wide open communication. Schmidt and Rosenberg discuss the value of technological insights, Google’s effective “growth mindset” hiring practices, staff meeting maximization, email tips, and the company’s effective solutions to branding competition and product development complications. They also offer a condensed, two-page strategy checklist that serves as an apt blueprint for managers. At times, statements leak into self-congratulatory territory, as when Schmidt and Rosenberg insinuate that a majority of business plans are flawed and that the Google model is superior. Analogies focused on corporate retention and methods of maximizing Google’s historically impressive culture of “smart creatives” reflect the firm’s legacy of spinning intellect and creativity into Internet gold. The authors also demarcate legendary application missteps like “Wave” and “Buzz” while applauding the independent thinkers responsible for catapulting the company into the upper echelons of technological innovation.

An informative and creatively multilayered Google guidebook from the businessman’s perspective.

Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014

ISBN: 978-1455582341

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Business Plus/Grand Central

Review Posted Online: July 21, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2014

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