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John C. Bogle

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Character Counts [Print Replica] Kindle Edition

by John C. Bogle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

3.7 14 ratings

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How John Bogle built Vanguard and transformed the investment worldin his own words

Jack Bogle remains one of the titans of the investment world and a hero to the independent investor, as renowned for his influence as he is respected for his accomplishments. Character Counts is the story of how Vanguard was born, why it has flourished, and what leadership principles and management practices fostered its development.

Covering the period 19742001, the story is told through the dozens of potent and memorable speeches he has given to Vanguard crew members over the years, interspersed with a narrative that provides context and explanation. This "you are there" approach provides new insights into one of the world's most important financial institutionsand into the mutual fund industry itself. Character Counts paints an indelible portrait of the man Fortune named one of the "four giants of finance" of the 20th century.

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304 pages
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English
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McGraw Hill
Publication date

April 15, 2002
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4872 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The founder of Vanguard Group's new book makes you wish everyone in business would read it--and heed it..." -- Robert Barker, BusinessWeek

From the Back Cover

How John Bogle Built Vanguard and Transformed the Investment WorldIn His Own Words

Vanguard has introduced generations of independent investors to the wealth-building might of the U.S. stock market. But it owes its existence to the visionary genius and dogged tenacity of one manJohn C. Bogle, one of the last of a breed of principled and unbending financial legends.

Over the years, Bogle's prescient and fiery speeches to the burgeoning Vanguard staff have also become legend. Character Counts collects those speeches in one volume. More than just an insider's portrait of the reasons behind Vanguard's remarkable success, however, it is a fascinating oral history of the too-long-in-coming empowerment of America's independent investorand the take-no-prisoners attitude of the man who dedicated his life to making it happen.

What they're saying about John Bogle . . .

"I date my success as an investor from the day I met Jack Bogle and learned about index mutual funds."Jane Bryant Quinn, Newsweek columnist, author, Making the Most of Your Money

"(Bogle is) the investment genius who defied conventional wisdom and proved his critics wrong."William E. Simon, former Secretary of the Treasury

"Jack Bogle is one of the great pioneer/visionaries of the investment business."Byron R. Wien, Chief U.S. Investment Strategist, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter

"(Bogle is) a solid advisor in the world of charlatans, false prophets, and hysterics."Financial Times

"Jack Bogle (is) the Molotov cocktail-throwing founder of Vanguard Group."Robert Barker, BusinessWeek Online

"John C. Bogle (has) the mind of an economist and the personality of a preacher."

The Washington Post

Vanguard has grown to become the world's largest no-load mutual fund organization and by far the world's lowest-cost provider of financial services to independent investors. But far more than its unprecedented size and remarkable rate of growth, it is Vanguard's concern for the rights of the independent investor that mark it as the most truly progressive company in the mutual fund industry . . .

And its founder Jack Bogle as the industry's greatest visionary.

Character Counts presents Bogle at his most straightforward and unvarnished, through the words and ideas of forty-two actual speechescomplete with newlywritten commentarythat he has given to Vanguard crew members since Vanguard's founding in 1974. At times fierce and funny, calculated and compassionate, Bogle's words represent an entertaining and insightful chronicle of Vanguard, the mutual fund industry, and the late-twentieth century financial markets.

This remarkable book provides a uniquely candid window into the opinions, ideas, and human values of the man Fortune called "one of the four key financial figures of the twentieth century." Step inside as Jack Bogle holds court on:

The Vanguard ExperimentLearn how Vanguardformed to benefit investors, not managerschanged the fund industry.
PersistenceBogle discusses how his strongest quality in establishing Vanguardstubborn persistencehas been the key to building a company that can stay the course.
Principles He eschews contemporary buzzwords to emphasize corporate character, stewardship, and service to human beingsand demands that his company never lose its soul.
Organizing for SuccessDriving home the mission of the firm, Bogle brings the crew aboard HMS Vanguard with inspiring calls to join in the battle for competitive success
The LegacyBogle hammers home the importance of fair dealing, value, performance, and integrity.
John Bogle has been called the conscience of the mutual fund industry, but that tells only half the tale. Character Counts recounts the real-life struggles John Bogle endured in launching his crusade and seeing it through and the deeplyheld principles that he strove to instill in all who worked with him. At times both humorous and seriouslike the man himselfthis engaging and enlightening collection will be an indispensable addition to the library of every investment historian and Bogle aficionado.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00XB2LJRC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ McGraw Hill; 1st edition (April 15, 2002)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 15, 2002
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4872 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #2,359,980 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #206 in Mutual Funds Investing (Kindle Store)
- #590 in Mutual Funds Investing (Books)
- #1,319 in Company Histories

Customer Reviews:
3.7 14 ratings

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John C. Bogle

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John C. Bogle (Bryn Mawr, PA) is Founder of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and President of the Bogle Financial Markets Research Center. He created Vanguard in 1974 and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 1996 and Senior Chairman until 2000. He had been associated with a predecessor company since 1951, immediately following his graduation from Princeton University, magna cum laude in Economics. The Vanguard Group is one of the two largest mutual fund organizations in the world. Headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Vanguard comprises more than 100 mutual funds with current assets totaling about $742 billion. Vanguard 500 Index Fund, the largest fund in the group, was founded by Mr. Bogle in 1975. In 2004, TIME magazine named Mr. Bogle as one of the world's 100 most powerful and influential people, and Institutional Investor presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1999, FORTUNE designated him as one of the investment industry's four "Giants of the 20th Century." In the same year, he received the Woodrow Wilson Award from Princeton University for distinguished achievement in the nation's service."

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Taylor Larimore

"Character Counts"

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2002

I can't imagine anyone more qualified to write a book titled "Character Counts" than Jack Bogle--often called "The Concience of the Industry." I have read his other books, and his writing gets better and better.
With newspaper headlines describing the ethical failures of Enron, Arthur Anderson, and others, "Character Counts" could not come at a better time. The book is primarily the speeches of Chairman Bogle to his "crew" at the Vanguard company which he founded 27 years ago. A significant portion of the book contains pages bordered in black which explain the phenominal growth of Vanguard and what is happening between speeches.
It is exhilarating and reassuring to read words such as these from the CEO of the second largest mutual fund company in the world:
"Tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth--with no strings attached--and let the chips fall where they may."
"Good ethics is good business."
"One of my principal concerns has been that growth not be allowed to deprive us of the character that got us here in the first place."
"Our shareholders. We must never let them down."
"Treat human beings--from the highest to the humblest--with respect and honor"
"Do what's right. If you're not sure, ask your boss."
"We are utterly committed to a policy that puts a premium on human dignity. We shall succeed by example--from the very top down--and violations will simply not be tolerated."
I finished this book today. Its author, Jack Bogle, sets an example of how to run a business--and live life to the fullest (with a failing heart that eventually was replaced.) "Character Counts" should be required reading for every CEO in American. Whether you are a CEO, a small businessman, or an ordinary worker, "Character Counts" is an easy to read guideline for success and happiness in our daily lives. I give it 5-stars.
Taylor Larimore

33 people found this helpful

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Northwesterner

Atten: McGraw-Hill Will not work with Kindle Voyage -Confirmed by Amazon Customer Service & Tech

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2020

Verified Purchase

According to the publication information McGraw-Hill is the publisher of this title and should be brought to the attention of Editorial as well as their eBook Production. This title will not work with the Kindle Voyage. It fails to download or open on the Kindle Voyage due to formatting issues. It will work with Kindle Fire in its current formatting. If a confirmed McGraw-Hill team member, they are welcome to contact me via Amazon for further details.

One person found this helpful

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James U. Guthrie MD

give this book to your kids

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2003

Several reviewers say not to buy this book because it repeats itself over & over. That is just the point that these people (who must have low SAT scores) missed; namely that virtue and honor do not change.We all learn by repetition and that is what Mr. Bogle does. Vanguard was and continues to be founded on bedrock solid honest principles that will not change.He is especially cognizant of his "Crew" (they are above employees)and their constant contribution to the success of Vanguard. Mr Bogle had a heart transpant in 1996 and remains in vigorous and good health. My favorite quotation of his is "The past is history. The furure's a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." (Page 272) This book could be sold in Christian Bookstores. I am sure many in the financial world cannot or will not understand it.I bought 5 copies of this book to give to my family & friends. It not only gives a history of the stock market for the last 80 years (and the shenanigans), but a wonderful lesson in CHARACTER COUNTS.

16 people found this helpful

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Anon

corporate spin, little insightful analysis delivered

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2010

Verified Purchase

i love books by successful leaders, from John Wooden to Jack Welch
John Bogle is the founder of Vanguard Funds and I admire his low cost index fund investment approach.
however, i am greatly disappointed with this book as Mr. Bogle delivered mostly a history of Vanguard and little about the wisdom behind his success. the book reads like a corporate marketing material with little insightful analysis.

7 people found this helpful

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William

This Book Tells About The Interesting History Of Vanguard

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023

This is an interesting book about the history of Vanguard. Some of the interesting information that is mentioned in this book include the following: Wellington Fund was the first and for many years, the sole fund. The book tells about Vanguard's growth in assets, shareholders, and employees at various stages in its development. Vanguard's strength is its spirit to overcome obstacles. On October 19, 1987, the securities market dropped 22.6% in one day. Vanguard bounced back. On June 23, 1988, Walter Morgan who was the founder of Wellington Fund in 1928 celebrated his 100th birthday. He named John Bogle as his successor at Wellington. Vanguard may have not properly timed the market every single time in its history, but Vanguard presses on and stays on the course.

One person found this helpful

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Slow Reader

Simply Worthless Reading

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2003

Verified Purchase

Having read all of Mr. Bogle's other books, I found this one a total waste of time. Too bad, since his other books are masterpieces!