THE TAO JONES AVERAGES: A Guide to Whole-Brained Investing

by Bennett W. Goodspeed ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 20, 1983

It was inevitable, of course. After The Tao of Physics and The Tao of Pooh, some-one had to throw in a Tao self-helper for those who picture themselves, like Goodspeed, as a Lao Tsu of money managers. The author imagines that the venerable sage would have made a terrific investor. But, as he tells us, Lao's Tao Te Ching begins by announcing that the Tao that can be told isn't the real thing. Confucius is reported to have said that he was confused by Lao. Still, he didn't have Goodspeed to explain it all to him. Like the best self-helpers, the book contains charts, cautionary tales of wizard practitioners, and clever little tests. This one includes a plug for the author's advisory firm. Here we are also favored with an amalgam of fortune-cookie aphorisms (26 all-purpose rules) and modern brain research. Security analysis, it seems, is heavily into scientific, mathematical mumbo-jumbo, which is a function of the left side of the brain. No instinct. No art. No use of the brain's right side. That's what Goodspeed wants: less matter and more art. Balance your yin and your yang. (Get your spouse to help with investing, suggests the author, because people who favor one side of their brains just may marry those who favor the other.) Fundamentally, of course, this text is logical enough, even when it begins to sound like ""Charlie Chan goes to Wall Street."" Follow ""the Way,"" use your entire brain, practice the art of mental judo on the next stock-market puzzler--and become rich. No sillier than some of the serious entries--and a lot more fun.

Pub Date: Oct. 20, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1983

Categories: NONFICTION