Venture Capitalist's Global Journey

Author: Jim Rogers [USA]
Translator: Ling Jianping & Hu Liping
Publisher:
Publish Date: July 1, 2004
Features: In this book, Rogers records his observations, cultural experiences, and thrilling adventures along the way. During his travels, Rogers is a true adventurer; yet beyond the adventures, he uses his unique insights into society, politics, and economics to analyze the current state of countries worldwide in a calm and rational manner. He discusses how to invest, where to invest, how to think about investment issues, how to structure investments, and how to make decisions. Rogers breaks conventional investment thinking and his grasp of market trends is unmatched, as Buffett once said: "No one comes close."
China is a significant stop in Rogers' journey and the country where he spent the most time. "I have driven across China three times, and I had a great time each time. I really want to settle in Shanghai. Shanghai is becoming the most exciting city in the world. The 19th century belonged to Britain, the 20th century belonged to the United States, but the 21st century will belong to China. Across the land of China, you can feel the spirit of entrepreneurship. China is moving toward the world." Rogers writes in the book.
In this wise and insightful travelogue, Rogers shares his experiences and perspectives as a successful investor, revealing immense investment opportunities to readers. Rogers is an explorer who always discovers local investment value wherever he goes. As Western book critics have said, following Rogers is like discovering future investment gold mines. The publication of this Chinese translation will give Chinese investors another chance to appreciate the investment philosophy of the master, while also helping the domestic investment community learn from others' strengths and improve its own weaknesses.
1. Yellow Mercedes-Benz sports car
In 1968, when I joined the investment industry, I had only $600 in my pocket. By 1980, when I left the industry, the money I had was enough to fulfill a dream—to live a life full of excitement. I was 37 years old then. Before that, as one of the co-founders of an overseas hedge fund, I was responsible for analyzing the flow of capital, raw materials, commodities, and information on a global scale. I invested in places where others wouldn’t. I developed virgin markets worldwide, which was a major reason for my success. However, my original motivation for venturing into Wall Street—and for my long-term investment philosophy—was not very common in my field. I wanted to buy freedom and enjoy life to the fullest. I wanted to travel the world and see the world others rarely get to see. Only from the land can one see places others have never seen. Only from this advantageous perspective can one truly understand the world. I wanted to see the real world in my eyes. I have met people who traveled more widely than I have, but almost without exception, they traveled from place to place by plane. I believe that without crossing a country’s borders, finding your own food and drink, getting gas, or finding a place to stay overnight—essentially, without experiencing it firsthand—you haven’t really been to a country.
In late winter 1990, I rode a motorcycle and began a two-year global journey that spanned six continents and dozens of countries. This 65,000-mile trip earned me a place in the Guinness Book of Records, and I also wrote a bestseller titled The Motorcycle Investor—Riding with Rogers Around the World.
Back in New York, before I could even sit down, I started planning my next trip. This time, the calendar helped me—the turn of the millennium. I had an insatiable desire to be on the ground, understand the world, and see what was happening firsthand, digging for the truth. The historical timing of the millennium also captivated me. I planned to spend three years traveling around the world by car at the end of the 20th century, taking the pulse of the planet at the turn of the millennium.