I always enjoy the monkey beats analyst stories. I certainly wouldn't recommend that somebody just watch the lightning round and build a portfolio of every recommendation. I'd even go as far to say that any source of stock tips should be regarded lightly. The show is hyped up for ratings, and when you factor in the rest of his media appearances, the man isn't spending much time researching every stock that he talks about. So, take what he says with a grain of salt.

The thing I like about Cramer's book is that he explains many of the major factors that will play a role in a stock's performance. It was thought out and would give a new investor the basic building blocks to start making their own decisions. Simple things like sector rotation, earnings multiples, growth and margins are discussed and the importance of them laid out. He mostly talks fundamentals with some obvious disdain for technicals. After reading his book, I think a new investor would be better prepared to look through a list of stocks and determine if one was good enough to risk their money on without subjecting themselves to excessive risk.

I'm sure that there are better books out there and sites on the internet. Sorting through the tons of information is time consuming and potentially very costly. I just happen to like Cramer's book because it is one of the better written ones in my opinion and readily available. Fool.com has tons of good information, but sorting through it and using it effectively will be daunting for a new investor.