What do you think?
Rate this book
Value Investing Made Easy: Benjamin Graham's Classic Investment Strategy Explained for Everyone
Suitable for investors, this book provides several proven techniques of Benjamin Graham, the most influential investment philosopher of the 20th century. In an easy-to-understand style, with entertaining stories and quotes, this book demystifies value investing and gives you simple-to-use trading tactics that can help you reap rewards.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
11 people are currently reading
687 people want to read
About the author
Janet Lowe
47 books39 followersJanet Celesta Lowe was an American journalist, newspaper editor, and writer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 26, 2019
A quick and easy read - some good criteria to identify value buys in the stock market.
May 17, 2023
Excellent and easy to understand
September 8, 2015
See my review here: Value Investing Made Easy
February 15, 2024
Amazone
Excellent all around introduction
8/10
Some reviewers criticize Lowe, claiming
1) the book is too simple
2) she simply quotes people like Buffet, Graham and Lynch
3) she doesn't explain her calculations enough
I disagree on all counts! You really should take a look at this book; it's an excellent all around introduction.
1. Is the book too simple? No, it's supposed to be simple. Lowe herself explains in the title, and in the preface, that this book is meant to be 'Graham and Dodd Made Easy'. She did a good job; that's just what the book is. After you read this book, you should think about moving on to Graham and Dodd, but this book is a good start.
2. What's wrong with quoting successful folks like Buffet, Graham and Lynch? Remember, this book is 'Graham and Dodd made easy', so it's bound to contain lots of references to Graham and Dodd. Naturally, it also contains quotes from Graham's most successful disciple, Warren Buffet. The quotes are well chosen, so Lowe has done us a service. She has distilled the wisdom of the master.
3. Should Lowe make recommendations, like 'use this formula; don't use that one'? I don't think so.
The problem with value investing is that no one formula perfectly captures business worth.
If there were a simple formula, then everyone would be a millionaire. The fact is that you need to know several different ways of looking at company value. Each way is reasonable.
Your personality, viewpoint and tolerance for uncertainty decides how you weight these different variables.
However you do it, you will be exactly as successful as you are careful and businesslike.
So all around, I think this book is an excellent introduction to value investing. It captures the spirit of great investors, while remaining readable and clear. Well worth your time.
Leonard R Budney
.........
Nice Try - A misinterpretation of the concepts
2/10
I like the idea, but...
Having recently undertaken the wonderful journey of studying Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett through reading most of their writings, I felt obligated to comment on this book. Many important concepts are nicely explained, and the format is pleasing, however, a disturbingly significant number of facts presented are gross misinterpretations.
The author does a nice job of explaining commonly used Wall Street terminology and concepts, for the novice. However, she fails in the infinitely more important task of consistently explaining the core concepts of investing (and not just stock speculating, as so many of us all too often do).
Two (among the many) misleading points involve investment diversification and Buffett's used cigar-butt approach. She implies both Graham and Buffett whole-heartedly embrace diversification. Unless I have been reading the wrong Graham and Buffett, they certainly do not do so, unconditionally. The author further misrepresents Buffett when she actually leaves it that he finds the "cigar butt" approach, a wise way to buy businesses. He indeed called that method, "foolish".
[Mr. Buffett: if that is no longer the case, please excuse my error.]
If you are searching for enlightenment, the way I was, you will be 1000 times better served to read The Essays of Warren Buffett, arranged by Cunningham
and, of course,
Graham's The Intelligent Investor.
macaStat
Excellent all around introduction
8/10
Some reviewers criticize Lowe, claiming
1) the book is too simple
2) she simply quotes people like Buffet, Graham and Lynch
3) she doesn't explain her calculations enough
I disagree on all counts! You really should take a look at this book; it's an excellent all around introduction.
1. Is the book too simple? No, it's supposed to be simple. Lowe herself explains in the title, and in the preface, that this book is meant to be 'Graham and Dodd Made Easy'. She did a good job; that's just what the book is. After you read this book, you should think about moving on to Graham and Dodd, but this book is a good start.
2. What's wrong with quoting successful folks like Buffet, Graham and Lynch? Remember, this book is 'Graham and Dodd made easy', so it's bound to contain lots of references to Graham and Dodd. Naturally, it also contains quotes from Graham's most successful disciple, Warren Buffet. The quotes are well chosen, so Lowe has done us a service. She has distilled the wisdom of the master.
3. Should Lowe make recommendations, like 'use this formula; don't use that one'? I don't think so.
The problem with value investing is that no one formula perfectly captures business worth.
If there were a simple formula, then everyone would be a millionaire. The fact is that you need to know several different ways of looking at company value. Each way is reasonable.
Your personality, viewpoint and tolerance for uncertainty decides how you weight these different variables.
However you do it, you will be exactly as successful as you are careful and businesslike.
So all around, I think this book is an excellent introduction to value investing. It captures the spirit of great investors, while remaining readable and clear. Well worth your time.
Leonard R Budney
.........
Nice Try - A misinterpretation of the concepts
2/10
I like the idea, but...
Having recently undertaken the wonderful journey of studying Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett through reading most of their writings, I felt obligated to comment on this book. Many important concepts are nicely explained, and the format is pleasing, however, a disturbingly significant number of facts presented are gross misinterpretations.
The author does a nice job of explaining commonly used Wall Street terminology and concepts, for the novice. However, she fails in the infinitely more important task of consistently explaining the core concepts of investing (and not just stock speculating, as so many of us all too often do).
Two (among the many) misleading points involve investment diversification and Buffett's used cigar-butt approach. She implies both Graham and Buffett whole-heartedly embrace diversification. Unless I have been reading the wrong Graham and Buffett, they certainly do not do so, unconditionally. The author further misrepresents Buffett when she actually leaves it that he finds the "cigar butt" approach, a wise way to buy businesses. He indeed called that method, "foolish".
[Mr. Buffett: if that is no longer the case, please excuse my error.]
If you are searching for enlightenment, the way I was, you will be 1000 times better served to read The Essays of Warren Buffett, arranged by Cunningham
and, of course,
Graham's The Intelligent Investor.
macaStat
December 26, 2017
Quick and easy read. Presents a quick overview of evaluating stocks for value. Not overly technical but still has enough key details to provide value.
October 25, 2021
recommended for beginners.
February 11, 2022
Another good book on investing. Full of sound advice.
This one showed up on a list of seven books recommended by Michael Burry.
This one showed up on a list of seven books recommended by Michael Burry.
January 9, 2025
very well written with a good return.
September 23, 2025
Janet Lowe’s Value Investing Made Easy is a concise and accessible introduction to the timeless principles of Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing. Lowe distills Graham’s complex strategies into digestible lessons, making this book ideal for beginners or anyone seeking a refresher on the fundamentals.
What stands out is Lowe’s ability to blend financial wisdom with engaging storytelling. Through quotes, anecdotes, and simplified examples, she demystifies concepts like intrinsic value, margin of safety, and financial statement analysis. Her chapter on identifying growth from income statements is particularly insightful, especially for those interested in Warren Buffett’s approach to finding undervalued companies with strong growth potential.
While seasoned investors may find the material too basic, Lowe’s clarity and structure make it a valuable stepping stone for those new to investing. She also touches on common misconceptions—such as Buffett’s stance on diversification—with nuance, though some interpretations may spark debate among purists.
Overall, Value Investing Made Easy is a highly recommended read for aspiring investors looking to build a solid foundation. It’s not just a book—it’s a gateway into the disciplined, patient mindset that defines successful value investing.
What stands out is Lowe’s ability to blend financial wisdom with engaging storytelling. Through quotes, anecdotes, and simplified examples, she demystifies concepts like intrinsic value, margin of safety, and financial statement analysis. Her chapter on identifying growth from income statements is particularly insightful, especially for those interested in Warren Buffett’s approach to finding undervalued companies with strong growth potential.
While seasoned investors may find the material too basic, Lowe’s clarity and structure make it a valuable stepping stone for those new to investing. She also touches on common misconceptions—such as Buffett’s stance on diversification—with nuance, though some interpretations may spark debate among purists.
Overall, Value Investing Made Easy is a highly recommended read for aspiring investors looking to build a solid foundation. It’s not just a book—it’s a gateway into the disciplined, patient mindset that defines successful value investing.
January 19, 2008
baca...baca..dan baaca..
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews