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Burton Malkiel’s A Random Walk Down Wall Street Offers Engaging Summary of Investing World

by Burton Malkiel

In his book “A Random Walk Down Wall Street,” Burton Malkiel offers a comprehensive and engaging summary of the world of investing. Through his clear and accessible writing style, Malkiel provides valuable insights for both beginners and experienced investors alike.

Whether you are new to the world of investing or have been following the market for years, this book is sure to provide valuable insights that will help you make informed investment decisions.

Buy a Copy of The Book Now From Amazon!!

A Random Walk Down Wall Street is a financial book by Burton G. Malkiel that was first published in 1973. The wonderful book is based on the efficient market theory and argues that stock prices are largely unpredictable and that it is impossible to “beat the market” without taking on extra risk. Malkiel also provides a basic investing strategy for those who wish to participate in the financial markets. The book has been updated several times and the latest edition was written in 2020.

There are many reasons why someone might want to read the book Random Walk Down Wall Street. For one, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the range of investment options, from the different types of investments available to the different ways that retirement funds are managed through an effective investment strategy.

Additionally, this complete book offers a detailed fundamental analysis and technical analysis of the stock market/broad stock market index and how it works, which can be useful for average investors who are looking to make informed financial decisions about where to put their money.

Finally, the book includes a number of helpful money management tips and asset allocation strategies that can help readers develop a sound mainstream buy and hold proven plan for successful retirement plans.

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Summary of A Random Walk Down Wall Street Book- Markets, Funds, Successful Investor

A Random Walk Down Wall Street is a personal finance book written by Burton Malkiel and published in 1973. The book’s title refers to the random walk hypothesis, which Malkiel uses to explain the unpredictable markets efficient market theory. 

In the book, Malkiel’s central message argues that stock prices are essentially random and that it is impossible to “beat the market” without taking on extra risk. Malkiel’s book was one of the first finance books to popularize the efficient-market hypothesis and the random walk theory, rather than being a stock picker.

A Random Walk Down Wall Street is divided into three sections: “The Efficient Market Hypothesis”, “The Random Walk Theory”, and “How to Use the Stock Market”. 

In the first section, Malkiel discusses the efficient-market hypothesis and its implications for rational investors. He argues that the market is efficient and that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to beat the market. Malkiel also discusses the different types of market efficiency and the evidence for and against the efficient-market hypothesis. 

For the third section, you will have to read the book…

“I have never known anyone who could consistently time the market. And in fact I’ve never known anyone who knows anyone, who was able to consistently time the market.”
book review

Who Is The Book For?

A Random Walk Down Wall Street – A Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing

  • A Random Walk Down Wall Street, by Burton Malkiel, is one of the classic money and investment guides. 
  • It is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the basics of investing in the stock market and diversity of market conditions. 
  • The book covers a wide range of topics, from the history of the stock market to the different types of long term investments that are available. 
  • Malkiel does a great job of explaining the concepts in a way that is easy to understand. 
  • Malkiel teaches readers who are looking for the road to investment success, how to choose stocks, and when to buy and sell them.
  • He also provides a lot of examples to illustrate his points. 
  • The book is well-written and enjoyable to read. It is definitely a book that anyone who is interested in learning about investing should read.
  • This book is essential reading for anyone looking to build a diversified portfolio that will withstand the test of time.

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“Markets are not always or even usually correct. But NO ONE PERSON OR INSTITUTION CONSISTENTLY KNOWS MORE THAN THE MARKET.”

A Random Walk Down Wall Street Quotes

Who Is It Not For?

  • A Random Walk Down Wall Street is not a book for everyone. 
  • While the book may be of interest to generations of investors and those with an interest in the stock market, it is not a book that should be read by those who are not already familiar with the subject matter. 
  • The book is dry and technical, and Malkiel does not sugarcoat the information he presents. 
  • As such, it is not a book that I would recommend to someone who is not already interested in personal finance and successful investing.

“Steer clear of any hot tips. They are overwhelmingly likely to be the poorest investments of your life.”

Burton Malkiel

Book in Bullet Points

Takeaways from A Random Walk Down Wall Street

  • “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” is one of the most influential books on investing ever written providing advice on investing in the stock market using investment strategies and efficient market theory.
  • This classic guide is a book about the simple path of investing, the stock market, and financial success.  The book was first published in 1973 and has since been updated several times. 
  • The book was written by Burton Malkiel, a professor of economics at Princeton University. The book is based on the efficient-market hypothesis, which states that current prices are determined by all available information. It is a timeless piece, through inflation in the 70’s, the dot com bubble, and the bitcoin bubble.
  • The book covers a wide range of topics related to investing, including the history of the stock market, the different types of securities, stock market indexes, and investment strategies. 
  • The book also includes a number of case studies and real-world examples.
  • The book explains the basics of investing in a clear and concise manner, and provides valuable insights into the stock market and how it works.
  • A Random Walk Down Wall Street is an essential read for anyone interested in a guide to investing or the stock market. 
book review

“The point is that it is highly unlikely you can beat the market. It is so rare that it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Burton Malkiel

Book A Random Walk Down Wall Street Review

A Random Walk Down Wall Street, by Burton Malkiel, is one of the most well-known and popular books on investing. Published in 1973, the book has undergone several updates and revisions, with the most recent edition being released in 2020. 

Malkiel’s central thesis is that, over the long-term, the stock market will outperform other investments, such as bonds and real estate. He also advocates for a diversified investment portfolio as a means of minimizing risk. While some of Malkiel’s specific recommendations may be dated, the book remains an essential read for anyone interested in investing.

The book’s title comes from the idea that the best way to predict the future direction of the stock market is to throw a dart at a dartboard.  In the book, Burton Malkiel argues that a blindfolded monkey throwing darts at a newspaper’s financial pages could select a portfolio that would do just as well as one carefully selected by the experts. 

Malkiel’s thesis is that the stock market is essentially efficient, meaning that current prices fully reflect all available information. As a result, it’s impossible to beat the market by trying to find undervalued stocks or analyzing company financials. 

The only way to outperform the market, Malkiel argues, is through luck or by taking on more risk. He recommends a diversified portfolio of low-cost, tax-efficient, board based index funds as the best way to achieve market returns. While Malkiel’s ideas were once considered radical, they are now widely accepted by the academic finance community.

Malkiel believes that the best way for individual investors to achieve market-beating returns is to invest in a diversified portfolio of low-cost index funds as opposed to mutual funds. He also advocates for active foundations of money management, but only if it is done at low costs. 

Ways to Buy

A Random Walk Down Wall Street

  • Click here to buy on Amazon A Random Walk Down Wall Street hardcover or paperback version, audiobook, or on Kindle
  • You can buy the book at a local Barnes and Nobles, if you still have one around
  • If you are tight on cash, or don’t want to own a copy of the book there are a few options for you:
    • Buy the book and resell it on Amazon or Ebay to get a good portion of your money back after you have read it.  This is a great option, because if you like the book – you can keep it.
    • Get A Random Walk Down Wall Street at the library.  Depending on your library, you may be able to
      • get the actual book
      • download the audiobook for free
      • or you can download a pdf of A Random Walk Down Wall Street free

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  • I understand many people are looking for a free way to download the audiobook or pdf of A Random Walk Down Wall Street for free.  And if you are determined, you can probably do so.  But please support the authors and either buy the book, or go through the local library if you need a free download pdf of A Random Walk Down Wall Street

“Even if stock prices move randomly, you shouldn’t.”

In conclusion, Burton Malkiel’s “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the world of investing.

Through his clear and engaging writing style, Malkiel provides a comprehensive overview of the world of investing, offering valuable insights for both beginners and experienced investors alike.

Whether you are new to the world of investing or have been following the market for years, this book is sure to provide valuable insights that will help you make informed investment decisions.

4 lessons from A Random Walk Down Wall Street

Michael Ryan
Michael Ryanhttps://michaelryanmoney.com/
A former stockbroker, financial planner, and owner of my own financial planning practice and then a property & casualty agency. I have since retired and decided I want to help individuals and business owners by offering personal financial coaching. And now, I have started my blog - www.michaelryanmoney.com - to bring financial literacy to everyone. In a short time I have already been quoted and featured in US News & World Report, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, and more (https://michaelryanmoney.com/home/press/) As a financial planner, I helped people from all walks of life. If you have questions about money, I will help you find the answers at www.MichaelRyanMoney.com
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