Balance Sheet Basics: From Confusion to Comfort in Under 30 Pages (Financial Statement Basics: From Confusion to Comfort) Paperback – August 2, 2013

As a CPA myself, I've had years of education and work experience in the corporate environment working with the financial statements. I understand all the aspects of each statement and how they relate to each other.I've always had some difficulty explaining the financial statements and their relationship in terms that a "non-finance" person could understand. In many instances, I'd get too detailed and I could see that I was loosing my audience. This book helps bridge that gap. In other instances, I didn't have enough time to sit down and fully explain everything from end-to-end to a "non-finance" person in order for them to fully appreciate the intricacies of the financial statements. And when I've given them a 200+ page book that explains accounting, the "non-finance" person is turned off. Again, this book bridges that gap with only 30 pages to understand the balance sheet at a high-level.I highly recommend this book for the "non-finance" person who wants to step inside the brain of a "finance" person and gain a hi-level understanding of the financial statements. I also highly recommend buying Axel Tracy's other books here on Amazon.

The author speaks to the small business owner which is often an audience overlooked by the professionals that manage their affairs. The initial balance sheet introduction is shown by the appearance of an Amazon Corp Balance Sheet. The author is aware that the b/s illustrated could scare the unfamiliar small business reader.The transition into the b/s information along with definitions could have eased the owners into the b/s subject matter by showing a b/s that actually mirrors the situations that a small business owner would encounter.This book offers definitions derived from the IASB which is for IFRS. An explanation is not noted on the reasons why a small business owner would need to know global business guidelines. The advantages of learning IFRS vs SMEs GAAP is not mentioned. Instead this information is sprinkled throughout the book "IASB ('rule', makers of the financial accounting profession.)The reader should be encouraged to read this book if you are a small business owner that is interested in IFR standards of the balance sheet.

The author of this book, Mr. Axel Tracy, has really impressed me. I have read many of the top books on finance: from accounting, financial statement analysis, and fundamental analysis; I've even taken an accounting course. However, Mr Axel Tracy's book, "Balance Sheet Basics in Under 30 Pages", really helped me to see the "story" the balance sheet is telling. In all honesty, I did not expect much from this book. I thought it would be beneath my skill level. I was wrong. I would like to personally thank you, Mr. Axel Tracy, for taking the time to write this book, I feel much more confident in my understanding now. I would highly recommend this book. I have already ordered two other books from the same author.

Extremely short, only explaining the extreme basics. Just google "balance sheet". You're very likely to get better quality information then what's in this book.

Shortly - book is quite short but still it manages to open the content of the balance sheet in a very simple and efficient way

Took Management Accounting in college and haven't done a great deal with it since. This was a good quick read that refreshed what I had learned in school. Anybody with a curios mind about accounting would like to read it. It didn't take much time to read and was informative. I liked it.

I don't write reviews

Fantastic book, very well explained, with an excellent and humble writing style.

good book practical.immensely helpful for us who invest regularly,but have science background

Not that good!