Reading

Reading is an enriching activity that can never be overdone. I always keep track of the books I have read in a word file to remind myself the need to increase the running numbers. Below are some books relevant to investment that I have read over the years:

1) Intelligent investor / Benjamin Graham, commentary by Jason Zweig

2) A random walk down wall street / Milkiel Burton

3) Show me the money. Volume 1, Practical readings for investors in Singapore / Teh Hooi Ling

4) Show me the money. Volume 2, Practical readings for investors in Singapore / Teh Hooi Ling

5) One up on wall street, how to use what you already know to make money in the market / Peter Lynch with John Rothchild. Peter Lynch

6) Your money and your brain: how the new science of neuroeconomics can help make you rich / Jason Zweig.

7) Technical analysis explained: the successful investor's guide to spotting investment trends and turning points / Martin J. Pring.

8) Secrets of millionare investors: how you can build a million-dollar net worth by investing in the stock markets / Adam Khoo & Conrad Alvin Lim.

9) Mind Set! / John Naisbitt.

10) The oil factor / Stephen Leeb

11) Who took my money / Kiyosaki, Robert T.

12) The essential Buffett / Robert G.Hagstrom

13) The philosophical investor / Curtis J. Montgomery

14) The prehistoric investor / Curtis J. Montgomery

15) The Ultimate Dividend Playbook / Josh Peters

16) The logic of life / Harford Tim

I seldom blog on investment books’ review as it is too subjective at times to objectively pen down my thoughts. After all, the wisdoms I extract from any book have to be complimented with my actual life experiences before it integrates and forms part of me. In a nutshell, how I perceive investment and life after digesting the books may only be relevant to I, me and myself only.

However, I have been reading lesser investment books these days and am spending more time catching up on current market affairs. Most of the investment books pretty converge to the same theme one way or another. The “trick” is to just package the ideas into different examples or personifications. Essentially, books on fundamental analysis cook the same broth for hungry value investors wannabes.

Following current affairs closely enable me to be forward looking and anticipate the trend ahead. Are we facing an energy crisis in the wake of tumbling oil prices? Or are we looking at a global depression that will wipe off massive wealth and bring banking to its basic mode? What will the world be in the next three to five years? What will be the next bubble? Finance, medical, education, sports and tourism hubs. Can Singapore be a hub of all trades? How can the skills I have be part of the evolving global shift? How do I stay relevant and what additional skills do I need? Is there a future to even stay here?? These are just some of the many questions that I have been querying over the past few months.

Anyhow, The Edge magazine is a comprehensive weekly summary of market updates and investment periodicals. However, the volume of contents can be rather heavy going and I rarely read everything. Usually the new issue gets pile up before I finish 80% of the previous issue. I do get fresh perspectives on the emerging trends every time I digest an issue.

On a daily basis, I usually finish reading ST Money Section within an hour (first thing in the morning) and will make an effort to read the online business times (free after 6pm) at night. The night reading rarely turns out well, as I often (and hate to) read and forget. I prefer to read, think and rethink. It gives reading the real meaning.

Nowadays, I rely on word of mouth for recommendation of good books. I am on the lookout for books that predict future trends. Do drop me a comment if you have such good books to recommend!