For non-perishables - ideas, institutions, business models - expected remaining life grows with age, because each year survived is evidence of robustness. Investors use it as a base rate for durability: a franchise that has repelled competitors for fifty years earns a longer forecast than one that has managed five. The burden of proof sits with whoever says this time is different.
Rare, unforeseen, high-impact events drive history, explained only after the fact.
“The message of The Black Swan is how important it is to realize that the things everyone rules out can still come to pass.” — Howard Marks
Source: Oaktree memo 'The Limits to Negativism'
Recommended by: Howard Marks, Marc Andreessen, Nat Eliason and 18 others
Incerto volume 4
“Nassim Taleb, author of the new book Antifragile, praises volatility and criticises those who would artificially damp it at great unseen cost. Taleb advises us to be 'anti-fragile'. This is exactly…” — Seth Klarman
Source: Klarman on Taleb's praise of volatility and what Baupost strives for
Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai, Nat Eliason and 25 others
Incerto volume 5
Recommended by: Nat Eliason, Ana Fabrega, Ben Horowitz and 12 others
What companies that lasted over a century have in common, from a Shell planner.
“Recently, I came across two books on long lived companies: ''The Living Company, Habits for Survival in a Turbulent Business Environment'' by Arie de Geus” — Prem Watsa
Source: Fairfax Financial 2020 Shareholders' Letter, p. 30
Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai, Prem Watsa
“There are many things that never change” — Andrew Wilkinson
Source: Newsletter
Recommended by: Andrew Wilkinson