Book Review > The Investor's Anthology - Original Ideas from the Industry's Greatest Minds

This book, printed in the USA, is a collection of 58 articles which provide sort, clear and incisive commentaries on the art and practical realities of investments. The excerpts are from such masters as Warren Buffet, Benjamin Graham, John Maynard Keynes, Paul A Samuelson (Nobel laureate), Hans Christian Andersen, Daniel Defoe and almost 50 others. Ellis has written three articles.
The 297 page book is divided into seven sections: Concepts and Market History; Advice, Opinions and Commentary; Visions and Amusements; Innovative Ideas and Proven Paradigms; Speculation, Crashes and Financial Turmoil; Forecast, Analysis and Performance Measurement; and Tips, Rules and Commandments. The excerpts vary in length from one to 20 pages.
The articles cover a very wide time frame which extends from ancient Babylonia circa 1800 BC (An Informal History of Interest Rates) through Tulipmania in the 17th century to U.S. Equity Returns from Colonial Times to the Present.
Each chapter commences with a brief synopsis and often has a comment encouraging the reader to peruse the original work, eg 'Those attracted to the full book will be well rewarded'. The writing varies from long and graceful sentences in some of the older works to a short and lucid style.
The authors have many years experience in investment research and management including teaching and financial advising. They have produced two other books.
This book, a most interesting read, contains some very thoughtful observations and insights on a range of financial and investment issues relating to the stockmarket. Many articles are written in a witty and entertaining manner. The authors demonstrate that present writers and analysts do not necessarily have a monopoly of wisdom on financial matters; others who preceded them had very sound ideas for their time.