With record-breaking highs one minute and economy-rocking lows the next, it can seem as if there's no way to feel truly comfortable in the mysterious world of finance. But there is, and it's more accessible than you might think.

Financial Literacy: Finding Your Way in the Financial Markets is an essential primer on this domain, from its functions, strengths, and possibilities to its weaknesses and vulnerabilities. In 24 eye-opening lectures, an award-winning Duke University professor reveals the interconnected workings of the financial markets and how society's financial strength -and your own - depend on money flowing through these channels.

You'll not only gain a new appreciation for the variety of financial products and services available to you, but also for how crucial we as individuals are to the functioning of the entire system.

You'll clearly see how these markets affect you - and vice versa - any time you're involved in a financial transaction, whether you're

• financing a car;
• Applying for a mortgage
• Receiving a preapproved credit card offer
• Participating in your company's 401K plan or
• Making a deposit at your local bank.

This course provides the concepts and tools you need to draw connections between headlines made globally and what's happening to your bottom line locally. By the final lecture, you'll understand just how interdependent the world's markets have become; feel newly at ease in the realm of stocks, bonds, derivatives, and credit; and be better able to make informed decisions for your financial future.