Ask the Author: Guy Spier
Answered Questions (8)
Guy Spier
Hi Felipe, I have and I would consider investing again. Brazil has a dynamic and growing economy. It's a country whose best days are still ahead of it.
Guy Spier
Hi Gabriel,
Thanks for for the question.
I've thought long and hard about this. What would I have done if my choice had been an "either - or"?
On the one side, HBS + Oxford. On the other, Berkshire, Buffett and Munger.
To be honest, it's really hard. I certainly would have ended up financially richer, by taking the Buffett/Berkshire/Munger choice. But not necessarily happier or wiser.
Because there are an enormous number of things that we can gain from a broad education that are hard to gain elsewhere.
But the good news for us is that we don't have to choose. We can have both. In my life I got to have Oxford/Harvard + Buffett etc. And I am certain that at this point, they reinforce and enrich each-other. What I learned at Oxford and Harvard have made me a better student of Warren and Charlie, and similarly, Warren and Charlie have helped me to truly extract value out of my education.
And when it comes to the price of tuition, I would say that if there is any way we think we can afford it, we should go for it. Because education is one of those very uncertain, but ultimately low risk opportunities in life.
My view is that we need to pick up as many of those tickets as we possibly can.
But then again, you might be asking the wrong question: I teamed up with Mohnish Pabrai to pay $650k to have a three hour educational lunch with Warren Buffett..
I hope that this discussion is helpful.
Warmly,
Guy
Thanks for for the question.
I've thought long and hard about this. What would I have done if my choice had been an "either - or"?
On the one side, HBS + Oxford. On the other, Berkshire, Buffett and Munger.
To be honest, it's really hard. I certainly would have ended up financially richer, by taking the Buffett/Berkshire/Munger choice. But not necessarily happier or wiser.
Because there are an enormous number of things that we can gain from a broad education that are hard to gain elsewhere.
But the good news for us is that we don't have to choose. We can have both. In my life I got to have Oxford/Harvard + Buffett etc. And I am certain that at this point, they reinforce and enrich each-other. What I learned at Oxford and Harvard have made me a better student of Warren and Charlie, and similarly, Warren and Charlie have helped me to truly extract value out of my education.
And when it comes to the price of tuition, I would say that if there is any way we think we can afford it, we should go for it. Because education is one of those very uncertain, but ultimately low risk opportunities in life.
My view is that we need to pick up as many of those tickets as we possibly can.
But then again, you might be asking the wrong question: I teamed up with Mohnish Pabrai to pay $650k to have a three hour educational lunch with Warren Buffett..
I hope that this discussion is helpful.
Warmly,
Guy
Guy Spier
Hi Dave and thanks for the question.
Yes, I would be interested to do that, but there are all sorts of things would have to fall into place first. Right now, I don't think that the time is right for me.
Warmly,
Guy
Yes, I would be interested to do that, but there are all sorts of things would have to fall into place first. Right now, I don't think that the time is right for me.
Warmly,
Guy
Guy Spier
Hi Santosh, we are going to do a special Indian edition of the book and I will come to India to promote it. Meanwhile, you will have to buy from the US/UK. Best option for now probably is to buy the e-book. Warmly, Guy
Guy Spier
Hi Gaspar!
When it comes to investing, I think that I learned more from Mohnish Pabrai than I did from the lunch with Warren. Not that Warren does not have a lot to teach. Just that I've spent more time talking to Mohnish.
It seems to me that the key to good a investment idea is often that there is new twist. A new take, or insight that was not there before. So while in one sense, it's always the old trick: buy something at a discount, the way it is applied is always changing.
I hope this is helpful.
Warmly,
Guy
When it comes to investing, I think that I learned more from Mohnish Pabrai than I did from the lunch with Warren. Not that Warren does not have a lot to teach. Just that I've spent more time talking to Mohnish.
It seems to me that the key to good a investment idea is often that there is new twist. A new take, or insight that was not there before. So while in one sense, it's always the old trick: buy something at a discount, the way it is applied is always changing.
I hope this is helpful.
Warmly,
Guy
Guy Spier
Hi Shreyas and thanks for a great question.
The short answer is that I don't know, and as you have read in my story, it certainly took me a long time to figure out just the basics.
But I think that you are way ahead of the game in comparison to me, because you have the right intention, which I did not have at the beginning. Other than that, it seems that the answer has to be to keep working at it. To keep learning and to keep applying what we have learned.
There is an ancient Jewish saying that would seem to be apt here:
"It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it".
I hope that this helps.
The short answer is that I don't know, and as you have read in my story, it certainly took me a long time to figure out just the basics.
But I think that you are way ahead of the game in comparison to me, because you have the right intention, which I did not have at the beginning. Other than that, it seems that the answer has to be to keep working at it. To keep learning and to keep applying what we have learned.
There is an ancient Jewish saying that would seem to be apt here:
"It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it".
I hope that this helps.
Guy Spier
The best thing for me about being a writer is that it is not how I am paid. Writers, like nurses and teachers are some of the most valuable members of our society, but do not seem to be rewarded for that in terms of income.
I am lucky that I can write, but that i do not need to support myself through my writing.
I am also concerned that as publishing changes, our good writers will find it harder and harder to be properly compensated.
I hope that we, as a civilization, figure that out.
I am lucky that I can write, but that i do not need to support myself through my writing.
I am also concerned that as publishing changes, our good writers will find it harder and harder to be properly compensated.
I hope that we, as a civilization, figure that out.
Guy Spier
My favorite line on writer's block is from Gene Fowler. "Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank piece of paper until clots of blood form on your forehead."
In other words, I have no easy answers. I found that writng "The Education of a Value Investor" confoundingly hard. Perhaps the most difficult thing that I have ever done.
Here are a few things that helped me though.
Have a collaborator. In my case, Jessa Gamble was enormously helpful. If I had not had her with me on the project, you can be quite certain that I would not have made it to the finish line. If you want to get in touch with her, Jessa's twitter handle is @jessagamble
Jessa also introduced me to a piece of software - scrivener which I also found very useful in helping me to organzie my thoughts.
Get up early before the family is up and get to writing right away.
Write at least certain number of words each day.
In other words, I have no easy answers. I found that writng "The Education of a Value Investor" confoundingly hard. Perhaps the most difficult thing that I have ever done.
Here are a few things that helped me though.
Have a collaborator. In my case, Jessa Gamble was enormously helpful. If I had not had her with me on the project, you can be quite certain that I would not have made it to the finish line. If you want to get in touch with her, Jessa's twitter handle is @jessagamble
Jessa also introduced me to a piece of software - scrivener which I also found very useful in helping me to organzie my thoughts.
Get up early before the family is up and get to writing right away.
Write at least certain number of words each day.
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