Common Sense on Mutual Funds
First published at the peak of a notorious stock market bubble, this book is a rare, profound, and clear-eyed assessment of investment reality. Written in a plain and intelligible style, this reliable article scrutinizes the fundamentals of mutual fund investing, and offers timeless advice in building an investment portfolio. A classic work by one of the twentieth century’s great investment authorities, this book belongs on every investor’s bookshelf.
"As founder of the giant mutual fund company, Vanguard Group, Bogle writes what he knows: how to steer one’s way through mutual funds and the numbing variety of investment alternatives available today. His is a clear and readable style, and Bogle helps make still somewhat-arcane terms such as quantitative investing understandable."
— SmartMoney.com
"Common Sense on Mutual Funds," by John Bogle, inventor of the retail index fund and founder of the Vanguard Group. It’s the best book ever on fund investing, just updated for new investors. The case for indexing is rock solid, as you’ll see here. It’s the-only strategy that works, long term."
— Jane’s Book Club, http://janebryantquinn.com
"Never before [have] I seen a book that so openly and successfully juxtaposed that which was said against that which actually happened over the period of a decade. . . As a long-time believer in low cost indexing, I didn’t think I’d learn much from this book. I was wrong! Reading this book offers investors a glimpse of the perspective and lessons learned from recent years that were anything but normal. . . This book, of course, is even more valuable to those that aren’t a believer in indexing. It may be a hard read if you’re among those who still believe that 90 percent of investors can all be above average. Consider the effort well worth it because the common sense in this book may save your retirement. Reading this book might also help you realize, as I have, that common sense really is pretty uncommon."
— Allan Roth, CBS Moneywatch.com
"The definitive book on index fund investing. It explains why index fund investing is the best way — no, the only way — for people to invest their savings. . . [Bogle] does something few in the investing world would dare to do. He stands by what he said 10 years ago. The original text is presented unchanged. New data is added to reveal what happened over the past 10 years."
— Scott Burns, The Austin American Statesman
A worthwhile addition to one’s library, particularly as a reference publication. . . This . . revision of a book written ten years ago . . . with the original text still present in the book, and an analysis of the predictions that were made ten years ago. . . makes fascinating reading. The analysis of the predictions on their own makes the book worth a read, even if all one does is look at the coloured sections which contain the updated material.”
— Australian Investors Association
“More Common Sense from Jack Bogle. Jack’s back and he’s unbowed. . . The tome holds up well after a decade. Bogle hasn’t altered a word of the original text, just added color coded data and text boxes to show where he was on or off the mark. Guess what? Jack doesn’t offer many mea culpas. . . The book is still essential reading for investors. Whether you think indexing is the best way to investor not, it’s filled with simple, powerful advice that can help stack the odds of long-term financial success in your favor. Reading it then helped shape me as an investor and analyst. Here are the most important lessons (besides the obvious one: that indexing works) that I’ve drawn from the pages of both editions, as well as a couple of points where I, and many of my colleagues, dare to differ from St. Jack.”
— Morningstar
"Cogent, honest, and hard-hitting-a must read for every investor."
— Warren E. Buffett
"Invoking both Thomas Paine and Benjamin Graham, Jack Bogle outlines a supremely logical plan not only to better investors' returns, but to improve the whole fund industry. This isn't just the best book yet by Bogle, it may well be the best book ever on mutual funds."
— DON PHILLIPS, President & CEO, Morningstar, Inc.
"Buffett cannot teach you or me how to become a Warren Buffett. Bogle's reasoned precepts can enable a few million of us savers to become in twenty years the envy of our suburban neighbors-while at the same time we have slept well in these eventful times."
— PAUL A. SAMUELSON, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Economics
"After a lifetime of picking stocks, I have to admit that Bogle's arguments in favor of the index fund have me thinking of joining him rather than trying to beat him. Bogle's wisdom and his commonsense way of explaining things make this book indispensable reading for anyone trying to figure out how to invest in this crazy stock market."
— JAMES J. CRAMER, Money Manager and Senior Columnist for TheStreet.com
"Written in his characteristic forthright and visionary style, Bogle penetrates the myths and jargon to shed a powerful light on the central issues that confront every investor, no matter what their level of experience or sophistication."
— MARTIN L. LEIBOWITZ, Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, TIAA-CREF
"Jack Bogle is one of the great pioneer/visionaries of the investment business. In this book, he shares his knowledge, experience, and judgment to enable us to become better investors. The final philosophical chapters provide insights that may help some of us become better people."
— BYRON R. WIEN, Chief U.S. Investment Strategist Morgan Stanley Dean Witter