Zebra In Lion Country: The Dean Of Small Cap Stocks Explains How To Invest In Small Rapidly Growin

Very easy to read, it won't give you any formulas nor techniques on valuation of stocks, but the author is very knowledgeable and he shares his experience in the stock market, giving you his perspective on investing and the mistake that not only others made but that also he made. I recommend it, it will change your view of how the stock market behaves and how you invest your money.

Funny, and informative. Wish I read this 5 years ago.

This book is NOT even similar to Fundamental Analysis, by Graham ( Buffet's peer so to speak - value investing), it is not Technical Analysis book. It is similar to Lynch's book - One up on Wall Street, but better - I am a bit biased possibly - I been in the Acorn Fund since about 1986 or so, and like him I have my BSEE, although I am not as heavily invested or concentrated in that fund anymore. Acorn Funds was bought by Liberty Funds, which was then bought by Columbia (BoA). I would give One up on Wall Street four stars, Wagner gets five, I do not rate it as a fundamental analysis book, nor technical analysis book. It's no longer a small cap fund with 200 million or so in assets when I opened my account in ACRNX - it's now a mid cap growth fund, with 11 billion dollars in assets. ACRNX has been a top rated five star fund, by Morningstar. for the vast majority of time since 1986, if not the entire time, with lower than average risk, low turnover, and superior returns. If you want something like an automated fundamental analysis that I believe you can modify to your taste and Wagner's approach - check out American Individual Investors ( [...] ) and order the stock screening program - it has a stock screening program that attempts to put Wagner's approach and about 30 other expert's selection method into a software program and database for screening stocks. Wagner does indeed attempt to discourage investors from investing perhaps their entire stock portfolio in individual stocks; since, most people do not have the resources or time to do it his way, visiting companies, plant inspections, listen in on corporate meetings/media events, going to the trade shows - classical intelligence work. A critical part of his method - one will never get the best intelligence by satellite alone - that probably will never happen. The additional piece of information that critical - he states that up to 50%of ones stock investments should be in overseas stocks and that was in 1997 - which makes the on the ground intelligence gathering for the vast majority of individual investors near impossible. Then there is the desk work - research of annual reports, SEC filing, etc - Fundamental Analysis. But, Wagner was starting to phase out and going into consulting/semi retirement for Liberty when the Internet was starting coming up to speed or mature a bit - which make it easier for the individual investor. I was slightly surprised that Wagner used options on the S&P index. I plan on at least loaning my copy of this book to my niece, for graduation she recieve a subsription to AAII. I doubt even Wagner would advise some one to buy ACRNX today if they had to pay a load. Nor advise anyone to pay front end or back end load on the purchase of the shares of any Mutual Fund. There just are too many good to excellent funds with good to excellent mutual fund managers that do not have front end or back end loads.

The subtitle claims this book explains "how to invest in small rapidly growing companies". Well, it turns out that, according to this book, the best way to accomplish this is to invest in small, rapidly growing companies. In all seriosness, there is almost no useful advice in this book about how to pick stocks. What this book does explain, in extravagent detail, is why you should not pick stocks, you should use a mutual fund, and while we are on the subject, the Acorn fund (which is run by Ralph) has made lots of money. Also Acorn lost some money here and there, you shouldn't get the impression that the author is claiming infallability. In all fairness, this was a fairly interesting read, and provided some good general insights into investing. But as far as useful insights into choosing small, rapidly growing companies, the reader is left with the impression that this can only be done by professionals. A legitimate viewpoint, except for the fact that this is exactly what the book promises (fraudulently, in my estimation) to explain how to do.

I had to read this for a finance class and it wasn't that great. A short quick read (I read the book in one sitting the day before my report was due) but I don't agree with some of his ideals. Read for yourself and see. Please let me know if I'm wrong and you make millions. If so please share.

I bought this book when it first came out. It is an easy read, but the insights are timeless. I probably read five or six investment books a year. Of those, I re-read very few. This one I re-read every two or three years because it just reinforces the basics and it is enjoyable. Books like this are very helpful in understanding market psychology and volatility. I am a basic fundamental investor, but not understanding fear and greed will impact your successes and losses when dealing with Mr. Market. Do yourself a favor, buy it and read it.

I have spent the last decade working in the investments industry and only wish I had discoverd Ralph Wanger's book sooner. He is right on target with is investment process and philosopy. In addition, his book is not some dry, droll, academic textbook, he is equally entertaining as he shares his words of wisdom!...

If you are looking for a book on how to pick small cap stocks, this book is not for you. If you are looking for reasons why mutual funds are better off than picking stocks on your own, this book will offer you many such reasons. Mr Wanger invests in what I would conclude as a fundamental-value style and indeed there are certain principles that a reader may be able to extract and apply to his own stock picking approach, eg investing in themes, buying value etc. However, the more I read, the more the book seemed to promote mutual funds for the lay investor. Depending on your personal preferences, that may indeed be the way to go for some of you. I offer the following quote from page 237 as a summary of this book: 'Don't overpay, no matter how much you like a company. Invest in themes that will give a company a long-term franchise. Invest downstream from technology. Think and invest globally. Find stocks to own, not trade.'

A great, smart book of depth and breadth to make you a more savvy and wise investor to better be able to spot great businesses to hold for the long term. Very fresh and enriching book! Surprised it’s out of print.

A book with timeless investment wisdom. The author managed Wanger Asset Management and produced compounded returns of over 17% p.a. over two decades. This record is exemplary in the investment world. In this book, Ralph Wanger describes his investment philosophy of contrarian investing in small cap stocks. The book written in lucid language is extremely readable by both individual investors and professionals. The book was written in 1997 but the investment wisdom holds true even during the present time.

The best book ever in investment. You can start smelling the company in a right angel and be benefit for u in longer run. Sachiien Gadade

Don't waste your time on this book it is completely use less.