My Vast Fortune: An Investor's Fiscal Triumphs and Money Misadventures

by Andrew Tobias

Overview

Tobias, “the funniest of financial writers” (Newsweek), writes a “refreshingly honest” chronicle (Kirkus Reviews) of his own financial exploits and escapades, in a book that is part financial memoir, part investment how-to, and part comedy of errors. Index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780156006224
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/05/1998
Series:	Harvest Book Series
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

ANDREW TOBIAS is the author of more than a dozen books, including The New York Times bestsellers Fire and Ice and The Invisible Bankers. He has been a regular contributor to such magazines as Time, New York, and Parade, and cohosted the PBS series Beyond Wall Street. 

What People are Saying About This

Christopher Buckley

This book will make you rich. Filthy stinking rich. You will never need to work again. You will spend the rest of your life on the Riviera sipping piña coladas and listening to Sinatra. And even if this doesn't happen, Andrew Tobias will provide you with such a wealth of wit that you will retire with a vast fortune of laughter.

James Stewart

For anyone who hopes to not only get ahead but enjoy life to the fullest, this is essential reading.

Editorial Reviews

Tobias tickles both your sense of humor andyour fancy. You are inspired, upon closing the book, to rush out and save your money.

New York Times Book Review

This quirky combination of autobiography, politics, and investment advice leaves the impression that being (and becoming) wealthy is pretty interesting work.
Tobias's (The Only Other Investment Guide You'll Ever Need, 1987, etc.) journey from prosperous childhood to extremely prosperous adulthood illustrates his basic financial advice: Hold sound investments for a long time and let appreciation and interest do their work; everything else is serendipity or stupidity. He is refreshingly honest about the role played by the former in the accumulation of his fortune, but the real focus of this volume is what he does with what he's accumulated. From a real-estate venture in a rundown Florida neighborhood to an anti-smoking campaign in Russia to a fight for no-fault auto insurance and tort reform in California, Tobias finds opportunities to do good with his money seemingly at random, then pursues them with abandon. The no-fault discussion (some would say obsession) cuts to the heart of his political message: Liberals should proudly embrace their bleeding hearts without developing jerking knees. In an ongoing battle with Ralph Nader and others, Tobias insists that the unlimited right to sue, adamantly defended by Naderites as the little man's ultimate protection against the powerful, actually benefits trial lawyers far more than the victims of accidents. Indeed, Tobias argues that removing exorbitant legal costs from the present system would allow more money to go to accident victims while also reducing insurance premiums. According to Tobias, Nader's opposition to tort reform doomed the no-fault initiative, for once the saint of consumerism pronounced it flawed, rationaldiscussion among liberals was over. Although Tobias does maintain his considerable sense of humor throughout this section, the battle has obviously left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Rarely is the adjective "hilarious" used to modify the noun "capitalist," but here it is appropriate.

Kirkus Reviews