Contagion : the financial epidemic that is sweeping the global economy ... and how to protect yourself from it

I have several issues with this book. The main one was delivery of what was promised. Inside the jacket cover it starts by saying "During these turbulent economic times, with what could be the deepest global recession we've ever seen bearing down on us, the one thing you don't need is another book descibing how we've gotten to this point." 3/4 of the book is describing just that, how we got here. "What you do need are insights into what will happen going forward and how you can use this information to protect what really matters-including the value of your home and portfolio.." The other 1/4 of the book does talk about what the future looks like ... dreadful from Talbot's perspective, but is short on really what to do to protect your portfolio or even make it grow during turbulent times. There are no specific ideas to implement to protect yourself. The chapter about Credit Defaults Swaps was interesting and what a large problem that is, and I do agree that needs regulation. The 2nd problem was the 3/4 of the book blaming everyone. If you believe the "evil doers" of Bush, Cheney, Haliburton, every profit-seeking corporation in the country, your mother the Realtor, or your cousin the mortgage broker were the cause of this global meltdown you will love this book. Also if you believe that a book researched largely from the New York Times is going to give you a non-partican perspective you will love this book. If you believe how he describes his previous book of Obamanomics, that Mr. Obama's economic policies will right the US economy, bring about housing, banking and energy reform and instigate social change...you will love this book. Wanna buy my copy? What a waste of money and time.

For more than a decade, bestselling author and former investment banker John Talbott has accurately called many of the major financial crises we have faced long before they occurred. In 2003, he predicted the housing market collapse in his bestselling book, The Coming Crash of the Housing Market. In 2006, he foretold the peak in housing prices and wisely explained Sell Now!, in a timely sequel to his bestseller. Most recently, he insightfully probed the bottom-up economic policies that would guide Barack Obama to the White House in his book Obamanomics.

Past is always prologue for Talbott, and his economic reasoning and free-thinking forecasts about the future have captured people's attention. In his latest book, Contagion, he again warns about what once seemed implausible and impossible—the deepest global recession the world has ever seen, one that will forever shake the economic foundations and social fabric of our lives.

"Talbott is the author of two books that more or less foretold the pain homeowners are now experiencing. . . . So far many of John Talbott's predictions have been spot-on. But as the housing bust continues, homeowners in my neighborhood and beyond have every reason to hope his prescience proves short-lived."

—Daniel McGinn, national correspondent, Newsweek, and author of Home Lust: America's Obsession with Our Homes

"When John Talbott's controversial book, The Coming Crash in the Housing Market, hit store shelves in 2003, the real estate industry—and everyone else who stood to profit from the dizzying rise in U.S. home prices—gave it a hostile reception. So, with subprime mortgage loses andcredit woes now the no. 1 topic in the markets, what does the former Goldman Sachs investment banker see next?"

—Toronto Globe & Mail (September 14, 2007)

With the worldwide financial crisis and economic contagion mutating in ways that foreshadow global economic meltdown, Talbott explores the necessary government actions and reforms—and strategies that investors can use—to weather one of the worst financial crises in history. Never have Talbott's predictions been as bold, or his advice about what to do in the future more timely.

Bestselling author John Talbott outlines the troublesome economic times ahead and what can be done about them Tough times are here, and author John Talbott-who accurately predicted the dot.com technology stock collapse as well as the recent housing, mortgage, and financial crises-argues that the coming global recession will be unlike anything we've ever seen. In Contagion, Talbott turns his attention to this crisis and offers insights on what can be done to navigate such treacherous terrain. Talbott sets the stage by discussing how government borrowing and spending on the war, healthcare, Social Security, and corporate giveaways combined with dramatic increases in personal spending, fueled by credit card and mortgage debt, have funded unsustainable levels of personal and government consumption. Offers practical suggestions as to how investors and homeowners can best weather this storm with straightforward advice on where to invest Examines real estate and housing issues to help you make the best decisions possible in this arena Details the best ways to utilize stocks, bonds, TIPS, and commodities, and to prosper during this global crisis If you really want to protect yourself from the unfolding economic crisis, then Contagion is the book you need to read. The EPUB format of this title may not be compatible for use on all handheld devices.

Bestselling author John Talbott outlines the troublesome economic times ahead and what can be done about them

Tough times are here, and author John Talbott-who accurately predicted the dot.com technology stock collapse as well as the recent housing, mortgage, and financial crises-argues that the coming global recession will be unlike anything we've ever seen.

In Contagion, Talbott turns his attention to this crisis and offers insights on what can be done to navigate such treacherous terrain. Talbott sets the stage by discussing how government borrowing and spending on the war, healthcare, Social Security, and corporate giveaways combined with dramatic increases in personal spending, fueled by credit card and mortgage debt, have funded unsustainable levels of personal and government consumption.

• Offers practical suggestions as to how investors and homeowners can best weather this storm with straightforward advice on where to invest
• Examines real estate and housing issues to help you make the best decisions possible in this arena
• Details the best ways to utilize stocks, bonds, TIPS, and commodities, and to prosper during this global crisis
• If you really want to protect yourself from the unfolding economic crisis, then Contagion is the book you need to read.

Bamboozled What didn't cause the U.S. housing boom and bust What did cause the U.S. housing boom and bust The contagion spreads from sub-prime to prime How low will housing prices go in the U.S.? The U.S. economy was not in great shape to begin with U.S. enters a long recession The global economy catches the contagion Too big to fail : the $400 trillion derivatives market Our local governments feel the pinch From Wall Street to Main Street Demographics magnify contagion Which investments and which countries will weather the storm the best? Stop the bleeding No future without reform A warning shot across our bow. Tough times are ahead and Talbott argues that the coming recession will be on a global scale, affecting economies across the world. We have had no real growth in GDP for the last ten years if purchases with government and personal debt are excluded. In effect, government borrowing and spending on the war and healthcare and Social Security and corporate give-aways combined with dramatic increases in personal spending funded by credit card and mortgage debt have funded unsustainable levels of personal and government consumption. The world's banks are threatened with insolvency due to bad mortgag Talbott argues that the coming recession will be on a global scale, affecting economies across the world. He offers practical suggestions as to how homeowners and investors can best weather the coming storm with specific advice on where to invest by type of investment and geographic location.