How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years in the 21st Century | 
 enlarge | Author: Howard Ruff
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Category: Book
List Price: $14.00
Buy New: $7.42
You Save: $6.58 (47%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 9496
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.1 x 1
ISBN: 0425224325
Dewey Decimal Number: 332.02401
EAN: 9780425224328
ASIN: 0425224325
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 One of the Most Interesting I've Read in 2008 July 15, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
You know I can see from the existing reviews there are a lot of differences about thought on this book. I understand everybody's point of view. I am going to comment on what I thought was THE most interesting part of the book which is not about anything to do with the title per se. Howard Ruff has a chapter called SIN TAX and he summarizes the founding of the country back to John Adams and the use of the laws and the Constitution and what America really stood for 200+ years ago and why the Constitution was written as it was. Then he talks about the fabric of today's society literally falling apart. I happen to agree with his assessment - that crime is rampant (and getting worse) the schools are babysitting factories (no time to really teach in classrooms with 35-40 or more kids in them) not to mention the fear factor of the kids going to school these days, and the younger the kids, the more babies they like to have. There is no shame anymore in being a 15 yr old parent and I believe this is a terrible social cost to our country. The social underpinnings of our society (and other countries too around the world) are costing us TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Welfare costs, medical costs for all these out of wedlock babies, food costs to avert starvation but most of all, the damage that passes down from generation to generation in these one-parent (for the most part) families who for the most part never will recover from the lower and then-lower-still decline in any decent standard of living.
Eventually, the author asserts, this will sink the United States of America both morally and financially.
I think he has a point. I just look around the country in my travels and where I live (a 'nice' area) and I see it with my own eyes. Plus I am also an older parent who wrings my hands over all of this. It sure ain't what it was like when I was growing up.
Funny chapter in a book on 'How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years in the 21st Century'? Perhaps.
But deadly right on, so to speak.
I would like to see this chapter published in major American newspapers as a guest editorial. This really did hit right on the nose.
That is what I liked the best about the book. I love to read books that are fascinating in whatever it is they are talking about. I certainly wasn't expecting this chapter in a book of this title. But I sure am glad he did include it.
Now I know Howard Ruff is of Mormon descent and therefore a believer in large families and at his website there is a picture of him with his wife, all the kids and the gaggle of grandkids. And it shocked me like it has shocked a few of you too. But then I took out a trial subscription to his Ruff Times and I read about the intact nuclear families of each of his children. And while I am no proponent of large families especially in today's economically challenging times, at least I can propose that a financially stable intact family with both a mother and father even though with more kids than I would like to see, as versus a single parent teenager with a few kids - well who do the odds favor in terms of having a successful life? At least this author lives as he says he lives and I have to respect him for that. And I think he has financially set his family on a path where they will never be burdens on society. In fact I'm sure from all I've read by him that he did the greatest favor of all and taught his children fiscal responsibility along with family morals & values (which I sure hope they practice).
Lastly, Howard Ruff does talk about gold and silver and how you need to be on the G & S train while it is still in the early parts of its voyage and I, who reads everything, totally agrees on that. His chapters on silver being a far more profitable opportunity than gold probably are very correct.
A Ruff Review July 12, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is an update of a previous book that the author had written. The author mentions that he has a newsletter, the Ruff Times. The book mentions setting up a home disaster food storage area. A few chapters are dedicated to metal investments and other types of investment vehicles. The one reason I am writing this review is the author's interesting perspective of making additional cash payments on real estate to pay down the principle.
 I can't beleive I bought this book! June 23, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
If I had spent three minutes doing a little R and D I would have never bought this book but I was lazy and I got what I deserved.
If you want a book with a lot of right wing Republican drivel and Mormon survival philosophy pushed at you and exposure to an author who spends most of the book's time letting you know how prescient he is then go ahead and buy it. But if you are serious about getting personal financial information then look further and pass on this one.
I agree he might need the six months of food supply hidden away as if everyone populates the earth with scores of kids and grandkids as he has then the food supply will surely become strained.
 Ruff was wrong in 1979 when this book was first published June 19, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
Howard Ruff originally published this book in 1979. Anyone who followed his advice lost money for years and years. Sort of reminds me of Ravi Batra and his 1987 best-seller, "The Great Depression of 1990." What Great Depression of 1990, you ask? My point, precisely. Now that things are looking badly economically, Ruff can call himself a prophet, and republish his book with "21st century updates" responding to the credit crisis. Yeah, okay Howard.
How to prosper during the coming BAD YEARS in the 21st CENTURY June 18, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Excellent read, Mr Ruff, makes his case here compelling letting us know of the urgency of our situation in this country, but he also gives solid solutions in how to overcome them I give this book 4 stars for strong clear, readable content and excellent problem solving ideas.
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