Sleeping Like a Baby: Investing In Volatile Markets

Rating:
Summary: Defensive investing
Review: As a novice to the stock market, I am grateful to have been introduced to this pearl of a book. Hudelson turns even the most complicated concepts into an easy and enjoyable read. It's obvious that he enjoys what he does; these people always seem to make the best teachers (and authors). I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Bear? What bear?
Review: I bought this book midway through the market correction in August, when I was considering "getting out" of the market altogether and selling great stocks that I've owned. I used a collar strategy from the book and bought some zero coupon treasuries, plus bought a stock that fit the description of a "defensive". My portfolio is now worth 7% more than at the market high in July, even though as of today the Dow is still 1000+ points off that high. Best of all, I didn't touch any of my core holdings. Best 20 bucks I ever spent. It was also valuable to finally read about bonds in a way that I can understand. The book could use an index and a bit more detail on convertibles and derivatives that are discussed, but overall the best thing I've seen yet. Very friendly read.

Rating:
Summary: A clear, easy to read treatise on complex material
Review: Mr. Hudelson writes in a clear and concise manner with some personal humor. This book should be a primer for anyone who is about to invest in the market. It removes much of the mystery usually associated with how and in what to invest.

Rating:
Summary: Defensive investing
Review: Sleeping like a baby is a book everyone must read before investing in the stock market. Had you used these strategies during the last bear market, you could have protected your gains from that last bull market and made even more money on top of that without having to retreat to money market funds.

Really can't find any fault with this book. One of the best investing books that I have read, and I have read many.

Rating:
Summary: Very informative
Review: This book is almost prophetic as it was written in 1998 and describes strategies that would have allowed someone to stay invested all through the incredible late 1999 stock market and yet avoided or hedged much of the risk that killed so many people in 2000. Wish that would have been me! It isn't too complicated but isn't dumbed down, and explains things thoroughly. A few areas could have used more depth to really answer all my questions, but in those cases he usually points you to where to get more information. A great read, and still very current and applicable in today's market. Many of the investment stuff written is based on the latest fad, this is a good basic textbook on a subject that most people think only professional portfolio managers can really use and understand.