Slightly overdone topic but wondering if anyone has books they would recommend to prep for a summer internship in IB?
Would love to talk about non-technical books people are just reading as well.
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Read a diversity of opinions. Read capital. Read the prince. Read wealth of nations. Hearing from a lot of different people will give you the ability to formulate your own view given all the information, which is critical in this world.
On finance, devil take the hindmost, this time it's different, debt first 5000 years, predictably irrational, this time it's different, fooled by randomness, and when money dies are some favorites.
Also, good on you for looking to do some reading. So many young people nowadays don't read, and it's a real shame. All the information in human history-from the greatest minds-have been written in books.
Thank you for taking the time to respond, I’ll look into your suggestions and comment down here once I’ve read something!
t. someone who's never read wealth of nations
Did you expect I list every book I’ve read?
You’re always mentioning reading, do you have any books you recommend that are just interesting reads, they don't have to be full on nonfiction. Trying to find a new book to read and would love to hear your recommendations, thanks.
I did list some books I swear by here, but for the expanded mind type stuff here's some good ones
There's plenty of other economic and finance texts I can recommend too, if that's what you're looking for.
Some good recs in here but I hated Graeber's Debt. Riddled with errors.
48 laws of power
Terrible book by a glorified incel. Pass.
Rule #6: Court attention at all costs
you dont know the meaning of the words you use, retard
Caesar Palace Coup
Zero to One
Still at Uni, so probably not as qualified as some of the other people in this forum, but I am currently reading fooled by randomness and it is such a fun read, especially if you are interested in trading and statistics, but don't want to have a long ass textbook, Nassim also includes so many funny anecdotes, its been a great read.
Marcus Aurelius - Meditations
Based.
Lonesome Dove is a hell of a read if you've got time
The most important thing - Howard Marks
East of Eden - Steinbeck
Distressed Debt Analysis
Competition demystified- greenwald
Quit - Annie Duke
Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
Credit Investors Handbook
Just a few favs from this year as a senior going into IB
tell us ur a rx nerd without telling us ur a rx nerd
😭
The Ascent of Money
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
Should be mandatory reading nationwide IMO
someone liked mad men too much
Liars poker is one of my favorite books
Meditations
To get ahead, read “Term Sheets and Valuations” out of college and then re-read it 5 years into your career.
Annoying there’s not one focused on larger cap comps, but by all means a fantastic rec.
Thank you. I actually bought the book after college and read it, as I was moving to SF from Hawaii to start my career. I wanted to do deals. Later on, I read it again with more context on how the world worked.
I also had Barbarians at the Gate in my backpack.
This was 20 years ago.
hitchhikers guide to the galaxy
Not an educational book per se but barbarians at the gate is a great read. Very well written, feels like you’re watching a movie
Don't read any of these stupid "sigma" books or business books (except Barbarians at the Gate because it is entertaining). You will get enough of that BS on the job. If you ever want to be a legitimate well respected and creative thinker, which you will need if you ever wanna generate real alpha, read stuff that will challenge you and key you into new perspectives.
I echo usernameladiesman on those recs, and would additionally recommend:
-Fanged Noumena by Nick Land... other dark enlightenment material (yarvin) is less interesting and challenging
-Das Kapital and contemorary marxist works (such as postmodernism, or the cultural logic of late capitalism)
-Some thiel-adjacent philosophy might be interesting, but you can probably glean enough about girard and how he applies it to business by just reading profiles/articles about him
-Read stuff on meditation
-How to Think Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
Bronze Age Mindset by Bronze Age Pervert
very niche, very controversial, very... aristocratic?
Man's Search for Meaning
How to win friends and influence people. Being a kind person who people can rely on will get you further than just about anything else in this industry. Clients are won because of trust - execution is obviously important but trust is the number one factor in client relationships
Great book for someone starting their career.
Monkey Business
Lessons in pursuit of excellence by Schwartzman is good
Anything by Ray Dalio & Lee Kuan Yew
Reread "Into the Wild" recently and loved it. Seven years in Tibet similar theme; self discovery and man vs. nature.
ppl who quote finance books in interview = guy you wouldnt want to hang out with outside work = auto ding
The Alchemist. For all those who need to touch grass.
Great book. Timing wise, in my opinion, save The Alchemist for after a few years working or your mid-life crisis (that was me). OP wants to grind for a few years in banking and has been touching a lot of grass in college.
For guys (and gals), but in particular guys who are searching for or missing that older uncle or father type who’s going to tell you nuggets of wisdoms and motivate you to be better, think bigger, the book “The Magic of Thinking Big” is great. Written in 1959, it is timeless. There are 9 hour audio books on YouTube you can listen to while at the gym. You can buy or borrow the book too.
Distressed Debt Analysis by Stephen Moyer
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