Book Notes
by Roxanna Cain
The Fourth Mega-market
by Ralph Acampora
Hyperion, New York, 2000
240 pages
Wall Street darling Ralph Acampora astounded colleagues and skeptics
when his prediction that the Dow would reach 7,000 within three
years came true in February 1997. In this book, the chief analyst
for Prudential Securities unveils his concept of mega-markets,
periods of high market growth that last a minimum of eight years
and a maximum of 17 years, during which the Dow gains 400-500
percent. According to Acampora, we are in the middle of the Fourth
Mega Market, which began in the mid-1990’s and should last until
around 2011. He describes how the railroad and other factors led
to the first mega-market after the US Civil War and how the automobile
combined with peace and a spirit of hope led to the second mega-market
after World War I. Mega-markets have in common peace, low inflation,
low interest rates, and the rise of new technology. The bottom
line is that despite its ups and downs, the present market — which
began with the end of the Cold War—is expected to continue to
grow; that investors should stay in despite corrections or dips,
and they must bet on new technologies — the information highway
and biomedicals if they wish to profit the most from this run.
Eating Well for Optimal Health
by Andrew Weil, MD
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2000
307 pages
A recent number one best seller in the United States, Eating Well
for Optimal Health rehashes a lot of information about food, eating,
and nutrients that most of us already know and then offers loose-ended
suggestions on how to improve one’s diet to increase energy, longevity,
and general well-being. This is not a diet book. Emphasis is placed
on how the typical Asian and Mediterranean diets succeed in prolonging
life and minimizing the accumulation of fat — the Cruella De Ville
of health and beautiful bodies. Through testimonials, we learn
that had our mothers kept us from cow’s milk as infants, we might
have avoided a host of allergies — including lactose intolerance
— as adults, and from a healthy 93-year-old whose daily routine
includes two hours of walking and eight hours of work. We learn
the value and comfort of drinking green tea rather than sodas
or coffee. The book is on the technical side, but valuable nonetheless.
At the end, if offers 85 recipes for enjoyable and healthy eating.
