The Man Who Solved the Market: How Jim Simons Launched the Quant Revolution Hardcover – Illustrated, 1 Jan. 1900

This book is a rare glimpse into how Jim Simons, a former codebreaker and math professor, built Renaissance Technologies—arguably the most successful hedge fund in history. Zuckerman tells the story with clarity and pace, making complex topics like quant finance and algorithmic trading feel accessible for those without deep knowledge without oversimplifying.This is a must read for those interested in data-science, finance or innovation.

Simply, you are buying the majority of what is known about Renaissance compiled into a convenient book. But be aware - very little is actually known. Whilst Jim Simons himself is not as active as a decade ago, the hedge fund marches on and as such any real detail is worth far too much to divulge in a popular book.Investors like Soros have given up a lot more of their methods - in part because their strategies relied on directional views of macroeconomic factors are harder to replicate in the future. You would assume that if you had knowledge of the code used at Renissance today you could rack up some pretty mean trading profits - since that is exactly what they are doing!Still I think this is a must for any mathematician, and offers insight to one (of many) ways that mathematics can be applied to the world we live in.Personal highlight? The joke at the start of Ch 2:Q: What's the difference between a PhD in mathematics and a large pizza?A: A large pizza feeds a family of 4.

“The Man Who Solved the Market” provides a captivating inside look at Jim Simons and his groundbreaking approach to quantitative trading. The narrative is engaging, shedding light on how a brilliant mathematician harnessed data to outsmart traditional market players. I found it so intriguing that I own both the paperback and digital versions—definitely worth the read if you’re curious about how math can transform Wall Street.

More details than I was expecting, an entertaining page turner that shows Simons was only human. Arguably his biggest talent was in selling the vision and building an incredible team around him.

If you don't realise that financial markets exhibit patterns which can be discovered and exploited for profit - albeit no easy task - Gregory Zuckerman's book offers an insight into this central part of the industry; the bit the financial entertainment media have been misrepresenting for decades. There are no solutions in the pages that will make you money. Not the point, or value of the book and I'd have preferred if "The Man Who Solved the Market"had been left out of the title, though it likely helps sell the book.I didn't know Jim Simons smoked heavily; which will be why his voice resonates the way it does and his laugh is often followed by a cough. And Bob Mercer whistles a lot, maybe more than he talks, and was one of the main financial contributors to the 2016 Trump campaign. And how this connects with Brexit and goodness knows what else is quite eye opening.As with all worthwhile stories the book is about people, and how they relate to each other and their world.What made the Renaissance Medallion Fund work was obviously in part the shrewd harnessing of the various individuals exceptional intellectual abilities, and the exponential growth of computers processing power. Creative and curious minds meet mathematical modelling and data analysis on a massive scale.The real success of the company seems to come from the ability and willingness of a handful of principal players to work together, despite extraordinarily different social, political and personal alliances. Motivated by money, for sure, but the theme that much more was intrinsically involved is a strong thread which I think makes the book a 4 star read. Most pleasing of all was throughout there were no goodies or baddies!

Excellent well written book. Fascinating description of the building of a quant finance house and the many years of trial and error it took. Based on many interviews with the people directly involved makes it credible with well drawn character portraits. Interesting history of investing / speculating from Babylonian times to present included. It also is a primer for how the various software models are written. Shows inadvertently why billionaires should not be able to use their fabulous wealth to influence politics; being driven by maths and a desire to make money are poor qualifications for considering the greater good. Their years of remarkable profits makes crystal clear the limitations of traditional economic theory based on efficient markets, rational man and random walks.