Searching "finance books" on Amazon produces a massive list of over 100,000 titles. Finance is intimately entwined into nearly every part of today's world, influencing everything from small local companies to worldwide organizations to Wall Street financial dramas.
Given the enormous array of alternatives available in the financial niche, it might be a daunting challenge for people who want to enter this field but don't know where to begin. We have made this process easy for you by collecting a list of seven key books that are a great place to start for anyone interested in finance.
List of 7 Keybooks of World-Class Finance Professionals
1. The Intelligent Investor: Benjamin Graham
Benjamin Graham, known as the philosopher of value investing, offered the mindset and basic ideas for buying stocks when they were underpriced in his book The Intelligent Investor. In an interview, Warren Buffet commented on Mr. Graham's book, saying,
"When I was 19, I picked up a copy of The Intelligent Investor in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it not only changed my investment philosophy, but it changed my entire life." If I hadn't seen that book, I'd be a different person in a different location."
The Intelligent Investor was first published in 1949 and has been updated with new editions as the financial world has changed. Graham's beliefs are still relevant today, some 71 years later, in a very changed economy and market.
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2. A Random Walk Down Wall Street – Burton Malkiel
A Random Walk Down Wall Street, published in 1973, describes Burton Malkiel's "time-tested strategy" for stock market investment.
Malkiel argues that investing in index funds, which are a globally diversified index of equities, can generate returns that outperform portfolio returns chosen by professionals.
Malkiel discusses his philosophy behind investing in index funds, as well as his strategy which has become popular in the finance world today.
3. Mastering Financial Modelling in Microsoft Excel – Alastair Day
Alastair Day, a finance professional with over 20 years of experience, provides the foundation for finance professionals by giving basic methodologies, tools, and formulas for developing financial models and spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel.
Day describes complex models and corporate finance solutions that you would find in the field as you read through the book. This book is a lifelong resource for finance professionals who want to improve their Microsoft Excel skills.
4. Security Analysis – Benjamin Graham and David Dod
In Security Analysis, Benjamin Graham and David Dodd discuss the concept of value investing and what it means to them.
This book, first published in 1934, has become a standard for any financial professional and is frequently cited by industry luminaries such as Warren Buffet, who was Graham's student at Columbia University and later worked with Graham for 25 years.
Graham and Dodd go to great lengths on value investing approaches, which are still popular today.
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5. Understanding Corporate Finance – John Cousins
Author John Cousins defines corporate finance and what it entails. This book will provide a framework to better comprehend corporate finance and make you think like a financial professional, covering everything from how corporations make project decisions to how, when, and where to invest money.
Corporate finance is the backbone of businesses and is required for them to function. Cousins presents knowledge that can be used for personal issues such as mortgages and borrowing money by applying the technical analysis methods learned throughout the course.
6. Reducing the Risk of Black Swans – Kevin Grogan and Larry Swedroe
Nassim The phrase "black swan" was invented by Nicholas Taleb to characterize an unanticipated and unusual event with severe implications that can inflict catastrophic damage to an economy.
Reducing the Risk of Black Swans is an investor-oriented book that covers the technical expertise of evidence-based investment, backed up by actual facts and research.
The authors delve into detail on portfolio construction and present a roadmap for investors and financial advisors wishing to optimize their portfolios using evidence-based investing.
7. Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki
Author Robert Kiyosaki explains how to develop the attitude required for success. Kiyosaki provides vital principles to instill in your head and to think differently than everyone else.
Rich Dad Poor Dad sparks unconventional thought in contrast to society's standard perspective, all while giving an easy read.
Kiyosaki discusses a variety of themes in his book, including why the education system is faulty and how you can change your mind to see his point of view. His book's themes still hold true nearly two decades later.
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These are only a few of the thousands of finance books accessible today, but they are a wonderful starting point for anyone interested in finance, whether personal or corporate.
The philosophies discussed in these books have shown to be true over time, making each of these books a great resource for finance experts.
People nowadays spend their leisure time being sidetracked by entertainment. You will be ahead of the individual who spends hours in front of the television if you use your leisure time to develop your financial knowledge or techniques.
Are you looking to upskill yourself in the field of finance, but don’t know how to click the link here to join our ongoing workshops.
