The internet is one of the most convenient, fastest and popular method of learning about investments, stock markets, financial instruments. The internet is a vast ocean of information, and a dedicated student can learn a lot from the numerous sources of knowledge available on the internet.
But if someone wants to learn from the best, analyse the perspective of some of the experts in the world of investments, and the stock market, many classic books authored by some of the most respected financial gurus is the way to go.
Here are a few books on investments which offer some excellent reading and expert insights of the author.
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham (1949)
Benjamin Graham is known as the undisputed guru of value investing. His knowledge and ideas pertaining security analysis and investment techniques act as the foundation for multiple generations of investors, which includes one of his most famous students, investment-guru Warren Buffet.
The Intelligent Investor was published in 1949 and is quite exciting and readable compared to the author’s earlier book titled ‘Security Analysis’ which was released in 1934.
The Intelligent Investor does not tell readers how to select stocks, but it teaches the readers many sound investment principles which every type of investor can use. According to a testimonial by Warren Buffet, the Intelligent Investor is by far the best book written on investment.
Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip Fisher (1958)
Philip Fisher is considered one of the pioneers in the field of financial analysis and has left his mark in the world of modern investment theory. According to Fisher, stocks need to be analysed by their growth potential, and the book teaches the readers how to analyse businesses and their ability to grow its revenues and profits.
Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits was published in 1958, and the lessons offered by Fishers are still applicable even after over half a century.
Stocks for the Long Run by Jeremy Siegel (1994)
Jeremy Siegel was a professor in Wharton School of Business and talks about investing in stocks on a long term basis. The book draws from extensive research which has been conducted over the last two centuries and states that equities offer the best returns when compared to all financial assets and returns from stocks are comparatively safer and much more predictable, and stock investments are robust enough to overcome the effects of inflation.
Learn to Earn (1995), Beating the Street (1994) and One Up On Wall Street (1989) by Peter Lynch
Peter Lynch rose to prominence as the manager of Fidelity Magellan Fund in the 1980s. The Fidelity Magellan Fund was known to be the best performing fund in the 1980s. Learn to Earn is targeted at a much younger audience and explains the basics of many businesses.
On up On Wall Street talks and supports the advantages of self-directed investing, while Beating The Street talks about how Lynch selected his best-performing stocks while managing the Fidelity Magellan Fund.
All books written by Peter Lynch offers an approach of common sense, which states that individual investors can perform better than the experts of the Wall Street if that do their homework and conduct proper research before making an investment decision.
A Random Walk Down Wall Street By Burton G. Malkiel (1973)
A Random Walk Down Wall Street expresses the idea that stock markets are efficient, and the stock prices follow a highly random walk. This means that no one can beat the market. According to Burton Makeil, irrespective how much research is done, whether technical or fundamental, will not be helpful when it comes to beating the market.
Marlkeil has backed his theories and arguments with lots of data, research and statistics. While the ideas presented in the book can be quite controversial, and many have termed them equal to blasphemy. However, irrespective if someone agrees or disagrees with the arguments presented by Malkeil, it is a worth to read that how has Malkiel arrived at his theories.
The Essays of Warren Buffet: Lessons For Corporate America by Lawrence Cunningham and Warren Buffer (2001)
While Warren Buffet rarely talks about his investment portfolio, he does love to talk about his investment principles. This book contains a collection of letters written by Warren Buffet to various shareholders over the last few decades. In short, the book is a summary of investment techniques utilised by one of the most prominent investors in the world. The Warren Buffet Way written by Robert Hagstrom is another good book on Warren Buffet which provides some insights into how Warren Buffet made his investments.
How To Make Money in Stocks by William O’Neil (2009)
The founder of Investor’s Business Daily and the creator of the CANSLIM system, Bill O’Neil is one of the prominent investment gurus today. If an investor is interested in the concept of stockpiling this book is a good read and a great place to start. How to Make Money in Stocks offers the readers tangible investment methods which can be adopted by the readers almost immediately.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki (1997)
Rich Dad Poor Dad speaks about the various financial and investment lessons which are offered by rich parents to their children, and middle-class and poor parents neglect these lessons. The book provides a simple message, i.e. the importance of investing.
According to the book, while the poor make money by working hard for it, the rich make their money and assets work hard to make more money. Rich Dad Poor Dad is considered one of the best books for children to learn about investing.
Common Sense on Mutual Funds by John Bogle (1999)
John Bogle is known as the founder of the Vanguard Group is also one of the most prominent investors and a driving force behind index funds. According to the book, it speaks about various investment strategies before talking about the mutual fund industry and how it charges exorbitant fees to its investors. This book is a must-read for every mutual fund investor.
Irrational Exuberance by Robert Shiller (2000)
The book derives its name from an infamous made by Alan Greenspan in 1996 regarding the absurdity of the valuations of Stock markets. The book was published in 2000 by Robert Shiller, who is an economic at Yale University and the book provides a pre-emptive warning of the impending burst of the dot-com bubble.
The Irrational Exuberance offers insights the myths on the stock markets being rational and explains the stock market regarding it being emotional, speculative and having a herd behaviour.
Although the internet can offer endless information about investments and the stock market, the best information and knowledge comes from the best experts and pioneers of the world of investment and their insights are the best learning tools to learn how to invest.