Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre travelogue
Review: This book is basically a mediocre travelogue, filled with the self-indulgent recollections collected while driving across the world in a custom designed Mercedes. Written by Jim Rogers, a retired hedge-fund manager, it is a recounting of a world-wide adventure. Along the way, Rogers punctuates his wandering narrative with economic observations and glib predictions about the future. Granted, Jim Rogers and his current wife Paige did something few will ever do-spend three years and drive through 116 countries, racking up over 152,000 miles doing it. That is awe-inspiring. However, while reading this book, I couldn't help but be reminded of the travelogues written at the turn of the last century, where rich families would travel the world jotting self-important journal entries about how superior they were to the local savages. Jim comes across as self-important and slightly arrogant. Opinionated is putting it lightly. But it is because he is what he is - a rich socialite traveling the world to indulge himself. He blames European colonialism for most of the corruption and tyranny in Africa. His solution? Simply redraw the political maps around religious populations and end all aid to the countries. He states that anti-American bias around the world is because of... you guessed it. United States government. He criticizes Clinton, Bush, and Greenspan. The most interesting parts I thought was when Rogers retells about how he got conned into buying fake diamonds (glass in Africa), and also tracked down a broker that stole his money on a previous trip (South America). He also was surprised about how many of his predictions from his previous trip were just simply wrong. At least that offers some balance to the "I'm right and everyone else is wrong" tone that permeates the book. In spite of the negatives, I found it interesting nonetheless, to see the world filtered through Jim's eyes.
Rating: 
Summary: Eye opening for all Americans
Review: I highly recommend this narrative of Jim Roger's world wide travels for all Americans. The reason I say this, is because our media, for better or for worse, tends to shelter us from what's going on in the rest of the world. Think about it. Because of world trade and economics, events such as a revolution in Venezuela, or currency delvaluation in China would have much more impact on our daily lives than say, a basketball star getting accused of rape, or two female pop stars kissing on stage. But which events get more press? Jim Rogers' views on the economics of different nations is timely, and gives perspective of where major ecomnomic growth is going to occur in the coming century. And in doing so, it also highlights the mistakes that the US has made, and continues to make, in regards to foreign trade and foreign policy. The bottom line is, if you're an American, interested in business, and you wonder where the US is headed in the future: read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been better, but still worth the read
Review: Exposure to phenomenally successful people is always illuminating in some form or fashion and the book is worth it for that alone, although it does happen to be a pretty good book on its own merits. Mr. Rogers illustrates very well, albeit briefly, both his logic and his intuition. He does not attempt to be politically correct in any way and the plain common sense that results from his folksy narrative is refreshing and hard to find. There is, in many cases a vast canyon between the reporting/news that we receive from our mainstream media sources--anything about Africa leaps immediately to mind--and Mr. Rogers' actual real life observations and experiences that even small investors will want to know about. The thing that makes this book good rather than great is his companion on the adventure, now his wife. She is, I am sure, a very nice person and all readers will be delighted that Mr. Rogers is obviously madly in love, however it is equally obvious that she is no match for him intellectually or in terms of her accomplishments and the book would have been much more riveting and interesting had her pedestrian observations and thoughts been left out or better yet, replaced with more on-the-fly analysis by Mr. Rogers.
Rating: 
Summary: A "fast food" outlook on the rest of the world.
Review: First, let me say that as an American who has actually lives overseas (ten years in Australia), the author's personality (as portrayed in the book) makes it difficult for those of us who defend against the "Ugly American" stereotype on a daily basis. He might not realize the impression he gives but foreigners can pick it up straight away--arrogance. I found his wife to be more of a distraction than a benefit to the story. I also had to laugh at his comments regarding Australia not allowing foreigners to buy real estate--foreigners can buy houses in Australia just not "used" homes. Anyone can come and buy a new house or condo (unit) and, in doing so, help support the building industry. If you decide to live here permanently, you can buy whatever type of real estate you choose. Also, he hinted at racism--many black Americans live in Australia and are married to white Aussies. Most will never go back to the States because they are treated better in Oz. In my experience, Australians are much more tolerant to mixed marriages of all combinations than Americans. Lastly on Australia, the Member for Parliament Rogers speaks of regarding racial tension (MP Paulene Hanson) is now in jail and was never considered mainstream. Using her as an Australian "tolerance barometer" is and was way off the mark. The author tells us about Chile's wonderful infrastructure and leaves us with that-a few paragraphs. As a growing economy, it would have been useful to hear more about Chile than other places in South America. Hopefully Jim and his wife will someday stay in a country long enough in order to gain REAL insight and form opinions worthy of respect. This does not come in weeks. As a world traveler, an investor, and an expat, I did not find this book entertaining or of assistance. However, I do appreciate the effort that went into the expedition.
Rating: 
Summary: Let My People Trade - The Gospel according to Jim
Review: Jim Rogers may never hit the list of top 10 best selling authors but that's not because his latest book lacks any of the important characteristics of a bestseller. The only disqualifier is self-imposed by the author. The book is designed to blow away many common illusions and prejudices about the world we live in. It is not the stuff popular fiction is made of. Jim is a former hedge fund manager who retired at 37, following a successful stint on Wall Street alongside George Soros. In the early nineties he published his first book Investment Biker, a story of his round-the-world trip by motorcycle. His new book called Adventure Capitalist-The Ultimate Road Trip describes his second round-the-world trip, this time by a custom built Mercedes-Benz car. He set out with his wife Paige and a team of two other guys in 1999. The trip took them on a 240,000 kilometer journey through 116 countries and ended three years later. I believe that this book should be required reading at schools and colleges not just because it beats Phileas Fogg's journey hands down in intellectual stimulation, but because the book is also a compendium of free-market ideas and live comparative social analysis. Jim's starting point was to search for investment opportunities. He set out with the open mind of a moneymaker on pilgrimage to find the truth about market conditions. He is looking for profitable opportunities, businesses and countries to invest in and is not prepared to accept conventional wisdom, official or ideological distortions. He has equal contempt for the party politics in US as with those of any other country he visits. He lashes out against Turkmenbashi, the dictator in charge of Turkmenistan, for perpetuating his own brand of Stalinist cult of personality and destroying the country in the process. But then shows the same contempt for President Bush for confusing devaluation with depreciation and also with former President Clinton who he blames for failing to observe and react to the creation and bursting of the biggest market bubble in decades. "I would cast a pox on both their houses-the Democrats and the Republicans" he proclaims in exasperation. Adventure Capitalist exposes some official and popular myths for what they are in a way that made me look at politics and religion from a very different perspective. In China, Jim tells of attending service in a Chinese Christian Church, where the local worshipers, while singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" never realized that in lands as far as North Carolina there are people like Jesse Helms who are frothing at the mouth while bemoaning religious persecution in their country. Despite not being able to obtain a visa to drive freely though Iran, Jim still admits to holding some small investments in the country and suggests forgetting the official analysis coming from Washington. "...there is a lot of positive change coming from Iran." he claims. Jim squarely lays the blame on the British for their Imperial invention of the passport and for the subsequent regulation of immigration by Government bureaucrats worldwide. His prediction is that in some parts of the world passports will not manage to stop the changing of borders. He talks of countries where he likes to invest and economies that he believes are on the verge of collapse. Which ones are those? Well, let's say I don't expect he will be a best selling author in Moscow. Jim Rogers will probably not be officially proclaimed as prophet any time soon, but I know there will be people who will quote passages of the Adventure Capitalist for the years to come.
Rating:
Summary: A libertarian touring the world
Review: Following up the success with Investment Biker, Jim Rogers tours the world again. While touring, Rogers is on a constant search for good investment opportunities, based on the credo: buy when there is blood in the streets, sell when the shoeshine boy asks for investment tips. Besides looking for investment opportunities, Rogers is trying to judge how countries around the world are run economically. The lion's share of the book is dedicated to developing countries, which is sensible given that these countries rarely get much attention in the press (as long as floods, earthquakes or wars stay away). One common observation across developing countries all over the world is the NGO-bureaucrats, living like kings in foreign countries. Backed by their own governments money, driving around in their 4WHs to tell the local people how stupid they are. This is a recurring point throughout the book, a point he makes really well. Rogers' anger towards the whole developing aid industry, which ruins the business for local entrepreneurs and destroys the knowledge of farming, is very visible. So what about the investment opportunities? Rogers is clearly disappointed, closing as many accounts as he opens. He endorses the capitalist spirit of China (the president understands exchange derivatives!), and finds some good places in Africa. A running theme is to look at a countries demographics to forecast its future. Government bureaucrats are getting on his nerves everywhere, however, especially in the border controls. But Adventure Capitalist is a good read, and excellent for airports and the like. Easy available to all readers, particularly to those with the slightest of interest in economics or finance.
Rating:
Summary: A silly looking book to be taken very seriously
Review: Remindful of Tocquville. The book helps the reader understand that the prospects of any country or region is dictated by the ability of those indiginous to embrace honest and vigorous commerce. A modern investment treatise written with the honesty of a man who has made enough not to care whom he offends. Forget the yellow mercedes and the tag along wife, this book is full of valuable wisdom to any investor willing to learn from a true master.
Rating:
Summary: Experience Prevails?
Review: With this kind of record of seeing sights/sounds of the world, who's credible enough to argue?
Rating:
Summary: World Financial Meteorologist
Review: Coming from a background of very little financial knowledge, I found Adventure Capitalist easy to read and enjoyable at the same time. However, some of the things Jim Rogers spoke about seemed a bit outrageous and extremely opinionated. As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but compare Jim Rogers to a meteorologist, only for finances. He was predicting the future based on what he saw throughout his adventure with his now wife Paige. It was interesting to here his opinion, especially about China owning the world and the Euro being "doomed to fail", but I can't say that I agree with some of his predictions.
Being a travel lover myself, Jim and Paige got to experience something that I will only dream of in my lifetime. Traveling around the world would be an incredible experience that I probably won't get the opportunity to have. However, I almost felt as though I got to experience a little bit of all parts of the world through reading this book. Not only that, but the financial advice and knowledge Jim drops here and there throughout the book gave me a deeper understanding of finances in general. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a little more about investing and become more cultured through doing so.
Rating:
Summary: A Way of Thinking
Review: A great sequel to "Investment Biker." Rogers is a shockingly successful speculator who formerly worked with George Soros.
Again he travels around the world -- this time with his customized Mercedes and a woman (not Tabitha) whom he marries.
Very intriguing insights into economics around the world. These are especially interesting as he compares to his observations ten years earlier and the various changes--expected and unexpected--over time.
Not a how-to book on investing, gut a nice bowl of food for thought about how the world's economies work and, especially, the American place in their future.
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