Applied Math for Derivatives: A Non-Quant Guide To The Valuation And Modeling Of Financial Derivatives

Book Description

A handy guide/reference for investors, analysts, and students, Mathematics for Derivatives provides an integrated approach to the valuation of financial derivative instruments for a wide range of asset classes. Featuring a user-friendly format, it was designed to be used as both a step-by-step guide to derivative pricing for beginners, and a handy quick-reference for experienced market practitioners in need of a refresher on the intricacies of a specific instrument. Offering comprehensive coverage of derivative instruments, simple valuation methods, and many detailed examples, this book is sure to be warmly received by professional investors, fund managers, brokers, risk managers, analysts, financial software developers, and all who need a working knowledge of the mathematical techniques used in the derivatives industry.
John Martin (Australia) has worked, taught and published extensively in the areas of treasury, derivatives and financial risk management. He was closely involved in the development of the derivatives industry in Australia in roles varying from market trader, risk manager, regulator and educator. He is a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia.

Customer Reviews:

Just the facts.. and little else.......2002-09-11

The book provides good reference information with regard to the basic price/yield equations, but John Martin gives short shrift to any discussion of the finance theory behind them. It is not just an academic issue since many instruments will trade a premium or discount to the prices implied by the basic equations.

Go with the classic: Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives (5th Edition) -- by John C. Hull.

Simple explanation of derivatives valuation done on Excel.......2001-08-06

I agree with the Mr. Phillips about this book merely presenting the basic valuation equations, but I think that is the beauty of this book. Notice the title made a reference to this book beeing intended for 'non-quants'. However this book still provide 'quants' a valuable reference guide when one needs to brush up on the mechanics of a given derivative valuation.

This book is written from a risk-management practitioner point of view and as such it goes in great length in not just showing the different valuation models, which include most of the models in practice, but also the working mechanism of the specific securities market, and the associated exchange and clearing house settlement procedure. The key strong point of this book is that the author wrote every section of the book with conciseness and to the point. Each instrument's characteristics are presented, the associated equations are explained, and the spreadsheet models are shown in detail (included with the accompanying disk). After reading the book one is left with the feeling that finance is really this simple, involving setting the appropiate model to go with the relevant parameters,

One point regarding the editing: it was simply a great pleasure to browse this book. The clean layout of the book, the consistent sequence of presentation of the materials for all the instruments, and the detailed explaination of each of every equation (all the equations all the cells are shown) allows the reader to follow and comprehend the material with ease.

The contents of the books: market mechanism, valuation and model of interest rate forward, foreign exchange forward, equity forward, interest rate swap (the author is really an expert in these types of intruments, showing models of single-rate bond valuation method, simple offset valuation method, zero-coupon yields bootstrapping, zero-coupon yields: forward rate reinvestment, futures strip swap pricing, forward rate offset valuation method, zero-coupon valuation method), cross-currency swaps, equity swaps, equity options, interest rate options, currency options. The disk includes major valuation models of all the derivatives.(most requires just Excel 4.0 version)

Update: Since this book was published over a year ago, many other fine derivatives books have been published. However its straightforward simplicity still makes it a valuable part of a risk manager's personal library. One minor objection even at [...]its list price it is still priced a tad [...] for an introductory/intermediate level textbook. Anyone more quantitative-oriented, might want to check Cuthbertson's Financial Engineering and Risk Management. Comes with software and real life application examples.

Book Description

Step by step, how lawyers and nonlawyers alike can learn to ask the right questions and get the answer they want, whether it's in the courtroom or the boardroom.

Customer Reviews:

One of those little books worth reading again........2001-12-22

Quite a short book, but with lots of thumbnail sketches of little maneuvers in law cases. It's not as good as one might wish for ascertaining useful techniques of cross-examination, but it is a subtle book, pointing out things that might not be naturally noted when dealing with a hostile (or defensive) person. My interest in this book originated with my criminal-defense lawyer brother, but since I am a philosopher, I have to argue with hostile students everyday. Thus, I could use some useful pointers on fruitful and effective questioning. I get the feeling this is a little book that should be reviewed every once in a while as a review of effective questioning. Definitely worth the price, and an easy read too.

Worth the price.......2000-10-26

Not the best book, but worth the price and worth a read. Not for the beginner.

A Middling Good Mishmash of Maxims.......2000-07-08

Professor Irving Younger gave Ten Commandments for cross examination. Brown goes Younger twenty better, but I'm not sure it's an improvement. Most of his advice is sound, but he wanders astray on a few occasions. "30 Maxims" is a workmanlike effort, but not of the first order of excellence. I'd give the book two stars if it weren't so inexpensive. Someday a modern lawyer will write a book on cross that tops the century old "Art of Cross Examination," by Francis Wellman, but that time has not yet come.

The Art of Questioning Thirty Maxims of Cross-Examination

Average customer rating:

The Art of Questioning Thirty Maxims of Cross-Examination
Brown Peter Megargee
Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UE2I6K

Average customer rating:

The Art of Questioning: Thirty Maxims of Cross-Examination
Peter Megargee Brown
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8TZVI

Book Description

This revolutionary new book is written for practical amateur astronomers who not only want to observe, but want to know the details of exactly what they are looking at. The Moon is the most commonly observed of all astronomical objects. This is the first book to deal equally with the Moon itself - its formation, geology, and history - as well as the practical aspects of observation. The concept of the book - and of the series - is to present an up-to-date detailed description of the Moon, including its origins, history, and geology (part one); and then (part two) to consider how best to observe and record it successfully using commercially-available equipment. The Moon and How to Observe It is a mine of information for all levels of amateur observers, from the beginner to the experienced

Observing the Moon: The Modern Astronomer's Guide

Average customer rating:

More a reference than a read
Not the best Moon book!
Solid, But Far Too Compressed

Observing the Moon: The Modern Astronomer's Guide
Gerald North
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0521622743

Book Description

What do scientists know about the Moon? What are some of the mysteries that remain to be solved? Written by an experienced and well-known lunar expert, this is a "hands-on" primer for the aspiring observer of the Moon. Whether you are a novice or already experienced in practical astronomy, you will find plenty in this book to help "raise your game" to the next level and beyond. Gerald North shares extensive practical advice and his sophisticated background knowledge of the Moon and of lunar observation. He covers the selection and construction of equipment and optimizing of existing equipment for such projects as drawing, photographing and CCD imaging of the Moon, together with analysis and computer processing images, and many other practical topics. Observing the Moon will allow both amateur and seasoned astronomers alike to immerse themselves in contemporary efforts to solve the lunar mysteries, as well as to enjoy more fully our Moon in all its magnificence.

Customer Reviews:

More a reference than a read.......2002-08-01

North's very attractive book struck me less as a "good read" than as a useful reference for the amateur astronomer. The half of the book devoted to an "A-Z" of lunar landscapes in particular is quite good for this purpose -- if you've been out viewing the moon and are curious to know more about a particular feature, both the text and photographs are of value. I agree with a previous reviewer that this would have been better as two books. The overview chapters are well written but not of much value to the advanced astronomer; the information on CCDs, software etc. is likely to age pretty quickly. The info on transient lunar phenomena is interesting but not of much use unless you have a big 'scope. Still, as a reference book for lunar features I haven't seen much else that compares with it.

Not the best Moon book!.......2001-08-29

It is difficult to know what to say about this book. The author has invested much time in preparing it, and Cambridge has done an excellent job of reproducing the many fine drawings and photographs included. Yet it leaves me surprisingly flat; I suspect this is a book which will sit on my shelf rarely opened.
The book is strangely lopsided. Its longest and best section, fully half the book, is a set of detailed descriptions of forty-eight selected regions of the Moon, selected for their topographic variety and interest. Each region is illustrated by photographs and drawings under various illuminations, and North provides descriptive text and an at-the-eyepiece tutorial. The drawings are typical of the British school of lunar drawing: meticulous pen and ink drawings which are striking to look at, but so stylized as to bear little resemblance to what one sees through the eyepiece.
This massive descriptive section is preceded by seven short chapters to provide the reader, whom North typifies as an "interested amateur astronomer who is yet to become a lunar specialist," with the background necessary to begin observations of the Moon. After an introductory chapter, there are sections on the history of lunar observation, equipment and visual observation, photography, electronic imaging, the physical nature of the Moon, and reference sources. Following the large descriptive chapter, there is a chapter on transient lunar phenomena, obviously a subject dear to North's heart. Much of this material is superficial, but it is interlaced repeatedly with rather technical sections, almost as if the author wished to show off his scientific credentials.
When I initially started to read the book, I gravitated to the chapter on reference sources. Clearly North's favourite source is Lunar Sourcebook-a User's Guide to the Moon. Unfortunately this is currently out-of-print. North lists seven books and maps taken from Sky Publishing's web site, which includes such standards as Antonin Rükl's Atlas of the Moon, and then makes an extraordinary statement: "I must admit that I have no personal experience of the adequacy, or otherwise, of any of these items." In other words, he has not bothered to consult a large part of the standard reference works for lunar observers! This was when I seriously began to doubt the quality of the research underlying the rest of the book.
Finally, there is the question of North's writing style. This is what I call the "chatty British eccentric" style, typified by the writing of Patrick Moore and Gerald Durrell. While charming to some in small doses, it definitely becomes tiresome in a long book. Then there is his constant whining about the page limitations imposed on him by his publisher, which he repeatedly uses as an excuse to flog his other book and just about anything else published by Cambridge. It took a major effort of will for me to wade through all this.
So what is an amateur astronomer interested in the Moon to do? My favourite book on the Moon, Rükl's Atlas mentioned above, is currently out-of-print, but due to be reprinted by Sky soon. It is what I always keep at hand while observing the Moon, and is well worth seeking out on the used market. I can't in all honesty recommend North's book to either a beginner or a more advanced student of the Moon.

Solid, But Far Too Compressed.......2001-08-17

North is a respected person in the amateur lunar community. Given that, I can't help but wish this book could have been somehow better.

North starts out by giving a good account of the Moon itself, dealing with such concepts as gravity, tides, phases, libration, lunar coordinates, and occultations. He then goes forward to give a short account of pioneering lunar selenography. Then he goes onward with chapters dealing with drawing the Moon through a telescope and photographing the Moon with both cameras and CCDs. All of these chapters, while good, could have been more in depth, I think.

A (very) short chapter on the Moon as it is studied from the desktop is included. This so barely scratches the surface the chapter is easy to miss.

The largest portion of the book is a chapter (over 100 pages long) on selected lunar landscapes. This is a great part of the book and North does a great job with it. It seems the only part of the book that isn't cut short due to space considerations, but here more could possibly been done.

Finally, there is a short, but good chapter on Transient Lunar Phenomena, the subject that North has been working on for some years.

In the end, the most annoying part of the book for me was North saying again and again and AGAIN that "much more could be said about this, but I'm already over the page allotment that my publisher set." In the end, due to this, "Observing the Moon" is largely an average book...that has two GREAT books struggling to get out of it.

Want a first book on the Moon? You can start with this, but it will only whet your appetite for more...which may not be a bad thing.

Book Description

In the ten years since this award-winning book was originally written by Michael Porcellino, the field of astronomy and its discoveries has grown by leaps and bounds. From the astounding images sent back by the Hubble Space Telescope, to the bright comet Hale-Bopp from the fleet of Martian probes, to the long-distance explorations of the Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn--the universe has become more accessible than ever. And thanks to this revised and thoroughly updated new edition by astronomer and science writer, Patricia Barnes-Svarney, anyone with an interest can delve into its wonders. From the very close up to the far reaches of space, THROUGH THE TELESCOPE presents a uniquely "user-friendly" view of the universe, and offers both novice and advanced amateur astronomers some of the best tools available to watch the nighttime skies. You’ll learn all about: * Setting up a good, user-friendly telescope system * How to look at the universe in order to really see it * Upgrading your telescope for peak performance * How to spot a star cluster, a nebulaÖeven a supernova * Forming your own network of amateur astronomers. Complete with a web site appendix and fully updated charts on eclipses and planetary oppositions well into the year 2000, this edition of an acclaimed book will be an invaluable users guide for aspiring astronomers entering the new millennium.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent guide.......2002-02-01

This is an excellent guide for the amateur astronomer, with copious information on both what to look at in the sky and what to buy to do so, including both binoculars and telescopes. It has copious information on every aspect of skywatching, down to the best filters to view the various planets through. It's very supportive of amateur astronomy, consistently pointing out the contributions that amateurs have made and continue to make to the science (one of the few sciences where this is still possible).

Quibbles: a few formatting problems, where the formatting notation shows up instead of italics or whatever was intended. And they repeat the urban legend about Galileo going blind from observing the sun (though admittedly I just recently found out that this is mistaken).

Other than that, it's an excellent book, though more of a reference than a "sit-down-and-read" book, which is what I did with it, at least for now.

Meanwhile, I wonder if some of the other reviews (below) apply to the earlier edition of the book, since I did not encounter the same problems.

A poor excuse for a book on amateur astronomy.......2000-12-14

I pity the novice who purchases this book with the intention of learning about amateur astronomy. The book is a demonstration of what happens when someone rushes it to publication, does not KNOW the subject and builds poorly on a work that wasn't very good in the first place. There are so many terrifically awful errors in this book, it would take another book to document them. Pictures of microscopes where telescopes should be, refractor telescopes described as Dobsonians, etc, etc. The illustration/pictures are also slipshod, out of focus and poorly rendered. I cannot believe a suposedly reputable publishing house could release this "joke" of a text on amateur astronomy. It should be withdrawn from the market NOW and burned. -Richard Anderson

Badly in need of copy editing.......2000-07-05

It's amazing McGraw-Hill let this one out at all. There are typographical and syntactical errors on almost every page. I can't comment on technical accuracy, as I am a beginner at astronomy. But I do know when I've seen the same photograph twice with different, and inconsistent, captions. The publisher did a real disservice to the author of this edition--and to the memory of the author of the original version--by rushing this to market without at least showing it to a copy editor.

Warning: bad book!.......2000-03-04

This is the worst astronomy book I've encountered in forty years as an amateur astronomer! It is full of errors and has some of the poorest illustrations (out-of-focus, incorrectly labeled) I've ever seen in a commercial publication. Anyone interested in buying and using telescopes would be much better served by NightWatch by Terence Dickinson, The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Dickinson and Dyer, or Phil Harrington's Star Ware.

Excellent reference book.......1999-09-18

As an amateur in astronomy, I found this book very educative. It covers all aspects of astronomy - from naked eye view of the sky to deep space objects, binocular to large telescope obesrvation, etc. Though it was written in 1989, the book will continue to be a reference book to all interested in astronomy.

Average customer rating:

Collins Observing the Moon
John Folkes
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0007154313

Average customer rating:

Guide to Observing the Moon
British Astronomical Association
Manufacturer: Enslow Pub Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0894900854

The Moon: An Observing Guide for Backyard Telescopes

Average customer rating:

Alachua Astronomy Club (AAC) Review by Don Loftus

The Moon: An Observing Guide for Backyard Telescopes
Michael T. Kitt
Manufacturer: Kalmbach Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Star-Gazing | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Rocks & Minerals | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Alachua Astronomy Club (AAC) Review by Don Loftus.......2004-07-05

http://www.floridastars.org/9509loft.html

Observing the Moon (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)

Average customer rating:

Don't Waste Your Money, There are Better Books, and Cheaper
A primer for observing our nearest neighhbor
Correction to review
Some of the most fascinating phenomena on the moon's surface
A Moon Observer's Handbook

Observing the Moon (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
Peter T. Wlasuk
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Extraterrestrial & Lunar Geology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Professional & Technical | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Science | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1852331933

Book Description

Written by Peter Wlasuk, an astronomer at the Florida International University, Observing the Moon is a definitive work. An invaluable reference book for anyone seriously interested in the Moon and its geology, it is also a perfect companion for practical amateur astronomers. Detailed and extensively illustrated chapters catalog most of the interesting lunar features visible in modest telescopes. They are preceded by a crash course in modern lunar geology and followed by chapters on photographic and CCD imaging, drawing and lunar topography. A CD-ROM accompanies the book and contains a gallery of lunar images.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Waste Your Money, There are Better Books, and Cheaper.......2003-12-03

Wlasuk's book, _Observing the Moon_ is OK if you have nothing else, but there are better references available, for less money. His illustrations are so-so and his explanations somewhat hard to follow. In many cases, his descriptions of lunar features are not illustrated, so one cannot see what he is describing. A better book for the serious lunar astronomer is Ernest Cherrington's _Exploring the Moon With Binoculars and Small Telescopes_, available on Amazon.com for about 1/3 the price of Wlasuk's book.

A primer for observing our nearest neighhbor.......2001-06-02

Peter Wlasuk takes us on a tour of the moon and shows us how to see the sights. The one thing that disappointed me was that the included CD-ROM was PC-only. It mostly contains a collection of TIFF formatted images and PDF files, very easy to adapt for multiple platforms.

Correction to review.......2001-05-09

The first list review is for a different book. Same title, different author (Gerald North).

Some of the most fascinating phenomena on the moon's surface.......2001-02-14

Gerald North is a prominent and accessible lunar expert who draws upon his experience and expertise in Observing The Moon: The Modern' Astronomer's Guide to provide the reader with some of the most fascinating phenomena on the moon's surface, including practical information on how to find them and explore them. North also offers useful viewing advice that will prove invaluable for both the novice stargazer and the dedicated moonwatcher. He also discusses telescopes, cameras, computer hardware and software for every budget range as he guides the reader in getting the maximum out of his or her available equipment. Observing The Moon includes everything a backyard astronomer needs to know about shooting photos of the moon, addressing time exposures, high-resolution photography and slow films, as well as the optimal processing techniques, equipment and types of film to use. A virtual travel guide to the moon, Observing The Moon is a "must" for personal, professional, academic, and community library astronomy reference collections.

A Moon Observer's Handbook.......2000-12-01

Wlasuk's book is a useful reference for amateur observers and contains specific information about many lunar surface features. Illustrations are clear although some of the photography (b&w only) is inferior compared to other similar books. The book contains several observer report templates and are especially useful if the amateur is hunting for so-called Transient Lunar Phenomena, most likely venting of volcanic gas. A CD-ROM (termed a 'lunar atlas') is included. However, several features I wanted to look out were not on the CD! (I.e., the important volcanic crater Aristarchus--possibly still an active area of vulcanism on the Moon). I personally did not agree with the orthodox recounting of how the Moon formed. Fission is still a workable hypothesis. And it is clear the Apollo missions created more questions than answers about the Moon. One unresolved question not mentioned in this book is the tektite controversy. Some evidence (Apollo 12 specimen and Apollo 16 volcanic glasses) points to at least one type of tektite found on Earth as being lunar in origin. Despite these points, I still recommend this volume for your favorite "lunatic." : )

Exploring the Moon: A Guide to Lunar Observing (Night Sky Astronomy for Everyone)

Average customer rating:

Exploring the Moon: A Guide to Lunar Observing (Night Sky Astronomy for Everyone)
Gary Seronik
Manufacturer: Sky Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 193155949X

Observing the moon with a small telescope

Average customer rating:

Observing the moon with a small telescope
C. Robert Ellison
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007HH2AW

Average customer rating:

Observing the Moon, Planets, and Comets
Clark R. Chapman
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comets, Meteors & Asteroids | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0894900986

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books