After many years of financial excess and risk addiction in the markets, we are reaping what has been sown in our economy.  In his personable style, financial legend John C. Bogle, gives us the stark reality of how we got here. 

He shares the story of his own financial theories, and the establishment of his business.  Woven into his talk of financial markets, growth and investment, he shares many personal tales and gives us the real lesson that he is trying to impart, and it is this: As a society, we focus too much on success and not enough on character.  So, when Bogle asks us, “When is enough enough?” he is not asking us when enough investing, growth or development is enough, but when we, personally, will feel that we have enough of what we need. 

He is frank about the overleveraged, overly speculative banking and investment banking industries, and how they have led to the current crisis.  He is also clearly disgusted by the “obscene annual paychecks” of top hedge fund managers and chief executive officers of publicly held corporations. 

But while this book gives the reader a solid background in the financial industry and how various investment organizations and strategies have worked to define and drive our economy, Bogle is really teaching us a lesson in the harmfulness of greed, regardless of what form it takes. 

As he tells us, “In life, we focus too much on things and not enough on the intangibles that make things worthwhile; too much on success and not enough on character, without which success is meaningless.”

Check out Enough for a basic financial industry primer with a thread of grounded personal and professional advice running through it.  I wholly recommend Bogle’s straight talk presented in this unique format!