Common Sense on Mutual Funds by John C. Bogle Summary
Overview of Common Sense on Mutual Funds
In "Common Sense on Mutual Funds," legendary investor John Bogle delivers the ultimate passive investing manifesto. Even stock-picking guru Jim Cramer admitted, "Bogle's arguments have me thinking of joining him rather than trying to beat him." Why fight the market when you can own it?
Similar books to Common Sense on Mutual Funds
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
The Revolution of Low-Cost, Common-Sense Investing
Imagine a world where Wall Street didn't extract massive fees from your investments. In 1975, John Bogle made this possible by creating the first index fund for individual investors. What his competitors mockingly called "Bogle's Folly" transformed the investment landscape forever. Warren Buffett later called Bogle "a hero" who had "done more for American investors as a whole than any individual I've known." Even Fidelity's chairman grudgingly admitted he couldn't believe investors would settle for "average returns" - yet that's precisely what made Bogle's approach revolutionary. The genius wasn't just the index fund itself, but the entire philosophy: simplicity, low costs, and putting shareholders first. From these principles, Vanguard grew from upstart to managing over $7 trillion. What makes this approach so powerful? It's based on mathematical certainty rather than speculation. If the market returns 11% before costs, and active managers charge 2% while index funds charge 0.2%, who do you think wins over time? This simple arithmetic explains why passive investing works - not because markets are perfectly efficient, but because costs matter tremendously over time.
The Undeniable Power of Long-Term Stock Investing
The Mathematics of Investment Returns
The Fundamental Sources of Investment Returns
The Art of Asset Allocation
The Hidden Impact of Costs on Your Wealth
Simplicity: The Ultimate Sophistication in Investing
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Common Sense on Mutual Funds Summary in 10 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Common Sense on Mutual Funds into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 11 Insights from Common Sense on Mutual Funds in a Nutshell
Distill Common Sense on Mutual Funds into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Common Sense on Mutual Funds Lessons Told Through 21-Min Stories
Experience Common Sense on Mutual Funds through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Common Sense on Mutual Funds Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Common Sense on Mutual Funds summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.