Must read to understand investment banking

Need the best books to read to understand, from zero to everything, all about investments banking.
I don't want to read autobiographical books, i want to read tetchnical books that teach me how investments banking works, and how to become a leader in this sector.
I'm at low level in that sector, so i'd appreciated if you can tell me books from the base to the top.
Thank you for the help

 

"Extensive details about the basics"? I'm confused

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

while they are entertaining reads, I actually think liar's poker/monkey business are awful information sources. Save them until you have an offer, kids will get dinged, or at least have a much worse first round interview if they are dumb enough to mention them. In the meantime, you'll do much better talking with the former bankers in b-school and perhaps alums.

 
monkeyc:
while they are entertaining reads, I actually think liar's poker/Monkey Business are awful information sources. Save them until you have an offer, kids will get dinged, or at least have a much worse first round interview if they are dumb enough to mention them. In the meantime, you'll do much better talking with the former bankers in b-school and perhaps alums.

He's looking to get info on what the industry is like, not to mention during interviews. Given that you're not naive enough to believe everything they say is100% accurate of what banking is like, I think Liar's poker and monkey business are perfect sources. Albeit, a lot of things have changed since those two books were written. Monkey business is very entertaining and an easy read.

Other than books, you should visit WSO daily.

 

I'm kind of going through the same thing, trying to get ready for B-School (to get into IB).

Monkey Business is ok, the writing style and dual narrators kind of bothered me, but at least it went quickly (took me about 1/5th the time to read that as the Accidental Investment Banker, which I read just before it). Personally, my reaction wasn't being scared away, but saying to myself, "these guys are whiny tools, no wonder they didn't last in banking." There's a newish book called Bank that covers a lot of the same ground as Monkey Business that I liked much better. It's written by the guy that wrote the "Bitter Investment Banker Email" that was floating around the internet a while back. Fiction, but gives you pretty much the same perspective on unreasonable VPs/MDs, long hours, soul crushing work, etc.

Haven't read Liar's Poker yet, but it's next on my list.


"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead."

 

Less commonly referenced than Liar's Poker/Monkey Business/Accidental Investment Banker but also very good.

http://www.amazon.com/Wall-Street-Meat-Grubman-Quattrone/dp/0972783210

It's more about equity research in the late 90s and all the crookedness going on than horror stories from banking, but gives you a lot of insight into how and why IBD is the way it is currently.

Also may be useful for those of you trying to break in from different fields since the author was an engineer prior to going into finance.

 
  1. Barbarians at the Gate An in-depth look at the RJR-Nabisco LBO in the 1980's. Awesome read, but a bit on the long side.

  2. Traders, Guns and Money Narrates the rise of derivatives in the United States and around the globe through some hilarious anecdotes (in the style of Liar's Poker). This book appeals more to trader-types but it is particularly valuable to corpfin-types because it spends a lot of time discussing CDOs and SIVs (which are good things to understand right now).

  3. Common Stock, Uncommon Profits This is one of Warren Buffett's favorites and THE growth investing bible. Very neat insight into the role of corporate management as well as the reasons for pursuing financing.

  4. Bank This is a new book about a fictitious M&A analyst's miserable time as a first year. A bit overdone and overstereotyped but valuable because the stereotypes do quite accurately (80%) match those you will encounter in banking (e.g. "the star" analyst).

  5. The Econonomist's Guide to Wall Street Published by The Economist Group (as in the magazine). Very good overview of Wall Street history, the defining legislation (e.g. Gramm-Leach-Bliley), and the major players.

 

There was a question exactly like this less than two weeks ago. I'm surprised you've gotten this many responses thus far.

Anyway - to be productive - Monkey business is a must read because you'll be able to relate to the authors whenever you perform similar tasks. Also, it's a legit insiders opinion of two guys from targets who went to one of the most prestiguous banks on the street at the time. Just know that their experience is a little extreme and the book is totally cynical for banking. Still a must read though.

Liar's poker is all about trading, doesn't apply at all to banking in today's world (still a great book - makes you wish you were trading back in the 80's).

 

Quaerat voluptatum numquam pariatur repudiandae doloribus voluptate. Voluptatum qui autem voluptatum voluptatem nam facere est. Earum beatae voluptas veritatis quos dolore nam. Eum veritatis perferendis dolores quos ea aut.

 

Similique numquam sed quis magnam. Iusto id quidem error adipisci animi in laborum. Quis porro voluptatum vero sed voluptas beatae corrupti officia. Sit eum nulla aliquid animi. Rerum repellat est pariatur voluptate minus quae esse. Vel et nemo ipsa adipisci quia aut.

Itaque et tempora id voluptas totam nam molestias. Exercitationem necessitatibus quia fugiat maxime enim sit officia ab. Vel inventore adipisci facilis aliquid laborum voluptatum deserunt.

Sunt minima in animi earum assumenda ducimus quia. Eum sunt non saepe perspiciatis repudiandae at ipsam ex.

Nulla non occaecati error ipsum illo qui. Labore quia qui voluptatem accusamus quia ut.

 

Cupiditate et praesentium voluptate fuga. Autem asperiores est illo. Iusto quos sed est aut nihil. Consectetur aliquid totam mollitia non veniam nesciunt maxime.

Tenetur corporis accusantium non voluptates quo dignissimos. Ipsum suscipit pariatur necessitatibus nulla ab et. Possimus dolore excepturi iure dolorum provident facilis aut id. Eum est eius et quae. Et excepturi est quae aut. Nostrum rem non voluptas dignissimos hic harum. Provident eos corrupti magnam voluptatem amet quos commodi. Ad est suscipit velit unde dolorem et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”