The assets under management at the firm had grown more than tenfold by the time he resigned in 1973 to launch Peter L. In 1951, after teaching economics at Williams College and a five-year stint in commercial banking, Peter became Chief Executive of a nationally–known investment counsel firm, where he personally managed billions of dollars of individual and institutional portfolios. Bernstein, Inc., which he established in 1973 as economic consultants to institutional investors and corporations around the world. 'There's a growing market for savants who can render the recondite intelligibly-witness Stephen Jay Gould (natural history), Oliver Sacks (disease), Richard Dawkins (heredity), James Gleick (physics), Paul Krugman (economics)-and Bernstein would mingle well in their company.Founder and President of Peter L. 'A singular achievement.' -Times Literary Supplement this challenging volume will help you understand the uncertainties that every investor must face.' -Money 'An extremely readable history of risk.' -Barron's Against the Gods chronicles the remarkable intellectual adventure that liberated humanity from oracles and soothsayers by means of the powerful tools of risk management that are available to us today.

In this unique exploration of the role of risk in our society, Peter Bernstein argues that the notion of bringing risk under control is one of the central ideas that distinguishes modern times from the distant past. I speak carefully: no one should miss it.' -John Kenneth Galbraith Professor of Economics Emeritus, Harvard University Nothing like it will come out of the financial world this year or ever. 'With his wonderful knowledge of the history and current manifestations of risk, Peter Bernstein brings us Against the Gods. 'No one else could have written a book of such central importance with so much charm and excitement.' -Robert Heilbroner author, The Worldly Philosophers ' challenging book, one that may change forever the way people think about the world.' -Worth

'Deserves to be, and surely will be, widely read.' -The Economist Against the Gods sets up an ambitious premise and then delivers on it.' -Business Week

'An extraordinarily entertaining and informative book.' -The Wall Street Journal an engaging introduction to the oddsmakers, whom Bernstein regards as true humanists helping to release mankind from the choke holds of superstition and fatalism.' -The New York Times A Business Week, New York Times Business, and USA Today Bestseller

The remarkable story of risk