We have all heard the phrase History repeats itself! Yet very few people seriously apply long-term history to the art and science of investing. There is no better example of this than how the majority of modern investors, the most knowledgeable and technologically advanced in history, mishandled the dot.com bubble and the panic selling in response to the corporate scandals of 2002. Clearly, the constant barrage of news, earnings projections, economic reports, and advice from respected professionals flowing from the Internet 24 hours a day hasn t helped investors separate the forest from the trees and tackle the age-old problems of successful investing. Simply put, something is missing! This artistic, colorful reference book has been written with one objective to make sure investors are armed with useful information about the performance and characteristics of stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate, and collectibles since 1800. Investments have different personalities and act differently during good times and downtrends. Past bull and bear markets are examined within the various investment groups to show how they differ, and the tools investors can use to navigate the changes in long-term trends. Finally, the book reviews the surprising reactions of investors to triumphant and catastrophic events that have confronted mankind throughout the ages such as wars, monumental peacetime achievements, natural and man-made disasters, and government actions (i.e., interest rates, taxes, and regulations) in reaction to these situations. Similar to how a traveler uses a road atlas to learn about his destination and avoid getting lost, Investment Atlas will help the investor be a profitable user of investment history, not a victim of it.