Who’s ready for summer?! I know I definitely am. One of my favorite summer past times is spending time by the pool with a cold beverage and great book.
Often, the summer season provides the opportunity to rest and recharge a bit. The dog days of summer present a unique opportunity to INVEST in yourself.
If you’re ready to get your financial house in order, look no further than this summer to invest in the knowledge you need to set you and your family up for financial success with these 7 BEST books on finance and investing for summer reading.
1. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
Known for his brash style, Dave Ramsey has built a successful empire providing his unique blend of financial advice through books, conferences, and his nationally-syndicated radio show.
Although, sometimes controversial in the personal finance community, Ramsey never waivers in his commitment to the “7 Baby Steps.”
For good reason, though!
Often, identifying where to start cleaning up financial messes can be difficult. However, these 7 simple steps have helped MILLIONS of Americans get their financial house in order – from getting out of debt, building an emergency fund, paying for kid’s college costs, and investing retirement.
If you’re looking for a great book to learn how to get out of debt and start building a solid foundation for your finances, The Total Money Makeover can be a great place to start this summer!
2. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
Looking for a classic book on investing for your summer reading list? Look no further than Benjamin Graham’s best-seller The Intelligent Investor!
Benjamin Graham, the “Father of Value Investing,” was Warren Buffett’s former professor, first boss out of college, and Buffett’s mentor!
Graham literally wrote the book on analyzing and picking individual stocks!
If you’ve never read The Intelligent Investor, you’re missing out on reading the Bible for identifying undervalued stocks. The Intelligent Investor is a MUST READ for anyone looking to deepen their investing acumen.
One of the reasons The Intelligent Investor has struck such an influential chord with readers is because of both the depth in topics that Graham outlines and the simplicity with which Graham teaches. This book is NOT written as a textbook with complicated formulas, theories, and examples. However, Graham articulately demonstrates complex material from his decades of his research as a professor in a way that the average investor can understand.
Implementing his strategies for picking stocks will surely pay dividends over the long-term!
Although, Graham is no longer living, he’s still revered today for his contributions to value investing. Understand why by reading The Intelligent Investor this summer!
3. Beating the Street by Peter Lynch
While Graham is known for his research on quantitatively analyzing individual stocks, Peter Lynch outlines another (but just as effective) approach to investing.
In Beating the Street, Lynch discusses the mindset and methodologies that earned him notoriety on Wall Street.
Lynch spent decades beating the average returns of the stock market. During his 13-year tenure managing the Fidelity Magellan Fund, Lynch’s returns averaged 29.2% per year. That’s more than double the returns of the S&P 500!
His methodology centers on telling investors to “buy what you know.”
In essence, you can find great stocks by seeing what the public at large values on Main Street. Does everyone you know shop on Amazon? Do you and your family love their iPhones or Apple Watches? Do you spend countless hours watching Netflix?
If there is a particular company or service you find valuable, become a part owner in the business! Instead of only consuming a product or service, you can build wealth for your family by owning shares of popular businesses that are creating value for the world around you!
In his book Beating the Street, Lynch outlines the genius on how investors JUST LIKE YOU can beat the market. Get your copy of this easy-reading book today!
4. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
What investor doesn’t adore Warren Buffett?
Buffett values privacy, choosing to keep a low profile rather than spending his wealth on extravagant purchases. This frugality and humble persona adds to the mystique of the greatest investor of all time!
However, in her book The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, Schroeder is granted unparalleled, authorized access to the greatest stock market genius of all time.
Unlike his mentor who wrote the The Intelligent Investor, The Snowball is not dense with numbers, formulas, and financial jargon. Schroeder keeps it simple – just like Buffett appreciates! Her book focuses on bringing readers into the world and upbringing that shaped the philosophies Buffett used to build his multi-billion dollar empire.
If you’re looking for an authorized biography to learn about one of the world’s greatest (and wealthiest) investors, put The Snowball on your summer reading list!
5. The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth With Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing by Brandon Turner
Looking to spice up your investment portfolio a bit? Learning about cash flowing real estate this summer can be a great way to add diversification, build cash flow, and unlock financial independence!
The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth With Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing is a great read to learn about investing in cash flowing real estate this summer!
Brandon Turner, the (now former) host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate podcast, outlines proven strategies to win with real estate.
Turner introduces newbie real estate investors to strategies necessary to build a side hustle investing in real estate – regardless of how much wealth you currently have accumulated. Turner explains how real estate can be a wonderful path to financial freedom and long-term, generational wealth!
In The Book on Rental Property Investing, Turner outlines popular real estate strategies including “house hacking” and his famed “BRRRR” strategy.
If you’re interested in learning about rental real estate, The Book on Rental Property Investing is a definite read while pool-side this summer!
6. & 7. Liar’s Poker and Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
Okay, so maybe you are looking for something less focused on investing your dollars and more for entertainment purposes.
Michael Lewis is a renowned author. He’s famous for writing some of the best-selling books of his generation that center on life on Wall Street.
Lewis discusses his first-hand experiences from his time behind the desk with some of the most iconic figures on Wall Street. Readers agree, these books are insanely entertaining.
His books Liar’s Poker and Flash Boys offer insight to the world of Wall Street that would be of anyone interested in business, investing, and stock markets.
If you are looking for hours of entertainment this summer, pick up a copy of Liar’s Poker and Flash Boys. You will surely be entertained for hours as you imagine what life was once like during the “peak” of life as a Wall Street trader!