The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times

I've been a fan of the Weiss Publications for many years so wasn't sure this book would have anything new to offer. So often, the books published by those with ongoing newsletters or other online services tend to be increasingly shallow, reprints of information you have encountered repeatedly or-- worse of all -- shallow promotional tools hyping the sale of their expensive products or service subscriptions. While the author does indeed have many information products including newsletters etc...he refrains from watering down his content Or shameless promotional efforts throughout. Instead, he delivers delightfuly fresh content, easy to read and relevant. I read a lot of business books...in fact, I teach business/finance etc at the college level, write and consult on the topic so I'm always in the middle of reading at least one (or more) business books. Here are a few things that set this one apart from the rest... 1. The author is unapologetic about his position. In fact, he publishes his email and contact information right up front so you can write or comment. 2. Accessible. This book is reader friendly and designed to appeal to a wide audience. The advice is do-able and can be easily modified to fit any budget...this is not a book only for those with massive portfolio's searching for a bigger/better return but truly a survival manual. Those with little money concerned how they will cover the basics are likely to find as much value in the book as those nearing retirement watching their 401k or other investments shrink in recent years. 3. Practical. The advice is meant to take action on...not sell you the next level. Likewise, the information is different from that of the newsletters although regular readers of Martin Weiss will be pleased to find it consistent with his core suggestions and outlook. Bottom line...whether you grow wealthy or simply preserve your standard of living while others sink this book is well worth the time and effort to review.

I have two other books by Dr. Weiss (The Ultimate Safe Money Guide and Crash Profits), and this is beyond a doubt his best yet. The title perfectly sums up the book -- it really is the ULTIMATE depression survival guide. Dr. Weiss does much more than shed light on the origins of the current economic crisis; he tells you exactly how to prepare yourself and your family to survive the dark days ahead. Including how to potect -- and grow -- your money ... even in the darkest of times. Despite the grim subject, Dr. Weiss' clear, friendly, and sometimes irreverent style makes the book a fast, fun, and inspiring read. Even technical information is presented clearly and in a way that is easily understood. So far, I've read The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide cover-to-cover twice. And my wife is reading it as I type this. For anyone worried about the economy, this book is a must-read. And if you're not, you shoulg get it anyway. The information it contains is priceless ... and it makes a great conversation piece sitting on the coffee table. Especially since Dr. Weiss has graciously donated all proceeds from the book to charity!

Dr. Weiss has written a book that even the not-so-adept financial person can easily understand and relate. During the recent months - so many words have been floating across the media - bailouts, bankruptcy, stimulus, financial tsunami - that I have encountered sleepless nights and worry for my family and our income. Thanks to Dr. Weiss, I now have a better understanding of why this crisis happened, what the next phase will be, and most importantly - how I can better prepare for the future. He explains everything from choosing my bank...keeping more of my money... paying down debt... to whether to sell or keep my home . Even better he shows steps to secure my investments and how to even grow my wealth now and when the economy recovers. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about theirs and their family's financial future.

Weiss' "The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide" is a smart, well-written book full of sound financial principles, all of which make it worth buying. Using historical examples, recent trends, and advice from dad, Weiss brings a well-rounded understanding of the current economic crisis to the reader in a simple, easy-to-understand fashion. His advice is summed up in a couple quotes: the depression was inevitable because of the housing bust, the mortgage meltdown, and the biggest debt crisis in history. The housing bust was cased by Fannie and Freddie Mac (as Weiss explains, "some of the largest speculative bubbles of all time were born out of government-sponsored monopolies"). And we can "kick the can down the road" (meaning we can bailout broken firms and "stimulate" the economy, but that will just delay the inevitable major crash. But we can't do anything about our governments' reckless behavior until the next election, so Weis offers immediate advice to readers that they can do somehting about: save, reduce debt and sell stocks (the latter one might not be such a hot idea since it appears the markets have at least started a major rebound). He gives very good advaice about looking for the bottom of the economic retraction: look for the government to capitulate (give up trying to save the world!). He recommends investing in etfs (or reverse etfs) and treasury-only MM Funds. This is a great read and highly recommended, though Weiss neglects a major contributor to the problem: the Federal Reserve. If you're looking for a bit more unconventional but very beneficial techniques for thriving in this economy check out Surviving the Second Great Depression: How to Take Advantage of the Government That Is Trying to Take Advantage of You. For a better summary of what got us here check out Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse.

First of all, I was impressed by the author's almost clairvoyant predictions of the financial nightmare involving the banks, brokerage companies, etc that we are now living through. What attracted me to this book were the book's title promising answers and guidance that Americans need right now and the author's reputation. I admit that I was a bit skeptical that one book could do all the title claims to do. I was happily surprised to find solid, bottomline advise on battening down your financial hatches and once that's done, investing safely in these unpredictable times. Maybe even thriving without risking whatever you've got left after the recent stock market ups and downs. This is a great book that I think anyone who's concerned about the current US economic situation and their own financial options within the current situation will find to be very helpful.