企业上市学

曾经阅读无数台湾香港企业上市指南。。。一直很纳闷马来西亚怎么就没有自己的指南呢？终于，皇天不负苦心人，该来的始终会来。

这本书真的很珍贵。或许，对于从事金融业务的专家们，这本书显得太简单。但是，对于寻求上市的企业们，这本书真的起到一定的作用。至少，它简单的介绍了企业上市学。基本上，很多企业家对于上市这一块还是懵懵懂懂的。很多时候，很多企业甚至不知道上市的可行性，而一味的寻找银行的庇护。善于运用资本运作才是企业的王道。

这本书除了写的好，内容确实很丰富。作者在书里还独家专访五种证券交易所上市案例。这五个个案有它各自独特的一面。读者肯定能从五种不同的上市个案中了解到整个上市学的精髓。

整体来说，这本书根本找不到任何瑕疵。唯一美中不足的是，这本书的字体也太小了吧。对于老花越来越严重的我来说，阅读时其实挺吃力的。基于这个小瑕疵，10分满分，个人给与9分。这本书开拓了我许多视野。这类指南在市面上是少之又少。因此，很期待作者继续出版更多这类型的书籍。

汤镇玮100种风水化煞绝招

虽然对于风水开始有点腻，但是之前买下了这本书；那就啃掉它吧。。。

2018个人的最后一本风水书。。。想不到，还挺不错的！这本书对于拥有风水知识的读者来说，非常适合。理由是，这本书简易的交代了整个风水的禁忌。然后，作者再简易的推介化煞的方法。对于有风水知识的读者，这本书简直就像一本字典！

可惜的是，所谓的化煞绝招其实都是作者苦心经营的产品。因此，除非飞到台湾；不然只能看，但买不到！

10分满分，这本书至少也值个6分吧！除了买不到的化煞绝招以外；整体上，这是一本挺称职的风水书。对于像简易了解风水点点滴滴的读者，这本书还是值得推荐的。

好风水布局

再来一本风水书。最近，看风水书，看上瘾了，呵呵。。。

这本书因为大众书局促销。。。因此在贪便宜的状态下，就买下了。匆匆忙忙的情况下，其实也没正式阅览。结果是，以促销价的价钱来说，这本书还是不错的。第一，这本书其实是翻译书。作者本身是日本人。因此，书里的概念都以日本房屋为主。当然，风水无论在那里，其实概念都一样。只不过，里头的一些论点在马来西亚的确不是很实用。第二，这本书的风水论很强调方向的运用。本来，方向堪称是风水的精髓。但是，如果原有方向在加上为配合每个家庭成员所设的方向，那整间屋子几乎都没方向可用了。第三，这本书更偏向于整间屋子从土地直到搭建的过程。因此，对于读者想在现有家居上来个大布局，这本书并不是很适合。

当然，每本书总有它的价值。这本书也不例外。第一，对于未来想搭建新屋的读者，这本书是合格的。第二，抛开作者对于每个家庭成员的方向搭配，这本书的基本方向论还是不错的。第三，读了许多内地和台湾的风水书籍，换一换日本学者的理论其实也不错。风水流入日本应该也有两千年的历史。当年，很多中国理论，到了日本总有它升华的一面。因此，这本书的确有别于一般市面上的风水书。

好坏参半；满分10分，就打个五分吧！

购物居家必懂的阳宅学

还是风水书籍。。。据说，吴老师是国际著名的易学大师。基于本人对于易学一直存有好感，因此这本书一开始就很吸引我。

读完整本书后；果然，我还是比较偏向易学这一块。吴老师这本书除了一贯的阳宅学必备的风水知识，里头也包括各类易学的精华。本书简单易懂。一般对于风水概念不是很深的读者都能轻易领悟吴老师的教导。

可惜的是，后面有一小部分题材，吴老师选择简单带过。比方说，吉凶方位这一块；吴老师运用流年诸星的概念来解剖整个方位。但，书里又不加于解释。因此，读者（包括我）肯定读得一头雾水。或许是作者秉持简易的概念，因此，整本书都以简易为主。

10分满分，基于一些太简易的细节，本人给予6分。这本书其实写的挺好的。但后面的几个题材视乎太马虎了。无论如何，这本书在于风水角度来说，还是值得参考的。整体来说，这是一本简易，容易上手的风水书。至少，读者不用面对一些沉闷和啰里啰唆的风水论。

謝沅瑾最專業的經典居家風水

最近，看风水书看上瘾了，哈哈。之前是翻阅旧书，这一轮干脆去书局逛一逛。结果，一次过买了好几本风水书籍。。。

这一本又如何呢？老实说，这一本糟透了！每一个领域总有各个不同方法来实现领域里的精华。这有点像金融业般；里头有价值投资者，有技术性投资者。因此，风水领域肯定也塑造出不同派系。对于谢老师这一派系，本人真的没办法苟同。第一，这一派系有点偏向古代的一些理论。对于我个人而言，古时的理论虽好，但必须跟着时代的脚步不断进化。比如说，书里提到的水晶吊灯在谢老师的风水角度，就非常的不恰当。试问，当今宅屋有那一间不是有吊灯的呢？再来，谢老师化解方式我也是不是很赞同。我个人偏向于利用宇宙能量来解决所有问题。我相信易经中的一切宇宙能量足于解决风水问题。而且，风水应该是提供人类一切舒适的好能量。但是，如果没有自身的努力；多好的风水也是徒然。

10分满分，本人基于不同派系（没办法苟同作者的心血之作），只能打个1分。这本书应该有它的支持者。但，我选择用另外一种方式去诠释所谓的风水。这本书也不是没有带给我任何益处。至少，我接触了不同派系的理论。书籍没有好坏，领悟才是重点！

借运借势风水创富术

这本书我2013年读过。依稀记得当年的评价是褒贬不一。褒的是这本书写的丝丝入扣，读者很容易投入书中的内容。贬的是作者视乎暗藏许多秘密。整本书几乎都只停留在理论上，实践起来还真的犹如海底捞针。那，这回又如何呢？

老实说，这一轮还好。不只还好，简直是顶级的好！第一，诚如当年评价般，作者写的太棒了。这本书从第一页开始，几乎没有冷场。作者“讲古佬”的方式的确得记上一功！第二，当年很介意的理论，今时今日竟然变成了不罗嗦的秘笈。看来我对于风水的理论的确是更上一层楼了。（也可能是自我感觉良好的一层楼吧，哈哈）这一轮阅读，所有的理论我都照单全收。基本上，好像在复习和肯定这几年的实践经验。因此，这本书就像我的导师般，肯定了我一些想法。

10分满分，这一轮我毫不犹疑的给足10分。纳闷的是，我上网寻找李老师的其它书籍；但是，选择并不多。难道李老师这本书籍当年卖的不好？如果是真的，很多读者会“走宝”。这本书对于风水新手或许有点混乱。基本上，李老师这本书更适合一些对于风水理论有少许了解，又尝试过实践经验的读者。这一类读者肯定会在这本书得到许多共鸣。。。

翻書就懂居家風水

又是风水。。。最近，的确有需要风水的时候，所以，旧的风水书开始排上用场了。。。

最后一次阅读这本书是在2013年。当年，关于这本书，我的评价是不错的。这一回，这本书我读得反而不是很起劲。第一，五年前我提到作者写太多了（多余的多）。这一轮，感觉上有过之而无不及，哈哈！总觉的作者放了太多无谓的资料。基本上，这类资料读者也未必看的懂。而且，作者没有引导读者去挖掘这些多余资料的必要性。因此，感觉上，就是多此一举。第二，随着年龄的增长，对于风水的研究也无形中有所提升。毕竟，这些年，帮朋友看屋子也得到了不少实践经验。因此，这本书所提到一切视乎不再那么吸引我了。

10分满分，这轮只能打个两分。人总要进步。一丁点的进步也证明了活着的价值。当年，这本书让我获益不浅。当今，这本书虽不再吸引我，但没有当年的获益，肯定造就不了今时今日的我。这就是阅读的乐趣吧！

从战争中走来（张爱萍人生记录）

我对这类书籍一直是感兴趣的。但是，这20年来，这类书籍我也读得太多了。因此，想购买时，其实也犹豫了一下。最后，还是忍痛买下了它。毕竟，漏掉知识的代价也太大了。

结果是。。。这类书籍真的不再吸引我了！作者很用心的阐述他和父亲两代人一起探讨战争以及整个人生的心路历程。整个旅程有快乐，有忧愁。人生的酸甜苦辣视乎都有。但是，对于读了一辈子中国现代史的我来说，感触真的不多了。。。毕竟，我也进入了不惑之年。感动的事不多，倒是一直活在自己的回忆里。如果是自己的回忆都来不及回去，怎能深入回去别人的回忆呢？

10分满分，基于个人原因，本人给予4分。这本书如果是十年前阅读，或许我会感动到落泪。但，在不惑之年以及岁月的摧残下。。。很多酸甜苦辣都不再那么容易触及心底。 书里倒是有句话我影响挺深刻的。据说，毛泽东曾经跟作者的父亲提及：“信心过高，容易犯左的错误，信心不足，容易犯右的错误。” 如果换来现今社会，左当成逻辑思考，右当作创意思考；毛主席的这句话还是挺有意思的。对于不了解中国现代史的读者，这本书还是值得推荐的。至少，两代军人父子的对话没一般历史书籍般沉闷。而且，里头的故事，我相信也真实的反映了当年的零零种种。

我在投资银行的黑色闹剧：关于那些华尔街混蛋与几亿美元的交易

我很少购买翻译书。但是，这本书的褒贬不一。因此，最后选择购买价格较低的翻译版。而且，好久没有阅读繁体字书籍了。因此，这本书来的正是时候。

这本翻译书买对了。第一，这本书整体上不会有太多金融术语。因此，翻译的难度不高；读者也不需要谷歌来解答里头的术语。 第二，最近挺闷的。因此，这类“闹剧”书籍来的真是时候。这本书基本上和【华尔街之狼】有异曲同工的效果。作者的胡闹和【华尔街之狼】简直就是一体的。毒品，嘲弄，欺诈等等，的确造就了这本书所谓的闹剧。第三，这本书如果是以原版英文版价钱购买（比较贵）其实并不划算。都说是闹剧了，当然只值得闹剧的价钱，呵呵。

老实说，这本书娱乐性非常高。这是一本名副其实看看就算的书籍。里头没有太多的启发性。作者和我们分享的仅仅是投资银行不择手段的一面。除此以外，整本书基本上都是闹剧。因此，这本书其实是毫无教育性的。充其量。。。只是一本有趣的轻松读物罢了。

本人其实挺享受这本书籍的。但是，看完了之后，这本书的确没给我留下什么影响。而且，我很肯定未来我也绝对不会再翻阅此书。因此，10分满分，只能给个两分。这两分也纯粹只是娱乐效果罢了。。。

购屋风水指南(室内篇)

这本书五年前在我当时的新屋上帮了我许多忙。近期，因为一些特殊原因，又有需要风水的时候了。于是，这本书又派上用场了。

这回，这本书，我读得很快。第一，虽然是五年前阅读，但记忆犹新。里头的点点滴滴还是影响很深刻的。这回，感觉上，复习多个阅读。重点是，这回肯定还是帮的到我。

老实说，这本书很实用。对于购屋者，它提供了基本的一些风水贴士。这些基本功至少不会让购物者买错或是买到一些不符合大自然力量和缺乏磁场的产业。当然，如果把它当作圣经来看，那风水师就得喝西北风了。因此，这本书只能做参考。但，参考的价值确实非常高。

这本书还有个特点。五年前阅读和五年后阅读基本上效果还是行的。基本上，大自然的定律无论岁月怎么摧残，毕竟还是大自然的力量。人类怎么伟大，人类怎么自私贪婪，毕竟还是得向大自然低头。因此，这本书的存在是有它的意义的。当然，不是市面上每一本风水书都能写的那么好。这本书对于不想对抗大自然的我已经是足够了。10分满分，上一轮给予8分。基于五年后这本书还是有它的作用，这一回我决定给足10分。这本书真的挺棒的！

Street Smarts: Adventures on the Road and in the Markets

While arranging my old books, i found this book. Damn, I forgot that I bought this book and I never read it before, hahaha...

This book is interesting. First of all, Jim Rogers's books are always interesting due to his very indifferent life and exciting way of leading his life. Secondly, this book is interesting as the author pointed out a lot of future progress in the world. As I am reading it late (after few years, oh my god!), some predictions by Jim Rogers either becomes reality or becomes irrelevant at the moment. Thirdly, this book is interesting to me as the whole book is not bored at all. After all, every human beings dream to have life like Jim Rogers. Hence, since we cannot make it, why not envy him? Haha... Finally, we got a book that travels all around the world. There is a Chinese idiom that says: A book holds a house of gold (书中自有黄金屋). Well, this book certainly meets that.

I read every book by Jim Rogers. Surprisingly, this book rates as one of my favorites. Perhaps, I am in the age of getting old. As such, I am no more the guy who is searching high and low for investment holy grain. I appreciate more on Jim Rogers's life journey. From there, I found the wisdom I want and I hope it will help to shape my entire life.

The small flaw in this book perhaps lies with the facts that there are some repetitions from his past book. Hence, a new reader may find this book perfect. But, old timers who had follows Jim Rogers for the past few years might get bored with the repetitions.

This book offered a lot of wisdom and interesting insights. To me, this is a book of Jim Rogers's life journey. The title itself tells the whole story. It is not only about how to be street smarts in the market. It is also about how to be street smarts as human beings. I highly recommend this book despite the small flaw as mentioned above. For a full rating of 10, I am going to rate this book at 8.

Last but not least... we just could not ignore the street smarts quotes from the book. Here we are:

Do not worry about failure. Do not worry about making mistakes in life. It is good to lose money, to go broke at least once, and preferably twice. But if you are going to do it, do it early in your career.

You can diversify, and you will be safe, but you are not going to be rich. Stay with what you know, do not jump around.

There are plenty of ways to make money on Wall Street, and just as in any endeavor, whether it is a music, art, or finance, you have to find your own way. 

The fact is that these politicians and bureaucrats, including the secretary of the Treasury, know little about currencies. They speak out of both sides of their mouths, often at the same time, and will say whatever is most politically expedient at the moment.

Plato, in The Republic, says that the way societies evolve is by going from dictatorship to oligarchy to democracy to chaos and back to dictatorship. The Asian way seems to suggest that Plato knew whereof he spoke.

The Chinese are among the best capitalists in the world. California is more communist than China. Massachusetts is more socialist than China. People would rather do business in China than just about anywhere else in the world, including South Korea, including Europe and certainly including United States.

All the growth rate figures are unreliable. It is stupefying to me that India could claim to have a clue what is going on even in India, much less in China or in the United States. America is always revising its numbers, and most of them are made up. I have learned over the years not to pay attention to them. They are mainly exercises in public relations.

Think and Grow Rich: The 21st-Century Edition: Revised and Updated

I am going to do a short (a very short one) review on this book. The main reason is: this book no more motivates me like those days, haha... In fact, 20 years ago, I love this book so much. However, I did not reread this book after the first read. After all, there is a long list of reread books pending my precious time, haha.

This is the revised and updated version. So, I thought might as well give it a try. At the end, the so called revised and updated parts offered nothing except trying to praise every single content in the book. Examples given in the book are so "lame". Imagine people like Steve Jobs being quoted in the context. Irrelevant, right? I thought the published trying their best to re-brand the whole book. However, the assumptions given just make the whole book worse.

Relatively, I still preferred the original version. At the same time, I decided not to reread this book again in the future. This book shaped my life twenty years ago. However... as the practices in this book become my habit, it totally lost its attractiveness. This book serves as a motivational stuff for youngsters and those who are new into the entrepreneurship. But, for oldies like me, I do not find it inspiring anymore. As such, for a full rating of 10, I am going to rate this book at 1. 

Robert Kuok: A Memoir

Robert Kuok... a well-known Malaysia tycoon with business interests around the world. I read few books about the mighty tycoon. However, there are so far zero good books on him. So, when this book was published, I was so excited with it. Unfortunately, this book lies on my shelf for quite some time. I wanted to read it so much. But, I need to find the right time as I do not want my reading journey disturbed by the routine responsibility. Since I am kind of free recently... this is the right time to start it.

This book cost RM 139.90! It might sound expensive to some. But, let me tell you this: if you own this book, you are sitting on a gold mine. The memoir traces Sugar King's life from depression, world war two, Malaysia establishment up to the rise of mighty China. Overall, this is not only a story of the tycoon. It is a mixture of business, politics and opportunities. Readers will find it inspiring, motivating and interesting. After all, this is the only book penned by Robert himself. Hence, relatively; compares to other Robert Kuok's book, this book is definately number one choice for readers.

This book offered a lot of wisdom and perspective in life which was inherited by Robert's late mum. Surprisingly, Robert's mum was not born with silver spoon. In fact, she was rise up in the turmoil of real mess in china and colonial Tanah Melayu. However, the book clearly showed that this woman was born with natural intelligence. Robert mentioned umpteen times that whenever he got a problem, the mother's advice was always his best options.

This book also touched on with political situation after Malaysia was established. With the recent reformation on Malaysia, Robert's vision was spot on those days. Imagine if Tun Hussein Onn had listened to Robert. Malaysia might be one of the mighty giant countries alongside Singapore and Korea now. Well, there is no "if" in history. Main point is... Robert obviously is the man with great vision!

For a full rating of 10, I have no hesitation to rate this book at 10/10! There is a lot of great stuff to explore in this book. Everyone needs to read this book. It is a must read book since it brings along tons of wisdom in business, relationship and life. Last but not least, listed below are some of the great stuff from the book. I tried hard to choose the best part. But, it ended up with a long list. So, that sums up everything about this book. Excellent is the only word to describe it. Thumbs up!!!

Man must work; work is therapeutic, it binds your mind and body together. When you work, you wake up earlier than everybody, you go to bed earlier than everybody because you need to charge your batteries.

Bankers live by simple creed: Lend money to those who do not need to borrow. When you are penniless, your bank will desert you as if you're a leper... "Bankers are not my friends. Among my friends, some happen to be bankers."...Now, if that doesn't drive you forward in life to make as much money as possible so you can thumb your nose at those bankers, then what will?

I have always felt that wisdom is in the air. Structured learning is fine. But you can pick, you can distil, wisdom by yourself.

Now, there is only so much time in any given day. When you're awake, you must focus on what you really want in life. Many young men go in for the loviest sports cars and other material things. I saw very early on that these symbols of luxury and pleasure are not the real things in life, and they tend to distract you from focusing on what is important.

All my life, I have sought partners, because I know that there must always be teamwork in a society. It we cut each other's throats, the fourth or fifth dog gets the bone.

The experience drove home to me the importance of speed and trust. You must be super quick in driving towards your goal, since you are not working in isolation and competitors will come at your from all angles. You must also develop resilience, and be able to bounce back after the inevitable reverses.

Having made friends with all the major sugar brokers in the city, I was winning, dining and spending money like water on them. It was good public relations as only a Chinese knows how, practicing thrift on yourself, but generosity toward your friends.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, the oceans were teeming with fish. While volatility has not changed that much since then, there are many more sharks now. Sometimes, it seems like there are no fish in the sea - only sharks. Honours graduates in science and engineering are being recruited. PhDs are hard at working algorithms, and I don't even know what that means. If today's technology and speed of information had existed in the 1960s and 1970s, I would have been like a fish out of water.

One thing I learned from the Japanese is that you should focus on products which there are large, established markets and for which demand is uniform and sustainable.

I was eager to diversify from commodity trading. Why? Commodity trading is inherently risky. The only way you can trade commodities and make a fortune is to take substantial risks. There is no joy in getting too big in commodities trading. If you reach too high, you are in danger of going burst.

If you own just one hotel you might as well sell it at the right time - it's more of a burden than anything else. You must expand logically and sensibly.

I could make the same statement about the need for simplicity in doing business in general. Within a complex business you don't have to make it more complex. There are simple ways of tackling problems and operating the business.

All business on earth is management. In the hotel world - in any business world - you must look for three ingredients when you hire staff: talent, integrity and the stamina for hard work.

I sometimes employ this tactic when I'm in doubt about a project: I chat with a man cleverer than myself and offer him a joint venture deal. If he says, "Oh my God, it's an awful thing," then you know it's poison, and you are able to see the deal clearly through other people's eyes.

Another businessman's reaction might have been to sue the guy. I say: In life, when you can get out, get out. Life is not reasonable. You mustn't face life thinking everybody is going to be reasonable. You must look at life and assume everybody is going to be unreasonable.

I have not come across any people as loyal as the Chinese. The Japanese have a kind of loyalty, but it's an uncritical, bushido type of loyalty: they are loyal even if the boss is a skunk. Unlike the Japanese, every Chinese is highly judgmental, from the most educated to the uneducated.

The decent Chinese have helped to build up Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, and made these countries what they are today. But you also had the rise of the unscrupulous and ruthless Chinese, who in turn have devastated many parts of Southeast Asia. Why were these people allowed to wreck havoc? It is because the leaderships have been weak. Singapore had the same number of Chinese crooks, but you try and find one today.

Man must always remain humble because no matter how strong you are today, one day there will be someone stronger than you. Even if you have a lot of material wealth, please remember that you cannot live in isolation; you are always just a member of society.

Many people think that shyness is a great virtue. Well, if you want to join the business world, leave that outside your door. You have to be thick-skinned, able to take knocks. You will be insulted; you will have people slam doors in your face. But there is always another door, another road, and a way to forge on.

Before you enter business, you should vow that in whatever you do, you will be guided by the laws of morality. This will ensure long term survival. Adopt good, clean and honorable means of doing business, avoid dirty, tricky and unscrupulous methods.

The golden rule for good health is to lead a simple life, physically and mentally. 

魂气归天：马来西亚华人丧礼考论

“峇峇球” （作者在报章杂志上的笔名）~ 一个我很敬佩的本地学者。多年前阅读过《移国》和《日本手》后，我一直期盼着作者的新书。终于，该来的始终会来。或许，这本书籍是作者沉淀多年，慢工出细货的作品吧!

这本书来的也是时候。这么多年以来一直对死亡，葬礼等等课题充满着疑惑。所以，这本书应该可以打开心里的很多疑问吧！

结果是。。。这本书太棒了。作者峇峇球很用心的收集各类资料，然后很仔细的把马来西亚，台湾，中国（偏向于大马习俗上的改变）各个不同籍贯的丧礼习俗归纳于此书。其实，书里的每一则考论都源自于作者在报纸上的专栏。但是，这本书很巧妙的每一则专栏归纳的清清楚楚。因此，读上来没那么吃力。

两个缺点。。。第一，书里的载图如果是附上颜色，可能更生动一些。毕竟，很多载图需要颜色才能凸显作者的讲解。当然，这本书非常便宜。因此，这个小缺点基本上也只是美中不足的一小层面罢了。第二，个人虽不是佛教徒；但，对于作者一再的把佛教当作改变丧礼习俗的论点，个人不是非常苟同。诚如作者所说的般，丧礼习俗根据中华史基本上主要还是让家属能够安心和问心无愧的继续过后余生。因此，个人认为用什么方式，基本上只要心灵上得到安抚，那还是行得通的。当然，作者有他的坚持。毕竟，他要维护的是习俗的传承。因此，这个话题基本上没有所谓的对错。

老实说，以个人角度，阅读这本书挺伤感的。理由是，这本书道尽一切丧礼的细节。因此，阅读的过程中难免会想起当年父母亲丧礼上的一切。庆幸的是，当年本人有依照作者强调儒学的方式来处理父母的葬礼。读了这本书后，开始不那么排斥葬礼上的琐碎事务。（当年少许排斥主要还是在伤感的情绪上不想去理会所有的事情）老实说，我必须认同作者的观点。习俗有习俗的意义。中华民族一贯矮化自己而把外国的月亮看的特别圆的确不可取。除此以外，阅读这本书还有个小插曲。书里有些部分其实挺阴森的（哈哈）。试过在一个深夜，坐在屋外的凉亭上阅读。读着读着，忽然感觉毛骨悚然（哈哈，我是很胆小的）。所以，胆小的读者尽量在白天阅读吧。

10分满分，基于以上一些很细小的瑕疵，个人给予9分。有瑕疵还那么高? 作者的用心和努力不是一般上的人所能做到的。一本这么用心的书籍，价钱又那么便宜，能不给个高分吗？而且，别忘了；作者背负着习俗传承的伟大使命。我相信这本书主要还是想让大马的黄炎子孙继续维护我们的世代习俗。我们的根，由我们继续播种。下一代能否继续传承，每一代的炎黄子孙都必须出一份力量。谢谢作者的用心！

医院，我的乌托邦

我很好奇这本书一直徘徊在大众书局的书架上。基于近期也没什么新书看，于是就买了这本书籍来读一读。老实说，这类书肯定不是我的那杯茶。但是，试一试无妨。。。

结果还真的出乎我意料之外。这本书我只花了三天时间就解决掉了。理由不是因为这本书太薄；也不是这本书太没趣。主要是这本书太好看了！作者是一个很感性的医生。因此，作者的生活基本上都徘徊在理智和感性的灰色地带。里头所记录的每一则小故事都是发生在你我身边的点点滴滴。你和我肯定都遇过这类矛盾的抉择。作者虽是医生，肯定也和你我一样过着凡人的一切酸甜苦辣。因此，这本书读着读着，感触真的良多！

很佩服作者身为医生，却也不介意的把医生袍下真实凡人的一面呈现在读者面前。这是一个很不虚伪的医生。作者没有高高在上的医生光环。有的更多是你我都努力在进行的凡人工作。我个人家族里的几个医生应该更有同感。这本书很值得推荐。有时做人真的要秉持开放态度以及不断接受新事物。从来没想过我会喜欢的这杯茶原来转个身还是可以细细品尝。10分满分，我还真的找不到瑕疵。谢谢作者让我度过这三天感性的阅读旅程。在此，与家族里的医生们和饱受疾病的家族成员们分享这本书籍。与你们共勉之。。。

老谋子司马懿

刚刚看完整套《大军师司马懿》，忽然间又开始怀念这个毕生最敬佩的偶像！上网找了找，没有什么最新关于大军师的书籍。于是，翻一番书架，把这本昔日最爱的一本书重读了一遍。

想不到的是，六年后，这本书还是那么好看。当然，爱屋及乌是一个。但是，秦涛这个作者的确是易中天和袁腾飞以外最值得捧场的历史作者。可惜的是，这位作者的书籍不多（好纳闷）。这么多年了，就是少之又少。。。

老实说，这轮阅读这本书，感觉虽好（作者的文笔还是很吸引我的）；但是，少了当年阅读时的那一份热情。可能，大军师的事迹我逐渐熟悉。其实，不只熟悉，简直是会背书了。因此，这一轮，感觉上《大军师司马懿》的连续剧更吸引我，呵呵。。。

基于熟悉度，本次阅读只能当作娱乐的效果。但是，老谋子司马懿再次提醒了我秉持多年的人生态度：做事高调，做人低调！因此，这本书还是有启发性的。10分满分，基于熟悉度，只能打个7分。有一点很肯定的是。。。这本历史书绝对不闷。历史事迹在作者的文笔下变成了一本可以轻松阅读的小说。当然，作者诙谐幽默的写作方式也让这本书添加了可读性。整体上，对于想了解司马懿事迹的读者，这本书还是值得推荐的。

凯希八十无畏无悔

我对陈凯希一直有种莫名的崇拜。理由是，政商勾结一直不是我很赞同的。我倾向于政治的搞政治，工商的搞好工商。但，如陈凯希般又工商又有政治抱负的的确稀有。虽说陈凯希是前半生搞政治，后半生创业，但两者始终很难混为一谈。但是，陈凯希在这方面真的很成功。

如同书里描述的，陈凯希是因为出狱后别无选择而选择了从商。但是，试问几个政治人物能够把政治理念运用在商界呢？再来，这个商人堪称完全不了解甚至不知道公司里的任何数字。往往，捐了钱，还得自掏腰包!试问，这样的生意人怎能把生意做大呢?但，事实是，这位不像商人的商人却把海鸥王国建立起来了。佩服！！！

这本自传的前半段挺闷的。我把它纳入自传因为书的封面很明显的是一本关于陈凯希的故事。但是，前半段一直纠缠在海鸥的事迹。或许，作者和出版社还沉溺在【新兴】这本自传里。因此，前半段完严格来说简直是海鸥的自传。

前半段我读的沉闷。后半段反而给了我很大的惊喜。我要的陈凯希自传终于在后半段呈现了。后半段关于陈凯希太太的事迹还真的启发了我不少。一个连公司数字都不清不楚的人之所以能够建立一个庞大的商业王国主要是后面有个懂得管理数字的伟大太太。同样的原理，一个懂得管理数字的男人往往因为后面的女人不善于管理数字游戏而垮台。时代也必须接受一个事实。女人管理数字其实真的比男人更能胜任。

10分满分，本人基于前半段太过“海鸥”，而打了个6分。这本书整体来说还是不错的。只不过，作者如果能够深入的探讨陈凯希商业以外的一面或许会加分很多。

The Real Madrid Way: How Values Created the Most Successful Sports Team on the Planet

First of all, I am not a Real Madrid fans. However, I admire this club a lot since they won tons of Champions League with rich histories in the world of football.

After finishing the whole book... wow, amazing. There are few facts that impressed me as a non Real Madrid fans. First of all, the fact that this is one of the club fully control by fans. The group of fans have owned and operated the club throughout its history. Secondly, Santiago Bernabeu's contribution those days was really amazing. No wonder the stadium adopt its present name in honor of him. Finally, Florentino Perez really built this team out of nothing. Now, I understand more on the theory of Galacticos. Well, the fact that Real Madrid is one of the highest earning football clubs tells the whole story.

Back to the book... the author did a great job in this book! Everything is so details from its beginning to the present days. The author presented us the details in almost everything which including the club values, vision, financial, training, etc. The best part is... all the facts are supported by tons of statistics. Although not a Real Madrid fans, but this book helps me to read through my beloved sports as well as how a business is run in the world of sports. Football is really one of the biggest businesses in the world.

As I am not a America sports' fans, the only thing I do not like about this book is the author tends to do a lot of comparison to US sports team. At times, I felt bored about it even though I love the "Moneyball" book so much.  So, for a full rating of 10, I am going to rate this book at 9/10. Overall, this book offers everything. It is a well-written book and a big round of applause should be given to the author. Well done!!!

Hedge Fund Market Wizards

I read this book in year 2013. It was an excellent book that I promised myself I will read it every year. However, time flies and five years later, I am finally free to reread this book.

Well, five years passed... and amazingly, this book still one of the best!!!

One thing I notice... five years ago, I recorded tons of nice quotes extracted from this book. This time around, the quotes being picked are obviously less. So, it might be a good sign. It is either I improved for the past five years or simply because I gain more knowledge and wisdom via the cruelty of the trading market.

At the same time, when I flip back the previous post, I notice that my level of appreciation towards this book never reduces. I still think this is one of the best books that traders all over the world need to reread frequently. After all, the variety of traders featured in this book are all elite in their profession. So, this book helps us by revealing tons of different methods towards trading. In another words, we are effectively lectured by the world's most successful traders. However, remember this: pick up something that suits your character!

For a full rating of 10, I have no hesitation to rate this book at 10/10. Five years ago, this book helped to shape into who I am today. This time around, I hope this book will make my trading journey smoother and longer for the next five years. I am convinced that this book will help me achieve this. Loved the book!

Last but not least, some excellent quotes from the book:

Colm O'Shea:

One of the biggest mistakes people made was to join in the bubble, but to do it in positions for which there was no exit. All markets look liquid during the bubble, but it's the liquidity after the bubble ends that matters.

This is what strikes me about really good money managers - they don't get attached to their ideas.

You learn from everyone around you, but you have to do what makes sense for you, even if it's the opposite of what makes sense for other people.

I think the natural way to trade a market that is in the bubble is from the long side, not the short side. You want to be long the exponential upmove without taking on the gap risk of a collapse. Therefore options provide a good way of doing this type of trade.

Perseverance and emotional resilience to keep coming back are critical because as a trader you get beaten up horribly. Frankly, if you don't love it, there are much better things to do with your life. If successful traders were only motivated by the money, you would stop after five years and enjoy the material things.

I use risk guidelines, but I don't believe in rules that way. Traders who are successful over the long run adapt.

Ray Dalio:

By holding uncorrelated assets, I can improve my return/risk ratio by a factor of five through diversification.

For any trading strategy, we can look back at when it won, when it lost and under what circumstances. Each strategy develops a track record that we deeply understand and then combine in a portfolio of diversified strategies. If a strategy is not performing in real time as expected, we can reevaluate it, and if we agree it is desirable, we might modify our systems.

Timeless means that we look at strategy during different times and universal means that we look at how a strategy worked in different countries. There is no reason why a strategy's effectiveness should change in different time periods or when you go from country to country.

There are limits in terms of position size, but not in terms of price.

It is something like the World Trade Center getting knocked down, then yes, we may exercise a discretionary override. In most cases, such discretion would be a matter of reducing risk exposure. I would say probably less than 1% of trades might be affected by discretion.

Larry Benedict:

You always have to manage money for yourself, not your clients. Once you started adjusting your trading to fit what your investors want, you are in trouble.

Scott Ramsey:

Just a simple exercise of measuring which markets were the strongest during a crisis can tell you which markets are likely to be the leaders when the pressure is off.

Ramsey will buy the strongest market in a sector for long positions and sell the weakest market in sector for short positions. Many novice traders make the error of doing the exact opposite. They will buy the laggards in a sector on the typical mistaken assumption that those markets haven't yet made their move and therefore provide more potential and less risk.

Jaffray Woodriff:

The transition to greater diversification also helped improve performance. By 1994, I was trading about 20 markets and I was no longer using market-specific models. These changes made a big difference.

Systems that work well across many markets are more likely to continue to work in actual trading than systems that do well in specific markets.

Edward Thorp:

Suppose you have a bankroll of $1 million and your maximum tolerable drawdown is $200,000; then from the Kelly criterion perspective, you don't have $1 million in capital, you have $200,000. So, you apply the Kelly criterion, but apply to $200,000.

If you bet half the Kelly amount, you get about three-quarters of the return with half of the volatility. So it is much more comfortable to trade. I believe that betting half Kelly is psychological much better.

There is an important distinction between trading and playing blackjack. In blackjack, you can know the precise probabilities. But, in trading, the probability of winning is always an estimate. Moreover, the amount of extra gain forgone by betting less than the Kelly criterion is much smaller than the amount that would be lost by betting more than the Kelly criterion by the same percentage. Given the uncertainty of the probability of winning in trading combined with the inherent asymmetry in returns around the Kelly fraction, it would seem that the rational choice is to always bet less than Kelly criterion, even if you can handle the volatility. In addition, there is the argument that for virtually any investor, the marginal utility of and extra gain is smaller than the marginal utility of an equal percentage loss.

Overbetting is really punishing - you get lower growth rate and much higher variability. Therefore, something like half Kelly is probably a prudent starting point. Then you might increase from there if you are more certain about the probabilities and decrease if you are less sure about the probabilities.

We tracked a correlation matrix that was used to reduce exposures in correlated markets. If two markets were highly correlated, and the technical systems went long one and short the other, that was great. But if it wanted to go long both or short both, we would take a smaller position in each.

My view on trend following was that I could never be sure that I had an edge. So, I wanted to have a safety mechanism. Whereas for a strategy like convertible arbitrage, I had a high degree of confidence as to the payoff probabilities. So reducing exposure on drawdown was unnecessary.

Michael Platt

Systematic trend following strategy is built on market trends and diversification. It doesn't have any economic information.

We want people to scale down if they are getting it wrong and scale up if they are getting it right.

I don't interfere with traders. A trader is either a stand-alone producer or gone. If I start micromanaging a trader's position, it then becomes my position. Why then am I paying him such a large percentage of the incentive fee?

Platt will express a trading theme, say an expectation that interest rate will decrease, by implementing the trade in a way that minimizes risk relative to the same return potential. Thus, Platt will rarely implement directional trade ideas as outright long or short positions. He will be much more likely to use long options or complex spread structures that will provide equivalent return potential, but with theoretically constrained risk.

Steve Clark

I was so inexperienced that  didn't have the fear - the fear that cripples people who have been in the business too long. Very few people maintain their ability to take risk throughout their career Most don't. Most can't. They have had too many bad things happen to them, too many fat tails, and it damaged people.

I decided to look at what I did as a trader. Where did I make money? That was the point at which I started to move to event-driving trading.

Price is irrelevant. It is size that kills you. If you are too big in an illiquid stock, there is no way out.

Nearly all the successful traders I have known are on trick ponies. They do one thing, and they do it very well. When they stray from that single focus, it often ends in disaster.

I think deep down inside they know they are one trick ponies, and that one thing could end. But successful traders who are on trick ponies, when that trick stops, they learn another trick. But, some traders will change while their one trick is still working and destroy it.

Martin Taylor

If someone comes to you and says they only invest in risky assets, but guarantee you limited downside volatility, they are either extraordinary geniuses - and there are probably only two of them n the planet - or they are liars.

RSI doesn't work as an overbought indicator because stocks can remain overbought for a very long time. But, a stock being extremely oversold is usually an acute phenomenon that lasts for only a few weeks.

Tom Claugus

If you have a 10 year time horizon, you can make good decisions and make a lot of money. If you have 3 year time horizon, you could probably still do well. But if you have only 3 month time, anything can happen.

Just because you make money doesn't mean you were right, and just because you lost money doesn't mean you were wrong. It is a matter of probabilities. If you take a bet that has an 80% probability of winning, and you lose, it doesn't mean it was a wrong choice.

A good trade follows a good process that will be profitable (at an acceptable risk) if repeated multiple times, although it can lose money on any individual trade. A bad trade follows a process that will lose money if repeated multiple times, but may make money on any individual trade. As an analogous example, a winning slot machine is still a bad bet because if repeated multiple times, it has a high probability of losing money.

Joe Vidich

As the head portfolio manager, I am also the risk manager and have to follow all the positions. He was hired to help me save time, but I was spending more time following his positions, which interfered with following my own positions. Training someone to think like I do about the market, which is more like a stream of consciousness, is very difficult. It is totally different from the way they learn to think in business school.

I try not to sell on the way up; I try to sell on the way down.

When you are undecided between liquidating a losing position and gritting your teeth and riding it out, remember that there is third alternative: partial liquidation.

If you are going to control your losses, there will be time when you will get out just before the market turns around. Get used to it.

Kevin Daly

For managers, the discipline to turn down additional investor assets when they believe it would impede their performance is an important element in longer term success. 

Cool Down: Getting Further by Going Slower

After reading a lousy book, time to go for something relaxing... At the end, this book is too relaxing, LOL!

If I am 10-20 years younger, I think I will love this book. Now, at the age of 41, "cool down" stuff no more an issue to me. So, I do not need a book to help me to cool down. I am “cool” automatically, LOL.

Overall, this is a nice book. I strongly recommend youngsters to explore further on this idea especially if you are those who always complaint that 24 hours never enough. Frankly, if I am younger, I may not buy this idea of cool down. But, the older I get, the wiser I am. Now, I truly appreciate the wisdom of "getting further by going slower".

For a full rating of 10, I am going to rate this book at 3. Well, the author did well in presenting the "cool down" stuff. However, this theory no more appealing to me since I already started cooled down few years back. Having said that, I have no hesitation to recommend this book for those who are always hectic in their life. This book could serves as a good solution for busy peoples. 

The Financial Spread Betting Handbook: The definitive guide to making money trading spread bets

Accidentally found this book in the offer section... Out of curiosity, I grab this book at the offered price. After spending two days reading it, now I know why it ends up in the offer section, LOL.

Before I complaint further, let me introduce this book. This is a book about spread betting. Spread betting is actually something very common in Europe. In Malaysia context, it is not something relevant. To cut it short, spread betting is purely to speculate in the market (regardless of products) by taking advantage on the spread differences without commission being charged. So, it is more or less an over the counter products. The facts that it does not involve exchange showed the irrelevance part in Malaysia context.

Well... let me continue on the complaints, LOL... This is a beginner book for those who want to know about spread betting. Nothing much can be gain from this book. The author did his part to introduce the spread betting. However, that is the only thing in this book. In my humble opinion, any readers can easily get this sort of info by googling. So, to me, this book offers nothing.

For a full rating of 10, I am going to rate this book at 0/10. With due respect to the author; unfortunately, I really gain nothing by reading this book. 

A Complete Guide to the Futures Market: Technical Analysis, Trading Systems, Fundamental Analysis, Options, Spreads, and Trading Principles

This is actually a long time book. As usual, when I got not enough stocks on books to read, I tend to reread some of the books that helped me in the past. Well, this book acts as a beginner guide when I started my career. The fact is, every trader starts somewhere somehow with books from Jack D. Schwager. We all love the series of "Market Wizards" by the said author. So, here I am with one of his "classic" book with the hope that it can helps to refresh my memory and help me further in the future.

First of all, this is a revised version. It was released last year with some changes. Overall, the book is revised and updated. However, the materials are weirdly updated too, LOL. Frankly, this is a lousy book to flip through. The paper is so thin and it sticks with pages. To make things worse, my blurry vision (well, I am getting old, no doubts) did not helps as the wording are obviously too small. As a result, I tried to read it under the light. Yet, the reflection was there all the time making my reading worse. I do not understand the intention of using such materials. This is supposed to be one of the greatest books in the past. Now, the materials are causing all sorts of problems.

Back to the book... well, unfortunately this book failed to inspire me this time around. After more than 15 years in this industry, this book sounds too simple to me. This is a beginner book for those who want to explore in the futures market. I lost the wow effect that I had when I first touched the first edition of this book. Having said that, I am going to rate this book at 4/10. Well, this is an excellent book overall. But, I think I improved over the years (which is not a bad thing, LOL) and this book no more serving its purpose on me. Last but not least, for those who are keen, please avoid the printing version. Go ahead with the digital version, so that you can enjoy this classic book. 

Pep Guardiola: The Evolution

I bought this book last year. However, the year of 2017 was too hectic at times and I just could not find the right time with the right mood to open up this book. Now, I am ready for it. The best part is... at the moment, Pep Gaurdiola is flying high with Citeh in the Premier League. So, the moment to touch this book seems right.

On the cons side, this book is a bit boring at times. First of all, it is not a genuine biography. The book focuses more on the tactics side of Guardiola. Overall, readers will be disappointed with lacks of details on Guardiola's life. The worst part... although the cover of the book is blue, the book itself only mentioned about the "blue" side in the last chapter. 95% of this book is about Bayern Munich. Well, nothing wrong with that. But, the facts that Bayern was never my favorite team and I think there are better stuff on Pep Guardiola (which never revealed in the book). The author seems fall in love with Guardiola. At the end, it is more like propaganda than a book!

On the pros side... amazing! Like I said above, the timing to read this book coincides with the tremendous form from Citeh at the moment. The more I read this book, the more I appreciate the beautiful football being played by the troop of Guardiola. This book is a fantastic insight into Guardiola's coaching and managing at the highest level. The title of "evolution" is just right as we are having a great coach who simply evolve non-stop. This reminds me on his first press conference where he mentioned he came to Manchester City to learn and practice new stuff. What a humble man!

For a rating of 10, I personally rate this book at 6/10. As mentioned above, certain part of this book (the Bayern stuff) really annoyed me. However, this book explained in details on how this man evolves on his ideas all the time. It gives us an insight into the mind of Guardiola, which transforms Citeh into a great team at the moment. I would recommend this book only if you do not hate Bayern Munich. If you hate them, this book is definitely not your cup of tea... (LOL)