The second best book ever written on finance. A brilliant exposition of fundamental academic theories that made successful investment products. But that's not the best part of this book. The book brings out the underdogs of finance - the academics who made investing in stocks safer, sounder and cooler. It lucidly explains - even inspires - why stock markets are not the casinos they're made out to be. It explains simply, sometimes with humor, why stock markets are a great invention in economic history, as they make risk taking possible. Every society needs to support institutions that make riskier decisions possible. Societies don't progress, living standards don't improve unless inventors risk being wrong. Stock markets make these beautiful dynamics possible. Bringing this out beautifully, without compromising on accuracy, is the best contribution of this absolutely amazing book.