Rating: 
Summary: Solid, easy to follow investing advice
Review: After reading "The Motley Fool Investment Guide", finishing up this book and spending a few days around their web site I feel these guys are really on to something. Their investment advice is straightforward and easy to follow. This book will show you how to identify those potentially very lucrative stocks that can't really be valued with current techniques -- ones that require a more subjective determination. It then shows how to identify those companies that will continue to produce good returns and offer a great long term investment opportunity.The writing style (as with all of their books) is extremely conversational. In fact, in some cases this book can probably be too conversational. I enjoyed the style at first, but just wanted to get right to the details by the end. The measurements they use to make judgements about a company are clearly explained and then followed up with several case studies. Throughout the book they provide many examples of their techniques put into practice. It would have been nice summary sheets were provided for the major techniques introduced. I've found that after the first read I had to go back and takes notes. All in all a very worthwhile purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: The Motley Fools' best book yet...
Review: For years, the Gardner brothers, better known as the Motley Fools, have been providing average Americans (or at least those on the internet) with the best advice available on financial and investment matters--in marked contrast to the Wise of Wall St., who encourage short-term thinking and trading (to their profit, of course, but to investors' detriment). I suspect my story is typical: a couple of years ago, I was investing rashly in all kinds of low-quality companies of which I knew little and, not surprisingly, was trailing the market badly. Then I discovered the Fools and their advice finally sunk in 19 months ago. I sold all the junk in my portfolio and purchased a solid mix of world-beating companies. Since then, my portfolio is up 142% versus 49% for the S&P 500, including 108% in 1998 versus 29% for the Index--with no leverage, trading, options, capital gains, etc. For the novice investor, I would recommend the Fools' earlier books (and probably an Index fund rather than buying stocks), but for people who understand the basics of investing, Rule Breakers, Rule Makers is by far the Fools' best book yet. In it, they cover two types of stocks: Rule Breakers such as Amazon.com and AOL (for which they have become famous, or in some quarters, infamous as "internet hypesters" or some such rubbish) and Rule Makers like Microsoft and Coke. They lay out a sound approach for thinking about each style of investing and picking winners within each style. To their credit, they strongly recommend that investors build a foundation of Rule Makers before venturing into much higher risk Rule Breakers with a smaller bit of money. Having read many of the classics on investing (Buffett, Lynch, Graham & Dodd, Fisher, etc.), I believe this book deserves a spot among them--and in many ways, is superior to them as a practical, how-to guide for investors.
Rating: 
Summary: Disapointing
Review: I am a very big fan of the Fool web site, so I had big expectations from this book, but it was a major disapointment. The book is about investing, but it rambols on and on about shakespeare and other works of literature, finding pointless and borring analogies between investing and these books. The actual investing advice is very sparse and ambigous, with no research to proove or disproove its effectiveness. The book is already outdates (since it was written before the stock market crash). As an example, the rule maker portfolio, which is half of this book actualy gave *negative* returns for investors!
Rating:
Summary: Highly amusing and fairly useful
Review: I bought this near the peak of the Internet mania and at first the advice contained within was gold. Later I realized that many stocks did well simply because of dot com mania. Still, the book is a well-written, often quite useful collection of strategies for managing a portfolio. This book is not for the casual trader (it requires management) but it provides good advice to keep in mind. I think if the reader considers that these strategies require fairly regular vigilance, they can be helpful. If you don't have ample time to maintain a portfolio and check your assumptions, this (like any other investing strategy) can be dangerous -- although it's not especially risky I will concede that! Humor-wise, this is 5 stars. I enjoy the attitude of the Gardner brothers -- that all things in life should be enjoyed, even investing, so I still recommend this book as part of a balanced COLLECTION of good investing books. Just don't expect THE investment bible.
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Summary: FOOLISH investing is good investing!
Review: I have been visiting the Motley Fool web site for about 2 yrs now and really like what I see! I began investing in mutual funds and thought I was doing pretty good until I read their first two books and found out I could do better investing for myself. I got out of my poor performing mutual funds and bought stocks through an online discount brokerage, which they advise for small investors such as myself. But before I bought my stocks I used their advise in researching the stocks before I bought them. Gardner brothers' best advice is to buy stock in good quality companies that are financially sound. Since I bought my first stocks I have been pleasantly surprised in the performance of my portfolio. This new book is a continuation of their philosophy in investing. Some of the techniques in evaluating a "Rule Breaking" company are definitley techniques that do not follow conventional Wisdom. But these stocks don't follow rules, they break them, and prove their FOOLISHNESS in stock price appreciation and long term value. I more enjoyed the "Rule Making" section of the book, it goes into great detail in evaluating a company for financial strength and dominance in its industry. I would give this book 4 1/2 stars (hey, there is always room for improvement). FOOL ON!
Rating:
Summary: great stock review
Review: I loved the insights on how to work the market and what tips to look for when investing
Rating: 
Summary: Will Be A Collector's Item Some Day
Review: I recently saw this book on the bargain bin. This book was pure garbage, by two arrogant 20-somethings in clown suits. Basically they are saying valuations don't matter. Since they wrote the book, it has been prooven that their philosophy, approached over the long term, produces some great damaging losses. The book may be useful during the next bubble, which if history serves, will occur well after these clowns pass on to the big three-ring circus in the sky. To the dungeon with these two knaves.
Rating:
Summary: Will Be A Collector's Item Some Day
Review: I recently saw this book on the bargain bin. This book was pure garbage, by two arrogant 20-somethings in clown suits. Basically they are saying valuations don't matter. Since they wrote the book, it has been prooven that their philosophy, approached over the long term, produces some great damaging losses. The book may be useful during the next bubble, which if history serves, will occur well after these clowns pass on to the big three-ring circus in the sky. To the dungeon with these two knaves.
Rating:
Summary: When Time and the Market Catch Up With You
Review: I was checking the ... site to see if this book was still being offered, and shocked when I found it still is. I have been a Gardner fool (note lack of capital) since 1997 and purchased and read this book when it came out as well as their other books before this one. The reason I am reviewing this book now is the brothers G have changed their investing philosophy and techniques making this book a dinosaur. Many of the stocks that made up the Rule Maker Portfolio have been and are being sold off because they no longer fit the new definition of a Rule Maker. While the Rule Breaker Portfolio has not been changed as much, it is still being carried by two stocks that the Gardners have held for a long time (... being one). The rest of the portfolio continues to meet or under perform the Market. The definitions for the Rule Breakers has always been more subjective, good luck if you try to find this type of stock on your own with the help of this book. It is very interesting that this strategy is thinly followed on their discussion boards. Regarding the Rule Makers, this book no longer reflects that failed strategy. Because the Gardner Brothers no longer believe in most of the methods outlined in this book, I don't think they could recommend it. I personally can't recommend it, unless you want to read it as a history book, a reflection on stock picking from the late nineties. As of April 2003 I felt compelled to add to this review; the Gardner Brothers have discontinued their Rule Maker/Rule Breaker online portfolios and for all intents the philosophies that this book presents. I think it is wrong for this book to be in publication and sold by Amazon when it is no longer represents what the authors believe. Please be strongly advised the authors are not practicing what is written in this book and haven't for some time. This is now only a history book, you should not buy it except for that reason.
Rating:
Summary: a balanced review (I hope)
Review: If nothing else, the Motley Fools certainly generate opinionated responses. Few books, I think, get as many 1 and 5 star ratings at the same time. I read their first book and liked it, I started this book and so far like it more. In general, they are fundamental investors at heart, and time spent learning their methods serves novice and experienced investors well. But I never take these guys as seriously as many others. Remember, they are selling something as surely as many other self-described stock market gurus. The simple fact is that even by the Motley Fool's own standards - buy and hold for years - the jury is still out on whether they offer a superior method of investing. And we won't know for sure until they've been through at least one - and I personally think more than one - real bear market. The race isn't over until you retire, and an early lead can be quickly lost. The Motley Fool's motto is "educate, amuse, and enrich". Their books and website will definitely educate and amuse, but the only certain enrichment is the cut they get out of the money you pay for their products. Read and enjoy, but read lots of other authors, too. Tim Klepaczyk
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