Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart and brings its own unique set of challenges and obstacles. Thankfully, a wealth of information from entrepreneurs of different backgrounds can be applied to make solid and fruitful investments. Investment books can help you get started.
Whether it’s been a while since you picked up an investment book or a ravenous reader, here are the investment books that should be on your must-read list.
For When You’re Just Getting Started
These books will help you get your foot in the door if you’re starting as an entrepreneur or even just thinking about it.
1. A Random Walk Down Wall Street
Burton G. Malkiel’s book truly is a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs who are new to investing and want to learn the ropes. The book has sold over 1.5 million copies and covers everything from investment lingo to common pitfalls and proven strategies for maximizing one’s investments.
2. Beating the Street
Learning from somebody who’s climbed their way to the top of the success ladder is one of the best ways to gain knowledge, and Peter Lynch is a shining example of that. Lynch lays out how he started as an intern at an investment firm and went on to manage $14 billion in assets at a hedge fund. He’s full of investment advice.
3. The Millionaire Fastlane
Author MJ DeMarco wants his readers to start thinking like a producer rather than a consumer, and that means building wealth. DeMarco draws upon his own life and guides readers on how they can leave behind the old model of “get a degree, get a job” and carve out their own financial destiny.
4. The Richest Man in Babylon
Before you write off a book from 1926 as “irrelevant,” hold up a second, while this book by George S. Clason may not have any insider trading secrets, it’s full of practical parables, such as “pay yourself first,” that any investor would be wise to follow.
5. Economics in One Lesson
Having good business sense is one thing, but knowing economics is a different wheelhouse. Henry Hazlitt gives investors a crash course in economics to better understand how such things as tariffs and minimum wage increases impact the business world and potential investments.
6. The Power of Brok
While other books might lay out advice for navigating the complex world of Wall Street, Daymond John takes a different approach. John’s part biography, part how-to book details why being broke can be one’s greatest asset when embarking on entrepreneurial success and how to harness its power.
7. Million Dollar Women
Julia Pimsleur has built a business out of helping women achieve million-dollar revenues through her podcasts, speaking engagements, and best-selling book. She packs the book with case studies and real-world examples that provide tips and guidance for how female entrepreneurs can maximize their careers and investments.
For When You Need Inspiration
Maybe you’ve started your entrepreneurial journey and are just feeling a little lost or unsure. These books can help!
8. The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America
Warren Buffet is the Michael Jordan of investing, and his collection of essays, co-written by Lawrence A. Cunningham, is full of insight and wisdom that investors of all levels can learn from. The collection spans 50 years of Buffet’s wins and losses in investments and what he’s learned along the way.
9. Thrive
Thrive may not detail every step Arianna Huffington has taken along the way with her business investments, but it makes our list for a very good reason. Huffington offers plenty of knowledge she’s gained over the years for keeping one’s self mentally happy so that you can make those smart investment decisions.
10. Beating the Odds: Eddie Brown’s Investing and Life Strategies
Eddie Brown, founder of Brown Capital Management, details how he got started in the industry and weathered the recession of 2008 to grow one of Maryland’s premier investment firms. Brown offers a wealth of knowledge if you’re an entrepreneur looking for inspiration on how to build success from the ground up.
11. Principles: Life and Work
Principles
isn’t the typical investment book, but it details Ray Dalio’s creation of the investment firm Bridgewater Associates and offers a great amount of knowledge. Dalio shares his wisdom on not just cultivating business relationships and investment strategy but the set of rules he applies to all areas of his life.
12. Shark Tales
Barbara Corcoran is a familiar face to fans of the TV show Shark Tank, and her book is a fantastic read for a real-world, rags-to-riches story. Shark Tales dives into how Corcoran went from being a broke waitress to making the right investments and business moves to become the millionaire investor she is today.
13. Prince of Darkness: The Untold Story of Wall Street’s First Black Millionaire
Shane White has done a fantastic job of unearthing and telling the story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton. Born in the early 19th century, Hamilton became a successful investor and the richest Black man in the United States. Prince of Darkness is a truly fascinating story of a man finding success against the odds.
For Aspiring Real Estate Investors
If you want to get into real estate investments, look at these books before embarking on that adventure.
14. The Book on Rental Property Investing
Looking to create some sweet passive income with real estate? The rental market is the way to go. Brandon Turner breaks down everything, from which investments make the most financial sense to how to land your first rental property and how to avoid the pitfalls of real estate as you grow your rental portfolio.
15. How to Flip Houses With Little or No Money
The number of TV shows on the subject proves how popular house flipping has become. Author Cody Sperber has flipped over 1,000 properties and offers tips and how-to advice to entrepreneurs on how to begin investing and flipping real estate on the cheap.
16. The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor
Getting a piece of real estate property at a good price is only part of the strategy involved in successful real estate investing. Written by two CPAs, Amanda Han and Matthew McFarland, the book details everything entrepreneurs need to know about tax strategy and how it plays into real estate investing. While this may not be the most exciting topic, it is essential.
17. Investing in Rental Properties ror Beginners: Buy Low, Rent High
Lisa Phillips’s approach to real estate investment might not break the mold. Still, she does show readers a solid foundation of how they can apply proven real estate investing principles to their financial situation. That alone makes this book worth its weight in gold for novice investors.
Books That Should Be on Every Entrepreneur’s Shelf
Entrepreneurs at any stage of creating their business will find these books full of useful information and practical advice.
18. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
John C. Bogle knows his stuff about investing as he’s credited with creating the first index fund and founding the Vanguard Group. Bogle doesn’t offer a get-rich-quick approach to investing, but he does guide readers on how to approach the stock market and other investments with strategy.
19. Thinking, Fast and Slow
Written by the 2002 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences, Daniel Kahneman, this book looks at the psychological process of investing. Kahneman examines how the thinking patterns of investors can truly make or break them when it comes to success and how to recognize your own critical thinking investment decisions.
20. Become an Idea Machine: Because Ideas Are the Currency of the 21st Century
Got a start-up in mind or want to have one? Author Claudia Azula Altucher’s book is a workbook to help entrepreneurs learn to cultivate, recognize, and capitalize on the right investment ideas. The book contains exercises and tips on tapping into one’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit.
21. The Intelligent Investor
Look elsewhere if you’re looking for how to spot and capitalize on the next big trend before it breaks. Benjamin Graham is in it for the long game and focuses on value investing[1], which ignores the market trends of the moment and instead shows readers how to pick investments with a proven track record.
22. I Will Teach You to Be Rich
Author Ramit Sethi lives the title of his book in his professional life as the founder of GrowthLab, a site dedicated to showing people how to build a successful automated business. Sethi tackles the challenges of lining up one’s own financial ducks and then growing their money with both wit and practical advice.
23. The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need
So many investment books offer advice with a “wealthy investors only” approach. Andrew Tobias offers insights, tips, strategy, and guidance for those who don’t have mountains of capital to burn. While the book came out in the 1970s, it’s far from outdated and has been revised over the years to keep up with the times.
24. Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Robert T. Kiyosaki is one of the most well-known financial gurus out there, and for a good reason—he offers consistently good, proven advice. Kiyosaki’s views on approaching wealth-building aren’t without criticism, but Rich Dad, Poor Dad is worth a read to get some real insight into how Kiyosaki’s investing principles helped him build a net worth of $80 million.
25. Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill’s book could double as a case study as it highlights 500 individuals over 20 years and the 13 traits that led to their wealth-building and success.
