Good books on marketing or accounting? - Posted by JohnMcG

import · April 13, 2004, 3:21pm

Posted by JohnMcG on April 14, 2004 at 14:02:20:

Thanks Drew, that’s what I was looking for. I probably will take an accounting course, but things are a little busy right now, and I’m looking for a book to hold me over.

import · April 13, 2004, 3:21pm

Posted by JohnMcG on April 13, 2004 at 15:21:41:

I’m looking for some good books on accounting and marketing. Anyone have any good suggestions?

import · April 13, 2004, 5:40pm

Re: Good books on marketing or accounting? - Posted by Phil (CO)

Posted by Phil (CO) on April 13, 2004 at 17:40:24:

Don’t know about marketing, but I highly recommend the Yellow Pages
for accounting.

Just kidding, sort of. IMHO you are much better off hiring a
professional than trying to learn it yourself.

Good luck.

import · April 14, 2004, 9:46am

Re: Good books on marketing or accounting? - Posted by JohnMcG

Posted by JohnMcG on April 14, 2004 at 09:46:27:

I’m not suggesting working without a professional accountant, but I’d still like to know the basics of reading a financial statement and such. It never hurts to have a little knowledge, and that way I may have a better understanding of what my accountant is telling me.

import · April 14, 2004, 12:30pm

Re: Good books on marketing or accounting? - Posted by Drew

Posted by Drew on April 14, 2004 at 12:30:33:

The best book for what you want to do is “How To Read a Financial Report” by John Tracy. It’s cheap, and the only book you will need, period. This book takes you through the four statements (balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and statement of changes in owners’ equity) line by line and correlates them to each other. You thus get a good understanding of what the numbers mean individually and collectively. It also provides a good overview of the field of accounting and the principles governing it, so you can talk with accountants and not sound ignorant. In other words, the book is not just a technical manual.

If, however, what you (or anybody else) wants is to actually learn bookkeeping, take a couple intro classes at the community college. I did this, and while I am not a bookkeeper, the understanding I gained has helped my business career in ways I never expected. (I am now in a top-20 MBA program.)

Regards,

Drew