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reviews
Sep 03, 2008
Andy
rated it: 
The classic book on investing by the man who taught Warren Buffett. Originally written 50 years ago, and it is still relevant. The same lessons applied to specific industries and companies at the time of the writing have obvious parallels to different industries and companies today.
And there are some radical ideas, despite it's age, that fly in the face of "conventional wisdom". The most important example in my opinion was the idea of how much risk you should have in your i More...
And there are some radical ideas, despite it's age, that fly in the face of "conventional wisdom". The most important example in my opinion was the idea of how much risk you should have in your i More...
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Nov 09, 2008
Brent
rated it: 
OK, the recent stock market drops scared me. I got hit by the drops in 99 and said I would never let it happen again. This time I had what I thought would be value stocks. The problem was I didn't know if I should sell or hold the stocks. So for $8 I bought a used copy of Ben Graham's book. I stopped reading my other book and read this book like crazy.
It was the best $8 ever spent. It teaches you some basics about the behavior of the market and it teaches you to be very careful More...
It was the best $8 ever spent. It teaches you some basics about the behavior of the market and it teaches you to be very careful More...
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Apr 23, 2010
Aik Yong
rated it: 
The central Idea that I got from this book is that an Index Stock Fund outperforms other equity funds on a historical basis. And sometimes it outperforms active investing too. And from my wife’s portfolio of 5 years, it seems to be true.
The other Idea is the emotional Mr. Market. The stock market as a speculative investment is a zero-sum game, and Mr. Market plays the role of the crazy trader who trades stocks at a different price everyday. Of course, the book encourages investing f More...
The other Idea is the emotional Mr. Market. The stock market as a speculative investment is a zero-sum game, and Mr. Market plays the role of the crazy trader who trades stocks at a different price everyday. Of course, the book encourages investing f More...
Jan 23, 2010
Kenyon
rated it:
Warren Buffett's pick as the greatest investment book of all time, and it really does live up to that review. Some highlights:
1) Your main goal should be to not LOSE money; so understand the distinction between 'investing' and 'speculating,' and understand that most so-called investors are actually speculators. Minimize the extent to which you are a speculator. If you go in trying to get rich quick, you'll lose.
2) To that end, trailing P/E should be less than 15 and P/E * More...
1) Your main goal should be to not LOSE money; so understand the distinction between 'investing' and 'speculating,' and understand that most so-called investors are actually speculators. Minimize the extent to which you are a speculator. If you go in trying to get rich quick, you'll lose.
2) To that end, trailing P/E should be less than 15 and P/E * More...
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Jul 09, 2009
Scott
rated it:
Why I Read this Book: Warren Buffet became the successful man he is today greatly as a result of what he learned from the man who wrote this book. We have the chance to read exactly what he read.
Review:
Whether you are an avid investor with a complex understanding of the markets or a beginner who is yet to start learning, there is little doubt that you have heard of Warren Buffet. He represents a level of success that very few people ever reach. Most of us know Buffet as t More...
Review:
Whether you are an avid investor with a complex understanding of the markets or a beginner who is yet to start learning, there is little doubt that you have heard of Warren Buffet. He represents a level of success that very few people ever reach. Most of us know Buffet as t More...
Jun 21, 2010
Chad
rated it:
If you read investing books or magazines, you've undoubtedly heard of Benjamin Graham. He's considered the father of value investing, and Warren Buffett is one of his disciples. In fact, The Oracle of Omaha called this book "the best book about investing ever written."
I have to disagree with Buffett on this one, but that's because I'm a very different type of investor than Buffett. I'm a Boglehead (follower of Vanguard founder John Bogle), so I invest through broadly divers More...
I have to disagree with Buffett on this one, but that's because I'm a very different type of investor than Buffett. I'm a Boglehead (follower of Vanguard founder John Bogle), so I invest through broadly divers More...
Jan 12, 2011
Parksy
rated it:
Was recommended as a must read for getting into investing.
Overall very readable - some chapters get a little heavy into issues i'm not really interested in, like bonds for example - but overall a very good place to start.
Main gist:
- buy value, and it tells you how to identify value - mostly looking at P/E, growth, and dividend history
- don't listen to Mr. Market - the day to day changes of the market shouldn't affect your opinion if you've done your research
- don't More...
Overall very readable - some chapters get a little heavy into issues i'm not really interested in, like bonds for example - but overall a very good place to start.
Main gist:
- buy value, and it tells you how to identify value - mostly looking at P/E, growth, and dividend history
- don't listen to Mr. Market - the day to day changes of the market shouldn't affect your opinion if you've done your research
- don't More...
Apr 04, 2010
Mark
rated it:
The value investors Bible.
If value investing had a holy book of scripture, this would be it! Not only was Ben Graham's timeless investment advice unassailable, but the commentary's after each chapter by Jason Zweig were current and refreshing.
While I learned and re-learned many truths with this book, some of the most valuable ideas were to distinguish between "investing" and "speculation." Graham asserts that most of what is called investing today wo More...
If value investing had a holy book of scripture, this would be it! Not only was Ben Graham's timeless investment advice unassailable, but the commentary's after each chapter by Jason Zweig were current and refreshing.
While I learned and re-learned many truths with this book, some of the most valuable ideas were to distinguish between "investing" and "speculation." Graham asserts that most of what is called investing today wo More...
Jan 26, 2011
I've started this book, but haven't made much traction.
As a manual for value investing it seems more hype than practical because the main text is rather dated. The end of each chapter has commentary which attempts to rectify that problem, but with limited success--at least in the early sections I read. If your main concern is just to read a highly regarded financial book, this is definitely it though.
As a manual for value investing it seems more hype than practical because the main text is rather dated. The end of each chapter has commentary which attempts to rectify that problem, but with limited success--at least in the early sections I read. If your main concern is just to read a highly regarded financial book, this is definitely it though.
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Jun 23, 2009
Phil
rated it:
It's amazing that this book is still relevant after so many years. Graham uses 100 years of stock market data to humble and convince you that you never know what the market will do and if you ever start thinking you do know, be careful. Based on the idea that you don't know, he then builds common sense strategy for investment.
The newest edition as been updated with a chapter of commentary after each of Graham's original chapters that attempts to discuss how Graham's advice would More...
The newest edition as been updated with a chapter of commentary after each of Graham's original chapters that attempts to discuss how Graham's advice would More...
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Aug 19, 2011
Peter
rated it:
Benjamin Graham lays out a compelling case for value investing in this book. He draws a fine distinction between an investor as someone who treats stocks as purchasing part of a business, vs a speculator as someone who buys stocks hoping the price will go up today or maybe tomorrow, with no real knowledge of the business who's shares they bought. The commentary chapters push the point further by repeatedly showing that Warren Buffett and others like him follow Graham's method and have been pheno
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Jan 09, 2010
Forager
rated it:
Overall, it was a fairly good "foundations" book, but I think there must be better resource out there. A lot of the basic material of this book has been passed on just through financial culture in general, perhaps most strongly through Warren Buffet.
The first hundred and fifty pages were absolutely painful. Graham pointlessly rambles about stock returns from the mid 1800's to the 1970's. After that, however, the books gets much better as Graham explains the foundations of a More...
The first hundred and fifty pages were absolutely painful. Graham pointlessly rambles about stock returns from the mid 1800's to the 1970's. After that, however, the books gets much better as Graham explains the foundations of a More...
Jul 18, 2011
Monica
rated it:
Benjamin Graham’s last line in The Intelligent Investor sums up the entire book in his trade-mark common-sense way: “ To achieve satisfactory investment results is easier than most people realize; to achieve superior results is harder than it looks.”
First published in 1949, this version that I read was re-published in 2005 with a forward written by John Bogle who started Vangard Mutual Fund. Bogle’s forward serves as a very good summary of The Intelligent Investor, highlighting key poi More...
First published in 1949, this version that I read was re-published in 2005 with a forward written by John Bogle who started Vangard Mutual Fund. Bogle’s forward serves as a very good summary of The Intelligent Investor, highlighting key poi More...
May 19, 2010
Doug
rated it:
A very good approach to investing that stands the test of time - although, it is pretty easy to tout the benefits of value investing when comparing it to dotcom stocks like they do in the most current edition. The most important lesson is the discipline needed to be successful at investing: "One lucky break, or one supremely shrewd decision - can we tell them apart? - may count for more than a lifetime of journeyman efforts. But behind the luck, or the crucial decision, there must usuall
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May 20, 2011
John
rated it:
This is a great book for the beginning investor like me. While I found some of Graham's language hard to follow, the commentery chapters greatly cleared things up for me and updated Graham's examples with modern day equivelents.
The only issue I had,(and this is probably because I have the e-book version on the Kindle) but the tables were very hard to see and hard to understand so I mainly skipped over them.
All in all, if you are looking to become an investor or just wan More...
The only issue I had,(and this is probably because I have the e-book version on the Kindle) but the tables were very hard to see and hard to understand so I mainly skipped over them.
All in all, if you are looking to become an investor or just wan More...
Jan 02, 2012
Omar
rated it:
This is a book that has been on my reading list for a while - as The reference in the investment field (from a fundamental analysis perspective). As Benjamin puts it in the introduction: "the purpose of this book is to supply, in a form suitable for the laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy."
The author makes it very clear from the beginning of the book (and throughout it) that his advice is addressed to investors and not speculators (see exce More...
The author makes it very clear from the beginning of the book (and throughout it) that his advice is addressed to investors and not speculators (see exce More...
Jul 19, 2011
Phillip
rated it:
The reason this is 5 stars is because of chapters 8 and 20. This was written more than 60 years ago. In very clear and simple language, Graham writes a book that makes sense and elucidates principles that are timeless, three of which, in my view, are the essence of investing and not speculating (investing defined as upon thorough analysis that promises return of principal and a reasonable rate of return): (1) the metaphor of Mr. Market -which, incidentally, Graham, in my view, invented behavior
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Feb 10, 2012
Steve
rated it:
Similar to the bible in that there are a few technical parts that haven't dated well but the overall message sheds light on human behavior and provides powerful, specific guidance on how to act that is just as relevant today as it was at writing. Actually, now that I think about it, it's much more defensible than the bible!
A must read for anyone considering actively managing their own investment portfolio. Out and out the best book I've ever read on investing. I highly recommend More...
A must read for anyone considering actively managing their own investment portfolio. Out and out the best book I've ever read on investing. I highly recommend More...
Jul 25, 2011
Phillip
rated it:
A great introductory text for value investing and generally how to value securities. This, along with Stocks for the Long Haul are good gateway drugs for investors looking to do more than trust a financial advisor or broker for your stock information. I like this edition in particular because Jason Zweig provides commentary at the end of each chapter. Zweig is a columnist for the WSJ and writes about personal finance and investing, and his comments often shed additional light on Graham's text an
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Dec 02, 2010
Laura
rated it:
I've been reading this book for ages, not because its boring or now worthwhile, but because it is so rich and detailed that I could only take it in small bites. (OK, and honestly, its so much easier to read escapist literature for entertainment!)
Why is this such a good book? Well, the particular edition I have, with a preface by Warren Buffet AND a preface by Jason Zwieg AND individual chapter commentaries by Jason Zwieg, gives the reader the teaching of legendary investor from an More...
Why is this such a good book? Well, the particular edition I have, with a preface by Warren Buffet AND a preface by Jason Zwieg AND individual chapter commentaries by Jason Zwieg, gives the reader the teaching of legendary investor from an More...
Aug 02, 2009
John
rated it:
This is an essential read for anyone who has any plan of putting any money into stocks, ever. Period. Whether you want a low-maintenance fire-and-forget strategy for saving for retirement, or you want to follow in Warren Buffett's footsteps and try to make millions, it's in here for you. (That's millions from patient and diligent work over the course of years--this is absolutely not a get-rich-quick scam.) Just a warning--it will take some patience and diligence to get through the book in the fi
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Jun 21, 2010
Why it is on my to-read list.
This one of the two core works (the other being Graham's other book Security Analysis) of the only other mode of investment thinking that has any credibility with me as I am not quite prepared to completely dismiss Warren Buffett and the "super-investors of Graham-Doddsville" in the name of the efficient market hypothesis.
It represents one of the three main forks of investment:
1. Exploit the historic overall return of t More...
This one of the two core works (the other being Graham's other book Security Analysis) of the only other mode of investment thinking that has any credibility with me as I am not quite prepared to completely dismiss Warren Buffett and the "super-investors of Graham-Doddsville" in the name of the efficient market hypothesis.
It represents one of the three main forks of investment:
1. Exploit the historic overall return of t More...
Jun 18, 2009
Jerome Espinosa
rated it:
My friend who's also a book reader was surprised at me reading a book as "boring" as this one. I actually bought it months after the news on the meltdown of banks and financial institutions have settled down. I wanted to review what I learned about Financial Management including "investing" from MBA school (having finished mine in 2001). I took my own sweet time reading and re-reading this, most of which time I spent while traveling to and fro the subway to my daily destina
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Oct 14, 2010
Todd
rated it:
I didn't so much read this book as skitter around it like a chimp in 2001: A Space Odyssey. By the time Santa brought me this book I was already pretty set in my ways about how I was going to handle my finances. But I appreciated that it was consistent with my thoughts in its own 37-years-ago way. Index funds were just a gleam in John Bogle's eyes at that point, and I don't think there were even many mutual funds around then.
Mr. Graham is probably most famous for being the mentor to Wa More...
Mr. Graham is probably most famous for being the mentor to Wa More...
Feb 03, 2009
Stevie
rated it:
This was a very enjoyable and educational book on investing. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a better understanding of a good philosophy of investing.
Poignant Quotes:
The defensive (or passive) investor will place his chief emphasis on the avoidance of serious mistakes or losses. His second aim will be freedom from effot, annoyance, and the need for making frequent decisions. The determining trait of the enterprising (active/aggressive) investor is his More...
Poignant Quotes:
The defensive (or passive) investor will place his chief emphasis on the avoidance of serious mistakes or losses. His second aim will be freedom from effot, annoyance, and the need for making frequent decisions. The determining trait of the enterprising (active/aggressive) investor is his More...
Oct 26, 2007
Stuart
rated it:
Benjamin Graham was Warren Buffett's mentor. Buffett has said that if you want to learn how to invest, this is the book you should read. If you listen to Buffett in interviews, or read a Buffett biography, the key recommendations Buffett makes stem almost exclusively from the principles outlined in detail in this book. And, oh yeah, Warren Buffett is the most successful investor of all time.
Graham is by far the most intelligent writer on investment advice that I have ever read. H More...
Graham is by far the most intelligent writer on investment advice that I have ever read. H More...
Jun 21, 2010
John
rated it:
This is Warren Buffett's favorite book on investing; Buffett was Ben's student and Columbia and the only student Graham ever awarded an A+.
Many other future investors who studied with Graham, or later were influenced by him did extremely well.
The Intellegent Investor differentiates between speculation and investing. Investing, in contrast with speculation, is a decision one makes supported by facts and analysis. Preserving one's captial by ensuring a margin of safety is More...
Many other future investors who studied with Graham, or later were influenced by him did extremely well.
The Intellegent Investor differentiates between speculation and investing. Investing, in contrast with speculation, is a decision one makes supported by facts and analysis. Preserving one's captial by ensuring a margin of safety is More...
Dec 29, 2007
DJ
rated it:
No book, perhaps besides Peter Lynch's 'Beating the Street' has more heavily influenced my behavior as an investor. My notes while reading:
Learn a business inside and out BEFORE you invest in it.
Share price does not equal company value. Share price equals Wall Street's appraisal.
Bask in the dopamine of price hikes - but don't buy.
Ignore the 'fight or flight' amygdala response of price declines - and don't sell.
Don't ignore Mr. Market. Just do bu More...
Learn a business inside and out BEFORE you invest in it.
Share price does not equal company value. Share price equals Wall Street's appraisal.
Bask in the dopamine of price hikes - but don't buy.
Ignore the 'fight or flight' amygdala response of price declines - and don't sell.
Don't ignore Mr. Market. Just do bu More...
Aug 06, 2007
Robert
rated it:
This is the essential book about value investing. Graham (the teacher and first employer of Warren Buffet) was a polymath genius who ran one of the most successful funds in history, and then joined the faculty of the Columbia Business School. Of his three books, this is the one intended for the non-professional. It holds all the essential ideas of value investing, a school of thought which Graham was first to elaborate. Even now, some 50 years after its first edition, it remains the bible of val
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Jul 05, 2010
Ali
rated it:
Buku wajib bagi mereka yang ingin berinvestasi di pasar saham. Menjelaskan betapa pentingnya analisis fundamental dalam pasar saham, akan membantu anda dalam menentukan pilihan saham-saham anda. Menghidarkan anda memilih saham-saham 'gorengan' dan mengajarkan bagaimana pasar saham itu bukanlah arena pertaruhan..
Bagaimanapun juga, perusahaan yang bagus akan terlihat pada kinerja sahamnya..
Saham itu bukanlah short term investment !
Bagaimanapun juga, perusahaan yang bagus akan terlihat pada kinerja sahamnya..
Saham itu bukanlah short term investment !
