Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 13
 Where's it at???? October 1, 2009
Shaun Weiand (Lafayette, IN)
Ordered this book over a month ago. now am in class w/ no book. still havent heard anything....
Worst text book ever written! February 3, 2009
Grad Student (Chicago, Illinois USA)
It's hard to avoid a book that's mandatory for a class, but if you have other options I suggest you steer away from this one. I've never seen a more poorly written text book in both my undergrad and grad level courses! This book is a complete disaster. The questions/problems at the end of the chapter assigned for homework do not have supporting examples to learn from. It is a complete guessing game at how to arrive at the correct answer. I had to buy this book for my class but do not plan on using it afterwards. It is completely worthless!
 Straightforward, simple, and clear December 12, 2008
J. Davis
This book is being given an unearned bad name. I don't know for certain why, but I could speculate if I were feeling uncharitable.
In truth, this book does a fine job of laying out this subject point-by-point, complete with formulas, examples, practice problems, and then EVEN MORE examples, just in case you missed the first ones, followed by actual homework problems.
I was assigned to teach this course having never taken it myself, which means I was forced to teach myself the subject so that I could teach it to a class of 70 students. With only the book and no other personal instruction, I was able to learn the material and teach it well enough to feel very comfortable with the material and to get very good student reviews.
This is a testament to the clarity and completeness of the book, rather than my own innate understanding of the material, which was extremely limited.
If I had to name a criticism of this text, I would say it is too monochromatic. They need to throw in some more color to break up all the green.
Also, I think this book is too expensive. I would have an easier time justifying using this book for my class if it were, say, $90, instead of $130+.
Still, I like it at least as well as the other texts publishers keep sending me, and better than most.
4/5 stars for bland green look and high price.
Ridiculous January 20, 2007
lume (Johnstown, PA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I think there is probably a chance that this is the most poorly written textbook I've ever encountered.
I was going to hold off giving it a bad review until I got through the class, but at this rate I'm not even totally sure I will. I've just re-read the difference between nominal and effective interest for (no hyperbole) the 10th time, and I'm no closer to understanding it. Bad examples, useless derivations, poor explaining. I only wish I could give it a zero.
 Helped me earn an A October 14, 2006
B. Beaulieu (Hartford, CT)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't understand where all of the negative reviews are coming from. The 6th edition of this textbook was used in my Financial Aspects of Engineering class my final semester. Officially it is a 400 level course, but in reality it is more like a 200 level course. I literally skipped half of the lectures (remember, it was my final semester) and still earned an A in the class. I think grades were based on a bell curve like most engineering courses, so it's not like everyone received an A. Since I missed so many lectures, I had to rely very heavily on the textbook to learn the material.
I sold the book after the course was over to get some quick cash, but I'm regretting it. I can't remember anything now, and the subject matter of this textbook is starting to be more relevant in my personal and professional lives, so I'm going to buy it again. I highly recommend it as a reference and introduction to real world economic and financial problems.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 13
|
