The Motley Fool UK Investment Workbook [Paperback]

There's "fooling" and there's "Fooling" and confusing the two could seriously damage your wealth. A "fool" trusts his money to the "wise men" of finance-- governments, advisors, pensions companies--the monetary equivalent of cleaning the electric mower with the plug attached. For the "Fool", the cut-and-thrust comes from a sensible dose of knowledge and independence.

Following hot on the heels of the best selling Motley Fool UK Investment Guide, the Investment Workbook turns strategy into action with a series of examples, exercises and cases studies designed to transform you into the Sultan of stocks and the Maharaja of the markets. At very least, the nuts-and-bolts approach will help you get the fundamentals right. "What we're trying to do in this book is to give an everyday basis to the whole business of investing, to make it a bit less like consulting a soothsayer, a bit less of a mystical and unknowable undertaking, and bring it down to more concrete levels."

They succeed too, with information and challenges which will help the beginner and upwards take personal control, invest successfully and plan for the long-term financial future. The interactive A4 format imparts a school homework atmosphere (well, "you bought a workbook and you want your money's worth") but the tasks here have altogether more tangible benefits. With the Fool's inimitable style, industrious hours will fly by. What the subject lacks in thrills, the authors are happy to supply on the side; "It was not uncommon during World War 1 for men in trenches suddenly to fall asleep when the whistle which signalled they had to mount a suicidal attack against heavily defended enemy positions was blown. It was a kind of psychological defence, a mental withdrawal, in the face of an utterly horrific experience which no human being should have to suffer." Symptoms commonly linked to the appearance of your average investment book, they say.

The UK Investment Workbook changes all that. It is insightful, constructive and fun--all practised well within recommended safety standards. The Fools have once again blown the whistle on investment waffle. --Iain Campbell

Using practical examples the authors take the novice investor through the basics of investing. Includes how to sort out personal finances, decide on investment objectives, choose companies to research and how to interpret a company report. A companion to the MOTLEY FOOL UK WEB SITE.

Dear prospective Foolish book buyer,
This book is not just about stocks and shares. As with all things Foolish, it attempts to educate, amuse and enrich the individual investor, with a big emphasis on the educational aspect. For example, did you know you are a company? Just like a company, you can work out your monthly profit (not loss, we hope!) and check out your balance sheet. Are you in a net asset position? We hope so.

I wrote the middle part of the book, including the manuscript otherwise known as Chapter 10 - 'How To Value Shares'. Whilst the workbook gives you some of the tools with which to value shares, it won't give you all the answers. That's because we Foolishly believe that YOU should look after your finances, because only YOU have got your best interests at heart. In this part of the workbook you'll also learn how to calculate such riveting ratios as the Flow Ratio and the Cash Conversion Ratio. You may even actually enjoy reading company annual reports, sad as that may have seemed not too long ago.

As I say to my friends - "I can't recommend this book highly enough". But then I would, as I'm one of the authors. Enjoy, Fool!