The Investor's Bookshelf

I asked myself this question more than twenty years ago when I first embarked upon my investing career, and the answer was easy - I just read everything I could find that addressed the subject of investing.

Of course, that was before the advent of Internet access for the masses as well as the proliferation of investment TV channels and the hordes of magazines devoted to investing. Today, there is a plethora of information bombarding investors - many good, even great sources of education, but, unfortunately, a lot of bad advice, too.

And although I've been in this business for many years, one of my favorite pastimes continues to be reading and learning about what's new in investing. Truthfully, I am often amazed at the drivel that gets published, purporting to be  "proven, successful" investing strategies. Most of this stuff has just one purpose - enriching the author. And while you may first think, "So what?" - this is American capitalism at its best - the problem is, some of this advice is very detrimental to the investors who act upon it.
 
I've pretty much seen it all, including:

    * Systemic strategies that work well just a couple of times but are extrapolated for investment essays or books as "make you rich," "never fail," "can't miss" guides to investing success
    * Intentional, fraudulent advice aimed at hyping worthless stocks
    * Just plain, old bad advice that promises great wealth, but often forgets to mention the tremendous risks involved in chasing those riches

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