The Bogle Effect by Eric Balchunas - Book Recommendation

The Bogle Effect is about Jack Bogle, the founder of The Vanguard Group, an American investment management company. The book explores Bogle's life as well as his financial and trading philosophy. This is a book that delves into the betrayal that made Bogle start his own investment management company. It details the company's (Vanguard) growth, challenges, and the influence it has over present-day investors.


WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOGLE EFFECT
The book is expansive and included some of Bogle's own words, giving us not just a third-person view but a first-person's as well. Also, the author did not paint his subject as some kind of saint. This is a book that did not only focus on Bogle's accomplishments - it does examine his dark side and its influence on his work.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO THIS IS FOR
The Bogle Effect is for those who know the man and want to know a bit more about his early days and the way his investing philosophy came together. Those not familiar with the man might be the ones to benefit most from this book as there are many tips about efficient investments and what made Bogle one of the best in the world.

Many thanks to Matt Holt for providing an advance copy.

The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future by Sebastian Mallaby - Book Recommendation

Power Law is a recollection as well as observation of how venture capital works, its impact on the modern economy, and the psychology of the people who have made a success of it. This is a book that tells us stories about how a lot of the most successful companies today got their start and the profile of those who funded them.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT POWER LAW
A lot of Power Law's contents contain quotes and interviews from the power players themselves - the venture capitalists - thus we are not relying on hearsay or third-party quotes.

I also love the background stories and the improbabilities of some of the encounters. They add a conspiratorial flavour to the book.

DISLIKES
This isn't necessarily a criticism but I felt the book was a bit too long. Still, it was a good read.

WHO IS POWER LAW FOR
Anyone with interest in investment, whether it is in form of venture capital, stock trading, ETFs, or otherwise will love the insights Power Law has to offer.

Many thanks to Penguin Press for providing a review copy.