Sell in May and go away by Jessica Schwarzer is the first part of a small series of books by my favorite author. In these two books, SELL IN MAY AND GO AWAY and HIN UND HER MACHT TASCHEN LEER, she analyzes the most common stock market sayings. Sayings that we read again and again and everywhere and where it is not always clear whether they are just regulars' table slogans or whether there is a grain of truth behind them. In her charming way, she analyzes whether they are still or ever were appropriate today and explains what we as investors can learn from them.
Anyone who has always wanted to know which of these quotes are valuable and which are just for cozy rounds, book will certainly like! The author skillfully tests scientific and explains literary very well understandable, so that even every beginner can follow her well. Jessica Schwarzer thus tests the stock market wisdom for its topicality and practicality for everyone. But she also shows what experienced stock market investors can derive for their personal strategy and how they can use the knowledge of the old masters for their investment success.
For me, this is absolutely timeless and valuable knowledge. One could easily expand this series at some point, perhaps. With new, more quotes, but you quickly realize the old sayings persist. After this book, you'll come across them over and over again.
To give you an idea of what we're talking about, maybe I'll give you a little insight. First of all, the author devotes herself to André Kostolany's sleeping pill strategy:
"Buy a portfolio of solid international stocks, take sleeping pills and stop looking at the papers. After a few years, you'll be in for a surprise." André Kostolany
Kostolany explicitly thought of a positive surprise. Whether this strategy really works, however, is explained to you in the book. However, I will leave the result open at this point.
The following are a number of other quotes, one or the other of which you have surely read somewhere before:
"Be greedy when others are fearful and be fearful when others are greedy." Warren Buffett
"A stock exchange would not be a stock exchange if many fools did not do their mischief there." André Kostolany
"The five most dangerous words in investing are: This time everything is different." Sir John Templeton
One section of this book that I find particularly sad focuses on the shareholder ratio in Germany. As is well known, this is still far too low and not particularly high even by European standards.
Perhaps books like these help to increase the shareholder quota bit by bit. Because some of these slogans that are analyzed here are also used as an excuse by many people. Many use them as an excuse not to feel bad about not investing themselves. On the other hand, the book also contains some very clever and, above all, beautifully analyzed wisdom. These not only make it easier for the reader to get started with the topic, but also help to score points with less well-read investors or stock market refuseniks.
In total, readers will hear about 20 stock market wisdoms and learn a great deal about the interrelationships on the trading floors. Afterwards, there is an extensive glossary for newcomers who want to briefly look up the technical terms.
All in all a very successful book. Especially very nice for in between, if you read the 20 individual sections successively.
For me, definitely suitable for beginners as well, but just as suitable for years of investors. Amusing, informative and beautifully formatted and presented. Just as you would expect from Jessica Schwarzer.