books

5 Ways Money Can Buy Happiness

Money can buy happiness: The trick is spending it right, say professors Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton, authors of "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending."

'Dow 36,000' Co-Author Says This Time, It'll Happen

With the Dow back to record highs, James K. Glassman, co-author of the most infamously wrong investment book of all time, 1999's "Dow 36,000: The New Strategy for Profiting From the Coming Rise in the Stock Market," has resurfaced to insist that he and Kevin Hassett weren't wrong, just ahead of their time.

Life After a Ponzi Scheme: Victim Turns Huge Loss into Literature

In 2008, R.P. McCabe saw a $1 million investment in real estate disappear, not due to the recession, but a Ponzi scheme that robbed around 700 investors of $100 million. First he got mad. Then he got depressed. Next, he got curious. And then he wrote a novel based on the experiences of his fellow victims: "Betrayed."

What to Watch This Week: Tablets, Teslas, Books and Bedding

Here are a few things that will shape the week ahead on Wall Street: Microsoft will show off Windows 8 tablets; Tesla's hot Model S will reach buyers; Cricket gets the iPhone; Barnes & Noble opens its books; and Bed Bath & Beyond turns back the covers on earnings.

Surprise! Technology Has Made Us More Bookish

The boom in e-readers and tablets -- such as the iPad, Nook and Kindle -- has resulted in Americans starting to read more books, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

The Most Affordable Places to Retire in 2012

Financial planner Thomas Corey has a new book revealing the most affordable places to retire in 2012, highlighting cities and towns that also offer lifestyle benefits. He unveils the winners for DailyFinance's Laura Rowley.

The Price of Serious 'Harry Potter' Fandom: $401.08

When it comes to providing bewitchment for the buck, Harry Potter has notched some mesmerizing numbers. Fans who bought all the hardcover books, the DVDs, and attended the movies in first run, paid an average total of $401.08 -- not counting the $20 to $30 they'll pay for the DVD or Blu-Ray of "Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

Do We Still Need Brick-and-Mortar Bookstores?

The death of bookstore chain Borders begs the question: Is there still a place in the Internet-dominated market for brick-and-mortar booksellers and the value they add? Independent bookstores thinks so, and the numbers in the American Booksellers Association, believe it or not, are growing.

Judge Rejects Google Online Library Deal

A New York judge has called off a deal between Google and the book industry that would have created a universal library. But a new deal could still go forward with modifications.

Can Economic Theories Save Your Marriage?

Economic theories have long helped investors improve their portfolios, but can they also help improve your marriage? A new book called Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage and Dirty Dishes, argues the answer is yes.

Bidding for Authors: When Books Sell at Auction

To those outside the publishing industry, the deals that get covered in the press might give the impression that book auctions are as rare as solar eclipses. In fact, they happen with remarkable regularity. But that doesn't mean they're any less nerve-wracking for authors.

Literary Speed Dating: How Not to Find an Agent

Pitch sessions are a staple at most writers conferences, offering authors the opportunity to sit down face-to-face with a literary agents to talk about their projects. But while they make lots of money for conference organizers, they aren't the best path to getting a book published.

Buddhist Economics? Raj Patel Suggests a New Idea of Value

Worried about the meaning of existence? You might want to check out Raj Patel's best-selling book The Value of Nothing. Its message about how we value -- and misvalue -- the world and ourselves charts a middle path toward a society in which our economic choices aren't dominated by Big Brother or big corporations.

Foreign Rights: How Authors Tap a Rich Vein of Royalties

Many writers are discovering the wonders (and extensive rewards) of self-publishing, but there are still places where professional representation can be be well worth the trouble. The confusing but often lucrative world of international sales is an example.

Buying Opportunity in Shares of Amazon

As Amazon invests more in its business, its expenses have risen, putting a dent in earnings and sending its shares south. For many investors, this could be exactly the right time to buy shares.

Jersey Shore, the Book?

MTV's Jersey Shore may bring in big numbers on TV. But recent attempts by the program's stars to become best-selling authors have met with, at best, modest success. And the same goes for other Jersey Shore-related books.

Doing Book Research Without Breaking the Bank

Planning on a career as a writer? Getting started can be costly -- advances are often elusive -- so you'll often have to dig into your own pockets to cover the cost of doing research. Doing that within your means is the key. Here are eight tips for doing great research on a budget.

E-Piracy: The High Cost of Stolen Books

Lost book sales can't be quantified, making it impossible to calculate e-piracy's full economic impact. But the sheer number of illegal copies available for download gives an idea of the scope. It translates into a staggering amount of royalties being stolen from authors.

E-Readers Make Great Gifts -- but Which One?

In these precious few holiday shopping days left, e-readers make for an easy gift for a wide range of family and friends. So, DailyFinance has assembled a guide to the major e-readers and what each one is best suited for as well as what issues you should consider before buying.

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to Write His Memoirs

As the embattled 39-year-old Australian hacker's lawyers fight his extradition to Sweden, he'll be working on a memoir. The book will be published in the U.S. by Knopf, a division of Random House, and in the U.K. by Canongate. Admirers -- and detractors -- can't wait.

Borders Posts Another Dismal Quarter

The country's second-largest bookstore widened its third-quarter loss to nearly double that of a year ago. Even worse, the estimated value of its inventory has declined, making it harder for Borders to borrow money. Will the company find a way to transform itself?

Oprah's New Book Club Pick Has a Dickensian Feel

Winfrey has selected two Charles Dickens classics, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations, which will be reissued together in one 800-page volume with the Oprah's Book Club sticker from Penguin Classics. But readers can get them a lot cheaper, or free, elsewhere.

How to Turn Your Passion Into a Book Deal

Matthew Biberman had a story to tell about his dad and a one-of-a-kind motorcycle, and he soon turned his passion into a book deal. But the newly published author says the book deal is just the beginning -- learning how to pitch your story is what builds audiences.