Benjamin Graham: Building a Profession

About the book and its Contents:

This hardbound covered book is a compilation of Benjamin Graham's writings as a newspaper editor. It serves as a companion reader to his most popular work, Security Analysis.

The topics of his articles, as you may have guessed it, is about securities in general. It does not just talk about how to understand stocks and bonds but it also shows the reader how one must view them. One such example is he urges readers to view the stock not in terms of its balance sheet, but as an owner of the business.

Review

As a beginner, you won't get anything from this book. As an advanced learner of the teachings of Benjamin Graham though, you will learn a lot about his mindset by reading this book.

Difficulty Level = 3/5

To appreciate this book, one should at least be familiar with finance and stock markets.

Personal Rating = 4/5

This is one book that any serious long-term investor should have in his or her library.

 

Personal finance tip for today:

To be a truly successful investor, it is not enough that you know what strategies master investors use. It is more important to understand their own mindset as to what makes them employ such strategies. Adopting exactly the same investment strategies do not always work because personal and external situations vary widely.







36 Stratagems for Investors

About the book and its Contents:

A Wiley Investment Classic authored by HSBC Jintrust Fund Management, this book tries to apply old Chinese wisdom to modern investing strategies. It contains an application of 36 sayings that are translated into rational strategies.

One such example of a saying is " Repair The Walkway Openly But March Secretly to Chencang.". This is translated to 'Sieve Out Obscure Information in Reports.' This advice is very much applicable to investors.

Review

Difficulty Level = 1/5

For those who love strategy and want to combine it with investing, this is a nice book to read.

Personal Rating = 3.5/5

This is a fine book for basic investors and those working in the banking industry.

Personal finance tip for today:

For those who do not have time to invest in personal stock market trading, investing in bank products such as UITF and MF, is a logical choice. After all, you may be earning more by working as an employee instead of spending time monitoring your investments.

The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach

 

About the book and its Contents:

This book is by David Bach is one the simplest and most often overlooked book in stores that offers a stress-free and sure way to increase one's wealth.

The first few chapters talk about reviewing your expenses and cutting down on some of the unnecessary ones. The succeeding chapters talk about automating your investment program, which offers a lot of sense.

Review

Though this book gives a lot of banking options that apply only to the United States, the lessons being taught here, such as, finding and controlling your 'latte factor' are universal in nature, and can be applied by anyone.

Difficulty Level = 1/5

This is a very good book for beginners who do not have the time and mindset for studying finance.

Personal Rating = 5/5

This is an excellent book for busy employees and working professionals and those who are simply confounded by the very idea of high finance.

Personal finance tip for today:

You do not need to be a finance graduate in order to invest and save for your future successfully.  Instead, you can opt for an automatic program wherein a portion of your net income is automatically deducted from your payslip and placed either in savings or investments. That way, you can only maximize or make use of the money you can spend. It's easier than trying to curb your expenses first then save after.