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Investment Library Essentials

An essential reading list for investors who lean towards
value stocks, contrarian ideas, and cyclical industries.
Below you’ll find a list of investment books that I think are essential for all investors. I think my list includes some of the best books for value investing, indispensable books on stock valuation and modeling, and some great reads on financial crises and cyclical investing.
I’m always happy to hear about good book suggestions, so please reach out to me if you have any! Also, I’d like to note that any books you purchase through the links below help support the program. So if you see a book you’d like to read, please use the links below!

Any investor worth his or her salt has read this book. Warren Buffett was fortunate enough to have the author as a professor and mentor, and the concepts and strategies in this book helped him become one of the greatest investors of our time.

The odds are I’ll catch flak for stating it this way, but The Intelligent Investor is kind of like the Cliff Notes for Security Analysis. It’s a phenomenal read and essential for any investor, IMO.

Possibly one of my personal favorite investment philosophy books. Mr. Marks does a phenomenal job of describing what it means to invest against the current, and the benefits therein.

An essential instructional guide for stock valuation, investment banking, and private equity. I consistently use this book today as a reference when I build my financial models.

An important book for me personally. I had read Security Analysis and The Intelligent Investor when I was young, but I purchased this book in grad school and it’s been an important resource for me ever since.

Financial Modeling by Simon Benninga has been one of the most instructional and helpful modeling books I’ve ever come across. If you value the significance of financial modeling, quantitative methods, and statistical analysis in Excel, look no further.

A fantastic reference for advanced modelers who need some support every now and then. I continue to use this book today, but it might be a little old school for some.

The first of two volumes, this step-by-step guide is an extremely valuable resource for everyone who’s learning how to create financial models in Excel.

I was introduced to this book in grad school. The focus is primarily on oil and gas, but the methods and concepts extend beyond project economics for energy. That said, it’s an indispensable book for energy analysts.

It’s often hard to figure out whether you’re getting dupped by management by how they present the numbers. This book is a great resource that provides case studies of when the numbers just don’t add up!

A super instructional book for advanced Excel users. This book provides step-by-step instructions on how to use financial modeling techniques in Excel. Not for the beginner.

I was introduced to this book in grad school. The focus is primarily on oil and gas, but the methods and concepts extend beyond project economics for energy. That said, it’s an indispensable book for energy analysts.

A really great book on the history of money, financial crises, and power. It’s a fascinating read for anyone interested in the cultural, historic, and economic aspects of currencies.

Author Laiquat Ahamed provides enormous context to the series of events that led to the Great Depression. As Ahamed indicates, the decisions and personalities of a few central bankers led to the economic meltdown.

Possibly the best account of the financial crisis available. Sorkin ‘delivers the first true in-the-room account’ of the most powerful and important actors of the crisis.