The Clipper Ship Strategy: For Success in Your Career, Business and Investments

Uncle Eric #8

by Richard J. Maybury

The Clipper Ship For Success in Your Career, Business and Investmen...

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction, Business, Politics, Education, History, School

265 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Richard Maybury, also known as Uncle Eric, is the publisher of U.S. & World Early Warning Report for Investors. He has written several entry level books on United States economics, law, and history from a libertarian perspective. He writes the books in epistolary form, usually as an uncle writing to his nephew, answering questions.

Maybury was a high school economics teacher. After failing to find a book which would give a clear explanation on his view of economics he wrote one himself. Some of his books include Uncle Eric Talks About Personal, Career & Financial Security, Higher Law, Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and Whatever Happened to Justice? .

Reviews

[Angela]

This book is full of business advice, especially for those directly involved in sales. Though, I would imagine it would be harder to follow without having read some of his earlier books.

I have gotten a lot out of this series of books, but definitely have to read it with a recognition of the author's bias - which he acknowledges fully - and I just ignore his own salesmanship of encouraging the reader to share his books with everyone you know so that we can overcome the current bloated state of government. Though, these books have had me thinking more and more about how much overreach and overspending is currently taken for granted to be part of the U.S. Government. I'm pretty sure he's right and the founding fathers never intended that the taxpayers fund a giant jobs program.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

More people need to think like this. Even if we cannot change things politically, as this book pretty much assumes, we can still take care of ourselves.

The men who got rich during the California gold rush were the ones selling shovels. Be a Clipper!

[Daniel Shaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

While all of Richard Maybury's books offer some interesting information, they all seem to have the same problems. I have read all of Richard Maybury's other books my biggest problem with them is their repetitiveness. I understand that the books are written to a younger audience, but I often feel like I am reading the exact same thing over and over again. Additionally, he sometimes seems to contradict himself. For example, he says over and over that the economy "is not a machine" but an "ecology" and then in a later chapter says that an economy is a machine that needs to be "cranked." Additionally, he opens all his books with a statement admitting his biases which was interesting because I hadn't ever seen an author do that before. However, in one of his books, he says that you should try to avoid biased content. Despite all these flaws, the clipper ship strategy along with all of his other books does contain some useful information. If this book wasn't so repetitive and contained a lot bit more information, I would give it at least four stars. I feel like the book could have easily been compressed into an internet blog or magazine article.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clipper Ship Strategy is a book about how money in an economy moves and how to take advantage of it. The way that the author Richard Maybury explains this process in an interesting and engaging way. The chapters are written in a way that makes them seem like they are a letter from a relative trying to explain something to you. This helps to keep you engaged as it a series of letters from someone to you personally. The author also explains how the strategy came about and how it is used in the world today. He uses historical situations like the gold rush and the great depression to show how the strategy works. He also uses models and illustrations to visualize what he is trying to convey in an easier way. In the end though this book is about how the government and the free marked effect the world in incredible ways. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to start their own business or anyone who is just trying to understand this crazy world we live in.

[Andy Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book the author eventually explains the Clipper ship strategy: buying low priced goods and selling them in a market where there is more money, and thus higher prices. He sort of explains how to identify those regions/markets where there is more money, based on government connection and intervention.

The book is poorly organized, or at least the organization is not clear. It presents some interesting ideas, but let me feeling more confused than helped. I found his book on inflation much better (What happened to Penny Candy?)

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely a lot deeper than other Uncle Eric books. The main concept was easy to understand, but the practical (profitable) application of it felt a bit elusive. Also, his entire premise is based on the assumption that the government will always be in business. I wish he would have discussed what some warning signs are that a government might be going out of business and how to adjust one's plan should that happen. In all, some great ideas, but you would need to pretty much devote your life to putting them into action.

[Michael Tildsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the information on economy and how to research are now dated, but the basic concepts seem still very valid and worth consideration. Somewhat repetitive as others have said. However, I appreciate the simplicity of the lessons meant for a younger audience. They’ll make for good reference material when needed.

[Thequaminator · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good advice, some of it out dated.
Not nearly as good as I thought it would be.

The picture of cones (pitcher) and sinkholes of money is the main point and is an excellent one for everyone to realize. The rest of the book was kind of boring.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting ideas on investing and increasing your business. Repeated itself a lot. Skipped quite a bit of it.

[Elisabeth White Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another read for school. I didn’t hate it as much as some of the others but no subject will ever be as boring to me as those discussed in this book.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but Whatever happened to Penny Candy? is better

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 5 out of 5]

The clipper ship strategy is to go where the money is, not necessarily geographically but in business and investing. It makes sense.

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to form "Uncle Eric" offers a novel approach to investing one's capital, one's effort, and one's self based on a simple economic model not reflected in the status quo. I highly recommend this brief work.

[John Hibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Made me eager to buy the rest in the series. Provides common-sense approach.

[Erik Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for consultants/sales people. How to identify the hot spots and how to capture it. I loved this book. I wish there was an extra star!

[Alissa Emrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, as all of the "Uncle Eric" economics, history, and government books are. He gives a non-statist point of view that is very rarely heard these days.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

My recommendation is to read and re read this great little book.

[Eric Fields]

This book & series is a favorite of mine. I learned much about bubbles (aka "cones") from ths book. I highly recommend it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie read y11 rated 3 1/2. She felt he repeated himself too much...krb 2/10/25

Jacob rated 4*

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advice on how to navigate the ups and downs of the economy.