Upcoming Reads

Longtime readers know I have a serious reading problem.  I should probably go long AMZN to hedge my book buying issues (ordered 51 books so far in 2009).  I’m not sure if readers are interested in what I’m reading or not, but I figure I’ll pass it along anyways…At the rec of a good friend, these three are en route:

The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century – David Salsburg

Labyrinths of Reason: Paradox, Puzzles, and the Frailty of Knowledge – William Poundstone

Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth – Apostolos Doxiadus

I was scrolling through the list of best selling investing books Amazon.  My book wasn’t on there (I think I should have titled it “How to Time the Market and Get Rich in Five Minutes a Month!!!)  Honestly, almost every book I’ve read in 2009 has been a backwards looking narrative.  Heavy on what HAS happened and ranting about problems, but pretty light on how an individual or professional can cope with that going forward.

Most, like Bernstein’s new book, default to the old buy and hold and ride it out.   (I actually enjoyed his new book, lots of historical references sprinkled in, but still more of the same old same old.)

A few repeat authors have some new books coming out soon (and one Treasury head with his first!).  All are in pre-order.

The Elements of Investing – Burton Malkiel

The Little Book of Safe Money: How to Conquer Killer Markets, Con Artists, and Yourself – Jason Zweig

On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System – Hank Paulson