Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 26-30 of 35
 disappointed August 14, 2002
14 out of 35 found this review helpful
John Tracy does explain the 3 important "sheets" of a complete financial report. But he failed to help me understand what can be ascertained from more abstract concepts like cash flow or depreciation. His (lack of decent) explanation of why depreciation expense shows up in cost flow calculation appears to account twice for the same $ (once in profit and once in cash flow). His explanation of trying to use EPS & P/E ratio to determine the value of a privately held company share went no futher than this: "you could try to sell my your privately held share at any price you want, but I wouldn't have to accept it". That's not an explanation, just a statement of the obvious. The book needs more prose and examples of how the concept of a healthy (or unhealthy) company can be determined from a financial report. In fairness to Tracy, perhaps the latter half of the book addresses my needs, but I quit at page 76 (1/2 way through the book) after an inadequate explanation of depriciation expense as positive cash flow. I'll give another, more rigourous text a chance at that.
 Won't Help You Understand ENRON. February 14, 2002
12 out of 30 found this review helpful
Concepts such as pro forma statements and restatement of earnings just aren't addessed in this 1999 book. Time for another update!
 GREAT BOOK BUT SOME PRIOR KNOWLEDGE WILL BE A PLUS! July 11, 2001
Sandra D. Peters (Prince Edward Island, Canada)
72 out of 75 found this review helpful
As a teacher of business management, I have found the one component of training that often frustrates most students is understanding and preparing a cash flow statement, profit and loss statement and a balance sheet. This book is written in a manner which certainly simplifies the understanding of the statements, but it would definitely be a plus if the reader had some prior knowledge of basic accounting principles.Financial statements are, for some, a challenge and one they can easily master with an understanding of basic accounting. For others with no prior knowledge of accounting, financial statements can be a nightmare. While this book will HELP TO SIMPLIFY the matter, without some previous experience the book may be quite confusing. First of all, one should at least be familiar with general accounting terminology. If you are, it will simplify this book enormously and make the learning experience more enjoyable. However, be prepared to sit down and devote your utmost concentration to the book. The subject matter is not one that can be mastered by skimming through the book in an evening or two. For many individuals, understanding financial statements is a course that takes months to completely understand. Some learn the process easily, others never master the challenge no matter how long or hard they try. The degree of success usually depends, in part, on apptitude, commitment and previous knowledge and experience of the reader.
Simple and to the point June 15, 2001
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
John Tracy does an excellent job of reviewing the basics of reading a financial report. His treatment of how the Balance Sheet, Income, and Cash Flow Statements are related to each other is simple and to the point. He also discusses how various depreciation and inventory methods impact the financial reports. The book is easy to read and well organized. Anyone who is new to financial reports or who wants to brush up on financial reports since their accounting days in college should find this book useful.
 Well Written Overview of Financial Statements and Accounting December 13, 2000
tim747 (Glenview, IL USA)
77 out of 79 found this review helpful
This book is great for anyone ranging from beginner to intermediate knowledge of financial reports. I have taken accounting and finance classes in college. This book tells the same things that 600 page textbooks and hours and hours of lecture can tell you, but it does so in an easy to understand and concise manner. Most important it explains the relationships clearly between the income statement, balance sheet, and cashflow statement. This book would be great for anyone starting an education in finance or for any investor trying to broaden their knowledge base. If you invest in stocks, you should learn how to read financial statements. This book will give you some much needed knowledge that you can use as you scour for companies to invest in. This author takes pride in his writing. John A. Tracy is a professor of accounting, but his knack for concise explanations and the clear use of the English language is evident throughout.
Showing reviews 26-30 of 35
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