Keeping Up With The Dow Joneses

In this short but powerful book of interlinked essays, noted cultural critic Vijay Prashad examines the contradictions of the American economy. Prashad assesses a range of related issues: the oft-vaunted US economy, propped up by the rising debt of poor and middle-class workers; welfare policies that punish those attempting to escape the grip of debt and poverty; and a prison industry that regulates and houses the unemployed, as well as a reserve army of laborers. In Keeping Up with the Dow Joneses, Prashad argues that the advent of mass production and advertising has converted citizens into consumers whose desires are captured by the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses." Yet, as Prashad so persuasively demonstrates, keeping up with the Joneses is a trap: Americans have gone into massive consumer debt, with the poorest forty percent of the public borrowing money to compensate for stagnant incomes, not to spend on luxuries. Only the richest twenty percent borrow money to invest in stocks. Not surprisingly, in the last few years, income and wealth differentials have risen to record highs. By making crystal-clear connections between the economy, welfare reform and the profit-driven prison industrial complex, Prashad offers a vision for a sustainable and vital anti-imperialist movement. Vijay Prashad is Associate Professor and Director of International Studies, Trinity College. He is the author of several books including Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting: Afro-Asian Connections and the Myth of Cultural Purity, Fat Cats and Running Dogs and The Karma of Brown Folk. Each was included in the Village Voice’s "25 Best Books of the Year" list.

Ken Fisher is founder and CEO of Fisher Investments, an independent money management firm managing over $35 billion (as of Dec. 31/09) for individuals and institutions. And, Fisher has written the monthly "Portfolio Strategy" column for Forbes magazine for the last twenty-five years—since 1984—making him, so far, the fourth longest-running columnist in the magazine’s history. During this time, he’s seen everything from the stock market crash of 1987 and the great bull markets of the 1980s and 1990s to the Tech bubble of 2000 and the global market meltdown of 2008. Now, with The Making of a Market Guru, you’ll gain an insightful look at Fisher’s prolific career over the years and discover the high-profile market calls he’s made so far in these monthly columns. At times engaging and timely, at others revealing and informative, this book is a sweeping look at a recent and eventful slice of stock market history. You’ll read about what’s changed, but you’ll be more amazed by what hasn’t. And you’ll see investing wisdom that still applies, now and for the foreseeable future, from a quarter-century of Fisher’s concise and witty market wisdom. Preceding Fisher’s columns for each year are a few pages of commentary—putting them in historic context, pointing out areas that are still salient, and others where Fisher’s perspective has changed over the years—highlighting key points that deserve extra attention. Chapter by chapter, this book offers practical investment advice from a leading market voice, while: Looking at Fisher’s market analysis over the years and providing an industry insider’s view of major, and not-so-major, market events Examining how Fisher called three of the last four bear markets Showing that what many commonly think impacts markets doesn’t—and some very surprising things that do impact markets that few are aware of. And much more The more things change, the more they stay the same—at least when it comes to investing. And seeing history through the eyes of a market guru can help improve your overall investment endeavors today. If you take the time to read this unique, historic compilation, you’ll be taking your first steps to understanding how to become your own market guru.

The issues arising from rapid global integration have generally been treated in isolation by most academic works. This volume examines the many pitfalls of globalization from the perspective of impoverished and indigenous peoples, including the widening wealth gap, the struggle for restoration of dispossessed lands and cultural rights, global warming and ecological annihilation, and the experiences of women in underdeveloped regions. The United States' growing prison industrial complex is discussed. The author concludes with a call for reassessing current ways of living and proposes recreating cultures of conservation and sustainable economies. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

How well do you know the world's most popular economic indicator - the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the companies that are or have been a part of it? Even if you know little to nothing about the Dow, the facts and knowledge of this book will astonish and amaze you. You man even find a surprise or two that will make you way "Really?"Take the Dow Jones Challenge 100!* Which DJIA company was part of a legal battle that had a role in defining insider trading laws?* Which DJIA company began with a candle maker and a soap maker?* American Can Company became what company before purchasing Travelers and merging with Citicorp?* Which of the original members of the Dow is the only to be dissolved?* Which company was a member of the Dow for only 98 days?Learn the answers to these and dozens more questions about the Dow. Results of having this book are likely to include one or more of the following results...* Amaze your friends.* Impress your clients.* Increase your arsenal of little known facts to five you the edge.* Astound your boss (especially when given as a gift).* Solve your question - what to buy the guy who has everything.

This best-selling text vividly shows how political and economic changes affect people's lives in different settings around the world. Globalization, the author argues, is not completely new. Instead, the current wave of globalization builds on international institutions created just after World War II and was given new impetus by policies introduced in the 1970s and 80s. The new edition has five new chapters as well as updates and changes throughout. Visit our website for sample chapters!