Review: A Gift to My Children – Jim Rogers

Legendary Investor Jim Rogers; bestselling author of Adventure Capitalist and Hot Commodities is back with his latest book titled: A Gift To My Children!

This book, according to Rogers, was originally intended as an article or a pamphlet for his daughters on advice for life and investing. Over the years, the essays that Rogers wrote were compiled and it formed an idea for a book.

Unlike his previous books where one either reads about his stunning adventures or business and investment advice, readers used to Rogers’ style of writing will find that this book is uncharacteristically different.

Firstly, the perspective taken this time is Rogers writing and addressing to his daughters. The style and format is simple, and at the same time heartwarming as a loving father writing a letter to his children.

Secondly, the chapters are kept short and succinct. Some things that Rogers expounded in the book include the importance of studying history and past trends, learning philosophy to train critical thinking ability and the importance of travelling to open one’s mind to new things and change.

Thirdly, the book represents a collection of his own experiences, his mistakes, his attitude toward life. It basically summarizes certain good or bad incidents that Rogers went through that could either or not be found in his previous books – but with a personal thought to them.

We all know that Jim Rogers stands out as a mighty shrewd investor and ranks as among the top few contrarians in the world along with his ex partner George Soros, Sir John Templeton and Marc Faber.

The book is filled with the ‘Indiana Jones of Finance’ investment philosophy, and this would certainly delight the reader interested in the Contrarian style of investing. Other than that, the book is a good and suitable read for all ages. It is packed with advice for dealing with life issues for the child or the adult, and it is indeed a great add to the entrepreneur and investor’s library collection.

Ferdinand’s Rating: 4.5/5

Review of Soros on Soros from George Soros, Byron Wien & Krisztina Koenen

The legendary investor George Soros stands high and mighty in the world of finance and philanthropy. I was very impressed by his first book The Alchemy of Finance and he ranks as one of my favorite investors and financiers in history. His intellectual works, philanthropic efforts, influence in political activity and his dedication to Sir Karl Popper’s Open Society concepts says a lot more of his character than just his famous reputation as a shrewd billionaire investor. These are also reasons why I like Soros over Warren Buffett.

This book is an easy read, and it puts the reader into an imaginative scenario alike to one having a cup of coffee with Soros himself. Wien and Koenen interviewed Soros and the book is formatted into a Question-And-Answer format. The book is split into two parts; the first part on his investing philosophy and practice, and the second part on his philanthropy and political activity. There is also an appendix included –  a collection of essays from Soros himself on Open Societies, European Disintegration (this book is a 1996 book mind you!) and on Hedge Funds and Dynamic Hedging.

The interviewers explored Soros’ concept of Reflexivity and his building of Open Society Foundations in Eastern Europe following the fall of the Iron Curtain.

It is useful for anyone who wants to understand the man and his works and thinking. Mark Tier in his book, The Winning Investment Habits of Warren Buffett & George Soros, recommended Soros on Soros for anyone interested in understanding Soros as his other books are generally quite tough to go through and understand for the average reader.

Personally, I feel that though this book is a good start, it is only a beginning. It is too brief on his concepts which he reiterates in his other books, and it certainly does not do justice to his theory of Reflexivity.

If you could understand what Soros is trying to say in The Alchemy of Finance you might not need to catch this. However, the second part of this book would be for the reader who wants to understand more of his philanthropy and political activities.

Ferdinand’s Rating: 3.5/5