Economist on Wall Street: Notes on the Sanctity of Gold, the Value of Money, the Security of Investments, and Other Delusions

Peter L. Bernstein

Dec 2008 · Ascent Audio · Narrated by Sean Pratt

About this audiobook

One of the foremost financial writers of his generation, Peter Bernstein has the unique ability to synthesize intellectual history and economics with the theory and practice of investment management. Now, with classic titles such as Economist on Wall Street, A Primer on Money, Banking, and Gold, and The Price of Prosperity, which have forewords by financial luminaries and new introductions by the author, you can enjoy some of the best of Bernstein in his earlier Wall Street days. Peter Bernstein's Economist on Wall Street is a collection of writings from 1955 to 1970. The audio book is especially interesting because so many of Bernstein's observations reflect the most important issues of the present-the outlook for inflation and its control, the intricacies of monetary policy, the future of the dollar, and the dilemmas of household finances. Bernstein was also concerned with developments in portfolio management, including the new influence of institutional investors and rules for optimal asset mixes. He provides light touches, too, as he indulges in fantasies and philosophical musings over a wide variety of topics. With so many years of hindsight, we should not be surprised to find some of Bernstein's predictions running awry. But why? In each instance, these forecasts were biased by memories of the past. There is a big lesson to be learned there. Economist on Wall Street is a remarkable audio book, with lasting relevance and keen insights into the art of investment management, the capital markets, gold and the dollar, and the fun of being alive.

About the author

Peter L. Bernstein graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in economics. After serving as a member of the research staff at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and at the Office of Strategic Services in Washington, Bernstein joined the the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain serving in World War II, and assigned to the Office of Strategic Services. After the war, Bernstein taught economics for many years as an adjunct professor on the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research in New York. In 1951, after teaching economics at Williams College and spending five years in commercial banking, Bernstein became Chief Executive of a nationally known investment counsel firm He retired in 1973 to launch Peter L. Bernstein, Inc. Bernstein was the first Editor of The Journal of Portfolio Management in 1974,and is now Consulting Editor of the Journal. He served on the Visiting Committee to the Economics Department at Harvard University, as a Trustee and member of the Finance Committee of the College Retirement Equities Fund, and as a Trustee of the Investment Management Workshop sponsored by the Association for Investment Management & Research. Bernstein is the author of nine books in economics and finance and he has also written articles in professional journals such as The Harvard Business Review and the Financial Analysts Journal, and in the press, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Worth Magazine, and Bloomberg publications. He has contributed to collections of articles published by Perseus and FT Mastering. He is also a lecturer on risk management, asset allocation, portfolio strategy, and market history. Bernstein has received three major awards from the Association for Investment Management & Research, which include; The Award for Professional Excellence, The Graham & Dodd Award, given annually for the outstanding article in the Financial Analysts Journal for the previous year, and The James R. Vertin Award, recognizing individuals who have produced a body of research notable for its relevance and enduring value to investment professionals.