The Detective and the Investor: Uncovering Investment Techniques from Legendary Sleuths [Hardcover]

Robert G. Hagstrom (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1587991276 | ISBN-13: 978-1587991271 | Publication Date: October 31, 2002 | Edition: 1

New York Times best-selling author, Robert Hagstrom argues that more than ever before the analytical tools displayed by the best fictional detectives are in fact high-level decision-making tools that can be learned and applied in the investment world. In fact, these skills are desperately needed to counter the market hype that has developed over the past decades.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . Robert Hagstrom's analogies of great detectives' thought processes with financial analysis are both fun to read and intelligible." -- Otto Penzler, owner, Mysterious Book Shop and Editor, Best American Mystery Stories of the Year

"Mr. Hagstrom . . . bypasses the intimidating jargon of portfolio theory . . . makes learning about investing as compelling as reading a good mystery." -- Christopher Davis, CEO, Davis Selected Advisers

About the Author

Robert Hagstrom is Senior Vice President and Director at Baltimore-based Legg Mason Focus Capital, a global financial services company over 100 years old. Its clients include corporations, individual investors, and government entities.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Texere; 1 edition (October 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587991276
• ISBN-13: 978-1587991271
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,268,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Clueless, August 3, 2006

By 

William Rockwell (Chatsworth, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Detective and the Investor: Uncovering Investment Techniques from the Legendary Sleuths (Paperback)

The idea behind this book is that traits of good crime detectives will also be traits of good investment analysts.

This is done by giving small samples of some of literature's greatest detectives. Then you are to apply the traits you see in the markets.

Mystery lovers will be disappointed. As you are never given enough information to solve the detective's mysteries. Nor are you even given the solution as that would spoil your need to read the original. You instead get choppy pieces that don't really shed much light on anything.

Investors will also be disappointed. You are told such wisdom as do your own investigations, look at all the clues, keep an open mind, etc. No one could argue with such logic, however what did you learn from such things that you did not already know?

There are little or no ideas on where to look in the market for opportunity. There are no strategies discussed that have not been covered in dozens of other books.

It is not that I doubt what the author is saying. It is that I do not believe much is said that any reader would not already know. Of course knowing is different than doing, so perhaps someone would read this book and say "Oh yeah, he is right I should not rely on stock analysts" or "Hmmm market psychology would be a good thing to look into".