So Far, So Good: The First 94 Years [Hardcover]

Roy R. Neuberger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0471171867 | ISBN-13: 978-0471171867 | Edition: 1

Notorious as one of Wall Street's oldest living legends, Roy Neuberger delivers a truthful and interesting account of his extraordinary life. Focusing on his start in the market from seven months before the 1929 crash, up to the 1987 crash, till today, he shares his 93 years of experience as a market sage. Neuberger also paints a wonderful picture of his love of contemporary art and his role in the art world, his donations to museums throughout the country of hundreds of pieces worth tens of millions.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Founder of the investment firm of Neuberger and Berman, an originator of no-load mutual funds and active on Wall Street since 1929, Neuberger, at age 94, has written both a memoir and an investment guide. Much of his book revolves around his love of art collecting, the reason he says he went to work on The Street. He assisted contemporary artists by buying their works and, in later years, aided many museums, notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase, New York. On investing, he lays down ten basic principles and says most of his success has come from doing the opposite of other investors. He also reflects on charity, politics, and aging. Unfortunately, he fails to provide enough background for the reader to understand him or his work thoroughly; the investment advice is useful but too brief. Though written for a general audience, his book is recommended only for collections comprehensive in business or art collecting.?Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, Pa.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

An engaging if cursory memoir from Neuberger, who at age 94 is still going strong in the challenging worlds of finance and philanthropy. Following a comfortable childhood in New York City, Neuberger (who was orphaned at 13) dropped out of college to work as a fabrics buyer at B. Altman, a carriage-trade retailer. A young man of independent means, he subsequently settled in Paris, where his tennis skills and interest in the fine arts ensured him an active social life. He returned to Manhattan in 1929, just months before the stock market crash, and joined a brokerage house called Halle & Stieglitz. Despite hard times on Wall Street and Main Street, Neuberger prospered in his chosen career and managed to preserve the capital that had been left to him. By now married with children, Neuberger (in partnership with Robert B. Berman) opened his own firm in 1940. Nearly six decades later, the firm occupies a secure niche in the ultracompetitive securities business, largely on the strength of its co-founder's skills at value investing, and can claim credit for creating one of the industry's first no-load mutual funds (Guardian). During the late 1940s, Neuberger began to buy the works of contemporary painters (Milton Avery, Stuart Davis, Peter Hurd, et al.). The quality and quantity of his acquisitions led Nelson Rockefeller (then governor of New York) to build him an eponymous museum on the state university's new campus in Purchase in return for his collection. Complete with tips on achieving longevity, financial security, and emotional satisfaction, an elder statesman's look back in obvious pleasure, albeit no great depth, on a fulfilling life. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471171867
• ISBN-13: 978-0471171867
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,234,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent combination of story telling and valuable info February 7, 1998

By [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover

The Connable's have put together a very informative book. I found it an excellent read, interspersed with valuable insights into investing on Wall Street and in the world of the Arts.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable insights from a pro's pro July 22, 2000

By W.Khan

Format:Hardcover

This is a quick read and is strewn with practical investment advice from someone who obviously knows what he is talking about_____ Roy Neuberger is probably the only man alive who witnessed BOTH crashes (1929 & 1987) on Wall Street ! This book is full of profitable insights and like all masters , Neuberger wastes no words : he is crisp & to the point . Simplicity after all is the essence of true mastery (not to be confused with the simple-minded) and Mr.Neuberger has boiled the wisdom of a lifetime on the Street into these pages .

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A superficial draft, without insight into the person March 17, 1998

By [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover

Roy Neuberger has had an amazing life during an even more amazing time. This lightweight exposition offers little insight into either. I got more out of his interview on CBS Sunday Morning. More could have been gleaned from a short magazine article. Certainly not worth the price.