The Definitive Investing Book List

The Definitive Investing Book List

I have curated a list of 20 of the greatest investing books of all time.

If you read through all of these books, you’ll undoubtedly improve your investment acumen.

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1. The Intelligent Investor

Author: Benjamin Graham

Why you should read it: This book is considered the bible of value investing and helped shaped legendary investor Warren Buffett’s philosophy. Graham’s emphasis on patience, discipline, and the principle of margin of safety are fundamental strategies that Buffett himself has credited for his success.

2. The Most Important Thing

Author: Howard Marks

Why you should read it: Howard Marks does an excellent job of explaining the different complexities of investing, distilling it into clear and actionable wisdom. He emphasizes the important of market cycles, risk assessment, and the psychology of investing to help readers make smarter decisions.

3. Margin of Safety

Author: Seth Klarman

Why you should read it: Seth Klarman reinforces the importance of intrinsic value when investing. He walks through how to find undervalued investments and protect yourself from mistakes and market volatility.

4. Security Analysis

Author: Benjamin Graham and David L. Dodd

Why you should read it: Security analysis is the go-to for learning how to evaluate a company’s financial statements. While some of the examples relate to former companies and may seem bit outdated, the principles and strategy remain applicable. The book provides a comprehensive overview on how to evaluate the intrinsic value of a stock.

5. The Little Book That Still Beats The Market

Author: Joel Greenblatt

Why you should read it: Greenblatt does a great job of walking through his “Magic Formula” strategy, aimed at investing in undervalued companies with high returns on capital. The book is remarkably clear and concise, avoiding technical jargon for easy understanding.

6. The Essays of Warren Buffett

Author: Lawrence A. Cunningham

Why you should read it: The book collects the wisdom of Warren Buffett and his advice across business management, investing, and life philosophy. It arranges his various letters in an engaging manner. What better way to learn about investing from the best investor himself?

7. Common Stocks And Uncommon Profits

Author: Philip A. Fisher

Why you should read it: The book walks through the concept of growth investing and finding companies with the potential for significant growth. Fisher focuses on qualitative factors like management quality and innovation. His work vividly demonstrates the importance of doing thorough research.

8. One Up On Wall Street

Author: Peter Lynch

Why you should read it: Peter Lynch helps everyday investors realize there’s tons of investment opportunities around us. He emphasizes only “investing in what you know” and provides practical advice on how to spot winning companies early.

9. Principles

Author: Ray Dalio

Why you should read it: Rather than focus directly about making money, Principles serves as a guide on how to make thoughtful decisions and achieve personal and professional excellence. It’s a critical read for understanding the mindset behind successful investing.

10. Value Investing: From Graham to Buffett and Beyond

Author: Bruce Greenwald

Why you should read it: This book provides a modern overview of value investing, building on the foundations laid by Benjamin Graham. Professor Bruce Greenwald of Columbia Business School dives into the art and science of finding undervalued stocks, following in-depth analysis and a disciplined approach.

11. The Dhando Investor

Author: Mohnish Pabrai

Why you should read it: The Dhando Investor showcases a low-risk high-reward approach to investing. The book does a great job of providing insights on how to spot opportunities where the odds are heavily in the investor’s favor.

12. Education of a Value Investor

Author: Guy Spier

Why you should read it: Guy Spier provides a personal journey into becoming a value investor from a traditional Wall Street Investor and achieving success and happiness. He shares his pivotal moments and lessons learned from his experiences. It’s a great read for those looking to blend life values with investment success.

13. The Black Swan

Author: Nassim Taleb

Why you should read it: The Black Swan does an excellent job of challenging our understanding of probability, risk, and uncertainty, focusing on the impact of rare and unpredictable events. The world of investing is filled with unpredictable events and so this serves as a guide to make investors wiser and more resilient.

14. Rich Dad Poor Dad

Author: Robert Kiyosaki

Why you should read it: One of the pinnacle books in finance, Kiyosaki offers a groundbreaking perspective on money, emphasizing the importance of investing in assets, and the perils of liabilities. His storytelling makes complex concepts easy to understand.

15. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing

Author: John Bogle

Why you should read it: For those of you that don’t have the time to learn financial analysis, extensively research individual stocks, or manage your portfolio, this book presents a powerful guide on how you can invest in the stock market with low-cost index funds. Index investing is the most hands-off approach to capturing the returns of the entire stock market without having to do much at all.

16. Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

Author: Edwin Lefevre

Why you should read it: Through the lens of a fictionalized character, this book offers timeless insights into the psychology of trading, market dynamics, and the highs and lows of pursuing wealth through speculation.

17. The Outsiders

Author: William N. Thorndike, Jr.

Why you should read it: This book analyzes the strategies of eight top-performing CEOs and what they did to succeed. This is an excellent read to understand why excellent management that focuses on top-tier corporate performance and shareholder value is so important.

18. Fooling Some Of The People All Of The Time

Author: David Einhorn

Why you should read it: Interested in short selling? Famous hedge fund manager and short seller David Einhorn walks through his personal experiences uncovering financial inconsistencies and the obstacles he faced along the way when questioning well-established companies. It’s a compelling read that further stresses the importance of doing comprehensive research.

19. Too Big To Fail

Author: Andrew Ross Sorkin

Why you should read it: The 2008 financial crisis was undoubtedly one of the most impactful events in the investing world in recent times. This book provides a behind-the-scenes look into the key decisions, negotiations, and personalities involved in the crisis. Sorkin does an excellent job outlining just how interconnected the entire global financial system is.

20. The Five Rules For Successful Stock Investing

Author: Pat Dorsey

Why you should read it: This book serves as a guide to help investors focus on understanding a company’s competitive advantage, financial health, management quality, valuation, and market environment. If you are looking for a way to structure your fundamental analysis, Dorsey shares a clear and insightful read.

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