Summer Reading List
Hey guys, any recommendations for books to read? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! I hope to get into some type of banking position, or Asset Management. Thanks!
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Take a crack at "Security Analysis" by Graham-Dodd. The book is dry to read but loaded with fundamentals. Finishing it is a good "starting" test on your willingness to pursue banking. Then I would read as many possible posts on this website about the "type" of banking you want to get into. I find it hard to meet a new "entrant" and not knowing how to provide specific advice. (As helpful as I or the other commenters can be)
Awesome, thanks!
I loved Barbarians at the Gate, Straight to Hell, Buy Side for fun reads.
In terms of technical reads, you can never go wrong with the Investment Banking book by Rosenbaum and Pearl.
More fun reads include Liar's Poker, Flash Boys, & Den of Thieves. Some require more financial literacy than others.
Jamie Dimons Reading List` (Originally Posted: 07/06/2010)
Original URL: http://1440-68131.blogspot.com/2010/06/jamie-dimons-summer-reading-list… Jamie Dimon's Summer Reading List JPMorgan had a town hall for summer interns yesterday. Apparently quite a few people asked Dimon for a reading list. He e-mailed them back the following list of his favorite books "which includes a variety of business and history books."
Business The World is Flat Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors Security Analysis - Classic 1940 Edition The Intelligent Investor Execution - The Discipline of Getting Things Done Jack: Straight From the Gut Sam Walton - Made in America Double your Profits in 6 Months or Less Built from Scratch Only the Paranoid Survive Built to Last
History Bio Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation Autobiography of Ben Franklin Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West Eisenhower: Soldier and President The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt Washington: The Indispensable Man Lincoln Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant Jefferson Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
History Other A Short History of Nearly Everything Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and Future The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of World Order The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some are so Rich and Some so Poor
Dimon also attached a copy of his Syracuse commencement speech and a copy of a fake Bill Gates speech in the email.
This is somewhat random.
Jamie is probably one of the most busy CEO's. You think he is reading this shit right now? Bunch of interns riding his dick so his secretary did an Amazon search or something. Whats sad is you know that at least 5 interns immediately ordered every one of these books and will be voraciously reading them because JD says so.
Well, those are 5 quite moronic interns, but still reading that stuff will give them some culture. I support anything that makes people read more history-oriented books (and books in general).
Good list
I think 5 might be an understatement.
"JPMorgan had a town hall for summer interns yesterday. Apparently quite a few people asked Dimon for a reading list. He e-mailed them back the following list of his favorite books "which includes a variety of business and history books."
You get the chance to talk to one of the most powerful CEO's in the country and you want to know what books he is reading in the summer?! How about if he wears boxers or briefs.
I'll agree those are some good books. I have read about half of them.
It was a town hall with ALL jpm interns. Asia/Euro/Americas IBD, S&T, AM, whatever else is included. Probably 1000+ in the audience if you count the phones. It wasn't a small group sit down with the gifted and talented IBD nerds in NYC.
the reading list of typically uncultured american business man...
Oh Jesus, he should of included some Longfellow or Chaucer.
your an idiot. why would you post this lol? i was on that call. obviously was only for SA's
Dude - who gives a shit what Jamie Dimon's reading list is? You think reading all those books will make you like him? a$$tarded post.
Btw, I just noticed Guns, Germs, and Steel in that list. Props to whoever secretary/PA inserted it, as it's a kick-ass book.
If his secretary googled these books, she's one hell of a secretary.
what? No creature from the Jekyll Island?
No Random Walk down Wall Street?
sounds like hes trying to hide something
What about The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow...
Four (Unusual) Books You Must Read for Business (Originally Posted: 12/16/2012)
For those of you in college, finals week is here or over already. That means you'll have quite a bit of free time during winter break. I remember in high school, winter breaks were spent sleeping or watching Prison Break re-runs. Unfortunately, that's not longer the case-- in a job market this competitive, every inch of advantage you can attain will help you stand out in the long run. If you're not doing some form of internship, GMAT-prep, or networking during the break, I highly recommend you do some heavy reading.
This goes beyond your typical "catch-up-on-WSJ-headlines" consumption of news. I mea to explore all realms of your industry. I highly recommend you seek out all forms of business literature: yes, there's the usual suggestions. A daily newspaper that covers industry news is a must. The Economist and and the Financial Times will keep you in check, as well as improve your vocabulary and boost your critical thinking skills. Old textbooks, as much as we hate them, can serve to provide insight on topics you might not be so clear on; I know for a fact that my old Intro to Financial Accounting textbook covers a few areas of corporate governance that I'm not too sharp on.
With that said, there are also wonderful pieces of knowledge that come in the form of books, and I don't mean Monkey Business or Barbarians at the Gates. Though classic, those books are becoming cliche if not outdated. And if you're on Wall Street Oasis, you already know that The Four Hour Work-Week is just as impossible as the Secret of Think and Grow Rich. Without getting too into the subject, many books that cater to the mainstream business audience reject basic tenets of hard work, or include a spiritual element. I don't know about you, but busting ass to do a good job is the same regardless of whether you're an entrepreneur or at a corporate office. You also need to work hard if you're thinking positive or attaining karma points.
The books I recommend may not be immediately relevant to the business world at first glance, or may seem out of the blue, but I assure you that they'll change the way you think and provide good talking points for networking or interviews. I plan to review them all once these
all-nighter-inducingfinals are over, and I suggest you do too.The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - Wait, what? Didn't you just say that elements of spirituality are bad for business? Do you know what you're talking about? Yes, I do. Let me explain: if you look past the spiritual aspect-- past all the "consciousness" and metaphysical stuff-- what the book teaches you is to enjoy the moment. Look, the best way to do well in anything is 1) preparation and 2) full embracing the act. You know how eventual burn-outs tolerate 100 hour workweeks at first? By constantly thinking about what the future holds for them at the end. Life is too short for that. If you think about how your favorite billionaire business magnate describes his work, it's usually fun. This happens when one dives deeply into his work-- so much so that he becomes amazing at it and then finds meaning at it. To do that, you must take the first step and use this very moment to enjoy what you have and what you're doing.
Time Warrior by Steve Chandler - This is probably the best time management book at there at the moment. Beginnining with a powerful Bruce Lee quote (the successful person is the average person with laser-like focus), the author acts a sports coach, motivating you to take action in reaching your goals. It is as much inspiration as it is a collection of tools to help one do the necessary to succeed. It is especially useful for young professionals raised in an internet-fueled ADD world, teaching you how to sharpen your concentration-- a critical skill for any goal.
Lawyer by Joe Jamail - OK, now you're really confused. Why is an autobiography about a LAWYER in a list of books for future business leaders? I actually first read this book early on in my college career before I switched over to business. It was actually one of the books that made me NOT want to do law. Reason is, if you read the book, you realize one thing: Joe Jamail is in love with the occupation. A billionaire trial lawyer (do you know how rare that is?), his description of how he feels in a courtroom made me realize that I would never, ever feel that same way in the legal profession. The man is 87 years old and still practicing. It really says something that most i-bankers just want to break in, kill themselves for 2-3 decades, and retire rich. What about going into a profession you enjoy so much that you'll inevitably become rich because you're so good, and that you'll do even when you're pushing 90? Food for thought.
Titan - the Life of John D. Rockefeller by Ron Chernow- Up until I read this book, I lived solely for my parents. I wanted to go to good schools, get a 4.0, and practice law because my father said so. I wanted to marry a nice girl, have 2-3 kids, and settle down around 25 because that's what my mom wanted. Adjusted for inflation, Rockefeller was once worth around $500 billion. Author Chernow spends a lot of time in the biography focusing on Rockefeller's father. Why? Because Rockefeller did everything in his power to not be like the scoundrel, thought for himself, and made history. This book may not make you a multi-billionaire, but it may just give you the inspiration to remove the mental chains that your family (often unintentionally) put on you.
What non-traditional business books would you guys recommend?
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli and the Art of War by Sun Tzu.
How to win friends and influence people by Carnegie. Great book for anybody.
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
Networking Is A Contact Sport by Joe Sweeney.
I subleased an apartment from his son this summer.
Who Moved My Cheese - Spencer Johnson,
a simple read about dealing with change.
Thanks, pal.
Nice post OP. Titan is a fascinating read. After reading the book, I didn't like the guy, but goddamn it's inspiring. I like most biographies about successful businessmen as well as pretty much any US president (Chernow wrote a great book on Washington).
I'll add the other books you mentioned to my reading list that's now the size of a book itself. Thanks.
The Path to Power
The first installment of LBJ's biography series
A very special book about the human condition
The Path to Power
The first installment of LBJ's biography series
A very special book about the human condition
Time Warrior...I like that concept behind the book. Definite buy for me tomorrow.
I would surely read time warrior and titan ..
predictably irrational by dan ariely -- easy to read snapshots of peer-reviewed research on behavioral science, helps understand how people think
Really do hate the woo stuff that bloats most self help and business success books. It boils down to a bunch of placebo-effect junk and motivational speaker nonsense. That's why "spiritual" seems like such an apt description to that brand of stuff. Sure, you need to motivate yourself, but you also have to be careful not to buy into your own hype. A good small business book will lay it out straight, not sugar-coat the realities of working int the business world. Realism works.
The Accidental Investment Banker, about a guy who fell into banking.
Post Office, Charles Bukowski.
Let's do some trading on Summer Reading Lists!! (Originally Posted: 06/05/2016)
Hey all! So I've recently re-discovered my library card and now with some time on my hands, I have been going nuts reading. I visit the library probably at least 3x a week and started compiling a list of books I have read and wanted to share with all of you!
The way my Excel spreadsheet works is I have the Title, Author, Synopsis, my own personal account of any feelings towards the book, and then a rating of my overall impression.
As you will see from Excel, the books that intrigue me most are non-fiction usually related to economics, human tendencies, biographies etc
BUT Would also love if you guys had any recommendations for the next read! Or ways to improve my Excel Spreadsheet!
Hope you have fun "going through the books" (I sure hope someone gets that)
P.S. I am currently reading Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind about the rise and fall of Enron. This is also why I have a blank in that section on the Excel Spreadsheet
That's a great list; it's very kind of you to share it with us. Here are some recommendations, based on your ratings and thoughts:
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Trust Me I'm Lying by Ryan Holiday Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Class by Paul Fussell
I definitely endorse the last two books. Would be fun to get a Paul Fussell Class discussion thread with the people we have on this board.
I enjoy reading a lot, I try and finish a book every 1-2 weeks. Over the past year, some of the ones that I liked are:
-Predictably Irrational (Ariely) -High-Rise (Ballard) -A Dangerous Master (Wallach) -When Genius Falled (Lowenstein) -The Big Short (Lewis) -No Easy Day (Owen) -No Hero (Owen) -The Physics of Wall Street (Weatherall) -Traders, Guns and Money (Das) -Elon Musk (Vance) -Accidental Billionaires (Mezrich) -Inventing Money (Dunbar)
The Divide by Matt Taibbi
Nice list! Here is what I am reading this summer:
Influence by Robert Cialdini Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie ( for the 2nd time, AMAZING book) Capital Ideas by Peter Burnstein Financial Shenanigans by Howard Schilit
Extreme Ownership
Currently working through The Shock of the New by Robert Hughes. A bit dated, but good overview of the development of modern art.
I want to get through a couple art theory books this summer, and then maybe try Finnegan's Wake if I really really start hating myself.
Are you really serious about reading the Wake lol. Have you read other Joyce?
If you want something more enjoyable than the wake but still challenging, try Gravity's Rainbow by me, The Recognitions by Gaddis (the Hughes book will definitely help you understand some of the art stuff in the Recognitions), anything by Gass, Women & Men by McElroy, 2666 by Bolaño, etc.
Infinite Jest is the seemingly-permanent staple at the top of my reading list. At 1079 pages...I know it's great, but it's still just hard to get through. I'm not alone here in this procrastination, am I?
I have a reading list somewhere in Evernote which, ironically, I haven't looked at in a while. But off the top of my head: -Zero to One by Peter Thiel -The Intelligent Investor by Ben Graham -(Re-reading) How to Win Friends & Influence People, Dale Carnegie -Ray Dalio's Principles (a PDF of it is hosted on Bridgewater's website here: http://www.bwater.com/Uploads/FileManager/Principles/Bridgewater-Associ…) -CFA, LSAT, and/or GRE study guides
Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Taleb Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
The god delusion- richard dawkins
Influence by Cialdini End of Alchemy by Mervyn King Misbehaving by Richard Thaler
Next on my list is:
The Sound of Waves, by Yukio Mishima The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway Too Big to Fail, by Andrew Sorkin
I've got Musashi, 48 Laws of Power, and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in my Amazon cart.
Things I've read lately:
Fooling Some of The People All of The Time (Really excellent, I'd recommend this to anyone interested in Finance) Thinking Fast and Slow (Decent; Half of the stuff I learned in high school psychology, though.) Flash Boys (Not as good as Liar's Poker, imho) The Black Swan (Also excellent) Barbarians at the Gate (Felt really repetitive, like the same good story told 3 times, due to the constant price wars)
Nothing is True and Everything is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev
Great list! Thanks for sharing.
I have a question for you and any other avid reader in this post. What are some tricks you use to best retain what you read? Do any of you take notes or like do a small write up of interesting chapters?
That's actually the exact reason why I started keeping an excel spreadsheet! I usually will jot down a quote or key concept on a post it. Now that I'm thinking about it, I might create another column for those quotes on excel.. Anyone else have any other methods??
I like to take notes in the margins if I'm reading something really dense.
I'm really into the CFA studies and financial modelling right now, so reading something on management and consulting takes my head out of the numbers for some time. I hope to finish my list until the end of september. My reading list is:
-The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy by Stern and Deimler
-Business Adventures by John Brooks
-The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone
Fussell's Class and Deresiewicz's Excellent Sheep are must reads for many people on this forum.
Other good one's, pertaining more so to finance:
A Random Walk Down Wall Street Fooled by Randomness The End of Alchemy Lords of Finance Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics
Now that I have been freed from the CFAs
The Prince Flash Boys 48 Laws of Power
"Team of Rivals" - A story about A. Lincoln's administration - explains strategy of team building and how Lincoln used diversity of thoughts to get things done. "Art of Power - Thomas Jefferson" is roughly the same political history text of T. Jefferson. Both interesting reads from a history combined with working with others' perspective.
From what you have told us, I think you would be a hug fan of Malcolm Gladwell (although I may be biased as he is my favorite author). My 3 favorites by him, in no particular order, are Outliers, David and Goliath and the Tipping Point.
Check out Rick Atkinson's The Liberation Trilogy - 3 volume series on World War II in the European/North African theater. Start with An Army at Dawn which won a Pulitzer; great history of the Allies campaign in North Africa.
This summer its going to be: Currently finishing: "Boomerang" by Micheal Lewis, This book actually makes me laugh sometimes, especially in the first part where he's talking about Iceland. "Stocks for the Long-run" "Security Analysis": It's pretty dense, and learning about 1930's railway stocks and other boring stuff is boring, but I'm almost halfway so I just want to finish it anyways.
Starting New Job in 3 months: need books to read (Originally Posted: 10/18/2015)
Hi Everyone,
Frequent lurker, first time poster.
I am starting a graduate IB role in Sydney, Australia in a few months and as I have no previous experience in pure Investment banking I was wondering whether someone can recommend any good books that I can read so that I am a step ahead.
Specifically the role will include rotations in the following: M&A (mainly mid market) financial modelling & Analysis Transaction Advisory services Valuation services
I am looking for content that covers what I will actually be doing in the role, rather than a theoretical approach, but I'd appreciate any help really.
Thanks!
bump
Good books to read (Originally Posted: 02/24/2010)
What are the best books to read on finance if you have a basic background, but would like to get a better grasp of the Sales and Trading side of Finance. I have read basic books about investing, but now want to start investing my own money, both short term and long term. What would be some good books to help me along this path?
Thank you very much
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre is a must read. Also look into the Market Wizard's series by Jack Schwager
I have read both and they are very good.
For S&T, "How to persuade people who don't want to be persuaded" by Joel Bauer
Fooled by Randomness When Genius Failed
For value investing in equities, Ben Graham is a good start: The Intelligent Investor and Security Analysis
When Genius Failed - the collapse of ltcm; or any peter bernstein books on investing
Not really a finance book per se but i'm a third through Hank Paulson's biography On The Brink and its been a pretty engaging read.
Although not too technical, Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis is a good one for trading.
Another good one is "Too Big To Fail" by Andrew Ross Sorkin. It's more about the recent crisis, but should definitely be mandatory reading for anyone looking into the industry.
Read about networking also:
Never Eat Alone--Keith Ferrazzi You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself--Harry Beckwith Networking Like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections--Ivan Misner How to Win Friends and Influence People--Dale Carnegie
This list is pretty good, also (Bear Stearns summer intern reading list-- maybe they should've re-read a few...)
http://bearstearns.com/includes/pdfs/careers/recommended_reading.pdf
Barbarians at the Gate Merchants of Debt
The Disciplined Trader: Developing Winning Attitudes by Mark Douglas
Great book on trading psychology
Upgrading my Reading List (Originally Posted: 03/25/2013)
Last week I attended a master class at one of the MBA programs I’m looking at. The Professor was interesting he spent some time talking about all of the standard hot topic issues and we went through a case study. I left the class with one take away – I want to read more finance books. I made note of a few titles that I came across but also decided to set out on my kindle to see what I could find. 10 minutes worth of searching and I came up with the next three books I’ll be reading. Check out my list so far and help me with any suggestions. The three currently on my list are:
After the Music Stopped by Alan Blinder I read the first paragraph of this book randomly when at a friend’s house and I immediately added it to the list of books I’d be reading. What I like most is the style the book is written in – very easy to get through the dense text and very easy to understand.
The Problem of HFT by Haim Bodek This is a series of essays talking about the issues with special order types, dark pools, etc. I just started it, but I think it’s going to be a pretty good read. For one, I am a fan of shorter essays versus long, continuous books. And secondly, for someone who has no experience with this stuff it makes it pretty understandable.
Dark Pools by Scott Patterson Another telling of the same story - the dangers of HFT and the problems it yields. Seems pretty interesting, though I still haven’t bought this one yet. It might just be the same content as the previous book with a shiny new wrapper, so I'm not entirely sold.
What I’d be really interested to know is what good books are out there that talk about failed companies and case studies? Any good recommendations?
I love "The Big Short"
Also, this list should keep you occupied for a while.
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/blog/my-heavily-influenced-by-wso-readin…
It's funny how a year and a half ago I had nothing to read and not too much to do ... now I have a continually growing reading list (that I will never finish) and an IB internship. In no small part thanks are due to WSO.
I feel like this comes up all the time...can we have one big 'suggested readings' post?
That being said, off the top of my head: When Genius Failed, Barbarians at the Gate, Random Walk Down Wallstreet, Lords of Finance, Big Short, Too Big to Fail, Fooled by Randomness, Monkey Business, Liar's Poker.
Check out In The Flesh's blog for all your literature needs.
I noticed your interest in HFT - allow me to recommend "Frequently Trading High," the autobiography of a genius stoner who joined GS S&T and raked in profits while tripping on bath salts.
LTCM: the smartest guys in the room
No list complete without Black Swan (and Antifragile, IMO).
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
http://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Popular-Delusions-Wordsworth-Refere…
Street Freak
http://www.amazon.com/Street-Freak-Memoir-Money-Madness/dp/1439181276/r…
More Money Than God
http://www.amazon.com/More-Money-Than-God-Relations/dp/0143119419/ref=s…
Thinking, Fast and Slow
http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555/…
The 48 Laws of Power
http://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197/ref=sr_…
These are all some of my favorites; a few I'm in the process of finishing, but all are great in my opinion.
American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company
http://www.amazon.com/American-Icon-Mulally-Fight-Company/dp/0307886050
I just read this one and really enjoyed it, but I am a huge Mulally fan.
I'll second this one. Great view of how finance affected other industries during the past few years.
barbarians bro
• The Intelligent Investor: The Classic Text on Value Investing by Benjamin Graham • International Economics: Theory And Policy by Paul R. Krugman • The Most Powerful Bank: Inside Germany’s Bundesbank by David Marsh • Controlling & Managing Interest Rate Risk by Anthony G. Cornyn and Robert A. Klein • How the Options Markets Work by Joseph A. Walker • New Financial Instruments by Julian Walmsley • Market Wizards: Interviews with Top Traders by Jack D. Schwager • The New Market Wizards: Conversations with America’s Top Traders by Jack D. Schwager • Stock Market Wizards: Interviews with America’s Top Stock Traders by Jack D. Schwager • Exceptional Trading: The Mind Game by Ruth Barrons Roosevelt • Trading to Win: The Psychology of Mastering the Markets by Avi Kiev • The Disciplined Trader: Developing Winning Attitudes by Mark Douglas • Stan Weinstein’s Secrets For Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets by Stan Weinstein • Trading in the Zone: Master the Market with Confidence, Discipline and a Winning Attitude by Mark Douglas and Thom Hartle • Trading in the Zone : Maximizing Performance with Focus and Discipline by Ari Kiev • Trading With Crowd Psychology by Carl Gyllenram • Pit Bull: Lessons from Wall Street’s Champion Day Trader by Martin S. Schwartz et al • The Master Swing Trader: Tools and Techniques to Profit from Outstanding Short-Term Trading Opportunities by Alan S. Farley • The Market Maker’s Edge: A Wall Street Insider by Josh Lukeman • The Super Traders: Secrets and Successes of Wall Street’s Best and Brightest by Alan Rubenfeld • Zebra In Lion Country by Ralph Wanger with Everett Mattlin • Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets by John J. Murphy • Hit and Run Trading: The Short-Term Stock Traders’ Bible by Jeff Cooper • Hit and Run Trading II: Capturing Explosive Short-Term Moves in Stocks by Jeff Cooper • Street Smarts: High Probability Short-Term Trading Strategies by Laurence A. Connors and Linda Bradford Raschke • The Real Holy Grail: Money Management Techniques of Top Traders by Eddie Kwong
Metal Men by A. Craig Copetas: It's a short and riveting read. Neither Phibro nor Marc Rich AG failed per se, but Rich leaving sowed the seeds of Phibro's eventual decline and there's absolutely no way you could guess that Glencore and Trafigura would spawn out of what looks like the discredited Marc Rich model at the end of the book.
Read: Last Man Standing by Duff McDonald. It's about Jamie Dimon's career. I don't think anyone can say that there is a better banker out there.
Reminiscences of a stock operator is a totally underrepresented book on this site
I have been searching everywhere for this since I first heard of it, is there anywhere recommended to looks? Is that the actual title? A google and amazon search bring up nothing.
Books to read in 2018: Finance and non-finance related (Originally Posted: 02/05/2018)
Trying to read a lot more this year and I set a goal to read one book every two weeks. I've got a few on my list, but am curious what everyone else is reading this year. I'm currently reading The Spider Network by David Enrich. I started the year off by reading the first Game of Thrones book and Prisoners of Geography. Both were great.
Recent finance reads - Red Notice, Barbarians at the Gate, Stock Market Genius, Fooling Some of the People All of the Time, Glass House, The New Geography of Jobs, Monkey Business
Recent non-finance reads - Thinking Fast and Slow, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, In Cold Blood, Running with Scissors
What books are most important to read? (Originally Posted: 05/04/2016)
I know reading is very important and i also know that read the right books is also important. Im wondering, what books should I read to become more knowledgeable on finance? What books are important for every finance professional to read?
target career? or just in general? ... since you have posted in the IB forum I would STRONGLY suggest a modelling program first and then books ... BIWS is the modelling program I would recommend, WSP is not bad either
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/book-recommendations-for-equity-r…
Where do i find these programs?
"Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions" by Rosenbaum and Pearl if it's anything IB/PE related. It's great for an overall view of the nuts and bolts in the industry. Very easy to read and very applied IMO. I agree with the modeling, but I would give this book a look first, it also explains how models work and should look (again, on a somewhat basic level). The things it covers are also what you would normally be asked about in interviews.
Springer- Investment Banking A Guide to Underwriting and Advisory Services - Giuliano Iannotta .. way better and so are several others like Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring - Patrick A Guaghan
I made the same mistake, books are good but with modelling programs you can apply what you read in books.... so modelling programs first, books later, this way the books make more sense, for example you read about the CFROI valuation method you can more/less understand how you would model that if you have done modelling program, books can be read for your entire remaining life but modelling programs hit the nail on the head, you finish them you are ready for an interview to say the least
Modelling programs take you from the most basic to the advanced modelling explaining concepts along the way, there is just no way a book can compete with a video when it comes to learning financial modelling
the modelling programs also have interview prep courses, so this book or any other, cannot even come close to competing with that
use the search function, there's been tons of threads on books to read. I've done one, simple as did one, there was even a poll a year or so ago.
haha the equivalent of "Google it" ... nice... there really needs to be a list of common threads to avoid these remakes
48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
OP, if you don't have the cash for modelling courses check out Macabus https://www.macabacus.com/learn. Personally, having used Rosenbaum & Pearl Investment Banking, Breaking Into Wall Street Advanced Modelling and Macabus, I found the most useful method was to build the models in Rosenbaum & Pearl from ground up, copying their layout. As you're not being walked through the model by a video, it requires a lot more critical analysis to understand how it is built and what drives it.
If you don't want to learn financial modelling (I personally don't see the point until you understand the key concepts of Corporate Finance, no point in running before you can walk), I'd recommend the following books.
Finance knowledge: Brealey, Myers & Allen - Principles of Corporate Finance Bodie, Kane & Marcus - Essentials of Investments Valdez & Molyneux - An introduction to Global Financial Markets
General finance career knowledge: Liar's Poker: A classic for anyone interested in Sales & Trading Barbarians at the Gate: Great insight into how a deal can come about. Good read for anyone interested in IB / PE. Monkey Business: Good insight into the life of a junior banker and the pros / cons it can involve. The Accidental Investment Banker: Very interesting book about a career banker's journey from Associate to MD. Great insight into how deals come about, what senior bankers actually do and the office politics than can be encountered.
books and news to read (Originally Posted: 04/29/2012)
Im a freshman and want to know what books i should read if i want to try to get into investment banking or equity research? are there any sites that analyze the markets in a detailed way as well?
rosenbaum's investment banking. a real page turner. or barbarians at the gate, the big short, liar's poker, when genius failed, the intelligent investor etc
Fellow Monkeys and I have complied a list of books and news feeds here: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/personal-development-0. Please also check out: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/nyssa-equity-research-initiation-report. And Flake has Q&A on how to get into ER at here: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/equity-research-qa-with-flake. And CompBanker has done how to get into IBD here: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/ask-compbanker.
don't fall into the trap of reading too many finance textbooks. Read as many annual reports possible. By your senior year, you'll know every important fact about every important company.
4 years of familiarizing with companies > 4 years of finance theory
GS recommended reading list ought to keep you busy for a while.
http://www.askivy.net/content/goldman-sachs-recommended-reading-list
[quote=JBJ-89]GS recommended reading list ought to keep you busy for a while.
http://www.askivy.net/content/goldman-sachs-recommended-reading-list[/q…]
Nice find. This list could last you a life time if you actually read each book page for page (judging by their titles, not your typical "summer reading list")
Good books you read recently? (Originally Posted: 04/30/2013)
Recently finished Song of Fire and Ice, Freakonomics/Super Freakonomics, and Outliers, and would recommend all of them.
Need some more books to read while I commute
Antifragile by Taleb
Confidence Game by Christine Richard.
i'm a fan of michael lewis stuff: boomerang, the big short, moneyball et al
if you're interested in philosophy i'd recommend meditations by marcus aurelius for stoicism and david hume stuff for epistemology / critical thinking.
for leisure / general knowledge, i really enjoyed a short history of nearly everything by bryson and guns, germs and steel by jared diamond.
Why I Left Goldman Sachs.
Really though, if you read between the lines, there is some valuable stuff in there.
Also interested.
American Lion: Andrew Jackson by Jon Meacham if you want a beast (and long) biography about the beastiest president to have and forever will have lived.
Michael Lewis: Boomerang, The Big Short, Moneyball are great for fun read. For technical: John Hull: Options, Futures and Other Derivatives
bud, not buddy
The Big Short is great. Street Freak was also a good read, but I agree with madmoney, if you really read what Greg Smith is saying, both directly and indirectly, his book "Why I left Goldman Sachs" is entertaining and informative
Also, Michael Lewis is a classic choice.
Books you're reading now (Originally Posted: 04/28/2007)
Slaughterhouse-five, Kurt Vonnegut
A few..i usually read a few books at a time..
Republic, by Plato (re - reading) Market Neutral Investing, bu Joseph Nicholas Hedge Funds-Robert Jaeger
Sucks, bc I should be reading my Advanced C Programming book...procrastination is a bitch.
Anyone know anything about doubly linked lists?
Den of Thieves - its a good book, I'm just pissed that I read Predators Ball first, because I think Den is a much better written and detailed account, and my interest in it is waining due to having read Predators.
When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management-Roger Lowenstein
A good read that gives insight into the hedge fund world and proves that nothing is a sure thing.
One flew over the cuckoo's nest.
A classic.
The count of Monte-Cristo
A great summer read..
The Black Swan, by Taleb. Basically says that using a normal distribution in financial markets is worthless and retarded. Also a lot of abstract philosophy, epistemology type of stuff. A good read.
Good follow-up to his book Fooled by Randomness. Required reading for anyone going into S&T, IMO.
who uses the normal distribution?
isn't the lognormal distribution used commonly?
Freakonomics
sorry if it's not up to par with some of these hedge anomaly type books, but I like it :)
State of Fear
State of Fear is a fantastic book. Highly recommend all of michael crichton's work, really gripping stuff.
you don't take any distribution and just plug and chug.
Atlas Shrugged
Mine is actually Investment Valuation by Damodaran...haha jokes jokes.
Great Gatsby.
Terrific book
Kings of Cool, the prequel to Savages. Gotta finish it then watch the movie.
Why nations fail
How on earth are we digging up threads that are over 6 years old?
Reading this Why Nations Fail at the moment (http://www.amazon.com/Why-Nations-Fail-Origins-Prosperity/dp/0307719219)
Best books to read (Originally Posted: 05/22/2007)
... to acquaint oneself with the culture and learn more about the field of investment banking?
your screenname is the nickname of the old wharton building, but your pic is Huntsman Hall. WHAT GIVES??
Monkey Business, Liar's Poker, Barbarians at the Gate, The Accidental Investment Banker, Den of Thieves. Take all with a grain of salt.
barbs: read it, but it gets a bit too boring. you have to skip over a lot of details that are no so important.
or maybe that's because I am not working in industry yet?
fiasco, wall street meat
since you go to penn, running of the bulls
Goldman Sachs : Culture of Success, Portrait of a Banker, House of Morgan.
Need Help - What books I could read? (Originally Posted: 01/05/2014)
Hi Folks ! Can just somebody tells me some books I could read which can teach financial basis ?
//www.wallstreetoasis.com/FAQ/what-should-i-read-if-i-am-interested-in-in…
Looking for New Books to Read (Originally Posted: 02/11/2014)
So WSO, I'm turning to you guys looking for books to read. I'm looking for non-Wall Street related reads. Anything worth recommending, go for it. I will say this, no Game of Thrones. I've read everything there is that's been put out by George R.R. Martin and unless you happen to have a full manuscript of Book 6 of Game of Thrones, I'm not interested. I do have 3 books already queued up on my Kindle, but at the rate I read, I'm going to be finished with them by Mid March. I've got "Jesse James and the Secret Legend of Captain Coytus", "Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas", and "Half a King". I know I'll tear through them quickly so any recommendations are appreciated.
Hyperion.
I really liked Shibumi by Trevanian.
I just finished Dance of the Furies by Michael Neiberg. It's an interesting look at the first year of WW1, I had to read it for a class and couldn't put it down. But I am a history nerd sooooo
If you haven't already, read Catch 22.
First off, Pandamonium, I've read Catch-22. I don't feel like rereading it.
@B4SH - Shibumi sounds interesting. I'll add it to my List.
@Stryfe - I've never been into WWI. Although there can be a great deal gleaned from WWI/WWII that can make us reflect on how the past is prologue and that we're seeing similar things happening that have happened before. If you have any recommendations for anything in WWII, I'll gladly check 'em out.
@Kassad - Who is it by?
My favorite WW2 book is "The Longest Winter" by Alex Kershaw. It's an account of the 99th infantry division during the Battle of the Bulge, and follows them through the battle, POW camp, and then their return home. It's similar to The Bedford Boys.
1989 book by Dan Simmons. Summaries don't do it justice; I recommend you just grab the ebook and dive in.
What type of books do you want to read?
I want to read books
I'm open to any suggestion. I, generally speaking, want to avoid the classics - things like Tolstoy, Dumas, Dickens, Vonnegut, Melville - unless we're talking like actual Greek/Roman Classics such as something by Golden or Silver Age Latin writers (I've got a soft spot for Suetonious and Tacitus), anything in the sphere of Finance because I read way too much, and histories before 1945. No James Joyce. I have to make that one very clear. I read Ulysses and had to burn the book in effigy about 50 pages in. I'm up for Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Non-Fiction biographies. Short Story Anthologies by good writers (think Hemingway, Poe, Asimov, the dude that wrote Fight Club). I mean the three books I'm reading right now are all of varying genres, so when I say anything, I mean I'm game for almost any kind of suggestion.
Crime and Punishment The Brothers Karamazov The Alchemist Absalom Absalom House of Leaves
Random great books that came to mind, all of which I've read in the last 2 years.
Anna Karenina The Count of Monte Cristo The Things They Carried Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Currently working on it (it's a monster), but so far been awesome.
Holy... I LOVE GEB! Are you a quant? I'm not, I just like intellectual things!
The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival - John Vaillant Its an account of a man eating tiger hunt in Russia, its deeply informative and goes in to the history of the region and the people that live there. Its a nice break from more boring textbook like non-fiction books.
Wolf Hall by Mantel
Have you read any of the LOTR series or War and Peace?
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