New book uses Darwinian theory to guide investors

Hyderabad Columbia Business School Publishing, an imprint of Columbia University Press, has announced the release of a maiden book ‘What I Learned About Investing from Darwin’ by Pulak Prasad, the founder of the Singapore-based investment firm Nalanda Capital. The book focuses on the philosophy of patient long-term investing based on an unexpected source - evolutionary biology.

While the Kindle edition of What I Learned About Investing from Darwin is already available on Amazon.in, the 328-page paperback version will be on sale from May 16, 2023, onwards. Customers can, however, pre-order the book from Amazon. The book has already made it to the bestseller list in the pre-sales category in India.

In the book, Pulak outlines his counterintuitive principles for long-term gain and provides three mantras of investing: Avoid big risks; buy high quality at a fair price; and don’t be lazy - be very lazy. He makes a persuasive case for a strategy that rules out the vast majority of investment opportunities and advocates permanently owning high-quality businesses.

Pulak Prasad, who has been associated with Warburg Pincus and McKinsey prior to launching his own firm in May 2007, said: “As someone who comes from an investment background, I was always fascinated by the Darwinian theory of evolution. Through this book, I have shared my lessons drawn from core Darwinian concepts, mixing examples from the natural world with stories of good and bad investing decisions. I hope What I Learned About Investing from Darwin reveals why evolutionary biology can help fund managers become better at their craft.”

Since its release in the US in April, the book has received rave reviews from avid readers and the investment community, and is already a bestseller.