How I turned $1000 into a Million in Real Estate in my spare time by William Nickerson

This book was originally published in 1959. It was republished in 1969 and 1984 under updated names, to include how he has continued to expand his $1000 investment 10 yrs and 25 yrs after the first publishing. I may read the followups and report back, but overall, this book and/or one of the followups should be required reading for all potential landlords. It takes the nitty gritty of what being a real estate investor really is. You are making this for an investment not to create a job.


-Looking at properties dogmatically and identifying when it is time to improve and move forward to expand your portfolio.
-Finding the right deal each time as to not force yourself into a bad decision when purchasing.
-Showing you the real numbers during his growth process. Even though he is using values from the 50s which have little reality in the 21st century, the financial concepts are sound to this day.

The focus on educating yourself to know enough about every aspect of the process as to know when someone working for you or working against you cannot take advantage of you. His goal is to train you to be deliberate in all your decisions. Know how you are going to get out before you get into an investment.

Overall, the takeaway from this book is. Be deliberate in your investing and eventually it will pay off exponentially.


Will you read this book again? I think I will read the updated versions to see the commonality. I would recommend this original.

Would you suggest this book be added to a personal library or leave at the public library? Public Library. Since there are 2 updates to the book, I would leave this one at the library and purchase the 1984 version if at all.

Reviewed By Mike W - Twin Cities, MN

Trump - The Art of the Deal by Donald J. Trump with Tony Schwartz

This sort of autobiography of Donald Trump is a good read for anyone interested in The Donald. He states it well when he opens the book with "I don't do it for the money. I've got enough, much more than I'll ever need. I do it to do it. Deals are my art form." The book reviews many of his most successful deals and also some of his greatest mistakes. Donald Trump is most certainly a character and has used the media to manipulate his needs and wants and does not apologize for it. He makes deals his art form. He has an eye for money making, can you blame him for being a bit arrogant? I would put this in the category of many other successful executive autobiographies and biographies written about successful execs. Well worth the read. Seeing success on paper motivates in a way that motivational material cannot. It shows you the success, rather than talks you into the possibility of your own success.

Will you read this book again? Possibly.

Would you suggest this book be added to a personal library? Yes, bios are always a good afternoon read and can be loaned out.

Reviewed By Mike W - Twin Cities, MN