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Rating: 
Summary: npv
Review: I had to read a few chapters from this book for one of my finance classes. At first I was very skeptical of the text because of the authors' obsession with CAPM, beta, and modern portfolio theory. These concepts make no sense at all. They only serve to illustrate that even the most elegant mathematical models of the world have little practical value if the underlying assumptions are wrong. Very soon, however, my initial prejudice towards the book began to disappear. Eventually, I read the entire textbook, which wasn't required by my instructor. I still believe that CAPM and modern portfolio theory are all wrong but I was fascinated by authors' extensive discussion of NPV and Capital Structure. NPV, indeed, is the only proper way to value any business venture and no compromise can be made in this respect. Brealey & Myers got that one right.The book is well written and most of the examples and explanations are easy to comprehend...
Rating: 
Summary: CORPORATE FINANCE BIBLE ON WALL STREET
Review: I have used this book three times now: as an undergraduate in financial economics, at the training program at an investment bank, and at the core finance course at my MBA. It is a very good resource and learning tool, going from the very basic ideas of discounting all the way to options pricing and more innovative finance. This is the preferred learning tools of all finance professors I have met and the reference used by all finance professionals I met. It is very simple to follow the concepts of the book, especially if you purchase the study guide that is available with it. The only major concern I have heard is that it does not deal with the more recent finance problems of off-balance sheet financing and other shenanigans. This is a book meant to teach basic financial theory, so those topics, in my opinion, are better treated elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: CORPORATE FINANCE BIBLE ON WALL STREET
Review: I have used this book three times now: as an undergraduate in financial economics, at the training program at an investment bank, and at the core finance course at my MBA. It is a very good resource and learning tool, going from the very basic ideas of discounting all the way to options pricing and more innovative finance. This is the preferred learning tools of all finance professors I have met and the reference used by all finance professionals I met. It is very simple to follow the concepts of the book, especially if you purchase the study guide that is available with it. The only major concern I have heard is that it does not deal with the more recent finance problems of off-balance sheet financing and other shenanigans. This is a book meant to teach basic financial theory, so those topics, in my opinion, are better treated elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent seller....quick delivery
Review: Received the book in perfect conditions and in short period of time!! Thanks...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction
Review: The whole book is one giant mistake. This starts with the unlogic structure, poor visualization, non-related exercises and ends with lecturers' material (Powerpoint presentation) that is loaded with mistakes.
This book puzzles more than it helps.
One huge catastroph that should be forbidden for any serious student of Corporate Finance. Scandal!
Rating:
Summary: Classic that Needs to Address New Products
Review: The wide range of reactions to this textbook simply indicates the fact that it is NOT actually a good introductory text for the typically diverse MBA student mix found in any intro-level course. Yet that is PRECISELY the usage for which it is known: intro-level corporate finance classes in MBA programs. My MBA program also used B&M, but a group of us simultaneously volunteered for a focus group run by the publisher of Aswath Damodaran's excellent Corporate Finance textbook. We followed the Damodaran text alongside our B&M text for the entire semester. At semester's end EVERY SINGLE MBA IN THE FOCUS GROUP preferred Damodaran's text -- and the group contained electrical engineers with graduate degrees and former I-bank analysts as well as former ballet dancers and journalists. Damodaran is an award-winning finance professor at NYU. B&M is heavy on the academic scholarship, far removed from the real hurley-burley of Wall Street, and despite the humour (which I did enjoy) it cannot successfully meet the needs of a broad range of students. Yet it continues to be used for just that purpose -- indeed, my MBA alma mater ignored the student feedback and continues to use B&M, the professors' darling... If you are suffering with this text, do yourself a favour and get Damodaran's, which is a text designed to TEACH by a professor who truly cares that ALL his students master corporate finance.
Rating:
Summary: A solid introduction to corporate finance
Review: This Brealey and Myers's textbook, now in its 7th edition, introduces the student to the fascinating world of corporate finance. The first few chapters of the book demystify Net Present Value, the preferred method for calculating the value of an investment project. Brealey and Myers then explain how risk and return are related and introduce the Capital Asset Pricing Model. The CAPM's strengths and weaknesses are both explored in detail. The authors continue by analyzing the significance of dividend policy and debt policy for a corporation -- including the rather surprising result that in perfect markets these just don't matter! The next topic is options, financial and real; major pricing models are covered, and warrants and convertibles get a fair treatment, too. The remaining parts of the book deal with a variety of topics such as valuing debt, managing financial risks, financial planning as well as mergers and corporate governance. At 1071 pages, Principles of Corporate Finance can hardly be called a short book. Introductory textbooks often suffer from a "too-much-too-little" syndrome, in that numerous topics are covered, but none too well. Brealey and Myers easily avoid this pitfall. Their writing is solid and manages to keep the reader's interest. Although available space puts a limit on what can be said, the book's coverage is quite comprehensive and well linked to the results of modern research. Moreover, all topics receive their fair share of treatment so you can actually understand the theories the book presents. It should be noted here that some mathematical background is probably necessary to make the book easy reading. Each chapter contains many problems which can be used to facilitate the learning process. I found them very useful. The only complaint I have about the book (International Edition) is that the binding proved less than perfect, as after a while pages started separating from the main body of the work. But that is a problem I can live with. All in all, an interesting, readable, authoritative introduction to corporate finance.
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