Here’s a handy little book for the college student on your holiday gift list. John D. Spooner has written some incisive and funny investment guides (Do You Want to Make Money Or Would You Rather Fool Around). In No One Ever Told Us That Spooner writes a series of mini-essays–a page or two mostly–on topics that most young people will have to deal with. Spooner brings 50 years of business and investment experience to these little gems. I wish I’d had a book like No One Ever Told Us That when I was heading for College. And, the advice Spooner shares could help a lot of adults, too. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Acknowledgements xiii
INTRODUCTION 1
PART I BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL
CHAPTER 1: Take the Pro to Lunch 9
CHAPTER 2: Beware of Experts 11
CHAPTER 3: If Your Company Is Bought by Another 13
CHAPTER 4: Entitlement 15
CHAPTER 5: Don’t Be a Wise Guy 17
CHAPTER 6: A Little Bit of New Jersey or Brooklyn 19
CHAPTER 7: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Stupid or Provocative Questions 21
CHAPTER 8: Laughter Can Diffuse the Problems 24
CHAPTER 9: You Never Know Anyone until You Deal with Their Money 27
CHAPTER 10: Plan for the Worst Case, Not the Best, in Business and in Life 29
CHAPTER 11: So You Want to Be in the Investment Business 32
CHAPTER 12: Do Your Homework 35
CHAPTER 13: How to Get Good Press and Publicity 37
CHAPTER 14: Acts of Kindness 38
CHAPTER 15: Tipping 40
CHAPTER 16: Resumes Redux 42
CHAPTER 17: Always Have a Fallback Plan 44
CHAPTER 18: Blood and Water 45
CHAPTER 19: Media Translations 47
CHAPTER 20: So You Got Fired 49
CHAPTER 21: Provocative Headings 52
CHAPTER 22: Getting Rich: The Ups and Downs 54
CHAPTER 23: Branding: Pulling the Wagon 57
CHAPTER 24: Tribes 60
CHAPTER 25: Weekends 62
CHAPTER 26: Being an Entrepreneur: What It Takes 63
PART II BECOMING FINANCIALLY SECURE
CHAPTER 27: Interest Rates 73
CHAPTER 28: Insider Trading 75
CHAPTER 29: Do You Want to Make Money, or Would You Rather Fool Around? 77
CHAPTER 30: Doing Stock Research 80
CHAPTER 31: Make Long-Term Money with Simple Themes 83
CHAPTER 32: Can You Do It Yourself? 87
CHAPTER 33: Getting to Peace of Mind 89
CHAPTER 34: Picking Someone to Watch over Your Money 91
CHAPTER 35: When You’re Frightened by the News 93
PART III BECOMING YOUR OWN PERSON
CHAPTER 36: The Actor and the Actress 97
CHAPTER 37: Having Something to Trade 99
CHAPTER 38: The 110 Percent Rule 101
CHAPTER 39: Life Lessons: Don’t Look Back 104
CHAPTER 40: Get Your Elders’ Stories 107
CHAPTER 41: Don’t Be a Trustee or an Executor∗ 111
CHAPTER 42: Buying and Selling Jewelry 114
CHAPTER 43: Social or Country Clubs 118
CHAPTER 44: The Incremental Pain in the Butt Theory 120
CHAPTER 45: Every Family Is a Soap Opera 122
CHAPTER 46: Fathers and Sons 124
CHAPTER 47: When Family or Friends Are Afflicted 127
CHAPTER 48: Go to the Source 129
CHAPTER 49: Philanthropy 131
CHAPTER 50: Keep the Markers out There 134
CHAPTER 51: Raising Children 136
CHAPTER 52: Marriage 138
CHAPTER 53: Divorce 141
CHAPTER 54: Someone to Love You 144
CHAPTER 55: Medical Smarts 148
CHAPTER 56: Taking Care of the People Who Take Care of You 153
CHAPTER 57: Losing a Parent 156
CHAPTER 58: Getting Smart Lawyers on Your Side 159
CHAPTER 59: Last Chapter 163About the Author 167
Other Books by John D. Spooner 169
Index 171
My youngest two are heading to college next fall–this will be a perfect graduation gift for them both since we spent a good portion of yesterday discussing why it would not be a good idea for them to take the money left to them by their grandfather and spend it on a new car! Um, girls, let’s focus on paying for college first.
Deb, you’re right: NO ONE EVER TOLD US THAT is the perfect book for your daughters! Practical advice is in short supply these days. Just check out the TABLE OF CONTENTS and you’ll see the wisdom Spooner shares with his readers. A car at College is a distraction and a money pit (everyone will ask your daughters for a “ride” somewhere).
What an excellent idea! I wish I’d had a book like that 40+ years ago too. Sounds like it should be required reading for high school seniors, and their parents.
Jeff, I’m using NO ONE EVER TOLD US THAT in one of my classes next semester. There’s a lot of great advice in these pages!
I know plenty of adults who could benefit from that!!!
Maggie, I know plenty of adults who could benefit from NO ONE EVERY TOLD US THAT, too! Especially from the financial section!
I just put it on hold at my library
Maggie, you’ll like Spooner’s book!
Perfect. I just downloaded a library copy to the Kindle.
Too late for this old dog to learn any new tricks, I’m afraid.
Bill, this book would have done both of us a world of good back in the day.
Include me out! I’m with Bill!
Bob, Santa will be delivering your Christmas package on Thursday.
I wish someone had told me not to buy all those books and a nice house, and save the money instead. Then I could have, um, a bank account earning no interest? This book does look good. I’ve always been thrifty. I had a 401k before they were even called that, as a CRP (County Retirement Plan) with auto deductions from every paycheck. That’s what allowed me to have what I needed later.
Rick, you are one of the Smart People who planned for their retirement. I know plenty of people who didn’t!
George, I sent the link to a friend of mine and she is going to buy a copy for her grandson, who is starting college next Fall.
Jeff, you and your friend just did that young man a Big Favor!
I am fearful of how dependent my grandson is on his parents who do everything for him. Not sure he can cross a street.
Patti, you have no idea how many “helicopter” parents I have to deal with even at the College level!