Book Review: The Lost Symbol

Book Review: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

This book is hard to put down. I read it it’s over 500 pages in just over 2 days. It felt like literary crack cocaine. Dad Brown is a truly amazing author in that he can keep you engaged at such a high level for such a long time that you begin to wonder if you are being hypnotized. That being said, this book is not quite as addictive as "The DaVinci Code." It is a new adventure with Robert Langdon, the humble symbologist who is the hero of Brown’s previous books but instead of the Church being his main target, it is the Masons.

Although this book got lots of bad reviews, I thought it was actually pretty good. Like his previous books, Brown tries to get you to swing to his worldview (deism) and so in many ways it’s a propaganda book that most Christians would find annoying or theologically “abhorrent” but as pure entertainment I’ve read far worse. I’d give it 1 ninja stars for its message and 5 stars for fun so in the end it gets a 3 ninja stars out of 5 rating.

Book Review: Rich Kid, Smart Kid

Book Review: Rich Kid, Smart Kid by Robert Kiyosaki

It seems that most people, when I ask them what their parents taught them about money say something like this: "Not much." Most kids do learn from their parents -by watching how they handle their money (and listening to how they talk about it). Some parents teach their kids how to save, some teach how to give, and some even teach thrift and frugality. If you were taught some or all of those things then consider yourself lucky. But there are only a handful of people out there who were taught by their parents how to invest their money. This book teaches you as a parent how to share this important information (and helps you understand why - even if you were never taught it yourself.

I loved this book. The subtitle is "Giving Your Child A Financial Head Start" and while it is not comprehensive, I am very much using much of what he shares to help my kids. I have already taught (thanks to this book) Riker a few simple concepts:

Me: "Hey Riker, what's the difference between assets and liabilities?"
Riker: "That's easy. Assets put money into your pocket, liabilities take money out of your pocket."

The book is mostly a book about financial philosophy and the importance of teaching kids about money. It is fairly opinionated, definitely not comprehensive, and a bit repetitive. But if you want to teach your kids how to handle you money then I highly recommend this book as an easy to read starting point. I rate it 4.2 ninja stars out of 5.

Book Review: The Silver Chair

Book Review: The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

One of my clients mentioned the other day the great character of Puddleglum (from the Silver Chair) and so I decided to read the book that refers to him again. The Silver Chair is about the search for the missing prince Rillian, Caspian's only son who was kidnapped by an evil witch. Eustace and Jill are whisked from a close call at Experiment House (their school in England) and back to Narnia where Aslan give them the task of finding the lost prince. Together with their intriguing guide Puddleglum, they go north into the wilds of Narnia where they encounter giants, and underground kingdom, and the witch. I love this tale. The title refers to the silver chair that is part of the prince's enchantment.

I always liked this book because of the interesting character that is Pudddleglum. Puddleglum is a pessimist, yet he is an adventurer and high in integrity. I would very much not mind having a friend like him. Another part that touched me was a quote from Prince Rillian as he and the search party are trying to find their way out of a tricky spot and hoping not to perish in the attempt. Rillian says: "Courage, friends," came Prince Rilian's voice. "Whether we live or die Aslan will be our good lord." And earlier he puts it this way: "Doubtless," said the Prince, "This signifies that Aslan will be our good lord, whether he means us to live or die." I like how Rillian was willing to accept death or life from his Lord. He trusted him completely no matter which way things turned out. That is the kind of faith I want to have in God. Job says something similar that I have always aspired to: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" - Job 13:15. Overall I rate this book 4.1 ninja stars out of 5.

There is also a great quote about Aslan that further enlarges Lewis' view of God. I find it poetic and inspiring:

"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion. "I am dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said the Lion. "May I--could I--would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill. The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

"Will you promise not to--do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill. "I make no promise," said the Lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. "Do you eat girls?" she said. "I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.

"I daren't come and drink," said Jill. "Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion. "Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."

"There is no other stream," said the Lion."

Adventures In Stock Investing

If you’d told me a year ago that I would be doing a post on stock investing I would have laughed in your face. Seriously. Then I would have lectured you about the volatility of stocks, their meager returns, and why real estate was such a better way. So it is with a bit of sheepishness and humility that I now say “I was wrong.” Investing in stocks can actually be . . . (ahem) smart.


So how did I get involved?

I have a co-worker who mentioned that her husband invests in stocks. Not only that but he’s trained hundreds of people on how to do so and is quite successful. This is his job – just buying and selling stocks - and training others how to do it as well. He has his own system that he’s developed and she wondered if I would be interested in talking to him. I asked about his returns (which were enough to intrigue me) and then got an email from him a little later. He explained his system to me and told me how it works. And he showed me his record. These were enough to convince me that I’d stumbled onto something spectacular and after some thinking and praying told Jobina “We’d be fools not to try this out!” So I signed up for his coaching plus you pay a monthly fee to be subscribed to his website (where he publishes stock picks as well as runs analysis on the market to help you pick your own).

I have now been doing it a little over 6 months and in that time I have made over a 35% return. I think that’s pretty good and I don’t know if I could do that again (or if I could make more) but I’m content so far. I get into stocks that have momentum and then sell them once they reach the targets that my coach has set out. The goal is never to hold onto any stock for more then 5 days. My biggest loss was about $300 and my biggest gain was just under $1000 (that one was a bit lucky!). I started out with a self-directed TFSA (at Questrade) maxed out to $10,000. By the way, the TFSA is an investor’s dream – you will never be taxed on any of your earnings! I love my TFSA like my own children. To me, it is a gift from our government - take advantage of it while it’s still around!

I found out that investing in stocks can play havoc with your emotions, especially at the start. When you “win” you get a rush and when you lose you feel down and depressed. And yes, you will lose. I found out that I’m not good at taking losses (never had to in real estate) but that it is a necessity in stocks. Luckily I have won much more then I lost. This kind of investing is much like gambling (although farming is a form of gambling too – so is every form of earning income) and so I don’t think it is for everyone. I’m really enjoying it and while I wouldn’t invest everything I have in stocks, I’ve definitely changed my mind about them. My monthly fee that I pay my coach is easily offset by my gains – and if I had more money to invest with the cost to be would be even more reasonable.

When I told my Mom about my stock investing she laughed and said that is what my grandpa (who died when I was 8) also was into. I like the fact that I discovered this on my own, yet it connects me to my grandfather. I think that he would smile, knowing that I’m investing like he did.

Book Review: Voyage of the Dawntreader

Book Review: Voyage of the Dawntreader by C.S. Lewis

I've been reading a lot of non-fiction lately so I thought it might be good to pick up this book, especially with the movie being released recently. I have read the Narnian Chronicles at least eight or nine times and Voyage of The Dawntreader is probably my 2nd favorite of the series (Horse and His Boy is first). It starts of delightfully "There was a boy called Eustace Scrubb and he almost deserved it . . ."

The story follows the return of Edmund and Lucy to Narnia, bringing their disagreeable cousin Eustace with them. The trio are tossed (literally) into the sea and eventually a voyage aboard Caspian the 10th's newest ship, The Dawntreader. They are seeking out the seven lost Lords of Narnia who disappeared during Caspian's predecessor's evil reign. Reepicheep the mouse is aboard as well, seeking his destiny at the end of the world. Through their many adventures, Eustace begins to change and it altogether a merry quest. I find Lewis's style refreshing - he can express much with very few words and the simplicity of his writing makes the text which is now over 50 years still feel fresh and contemporary. There is moment where Aslan helps Eustace which still moves me every time I read it - an obvious allusion to Christ washing us clean. An altogether brilliant and short read - I rate it 4 ninja stars out of 5.

P.S. The image is from a much older paperback version of the book which is the one I got when I was a kid. To me, only this old set looks and feels right.

Sick

Sorry about the sporadic nature of my posts lately, my family has been very sick (especially Trinity and Sawyer) and it feels like we've been treading water on the home front. I'm always amazed at how being ill so dramatically affects one's quality of life. Your attitude, productivity, socialness, happiness - everything is effected. I hate being sick (around Christmas is the worst) but hopefully we'll be through it in another week.

I suppose being sick can teach you things. Like being grateful when you aren't! Also, about one's mortality, the really important things in life, and of course the perils of having multiple children in school. Ah well.

Book Review: Snowball

Book Review: The Snowball - Warren Buffet and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder

I'm zeroing in on my goal of reading a book a week for the year and knew that picking up this 1000 page tome was not wise . . . but I couldn't resist. The autobiography of one of the world's smartest and richest men? I gave in to temptation and picked up it's huge heft from the library. In case you don't know who Warren Buffet is (aka "The Oracle of Omaha"), he is arguably this century's greatest investor. He is he is the primary shareholder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway which is currently trading at over $120,000 per share! He was ranked as the world's second wealthiest person in 2009 and is currently the third wealthiest person in the world as of 2010. Buffett is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth (he still lives in the moderately sized house he bought decades ago for $30,000). In case you are thinking he's just another greedy rich guy, know that Buffet is also a notable philanthropist, having pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune to philanthropic causes, primarily via the Gates Foundation.

What kind of person does it take to become a billionaire? Someone with a special gift. Buffet as a boy had a favorite toy - a moneychanger. What kind of kid picks a moneychanger for a toy? Probably one who was extremely gifted in mathematics and would later ask his Dad to let him visit the New York Stock Exchange as his coming of age gift. Even at an early age he became a businessman and investor, buying stocks and starting businesses before he was 12 years old. Like many genius children, he was not always understood and was socially awkward yet he eventually rose above it. Later in life he was lucky enough to study the great investors of his time, learning their systems and then improving them. Warren's true genius was his ability to see and buy great stocks or companies that were undervalued and then hold onto them as long as he could. He spent his life learning and acquiring - not just investments but people as well. To Buffet, everything was about the power of compounding returns, yet he only risked wisely. Another great thing about Buffet was his moral compass. Unlike many in business, he refused to sacrifice his morals to make money, believing that while it takes a lifetime to build a reputation, it only takes five minutes to destroy it. Buffet's reputation for honesty and integrity is unparalleled in an industry known for it's deceit.

Because he was so super focused this allowed him to become truly great, but it did have bad effects on his family. To me, the sacrifices he made with his family would not have been worth it, yet this is often true of geniuses in other fields as well (I think of Einstein and Gandhi who were also geniuses yet caused great pain to those close to them). I really enjoyed this book, being at times inspired and then later feeling sorry for him (yes, you can feel sorry for multi-billionare). His wisdom with money and his philosophy of investing is the best I've ever read. Highly recommended. 4.3 ninja stars out of 5.

Book Review: The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid

Book Review: The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid (A Memoir) by Bill Bryson

I'm kind of a sucker for people's stories about their growing up years. Bill Bryson is a gifted writer so I thought "Why not?" The book is an extremely funny reflection of Bryson's growing up in Des Moines, Iowa during the 1950s and early 1960s. For those who enjoyed Bryson's "A Walk In The Woods" and "Neither Here Nor There: Travels In Europe," Byrson fills in the back story on his famous friend Stephen Katz. More then just a memoir, the author describes and comments on American life in humorous detail. And the strange title? It comes from an imaginary alter-ego Bryson invented for himself in his childhood, who has the ability to "vaporise people." (Personally I had no such strange ideas myself although I did have serious plans on how I was going to take over the world and rule it benevolently. Luckily I dropped those plans shortly after having children - just not enough time.)

I laughed hard reading this book yet it is also filled with enough thoughtful commentary on the good things and bad things of American history to make it thought provoking as well. Bryson's genius is the artful way in which he blends words and ideas. He truly is a great writer and I'd say this is one of his better books. A little crude at times, this doesn't always come across well when he is speaking the thoughts of a 7 year old boy. Definitely an entertaining read and his story about accidentally sharing a drink with an old man made me laugh out loud and then snicker occasionally as I remembered the story for the next week. I give it 4 ninja stars out of 5.