11 Best Investing Books for Beginners You Should Read

When it comes to investing, we all have to start somewhere. Knowing how much to invest, when to invest it, and where – it can all be a bit of a minefield.  Thankfully, there are more resources available to us than ever before when it comes to getting started.  While plenty of us use apps and internet guides, plenty of people are still reading traditional how-to books.

In this guide, I’ll be taking a look at the best investing books for beginners that there are on offer.  The benefit of reading an investing book lies in the fact that it will likely have been written by someone who’s been there and done that.  Expert guides are often pretty invaluable when it comes to getting a foot on the right financial ladder!  More importantly, whether you are in the UK or the US – it doesn’t matter. These investment books carry universal applicability and are a must read for new investors everywhere.

Our Top Investing Books for Beginners

Without further ado, let’s jump in to what I feel are the 11 best books on investing for UK and US readers.

Warren Buffett, ‘The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America’

Buffett is one of the best-known self-made investors of all time.  While this collection of guides has been around for over 20 years now, it is still regarded as a holy book of sorts for investors.  Buffett is a shrewd investor and has amassed enough knowledge about the way finance and investing works in the US to fill several volumes.

Anyone starting out in investing will likely at least of heard of Buffett, and beyond that, may have started looking into his principles and his methodology.  This collection of essays gives you clear, easy access to tips and tricks advocated by the man himself.  It’s a great book for budding investors simply because it’s pure, effective investing support from a living legend.

Why Read Lessons for Corporate America?

One of the most interesting tips Buffett shares with readers is to avoid investing trends.  He discusses why it’s important to leave portfolio managers to work to their own devices, and why buying at a discount always pays off.  If you’re keen to get into the deep end of investing pretty quickly, you’re going to need the sage advice of Warren Buffett to make sure you don’t sink.

William J Bernstein, ‘If You Can’

Something that puts plenty of newbie investors off time and time again is how complex the process can get.  If investment was easy, we’d all be profiting from it!  However, Bernstein’s celebrated book ‘If You Can’ does a fantastic job of breaking down the basics of investing for a complete beginner.  At just 16 pages long, this book is as long as it needs to be.  What’s more, it’s a free download which you can easily find online.

This pamphlet promises that learning to invest will take ’15 minutes of work per year’ and that by knowing the tricks of the trade, you’ll become a ‘millionaire over time’.  Simple, straightforward and unflinching, Bernstein’s book may not be as extensive as Buffett’s essays on investing, but it is a superb way to dip your first toe into the water.

Why Read If You Can?

If the idea of investing appeals to you, and you are finding some investing for beginners books to be a little hard going, it may be time to go right back to basics.  In a sea of muddled advice and trial and error, ‘If You Can’ is refreshing to read.

Benjamin Graham, ‘The Intelligent Investor’

If we’re going to talk about the best investment books available in 2023, we’re going to have to go back to the 1940s.  Published in 1949, Graham’s best-selling investing guide is another essential book to have as reference.  The book introduces new investors to ideas such as value investing with common sense at its core.  It may therefore be an easier, more refreshing read for people sick of hollow promises and quick fixes.

Why Read The Intelligent Investor?

Getting into investing takes time and effort.  Getting good at investing can take even longer!  Graham and his book understand these principles, and while there may be books and guides out there which promise you the Earth, ‘The Intelligent Investor’ keeps you firmly grounded.  Looking to avoid flashy, hollow advice?  This is the book for you.

Napoleon Hill, ‘Think and Grow Rich’

Hill’s book is a huge seller.  Based on 13 clear principles, the author speaks about how successful investing is rooted in the right mindset.  Some people argue that success is achieved through the right psychology.  Hill certainly seems to think that way, too – and given the fact that this book was written during massive economic downturn in the US, it’s not surprising it’s had millions of readers worldwide.

Why Read Think and Grow Rich?

What goes on in the mind of a successful investor?  Where do you need to get your mindset to for success to come your way?  Hill suggests collaborating with the right people.  He emphasises how important it is to share ideas, and to work together on investment planning for the future.  Many brilliant investors have gone it alone, but the very best – the Hills, the Grahams, the Buffetts – know they can rely on the right people.

Burton G Malkiel, ‘A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing’

Malkiel’s guide is one of the most iconic investment books of all time.  For new investors interested in trying their hand at long-term strategy, the author has plenty of pearls of wisdom to share.  The book is still being updated to this day, making it one of the most relevant picks on this list.

Why Read A Random Walk Down Wall Street?

Unlike the above books, there is great advice on how to start in cryptocurrency.  It’s a simple, step-by-step plan which avoids being too ‘quick-fixy’.  At the same time, it’s based around common sense, and introduces complete newbies to how Wall Street works at its most complicated.  For anyone hoping to invest in 2023 and beyond, this modern take on easy investing should be one to place in your Amazon basket right away.

Andrew Craig, ‘How to Own the World: A Plain English Guide to Thinking Globally and Investing Wisely’

Craig’s popular book certainly has a brave title.  It’s one which should entice would-be investors who desperately want to make their mark, but who don’t want to have to pore through endless guides and jargon to do so.  Craig is a hugely successful finance expert and guru, having established a marketplace for ‘plain English’ investing in the early 10s. 

This tome has recently been re-published, and it’s still picking up new readers.  As the title may suggest, it’s a no-holds-barred approach to introducing people to the best routes towards worthwhile global markets.  It also takes no prisoners in letting you know that if you’re going to start making the most of your money, you’d better start now.

Why Read How to Own the World?

It’s simple, it’s straightforward, and it’s a nice wake-up call for anyone who may be dithering on entering the investment game.  Craig lays it all out for you plainly and simply.  Only you have the power to grow your money, and by resting on your laurels, you’re going to miss opportunities of a lifetime.

Craig doesn’t hold your hand, but he does offer a straight-talking introduction to some complex ideas.  The book also makes a series of solid further reading suggestions – Craig is more than aware that his book is far from a ‘quick fix’.

Robert T Kiyosaki, ‘Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing’

Robert Kiyosaki is a huge name in financial advice.  He’ll be known to millions as the author of the best-selling book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and as the creator of the fantastic board game CASHFLOW 101, which actively helps players to understand how investment and financial growth work in the real world.  His Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing may sound boastful as a title, however, it is levelled as a beginner’s guide to people who want to evolve from ‘poor dad’ into ‘rich dad’.  In fact, it serves as a great companion piece to his earlier best-seller.

As with Andrew Craig’s book above, it’s not a guide which is knowingly aiming to ‘change the world’.  Rather, it’s a launchpad for willing investors to gain inspiration from.

Why Read Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing?

There is a reason why Kiyosaki’s books do so well on a global scale, and that’s because his approach is refreshingly simple.  This book, a staple of his already burgeoning Rich Dad series, presents ideas to you in way that you are encouraged to explore them further.  You’re never given any guarantees, and while this may seem like tough love to some people, it is a necessary lesson to learn along the route of becoming an investor.  It’s time to leave the snake oil and empty promises at home.

Peter Lynch, ‘One Up on Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in The Market’

Lynch’s much-loved book may be almost twenty years old, however, its status as a New York Times Bestseller can never be understated.  Even now, the lessons and ideas put forward by the author are still striking and prescient.  In the time since publication, the markets have of course roller-coastered their way up and down and all over the place.  However, for everyday investors, there are plenty of lessons you can glean from One Up on Wall Street.

Lynch’s approach is to encourage beginner investors to look for key signs of future business success.  Everyone is looking for the next Apple, the next Amazon, or even the next Facebook.  But what are strategies you can use to get ahead of the Wall Street bigwigs?  This book provides you with simple advice and actionable content which could help you learn how to spot a potential stock market winner.

Why Read One Up on Wall Street?

While the markets may have changed, the way we spot potential stock market champions really hasn’t.  It’s astounding how much Lynch’s book holds up 19 years on.  This is thanks to his focus on the fundamentals of company investing.  He advises, in a step by step fashion, how you can spot tell-tale signs of a company that is due to go nuclear, in a good way, very soon.  It’s also free from offering you any miracle promises, which is a good thing.

Jonathan Hobbs CFA, ‘Stop Saving Start Investing: Ten Simple Rules for Effectively Investing in Funds’

Hobbs’ book is another straight-talking tome which should speak directly to people who feel they aren’t cut out for investing.  Hobbs introduces funds investing as a viable route towards effective financial growth, while at the same time making it clear that you don’t need to be a financial wizard to know which choices are the best to make.

Hobbs argues that stock investing is stressful, and that fund investments are more passive, and potentially more fruitful in the long run.  It’s an interesting concept, and one worth looking into.  Making that work in practice, of course, is going to be down to you.

Why Read Stop Saving Start Investing?

Hobbs’ book presents an idea or two which may have flown over the radar of many budding investors.  Instead of sticking to the beaten path, the author presents solid arguments for why funds investors may actually have it better in the long run than stock experts.  If you’re willing to have your perceptions of investing challenged, definitely pick this book up.

Lars Kroijer, ‘Investing Demystified: How to Create the Best Investment Portfolio Whatever Your Risk Level’

Marketed towards people who are worried about their portfolios struggling to get up to scratch, Kroijer’s book is part of a wider series on financial strategy which is well worth dipping into.  In this book, the expert explores what all successful portfolios need.  While the book never commits to the ideal or typical portfolio model, Kroijer does take time to explore some of the more common elements of the best-performers.  Of course, he translates this to the reader as lessons that can easily be learned.  And why not?

Why Read Investing Demystified?

While the title might suggest it’s going to promise you miracles, what it instead does is give you a thorough, yet digestible lesson on how to make your portfolio the best around.  Kroijer gives you the data and the tools to get started, and the rest is up to you.  For budding investors keen on taking the bull by the horns, and without having their hands held, this book is a fantastic starting point.  What’s more, it’s refreshingly free from jargon – which is always a plus point.

Have you read any of these already? Or do you have any other favourite investing books you would recommend for beginners that are not mentioned here? Let us know in the comments.

What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars

Last, but definitely not the least, this book is an excellent read for someone who is starting to work themselves up the investment skills curve. Even the very acerbic Nassim Nicholas Taleb has issued a few rare words of praise for this book.

In this book, Jim Paul outlines the mistakes he made that led to his losing millions of dollars and to eventual bankruptcy. He is open and honest about his behaviour and beliefs, and how they contributed to his financial downfall. While his story is unique to him, it is also relatable to anyone who has ever made a mistake. We are all human, and we are all capable of mistakes. What sets Jim Paul apart is his willingness to share his story in the hopes of helping others learn from his mistakes. By being open and honest about his mistakes, he provides a valuable lesson for us all: that we can learn from our mistakes, no matter how big or small they may be.

Why Read What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars?

In two words: Investment Process. This book conveys why having a systematic investment process is important to succeed in the stock market, in the broader financial markets, or in the world of business. The book eloquently shows that the pros have many ways to make money, however when it comes to not losing money, many of them follow a few very simple and overlapping rules.

Anyone can make money, but can you keep it? That’s the key: Not losing money. If you do not know how to develop a process to keep you from losing money, this book is a must read for you.

Before You Go…

If you love reading books, you might also want to check out podcasts that help you keep up with your learning when you’re out and about and simply don’t have the time or the ability to pick up a book. I’ve learnt a lot through both podcasts and even audio books for that matter.

If you’re interested in learning more about investing, then check out the article on the Best Investment Podcasts. If you really want to get deep in to how the financial world works, I’ve got you covered with an article on the Best Economics Podcasts too. Check them out and I’m sure you’ll find them well worth your time!

Last update on 2023-11-13 / Affiliate links