THE NEW COMMONSENSE GUIDE TO MUTUAL FUNDS

The Bloomberg Personal Bookshelf is a series of print products on personal finance that have been converted to 3-hour, two-cassette abridged audiobooks by DH Audio.The Bloomberg brand is well known in the world of professional financial information. Thus, it is well positioned to help consumers make better choices. Apparently, this mandate was lost on the producers of these books and audio versions. The handsome packaging of the books and tapes disguises some basic flaws. Although Mary Rowland is known as a journalist, writing is not one of her strong points. Nor is reading aloud. Her voice is grating. Her delivery is irritatingly singsong. The combination of poor writing and reading does not meet professional standards no matter how accurate the information might be. M.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 99]