Rating: 
Summary: if you get stock options, you should have this book
Review: This book is extremely informative and explains everything you need to know about incentive stock options. There are a lot of aspects to stock options as a form of compensation that are very complicated and not easily understood by the lay erson. One of these aspects is alternative minimum tax. This is the first book I have found that explains the ins and outs of this devious little tax problem. The book is overall well written and extremely well organized so you can jump right to a specific subject, cross-read and go on to other aspects that are referenced. The book also talks about strategic use of options, long-term investing etc., things one should hear as a second opinion from somebody other than the stockbroker who is in charge of your account. If you have started in a company that offers stock options as part of your compensation, get this book, learn and benefit.
Rating: 
Summary: Covers the basics, but not strategy or advice
Review: This book is good in that it covers all the basic mechanics of stock options -- Incentive and Non-Qualified, and ESPP plans. However, this basic information can easily be found on the web or from your employer.What is sadly lacking from this book is advice on strategy on how to manage options, e.g., ideas on when to exercise and sell. Because of this, the book is quite disappointing to me and not very useful.
Rating:
Summary: If you have any stock options, GET THIS BOOK!
Review: This is the perfect book for anyone who has any stock options or who can participate in their company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). It starts very simply, and in a series of short, but complete chapters, covers the spectrum of stock ownership, vesting, ISOs vs. NQOs, the effect of AMT, and much more. Did you know that stock purchased in an ESPP is treated by the IRS in almost the same way that an ISO is? That there is usually no long-term advantage to buying and holding Non-qualified options? That you only have 30 days to file your 83b exclusion? (If you don't know what an 83b exclusion is, you need this book). The book does its best to explain Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and althought this chapter fried my brain, its because of the complexities of the AMT (simplify it IRS!), not because of the book.
Rating:
Summary: If you have any stock options, GET THIS BOOK!
Review: This is the perfect book for anyone who has any stock options or who can participate in their company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). It starts very simply, and in a series of short, but complete chapters, covers the spectrum of stock ownership, vesting, ISOs vs. NQOs, the effect of AMT, and much more. Did you know that stock purchased in an ESPP is treated by the IRS in almost the same way that an ISO is? That there is usually no long-term advantage to buying and holding Non-qualified options? That you only have 30 days to file your 83b exclusion? (If you don't know what an 83b exclusion is, you need this book). The book does its best to explain Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and althought this chapter fried my brain, its because of the complexities of the AMT (simplify it IRS!), not because of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent overview of thorny topics
Review: You expect to get rich off your stock options- this book can help. It gives the background you need to make your own moves, or to talk more effectively with your tax adviser. My favorite parts deal with the Alternative Minimum Tax and how timing the exercise of your options makes a BIG difference in what Uncle Sam gets. The first part of the book gives an overview of types of options and grants, then dives into vesting rules and how/when to exercise, follows that with information on the AMT and wraps up with some misc. definitions and explanations. This is all written in clear language with short and effective examples. The author will warn you when IRS rulings are vague and when you must proceed with caution. I still rely on my tax adviser to help me with decisions on options, but now I am better prepared to make choices.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent overview of thorny topics
Review: You expect to get rich off your stock options- this book can help. It gives the background you need to make your own moves, or to talk more effectively with your tax adviser. My favorite parts deal with the Alternative Minimum Tax and how timing the exercise of your options makes a BIG difference in what Uncle Sam gets. The first part of the book gives an overview of types of options and grants, then dives into vesting rules and how/when to exercise, follows that with information on the AMT and wraps up with some misc. definitions and explanations. This is all written in clear language with short and effective examples. The author will warn you when IRS rulings are vague and when you must proceed with caution. I still rely on my tax adviser to help me with decisions on options, but now I am better prepared to make choices.
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