A Random Walk Down Wall Street

By Burton G. Malkiel

Publication Date 2003 (Revised Edition)
Pages 464
Publisher W. W. Norton & Company
Experience Level Beginner

A Random Walk Down Wall Street offers a comprehensive overview of investing principles through the lens of efficient market theory.

Burton G. Malkiel explains how stock prices are largely unpredictable in the short term yet tend to reflect their true value over the long term.

The book provides practical advice on building a diversified portfolio and debunks many common investment myths with clarity and wit.

  • Efficient Markets

    Malkiel argues that markets are largely efficient, making it difficult to consistently outperform them without taking on extra risk.

  • Diversification

    Spreading investments across various asset classes can mitigate risk and help achieve steady returns.

  • Long-Term Investing

    A disciplined, long-term strategy is far more effective than attempting to time short-term market fluctuations.

  • Passive Investing

    Low-cost index funds offer a reliable way to capture market returns while avoiding the pitfalls of active management.

  • The individual investor should act consistently as an investor and not as a speculator.

    Chapter 1

  • In the long run, markets reward those who follow a disciplined investment strategy.

    Chapter 3

  • Diversification is the only free lunch in investing.

    Chapter 5

  • Investing is a long-term game, where patience is more valuable than short-term gains.

    Chapter 8

Burton G. Malkiel is an economist and professor renowned for his work on the efficient market hypothesis.

His influential book has guided countless investors by emphasizing simplicity, diversification, and a long-term perspective.

Malkiel’s insights continue to shape investment strategies, making complex ideas accessible to both novice and experienced investors.