Book excerpt: Annual Reports 101 gets past the PR machine to show the meaning behind the spin. This ultra-practical guide shows you how to thoroughly translate and read "between the lines" of the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow report, and the accompanying text. The book helps you get a true sense of the "big picture" behind the company, allowing you to move beyond the numbers themselves and the fluffy, PR-driven copy. Before you know it, you'll have the tools to spot red flags, decipher footnotes, and see past common practices that, while legal, may not give the most accurate picture.