Rating: 
Summary: Some good ideas hiding in a lot of useless junk
Review: This book contains some good ideas about investing, and has a long-term perspective that is more valuable than the perspective of many investment books. But it is not a very carefully written book. Much of the history that it includes seems like a tedious recitation of names and dates that are of marginal relevance to understanding financial markets. Many of the charts are less informative than they should be, for example using a linear y-axis when any experienced trader would know that they should be shown with a logarithmic y-axis.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent market overview
Review: This book gives an excellent "big picture" overview of market dynamics. I strongly recommend this book as one of about three key books to any person interested in markets and trading. It contains a succinct historical review of boom and bust cycles, in general, and emerging markets, in particular. As Faber points out near the beginning of the book, the information that he draws upon is readily available from other sources, but those sources tend to be obscure or relatively unavailable to modern readers. Faber's analysis of nineteenth century U.S. railroad stocks ought to be studied by every investor. Though it sounds pretty obscure, he makes it interesting. These most significant of infrastructure investments in history's greatest ever emerging market failed on balance to make money for investors. Why? The answers are incisively pertinent to today's investors. Faber makes a number of observations that appear obvious when you see them, but that still fly in the face of conventional media-based market wisdom. For instance, even a five percent return on investment over a really long period (1000 yrs.) of time is unheard of. Busts happen! Most significantly, we are still in the throes of a central bank manipulated bust that is going to have profound implications for today's investors. Marc Faber has useful advice for how to avoid losing your shirt (and maybe even prosper) through these unfolding events.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent market overview
Review: This book gives an excellent "big picture" overview of market dynamics. I strongly recommend this book as one of about three key books to any person interested in markets and trading. It contains a succinct historical review of boom and bust cycles, in general, and emerging markets, in particular. As Faber points out near the beginning of the book, the information that he draws upon is readily available from other sources, but those sources tend to be obscure or relatively unavailable to modern readers. Faber's analysis of nineteenth century U.S. railroad stocks ought to be studied by every investor. Though it sounds pretty obscure, he makes it interesting. These most significant of infrastructure investments in history's greatest ever emerging market failed on balance to make money for investors. Why? The answers are incisively pertinent to today's investors. Faber makes a number of observations that appear obvious when you see them, but that still fly in the face of conventional media-based market wisdom. For instance, even a five percent return on investment over a really long period (1000 yrs.) of time is unheard of. Busts happen! Most significantly, we are still in the throes of a central bank manipulated bust that is going to have profound implications for today's investors. Marc Faber has useful advice for how to avoid losing your shirt (and maybe even prosper) through these unfolding events.
Rating:
Summary: You da Man Marc Faber
Review: This book is very well written and explains clearly Marc's forecast for the next few decades. Rising commodity prices and self-sufficience of Asia. Being a big fan of history - Marc gives a big-picture overview of his current position with respect to the past. In the months since this book was published - Marc's predictions are coming true - rising gold, falling greenback, etc. Definitely worth the the time reading. Good job Dr. Doom.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ FOR ALL GOLDBUGS - NEW AND OLD!
Review: This is quintessential resource for every hardcore gold bug, and every gold NEWBIE when it comes to understanding the value and importance of gold in the global economy. From understanding Asia's role in gold markets to the significant impact of the increased gold price, everyone should spend some time reading this masterpiece. - Mason Johnson, President, TomorrowsGold.com (not affiliated with Faber's book of course)
Rating:
Summary: Investment Professional
Review: This is the best investment book that I have ever read. Faber's only fault is sometimes being early in his predictions. Reading this book enables one to see a viewpoint that is drastically different from jingoistic American cheerleaders entirely focused on the U.S. economy.
Rating:
Summary: There is a Whole World Out There
Review: Two weeks ago I was sitting in the dentists chair. When he finished sticking his instruments in his mouth, we talked for a few minutes about the stock market. He expressed the common hope of the moment that the war in Iraq will make everything good again. When I told him why that wasn't likely to happen, he made the remark that there is so much "money on the sidelines" that it will have to go back into stocks eventually. He probably heard that from CNBC. "There is a whole world out there," I told him. Money can to go to China or Russia. It doesn't have to go into Cisco. I then told him to read this book.American investors who were conditioned by the 1990's to buy and hold forever need a new way of thinking. They need to understand that financial markets move in cycles of boom and bust that provide real opportunities to make money. Faber teaches the reader to follow the money and to understand that we now live in a global economy. With a secular bear market in the United States, over the course of the next decade the best investment opportunities will likely be elsewhere in the world and in commodities such as gold and silver. This book will open their minds and in time will help them fatten their wallets. Faber's book contains all kinds of little gems that are worth remembering. It also has several chapters that I found especially thought provoking and unique to investment literature. First is a valuable chapter on the cycle of emerging markets. Second is a discussion of the United States as an emerging market in the 19th century. His comparison of the US to emerging markets such as China, Russia, and Asia is thought provoking - a process of wild boom and busts swings is not unique to them, but was a large part of the history of the US in the 19th century. It seems to go hand in hand with rapid modernization. His discussion of history and financial bubbles is a good introduction to the subject and one that will help US investors understand the last few years. Read this book. It is worth your time and effort. A lot of meat in it. Will make you think. Investment professionals will benefit from it too. If you are a stock broker, this book is worth a whole year of sales promotion literature and analyst recos coming from upstairs. Learn something to actually help your customers. If you are fund manager learn to think big and follow the money.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Bad Title
Review: What Faber puts together here is nothing short of what should be required reading for every investor who got caught up in the 90's bull market only to be disheartened, confused, and bewildered by the aftermath. Most of them won't read this book because they'll assume it's another whacko goldbug treatise. That's a real shame because this is a great intellectual piece on the history of markets, economies,manias, currencies, and the behavior of man through it all. Anyone who reads this and gets caught in another bubble has only himself to blame.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: When I began reading this book, I was a complete novice about historical cycles and long-term financial trends. By the time I was finished, I felt I had a good understanding of macro economic cycles. The book is clear, easy to read, and understandable even for a novice.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: When I began reading this book, I was a complete novice about historical cycles and long-term financial trends. By the time I was finished, I felt I had a good understanding of macro economic cycles. The book is clear, easy to read, and understandable even for a novice.
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