The Most Popular Investment Book Today is Over 65 Years Old

If you check out the list of the top selling books on Amazon in the Investment category, you would see that the investing related book at the top of group is The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel by Benjamin Graham. The book was written over 65 years ago, back in 1949.

The book is considered a classic. The approach that Graham covers is value investing on a long term basis, while minimizing risk and loss.  Here is what Warren Buffett has to say about the book: "By far the best book on investing ever written."

Amazon readers like the book also, giving it an overall average rating of 4.5 stars. If you are an investor, and haven't read  The Intelligent Investor, you really need to get a copy and read it.

The World's Most Expensive Investment Book at $1979

Do you believe that the most expensive advice is the best advice? Do you believe that you have to pay for quality? Then you might want to consider buying the book Margin of Safety: Risk-Averse Value Investing Strategies for the Thoughtful Investor by Seth Klarman, extremely successful portfolio manager of The Baupost Group. Unfortunately the book is out of print but it is available through Amazon (AMZN) at very high prices. Currently three Amazon sellers are offering a new version of the book at prices ranging from $1,979.95 to $2,399.99. If those prices are too rich for your blood, then you can always buy a used copy for only $989.99. According to some of the Amazon comments, it is one of the most-stolen library books.
So why is the book so successful? First, Klarman is an extremely successful money manager. Second, the print run for the book wasn't that big. Third, the book has been out of print for about twenty years, based on my understanding. Fourth, because of all these reasons, the book has become a collector's item as opposed to a book.
And what's the book all about? Value investing, which he covers in extensive detail. He also continuously promotes the philosophy of maintaining a margin of safety. This hardback book is 249 pages long and is published by HarperCollins. Surprisingly, it ranks #23 in the category of Books > Business & Investing > Investing > Bonds.
You probably don't want to buy the book as a gift for someone (you would hate to find out it ended up in a charity book sale). But if you are interested in it for yourself, and price is no object for you, you should get Margin of Safety: Risk-Averse Value Investing Strategies for the Thoughtful Investor.