#31 - Jamie Catherwood, Investor Amnesia

Financial history serves as a vital compass for modern investors, providing context to navigate market cycles and avoid recurring errors. Jamie Catherwood, creator of Investor Amnesia, examines how speculative manias—from 19th-century railway booms to modern electric vehicle markets—often stem from human nature and government incentives rather than purely irrational exuberance. While historical narratives like the Dutch tulip mania are frequently exaggerated through satirical propaganda, studying the source material reveals that history functions as a data set for evaluating current business models and risks. By analyzing the rise and fall of empires and the evolution of financial vehicles like SPACs, investors can move beyond simple chart overlays to gain a deeper, directionally correct understanding of market dynamics, ultimately learning to identify patterns that repeat across different technological and economic eras.