Customer Reviews

My Vast Fortune: An Investor's Fiscal Triumphs and Money Misadventures

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In this volume Andrew Tobias shares his adventures in personal finance and politics. The political part is only relevant as a guide to how things are actually done in that arena and also as a warning about how such things affect one's personal finances ( and perhaps as a plug for auto insurance reform). Tobias uses his personal experiences to support his position that slow wins the personal fortune game, even for those with a small fortune to start with. His involvement with auto insurance reform cost him money. His real estate investments are still up in the air. His Russian company and advertisments on smoking hazards worked to a degree. What is really great about this book is that Tobias takes you along on a ride through his personal finances:where his money came from, where it went to. Those looking for a finance guide in this book alone will be disappointed. It is more like the "laboratory research" that supports his point of view in The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need. The only quibble I have with the book is that Chapter 6 Your Vast Fortune appears rushed and scattered. As another reviewer pointed out most of this book is magazine articles collected together. It may be that the parts written to hold it all together are second rate. However, the book is humorous and a good read. It is definitely worth the time. It is also very self-effacing although I am not sure of the sincerity of the author in this regard.

This is an amusing and readable book, and worth reading. To the reviewer below that accuses Tobias of bragging about his "vast fortune,": the title of the book is meant IRONICALLY. It's like calling a bald guy "curly." Tobias obviously has money, but as he put it in his column recently, he's a "minor millionaire" which in the new world of billionaires might make a millionaire think he doesn't have much to brag about. And I don't see that Tobias brags at all: what makes his writing so funny, is he is a master of self-deprecating humor. He puts himself down a lot in endearing and funny ways. So those who think he's arrogant, etc., here, must have minds that aren't very good at comprehending subtleties in life. This is mainly a collection of previously published articles, which results in some dry patches, depending on your interests, but I think you'll find a lot of it worth your time. And, hey, I'm a heterosexual who always votes Republican and I STILL love Tobias' writing (a gay man who is treasurer for the Democratic National Committee, or whatever the heck that organization is called.)

Ah, the elusive and mysterious world of personal finance. I first heard of Andrew Tobias from his website, where he dissects and explains all mutual funds expenses. Not all no-load funds are created equal, and I realized that thanks to him. This book is great to get a sense of who Andrew Tobias is, what his core investing philosophy is, and be entertained in the meantime (he has lived a fascinating life). I can see where those readers who know a couple of things about personal finance might be a bit frustrated with the book, which is more than anything an autobiography. It was certainly worth my while to read it, and I recommend it.

Tobias writes an amusing autobiographical book detailing the origins of his "vast fortune" often with his tongue firmly in his cheek. His social consciousness shows through although his employs vast common sense. He takes on the scourges of modern society...the parasitic lawyers.

The other reviews cover the contents quite well. This is a book that has tidbits which have stuck with me over time, such as Tobias' account of how he purchased air-time in Russia to warn people there about the dangers of smoking and foreign cigarette companies. Probably the most influential chapter for me in this election year is the one on auto insurance reform, in that it paints a picture of Ralph Nader as someone who is all-too-human on this issue. Mr. Nader appears to make up his mind early on to support his lawyer friends, and has a "please don't confuse me with the facts" attitude. Obviously this is Tobias' own view of the world, but as a liberal and a man whose father helped Nader first become famous, he is sad to see Nader refuse to even discuss the issue with him.

The book occasionally meanders through topics and areas with little focus, such as his account of protracted real-estate headaches. That said, it is enjoyable overall in many ways and I definitely recommend it.

I enjoy Andy Tobias, and have since I read his adventures as a Harvard Business School student. This guy is funny and smart.

My Vast Fortune is, as noted in some of the prior reviews, somewhat of a rehash of some of Andy's prior books. But I always learn something, and I like to be up to date on what he is doing.

No, I am not on his payroll, but if Andrew reads his own reviews, (He should) and sales jump 500%, and he sends me a check, I will cash it.

Even if it is for five million, I will cash it. To get that joke, you need to read the book.

Bill White Los Angeles, CA

This book is a random mish-mash of incidents (most of them financially oriented) in Tobias's life. It is hit or miss. But the bits that hit, hit the bulls-eye. Tobias can be a wonderful humorist, and his wit is on display on many of these pages.

This book was rather dissatisfying because it didn't spend nearly enough time talking about how he made his money (short answer: he is a best selling financial-advice author and leveraged that fame to selling financial software = royalties!).

The book spends most of its time on a rambling (was there an editor??) account of his mis-dealings in real estate and social causes.

Definitely NOT a how-to book, I didn't find it as entertaining as a memoir either.

However, I *am* a fan of Tobias, and think his "Only Investment Guide" book is rather good.

I'm a huge Tobias fan since I read his most popular book "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" in eight grade. I'm now 35 and read everything he put out. The content of the book (car insurance lobbying,Russia, and Miami Apartments, etc were all extensive features written by him for Worth Magazine. I felt that I didn't get my monies worth with this one. If you haven't read these previously published articles then by all means buy the book for he's true to form with his way of telling stories in a humorous light.

After reading and enjoying The Only Investment Guide You Will Ever Need, I was really looking forward to My Vast Fortune for some insight into what Andrew Tobias did with all the wealth he has amassed. Unfortunately, rather than elucidating his passionate conviction for various social causes, he mostly rants about his ineffectual exploits into auto insurance reform, property management and anti-smoking campaigns, and boasts smugly of his "vast fortune" as if to belittle the reader. His comparison to Don Quixote is certainly not unfair as they both suffer from delusions of grandeur. As Andrew himself would recommend, don't waste your money.