Books
Sure, books equal knowledge, and knowledge equals power, but books can also equal money. This doesn’t mean go out and purchase the latest John Grisham hardcover and expect it to increase in value 100 fold after a year (although the very first edition of his first hardcover novel probably brings in much more than what you may have paid for it initially). Instead, important books may prove far more valuable than anyone an online broker can give you. Recently, the National Library of Ireland purchased several papers written by James Joyce for $11.7 million. Basically, looking for a first edition if any kind of popular book is going to be valuable. Even more recent books like a first edition of To Kill a Mocking Bird can fetch into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now, for people who do not want to go out and drop tens of thousands of dollars on an old book can simply purchase a first edition print of a popular book and wait for it. Even if it does not surpass hundreds of thousands of dollars, there is a good chance it should at least multiply in value.
Books
Art
People invest in art all the time. However, it isn’t just a pretty picture to hang up on the wall or a nice stature to tie the room together. A quality piece of art is able to bring in a rather larger investment return. This is something a potential investor would really need to do their homework in, as it can increase or decrease in value, but for someone with an eye and money, this is the way to go. Of course, buying an original Van Gogh is always a solid investment as it is going to drastically increase in value over time (unless there is a sudden discover of hundreds of his paintings that flood the marketplace, which would just decrease the value of the paintings), but this takes tens of millions of dollars to begin with. Solid art investors can buy up and coming artists when they know what to look for. After all, great artists did not simply come and go hundreds of years ago.
Art