Character Counts: The Creation and Building of The Vanguard Group

Summary

John C. Bogle tells Vanguard’s company story through speeches delivered to its employees between 1974 and 2001, with commentary that explains their setting. The collection follows the company’s creation and development through the leadership principles and management practices Bogle argued for inside it.

These are internal addresses by the founder, presented with later context. They show how he communicated the company’s purpose to the people doing the work.

• SourceChecked publisher or author source · Overview: Vanguard’s creation and management practices; speeches to employees from 1974–2001; author and ebook ISBNChecked 2026-10-22

Why read it Our view

Study how a founder explains operating principles to employees as a company grows, and compare those statements with Vanguard’s development.