Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets / Agora Series (PDF)

An insightful look at how to succeed by going against the
crowd

Collectively, people think and act in ways that are different
from how they think and act as individuals. Understanding these
differences, says William (Bill) Bonner-a longtime maverick
observer of the financial world and the vagaries of the investing
public-is vital to preserving your wealth and personal dignity.
From the witch-hunts of the early modern world to the war on
terror, from dot-com mania to the real estate bubble, people have
always been caught up in frauds, conceits, and wild guesses-often
with devastating results. In Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets,
Bonner and coauthor Lila Rajiva show groupthink at work in an
improbable array of instances throughout history and reveal why
swimming against the current pays.

* Shares the deeper secrets of investing and pushes you to
question what this means for your financial well-being

* Explains why people so often abandon good sense and good
behavior to "follow the crowd"

* Offers concrete advice on how you can avoid the "public
spectacle" of modern finance

The authors' cautionary tale of bubble economies reveals how the
gush of credit let loose by Alan Greenspan has wreaked havoc on our
lives-but their thoughtful and always entertaining approach also
offers some sound investing principles for avoiding the pitfalls of
the public spectacle, thinking for yourself, and protecting your
money, your sanity, and your soul.