Best Investing Books
Dear Visitor, I’ve made a collection of the most important investing, finance and business books on this web page. I’ve gathered most of my insights from these books and found them through recommendations of Warren Buffett and other excellent investors. I’m often using these books as references in my articles. I’ve categorized the books by subjects and believe that they can help to build your knowledge base for investing. But also beyond investing: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (Warren Buffett followed his course) and Think and Grow Rich is an example of non-finance books that I consider to be very valuable. Please note that I’m using Amazon affiliate links at no additional cost to you to direct to the books. I will receive a small fee if you decide to purchase a book by using my links. As Warren Buffett says: the best investment you can make is one in yourself (for example through books)! Thank you. Enjoy reading, learning and compounding knowledge!
Top-3 Books of Warren Buffett
The Intelligent Investor
The best investing book according to Warren Buffett. Mr. Market (chapter 8) and the Margin Of Safety (chapter 20) are the most important concepts discussed in this book by Benjamin Graham. The book teaches you the right investing framework and philosophy. This helps you to control your emotions and to make sound investing decisions. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2QtBzvX or https://amzn.to/2ITj006 (Dutch)
Security Analysis
This book by Benjamin Graham was written in 1934 (https://amzn.to/2wPFvAs). It is the first book that thoroughly describes the investing process and teaches investors to look at the fundamentals of a company. It is recommended for the serious investor. Buffett recommends the 1940 edition. Personally, I prefer the 1951 (https://amzn.to/3bzGgMO) edition which is focusing less on accounting fraud and bonds. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2UFEoLP or https://amzn.to/3dL2a1I (Dutch)
Common stocks and uncommon profits
This book is written by Philip Fisher and describes the strategy of investing in a few very good businesses and holding them for the long-run. Combing the investing philosophy of the Intelligent Investor with the search for outstanding businesses described in this book, is the way Buffett basically achieved his success. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2UlbL6r or https://amzn.to/2wkKTLH (Dutch)
Best Investing Books for Starters
One Up On Wall Street
Peter Lynch offers an outstanding introduction to the world of stocks and investing with this easy to read book. It provides you with the basics as what a stock is and how to analyse it. Furthermore, you learn how to search for stocks. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/3ad8Nrv or https://amzn.to/3dala9v (Dutch)
Beating The Street
Peter Lynch second investing book “beating the street” further explains how to pick stocks. He walks you through his step-by-step approach per sector and explains how to analyse financial statements in a simple way. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2xQC4d5 or https://amzn.to/3a1NeK7 (Dutch)
The Little Book That Beats The Market
Joel Greenblatt explains in an easy to understand way that a great company earns a lot of money with their investments and that you should by these companies cheap. The book uses many simple examples and shows how the formula for screening for stocks can be used. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2wmeHaX (https://amzn.to/2X09eS0) or https://amzn.to/2UaVxMU (Dutch)
The Warren Buffett Way
An excellent introduction to the way Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger invest by concentrating in great businesses. The Warren Buffett tenets (like moats and management and margins) are discussed along with psychology and portfolio management. You can also find some history of Buffett and case studies of his investments. Charlie Munger recommends this book. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2w7gKQ6 or https://amzn.to/2WXiyGh (Dutch)
Investing Rule Number 1
Phil Town’s Rule number 1 book is very easy to read and is based on the principles of Warren Buffett. He shows how to research and find stocks by focusing on meaning, management, margin of safety and moats. He also shows in a simple way how to value a stock and gives plenty of examples for the starting investor. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2xQNHR3 or https://amzn.to/2UOtZxu (Dutch)
Common Sense Investing
John Bogle is the founder of Vanguard and explains very clear in this book why investing in an index fund is the best investment for most investors. Multiple examples show why index funds can beat most of the professionals. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2wQZEGt or https://amzn.to/2URNFQN (Dutch)
The Essays of Warren Buffett
Summarizes the letters to shareholders of Warren Buffett by subject. Combines all the essentials of Buffett’s letters in one book. A great job according to Buffett. A must read for people who want to know more about investing and businesses. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2X7QXSG or https://amzn.to/2X34tXQ (Dutch)
Value Investing From Graham To Buffett
This book is seen as the modern Security Analysis and written by professor Greenwald. I would recommend it to the intermediate investor as it is a bit harder to understand for the complete novice investor. Still, the book offers an excellent view on modern day value investing. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2Rj52t9 or https://amzn.to/3aCk4lh (Dutch)
You Can Be A Stock Market Genius
The first popular book of Joel Greenblatt is more technical than his other books. But provides very detailed insights for the more serious investor in spin-offs and tips for finding stock information. I would recommend it to the intermediate investor. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2UAEAx9 or https://amzn.to/3azO15f (Dutch)
Business and Personal Finance Books
The Only Investment Guide You'll ever need
A book with sound principles about how to deal with your finances and money. Including advice for investing and about saving money. Is more aimed at the USA, but also applicable to non US residents. It offers a good introduction to the topics for the layman. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2Laj7FK
Money Masters The Game
Robbins has created a 7-step blueprint for securing financial freedom. With advice about taking control of your financial decisions, to setting up a savings and investing plan, to destroying myths about what it takes to save and invest.
Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2WdLp8x or https://amzn.to/35MdpmY (Dutch)
University of Berkshire Hathaway
A great book with the highlights from the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder meetings. Buffett and Munger have answered numerous business and investing questions over the years that we can learn from. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2SLWlIl or https://amzn.to/2A8IK7x (Dutch)
Best Books of Charlie Munger
Damn Right!
Charlie Munger is famous for coming to the point by using a few words. This books shares many insights in the life of Munger. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/3fx5j6e or https://amzn.to/2WbAuMv (Dutch)
Charlie Munger The Complete Investor
This book presents the essential steps of Munger’s investing strategy, condensed here for the first time from interviews, speeches, writings, and shareholder letters, and paired with commentary from fund managers, value investors, and business-case historians. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2WdH8Sx or https://amzn.to/3doVzsz (Dutch)
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The ultimate collection of Charlie Munger. Includes speeches and reading recommendations. “We outperformed because we did less” is an examples of the to the point knowledge that can be found in this book. For the serious Munger enthousiast! Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2zljryt or https://amzn.to/2ytleSm (Dutch)
Books That Can Change Your Life
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie shows with easy examples how important it is that you are able to deal with people. This book helped me tremendously to better communicate and to get things done. Probably the most important book of all that I’ve read. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2w28KQc or https://amzn.to/2WXChWn (Dutch)
Think and Grow Rich
Napolion Hill interviewed many successful people and wrote about what it takes to become rich. Having an idea and finding the motivation to do it is the big secret that you’ll discover from this book. It can really inspire you to pursue your dream. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2WYsqQf or https://amzn.to/33Y21Do (Dutch)
The Richest Man in Babylon
The basic book about finance that Charlie Munger also read. It tells how you you can build wealth by carefully spending money and by saving. It is a reminder that old lessons still work. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2Rghn1d or https://amzn.to/3by9wUi (Dutch)
The Best Biographies
The Snowball
A very detailed description of the life of Warren Buffett that shows how he build his fortunes. The book tells you more about the person Buffett and his private life. It is a very interesting story but does not teach much about investing. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/3dWnYaK or https://amzn.to/2UVxZMu (Dutch)
Buffett: Making of an American Capitalist
Another well written biography about Warren Buffett that is favored by readers like Bill Gates. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/39z5f1A or https://amzn.to/2JAafIo (Dutch)
Benjamin Franklin
The book starts with Benjamin Franklin addressing his family that he wants to share how he grew from poverty to prosperity. An inspiring story! Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2UAvO20 or https://amzn.to/2xBLHMB (Dutch)
Accounting Books
The Interpretation of Financial Statements
The language of a business is accounting. So you need some basic understanding of financial statements when investing in stocks. A great introduction to accounting by Benjamin Graham can be found in this book. It explains the important ratio’s and basic accounting by looking at balance sheets and income statements. It is a little old, but overall still relevant. Cash flow statements are not found in this book. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/3bWBsRO or https://amzn.to/34fRRhw (Dutch)
Financial Shenanigans
A great book about detecting accounting fraud. It talks about earnings manipulation, cash flow fraud (for example by shifting expenses) and the use of misleading metrics. Always ensure yourself that the financial statements are correct before calculating and analyzing per share figures like EPS. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/3dZzvpB or https://amzn.to/34gBW2P (Dutch)
Security Analysis 1951
I recommend this book to the serious investor who is willing to read the more advanced text about accounting and investing. The book provides a thorough explanations of balance sheets and income statements. The framework of this book still stands today and is a must read for the advanced investor. Please read the easier books first is my suggestion. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2RgueQZ or https://amzn.to/3dZ0lhI (Dutch)
Science Books
Influence
A classic psychology book of Robert Cialdini that explains why people say ‘yes’. It is used for marketing purposes but also to explain human behavior. Charlie Munger sees it as one of his favorite books because you can learn why people for example all follow each other in cases of uncertainty. This can help you to prevent mistakes in investing! It is easy to read and adds real life cases. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2UIllSo or https://amzn.to/3bTbizg (Dutch)
The Selfish Gene
A favorite book of Charlie Munger and a classic standard in biology. It show the life from the gene’s view. A great book on the theory of evolution by Richard Dawkins. Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2RqPUKj or https://amzn.to/2JG75Dk (Dutch)
The General Theory of Employment, Interest & Money
An economic classic of 1936 by John Maynard Keynes who was an excellent economist. I’ve used chapter 12 about the state of long-term expectation in my first article. This is a favorite chapter of Warren Buffett as well. A classic to read! Affiliate links to the book: https://amzn.to/2UWZy8e or https://amzn.to/3aLLVzA (Dutch)