Recommended Reading List

The Best Investment Books

We've read hundreds of investing books so you don't have to. Here is our curated list of the absolute best books on value investing, accounting, and market psychology.

Foundations & Beginners

Start your value investing journey with these accessible, foundational classics. Perfect for building your core philosophy.

One Up On Wall Street Book Cover

One Up On Wall Street

by Peter Lynch

The perfect starting point. Lynch explains how average investors can beat the pros by using what they already know to find great stocks before Wall Street does.

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The Intelligent Investor Book Cover

The Intelligent Investor

by Benjamin Graham

The definitive book on value investing. Warren Buffett calls it "by far the best book on investing ever written." It teaches the core principles of margin of safety and Mr. Market.

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The Little Book That Beats the Market Book Cover

The Little Book That Beats the Market

by Joel Greenblatt

A remarkably simple explanation of how to buy above-average companies at below-average prices. It outlines the famous "Magic Formula" investing strategy.

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Accounting & Valuation

To be a successful value investor, you must understand the language of business. These books will teach you how to read the numbers.

Financial Shenanigans Book Cover

Financial Shenanigans

by Howard Schilit

An absolute must-read. Learn how to spot accounting gimmicks and fraud in financial reports before they destroy your portfolio.

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Quality of Earnings Book Cover

Quality of Earnings

by Thornton O'Glove

A classic guide to evaluating the true profitability of a company. It teaches you how to look past the headline numbers to find the real story.

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Warren Buffett Accounting Book Cover

Warren Buffett Accounting Book

by Stig Brodersen & Preston Pysh

A practical, easy-to-understand guide on how to read financial statements specifically through the lens of Warren Buffett's investing criteria.

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Advanced Strategy & Psychology

Once you master the basics, these books will give you the mental models and advanced strategies needed to gain an edge.

Margin of Safety Book Cover

Margin of Safety

by Seth Klarman

Out of print and highly sought after. Klarman's masterpiece dives deep into risk aversion and finding value in obscure places. A holy grail for serious investors.

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Poor Charlie's Almanack Book Cover

Poor Charlie's Almanack

by Charles T. Munger

A collection of speeches and talks by Charlie Munger. It is the ultimate guide to building a latticework of mental models for rational decision making.

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The Psychology of Money Book Cover

The Psychology of Money

by Morgan Housel

Doing well with money isn't necessarily about what you know. It's about how you behave. A modern classic on the behavioral side of investing.

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Wall Street Fun

Entertaining and cautionary tales from the wild side of finance. These books offer a behind-the-scenes look at the culture, chaos, and hubris of Wall Street.

Liar's Poker Book Cover

Liar's Poker

by Michael Lewis

An autobiographical account of Wall Street's bond trading culture in the 1980s. A hilarious and eye-opening look at the greed and excess of the era.

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When Genius Failed Book Cover

When Genius Failed

by Roger Lowenstein

The gripping story of Long-Term Capital Management, a hedge fund run by Nobel laureates that nearly collapsed the global financial system.

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Monkey Business Book Cover

Monkey Business: Swinging Through the Wall Street Jungle

by John Rolfe & Peter Troob

A brutally honest and laugh-out-loud funny memoir about the grueling, absurd life of entry-level investment bankers in the 1990s.

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Put Your Knowledge to Work

You've read the books. Now apply the principles. Use Old School Value to screen for high-quality stocks, analyze financial statements, and value companies like a pro.