The Alpha Strategy: The Ultimate Plan of Financial Self-Defense

by John A. Pugsley

A practical investment guide offers advice on beating inflation and protecting savings by investing in real goods as opposed to paper claims on wealth

Genres: Finance, Economics, Nonfiction, Survival

234 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Aarón]

I've been incorporating aspects of the Alpha Strategy into my life, and the more I do it, the more sense it makes. I wanted to brush the insights of the author off because he was some sort of libertarian or ancap adherant who argued furiously in opposition to any form of government intervention, explained that blue-collar workers displaced by lower-cost alternatives overseas were merely being gifted an opportunity to retrain for a more profitable occupation, and white-knighted for child labour (better than the alternative, Goy Jr!). However, I found it difficult to argue with his core thesis that fiat currency is inherantly worthless, prices invariably increase, and money is a pale imitation of real wealth. The book was written in the early 80s in different times, but life remains essentially unchanged--the stock market is cyclical, real estate is a liability, and any form of financial investment is largely spectulative and therefore gambling. Real wealth is measured in real, tangible, consumable goods and given the inevitability of inflation, logic dictates we stock up on the goods we can and will use. There is an intersection here between wants and needs that is too irrefutable to ignore. Pardon me while I vacuum seal 60 kg of whole wheat flour and 100 gel-caps of low time preference. My regards to the financial collapse, EMP or meteor strike.

[Nathaniel]

Best explanation I've read of the inner workings of our Federal Reserve system, and well-worth the read just for that. Clear explanation of basic economic principles, and the nefarious impact of government intervention--put simply, bureaucrats destroy value (through price controls), demand taxes, and cause inflation (monetizing debt), thereby stealing your money in three ways.

The second half of the book is devoted to preserving wealth in the face of inflation. Some say that inflation is no longer a problem and they scoff at tangibles (even as the dollar plunges and oil soars), but the lessons found here are worth considering, in case they're wrong.

[Me2]

An in depth and simple presentations of how your money and purchasing power is stolen from you through government. It also presents clear and easy to understand examples of how a free economy works. It clears up many preconceived notions about our economy that we all have. Anybody interested in investing, saving for retirement, staying out of bankruptcy or your financial well being should read this book. Basically anybody who makes money, or uses it to buy food, cloths, home etc. should read this book.

[Tomek Piorkowski]

The Alpha Strategy by John Pugsley is an ebook about alternative investment strategies. It was initially published as a book in the 1980's, and it does show its age here and there. It was rereleased as free PDF.


It's a great introduction to basic economics; Pugsley uses simple examples to explain things like inflation. He explains things to you in simple clear terms, unlike the econo-babble of your average academic economist. After explaining how traditional strategies of investment and protection of your capital have huge holes in them, in the end not protecting you from risk at all, he then gives you his idea of how to protect yourself from the whims of the monetary economy.


His core teachings are to invest in yourself as an income generator (i.e. buy
tools and education), then buy your consumables in bulk wherever possible
(protecting against future price increase), and then to invest in 'real goods',
not financial products.


It's a worthwhile read for anyone who needs a fresh view on investing. Your
average financial adviser only spits out what he learned at financial advice
school, and this gives you a well-thought out opposing view. This allows you to
make an informed decision, whether you choose a traditional or alternative
investment style.


It gets a little plodding at times but it's a great book for anyone
interested in thinking about financial well-being.

[Janet]

Very practical economics, quick read, practical illustrations I used while teaching on worldviews.
Wes

[Brian]

The first half way awesome and life changing. The second half was him trying to convince me to be a hoarder.

[Grump]

DNF - Too much exposition about the shitty government-run state of the economy. Basically buy tools and educate yourself with skills and you'll fight inflation. Also buy a bunch of beans and razor heads. Meh. Dated and unrealistic for anybody without at least an acre of indoor space.

[Malolan]

ok

[Jennifer]

Totally worth reading the first half for a view on how our federal reserve system really works and the problems with government interventions in the guise of "trying to help". Scary how many Americans are being duped by our own government. Even a teenager can understand this economics book. Very eye-opening. Second half is his suggestions about what to do about it. Read that for what it's worth to you.

[Larry Wegman]

Generally good conclusions drawn about how to save and prosper by mostly avoiding our flawed monetary system, by an amoral, merciless total libertarian.