I first watched Paprika several months ago and have been unable to shake this movie from my mind since. It really takes several viewings to fully appreciate and understand the language, complexity, and depth of this fantastic film. The story is about a group of psychiatrists who create a computer which can view, change and analyze dreams. One such machine gets stolen and eventually all of the dreams merge into one, as well as merging into reality. A Japanese soundtrack frames and complements the movie at perfect moments.

Although the story will be difficult to follow and understand and some scenes are visually intense, Paprika is an absolute jewel of a film in any language (French, Spanish, English or original Japanese). It is also relatively loyal to the original book, which is also worth reading.

I recommend watching this film in quiet environment with a large screen television to fully appreciate Paprika's splendour. I also recommend purchasing this movie in order to fully understand its feel and texture.

"As the World Burns" is a poignantly accurate graphic novel about the realities of Western Environmental policy. The authors do a great job of distancing the reader from the overly simple solutions which are presented in various forms that target changing individual behaviours. Some of these "solutions" include changing from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, keeping tires properly inflated, reducing car usage and recycling pop cans (and 46 other "simple things"). These solutions tend to make us believe that we are "saving the planet" when in fact such simple solutions distract us from the real problems: governments and corporations.

Shocking, depressing and inspiring, "As the World Burns" brings the reader into various states of mind and being. It also does a good job of portraying and ridiculing some of the stereotypical behaviours in the clash against the establishment: the "hippie" vegan, the spin of the media, the greedy corporations, the psychiatrist who believes that individual angst can be solved with prescriptions and accepting things the way they are.

This book is an eye opener for anyone who continues to deny that humans have had a profoundly negative effect on the environment and world that surrounds us. Ultimately, this book is more than a comic and will bring a few tears of sorrow, frustration and ultimately joy. A thoroughly worthwhile and easy read.

Although Walter Sanford's "Insider Investing for Real Estate Agents" is written for licensed realtors, it is equally relevant to other "insider" real estate professionals such as appraisers, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, property managers and real estate investors.

As with a number of other real estate books, this was written from an American perspective, meaning that some of the advice, notably anything about 1031 exchanges, are mostly irrelevant to Canadians. Nevertheless, it provides the insider with a number of recommendations, which minimizes the risks of being perceived unethically.

Because of an insider's intimate knowledge, he or she is in a position where it is easier to take advantage of potential clients. Sanford encourages real estate professionals to behave morally and ethically and if they become personally involved in a transaction either as a partner or buyer. By providing full disclosure to the client from the beginning, the insider will avoid tarnishing his or her reputation or costly lawsuits. Unlike some other real estate authors who prefer "buy, flip and sell" strategies or a "pyramid and refinance" strategy, the author opts for a long-term "buy and hold" strategy, discouraging the reader from incurring costly transaction fees through constantly selling or transferring properties.

The advice touted by the author is mostly common sense and similar lessons do appear in other real estate books. This includes providing basic investment criteria as to what constitutes a "good" real estate investment, avoiding "analysis paralysis" and general guidelines when screening and selecting tenants. The author also provides dozens of pages of sample agreements, contracts and checklists, which can easily modified to fit the reader's situation and needs.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this book. While most of the advice was not new, I was inspired to become more of an "insider" in order to gain numerous advantages in real estate investing.

Loeffler's "Investing in Rent-to-Own" is well written overall and explains the steps for a comprehensive and uniquely Canadian rent-to-own strategy. Divided into several parts, Loeffler begins by outlining the advantages of rent-to-own over traditional rentals, proceeds with steps on screening clients and selecting properties, then finishes with the exit strategy where the rent-to-own property is ultimately sold to the tenant at the end of the rental agreement. Because of the numerous forms and website links included, this book could be a huge time saver for those in the rent-to-own game.

As explained above and in other reviews, the book is well-written and well divided. Traditional Rent-to-own, explains that the scenario is "win-win" because the landlord is provided with a tenant that will care for and ultimately own the property, the tenant benefits by having a place to call their own and having their credit repaired over the course of the rent-to-own term. The strategy is good in theory, but the clientele is likely quite limited in practice. In order to come up with the necessary deposits, down payments, fees and inspections explained in this book as part of the rent-to-own agreement, one would probably already own their own home. The essential part of Loeffler's "Tenant-first" strategy is the idea of the tenant being able to choose their own home, which could be somewhat worrisome, as much control could be relinquished this way, even though the owner/landlord will still ultimately oversee and approve the transaction.

In spite of these down sides, reading this book will likely make you consider properties that you hadn't as potential rent-to-owns. In addition, if you have never heard of rent-to-own arrangements, this book is an excellent place to start.

"Where there's an inheritance" is the third book about wills and estates by Kotzer and Fish. However, the subject matter is not entirely about wills and estates, rather, Kotzer and Fish assemble a variety of stories from clients, colleagues and callers. These stories deal with money, life and death. They are stories of families overcoming their differences or being torn apart over inheritance disputes, often over relatively small legacies. They are funny stories, sad stories, frustrating stories and shocking stories. They are stories about second chances and missed opportunities. Indeed, their wealth of experience has exposed them to a wide variety of both tragic and uplifting situations around succession planning.

If you have read a Kotzer and Fish book before, some of the stories and situations may seem familiar. This is because many of these situations are so unique or humourous that it is difficult not to use these again. One such story, which is referred to in "The Family War" tells of a "deaf" uncle who surprises his potential heirs by repeating the negative things they said about him at his 90th birthday party. Another story tells of an aunt who decides to ungraciously cut all of her nieces and nephews out of her will because of the fact that they had already "staked their claim" on her things while she was in the hospital. There are also instances of problems when clients decide to prepare their own wills.

Although it would be easy to deduce that many of the stories do not apply to an individual's situation due to their uniqueness, this is not the case. Much of the advice can be taken to heart if you read between the lines. In one story, two younger heirs make incredibly stupid decisions and squander their inheritances. The lesson in this story is to avoid leaving too much to heirs at such a young age. Other stories are not so much about advice or lessons, but merely to appreciate the things we take for granted. In one story, a client nearing death sees an otherwise dreary day as "beautiful." Kotzer and Fish's personal attachments can also be felt when they experience the sudden and unexpected loss of a long-time client.

In spite of the tragedy behind some of these stories, "Where there's an inheritance" is well worth the read. Once again, if you read one of the other books written by Kotzer and Fish, you will find some repetitive elements. As always, due to the fact that jurisdiction and personal circumstances can have a profound impact on someone's situation, the book fails to get into too many specifics, so if you are looking for information on how to prepare your own will, I would suggest you consult with a lawyer that is experienced in succession and estate planning.

Micheal Maloney's "Guide to Investing in Gold and Silver: Protect Your Financial Future" is a refreshing and very relevant book about the history of currency, America's obsession with debt and the coming financial crisis. Maloney provides superb historical examples of other Empires implementing fiat currencies. In every historical example, government measures to curb the underlying effects of fiat currencies, notably inflation, were always met with further negative effects. He also explores historical instances of speculation bubbles and their consequences on the currency (NOT money) supply. The author highlights many of the similarities between the Empire of the United States and the other Empires, such as the Greeks, the Romans and Germany and the current culture of debt which permeates the American mindset.

While most Rich Dad books lack in substance, as well as relevance to the Canadian audience, Maloney's book predicts a somewhat bleak financial future for those unprepared. History has shown us that wealth does not disappear, rather, it is transferred and the current economic conditions demonstrate that it is no longer a question of if, but a question of when, this shift shall occur. Oftentimes, history has shown us that those who hold gold and silver, which is the only real money that the government cannot print, can most benefit from this shifting of wealth. The author demonstrates that government and central banking measures have kept the price of gold and silver undervalued and that now is the time to prepare for the coming financial storm ahead.

This book is well worth the read, as it also suggests how to go about buying gold and silver. Like many areas of the financial industry, the gold and silver industry is full of scams and the author cautions the reader about investing too hastily. Although some of these examples are perhaps not entirely relevant to Canadians, it provides a bit more caution to readers about methods of buying gold and silver.

Jim Rogers' "A Bull In China" offers refreshing and unique perspectives on investment opportunities and sectors in the fast rising nation. Based on data as well as current events occurring nationally and internationally, China will soon be the most important economy in the world. This shifting of wealth from the West to the far East has significant implications with regards to how and where people park their hard-earned dollars. Jim Rogers convinces us in this book that China is the place to put a good portion of that money.

China, once seen as a secretive, isolated and socialist nation, has recently eased its restrictions and is rapidly creating its own unique blend of capitalism. Easing restrictions on investments, travel and personal property, the average Chinese person now has more rights and opportunities than they did some two or three decades ago. This has obvious effects for both Chinese and international investors. Rogers concretely presents these opportunities by showcasing various sectors of the economy that are being impacted by this emerging capitalist spirit. Tourism, real estate, retail, grocery, automobiles, commodities and energy all represent interesting and profitable opportunities for investment. As China's need for energy grows, prices of oil and coal will rise in sync with these increased needs. While Rogers does emphasize that some companies and sectors may have some hiccups along the way, these minor corrections present greater opportunities for entering the market.

There are a few downsides to this book, though. First, and typical of many investment books, is the fact that the work is already outdated. Given that it was written before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rogers regularly refers to how the Chinese Olympics will change things in China. Given that the Olympics have now passed, some of his forecasts should probably be reviewed. In spite of presenting some often overlooked, eye-opening and potentially profitable opportunities; I am once again amazed by Rogers' complete lack of social conscience. For instance, he sees the degradation of the environment as a potential investment opportunity, as companies engaged in environmental rehabilitation will surely profit from restoring China's natural beauty. While I understand that preaching environmentalism is not the purpose of Rogers' work, he acknowledges a tremendous profit opportunity without criticizing that the extent of this degradation should not have occurred in the first place. Once again, like many self-declared "pundits" in his field, he tends to see capitalism as a "cure-all" for the woes of the world, while capitalism is in fact the cause of most of these. A left-minded reader is likely to be put off by Rogers' lack of regard for economic and political alternatives. Finally, there is the issue of Tibet. While Rogers does mention Tibet on a few occasions in the book, there is no outcry, no call to action, no expression of injustice about this occupation which has undermined human rights and sovereignty for the Tibetan people.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is considering putting money beyond their borders. Rogers' first-hand perspective on China has indeed given him a vision and knowledge of China that goes beyond what is presented in textbooks and in websites. He does present a large variety of industries and sectors which could easily be overlooked. He also presents a number of indirect investment opportunities. While he does state that the stocks he puts forward are merely starting points and not "hot tips", they do provide a good base for people that are unfamiliar with the seemingly complex Chinese financial system. In spite of these strengths, Rogers' book lacks the social conscience that a well-rounded, "big picture" author might have put forward.

Ken McElroy's so called "Advanced Guide" to Real Estate Investing repeats many of the same elements covered in his "Guide to Real Estate Investing" and discusses the advantages of large multi-family investments over stocks, bonds and mutual funds and other types of real estate. While the book provides a good general overview to those curious about making the leap, seasoned readers will find very little new material and will find little material that is relevant to Canadians. While there is a brief mention of the Vancouver real estate market, the author discusses 1031 exchanges and financing rules, landlord and tenant legislation and legal measures that have very little relevance in Canada. He also spends an entire chapter discussing 10 hot markets to watch. All of these markets, are not surprisingly, in the US and many of these markets have likely experienced cooling in the wake of the recession. Douglas Gray's "ABCs of Profitable Real Estate Investment" or "Canadian Landlord's Guide" are much more applicable to Canadian realities and Canadian markets.

In spite of this lack of relevance to Canadians, the author states very little about actually managing a multi-family investment, which he states will be covered in his upcoming book. Most of the book revolves around his experience in acquiring two key properties, one in Phoenix and one in Oklahoma City. Both of these properties required extensive due diligence which revealed many unforeseen expenses and required adjustments in the closing and escrow process. While acquiring these properties was by no means a small feat, it is rather surprising that he did not include more examples. Still, it does provide an idea of how expensive it can be to overlook such seemingly small details, so in that sense, the author achieves his objective.
McElroy also fails to take into account that financing these types of properties seems too good to be true and that investors, brokers and lenders will be all too willing to go along with a well thought out business plan. In reality, past experience, asset performance and other applicable legislation make putting together such deals different in Canada.

Once again, I would recommend this book as complementary to other books in the Rich Dad series and complementary to most other real estate books. But don't read this expecting "Advanced" legal or finance tips. And definitely don't read this book expecting to find anything that is applicable to uniquely Canadian realities.

Intended as a complementary sequel, Ken McElroy's "The ABC's of Property Management" provides advice on managing, maintaining, enjoying and improving an investment property once it has been purchased. Although it is written from an American perspective, which automatically reduces its rating and relevance, McElroy provides many real-life experiences from his years in owning and managing investment properties. "ABC's" begins with a rather amusing story about a wheelchair bound drug dealer attempting to evade police officers at one of the "nightmare" properties his company was hired to manage. This, along with other not so amusing stories about less than genius tenants reminds many would be self managers of the ups and downs of day-to-day property management that being a landlord and property manager is not for everyone. His "A day in the life of" chapter provides an example of a typical week for a property manager who must not only work and maintain a household, but also repair fixtures, show vacant units and collect and enforce rent payment policies.

Although this book is quite a bit more substantial than the introductory "Rich Dad" books, it is still quite easy to read. In spite of the fact that there are several other property management books written for Canadians out there, I would still recommend this book for its main lessons.

Atin, Fish and Kotzer's "The Family War: Winning the Inheritance Battle" is an easy-to-read, helpful and informative book for real or potential heirs, beneficiaries and executors to an Estate, written from a uniquely Canadian perspective. Using a variety of real life examples acquired from years of legal practice in the field of Estate Administration, Atin, Kotzer and Fish provide strategies for preparing or defending an Estate challenge, as well as tips to minimize the existence of conflict with siblings, spouses, ex-spouses and other relatives in cases of Estate disputes. Though the basis for many Estate conflicts are often related to a person's assets, Kotzer, Atin and Fish remind us that similar disagreements can also occur with sentimental value items, as well. From the onset, the reader is cautioned from fighting "The Family War" too strongly, as even "winning" The Family War can come at the cost of losing a brother, sister or other close relative.

Due to the fact that jurisdiction, as well as a person's personal circumstances can vary so much, Kotzer, Fish and Atin are justifiably cautious about providing too much legal information and oftentimes, recommend that the reader seek his or her own legal advice. In spite of this expected ambiguity, their years of legal experience reiterate to the reader that Estate litigation is by no means a sure thing, in spite of how strong your case might be. In spite of a dying parent's intentions, courts care about the proof, not the truth and that settling is better than having the Estate consumed by legal fees. Kotzer, Atin and Fish also provide a lot of advice for real or potential Estate executors and the common pitfalls associated with the added responsibility of administering an Estate. The book also provides some dangers associated with making a Will without legal assistance, as entire cases have turned on the definition of a word. Seeking out legal advice can ensure that a Will is prepared in an unambiguous legal language.

All in all, I would strongly recommend this read. In the end, this book is not so much about how to "win" The Family War, it is about strategies to make better manage, resolve and "fight" it.