The Art of Investing: Lessons from History's Greatest Traders

by John M. Longo

Great investors like Warren Buffett and Ray Dalio will tell you they're no geniuses; they're simply observant, open-minded, and industrious. Using these key traits, the world's most outstanding traders have employed a remarkable mix of strategies to build huge fortunes. Their careers are a how-to manual for anyone who wants to succeed at investing, no matter what the size of their stake. The lives of rich and famous investors are gripping tales of opportunities seized and squandered; of billions won and lost, and won again. And these life stories are also an eye-opening education in the workings of financial markets.
The Art of Investing: Lessons from History's Greatest Traders profiles over 30 men and women at the pinnacle of the investing field, including Warren Buffett, Ray Dalio, John Bogle, Peter Lynch, George Soros, T. Rowe Price, Jr., Linda Bradford Raschke, David Dreman, Michael Burry, and others involved in such ventures as value stocks, growth stocks, mutual funds, index funds, hedge funds, commodity futures, private equity, sovereign wealth, distressed assets, and more. Each lecture covers one of these approaches, together with traders who have made it pay handsomely - along with insights on how they did it.
An award-winning teacher and the portfolio manager for a $2.5-billion investment firm, Professor John Longo of Rutgers Business School tells these intriguing life stories with an insider's grasp of the financial details. Included in these 24 half-hour lectures are tips on the most common mistakes made by investors, scores of pithy sayings that synthesize the hard-won wisdom of veteran traders, and, in the final lecture, an investment checklist that lets you narrow down your own best approach to building personal wealth.

Genres: Finance, Business, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Economics, History, Personal Finance

360 pages, Audible Audio

Published December 9, 2016

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Courses delivers again with the series of lectures on different types and strategies of investing. Short biographies of the big names in finance and the strategies they employ: Graham and Buffett for Value Investing, Peter Lynch and T. Rowe Price for Growth Investing, John Bogle for indexing, and many more. The lectures do a good job of repeating concepts throughout.

[Anton Nikolov · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't exactly what I expected but it is an ok book. It is mostly stories about investors and what they did to succeed. I had expectations for more "how to " type of info. Anyway it's an OK book and it probably will be a good one for someone who is more advanced than me in the investing field.

[Lolo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems very interesting, but it's very difficult to follow financial metrics and meaning through an audiobook. The stories about the greatest traders are moderately interesting, but if you don't have any background in financial studies (like me), it's very easy to get lost.

I didn't manage to finish this.

I wouldn't suggest this audiobook to a beginner like myself. I might pick this up again after I've obtained some basic knowledge on the subject.

[Joseph L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch a detailed review along with my favorite ideas and takeaways at:
https://youtu.be/uw-QbyPjsk0

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good summary of some of the great investors and their strategies.

[Neil Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

24 lectures. Each lecture is written to be independent from the others, so there is lots of repetition of names and terms. We meet 24 successful investors (otherwise known as billionaires) and learn their different investment strategies (value investing, growth investing, international investing, hedge funds, private equity/LBOs, etc.) and learn how many billions they have earned for themselves and their clients. Interesting. These lectures sort of tell the listener how they did it; they do not tell us how to do it ourselves. Having listened to this book, I'm not sure what I am going to do differently to improve my personal investment returns. Not sure if I should try to imitate one or more of these gurus, or whether I should find one or more of the modern day equivalents to these gurus and give him or her all my money.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of most major investment instruments, including some I didn't know about. Each topic is unfolded using a condensed biography of a trader who was successful in that area of investment, including references to any notable literature they wrote. I was listening mainly to get a grasp of the different types of trading, but I will likely listen again to remind myself of names and book references that warrant further reading.
I was a little surprised at the omission of lectures on options trading, currency markets and a greater exposition of the pros and cons of leverage.
Overall though, an informative and engaging audiobook/course, and great value on Audible.

[حسين سليس · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read!
Though the concept of this book is super easy yet it required a lot of research and time to come up with such clear presentation. Numbers are easy to follow, and ideas or methods used by each investor were explained in simple words.
For me, this was a great to read book. I invest in stock market and usually find myself picking some stock abandoned by other traders, especially friends who try to influence my decision. By reading this book, it assures my way of trading (value trading) is a good method. While it still gives credits to my friends who (follow the trend) or prefer (growth-companies).

A must read for any stock trader.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Longo is a good narrator. He kept my interest through most of this.
Trading is much more interesting than I thought. I might get another book or listen to this again.
He did get a bit repetitive in some of his lectures. I wish he had stated the investment strategy outright instead of going the long way around. Stating the point and then going through the history and people would have been more helpful to someone listening to an audiobook. Overall though an interesting listen. Glad I got this one.

[Saraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps if the author didn't feel the need to explain 10 times over what short selling is, repeat one Warren Buffet's quote several times or introduce Peter Lynch 5 times, it'd be much shorter and much enjoyable lecture. Also, having to listen to that one annoying disclaimer about "this lecture not being a specific financial advice" after EVERY DAMN CHAPTER is really off putting.

Without that, I think it would deserve 5 star rating.

[Ivo Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art of investing is an impressive and intense book. It compacts a broad range of investment strategies, from value investing, growth investing, arbitrages on merger/acquisition.

Explains what's stocks, bonds, funds, options. And goes from the strategies of Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch, George Soros, Jim Rogers and many more. It's for sure the most complete book about investing I ever read.

[Elwin Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable investment Great Course on investing.

-1 star because of its length. Wish it was a bit longer.

I have been on quite the investment kick lately and this is absolutely one of the better content resources I've experienced so far. What I enjoyed in particular is it really focuses on the stock market versus going all the ever so many rabbit holes investing can take an author (and a reader) down.

Highly recommend.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this Great Courses class, Longo goes through the history of investing in the markets and does so through the lens of some of history's greatest investors. He covers things that shaped them, how they came to invest, and the philosophies that directed their investments. I found the entire thing interesting and insightful. It's great to learn how others are doing it as I learn what my own investing philosophy and strategies are going to be.

[Petr Bela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an overview course of different investment strategies, from value through hedge to currency trading. Each chapter focuses on a specific strategy, explaining it by presenting the life and philosophy of the most successful investors who have popularized it. The course is well organized and should serve as a solid introduction to investing in general.

[Kari Olfert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An overview of the principals, investing gurus and their practices and the science of investing. I've read several of Buffets books (mainly) and the cornerstone inelvesting books...intelligent investor etc. This program gave a beautiful birds eye view which can give a curious or new investor an idea of their investing style or path.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a lot of information from this. There was also information that I will probably never use, but it was worthwhile to learn it. John Longo uses easy-to-understand descriptions. All in all, it is worth reading if you are interested in investing.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

History's Greatest Traders. Oh, yes, remember the how the screens went blank 2300 years ago in Rome, when Bigus Dickus has made his greatest move against the the Gallic Dallar.

I'll be back with a review when I read it.

[Tony Poerio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good & broad overview of investing strategies and techniques, via a series of short biographies.

This isn't a book about how to implement investment strategies. It's a history.

[Regina Mastrogiacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information about investing, the book talks about several investors and how their approach are different from one another and yet made them a lot of money.

[stefanddddddd · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice introduction to basic ideas and mechanisms in investing

[Major Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this book: really good back stories on how the big fish became big; not too many of their tricks though

[Jaan Liitmäe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well compiled and presented! Good one

[Xinyu Wu · Rating 3 out of 5]

mostly back stories, less insights

[Alex Bulankou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview covering fundamentals such as growth and value investing, options, hedge funds and major personalities in investment and trading.

[Suzanned99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful overview.

[Calen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of the background of different traders and the differences between various strategies. Good balance of detail and general information.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful, packed with great info, and memorable. I’m jealous of the people who get to take John’s classes in person! Listen to this for a personable and relatable overview on investing.

[Trung Nguyen Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very basic info of various successful investors/traders. Experienced investors can skip this book. Still it can be a nice read for people who are new to investing

[Mike Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great course to take. It takes you into the world of investing and how the greatest traders work and think.

[Liam Taylor]

Via Audible.

Interesting, worthwhile.