It isn't the $21. It's the time it will take to read it. I have a definitive style that works for me. While it is similar to Niederhoffer's methods, I would like to understand what he did and why he did it. I would also like to understand specifically why he bet the farm when he blew up. A man of his intellect knows better, there is no question. I just don't feel like I have the whole story. While I can appreciate his eccentricity, I would be buying the book to improve my performance and learn from his mistakes... (that is to improve my market performance, not my squash game.) This is very strange. I never THINK about buying a $20 book or about other seemingly inconsequential actions. This guy is so night and day, outwardly bizarre and seemingly unable to control himself vs. a quant and mathematical genius with a history of top returns and a blowup. Strange indeed.
I would guess we all would pick A, because we know the difference. I suspect many of the folks relegated to life in the B category are as happy as you and I in their own way. They probably fear the frantic nature of what life would be like in the A category and are happy in their quiet, private world. The money is likely an inconsequential byproduct of the keenly developed part of the brain that disdains the A lifestyle.
>>>If confronted with a decision: a) a clear mind. surrounded with family and friends. making $20,000 a year. or b) $5,000,000 a year. alone...inability to be a social being I'd pick choice (A) everytime. No second guessing.<<< You guys kill me. Vic Niederhoffer gets up from his chair while the CNBC camera still on and from this you deduce that he has "mental issues," probably is led around by his wife, doesn't have any friends? I'm not even going to call that a jump in logic. It doesn't have anything to do with logic. Surely you don't act on such wild-ass assumptions in your own trading. You actually would prefer to listen to guys who are shiny with media polish and hair spray, who are experts in chattering apres-interview with Sue and Ron, who spend more time expounding on TV than trading? Get real! Insana and Sue sure don't take themselves that seriously! Here's some facts: Niederhoffer is on the record as acknowledging that he took too much risk in 1997 in an attempt to stay No. 1. He has also said again and again that he'll never again try to be No. 1. And he has lots and lots of friends. I'm honored to count myself among them.
If someone were sitting down to watch the interview and knew nothing of the man, then yes I think the average person would think the guy has serious issues. I am not saying he's not a genius, he likely is just that. Niederhoffer had an opportunity to interact with Ron and Sue on national TV, promote his new book and maybe win some fans (and interest people in his other current ventures) by giving a few interesting tidbits of useful data. Instead he uses a 100 year timeframe, hinting to buy commodities since they are down 95% adjusted for inflation over the past 100 years vs. stocks which are up 1.5 mm % over the same period. The when Insana gives him a shot at calling the next few weeks, he says retailers should always buy and hold. 100 yr timeframe? buy and hold? Yeah, I was disappointed but I know Niederhoffer is much smarter than he came off. I can certainly see why someone just passing by the tube would think the guy had lost his marbles. Before the interview, I'm going to buy the book. After seeing that, I have to wonder if that's all that's in the book, 100yr timeframes and buy and hold? I'm not saying the guy needs a Ned Riley getup, but at least keep it together til the commercial. Still, I have more respect for Vic than Ned and others of Ned's ilk.
If confronted with a decision: a) a clear mind. surrounded with family and friends. making $20,000 a year. or b) $5,000,000 a year. alone...inability to be a social being I'd pick choice (A) everytime. No second guessing. Wasn't this a movie? Oh yeah, The Family Man - Nicholas Cage as Jack Campbell aka 'Victor N.'??? I don't know I've done a) for so long that I'm wondering if b) is a viable alternative. There's always hookers to go along in those fast cars with you!
Dr. Niederhoffer has a great wife, 6 daughters, and hundreds of personal friends (myself included.) He's one of the most extroverted people I know- he just does it in his own unique way.
This is absolutely crazy. This discussion appears to be all about some armchair psychiatrists discussing someone's mental state based on the fact that MrNiederhoffer walked away from the interviewer's desk before he knew the cameras had stopped rolling. Ever considered that he may have wanted to go for an urgent piss ? Decisions decisions. .All of these critics clearly haven't got $ 21 to spare as the risk is too large !!! Excellent traders are always cautious I guess freealways (to piss when one wants to - or needs to)
what discipline exactly is the good doctors doctorate in ?? OR is it one of them HONORY thingys ?? JaCk
Dr. Niederhoffer received his undergraduate degree from Harvard and earned his doctorate in finance from the University of Chicago. I should point out that he does not tend to throw around this title very often. On both his bookcovers, his name is printed without the 'DR.' title. His friends just call him Vic. The only time he'll refer to himself as 'Dr. Niederhoffer' is when he's getting medical treatment from an M.D. They tend to give better treatment to fellow doctors.
Look, let me explain. I never attacked VN or insulted him. What I am saying is that IMO the interview was a bit odd (not that he left a little early but the actual interview itself was rather odd). But I do have to confess that I have rarely agreed with anything that VN has said in the past.