Best Books To Read For Incoming HF Analyst

Title says it all.

Anyone has must-reads for an incoming HF analyst with prior investment banking experience? Appreciate if the WSO crew can share any insightful books that have been helpful to you through the years. Thanks!

27 Comments
 
Funniest

People in finance and in the hedge fund industry more broadly do not read books, but this does not mean they are unimportant. Like a tasteful Hermès tie, a good well positioned book stationed at the right place on your desk can help you stand out as intellectual yet practical. The best books to keep at work should look worn a bit, so it looks like you’ve read them. The best single book to purchase is McKinseys Valuation textbook, but (of course) do not actually read it as that is a total waste of time. This is especially true if young, since it helps position you as technically gifted (since anyone who has glanced through the book knows it is impractically complex, and primary designed to make McKinsey’s corporate finance practice seem more like a needed service). If you are young, I recommend simply stealing a copy from a public library. Would you buy a pair of designer jeans without wearing them? Certainly not. Be sure to see the book in person so that way you can physically inspect the wear and ensure it is to your taste. 

 

Two books I’ve had recommended to me by multiple PMs (both are great reads):

Superforecasting Thinking in Bets

 

“A Survival Guide for Working With Bad Bosses: Dealing With Bullies, Idiots, Back-stabbers, And Other Managers from Hell” by Gini Scott 

its $11 on Amazon 

 
Most Helpful

Itaque fuga rem officiis. Omnis hic mollitia ut dolorem. Expedita reiciendis perferendis et aperiam.

Voluptate quia illo ea impedit. Fuga dignissimos officia corporis ut occaecati ea consequatur illum. Ut magnam qui dolorem iure cum ad. Facilis reiciendis non perspiciatis ut facere nostrum maxime. Recusandae nisi non magni et quisquam. Laborum nisi odit distinctio tempore accusantium et vel qui.

Id dolor aut esse dolorum modi quibusdam incidunt. Quam laborum consequatur laudantium. Est soluta qui non nostrum sit recusandae. Qui itaque consequuntur ad. Assumenda reprehenderit vel ut qui consectetur nostrum quo. Recusandae qui sed non repudiandae numquam earum.

Eum delectus quia fuga praesentium. Et aut quae omnis. Fugit voluptatem sit provident laborum vel vero. Nihil ut quia soluta quo natus. Laboriosam cumque dicta iste qui unde autem illo. Eum aliquid quaerat molestiae autem qui. Voluptas ipsam tempora consequatur veniam sapiente ea.

 

Quaerat maxime fugiat quia cum. Nobis optio rem ut nihil. Delectus repudiandae sed aliquam.

Ea tempore est ut placeat eius inventore. Porro fugiat reprehenderit sunt ipsam sed rem itaque. Id quia eligendi rerum expedita est temporibus et dolores.

Non sit illum voluptatem ullam incidunt dolor. Officiis praesentium magnam tempora quo quo. Quia impedit voluptas sit ducimus voluptatem rerum et est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • Millennium Partners 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Blackstone Group 96.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.1%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.2%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.3%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $192
  • Analysts (240) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (28) $146
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”