Accounting Books

Hundreds of business books, many from famous authors, seek to explain strategic planning and management. This book from George Norton provides a practical approach that can easily be used by both for-profit and non-profit organizations. It would also be a very useful tool for consultants.

What makes Mr. Norton's approach unique is the step-by-step instructions he provides, involving key leaders and stakeholders in the planning and assessment process. Most impressive is the way the author explains straightforward methods for valuation and financial analysis, with guidelines on how to apply the results to future plans.

This book is highly recommended for organizational leaders, especially those who desire a practical approach to strategic planning.

Our organization -- all the 12 top guys -- got copies and spent a couple days a month for 5 months going through all the steps in this book. Wow -- we now all agree on what we're good at, how to consistently increase cash flow, and -- most importantly -- what to NOT spend time on. Most of our time is now spent cheerleading and stressing our beliefs, letting the guys and gals on the line make decisions which agree with these.

Definitely not just for the public, professional manager. This stuff really works for the small company too!

It is an old axiom that investments with higher risk should pay a higher return. But how do you measure that risk to know what an appropriate return would be? Value at Risk (VAR) is a statistical method used to summarize the worst loss over a target horizon that will not be exceeded with a given level of confidence.

Over the past 15 or 20 years since VAR began to be used the financial world has changed. This includes changes in the kinds of risk being assumed, the new risk-management techniques have been developed, and new laws have come into effect, the expanded use of VAR in other areas beyond the financial areas, among other changes. These changes have been reflected in this new, third edition of this classic volume on the subject. It is a new book (published October 19, 2006), extensively revised and expanded from about 540 pages to 600.

This book is rapidly becoming (if it hasn't already become) the standard by which other books are compared. It is used by the Global Association of Risk Professionals as the main text for it's Financial Risk Manager examination.

This is a good book for risk/quantitative analyst in market risk. Lots of information and reference for risk management.

Offers a comprehensive array of information on different ways to present business data. I have not seen such a thorough compilation before, and find that I regularly refer to this when tackling various projects.

This book is an encyclopedia of business graphics. It provides 101 different types of charts and graphs, and is organized based on how and when the chart and graph types are appropriate. The organization is Tracking, Variances And Comparisons, Presentation, Schematics And Maps, Organizing Data/Information, Probability, Prediction And What-If, Strategy, Financial, and Marketing.

I frequently use charts to display data and considered myself an expert; however, I discovered new chart and graph types, such as web maps and Marimekko graphs, that I had never before encountered. It would be an understatement to say that this book has significantly expanded my graphics vocabulary.

What I especially liked, in addition to the wide array of charts, is the advice on effectively using them. Although the writing is terse, each chart is discussed in a consistent format. The accompanying CD ROM adds even more value to this book because 26 of the tools are provided in either PowerPoint, Excel or Acrobat format. This allows you to tailor and use preformatted charts and graphs instead of having to create them from scratch.

A very worthwhile work, interesting and thought provoking. The book addresses a wide range of topics related to building wealth, protecting assets, reducing taxes and estate planning.

Best book I have read on financial planning. Covers both personal and business issues. Definitely worth the read. Great advice.

I'm a tax attorney and I have this book as a desk resource. It is a great general text on a variety of tax issues. This book has helped me find the quick answers to countless "simple" tax questions.

This textbook has a counterpart INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX, also published by West's Federal Taxation that is used extensively by business schools as well as accounting classes covering all the aspects of taxation.

The book is written in an easy to understand manner, which follows the most important codes that are used in tax today. The only drawback of these books are the fact that since the tax codes are constantly changing, the books are updated about every year.

Author Jeff Madura provides an excellent short guide through the perilous territory of financial statement analysis. Wasting no words, he presents all the average individual investor absolutely needs to know about corporate financial reports. He tells you why you shouldn't trust them, and then shows you how to apply a skeptic's perspective to figuring out what reported numbers really mean. The market for investment books is a crowded one, but this is a standout: a thoroughgoing and systematic combination of curiosity, knowledge and prudent suspicion. We highly recommend this book to all investors. Before you climb into the investors' ring, carefully consider the advice that referees give boxers before a bout: Protect yourself at all times.

Author Jeff Madura provides an excellent short guide through the perilous territory of financial statement analysis. Wasting no words, he presents all the average individual investor absolutely needs to know about corporate financial reports. He tells you why you shouldn't trust them, and then shows you how to apply a skeptic's perspective to figuring out what reported numbers really mean. The market for investment books is a crowded one, but this is a standout: a thoroughgoing and systematic combination of curiosity, knowledge and prudent suspicion. We highly recommend this book to all investors. Before you climb into the investors' ring, carefully consider the advice that referees give boxers before a bout: Protect yourself at all times.

Several members of my family are futures traders and this book captures the business perfectly. Also a good history, beginning before the Civil War and working its way toward the downfall of Long Term Capital Management. The author does a good job of mixing history, the markets and some great anecdotes together so you never get bored reading it. Valuable piece of history and worth the price.

This book is a history of the futures and derivatives markets from the 1850s to the present. It painstakingly traces the history of the markets as they developed in Chicago and later in New York. What I liked was that the author mixed a good amount of the institutional history with stories about trading scandals to keep the reader interested and entertained. The markets showed that they were always two-faced -- dealing with the public and also for themselves. They got more mature after futures and options were introduced in the 1970's but were still seeing scandal until the late 1990s when the narrative ends. The book also discusses the battle between the markets and the government along the way and it is an interesting part of the story. Makes you wonder whether Enron would have happened if there had been stronger regulators in place. A highly recommended book since it is the first history that I know of that covers this material. Seems a vital part of American history that has been overlooked until now.

Although this book has chapters devoted to people with no credit or bad credit, this new book tells how people can get a home loan - at competitive rates - that might not have any money for down payment or closing costs, regardless of credit history.

I'm in the real estate business and thought I had heard it all but this book points out strategies that I didn't know existed. Perhaps the best sections are those which address people with damaged credit and how to not just shop around for the best loan but maybe more importantly how to protect themselves from "bad" loan officers who are only in the business to take advantage of someone and charge super high rates and fees.

I bought several copies of this book to give to clients who think they can't buy a home. Then wait for their phone call!

I meet lots of first time home buyers who have bad or no credit. Often times they are frustrated and start to assume that most lender and brokers don't want to deal with them. What this book does is open up those options.

I let one of my clients borrow this book. He came back to me and felt more confident with his decision to pursue to signing the papers.

I highly recommend this Book. I practiced the MC's, Problems and Other Objective and I passed the test. It's worth it.

I'm planning on sitting for the exam in November and just purchased Vol 1 and 2. I have looked at several self-study books but nothing is as somplete as these two volumes. The outlines and study guides have helped me both plan my studies and assist is areas where I need some extra help. The question are invaluable. I really feel like I am getting complete preparation for the test. I recommend these books to all C{A candidates.

I am very impressed with this reference book. It has saved me valuable time in my accounting practice. I have turned to it a number of times this past year, and so far Warren Ruppel has never let me down. He seems to have a nack for presenting a clear and thorough understanding of each topic in a concise manner. I also recommend accounting material written by Rhett Harrell.

I've been using the GAAP for Governments book for the past three years and not only does it continue to impress me, but it keeps getting better. It is complete, easy-to-read, and has been instrumental in helping me and my associates in our practice. I've read similar books on Governmental GAAP but no other book seems to explain these difficult topics in such a clear and complete manner. This is one of the most valuable books I have every owned.