Like many great enterprises, social-networking giant MySpace started small--it was also underfunded and not exactly up to par technologically. But from its shaky beginnings it rose to become one of the most popular destinations on the Internet. Exactly how the founders--two marketing executives who once sold wrinkle cream online--started a site that was eventually bought for $600 million by Rupert Murdoch is, if not the stuff of legends, then at least, as seen in Stealing MySpace, "entertaining and drama-filled" (Publishers Weekly).

This comprehensive beginner's guide to understanding the global economy defines key ideas and commonly used words and phrases (such as carbon footprint, WTO, economies of scale, NAFTA, and more) to explain the rapidly changing way business is done in the 21st century. The author also pays close attention to the terms we've all been hearing more and more often over the past year, such as credit default swap and subprime debt. Between the glossary, the topically organized chapters, and the accessible explanations, you'll soon be reading the business page with ease.

Ok, so you've said "I do." Now what? How do you go from being responsible for only your own financial needs to sharing those responsibilities--and needs--with another person? Whether you've just tied the knot or have been married for a while and are still struggling with sharing finances, you'll find a lot of practical advice in Financially Ever After. From the sorts of questions you should ask your partner to plans that divide financial chores, Jeff Opdyke, the long-time "Love & Money" columnist for the Wall Street Journal, handles it all in a "sensitive and sensible manual" (Publishers Weekly).

In what is now a $1.7 trillion-dollar industry, author Robert Smith lost $15 million in a single day; then again, during the 1980s he made more than $300 million by doing the same thing--brokering sales of government debt in emerging nations. In countries led by dictators, overrun by organized crime, or even disrupted by war, Smith bought and sold government debt and became an expert on the debt of the developing world. Regarded as a "financial Indiana Jones" by Forbes magazine, Smith explains how international debt trading works while also offering up thrilling tales of death threats, near-misses, and financial windfalls.

By the age of 11, Cornelius Vanderbilt had quit school to work on the ferries around New York; by 16 he was running his own business. Soon he was undercutting competitors' prices and busting monopolies on his way to amassing an enormous fortune and establishing a way of doing business that remains in existence in America today. Credited with creating the modern corporation, Vanderbilt helped build big business, but as he kept no diaries or personal papers, biographer T.J. Stiles had to rely on massive amounts of research in public records. The result is this "exemplary biography and highly readable business history" (Kirkus Reviews).

If you've ever had a frustrating conversation with a customer service representative, you might enjoy this look at what goes on in the often dysfunctional world of customer service. Having identified a trend towards poor-quality call centers, author Emily Yellin assesses such topics as endless pre-recorded menus and representatives who do not speak the same language as their customers. Happily, she also focuses on the efforts of consumer advocates and gives examples of companies (like FedEx) who have put a great deal of effort into effective customer service.

Though his work has provoked considerable disagreement, economist Harry Dent has predicted a major depression that will last a decade or more, based on current troubles (and problems yet to come) in the stock, housing, and commodities markets. Let's hope he's wrong, but if you're looking for suggestions on how to survive with your finances intact, try The Great Depression Ahead for Dent's advice, which includes investment and portfolio allocation strategies. In addition, Dent discusses the future of the U.S. housing market and the current growth in Asia.

Bankruptcy lawyer Stephen Elias estimates that there are two million Americans whose mortgages are currently in default. If you're confused about your options when it comes to facing foreclosure and are looking for some guidance, The Foreclosure Survival Guide is an excellent place to start. In addition to providing an introduction to a very complex subject, this guidebook addresses the options that homeowners have and includes worksheets and guidelines that may help you figure out whether to fight for or walk away from your home.

Sometimes it seems like everywhere you look there's another book aimed at helping you get your finances in order. That's not a bad thing--but how do you pick among them? For those with a Zen-oriented mindset, this one combines modern financial expertise with Buddhist-influenced philosophy. The author (head of a respected wealth management firm) first wants you to figure out your emotional attachment to money (what's your greatest fear?) before identifying with one of eight financial "types" (empire builder, pleasure seeker, and so on). Ultimately, he argues, once you have become more conscious about what you want, you'll be able to achieve greater monetary security--whatever that means for you.

With interest rates as low as they are, you may be thinking of refinancing. But before you take that step, you need to decide if it's the right thing for you to do. In addition to exploring the different reasons why refinancing might (or might not) be a good option for you, mortgage broker David Reed also provides a mathematical model on which to base your own calculations, and gives advice on getting rate quotes and finding the best lender for your needs. If you're looking for a basic handbook that will walk you through the refinancing process, give this insider's guide a try.

According to public policy professor Robert B. Reich, the competitive nature of capitalism has led not only to a big economic pie but also to widening payroll inequalities, job insecurity, and even global warming as corporations cut corners to stay competitive. Reich argues that rather than fight human nature by trying to restrain greed or the desire to save a buck, the solution is to adjust tax and environmental laws. The problem, he says, lies in individuals, who went from being citizens to being consumers; fixing that requires both a desire within the population and at the governmental level. This provocative book is "engaging and insightful" (Harvard Business Review).

Having borrowed his title from Thomas Friedman's optimistic bestseller, The World is Flat, financial consultant David Smick goes on to argue that globalization has created a world in which financial uncertainties lie just over the horizon--close by, but invisible and unpredictable. By starting with an examination of the subprime mortgage crisis, Smick is then able to explain the economic problems behind this and other financial issues of the past two years; he then identifies threats to global prosperity, such as a lack of investor confidence. As Forbes magazine says, his is a "well-timed and lucid tour of the global economy."