Accounting Basics - Is this a good book?

In order to start learning finance, understanding accounting and balance sheets is important. Does anyone know if this is a good book?

http://www.amazon.com/Read-Financial-Report-John-…

Also, does anyone know of other books or textbooks (that aren't 50 billion pages long) that I could read? I basically want enough knowledge to understand a model by starting with this and then reading a finance book (probably a basic corporate finance college textbook).

15 Comments
 
Best Response

lui, I am doing WSP right now. I love it, but unfortunately without good understanding of accounting & finance it's useless. The program throws some important accounting terms w/o basic explanation.

Millhouse, you are freshman, if you start reading all those books now, you'll burn out by senior year. Go have fun, get drunk, and have sex with girls. Just make sure you keep your GPA around 4.0 and take Finance & Accounting classes. I mean wtf do your parents pay $20,000 or $40,000 a year for?

And instead of buying Rolex for $5,000, invest those money in Human Capital (GMAT, Wall Street Prep, DealMaven, CFA Level 1) or travel.

 

I am in my university's (liberal arts) Financial Accounting course and this simple book covers the bases well:

Accounting Principles I - CLIFFS QUICK REVIEW - by Elizabeth A Minbiole

Just take a course in accounting, it will probably go toward your concentration if it is econ or business, if accounting is not a requirement for it already

 
kidflashhow do you understand valuation if you don't understand accounting? valuation is based on the financial statements..

Thought so as well. You already should have some basic accounting knowledge if you read Rosenbaum from cover to cover. With this knowledge it should be easy to read the accounting part on macabacus.

 

Yeah... I can really only answer this by telling you to take introductory accounting courses. What is your major that allowed you to get so far without knowing something this basic? I'm seriously curious, sorry if I sound condescending.

When a plumber from Hoboken tells you he has a good feeling about a reverse iron condor spread on the Japanese Yen, you really have no choice. If you don’t do it to him, somebody else surely will. -Eddie B.
 

If I had to guess, it would be because OP isn't in an econ(ish) major. Given the fact that he's at a top target (Harvard/Princeton etc), his/her school probably doesn't even offer many accounting courses (if at all). I'm in the same position - I've taken zero accounting/valuation/corp. finance courses. If you're at a top target, BB's don't really care if you've never done accounting/finance as long as you know your basic technicals, demonstrate interest in banking, and have a good GPA.

dollas
 

Eum sint voluptas velit. Facilis facilis mollitia et eveniet ratione. Minima dolores exercitationem quia voluptatem qui fugiat quis. Qui ut accusantium sed vitae repellendus corporis minima dolore. Eveniet sequi ut vero. Ad ut delectus porro autem vero.

Deleniti sint ut praesentium non. Praesentium dolorem ut in nesciunt molestias. Enim aut architecto dignissimos illo.

When a plumber from Hoboken tells you he has a good feeling about a reverse iron condor spread on the Japanese Yen, you really have no choice. If you don’t do it to him, somebody else surely will. -Eddie B.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $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

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...”