I found Gordon Pape's Ultimate TFSA Guide to be an incredibly informative overview of the TFSA options and strategies available to Canadians. I had not read the previous TFSA book, so cannot comment on any differences between that incarnation and this one. What I can contribute is that I found great value in this book and would recommend it as a starting point towards understanding TFSAs and what options and potential pitfalls await. It is written in an accessible style and presents a potentially complex subject in an easy to digest manner.

My only major criticism is that the many, many pages of TFSA offerings by various banks and institutions could have been presented in a better format with some additional advice, and might not be relevant at the time of reading.

I would have liked to see more details about dividend investing from within the TFSA, and more mention of capital gains exemptions. Book has sort of an either/or approach to TFSA/RRSP selection. It would be nice to see a maximizing strategy incorporating both for those able.

All in all, I think this book was highly educational and well worth the time to read. I feel much better off about choosing which TFSA options to pursue, although I am looking for additional information on specific strategies to maximize my retirement income. This book has nevertheless formed a valuable cornerstone.

Rory Miller's Meditations on Violence forces you to wipe the sleep from your eyes and wake up to the reality of violence. He doesn't pull any punches and approaches the subject with a matter-of-factness that is refreshing. There is no mysticism. There is no fantasy. Miller presents the grim reality and forces you to think on it. There is no miracle art for dealing with violence. His emphasis is on the need for practical training based on the results of scientific studies, and promises nothing more than hopefully adding a few percentage points to your chances.

He criticizes the fantasy world of most dojo centric training, and pushes escaping from the self-limiting mindset that most people possess when it comes to acting and reacting to violent situations.

He urges the reader to be critical of everything, including his own material, and to not swallow ideas and concepts whole. His relatively humble stance on the subject, in addition to his significant experience is presented throughout the book.

This is a book about violence, what leads up to it, and most importantly how to take your cues and avoid it if at all possible. But this is a book ABOUT violence, and contains some graphic descriptions which might be unsettling to some. Miller's experience as a jail guard has exposed him to some of the most violent and disturbing individuals society has captured. The stories he relates emphasize and illustrate this point.

A must read for anyone who wants a reality check on violence and a way to evaluate their own training methods in light of this.

This book, along with Rory Miller's Meditations on Violence, should be among the first books any martial artist or sane person turns to for a no nonsense introduction to the facts about violence and how to avoid getting into situations you'll almost certainly regret.

Don't delude yourselves into believing that your sport based martial art of choice will be effective in a brutal, real world street encounter. It most likely won't. Dispense with the fantasies and take a look at the gruesome, ugly facts that surround violent encounters, and why your efforts should be on not placing yourself in a bad situation in the first place.

My only criticism of the book is that more than few grammatical errors seem to have been created by the use of a spellchecker. Other than that, Kane and Wilder present an excellent overview of the before, during and after of the violent encounter and try to give the reader insight on the facts, mindset, and decisions that will help your average (and not so average) person avoid, navigate and hopefully survive any violent encounter you were unfortunate enough to find yourself in.

The Glass Bead Game is another excellent novel by Hesse. I have read and very much enjoyed both Siddhartha and Demian years ago, and found The Glass Bead Game to be a equally enjoyable, though clearly more sophisticated book. Told from the perspective of an anonymous biography, the story revolves around a rather likable character named Joseph Knecht and his ascent throughout the rather esoteric hierarchy of the Order.

The tale is presented in a rather fragmented style, highlighting various part's of Joseph's life and the relationships he develops with various figures throughout. Although the book begins slowly, I found it does gradually pick up, and becomes completely engrossing in the later chapters.

Like Hesse's other works, The Glass Bead Game offers plenty of insight into society, culture and the human spirit. If you enjoyed Demian or Siddhartha, with a bit of effort, you should enjoy the Glass Bead Game.