Top 10 Books You Must Read as a Stock Market Beginner

Have you been thinking of getting into the stock market to earn that extra money, and feel the need to understand it from scratch? Or, you have watched the latest web series ‘Scam 1992 – Harshad Mehta Story’ and are impressed by the grandeur of the stock market and want to start investing.

Even though there are a plethora of websites and tons of articles on the topic ‘stock market’ over the internet, we feel ourselves seeking a greater historical perspective and detailed analysis by the best players in the field, in which case one should always consider reading classic investment books on stock market which will be very useful especially for beginners.

There are many stock market based books by famous authors that can guide you through the fundamentals of investing, how the market works, and different investing styles. Deciding which book to read first can be overwhelming to some people, and that is why we have compiled ten of the best stock market books for beginners, all of which are available on amazon. Read on! 

You will be redirected to the amazon by clicking on the images of the books, where you can buy these books.

1. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

One of the oldest books on this list, Benjamin Graham’s “The Intelligent Investor”, is also referred to as the bible of the stock market, and has been around since 1949, comes at 1st place in our list of best stock market books for beginners. Written by Benjamin Graham, Guru of the famous investor Warren Buffett, this classic largely focuses on the concept of value investing and dollar-cost averaging, strategies that made Warren Buffett tremendously successful and wealthy.

Along with the concepts of investing approach for a defensive investor and enterprising (aggressive) investor, Graham also introduces the concept, Mr. Market and Margin of Safety for easy understanding of market behavior and risk management for the readers.

You will enjoy reading this book as it will feel like you are reading a story from the 1940s but be advised that it might feel a little difficult to maintain the momentum as few chapters are irrelevant to the Indian stock market. However, the time-tested principles that every investor can use make this book worth reading.

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham is available on Amazon as a paperback, Kindle edition, and even in the audiobook format, and is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by the customers.

2. Stock Investing for Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)) by Paul Mladjenovic

The title of the book fits the description of its content and this books comes at 2nd place in our list of best stock market books for beginners. Author Paul Mladjenovic has written this book specifically for the newbies or dummies. The book considers the reader to be dumb (not having any knowledge of the stock market) and guides him through the basics beginning with basic information on ETFs (Exchange Traded Fund), safer ways to invest in the stock market, new rules, exchanges, and investment vehicles. It also provides insight into the European debt crisis.

Real-life examples given in this book allows the reader to break down the concepts more easily. From the basic stock math to the more intricate things such as picking ETFs or mutual funds can be learned from this book. After completing reading this book, you will have learned how to incorporate stocks into your investment portfolio, be able to understand and capitalize on current market conditions, learn how to balance risk and reward, and much more. We would suggest you invest in this book rather than in video tutorials, as this book has an abundance of information that can be easily understood by any, literally any person.

Stock Investing for Dummies by Paul Mladjenovic is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by customers and is available on Amazon in both paperbacks as well as audiobook format.

Also read; 5 Tips for stocks market beginners while investing.

3. One Upon Wall Street by Peter Lynch

Penned by one of the most successful fund managers of America, Peter Lynch holds the record for providing 30% average annual returns on his portfolio for a period of 13 years. This book can be considered a classic for people starting in the stock market and comes at 3rd place in our list of best stock market books for beginners who do not aim to turn into Warren Buffett. Lynch talks about the inner ability and knowledge of each individual and the power of common knowledge and how to make use of it to predict and make money from the stock market.

The author coins the term “tenbaggers”, which stand for investments that return ten times their initial price. Lynch talks about finding these “tenbaggers” which will eventually turn an average stock portfolio into a star performer and also emphasizes the importance of long-term investment.

All these basics along with a hint of humor are beautifully laid out in an easy-to-understand manner and language. The book is a real page-turner and you are bound to have fun along with the learning.

One Up on Wall Street by Peter Lynch can be purchased on Amazon in either paperback or kindle format. The customers have rated this book 4.3 out of 5 stars.

4. The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America by authors Lawrence A. Cunningham and Warren E. Buffett

The list of best stock market books for beginners would be incomplete without the mention of Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO Warren Buffett. If you’re interested in learning how this business tycoon made his money in the stock market, this book is a perfect read. Both new and experienced investors alike can attain valuable and timeless information in the form of Mr. Buffett’s unique thoughts and insights.

Warren Buffett congratulates co-author Larry Cunningham for doing a great job at collating both their philosophies. The Financial Times describes this book as “A classic on value investing and the definitive source on Buffet”.

All in all, the wisdom and tips provided in this classic collection of essays will prove helpful to any newbie who is looking to invest in the stock market which makes this book a must-have.

With a customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, this book is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback format.

5. Irrational Exuberance by Robert J. Shiller

The book comes at 5th place in this list of best stock market books for beginners. Named after Alan Greenspan’s (Former fed chairman of America) infamous 1996 comment in his speech, irrational exuberance means the market optimism which lacks fundamental valuation but rather rests on psychological and emotional factors. Nobel prize-winning Yale economist and author of this book, Robert J. Shiller explains in detail, the title of the book to his readers.

The book is a beautiful masterpiece encompassing the careful study and widely researched data which showcases how human emotions are at play in the stock market and how recent markets reflect the psychologically driven unpredictability.

Shiller carefully points out that the enormous stock market boom that was seen around 1982 was not based on sensible economic foundations but rather more emotion-based, which he calls the stock market bubble.

The reason this book made the list is that in maximum cases investors fall prey to their emotions and often overlook the fundamentals, and this book aims at teaching the readers on dodging these circumstances.

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, you can get this book from Amazon in Kindle, paperback, hardcover as well as in audiobook format.

Also read; Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's biggest investment that made him the big bull of the stock market.

6. The Little Book That Beats the Market by Joel Greenblatt

This book is written for the ones who don’t have any clue about investing or about the stock market and comes at the 6th in the list of best stock market books for beginners. I cannot be more serious when I say that upon reading this book you will have the idea of how to double the market’s return which you won’t learn in two years or MBA school.

Joel Greenblatt, Founder and Managing Partner at Gotham Capital has his record for achieving average annual returns of 40% for over 20 years! Joel pens down the “magic formula” in this book which indeed works like a charm and helps investors to buy good companies at bargain prices. Though the “magic formula” is extensively tested and stands out in the academic and professional world, author Joel explains it using basic math and a very simple language hinted at with a sense of humor.

Greenblatt also talks about using low-risk methods to beat the market, why everyone doesn’t has continued success in the market, and much more interesting stuff. The title of the book “The Little Book That Beats the Market” stays true to its name. This book is a powerful tool that can be used by beginners and professionals alike to create wealth for themselves.

You can purchase this book via Amazon in both hardcover and Kindle format and it is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by the customers.

7. Stocks for the Long Run 5/E by Jeremy Siegel

To account for the ever-changing stock market, author Jeremy Siegel has updated his bestseller to the new 5^th edition and this books comes at the 7th place in the list of best stock market books for beginners. This book contains very useful tips based on extensive research of the phenomenon that affected the stock market. It also aims at answering modern questions such as – How did the crisis alter the financial market and future of stock returns? What are the sources of long-term economic growth? And many more.

If you are a beginner and are more focused on long-term investment then this book is exactly for you. Siegel, explains how stocks are safer in a long run even in such a robust market where people don’t have the patience for long-term investments. He also touches upon how to calculate the stock returns and how to analyze stocks and much more technical aspects. This book can be digested completely if the reader has some basics of the stock market.

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by the customers, this book can be purchased via Amazon in the hardcover format.

8. Stocks to Riches by Parag Parikh

Investing in the stock market is only becoming more complicated due to its unpredictability. Questions such as what goes on in an investor’s mind? What makes a stock market bubble? How does it burst? And many more intrigued Parag Parikh, a seasoned broker, and expert, who took up the task of answering these questions which come to us in the form of his book “Stocks to Riches” and we ranked this book at 8th place in our list of best stock market books for beginners.

There is a saying ‘learn from your mistakes’, but mistakes in the stock market end up costing fortunes, and that is why Parikh offers his insights backed by years of experience so that beginners refrain from making mistakes. Ravi Mohan, Managing Director & CEO of CRISIL Limited says “First book on the stock market for the large investor, in a simple, easy-to-understand language, which imparts sound thinking on the behavior and philosophy of investing in the stock market.”

This book is a must-read for Indian investors, beginners, or experienced alike. It is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format and is rated 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Also read; How to choose your first stock?

9. Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip A. Fisher

The author Philip A. Fisher is one of the most influential and best book for stock market beginners. His investment philosophies and strategies are not only praised and followed by many famous names in the stock market but are also regarded by many as gospel.

The author has beautifully written the book, the contents of which are easy to read and understand by beginners. Some of the most important chapters in the book are – What to buy, where to buy and When to sell. What to buy, contains 15 points that every investor has to look into before buying common stocks. Where to buy, elegantly explains the dimensions of conservative investments and the part when to sell, contains important insights for judging the market and building an investment philosophy.

Available on Amazon as a paperback and audiobook, this book is rated 4.2 out of 5 stars.

10. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Saving the best for the last, Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad Poor Dad” is undoubtedly the book that every stock market beginner who wishes to enter the financial arena must-read. This best-seller tells Robert’s story of growing up with two dads – his real father and his best friend’s father, and how both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The beautifully explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.

Robert talks about how his other dad changed the concept of money and investment for him since he was a child. He also emphasizes how the modern school system cannot teach children about money and its management. Robert also urges the readers to get out of the “Rat Race” and have the ability to take risks.

I know that before getting into the stock market many people will advise against it, or scare you about the risks involved, and due to this reason, it becomes very crucial for a beginner to be motivated enough to have confidence and start investing, and this book does exactly that. This book has given plenty of people new insights, hopes, and an abundance of motivation.

So, don’t wait much, go ahead and grab a copy of this book available on Amazon (paperback and kindle) and gather all the motivation you need from this book to begin your journey in the gold mine, this is the stock market.

Top 5 Hindi Books to Read on stock market investment

1. Share Market Se Kaise Banaye Maine 10 Crore by Nicolas Darvas

This book is the Hindi translation of the original book “How I Made $2,000,000 in The Stock Market” by author Nicolas Darvas and one of the best stock market books for beginners. The original book in English was a hit and bestseller and talks about how a common man can earn money in the stock market and thus is translated into Hindi to reach the most common man. This book covers the story of a Hungarian economist from the University of Budapest who migrated to Turkey at the age of 23 using a fake exit visa. With a very small amount of money in his pocket and his bookish knowledge of the share market, he made 10 Crore rupees from a very small investment. This beautiful book shares with its readers the different methods used by this man to make his huge wealth by using very simple language. 

This book is available on Amazon in both Kindle for Rs.99 and Paperback format for a very small price of Rs.175.

2. Kaise Stock Market Mei Nivesh Kare by TV 18 Broadcast Ltd.

TV 18 Broadcast Ltd brings its readers the best comprehensive guide for any stock market beginner can go with this book who is looking to invest his hard-earned money into the illustrious stock market. This book covers the most basic and important aspects of the stock market, the pros, and cons of the investment, and some marinated tips. This book is written in a very easy Hindi language that can be understood by any common man and serves as a standard guide.

 This book is available on Amazon for Rs.350 (Kindle Edition). It is rated 3.6 out of 5 stars by the customers.

3. Intraday Trading Ki Pehchan – Guide to Day Trading by Ankita Gala & Jitendra Gala

For a low price of Rs.225 for the paperback version on Amazon, this book penned by Ankita Gala & Jitendra Gala is a very simple yet efficient book written in a very easy Hindi language that can be understood by almost anybody. This book introduces its readers to Intraday Trading, the Securities Market, Online Terminals, and many other technical aspects of stock trading. This book requires its readers to have some basic knowledge of the stock market. Hence, it is not suited for beginners. But it is the best book in Hindi for traders who follow intraday trading.

 It has got a customer rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars on Amazon.

4. Share Market Guide by Sudha Shrimali

Author Sudha Shrimali has nailed all the basics of the share market in her book “Share market Guide”. This book beautifully uncovers all the puzzling terminology used in the share market and tries to explain each such term in easy Hindi with very understandable examples. This book covers many basic topics such as, how the share market works, what is a commodity market, what are mutual funds and it also tells the history of the share market, its rises, and falls, and many more.

This book is a perfect guide for beginners in the share market but also serves as a comprehensive guide to professionals as well.

It is available on Amazon for a low price of Rs. 189 for the paperback edition and just Rs.15 for the Kindle Edition.

5. Share Market Mein Chandu Ne Kaise Kamaya by Mahesh Chandra Kaushik

With a title that best explains the book, author Mahesh Chandra Kaushik directly gets to the point of how the beginners in the share market can benefit from positional trading and make profits over holding assets for long period. The author claims that after reading this book, the readers will themselves understand the dynamics of the share market, that is when to buy a share and when to sell it. Readers will also be able to analyze the market trends and sell their shares well before their value collapses. Investors after reading this book will be able to build a healthy portfolio that will generate a good number of profits if not hefty without any dominant risk.

This book is available on Amazon for just Rs.120 in the Paperback format and a mere Rs.15 for the Kindle version with an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 by the customers.

Bottom Line

We understand that investing can be difficult for beginners and the constant scare and myths only make it harder. That is why we are presenting you with a list of some of the best stock market books for beginners, get yourself all the basic knowledge you need to start investing.

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