Niall Ferguson's book, "The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World," highlights the significant value of gold as an investment. A striking example illustrates this: a person who converted $1,000 into gold in 1970 would have acquired approximately 26.6 ounces of gold. During that period, the gold standard was still partially in effect, allowing for such exchanges.

Fast forward to the present, with gold prices nearing $1,000 per ounce, that same investment would be worth about $26,596 if sold today. This demonstrates not only the appreciation of gold over time but also serves as a lesson on the importance of understanding financial history and investment strategies.