It's well known that the technology world is changing at a rapid pace due in part to innovations in computers, the Internet, telecommunications, and biotechnology. It is less well known that the financial world is in a far different place than it was just a few years ago as witnessed by the bursting dot.com and NASDAQ bubbles in March 2000. But even when financial markets change-especially when the change is irrational-investors need to return and hold fast to the basic principles of prudent investing.

Rational Investing in Irrational Times is a timely new handbook for every investor today. Using a question and answer format, rising star Larry Swedroe identifies the many mistakes even the smartest investors make whether markets are strong or troublesome. He attributes almost all current mistakes and losses to investors' human vulnerability (a tendency to stray from proven investment principles), a lack of investing experience, faulty investment strategies, or errors of portfolio development. Unlike most investment books, the author further shows how investment performance can be greatly improved by building a globally diversified portfolio of passive index funds and/or Exchange Traded Funds consisting of multiple asset classes. Apart from offering a winning strategy, Rational Investing in Irrational Times presents an efficient and proven way to avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes investors make.

Larry E. Swedroe is director of research for Buckingham and the BAM ALLIANCE. Larry holds an MBA in finance and investment from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College.

Larry was among the first authors to publish a book that explained the science of investing in layman’s terms, "The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need." He has since authored seven more books and co-authored six books about investing. Larry is a sought-after speaker and prolific writer, and he contributes weekly to multiple national outlets including ETF.com.