If you’re like many astute people, you are always on the lookout for solid books on investing. You may want to start with a book that lays out the entire landscape of investing opportunities, from stocks and bonds to real estate, fine art, and cryptocurrencies. You may want to zero in on an area of investing or to understand the thinking behind how experts approach investing and money. Below, we have covered all areas, starting with our best overall book on investing: The Bond King, by NPR “Planet Money” podcaster and journalist Mary Childs, who delivers a powerful biography of Bill Gross, formerly of PIMCO, who made a whole new market on trading bonds and ended up revered by some, but not by others, while becoming extremely wealthy. For value investing, we recommend Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor, a favorite of many of the world’s most successful investors. For a solid book on investing overall, we cite The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need, by Andrew Tobias. This may be the year for books about Bill Gross. In addition to The Bond King by Mary Childs, which we rank the best overall investing book on our list, the subject himself has released a self-published autobiography titled I’m Still Standing: Bond King Bill Gross and the PIMCO Express. Childs’ authoritative, engaging book about pioneering bond trader Gross, from the investment management firm PIMCO, portrays him as brilliant and a visionary, who devised a new way to invest by making a market for trading bonds. Yet he also comes across as an egotistical, mercurial boss who was so verbally abusive to his staff that some avoided walking by his office to keep from running into him. After many years, enough staff members quit—including PIMCO’s former co-CEO and co-CIO, economist Mohamed El-Erian, whom Gross had recruited from Harvard Management Co. as his eventual successor—that Gross was forced to resign from the company he built. Childs, a co-host of NPR’s “Planet Money” podcast who has also reported for Barron’s, the Financial Times and Bloomberg News, takes the reader through the subprime mortgage crisis, in which many Americans lost their homes due to predatory lending practices. At the time, Gross’ number was on the speed dial, so to speak, of many top federal and banking officials who valued his opinion and sway. Early on, Gross learned about strategy by successfully counting cards as a blackjack player at various Las Vegas casinos. He took that same push-to-the-limit mentality to the bond market, where he was dubbed the “Bond King” by Fortune in 2002. During those years, he was a darling of the financial press—beaming from business magazine covers, being interviewed on CNBC, and being a sought-after speaker at financial gatherings. After he was ousted from PIMCO, he went to Janus Capital Group, where he was unable to duplicate his earlier success. In 2019, Gross revealed that he had been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which affects communication skills. In 2022, far from having “lost it all,” Forbes put Gross’ net worth at $2.6 billion. The key lesson from Benjamin Graham’s much-lauded tome: “Don’t lose.” Easier said than done, of course. So read on. The reason why this book, originally published in 1949, is still in print is that it offers investors—be they beginners, those with some knowledge and success, or old hands—the nuts and bolts of value investing, which is buying stocks of quality companies whose worth is undervalued. The practice is akin to buying a finely made piece of furniture at a discount. It was most recently updated in 2006. Graham largely shuns the practice of analyzing securities in favor of expanding on investment principles and investors’ attitudes. He notes that the intelligence of any investor has nothing to do with IQ or SAT scores. “It simply means being patient, disciplined, and eager to learn; you must also be able to harness your emotions and think for yourself,” he writes. Chapters cover investment vs. speculation, the investor and inflation, general portfolio strategy, stock selection for both the enterprising and defensive investors, comparisons of companies, and many other subjects. To bolster the book’s relevance, Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig added commentary after each chapter with recent examples. In the preface to the fourth edition, Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, wrote: “I read the first edition of this book in early 1950, when I was 19. I thought then that it was by far the best book on investing. I still think it is.” “Many of society’s most intractable problems—from addressing the environment, to revitalizing decaying infrastructure in developed and developing nations alike to national security, to the hunger for innovation to stimulate economic growth—resist easy solutions. Rather, they can only be addressed with the thoughtful application of time and money,” write Victoria Ivashina and Josh Lerner, both Harvard Business School professors. The authors cite the Rockefeller family’s wealth as an example of the use of patient capital. The patriarch, John D. Rockefeller, turned a $4,000 investment in the oil refinery Standard Oil into the initial source of the family’s vast holdings. Two generations later—led by his grandchildren, especially Laurance—long-term capital brought about the development of Eastern Air Lines, a carve-out from General Motors; military contractor McDonnell Aircraft Corp., which eventually was folded into Boeing Co.; the unfolding of tourism and conservation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including building the exclusive and environmentally friendly Caneel Bay resort on St. John Island; and providing critical funding for the expansion of national parks in the United States. “Rather than having a set life, RBI [Rockefeller Brothers, Inc., which included Laurance, four brothers, and sister, Babs] was organized as an evergreen fund. Laurance anticipated that the investments would be held for a decade and then sold or taken public,” write Ivashina and Lerner. “Rather than being returned to investors (as in today’s standard fund), the proceeds of the successful would flow back into the fund, ready to be used for subsequent investments.” The authors explain that the use of patient capital, or long-term capital, means that the investor, like the Rockefeller family, is willing to wait as long as decades for a return. Governments aren’t able to underwrite many of these projects, due to the lack of political will to fund such long-term plans. However, pools of capital in pensions, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and family holdings matched with the right entities can do the job. These arranged marriages, the authors maintain, can yield “benefits for investors, fund managers, and society as a whole.” This book about how investing went south reads like a thriller, and covers: Author Anita Raghavan characterizes Rajaratnam as the “king of wealth” and Gupta as the “king of thought.” Of the title, it was Gupta, a decade older than Rajaratnam, who was lured by the chance to become a billionaire after spending three decades at the consulting firm where he drew a salary in the millions. At the time of their arrests—prosecuted by Indian-born Preet Bharara, then U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York—some reporters lamented the men’s downfall, saying it reflected poorly on the ascendant South Asian community. Raghavan—herself of South Asian descent and a contributor to The New York Times, who also had held positions at The Wall Street Journal and Forbes—noted that the Gupta-Rajaratnam affair is a part of the South Asian story but not its defining moment. In The Billionaire’s Apprentice, she closes with a surprising Gupta family secret that foreshadows Rajat Gupta’s crimes. After explainingto readers thatThe Ultimate Day Trader is for the experienced investor, Jacob Bernsteinwelcomes beginners in the first chapter, “Definitions and Directions—What It Means to DayTrade Today,” for those who are considering joining the market or simply want to know more about the subject. “A day trader,” he writes, “is an individual who enters and exits a position in the markets during the course of the trading day.” Of course, the “trading day” is now 24 hours, due to the advent of 24-hour trading in many markets. Bernstein suggests there are 11 reasons to day trade, including reduced headline risk, knowing the results by the end of the “day,” the availabilityof reliable forecasting, the chance for instant execution, market volatility, and the sheer pleasure of doing it. The downsides, which may not be drawbacks to all, are that day trading is very hard work, subject to random events that impact prices, time consuming, competitive, andstressful. The author is the founder of the money management firm Bernstein Investments Inc. and has written 35 books on trading, investor, investor psychology, and economic forecasts, includingThe Compleat Day Trader. Bernstein employs his straightforward, understandable writing styleandpunctuates it with charts and graphs to lead the reader through day trading markets and methods, gap day trading, volume spikes and their use in day trading, the importance of structure, exit strategies, and the “10 Cardinal Rules of Day Trading.” Among his rules are doing your homework, showing consistency, avoiding any stocks or futures markets that “scareyou,”andbeing willing and able to make big moves, which is the way to makeprofits.At the end, Bernstein asks whether you have what it takes to be a day trader. That is, can you own up to your losses and move on? If so, get started. This breezy book takes the reader on a journey across 19 short chapters, which spell out the sometimes odd ways that people think about money and the behavioral psychology surrounding it, then suggest ways to become more financially secure. One example: Author Morgan Housel recommends staying wealthy, as opposed to getting wealthy. To illustrate the point, he draws on the life and work of Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett, who began investing as a child and simply loves to make money, while he famously shuns the modern trappings of wealth. Housel maintains that the goal of having money is the freedom it affords people to make choices that make them happy. “It is the highest dividend money pays,” writes Housel, a former Wall Street Journal columnist, who has won many journalism awards. One place where we disagree with Housel: He considers Benjamin Graham’s above-mentioned The Intelligent Investor dated and not useful for today’s investors. However, the rest of his advice is excellent. “[Housel’s book] covers some of the most important topics in finance, which are unexpected and fun to contemplate. Why were Warren Buffett and Bill Gates so successful? Sure, they’re smart people, but there are a lot of smart people out there. Buffett used time to his advantage and Gates was fortunate enough to attend a school where there was access to a computer [at a time when few schools had them],” writes Certified Financial Planner Justin Pritchard. “Lives up to its brash title” is how the Los Angeles Times described Andrew Tobias’s investment book, which debuted in 1978 and has been revised several times, including in 2022. In the latest revision, this best-selling author covers the economic effects of the COVID-19 epidemic and how investors and taxpayers fared during the Trump administration and others prior. With knowledge and wit, Tobias takes readers through the basics of investment vehicles—stocks, bonds (savings, municipal, corporate, convertible, zero-coupon), mutual funds, U.S. Treasury bills, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and the various retirement accounts. He also delves into tax strategies and discusses finding and dealing with brokers. Tobias suggests a stock market strategy of putting the bulk of your savings in mutual funds and ETFs, and no more than 20% into funds you direct. Throughout, he assumes the role of the wise, well-off uncle, especially in the chapter “A Penny Saved is Two Pennies Earned,” in which he dispenses commonsense money advice on everything from credit cards to saving on vacations, monitoring your bank accounts, and buying cubic zirconium jewelry instead of diamonds (“ridiculous,” he writes). In the appendices, Tobias tackles Social Security, life insurance, saving money by buying wine by the case, the national debt, and selected discount brokers. About the book, Dallas Mavericks owner and billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban wrote: “This is the only investment book I’ve read that truly made sense.” Final Verdict The Bond King, by NPR “Planet Money” podcaster and journalist Mary Childs, is our best book overall. The tale of how Bill Gross, formerly of PIMCO, made a whole new market on trading bonds reveals how Wall Street works and how you can be fired from the company you built up and still end up with $2.6 billion. Michelle Lodge is steeped in the book and book-reviewing world. She has been published inPublishers Weeklyand was an editor and writer forLibrary Journal, both of which cover books and the industry. While a book review editor atLibrary Journal, which recommends books for public library collections, she selected a number of fine business books for review. She was also the editor of the On Wall Street Book Club, in which she reviewed books and interviewed authors on a podcast. To find the best investing books, Lodge considered recommendations fromInvestopediaFinancial Review Board members andInvestopediaeditors, business executives, bestseller lists from theFinancial Times, TheNew York Times, TheTimes of London, and others, as well as her own experience as a book review editor. Best Overall: The Bond King
Best Book About Value Investing: The Intelligent Investor
Best Book on Investments Helping Society: Patient Capital
Best Book About Investing Gone Awry: The Billionaire’s Apprentice
Best Book on Day Trading: The Ultimate Day Trader
Best on the Thinking Behind Money and Investing: The Psychology of Money
Best Investing How-To Book: The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need
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FAQs
What is the number one book on investing? ›
For value investing, we recommend Benjamin Graham's "The Intelligent Investor," a favorite of many of the world's most successful investors. For a solid book on investing overall, we cite "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" by Andrew Tobias.
What are the 7 rules of investing? ›- Establish a plan Current Section,
- Start saving today.
- Diversify your portfolio.
- Minimize fees.
- Protect against loss.
- Rebalance regularly.
- Ignore the noise.
What is the 7% rule? The 7% rule involves withdrawing 7 percent of your retirement savings each year. This strategy carries higher risk, especially during market downturns. It can lead to faster depletion of funds compared to more conservative approaches like the 4% rule.
What are the 6 basic rules of investing Robert Kiyosaki? ›- Basic investing rule #1: Know what kind of income you're working for. ...
- Basic investing rule #2: Convert ordinary income into passive income. ...
- Basic investing rule #3: The investor is the asset or liability. ...
- Basic investing rule #4: Be prepared. ...
- Basic investing rule #5: Good deals attract money.
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
This is by far one of the best trading books and is referred to as the 'Bible' of the stock market. The book targets value investors and explains the process of value investing.
Warren Buffett once said, “The first rule of an investment is don't lose [money].
Does 401k double every 7 years? ›One of those tools is known as the Rule 72. For example, let's say you have saved $50,000 and your 401(k) holdings historically has a rate of return of 8%. 72 divided by 8 equals 9 years until your investment is estimated to double to $100,000.
What are the 5 golden rules of investing? ›- If you can't afford to invest yet, don't. It's true that starting to invest early can give your investments more time to grow over the long term. ...
- Set your investment expectations. ...
- Understand your investment. ...
- Diversify. ...
- Take a long-term view. ...
- Keep on top of your investments.
YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
In this case, many investors will find that roughly 20% of their investment holdings will lead to about 80% of their growth. While these percentages won't be exact, the general rule applies that a small number of your investments will result in the most growth.
All you do is divide 72 by the fixed rate of return to get the number of years it will take for your initial investment to double. You would need to earn 10% per year to double your money in a little over seven years.
Does the S&P 500 double every 7 years? ›
According to his math, since 1949 S&P 500 investments have doubled ten times, or an average of about seven years each time. In some cases, like 1952 to 1955 or 1995 to 1998, the value of the investment doubled in only three years.
What is a safe withdrawal rate for age 70? ›Late Retirement (age 70): If you're fortunate to have a robust portfolio in your late 70s and beyond, you might feel comfortable increasing your withdrawal rate. Our case study suggest that a pre-tax withdrawal rate of 5% or higher might be possible.
What are Warren Buffett's 5 rules of investing? ›A: Five rules drawn from Warren Buffett's wisdom for potentially building wealth include investing for the long term, staying informed, maintaining a competitive advantage, focusing on quality, and managing risk.
What is rule #1 in Rich Dad, poor dad? ›Rule #1 is "Don't work for money." Rich Dad explains that the rich don't work for money, they make money work for them.
What is Robert Kiyosaki saving rule? ›Robert and Kim eventually came up with the 10/10/10 plan. Every month, they took 30% of their paychecks, and divvied it up like so: 10% Investment - Each month they set aside 10 percent of their income for great investment opportunities. They typically chose to invest in real estate.
What is the best book to read about the stock market? ›Top Stock Market Books | Amazon Rating | Amazon Price |
---|---|---|
Investonomy: The Stock Market Guide That Makes You Rich | 4.3 / 5 | Explore Now |
Trading Chart Pattern book | 4.5 / 5 | Explore Now |
Trading Mastermind Book | 4.3 / 5 | Explore Now |
Guide to Indian Stock Market | 4.0 / 5 | Explore Now |
Warren Buffett is widely considered the greatest investor in the world.
What is the number one best investment? ›- High-yield savings accounts. Overview: A high-yield online savings account pays you interest on your cash balance. ...
- Long-term certificates of deposit. ...
- Long-term corporate bond funds. ...
- Dividend stock funds. ...
- Value stock funds. ...
- Small-cap stock funds. ...
- REIT index funds.
- Step 1: Figure out what you're investing for. ...
- Step 2: Choose an account type. ...
- Step 3: Open the account and put money in it. ...
- Step 4: Pick investments. ...
- Step 5: Buy the investments. ...
- Step 6: Relax (but also keep tabs on your investments)