Common Sense: The Investor's Guide to Equality, Opportunity, and Growth

Written by Joel Greenblatt

Narrated by Barry Abrams

The United States is supposed to offer economic opportunity to everyone. So why are so many people left out in the cold? Globalization and technological change have ravaged the workforce. Hostile immigration policies actually keep Americans from getting jobs. Our education system is deeply unequal, denying opportunity to millions right from the start. Still, we can't seem to break from the status quo.

In Common Sense, Joel Greenblatt offers an investor's perspective on building an economy that truly works for everyone. With dry and self-deprecating wit, he makes a lively and provocative case for disruptive new approaches-some drawn from personal experience, some from the outside looking in. How do we ensure that all children have an opportunity for a good education? Does getting a college degree have to be a requirement for getting a good job? If we subsidize banks, how do we ensure that the risks and rewards are distributed fairly? Greenblatt shows why expanding an already existing program might help more people than raising the minimum wage, how dramatically increasing immigration would be like giving every American a bonus, and the reason Australia might be the best place to learn about saving for retirement. Not everyone will agree with what Greenblatt has to say-but all of us can benefit from the conversations he aims to start.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ascent Audio
• Release date: Sep 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781663709882

Joel Greenblatt

Joel Greenblatt is the founder and a managing partner of Gotham Capital, a private investment partnership that has achieved 40% annualized returns since its inception in 1985. He is a professor on the adjunct faculty of Columbia Business School, the former chairman of the board of a Fortune 500 company, the cofounder of ValueInvestorsClub.com, and the author of several books, including You Can Be a Stock Market Genius, The Big Secret for the Small Investor, and Common Sense. Greenblatt holds a BS and an MBA from the Wharton School.

Reviews for Common Sense

[Pete Thomas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thorough! As a product of an urban public school system I initially bought the book to learn about the authors' opinions on public schooling. He is incredibly well versed on the topic. The rest of the book was more than I bargained for. He provided an excellent overview of several topics with great analysis and insight and actual solutions. The author covers the problem of underperforming schools, expensive college degrees, immigration, banking and even social security. YES he covers all of that. The pace is fast enough that I was not bogged down but the author provides enough data to make the positions appear actionable. The data means his opinions can be fact check which I appreciate. The author's financial mind is at work and on display. Highly recommended.

[Balaji N Chidambaram · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Worth reading. Thought the book is mainly related to government policy, immigration as free goldmine, retirement benefits for underprivileged etc, I have got to know the guru said still the magic formula works. I’m so happy. Also, I’m going to Australia as a skilled migrant because the Guru Joel Greenblatt also told US has to copy Australian retirement benefits policy. Thank you so much.