Wednesday, February 22, 2017

When Breath Becomes Air

A lot of us spend our lives delaying gratification. Often, the reward is higher later if you can forego the pleasure today. Value investors know all about this. But there is a risk that tomorrow doesn't come. When Breath Becomes Air is written by a guy who spent his whole life deferring potential rewards, only to be cursed with terminal cancer just as he was about to graduate as a surgeon.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Spring Chicken

A long lifespan is great, but only if you're healthy enough to enjoy it. So how does one expand one's "health span"? This is the central theme in Bill Gifford's book, Spring Chicken: Stay Young Forever.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

Babies need naps. Unfortunately, they don't always agree. So how the $*#)@# does a parent appropriately deal with such a situation? Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child is here to help.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Alliance Aviation Services

I generally avoid cyclical companies: I don't think I can time when cycles turn, so I think there's always a big risk I'll become a bagholder. But there are exceptions. When negative sentiment is so pervasive that prices of even healthy companies fall to extreme levels, I think cyclicals can be great asymmetric opportunities.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Mark Twain was not a good investor. Though he made a ton of money, he managed to lose it on some terrible investments, and went bankrupt in the process. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have any redeeming qualities we can learn from. He eventually repaid his creditors in full, even though he had no legal obligation to do so. Oh yeah, he was also an author who has been called "the father of American literature".