The Magic Shop

The numbers presented in every sales pitch seem clear, but do the numbers also hide facts the seller does not want you to know? In The Two Headed Quarter, Joseph Ganem provides an account of how a physicist evaluates the numbers in day-to-day financial decisions. Seeing numbers through his eyes will surprise you. Like flipping a two-headed quarter, many of the so-called deals you make each day are rigged so that no matter which side the coin lands on, you pay. Ganem covers a wide range of topics that touch on almost all aspects of our consumer lives. Whether shopping for items large or small, negotiating a salary, investing in stocks, or planning your retirement, you will want to know how numbers are routinely used to fool you. Useful, informative, and highly entertaining, The Two Headed Quarter exposes everyday consumer deceptions and provides real-world tips and tactics to `beat `em at their own game.' "If you liked Freakonomics, you'll absolutely love The Two Headed Quarter! A fascinating look into how clever marketing and advertising techniques are used to manipulate consumers." - Lynnette Khalfani, author of The Money Coach's Guide to Your First Million and the New York Times bestseller Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom

One evening in May, 1888, the Café des Écoles was even more crowded and more noisy than usual. The marble-topped tables were wet with beer and the din was appalling. Someone shouted to make himself heard."Any more news from the Salon?""Yes," said Elliott, "Thaxton's in with a number three. Rhodes is out and takes it hard. Clifford's out too, and takes it -- "