books

Hi Everyone, The title says it all. I published a fiction novel, The Pitchbook: A Banking Analyst's Tale of Markets, Millions, and Mayhem. No, I haven't packed up and quit finance. And no, I'm not trying to be a full-time author. There have been a few posts on here by others who want to publish a book. So, I thought that I would share this AMA as a helpful guide from a fellow traveler with a finance background. The book was definitely more work than I thought at first. Ask away and I'll try to clear up as much of the trials and tribulations as I can. If you clicked on the book, you already

12 Jul 2021

Hey everyone. As I've noted on my last few posts, I've been working on a fiction novel on investment banking for some time, and finally released it last week on Amazon. As of last night, the ebook edition is up as well. It takes Amazon over a week to get the chapter preview option working, and I'll post again when that becomes available. However, wanted to go ahead and post the link and back cover blurb. Part of what I'm going for is a more realistic view of banking rather than the Wolf of Wall Street style cliche portrayals. At the same time, the story is a John Grisham style fast-paced

21 Jun 2021

As mentioned in my last few posts, I'm very close to publishing a fiction corporate thriller on banking. I'm probably a week or two away from the final product, but for now monkeys, I need your help choosing a front cover. Let me know which ones you like best and if you don't like any of them, that's a useful comment as well. Also, feel free to click follow on my profile for updates on the final publication date. I will also likely post an excerpt on WSO soon. Cover 1 - Light Blue: Cover 2 - Dark Blue: Cover 3 - Grey with Charts: UPDATE: Based on the responses on here and those in real life, I

06 Jun 2021

What are some of your favorite literature books to read, I'm currently prepping for law school so I've been reading about 300-500 pages

02 Jun 2021

To be durable, wooden furniture also needs special care. This step is to prevent the surface from being easily weathered, warped, cracked or broken. To extend its life, you can coat it with a special product that is resistant to water. This consideration is mainly for furniture that is usually weather-sensitive, such as being in an open area at home. Apart from requiring a special upholstery, you can also coat it in a natural way to create waterproof furniture. There are three types of oils that can be used to protect waterproof wood, some of which are tung oil, walnut oil and linseed oil

21 Mar 2021

Hello - I'm a partner of a PE firm in his 40's and former bulge bracket analyst. In other words, I'm an old fart and not current on what's going on in the investment banking recruiting world. I have nephews and nieces who are interested in learning about banking / finance. I figured they could start off by doing some reading. In addition to this site (which is insanely overwhelming) what are good books and websites that a college student could read to get up to speed on the current state of banking and recruiting? Thanks!

04 Aug 2021

I'm looking for books ranging from value investing, index funds, and modern portfolio theory to uncommon and risky philosophies for investing. Specifically I am looking for books to to grow my knowledge of asset management strategies. All the books I've seen suggested seem "outdated" and are from before I was born, including: Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits Intelligent Investor The Little Book of Value Investing Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

30 Jun 2021

People ask about the best real estate books to read on this forum almost daily and we're happy to toss Linneman and Bowman their way, as well as all of the terrific ULI books, but @Whats the Comp" today asked specifically about non-textbook reads and it got me thinking that we should build a list of our favorites. Here are mine, in no particular order: "Other People's Money: Inside the Housing Crisis and the Demise of the Greatest Real Estate Deal Ever Made" is a fantastic read, but real estate people are definitely the "bad guys" in the story. I was rooting for the "villain" the whole way.

20 Mar 2017

Hey monkeys, I know there's been a ton of threads open for good books but most of them are finance/business related threads. Lately I want to read some good ole fashioned non-fiction that has nothing to do with finance. For starters, I read The Gene and Cancer the emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee, I can't tell you that I remember all of what I read but definitely gained some insights in those areas ( I majored in finance in undergrad with no background in biology whatsoever). I just want some good non-fictions to broaden my perspective to a world that's outside of finance

10 Dec 2017

Do you guys read hardcopies still or more on iPad/Kindle? Good article in the FT: [quote]Ten years ago, as Jeff Bezos launched the Kindle ereader in New York, he declared that "the book is so highly evolved and so suited to its task that it's very hard to displace". Amazon's founder was right: this spring, despite the digital upheaval unleashed by the Kindle, it will open a bookstore in Manhattan. There are signs of the book's renaissance all around. Waterstones, the UK book chain, returned to profit last year after suffering

15 Feb 2017

x x x x

06 Jun 2021

So the year has come and gone and the holiday season is once again upon us. And unless you are one of the poor unfortunate souls with a sadistic MD and pitch the day after New Year's, you're probably looking forward to some down time between now and year-end. I know I am, and one of the things I enjoy doing during this time is picking up a great book to read, preferably one with the potential to change my perspective on things, understand something or someone better, or just make me think. Along those lines, I thought I'd share a few of the better books I've read recently in the event any of

25 Dec 2013

If you had to pick one book and one book only that was your favorite on the topic of trading, which one would it be?

25 Nov 2019

For those of you interested in gaining a deeper level understanding of the Chinese economy and Chinese banking system, I highly rec. a recently published book called "Red Capitalism". It's written by former bankers, not economists, and it has a lot of awesome, hard to find information as well as some very interesting insights. I don't necessarily agree with everything in the book, but it's definitely worth a read for anyone seriously interested in China. Disclaimer: It's pretty dense and not exactly an "easy read"

30 Jun 2011

Hi ya'll. Was just wondering if anyone would recommend me a book. I'm just about to order Financial Shenanigans from Amazon (after being so inspired by Einhorn), and thought I might as well order some more. Doesn't have to be finance related. Could be something on psychology, philosophy, career development, self-reflection or even cosmology. Preferably something underrated. Thanks. Or maybe I should just read some financial statements...

14 Nov 2012

Feel like I have really let myself go not reading for quite some time, while I have a pile of books that are on my to read list. It is just so much easier to start up netflix at night and watch some show till you go to sleep versus pickup up a book. For you regular readers out there: How do you stay on top of your reading?

07 May 2018

What does being a gentleman mean to you? Does it mean knowing which fork to use at a properly-set table? Does it mean being so impeccably dressed as to make Patrick Bateman and 007 envious? Does it mean knowing when to tip, how to tie a bowtie, or how to properly greet a lady? It can be all of those things, but at its core being a gentleman is more than just being the nice guy or being the best dresser. It's about getting out of your head for a change and soberly considering how you come off to other people. It can be summed up in one of the first gentlemanly criteria laid out in this book: "A gentleman never gets so big that he can feel free to say or do things that make other people feel small."

07 Jul 2016

Mod Note (Andy) - as the year comes to an end we're reposting the top discussions from 2015, this one ranks #50. This one was originally posted 6/20/2015. Written by Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Charles Duhigg, 2012 New York Times bestseller The Power of Habit boasts a ubiquity on recommended book lists that few works from the past few years can match. Because some books age like wine, and some like milk, I usually let books alone a little longer to see how time will judge their value, but the truths and techniques within these pages are too valuable to wait. The Power of Habit recounts a

16 Dec 2015

This is the next book summary from DeconstructingExcellence.com. See my other book summaries on WSO here, and if you find my summaries to be useful, sign up at the website to make sure you don't miss any. In direct contrast to the compassion-oriented management books that dominate today's business bestseller lists is The 48 Laws of Power, a Machiavellian treatise for the modern age. Part Prince, part Art of War, Robert Greene's best seller boasts the unique distinction of being quoted by such management luminaries as Jay Z, UGK, Kanye West, and Drake, and even featured in tattoos sported by

12 Apr 2015

Alright, so this year I plan on reading a couple of books to increase my general knowledge. Here are my recommendations. I also have some books that I want to read but dont know what they are called so hoping someone in the community can help me out :) I will give it ago anyway if i get time away from the CFA books.. Anyway here are the books I want to read: 1) Sophies World - Fiction book on Philosophy.. introduces me to all the main players in philosophy with an interesting story. I hear that its a little hard to read and with my attention span, it will probably take me a year.. 2) A short history on nearly everything - book on science that explains everything simply. What I want to read (help please with book titles):

09 Jan 2014

Hi I recently joined a major RE PE firm as an analyst. My job is mostly modeling but I'd like to understand the other components of the deals I'm involved on. I'm totally lost on calls/meetings regarding: Capex (technical aspects of it, like discussing a budget with a contractor for a building refurbishment, knowing how to have a rough estimate on it, etc.) Tax (I don't think this is specific to real estate, but anything involving SPVs, structures in Lux / Jersey, etc.) Legal (mostly legal review of the leases)

31 Oct 2014

"I used to read the Leveraged Sellout religiously, before it…you know, died," an old friend used to say wistfully. The infamous blog may be old news to some, but luckily LSO left us with a non-electronic memoir of his unique blend of sarcasm and humor: "Damn, It Feels Good To Be A Banker." It's not meant to be taken very seriously and it's a bit dated now (it came out in 2008, which may as well have been another planet), but it's great for laughs and takes a fun look at investment banking. Alternatively, it can serve as a much-needed ego stroke if you're feeling down about your job.

20 Jun 2016

Like it or not, the office environment is in fact a political one, and that leads a lot of us to seek advice from various sources. "The Prince" is one of those books, along with "The Art of War," that's supposed to give us that political savvy, the logic being that the guidance contained within its pages for 16th-century princes can still be applied to today's office monkey. Although it's a worthwhile read, "The Prince" shouldn't be experienced for that reason alone. In fact, much of the text's reputation among the general public stems from its well-known proposition that it can be more

12 Jul 2016

Hi guys, Does anyone have any recommendations for any good books to read providing a good insight into Macroeconomics (for relative beginners). Something that is also good for entry level Investment Banking interviews. Thank you.

06 Jun 2018

As I noted on some recent post, I've just released a fiction novel, The Pitchbook: A Banking Analyst's Tale of Markets, Millions, and Mayhem. In the same theme, I thought it would be fun to start a series of short book reviews of the genre that inspired me. I will rate the books on 0 to 5 bananas for the good parts and 0 to 5 monkey shits for the bad. And what better book to start with than Monkey Business by John Rolfe and Peter Troob? Monkey Business: Swinging Through the Wall Street Jungle - 5 BANANAS For those who don't know, Monkey Business inspired Patrick to name this site Wall Street

10 Jul 2021

I am currently in the process of reading/finishing these books: -Talent is Overrated -Art of War -The 48 Laws of Power What are some other books that you guys recommend be on everybody's book list?

08 Apr 2009

Hi, I am transitioning into special sits, and the fund invests both in equities and debts. I am coming from fundamental LO and have read You Can Be a Stock Market Genius, Distressed Debt Analysis (Moyer), The Art of Distressed M&A, etc. Are there any other books, funds, or blogs where I can learn more about the fundamentals of the special sits? Appreciate the insights in advance.

05 Mar 2021

Any monkeys out there have the Kindle and use it a lot? Was thinking about getting it (yes, a few years into its existence), but just want a barebones reader that I can easily take with me. Any complaints about the product or recommendations for something else (Note that I had the iPad and sold it already, so I don't want another large tablet like that)

10 Jan 2012

I'm selling all of my GMAT Books. These books helped me score a 760! Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides: Volumes 1-9, 4th Edition (Volume 9 is 5th edition) Manhattan GMAT Foundations of GMAT Math 5th Edition Manhattan GMAT Foundations of GMAT Verbal Manhattan GMAT Advanced GMAT Quant Powerscore LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible Powerscore GMAT Reading Comprehension Bible Official Guide to GMAT Review 12th Edition Official Guide to GMAT Review 13th Edition Official Guide to GMAT Quantitative Review 2nd Edition Official Guide to GMAT Verbal Review 2nd Edition Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook Kaplan GMAT 800 Vertias Prep GMAT Reading Comprehension Guide Total GMAT Math (Jeff Sackmann) GMAT Ultimate Grammar (GMAT Club) http://imgur.com/EhlmN

11 Aug 2012

The pressure is enormous. Success on the job requires cunning, skill, thick skin, and passion. You juggle dozens of different projects at once, trying frantically to produce for your mercurial bosses and clients. The environment is an intense, fast-paced grind, and your performance from Day One matters. Fire drill at Goldman Sachs investment banking? Nope. Dinner rush at Les Halles.

04 Jul 2014

Wondering where WSO's simian theme comes from? Look no further. If you ask any business school student or young analyst to name one book that got them excited about finance or investment banking, this would probably be it. And for good reason; it's extremely readable and features characters who find themselves in the same position as many of us on this site are, or would like to be. John Rolfe and Peter Troob are summer analysts who receive the coveted full-time offers from DLJ. The book is full of fascinating and often humorous observations about the inner workings of the industry. What's it like pulling an all-nighter on a pitch-book, running a DCF, going to the printer, trying to keep sane in the insane asylum? It's all here.

29 Jul 2011

What investment banking book would you recommend to learn the technicals? From what I have gathered, Rosenbaum is the Bible of IB but maybe lacks some Excel models and remains too theoretical. I have also heard that Financial Modeling and Valuation by Paul Pignataro is also really good as it allows you to learn while applying the knowledge to actual case studies and takes you step by step. Which one do you recommend? Any other suggestion is also welcome.

17 Jan 2021

Hi All! I'd like to learn a bit more about all of the modeling and MS Excel based spreadsheet portfolio calculation, analysis, and optimization tools that investment managers use in their portfolio accounting, risk management, and pricing / valuation of positions processes. Something like what Wall Street Prep or Tain The Street offers but geared more for what I just mentioned would be ideal but I couldn't come across anything. I think the best solution currently available will probably be a book. Would love some suggestions! I'm thinking something along these lines.

03 Aug 2014

Hi everyone. I come from an equities background but want to learn about RE. I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for the best books to learn about RE analysis. I'm basically looking for material on how to invest as an individual. Most of the stuff I see online seems to either be 1) overly simple and erroneous or 2) a scam. I want something at the level of someone who has already taken an undergrad finance major and is comfortable with DCFs. Thanks

09 Jul 2020

Any good suggestions on books that would be a good read for energy/oil and gas? There was a thread about this a couple months ago but every time I try to open it it gives me a "page not found".

21 Jul 2010

Can anyone recommend good books that talk about all aspects of M&A including valuations. I came up with a list of books. Do anyone know/recommend any of those? - Mergers and Acquisitions from A to Z (Andrew J. Sherman Milledge A. Hart) - Applied Mergers and Acquisitions (Brunner, Perella) - Making M&A Deals Happen (Stefanowski) - The Complete M&A Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Buying, Selling, Merging, or Valuing a Business for Maximum Return (Taulli) - Mergers and Acquisitions: A Step-by-Step Legal and Practical Guide (Miller) - Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities, Fifth Edition: An Integrated Approach to Process, Tools, Cases, and Solutions (DePamphilis) - Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions (Rosenbaum, Pearl, Perella) Thank you! Manitu

11 May 2010

"Absurdly profitable company seeks journalist with ten years' experience and a Harvard MBA for extremely highly paid, low stress job in which he can wear nice suits and loaf around in air-conditioned splendor making the very occasional executive decision. Requirements: an acute discomfort in the presence of spreadsheets, inability to play golf, poorly concealed loathing of corporate life, knowledge of ancient Greek." – The Help Wanted Ad I Sought But Never Found

09 Mar 2013

Next year I'll start as a Graduate Trader at an options market making firm in Europe. I've been looking for educational books that could help me at the job, but most books I've found are too basic, and just go into basic greeks/risk management. Does anyone know some good ones? ty

05 Sep 2021

Like the title, what book do you guys/your peers/your bosses leisurely read to expand your mind professionally in this industry? My MD frequently orders books from PEI's bookstore, cost him at least $400 - $500 a pop but the content is quite difficult for a junior like me to comprehend. I'm reading Big Deals by Bruce Wasserstein.

23 Feb 2021

Moderator Note (Andy): This is a guest post by Patrick Del Rosario, a business and financial blogger (full bio below) Here's my recommendation for 8 great books that aren't classified specifically as "business books" and offer up much better advice than some the standard fare you will find in the genre. Would love to hear your opinions on these, and any other books you might not necessarily find in the business section but offer sound advice for business, finance, entrepreneurship, career guidance, etc 1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. The granddaddy of all non-business business books, Sun Tzu's

25 Oct 2012

Hi, I'm looking for something to read to improve my knowledge, I have read all this: -What works on wall street - Security Analysis - The intelligent investor - Investment Valuation (damodaran) - Valuation (McKinsey) - Hedge fund Market Wizards - Investment strategies of hedge funds - All about asset allocation - The Five Rules for Successful Stock Investing - The Little Book That Builds Wealth - Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets (murphy) - Trading for a Living - Liar's poker - One up on wall street - Young money - Accounting for value Wright now I'm reading about active portfolio

12 May 2015

Decision Points: A Monkey's Review This week, we're going for a biography that still holds plenty of interesting commentary for our world today. George W. Bush has kept pretty quiet since the end of his presidency; his book tour was one of the only exceptions. In comparison to his predecessors, the man has stayed out of the spotlight and for the most part refrained from getting involved in the current political landscape. Maybe eight years of the most stressful job on earth will do that to a guy.

10 Jun 2011

It's not very often that I do a full book review on WSO. The book has to be very, very good and offer something above and beyond the typical finance books that line my shelves. I almost didn't buy this book, it was so misrepresented in the media. I even mentioned it somewhat dismissively in my Bonus Bananas from May 20. Boy am I glad I did buy it, though, because I finished the entire book in one sitting. The book I'm speaking of is The Other Side of Wall Street: In Business It Pays to Be an Animal, In Life It Pays to Be Yourself by Todd Harrison. It's Harrison's own story, chronicling his

13 Jun 2011

Hey guys, I'm trying to read these books and I can't find them at my library. Would anyone happen to have pdfs or a link? If so please PM me. Thanks Books: ---------------------------- Diary of a Commodities Trader Beyond Greed and Fear Trade your Way to Financial Freedom Trading in the Zone Chicago Board of Trade Commodity Trading Manual Margin of Safety Inside the House of Money, Revised and Updated: Top Hedge Fund Traders on Profiting in the Global Markets The Invisible Hands: Top Hedge Fund Traders on Bubbles, Crashes, and Real Money

01 Jun 2011

In general, overachievers are individuals who perform better or achieve superior results due to excessive efforts in an academic or professional environment. I would not presume for a moment that I belong to this group unless I would not really identify myself with the issues overachiever's have to deal with. I got a very decent GPA during my undergrad degree and received a master degree with distinction which cost me quite some nerves and hair on the back of my head. Since I am from a non-target school I always tried to ace all finance related classes in order to compete with students that have more "favorable" backgrounds. I saw that as an obligation and became some sort of role model (or tutor) to of my fellow non-target students.

14 Oct 2012

I've locked up my internship for this summer as an equity research analyst intern. Now that I don't have to worry about interviewing and can put less of a focus on networking I would like to find a few books on equity research to read in my free time. Any good recommendations? Any books that you have read and really enjoyed or learned a lot from? Though my focus is on research, please feel free to recommend books that you just think are a great overall read as well. Thanks, I look forward to your thoughts!

29 Jan 2010

What books do you recommend for someone who wants to have a basic understanding of what you do/how your industry or subsector works/what your job is "all about" and why? Is there any amount of technical knowledge pertaining to your specific industry that would be useful for a generalist/industry outsider (I'll just leave "useful" undefined for now)? Looking for reading that will really broaden how I think about business and make me better at spotting or evaluating opportunities when they arise. Hope that's not too vague, all recs welcome.

15 Feb 2020

"The four most expensive words in the English language are: 'It's different this time.'" – Sir John Templeton, investing legend Forbes columnist Ken Fisher's new book is a very timely read for all investors, whether bullish or bearish. If you are convinced (as many of us seem to be), that we are in a 'new normal,' that we are in a 'secular bear market,' that we will soon have a 'double dip recession,' or in general that nothing good will ever happen in the stock market ever again, "Markets Never Forget" will dunk your head into a bucket of ice water and make you reconsider.

14 Aug 2012

Hey monkeys, Would appreciate a few recommendations for books I want to download as audio books. Already have a tonne of technical books from work, so just looking for something light and inspirational for the flight (e.g.: Full House, Alchemist e.t.c.). SBs for links to audio-book download links.

22 Dec 2010

America's second-largest bookstore chain is no more. Borders is forced to close its remaining 399 stores and liquidate the company, after receiving no credible bids to purchase the company out of bankruptcy. This is another huge nail in the coffin of the retail book business (at least the brick-and-mortar retail book business). Borders hadn't shown a profitable quarter since 2006. Part of why Borders failed while bricks-and-clicks competitor Barnes & Noble lumbers on is Borders' unfortunate decision to outsource their online retailing to Amazon. Barnes & Noble is also aggressively pursuing the

20 Jul 2011