I wanted to get ideas regarding new reading material, since my mind is full of academic books and guides at the moment. I was thinking about No country for old men or something in that regard. Maybe something related to finance, (without it being "educational").
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Dante's Inferno - its powerful imagery and insights into the nine concentric circles of hell complement nicely into an excellent extended metaphor for what to expect as a first year investment banking analyst.
ha couldnt have said it better!
Ha! that sounds like some kind of omen. I will add it to my list.
If you're just starting out in banking, it's very important to consider expanding your vocabulary.
I recommend The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
.
“You Can Be A Wall Street Genius” by Joel Greenblatt. It’s about Special Sitautions investing and Merger Aribtrage. Not a dry read at all and it includes one case study each chapter that’s actually interesting
I will definitely check it out, thanks. In amazon it shows as "you can be a stock market genius".
Yes that’s it. My mistake in the original comment
gotta check it out too !
Do CIMs count?
CIMs?
Confidential Information Memorandum / Materials
Currently reading Den of Thieves. Might read The Cuckoo’s Calling by JK Rowling next for a much more casual read
Den of thieves... is it as bad as the movie, though? lol
Lol the book I’m referring to is about the Boesky/ Milken insider trending scandal from the 80s. You referring to that 50 Cent movie? Lol
just like that unrelated movie, the book is pretty boring and not that engaging imo, I read half and then listened to a third or so on audiobook and I couldn’t bring myself to finish it.
12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. Peterson
Liar's Poker. After that, I have Random Walk down Wall Street on my list.
Margin of Safety
EDIT: Finished Margin of Safety. Now reading Factfulness by Hans Rosling.
Hardcover copy.
More Money than God, Merchants of Debt, King of Capital, Smartest Guys in the Room, When Genius Failed, stuff like that - imho all are light reads, entertaining, interesting and educational.
Yes! when Genius failed is one i was trying to remember, about long term capital.
The LTCM book and King of Capital are both so good. How do you like Merchants of Debt + More Money?
+1 for More Money Than God.
awful name, interesting read.
Just started reading Black Edge, about Steve Cohen. Recommended!
Is it more of an impartial analysis or a little biased?
It's definitely biased, like most books in that genre, but I enjoy it regardless. The style of writing is more newspaper than financial literature, so one can enjoy the book without understanding hedge fund jargon and lingo.
It's quite short though so you'll easily get through it over a weekend if you sit down with it.
Just read this last month, also rec!
Rise and Kill First - really interesting exploration of Israel’s Targeted Killing program since the country’s inception. Bloomberg - Updated biography
The Bank That Lived a Little: Barclays in the Age of the Very Free Market - Very topical book right now given current events involving ex-Barclays execs
Red Notice - hugely entertaining and well written dive into post-communism Russia
+1 Red Notice, everyone should read
Chip Wilson's/Lululemon's autobiography thing & the newer Howard Marks book. Both pretty good.
Predictably Irrational. Great read so far
Red Flags: Why Xi's China Is in Jeopardy by George Magnus
Discussion Materials_v22 [1.24.2019]
Good fiction is like going on vacation. Recently enjoyed Midnight's Children and Cloud Atlas. Tried pushing through Infinite Jest, then retired it for another year, lol.
Most of the comments here are pretty Wall Street/Finance heavy, so I'll add some more abstract options. Ever since reading Haruki Murakami's 1q84 a few years ago, I've been hooked on his writing. The English translations of his works, The Windup Bird Chronicle and Kafka by the Shore are truly works that you can lose yourself in for days at a time, precisely what I want out of a good novel.
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Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story
It's an autobiography by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has lived an incredibly wild, inspiring life.
Directorate S. It's about Pakistan's support of the Taliban and the inner workings of the war in Iraq/Afghanistan from the perspective of coalition forces, the CIA, the Pakistanis, and the Taliban. Super interesting -- highly recommend it.
I highly recommend Charlie Wilson's War. Basically to sum it up in a few sentences to make it short. It is how the U.S government funded the Taliban and gave them weapons because of the conflict of Russia.
Classic also: How to win friends and influence people. :)
Will check that out. Wasn't there a movie made out of that?
Currently reading Too Big To Fail. A great read.
I would also recommend the movie!
Watched it last night. Although it's not bad, I'd say the book is way better. It captures the full story and includes every little detail, whereas a lot of parts of the story are not in the movie.
Alchemy of Finance,
Literally just started and already want to quit it.
I was going to ask why and then i looked it up... "book by george soros" lol
I too failed to finish Alchemy of Finance. It's just not well written. But what it does do, I don't care what your feelings on his politics are, is impress you with his trading skill. He's long and short two dozen asset classes at any given time and doing amazingly. He's one of the best traders ever.
My Billion Dollar Education: Inside the Mind of a Rogue Trader - Autobiographic book by a bond trader. It outlines the faulty compliance and safety measures that were in place. It's a little heavy on the Japanese apologetic mentality, though.
The logic of failure - This book made me better understand what complex systems are and how unintended consequences develop. It's a light read relative to the subject.
Big Magic: Creative Living Without Fear - This book puts some things into perspective and helps to develop a serene mindset. Here is my favourite quote from the book (yes, it took me 15 minutes to find): "We all spend our twenties and thirties trying so hard to be perfect, because we're so worried about what people will think of us. Then we get into our forties and fifties, and we finally start to be free, because we decide that we don't give a damn what anyone thinks of us. But you won't be completely free until you reach your sixties and seventies, when you finally realize this liberating truth - nobody was ever thinking about you, anyhow."
Just finished The Outpost. Great read with some incredible stories and would highly recommend. Starting Presidents of War next.
“Barbarians at the Gate” by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, which is about the RJR Nabisco LBO. Highly recommended on this site so decided to give it a try — informative and engaging read so far.
Atlas shrugged
Grapes of Wrath. Just finished The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
Any other good quant related books you guys recommend?
Sapiens - Yuval Harari
That one looks interesting, thanks!
& of course the sequel “Homo Deus”. Fantastic insight and easy reads.
The Last Tycoons - book on the formation and rise to fame of Lazard and their few "Great Men". Only a little past half way, but overall would recommend it for those interested in the drama behind the wild-west days of M&A in the '60s-'80s. Pretty informative of how things actually worked back in those days (and probably still do in some places) and cool stories about just how big of a swinging dck some of these dudes had.
This! I have it queued up for after I finish King of Capital. Would also recommend Titans of M&A. It's based on the origins of M&A and it's pioneers
"The Bet" about Julian Simon (economist) and Paul Erlich (biologist) and the bet they made about commodity prices. The book does a great job highlighting the completely different views of the world but is an easy read. Paul Erlich famously thought overpopulation was going to result in widespread famine, apocalyptic nightmare, etc. He had a lot of influence over narrative and political thought in the 70s/80s. Simon and others believed human ingenuity would enable agriculture and infrastructure to match, etc.
Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy by Joseph Schumpeter
Skin in the Game is good, not as good as Fooled but worth a read.
"I Can't Make This Up. Life Lessons." by Kevin Hart. Really good book and goes to show you how hard he had to hustle to make it. Definitely makes you think about taking risk like that. People underestimate the power of being young, broke, and nothing to lose. Now I have student loans to deal with which is binding in a lot of ways. I honestly can't imagine a better feeling than taking risk like that and succeeding on that level.
Read "Naked Economics" and currently reading "Naked Money."
Fun reads.
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Interesting quick read, Start Up Nation, a Story of Israel's Economic Miracle. Goes into the different traits of Israeli culture that are almost specifically Israeli like "chutzpah" (brashness), continuous questioning, respect for, but not end-all be-all adherence to authority, and love/frequency of traveling. Book goes into the geography, history, military, and culture of Israeli and how they have cultivated these specific traits of Israelis. Also dives into how these widely possessed traits by most in the country have created the perfect cultural environment for entrepreneurship in Israel, giving examples on how the Israeli team basically saved Intel 20 years ago, have currently been a big player in PayPal, and touches on the other numerous successful tech companies that are headquartered or have big offices in Israel.
Just picked up Behave today.
I'm currently reading The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard Feynman. While it's not finance related, Feynman was a really interesting guy (professor at Caltech, Nobel prize winner in physics, worked on the Manhattan Project, etc.). In addition to being one of the brightest minds of the last century, he was also a hilarious guy who could do something that most physicists can't: relate to ordinary people.
The Stand by Stephen King - shit is really fucking long but so insanely good
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Right now I'm reading "The Green Mile" by Stephen King. He's my favourite author and this book is one of the greatest and most terrifying at the same time, I think. King is a true master of horrors, I got totally immersed in the whole prison atmosphere. Each story the main character (Paul Edgecomb) tells is chilling and so detailed that you feel like you've really been there. I suggest you check this one, especially if you love horrors.
Am currently reading "The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich" - all about the man that founded what eventually became Glencore. In terms of light financial literature, possibly a little too focused on the man himself (and his legal issues) than his business, but interesting nonetheless. Other than that, you've got the finance classic that is "Liar's Poker." If you haven't read this, I'd strongly recommend.
Range by David Epstein
Can confirm this is a great read
Fooled by Randomness - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
.
Anna Karenina !
Money, Greed, and God - Jay W. Richards
I have been reading more war/ philosophy books after following trades & raids on ig. In the past month I have read on the shortness of life by seneca , life by keith richards and wealth of nations by adam smith. Currently waiting on King of capital by David Carey and John e Morris and and Young money by Kevin Roose to be shipped to my place
Why nations fail
Solid.
Bonfire of the Vanities, sorely underated read.
Fooled by Randomness
i am reading infinite jest because i am a genius
Red Notice - A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice, written by Bill Browder.
One of those books where you just can't put down.
That’s a solid book.
Whenever you think he exaggerates, He doesn’t. That place is crazy.
is capitalism sustainable by duke economist Michael Munger
On the Incarnation: Saint Athanasius
Sophronius of Jerusalem and Seventh-Century Heresy: The Synodical Letter and Other Documents (Oxford Early Christian Texts)
Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian
Flash Boys: Lewis..... awesome read so far. Big fan of Michael Lewis.
Flash Boys is fantastic
I am Canadian aswell so its good banter when he speaks on RBC and Canadian culture. lol
Being in the business/finance realm for most of the work day I try to read a lot of fiction when possible to mix things up. Can’t recommend a Gentleman in Moscow enough.
Recently finished Too Big to Fail. Currently reading Liar's Poker. Up next are Flash boys and When Genius Failed (LTCM).
The Man Who Solved The Market
And
From Caesar to Christ
An incredible life story indeed. Took the author 5 years to complete.
Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel
inspirational and enlightening
Currently reading Call sign Chaos by Jim Mattis. It’s very good!
Any recommendations for biographies that cover how famous HFs/PE firms were built? I really loved King of Capital.
i haven't read it but there is one on julian robertson called julian robertson: a tiger in the land of bulls and bears
Renewable Energy Finance: theory and practice - if you do any sort of power plant / project finance, you should be using this book to structure your analysis and understanding
Read 'The Man Who Beat The Market' if you want a good book on Quant HF history, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Non-finance books: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, The Upright Thinkers, River Out of Eden
+1 for Genghis, that was a really good book, I may just have to read it again
The World: A Brief Introduction by Richard Haass
mark
Does reading help as an IB analyst?
>Does reading help as an IB analyst?
yeah, as an analyst it's a big advantage if you know how to read
Yea I can read documents and most things, but haven't really read any books
Bro you can't be serious rn
Was just wondering dude
Ride the Tiger by Julius Evola
'Big Debt Crises' - Ray Dalio. Very topical.
how are you liking it so far? I got it but haven’t started it yet.
So far, excellent. Just reading it won't get you that far. I've found that thinking about what is said and applying it to the world around you is crucial to getting the most out of the book. Contains some golden nuggets of info.
What It Takes by Stephen Schwarzman, the co-founder or Blackstone
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