"My wife was trying to sleep and she's waking up and saying "What's wrong with you?" What could I tell her, that I was cracking up over a financial book---?"

"As I approach retirement in a few years, I'm very encouraged by the cash flow my portfolio can generate.  If I can generate nearly 8% cash flow in the worst bear market in 70 years, and with minimal capital gains, I'm feeling pretty good about the future."

In the midst of financial crisis, market upheaval, and world-class uncertainty, at least one financial book provides an easily implemented strategy for safer investing. The Brainwashing of the American Investor is more than just "the book that Wall Street does not want you to read".

It's a book that might have helped you avoid many of the errors that have made this crisis so painful at a much too personal level. Certainly, it will provide you with the practical guidance needed to reconstruct your portfolio more defensively than you did after the dot-com fiasco.

Here are three recent reviews:

ONE: Thursday, January 15, 2009, from The Pigs of Wall Street Blogspot

The 5 Best Business Books of 2008

1. "The Brainwashing of the American Investor (The Book that Wall Street Does Not Want You To Read)" - Steve Selengut (revised version)

"A hard-nosed look at the various strategies employed by Wall Street sharks to snare, induce, and trick investors into a style of trading and investments that ultimately profit only those who pull in the commissions.

Selengut compares the entire industry to a casino, where the odds are always with the house. Discusses the working capital model, variable annuities, fixed income strategies, and other topics in a thoroughly new light.

More timely now than ever."


TWO: Thursday, January 8, 2009 joebirxxxx (at) gmail (dot) com writes:


"Ok, I'm just about through the first reading and I've got to tell you straight up you can really write, not to mention build a compelling argument--- you've got me, there's no doubt about it.

I've got to play it cautious, and get a lot smarter, so I'll turn right around and go at it for Round 2--- The strange thing is that I really enjoy reading it--- the other day I was fortunate enough to discover your "custom" terminology appendix in the back.

I've got to tell you, there were times when I had some of the best laughs I can remember in recent memory, like when you're telling the accountant you can save him taxes by not paying his fees. My wife was trying to sleep and she's waking up and saying "What's wrong with you?" What could I tell her, that I was cracking up over a financial book---?"

THREE: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 xxllertx (at) comcast (dot) net writes:
 
"I have used your investment strategy since 2005.  2008 was a decline in market value; however, looking at the portfolio from a working capital perspective, the picture is quite different.

I had a 6.1% growth in working capital from dividends and capital gains. Another figure of merit you use is income as a % of beginning working capital.  My income percent was 7.9% in 2008.

This is actual cash flow to my pocket (actually put back into the portfolio increasing working capital) from mostly the CEFs in the portfolio. Another number to use is income as a % of beginning market value.  In 2008 this number was 11.6%.  As I approach retirement in a few years, I'm very encouraged by the cash flow my portfolio can generate.  If I can generate nearly 8% cash flow in the worst bear market in 70 years with minimal capital gains, I'm feeling pretty good about the future."

Many of you are less optimistic about the future (to say the least) than these reviewers, but the message is as clear as the book's focus on such things as realized earnings and growth in base income.

The Brainwashing of the American Investor is a back-to-basics training tool that has helped practitioners keep the realized income flowing and the productive working capital of investment portfolios growing during disastrous economic times.

For less than $20 at Amazon.com, it's not a bad investment.