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A Random Walk Down Wallstreet. Thoughts??

Posted on 10/22/14 at 8:59 pm
Posted by ragacamps
Member since Jan 2011
2997 posts
Posted on 10/22/14 at 8:59 pm
What is the boards opinion of this book? Did it open anyone up to any strategies that they now apply and find useful? Does anyone think reading this book added useful skill and knowledge to their investment strategies?

Thanks in advance for the input.
Posted by Cmlsu5618
Destin, FL
Member since Sep 2010
3763 posts
Posted on 10/22/14 at 10:19 pm to
I haven't read the entire book, but it's definitely a great finance book from a foundational understanding aspect.

The folks who follow technical analysis will tell you it is weak and outdated, but it fits into my investment philosophy pretty well. I need to dive back into it.
Posted by ragacamps
Member since Jan 2011
2997 posts
Posted on 10/22/14 at 10:52 pm to
Thank you. I purchased 6 or 7 business/investing focused books a few months ago and now I'm down to three left to read.

Random Walk Down Wall Street
Intelligent Investor
One Up On Wall Street
Posted by DucksnBucks37
Dallas
Member since Dec 2013
158 posts
Posted on 10/22/14 at 11:17 pm to
I've read

-intelligent investor and the millionaire next door. I'm starting this one next
Posted by ragacamps
Member since Jan 2011
2997 posts
Posted on 10/22/14 at 11:22 pm to
From what I understand Random Walk and Intelligent Investor are polar opposites.
Posted by rmc
Truth or Consequences
Member since Sep 2004
26512 posts
Posted on 10/22/14 at 11:43 pm to
quote:

Random Walk Down Wall Street Intelligent Investor One Up On Wall Street


I've read 3/4 of Random Walk and about 1/2 of One up.

Random Walk has a major premise - you can't beat the market. Put it in an index etf. But it does give a good lesson/history on what I would guess you would call investing theories.
Posted by Teddy Ruxpin
Member since Oct 2006
39582 posts
Posted on 10/22/14 at 11:47 pm to
Random Walk was underwhelming since I had been Bogling since college.

I do need to read different philosophy though even if I can't make it actionable for me
This post was edited on 10/22/14 at 11:48 pm
Posted by racingtiger88
Member since Dec 2009
102 posts
Posted on 10/23/14 at 1:33 am to
I've read One Up on Wall Street. Its a little dated (written circa 1989) but I thought it was a good quick read. The whole premise of the book was investing in companies you know and have experience with before institutional investors get in.

Its about using your consumer knowledge to your advantage. It also talks a lot about what Peter Lynch looked for in a company/stock before investing in it.

Its one of the best books to read according to Mr. Cramer FWIW.
Posted by racingtiger88
Member since Dec 2009
102 posts
Posted on 10/23/14 at 1:53 am to
I also really liked the book Rule #1 by Phil Town. It really goes into what numbers to look for on a balance sheet and some technical indicators to trade by.

It's main premise is value investing Buffet style, but I find the metrics he uses of pricing a "buy stock" way too stringent.

That said I learned a good deal from the book and use the value formulating concepts he writes about.
Posted by TheDiesel
Phoenix
Member since Feb 2010
2608 posts
Posted on 10/23/14 at 7:51 am to
A Random Walk was the first investing book I read and I thought it was fantastic.
Posted by RickAstley
Reno, Nevada
Member since May 2011
2003 posts
Posted on 10/23/14 at 8:45 am to
I originally bought both The Intelligent Investor and A Random Walk Down Wallstreet. I have yet to read the Intelligent Investor, primarily because some parts were over my head and I preferred getting a background before returning to the book.

Since then I have completed A Random Walk Down Wallstreet and The Millionaire Next Door and both were valuable reads. I think A Random Walk Down Wallstreet provides a great overview of investments and puts the reality in place for how to invest over a lifetime. The Millionaire Next Door in my opinion reassures the mindset of keeping the course and completing actions such as increasing investments with every raise, in order to stay frugal if you want to become wealthy over time.

Ultimately, both books add value to your outlook on investing overtime. Everyone will take something different from the books, but I have a hard time believing that the MT posters will find reading them a waste of their time.
Posted by rintintin
Life is Life
Member since Nov 2008
16179 posts
Posted on 10/23/14 at 9:30 am to
quote:

Did it open anyone up to any strategies that they now apply and find useful? Does anyone think reading this book added useful skill and knowledge to their investment strategies? 


Not much strategy involved except buy broad market index funds and DCA over time. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just saying follow that advice and you can skip the book. Although It's a good history book, and It does have some good tables for diversifying for different age groups.
This post was edited on 10/23/14 at 9:33 am
Posted by That's BS
Smoothie King Center
Member since Jan 2012
1783 posts
Posted on 10/23/14 at 10:35 am to
quote:

Not much strategy involved except buy broad market index funds and DCA over time. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just saying follow that advice and you can skip the book. 


Agreed. However to me it's much easier to follow that advice when you know why they say that is the best strategy. Someone can tell you to do something, but until you understand their reasoning you'll likely be second-guessing their advice.

This book gave examples of many investment strategies used currently and historically and why when all is said and done they will not beat the market for the long term. And since you most likely will not be able to beat the market, you might as well just invest in the market via low cost index funds.

It was my first financial/investing book to read and I enjoyed it. Gave me more confidence in my strategy.
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