Accounts Demystified: The Astonishingly Simple Guide To Accounting

This was my first book about accountancy, coming in completely blind. That was about four years ago. I'm now very nearly a qualified accountant, actually working in the industry and I credit this book for a large part of my success.It's the best explanation of fundamental accounting concepts I've found during my studies. It is actually better than much of the course material that you get from training providers of accountancy courses whose sole purpose is to teach you these concepts! I still visualise many of the diagrams in my head that this book uses when looking at credits and debits on the balance sheet or profit and loss.This is worth a read if you are at all interested in getting into the field, as it is a good taster and really very inexpensive.

I bought this book to try to gain some knowledge of how best to read and analyse company accounts, and thereby to assess the financial strength of a company.I found the book very east to follow, as it described firstly the balance sheet, then the profit & loss and cash-flow statements, by reference to tables provided in an Appendix. It then proceeds to explain how to use financial ratios, derived from the three basic company documents named above, to assess the financial health of the organisation. Parts of the book also use two fictitious individuals to highlight difficult or key concepts by 'questioning' the author.I would definitely recommend this easy-to-read volume to anyone who's been baffled by accounts and feels that there must be a relatively easy way to unlock their 'secrets'!

A great introduction to accounting. Anthony Rice uses clear and easy to understand language, and uses examples and analogues to great effect. Although the book starts out very simple, it eventually goes into enough detail to give a good base understanding of accounting and why it is useful. The book also has an interesting 'Tricks of the trade' section that explains why accountants might want to change the numbers, and how they might do it in varying degrees of legitimacy.As an ACA Accounting Student I've since learnt much more depth about accounting, however still feel that I learnt much more quickly as I already had an idea of how it all worked as a result of this book. Therefore I can heartedly recommend this book to both people generally wanting to understand accounts, and also to accounting students as a quick and accessible introduction.

Having ran my own businesses for the last five years, I wanted to educate myself on the basics of accounting. Surprisingly I was able to fly through this book without falling asleep! This is a great example of a well written textbook around a typically dry subject. If only some technology writers could do the same....

It does exactly what it says on the tin. In makes it all clear. I am not sure if you can prepare your own balance sheets and all the year end papers but you can certainly understand what your accountant did for you after reading this book.

I opened this book with dread because, let's face it, no one in their right mind looks forward to reading about accounting (yawn). To my astonishment I found myself breezing through it cover-to-cover - AND greatly enjoying the experience! Not only is the book written with crystal clarity, it is also contains a good dose of humour (within the obvious constraints of the subject matter).Even though I have had tangential exposure to balance sheets, P&L and cash-flow statements through my work, I have never seen their interaction explained so simply and accessibly. As mentioned by another reviewer, the section on financial analysis is particularly absorbing and a must-read for anyone who is seriously considering investing in company stocks. The practical examples were easy to follow throughout, even for a self-confessed arithmophobe (i.e. number thicko) like myself.Well done to the author for this enlightening and unexpectedly entertaining read.

Just starting a buisness and really wanted to understand what buisness finance/accounting is really all about. I had read other sources to try and learn what I could but it still wasnt clear to me. Im definatley not a numbers/maths type person but I want to at least understand the theory even if it wont be me that does the actuel accounting workWithin 10 pages of starting this book it was like a light coming on and I suddenly had a lot of my questions answered and a clear picture forming in my mind of what buisness finance, investors, bank lending, capital etc etc is all about and how it is fits together.great book, cant recommend it enough.

An excellent book that does exactly what it says on the cover. Its gets the essential information across in an easy-to-read and understand manner. Never stodgy and always relevant and useful. The two worked examples of a small home-run company and a larger business answered my needs to create and maintain my own accounts and to better understand the annual reports of companies that I have shares in.