Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-215) and index.

Our debt: American financial risk has never been higher -- The 65-trillion-dollar wind blowing from our futures -- How can families really be getting richer by borrowing more? -- Why the world continues lending (most of its savings) to us -- Relying on foreigners: our economic future may be out of our hands -- Our homes: the epicenter of American economic risk -- Real estate, this decade's economic driver, could drive us into recession -- The negative amortization mortgage loan is born -- Tighter lending standards and no help from the fed -- The great American equity cash-out is coming to an end -- Financial culture shock: real estate investment can have a negative return -- Our economy: the longest economic boom ever is probably ending -- Balance sheet recession: we could be heading in a Japanese direction -- Smiling on the lawnmower: affluent poverty -- When the fed cuts rates again, will the dollar finally collapse? -- The case for owning gold -- Why the time is right for gold to skyrocket -- Stocks and bonds offer little compensation for risk today -- Gold's scarcity: new sources of demand and falling supply -- How to buy gold -- When you simply want financial insurance -- Mining stocks, ETFs and goldmoney -- Rare coins: a bet on the highest possible gains in gold -- Why silver might outperform gold -- Conclusion: don't be a gold bug: sell when it is time to sell.