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Book - Customer Review:18
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book On Value Investing, Revised Edition
Benjamin Graham, Jason Zweig
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Rank: 243
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book On Value Inves (Illinois) December 31, 2004 - 5.0/5 stars
Why another review of the already famous and much reviewed book ? The
phrase "The definitive book ..." in the title seems like an advertising
gimmick added by the publisher but I think that is not exaggerated.
It is
even not overstated to call it "stock market bible" (though this is also
an advertising-sale blip by the publisher; Graham might not be happy with
this because through out the book, his words are full of cautions and
humblesness).
The book sets a clear goal at the begining and
follows it thoroughly.
These are Graham words: "little will be said about
the technique of analyzing", "attention will be paid chiefly to investment
principles and investor attitude".
And that is exactly what it's about.
It's a about a philosophy, an attitude rather than a guide to show one how
to analyze and pick particular stocks.
Those who comment that the book
contains out of date ideas and examples simply do not appreciate the main
theme of the book (should one say Aesop annecdotes obsolate because he
said of obscure metaphors instead of phancy ones in the modern world?).
And even Graham said: "the underlying principles of sound investment
should not alter from decade to decade, but the application of these
principle must be applied to significant changes in the financial
mechanism and climate".
Thus, the paricular application should change to
adapt with the current economy situation (e.g, the arrival of tech and
biotech, nanotech stocks; new tax and new corporate law; new analysis
method e.g. beta analysis,etc...) but the principle of investing still
remains (an analog: even with the discover of general relativilty of
Eistein, who would say Newton's law is obsolate ?) I do not argue whether
the modern efficient market theory (which is what is tought at business
schools) is conflict with what the book said but rather, I want to
emphasize the book investment principle.
Graham principles
stand the test of time because it is full of wisdom. He carefully define
what investment is: "operation is one which, upon thorough analysis
promises safety of principal and an adequate return", which clearly
distinguish between investors and speculators (to understand a matter
deeply, one needs to understand the definition.) Can the Graham principles
be proved (like a math equation e=mc^2) ? No. But, accept it like a
proposition of investing. (somewhat like the proposition in relativity
theory).
All said, this is a book about investment philosophy
(not "how to make million" books, not "how to analyze stock" book, not how
to pick stock book).
The book is full of wisdom and if one understand and
apply these wisdom, he or she will be better off, not only in investing
but other apsect of life as well, because it's the philosophy.
Wisdoms are
said by wisemen, mostly old, so it's harder to appreciate by younger one
unless one has experienced through the same situations.
Extra: The essay by Warren Buffet is an interesting read for lay man to
illustrate the point of the book.
This is the one investment
book to own if one can own only one.
Customer Review: 18 of 25
Customer Reviews
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book On Value Investing, Revised Edition
Benjamin Graham, Jason Zweig
Customer Review
17 - 19 of 25
![]() | | 17. | A True Classic | | February 5, 2005 - 5.0/5 stars | | One of the greatest business books of all time. A "must have" for the
library of any serious long term investor/businessman. Ben Graham was
Warren Buffett's mentor, and Buffett has always attributed his great
success... read full review |
![]() | | Current Review | | 18. | The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book On Value Inves | | (Illinois) December 31, 2004 - 5.0/5 stars | | Why another review of the already famous and much reviewed book ? The
phrase "The definitive book ..." in the title seems like an advertising
gimmick added by the publisher but I think that is not exaggerated. It is
even... read full review |
![]() | | 19. | Sound advice | | (Illinois) July 16, 2003 - 4.0/5 stars | | This book represents all things solid and stable in the world of stock
market fluctuations that can turnabout on you in a second. Graham gives
good advice that helps to avoid the common errors most people make in the
stock... read full review |
Editorials
Sample 3 of 3
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book On Value Investing, Revised Edition
Benjamin Graham, Jason Zweig
![]() | | | Amazon.com | | Among the library of investment books promising no-fail strategies for
riches, Benjamin Graham's classic, The Intelligent Investor, offers
no guarantees or gimmicks but overflows with the wisdom at the core of all
good... read full editorial |
![]() | | | Barron's | | "The wider Mr. Grahams gospel spreads, the more fairly the market
will deal with its public." |
![]() | | | Book Description | | More than one million hardcovers sold Now available for the first
time in paperback! The Classic Text Annotated to Update Graham's
Timeless Wisdom for Today's Market Conditions The greatest
investment advisor of... read full editorial |
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