Winning the Loser's Game

Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing, Eighth Edition

By: Charles D. Ellis

Narrated by: Andrew B. Wehrlen

Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Technology, information overload, and increasing market dominance by expert investors and computers make it harder than ever to produce investing results that overcome operating costs and fees. Winning the Loser's Game reveals everything you need to know to reduce costs, fees, and taxes, and focus on long-term policies that are right for you. 

Candid, short, and accessible, Winning the Loser's Game walks you through the process of developing and implementing a powerful investing strategy that generates solid profits year after year. In this eagerly awaited new edition, Charles D. Ellis applies the expertise developed over his long, illustrious career. This updated edition includes: new chapters on bond investing, how investor behavior affects returns, and how technology and big data are challenging traditional investment decision; new research and evidence supporting the case for indexing investment operations; and new insights into the role of governance, developing a comprehensive saving strategy, and the power of regression to the mean.

Companies change, and markets and economies go up and down - sometimes, a lot. But the core principles of successful investing never change - and never will. That's why, when you've listened to this book, you'll know all you really need to know to be successful in investing.

©2021 McGraw Hill (P)2021 McGraw Hill-Ascent Audio

Great Listen

Perhaps some reinforcement bias is at work for me regarding this book but I loved it. I've been a huge fan of index funds since the Great Recession of 08 (wish I had got on board 20 years sooner!!). Points are clearly given with strong supporting data and real life examples.

Could have been half the length

This one is aimed at total beginning investors, those who have not studied or created an approach to somewhat consistently profit from market movements. It represents a competent baseline for starting one's investing journey and makes a compelling case for why active management often underperforms the market and why passive index funds are better suited to most every investor.

My first problem is that the book makes this point about five different times, not including intro and conclusion. Secondly, assuming you are sold on the idea, there is scant guidance as to how to actually implement the proposed strategy. Instead, there is a caution that many so-called index funds do not passively track the market, and to watch out for them. Given the target audience, this is nowhere near enough information to enact an effective strategy.

Overall, it's unnecessarily verbose or redundant, yet still lacking in useful strategic information about proper asset allocation or passive index selection. It says you don't need an advisor and then suggests working with one to figure out next steps.

I'd recommend The Power of Passive Investing as a better introduction and jumping-off point for new investors.

Excellent book

This is an excellent book to understand the main points to invest for a general investor

No pdf to see tables / night numbers?!

Really good text, well illustrated with data. However the audio version doesn’t include any pdf. Instead the publisher’s note tells reader to .. buy the printed edition anyway.