15 Best Investment Books to Read
1. The Intelligent Investor by Ben Graham
The Intelligent Investor is one of the top must-read investing books you can find.
2. The Four by Scott Galloway
Got a passion for technology? Want to know how the world’s biggest tech brands made their billions? Scott Galloway is the man to speak to (or at least read about).
In The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, Galloway talks about how major companies can embed themselves into our everyday lives.
It’s also one of the books to read if you’re keen to learn about different kinds of thinking.
Galloway’s comparison of “Amazon business thinking” and normal entrepreneurial thinking is sure to broaden your horizons.
3. A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel
Burton Malkiel promises readers a time-tested strategy for investing success in his book: A Random Walk Down Wall Street.
He references an important hypothesis from the investing landscape, called the “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” This idea suggests that no-one can really predict the stock market’s changes – because they’re always random.
But, if you can’t predict what’s going to happen, how do you become profitable?
That’s the question that Malkiel answers with his pioneering prose. A Random Walk explains the importance of developing a long-term strategy while keeping the randomness of the space in mind.
4. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Thought processes are an essential element of investing success.
The way you think determines how much risk you’ll take, which connections you’ll make, and which opportunities you’ll notice (before they disappear).
Malcolm Gladwell, an icon of financial expertise, wrote “Blink” to discuss the importance of thought processes and gut feeling in investment decisions.
Gladwell addresses the important things that happen behind the scenes in your brain when you read about a company, and you just know you need to invest.
Through case studies and insights, the author peels back the curtain of gut instinct to show you what’s happening underneath your “hunch.”
As one of the best books to learn about investing, this title gets into the heart and soul of financial decisions.
5. Rule #1 by Phil Town
Described as one of the most fundamental books for investor knowledge around, Rule #1 by Phil Town deserves a place on any coffee table.
You’ll discover why savings accounts aren’t really the best way to protect your money, from a man who knows how frightening it can be to get started in investing.
Town offers an engaging education on the real rules of investing, starting with rule number one: don’t lose money. Though he is a very wealthy person now, he was originally living on only $4,000 a year before receiving some life-changing advice.
If you’re keen to learn more about how you can make confident investment decisions as a newbie, Rule #1 will give you the head-start you need.
6. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle
Who could be better to share information on investing than a guy credited with creating the world’s first index fund? John C. Bogle is a true celebrity in the financial world (and for a good reason).
The author of one of the top books for beginner investors, Bogle knows his stuff. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing is a logical look at the simple steps you need to take to gain from the stock market.
If you want to learn about stocks and shares without reading through piles of poetry, Bogle gets straight to the point in a way that’s easy to digest and practical.
7. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki is a refreshingly transparent insight into the realities of investing.
Kiyosaki provides readers with important insights into the value of financial literacy. He helps readers to unravel and translate the complicated language of the financial marketplace so that anyone can get richer.
There are a few interesting points in this book.
Robert believes that currently, America’s educational system is designed to keep people working hard forever. According to him, if you want to get an education that brings you out of the rat race, then you need to find the answers yourself.
There’s a 20th-anniversary edition of the book that’s definitely worth checking out, as it includes an update on some of the economic trends we’ve seen in the last two decades.
8. The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias
This handy guide to investing has been around for decades – but it remains wonderfully relevant now.
The writer, Andrew Tobias, even updated the book in 2016 to ensure it covered all of the latest realities of the economy.
The great thing The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need is how it appeals to its target audience.
Tobias uses playful and accessible language to explain how you can use your money to your advantage in today’s financial markets. He also shares useful information on investments, savings, retirement planning, and more.
If you’re looking for books to read about investing that don’t get stale after a few paragraphs, the humor and personality in Tobias’ prose will really speak to you.
9. The Millionaire Fastlane by M. J. DeMarco
Investment books don’t have to be stale and emotionless.
The Millionaire Fastlane by M. J. DeMarco is one of the best-selling works in its field because it’s so emotionally engaging.
This rags-to-riches story introduces you to a man who started life with nothing in his pocket. DeMarco still lived with his mother and mopped floors not so long ago. Yet, like many of the people reading his book, he dreamt of a better life.
Through committed self-study and a few mistakes, DeMarco discovered a way to transform his life. He was able to retire in his thirties without sacrificing the kind of lifestyle he loves. The Millionaire Fastlane teaches readers how to follow in the entrepreneur’s footsteps.
You’ll discover the basics of making a passive income and learn how to leave the nine-to-five routine behind forever.
10. The Essays of Warren Buffet by Lawrence A. Cunningham
When you’re looking for books to learn about investing, The Essays of Warren Buffet should be a cornerstone of your search.
In his insightful reports, Buffet shows why he’s widely considered to be one of the most intelligent and successful investors of all time. The essays are a perfect starting point for young investors who want to get a glimpse of the connection between shareholders and company management.
You’ll also learn about everything from corporate governance to the impact of mergers and acquisitions, accounting policies, and tax matters.
This book’s pages are brimming with wit and wisdom, and some chapters are a little easier to digest than others.
11. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
This is probably the oldest book in our list of the best books to read about investing.
Written during the Great Depression, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill has sold more than 100 million copies around the world. Hill describes thirteen principles for personal achievement and success, drawn from years of research and experience.
The book is a valuable insight into not just the strategies you need for success – but the attitude too.
Hill provides a behind-the-scenes look at the psychology of becoming wealthy. He reminds us that the best investors didn’t get rich overnight – they honed their skills through practice and patience.
We’d recommend having this at the top of the pile of your investment books, so you can re-read it whenever you need a dose of motivation.
12. Business Adventures by John Brooks
Fun fact: When Bill Gates asked Warren Buffet what his favorite book was, he sent him this one. The Business Adventures book by John Brooks quickly became the best business book that Gates had ever read.
Brooks discusses some of the world’s most successful companies in this book and comments on how they made their billions through careful decision-making skills.
The book also highlights various crucial moments of fame and notoriety in the rise and fall of companies and includes stories from Wall Street to help new investors avoid disaster.
If you’re looking for investment books to read that can help you distinguish an impending disaster from an incredible opportunity, Business Adventures has you covered.
13. Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
More than just one of the best investing books for beginners, Ray Dalio’s work teaches you everything you need to know about building a successful life.
Celebrated as one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine, Dalio shares his thoughts on how to cultivate positive outcomes in everything you do. Though he started as a middle-class kid in Long Island, Dalio was keen to build a life for himself.
Investing from his New York apartment, Dalio discovered the secrets to building wealth at a young age. Forty years on, his company became one of the most valuable in the United States.
Principles: Life and Work is an instructional guide to the world of investing, but it’s also an autobiography where you can get a look at Ray’s life and see how he overcame the odds.
14. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley
Anyone can become a millionaire.
That’s the underlying lesson that Thomas J. Stanley wants to teach us.
In The Millionaire Next Door, Stanley explores the lives and backgrounds of some of the wealthiest people in the world. His evaluation of success at a granular level aims to prove that anyone with a good job and the right attitude can make a fortune.
Though a little controversial in places, The Millionaire Next Door is a highly positive book that’s all about making the most of the life you have.
If you’re looking for good investment books that can also motivate and inspire you, this is definitely something to add to the list.
15. Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip Fisher
Finally, Philip Fisher gives us a fantastic behind-the-scenes peek on the world of common investments in Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits.
Fisher discusses the importance of evaluating the company’s management team of any business you want to get involved with before you spend your cash.
Admired and respected worldwide, Fisher is one of the most influential financial icons of all time. His investment philosophies are still as valuable today as they were 40 years ago.
If you’re keen to learn about choosing investments correctly, this is the book for you.
The Best Investment Books for Your Shelf
Scientifically, research shows that reading actively changes the brain. It strengthens your reasoning skills, improves memory, and promotes a higher IQ.
With the best-selling investment books above, you should have all the insight and inspiration you need to make a positive start on the path to wealth and success.
Did we miss any must-read investment books? Let us know in the comments below.
