Aswath Damodaran: Read Less. Think More.

In 'Outliers: The Story of Success', Malcolm Gladwell examines the often-overlooked factors that contribute to high levels of success. He argues that success is not solely the result of individual talent or hard work, but rather is influenced by a complex web of advantages and inheritances, including cultural background, family, generation, and luck. The book delves into various examples, such as the success of Bill Gates, the Beatles, and Canadian ice hockey players, to illustrate how these factors play a crucial role. Gladwell also discusses the '10,000-hour rule' and the impact of cultural legacies on behavior and success. The book is divided into two parts: 'Opportunity' and 'Legacy', each exploring different aspects of how success is achieved and maintained.

In this book, Joel Greenblatt provides a straightforward and accessible guide to value investing. He introduces a 'magic formula' that helps investors identify and purchase good businesses at below-average prices. The formula, explained using simple math and humor, has been extensively tested and proven to be effective in beating the market and professional managers. The book also explores why success often eludes individual and professional investors and why the formula remains viable even after widespread knowledge of it. Updated editions include data and analysis from the recent financial crisis and model performance through 2009.

This book provides a highly accessible guide to the stock market, focusing on special situations that portfolio managers and investment experts often miss. It includes case studies, important background information, and tools for individual investors to exploit opportunities in areas like spin-offs, restructurings, merger securities, rights offerings, recapitalizations, bankruptcies, and risk arbitrage. Greenblatt, who has been beating the Dow with returns of 50 percent a year for over a decade, shares his expertise to help readers become successful stock market investors.