America's richest bestsellers. Common Stocks and Extraordinary Earnings by Philip Fisher. "Investors vs. Speculators" by John Bogle

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What else comes to mind when it comes to the portrait of a modern successful person? Of course, the yacht!

An estate on Rublyovka, a house in Nice, an elegant sports coupe, clothes from Milan boutiques... What else comes to mind when it comes to the portrait of a modern successful person? Of course, the yacht!

In recent years, there has been a serious surge in sales of various equipment for water recreation in Russia. Annual sales increase by 20-30% per year, and no economic crises affect this growth. Both small boats for Sunday rest, and huge sea megayachts disperse like hot cakes.

Even with the mentality that is typical for our country, when you can meet a student in the subway in a D&G T-shirt, bought with money saved from three scholarships, or managers driving around in business-class cars, but having no housing of their own, owning a yacht remains the lot of a special circle - the club of wealthy hedonists, a society of truly respectable people.

Who are these chosen ones? What are the most relevant trends in yacht construction today? What does it cost to maintain a ship to its owner? For answers to these questions, the correspondent went to the Moscow Yacht Festival, where he talked with the exclusive representative of Wendy Marine, one of the most famous shipyards in Norway, Mikhail Ulyanov.

What is a modern yacht?

Today, owning a yacht, along with a private jet, is a sure sign that a person belongs to a political or economic elite. Yacht owners are people who know a lot about life and are ready to pay for their premium status. The discussion of who spent their vacation on what yachts has become one of the most popular topics in Russian sybarite circles, and only the lazy one does not know about the characteristics of the new yacht of the Governor of Chukotka.

The concept of "yacht" really includes both a ten-meter sailing vessel and a hundred-meter cruiser. The cardinal differences depend on how the yacht is set in motion. This is either a sail - and then the yacht is "sailing", or an engine - and, as a result, it is called "motor". Motor, in turn, are divided into gliding (develop high speed and are optimal for “weekend” walks) and displacement (mainly sea cruisers). Shipyards usually specialize in either sailing or motor yachts, although there are companies that build both. It so happened that sailing yachting is not so popular in Russia, although recently there has been a noticeable revival in this area. Therefore, the lion's share of yachts purchased in our country are motor yachts.

How popular is water recreation in the world?

Very popular! Suffice it to say that only in the USA there are about three thousand yacht brands, and in one of the cities of Italy, seventy-six manufacturers peacefully coexist! And more than a hundred companies are represented on the Russian market today.

Yachting is fashionable? If yes, please tell us about the latest trends.

In general, yachting is quite conservative. Unlike the automotive industry, new trends in yacht design appear every 10-15 years. Recently, the fashion for powerful sports yachts has become an obvious trend, they are becoming even faster and even more luxurious.
Why are yachts so expensive?

Both for the construction of yachts and for their decoration, the latest exclusive materials and technologies are used. Shipbuilding is quite science-intensive and requires an extremely serious attitude. The hull of the boat can withstand huge dynamic loads. It happened that the frivolous attitude of some shipbuilders to the production of a yacht led to the fact that the hull simply cracked on a good wave. Manufacturers of yacht equipment, due to very strict requirements and the highest reliability of their products, can also be counted on the fingers. And there is nothing to say about the decoration - luxury in all its manifestations - genuine leather, teak, mahogany, marble, expensive alloys.

What awaits the new owner? They say that maintaining a yacht is no less expensive than buying it...

Maintenance costs are about ten percent of the cost of the boat. For the winter, yachts are lifted out of the water and "preserved", and in the summer the yacht needs a crew. Store them, as a rule, in boathouses. Therefore, the owner of such a vessel spends at least twenty thousand conventional units a year, even if the yacht does not budge at all. A special item of expenditure is fuel. For example, this fifteen-meter boat, on which we are now, consumes about two tons of fuel in twelve hours. And the luxury tax in Russia is one of the highest in the world - 30%. So, if your friend owns a yacht, then he definitely shouldn’t complain about poverty. By the way, there is one incident in the life of Russian shipowners. The boat needs to be registered with the military registration and enlistment office! Apparently, for use in case of war as a torpedo boat.

And what about the infrastructure? I heard that some time ago there were serious difficulties with this in Moscow.

Now the situation has changed. Yacht clubs are growing like mushrooms. Marinas (equipped "parkings" for yachts) have swept almost all the beaches from the banks of the Moscow River and reservoirs. So, the owners do not experience any problems with parking or gas stations. Unique establishments have appeared, for example, restaurants, to which you can moor by boat.

Is the typical yacht buyer a respectable gentleman wearing Dupont glasses?

Completely optional. Once with the words “can I see the boat?” we were approached by a man in sweatpants, who arrived in the sixth model of a Zhiguli. I studied the offers, and the next day, on the same “six”, I arrived with a plastic bag of money to make a purchase.

Are there women among the customers?

Yes, it's rare, but it does happen.

Perhaps their orders are particularly original. Imagine a pink yacht with rhinestones...

Well, rather, these are not quite ordinary women. As a rule, they are familiar with yachting firsthand and they have a strong marine handshake.
For sure Russian market in the field of yachting is different from the world?


Of course. Let's start with the fact that in Russia it is customary to order boats in the highest trim levels. Moreover, sometimes these desires take rather curious forms, for example, one of the clients on a fifteen-meter yacht ordered eight refrigerators.

Foreigners are also amazed by the huge three-deck yachts in Moscow yacht clubs. By the way, they often do not depart from the pier at all, since they are used by the owners almost exclusively for parties.

Now it is customary for the Russian elite to have two yachts - one in Moscow (and often this is a rather big sea vessel) and one somewhere on the Mediterranean or Adriatic Sea.

Each yacht is a one-piece product, exclusively individual, built according to the wishes of the most sophisticated and refined public. Therefore, the manufacturer is not surprised by anything and is ready to fulfill almost any wish of the client. Each owner is trying to bring some kind of "trick" to the construction and design. This is how boats with helipads integrated submarines, transparent inserts in the bottom or dance floors. Often, venerable designers of the level of Philippe Starck are involved in the design.

By the way, the lead time for an order for small yachts is on average about nine months, so this is actually the birth of a new creature.

Are there any features inherent in national yacht shipyards?

The best yachts are produced in England, Italy, Holland, Norway, Germany. A little simpler are American, Korean boats, ships made in the United Arab Emirates. Recently, Chinese and Russian manufacturers but the quality of their products still leaves much to be desired. Italian yachts are distinguished by the most exquisite design, while Norwegian yachts are famous for their amazing seaworthiness and the highest quality manufacturing.

Returning to the question of quality, how will yacht sellers exist under the Amendments to the Consumer Protection Law that have come into force (recall that if the goods were under repair for more than 40 days during the year, you have the right to demand a refund of its full cost )?

We are calm about the quality of our ships, this is the “horse” of Norwegian shipbuilders. The strength of our boats can be evidenced by a curious case when one of the clients at full speed in the dark "jumped" ashore. The yacht was not damaged, nor was the owner, although we do not recommend this way to leave the water for our clients.

How do yachts feel in Russian realities, are they designed for sailing on warm European seas?

I wouldn't say so. The climate in Scandinavia is not too different from ours. The yachts are fully adapted even to near-zero temperatures (for example, in addition to a powerful air conditioning system, there is also an autonomous heater), and the hull is completely capable of withstanding -50 degrees. The boat has everything you need: from well-equipped cabins, to modern systems communications and life support. There is even a watermaker, so as long as there is fuel on board, nothing can stop the VIPs from enjoying the trip.

Of course. Each cabin has Internet and satellite communications!

How many people personally manage their own ship?

Yes, a lot of people enjoy it. For example, the owner of the boat on which we are, with pleasure, takes the helm himself.

There are examples among people who bought a yacht and eventually became real enthusiasts. Some of our clients, without expecting it, become true fans, devoting a lot of their time and money to this cause.

Since for many, buying a yacht is a matter that they encounter for the first time, do beginners have problems finding a place to moor and store, with service?

Absolutely none! After all, a yacht is a luxury item, and therefore the approach to the client is absolutely exclusive and as individual as possible. The company that sold the vessel is ready to take on all the problems of its operation, from finding a yacht club to hiring a crew.

17 books about business and investment that billionaire Warren Buffett mentioned in his interviews, articles or letters to shareholders.

According to Pulse, when Warren Buffett was just beginning his career as an investor, he read between 600 and 1,000 pages a day. Now a famous entrepreneur spends up to 80% of his time reading. “My job is essentially to put together a lot of facts and data to see how they interact,” Buffett himself said in an interview.

The editors of Pulse have studied Buffett's interviews over the past 20 years and identified 17 books that the entrepreneur recommended reading during these conversations.

1. The Smart Investor, Benjamin Graham

Buffett read this book when he was 19 years old. According to the entrepreneur, labor helped him build an “intellectual platform for further development as an investor." To be successful in business, Buffett says, you need an intellectual basis for making decisions. This is exactly what the book gave him.

2. “Securities Analysis”, Benjamin Graham

According to Warren Buffett, one more work of Graham actually helped him to create the "map" of investments, which he has been following for 57 years. As the entrepreneur notes, Benjamin Graham is the second most influential figure for him after Buffett's father. "Ben was a great teacher," says the billionaire.

3. Common Stocks and Extraordinary Earnings by Philip Fisher

Philip Fisher specializes in investing in innovative companies. Despite the fact that he does not occupy the same place in Buffett's life as Benjamin Graham, the entrepreneur highly appreciates his work. "I'm willing to read whatever Phil wants to say with his books, and I encourage you to do the same," he says.

In "Common Stocks and Extraordinary Earnings," Fischer explains why it's important to keep an eye on more than just financial reporting company, but also to study the management principles that its management uses.

4. Stress Test: Reflections on the Financial Crisis by Timothy Geithner

Warren Buffett believes that every manager should read this book from the former US Treasury Secretary on the financial crisis.

“Many books have been written about how to manage a business in difficult times. But this book describes the strategy of managing an entire state in difficult times - and moreover, it was written by someone who himself was engaged in this.

5. "The Essays of Warren Buffett" by Warren Buffett

"If you want to understand how Warren Buffett thinks, you should read Warren Buffett's own book," writes the Pulse editor. One of the thoughts from this book: “What can be more profitable than to have in an intellectual competition (whether it be chess or trading in securities) an opponent who is convinced that thinking is a waste of time?”

6. “Jack. My Years at GE by Jack Welch

Warren Buffett mentions this book in a letter to the shareholders of his company, written in 2001. Jack Welch - former top manager General Electric Corporation - Buffett describes as a smart and energetic person.

According to Bloomberg, Welch's experience will be useful to any leader - he has had such a big impact on the modern business environment. Buffett strongly recommends a copy of his book.

7. The Rules of the Best SEOs by William Thorndike

Buffett also mentioned the work of Thorndike in one of his letters to shareholders - already in 2012. The billionaire notes that this book is "a wonderful story about managers who excelled in a particularly prudent distribution of capital." One of the chapters of the book is dedicated to entrepreneur Tom Murphy - Buffett calls him the best manager he knew.

8. "Investors vs Speculators" by John Bogle

John Bogle is the founder of Vanguard Group, a large American investment company that manages over $3 trillion in assets. In his book, he reveals the idea that long-term investment in the world market has supplanted short-term speculation - citing both theoretical and practical examples and evidence.

In addition, Bogle gives some valuable advice to novice and experienced investors - for example, he urges you to always remember that what is in fashion today will not necessarily be as popular tomorrow.

9. “Business adventure. 12 Classic Wall Street Stories by John Brooks

In 1991, writes Pulse, Microsoft founder Bill Gates asked Buffett to talk about his favorite book. In response, the billionaire sent Gates his copy of Business Adventures.

According to Bill Gates, this book serves as a reminder to him that no matter what happens, the principles of building a business always remain the same. The founder of Microsoft writes: “On the one hand, in any business there is a human factor. But it does not matter if you have a great product, a plan for its development and a well-adjusted marketing strategy. True, you still need good people to carry out these plans.

10. "", Fred Shved

In his 2006 letter to shareholders, Buffett called the book "the funniest investment story ever written." “She conveys a lot of really important messages to the reader in an easy manner,” writes the billionaire.

11. "Essays In Persuasion" by John Maynard Keynes

“Even though this collected writings from the legendary economist were published over a century ago, it is still one of the must-read books for financiers,” writes Pulse. One of Keynes' famous writings is Economic Opportunity for Our Grandchildren, in which he suggested that today's generation could only work 15 hours a week.

Buffett believes that Keynes's essay can really help to understand the structure of the securities market.

12. The Smart Investor's Guide by Jack Bogle

In a letter to shareholders written in 2014, Buffett suggests that anyone seeking financial advice should read Bogle's The Smart Investor's Guide instead. In the book, the author, based on his own experience with clients, tries to help readers use index investing to build wealth.

Fans of the book note that it is not boring at all, and the graphics and statistics in it are diluted with jokes and practical advice.

13. Poor Charlie's Almanac by Peter Kaufman

A collection of speeches and articles by Charlie Munger, an American lawyer, economist and professional investor. In a letter to shareholders in 2004, Buffett wrote: “The professional community has been trying for too long to find out if Charlie is the reincarnation of Ben Franklin. The answer to this question is contained in this book.

One of the most interesting articles included in the book is the discussion "The Psychology of Human Error", in which the author describes the cognitive traps that investors often face.

14. "The Most Important Thing" by Howard Marks

According to the billionaire, this book is very useful for the investor, which "is a rarity." In his work, the founder of Oak Tree Capital, Howard Marks, told what mistakes he made on the way of the investor, how he coped with them and what he learned for himself.

15. "Dream Big", Christian Correa

In the book, Correa describes the history of the three Brazilian entrepreneurs and investors who founded 3G Capital and the style of their management of the firm. Buffett recommended this work in his letter to the company's shareholders in 2014.

16. "Start with a Dream" by Jim Clayton and Bill Rutherford

Jim Clayton grew up in a sharecropping family in Tennessee, and when he grew up, he founded his own company Clayton Homes - today one of the largest manufacturers of mobile and modular homes.

Fred Schwed's 1940 book Where Are the Clients' Yachts? (Where Are the Customer's Yachts?) is considered a classic investment work. Its name was born from a once-popular joke about Wall Street: a guide showing a visitor to New York's financial district draws his attention to several beautiful ships anchored off "Look," says the guide, "these are the yachts of brokers and bankers." To which the naive visitor says, "Where are the yachts of clients?" Swede's book, based on his own experience, takes a satirical look at Wall Street in the spirit of Twain She also gives some insightful philosophical definitions, for example: "Investment and speculation are considered to be two different things, and the prudent person is advised to pursue the former and avoid the latter. It's like explaining to a troubled teenager that Love and Passion are two different things."

Born in New York, his exposure to the machinations of Wall Street began early - his father was a member of the New York Border Exchange ( New York Curb Exchange - the former name of the American Stock Exchange - American Stock Exchange). The Swede studied at Princeton, but he was kicked out of his senior year - at night he was caught in a dorm room with a girl. He completed higher education at Columbia University. After graduation, he worked as a reporter for The New York Times and then for The Wall Street Journal before working on client accounts at a stock exchange. brokerage firm. Obviously, he didn't have a very high opinion of his job, judging by what he said about mutual fund salesmen: "They are quite comparable to life insurance salesmen. Remember how these life insurers work: at first they cause little irritated, then become nauseous, and then push the policy right down your throat."

The Swede also dabbled in trading, but claimed he didn't get rich as a trader because he listened to a cynical Irish colleague: "What were securities created for in the first place?" the Irishman said. "They were created to be sold, so sell them." ". This cynicism, of course, is demonstrated in "", for the Swede ridicules the Wall Streeter who considers himself a prophet, scientist and magician of money.

Donald Trump (1987)

45 weeks on the bestseller list scientific literature according to the New York Times; sold over 3 million copies since publication.

"Call Me Ted" (Call Me Ted)

Ted Turner (2008)

Four weeks on the New York Times list. Sold 322 copies, 117 of them in the first year.

"What I know for sure" (What I Know for Sure)

Oprah Winfrey (2014)

Recently, Winfrey has sold 31,256 copies, keeping her on the New York Times list for two weeks since the book was published in September.

Authors with the highest income

James Patterson's "bestselling factory" is back at the top of our list of authors with the most high earnings, after languishing for a year in second place. Patterson made $90 million from 13 books published in 2013, a staggering 221% more than runner-up Dan Brown.

This year the list is full of regular heroes. This is Daniela Steel, Stephen King, JK Rowling. The most notable newcomer is 26-year-old Veronica Roth, a young adult fiction star whose Divergent trilogy has earned $17 million (the film adaptation of the same name, released in March this year, grossed $151 million in the US).

Most conspicuously missing from the list is the one who swept Patterson from number one last year, Erica Leonarda James, whose Fifty Shades of Gray trilogy sold 1.8 million copies in 2013. This is significantly less when compared with more than 29 million sold a year earlier. The writer's income has dropped from $95 million to $10 million, which is apparently still enough to keep herself handcuffed and silk scarves.

Buffett Book Club

In his annual address to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Warren Buffett noted a slight decline in the company's performance and, in this regard, made recommendations on the literature to top management.

2001: "Jack. My years in GE (Jack: Straight from the Gut)

Jack Welch

"Get a copy!.. Joe (Brandon, later CEO of General Reinsurance Corp.) is a lot like Jack."

2006: "Where are the clients' yachts?" (Where Are the Customers' Yachts?)

Fred Shwed

"The funniest book ever written about investing."

2006: Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Witand Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

“An unfortunate soul asked Charlie (Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire) what she should do if she did not enjoy reading the book. Munger advised, "Not a problem—just give it to someone smarter."

Many people dream of owning their own snow-white yacht, but, alas, not everyone can afford it. Nevertheless, the number of lucky people who have a “cottage with a motor” on the water somewhere in a reservoir near Moscow or in a Montenegrin marina continues to grow. The correspondent went to the British port city of Plymouth to the Princess shipyard to see firsthand what the production of luxury motor yachts looks like.

city ​​adopted

Plymouth has been linked to the sea for centuries. From here, the famous Admiral Drake set off on his dashing campaigns, the pilgrims who laid the foundations of the American colonies climbed aboard the Mayflower, and the naval base to this day serves as one of the main objects of the Royal Navy. Once upon a time, warships were also built here with might and main; today, however, the largest shipyard in Plymouth is engaged in a purely civilian fleet - luxury motor yachts. For more than half a century, Princess has been launching her boats, recognized by industry experts as one of the best in the class.

Work is underway at five sites scattered throughout the city. In one huge workshop, parts of plastic hulls are stamped, in another, flybridges are assembled; a separate room is reserved for the installation of a variety of wiring (it is several kilometers in an average yacht). The special pride of the company is its own furniture production. By the way, many designers are working on the interiors. famous brands- the shipyard belongs to the leading luxury holding LVMH, which affects both prices and clientele. The Princess yacht will cost the customer at least half a million pounds. Some may prefer the cheaper offerings of aggressive newcomers from Turkey and China, but in the case of buying one of the world's most luxurious vehicles, the savings are redundant. “Turkish and Chinese shipyards are not competitors for us. When a customer wants real quality, they turn to us or to the Italians,” comments Sales Manager Simon Colebrook, who leads the tour of the workshops.

Owning a yacht is the ultimate, unsurpassed epitome of luxury, says Princess Yachts marketing director Kiran Haslam - and it's hard to disagree. Therefore, the attitude towards the creation of each yacht is reverent: despite the widespread use of advanced technologies, a lot is done by hand, with precise adjustment to the micron. Princess Yachts launches about 300 hulls a year, but the construction of each yacht takes at least three months (for the largest, 40-meter Princess 40M - up to two years). Of course, for their money - and waiting time - customers expect only the best. And to fulfill their whims regarding the appearance: according to Colebrook, “the client can order any color of the case. It seems that the most extravagant was the color of the sea wave, but for some reason no one ordered a pink yacht yet.

At the request of the client, the shipyard also installs third-party equipment: from lighting ordered from leading European companies to media centers. “The audio and video system installed on our yachts is usually Naim, Harman Kardon or JL Audio. The last word, of course, belongs to the client - on big boats cost of custom entertainment center can go over half a million pounds,” Colebrook explains. You can immediately order "water toys" like the popular underwater vehicle Seabob, reminiscent of an armory gadget.

Industry and nature

Princess yachts are bought by clients all over the world, but the Russian market has always been one of the most important for the shipyard. Last year, Russians purchased several dozen yachts of various lengths, flybridge models are especially popular. For the convenience of customers, the official Russian dealer of the shipyard, Nordmarine, operates not only in Moscow, but also in the Principality of Monaco - for obvious reasons (primarily climatic), many prefer to keep the yacht in the Mediterranean. By the way, unlike other segments of the luxury industry, yachts remain the bastion of the stronger sex. “Most of the clients are still men. But the woman's opinion is often decisive when choosing options,” says Colebrook.

The shipyard is especially proud of - special room, where full-size models of yacht interiors are built. “Here we can really test whether it is comfortable to sit at the helm on the flybridge, whether something is blocking the passage to the bed in the owner's cabin, whether the stairs are comfortable,” Colebrook explains. According to the company's management, not every shipyard can afford such a "pilot production" - it occupies a considerable area. By the way, the building that houses the model room is also not quite ordinary. This is an old military fort that once protected the approaches to the city from the sea. It also contained barracks and a prison for the sailors of His Majesty's fleet. The shipyard bought the buildings from the state, but, since they are classified as cultural heritage monuments, it is obliged to preserve them in their original form. And not only outside - behind a small door next to the mock-up there is a chamber in which death sentences were carried out. The scaffold is still in place, as is the crossbar on which the hangman's noose was fixed. “We have morning meetings here sometimes,” Colebrook jokes, pointing to the grim legacy of the past.

However, Princess cares not only about the past, but also about the future. The shipyard actively cooperates with the British Marine Conservation Society. In particular, the firm finances research and work to preserve the unique marine fauna and flora in the area of ​​Eddystone Lighthouse, located 20 kilometers from Plymouth on the high seas. The lighthouse was built three centuries ago to warn ships of the dangerous reef on which it rests. “We are very proud to be the first yacht brand to partner with the Marine Conservation Society and we are 100 percent committed to this project. The ocean is ours playground and a concern for the entire Princess community. Not only the company itself and our customers are involved, but also distributors. I would especially like to point out financial assistance from Nordmarine, our distributor in Russia,” emphasizes Kiran Haslam.

In addition, the shipyard has provided funds for the ringing of sea turtles in the Caribbean - this allows you to track the migration of animals and often saves them from falling into tourists' plates as a local delicacy. “It may seem strange to some that we are concerned about the problem of turtles on some distant islands. But that's where our clients spend a lot of time on our yachts - and we can't stay away,” says Haslam.

The final part of the tour of the shipyard (which, by the way, stretched over two days - the total area is almost three hectares) is dedicated to the novelty - the Princess 55 flybridge with huge windows and a spacious master cabin, as well as yachts preparing to be launched. They stand on mobile stocks, with huge wheels the height of a man, and so far seem to be giant sea monsters thrown onto land by the will of the waves. But as soon as the yachts slide to the quay wall and find themselves in their natural element, they seem to be transformed, taking on the proud look of independent beauties familiar to every yachting fan. However, they still have the final finishing of the interior and cabins ahead of them, after which they will be sent on a journey to their home base.