There are no cutely named house-flipping schemes here. There are no touchy-feely chapters to help you find the “courage to be rich.” But for smart advice and an inspiring overview of the business of real estate news investing, this book is a must-read.

Crook, editor of The Wall Street Journal Sunday, leads aspiring investors through locating, vetting and securing seed money for properties small and large. He also gives tips for managing your investment once you’ve made it. Surprisingly this potentially dry topic is anything but, thanks to lively writing, stories from real-life investors and witty one-liners.

(On borrowing down-payment money from family members: “An ‘Uncle Al’ interest rate inevitably comes with Uncle Al’s interest in your business.”) If nothing else, read it to find out why your home does NOT count as an investment property.

More information at The Wall Street Journal. Complete Real-Estate Investing Guidebook