The Davis Dynasty Fifty Years Of Successful Investing On Wall Street

The story of the greatest investor nobody's ever heard of. Of course, serious students of investing and finance have probably heard at least something of Shelby Davis, or at least the fund started by his son that bears the family name. This book, however, brings to life the story of an obscure figure in American business. Born in 1909, Shelby Cullom Davis' upbringing and life spans the gulf between the America of an earlier time and the modern era. He was decidedly WASP in origin and mindset, preoccupied with climbing the social ladder and reaping its rewards. At the same time, the frugal and often bitter Davis amassed a truly staggering fortune. "The Davis Dynasty" is a fascinating read for anyone interested in investing. It's not just a story about one man's life and career; it is also a story of the business climate and stock market in the second half of the twentieth century, from the lows of the late '40s to the computer-boom of the '60s, the volatile market of the '70s to the dot-com mania of the late '90s. Throughout, the author takes care to explain Davis' methods and results and in doing so makes the case for several investing principles, such as specialization, value-investing and holding for long periods of time, through up markets and down.

A good book to read. It validated that value investing works (not cigar butts) and it also highlights how a certain amount of leverage can help an investor. So a fresh perspective on an altered value investing approach of succeeding in investing

A quick read, more like a history than an investing book, but interesting with a few nuggets. Good for a plane ride

This is not a "how to" book on investing and doesn't delve into the intricacies of analyzing stocks, but it shows you how you can buy (at reasonable prices) boring companies that consistently make profits and ride those stocks for decades. I'd never heard of Davis - following 3 generations of successful investors from the same family (who used similar techniques) was really interesting. Well written.

Must read for people who want to build long term wealth for self and their families