The most recommended stock market books

Who picked these books? Meet our 34 experts.

34 authors created a book list connected to stock market, and here are their favorite stock market books.
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Book cover of Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom

Kevin J. Davey Author Of Entry and Exit Confessions of a Champion Trader: 52 Ways A Professional Speculator Gets In And Out Of The Stock, Futures And Forex Markets

From my list on that help to become a champion trader.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been trading for over 30 years now, and I was lucky to be one of the part-time “hobby” traders to be successful enough to trade full time. Along the way, I was a 3-time trophy winner in the world’s premier real time, real money futures trading contest. My passion is trading, both for my personal accounts and in assisting my students with their trading. While I always say “trading is the hardest way to make easy money” this field is my lifelong passion.

Kevin's book list on that help to become a champion trader

Kevin J. Davey Why did Kevin love this book?

Good trading does not always involve just buying and selling decisions. If it was, trading would be much easier! To be a successful trader, you must have your psychological “house” in order. And that is what this book is superb for. Trade Your Way To Financial Freedom assists you in navigating the turbulent mental, emotional and psychological waters all traders face.

By Van Tharp,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The bestselling holy grail of trading information-now brought completely up to date to give traders an edge in the marketplace

"Sound trading advice and lots of ideas you can use to develop your own trading methodology."-Jack Schwager, author of Market Wizards and The New Market Wizards

This trading masterpiece has been fully updated to address all the concerns of today's market environment. With substantial new material, this second edition features Tharp's new 17-step trading model. Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom also addresses reward to risk multiples, as well as insightful new interviews with top traders, and features updated examples…


Book cover of How to Make Money With Breakout Trading: A Simple Stock Market Book for Beginners

Prasenjit Paul Author Of How to Avoid Loss and Earn Consistently in the Stock Market: An easy-to-understand and practical guide for every investor

From my list on Indian Stock Market.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am SEBI registered equity analyst, bestselling author & public speaker. I have started investing in the Indian stock market at the age of 18 and have a history of identifying several multi-bagger stocks like Chemcrux Enterprises, Lancer Container, Sirca Paints, Caplin Point Lab, Can Fin Homes, Mayur Uniquoters, etc. My portfolio consistently outperformed the index by a significant margin. For more details visit my website.

Prasenjit's book list on Indian Stock Market

Prasenjit Paul Why did Prasenjit love this book?

This is by far the simplest ever book written on a successful trading technique that can be implemented even by a novice trader. The author has shared his own experience, tested methods with real charts that make the book even more attractive. Anyone who aspires to become a successful trader will find the book beneficial.

By Indrazith Shantharaj,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Make Money With Breakout Trading as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Do you know every trader (be it intraday, swing, positional, or scalper) should know how to differentiate a genuine breakout and a false breakout?

Do you know why?

Because every 'Entry' and 'Exit' in any trade should come through a breakout or false breakout opportunity!

It's important to understand two herds that exist in the market:
1. Smart Money and
2. Dumb Money

'Smart Money' refers to institutional investors, big sharks who have money and information power who give direction and momentum to markets.

'Dumb Money' refers to nonprofessional traders, retail traders who often try to make quick money.

Do…


Book cover of The Emotionally Intelligent Investor: How self-awareness, empathy and intuition drive performance

Guy Thomas Author Of Free Capital: How 12 private investors made millions in the stock market

From my list on making a fortune in the stock market.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been an independent investor for nearly 25 years. In my previous life as an employee, I was a research actuary for a firm of pension consultants, and then a university lecturer. I left my last academic job at the age of 35 because I had made enough money to survive, and freedom was worth more to me than a salary. FIRE (Financial Independence – Retire Early) is what it’s called these days, but with two differences. First, I’m not retired: I spend most of my time on investing, but entirely on my own terms. Second, and relatedly, I’m an active investor, albeit a cheap one, nearly as cheap as an index fund.

Guy's book list on making a fortune in the stock market

Guy Thomas Why did Guy love this book?

This could be better written (too many page-length paragraphs), but it earns its place on this list because the topic is important and I don’t know of any better treatment.

Many investment pundits advocate rigid self-control: they say you should try to suppress all emotion in investment decision-making – which is probably infeasible, and in any case undesirable. This book suggests a higher aspiration: aim to have the right emotions, those which are accurately calibrated to the contours of truth.

By Ravee Mehta,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Emotionally Intelligent Investor as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Emotionally Intelligent Investor challenges several long-held assumptions and beliefs, by asserting that a good investment approach starts with introspection. Too many investment gurus tell you to emulate their techniques despite the fact that you may have very different personality traits, motivations and biases. Would Shaquille O’Neal tell a short basketball player to play like him? This book provides a unique template for self-reflection and a framework for developing an investment approach that works best with who you are.Whereas the consensus opinion is that investing success comes from blocking out emotions and making purely rational decisions, the best money managers…


Book cover of Studies in Tape Reading: A 1910 Classic on Tape Reading & Stock Market Tactics

Bo Yoder Author Of Optimize Your Trading Edge: Increase Profits, Reduce Draw-Downs, and Eliminate Leaks in Your Trading Strategy

From my list on helping you optimize your trading edge.

Why am I passionate about this?

I first fell in love with the markets when in 1995, I made more on 1 stock investment than I did working all winter in the freezing cold as a ski instructor. I see it as the world’s greatest game and it has given me a life of unparalleled freedom that I am eternally grateful for. Trading has allowed me to pursue my interests and go deep into behavioral psychology, economics, neurobiology, and would never have had the breakthroughs I have had like the Bottega method for AI or the Myalolipsis technique for developing effortless, unshakable self-discipline if I hadn’t been an active trader.

Bo's book list on helping you optimize your trading edge

Bo Yoder Why did Bo love this book?

The markets are always changing. My ability to maintain performance for over 25+ years I believe comes from my deep foundation in the universal principles that drive market prices.

This book was pivotal in my understanding that some things never change. It is a bit difficult to get through, since it was written in the early 1900s. I think the strangeness of the language forced me to really think through and understand the lessons the book teaches.

In my experience, mental strengthening is step #1. 

Then you need to learn the art of behavioral analysis and economic psychology if you want to be able to consistently understand why markets move so you can begin to forecast those movements…

This book is a great place to get that process started.

By Rollo Tape, Richard DeMille Wyckoff,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Studies in Tape Reading as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Rollo Tape is the colorful pen name of Richard D. Wyckoff. This 1910 classic on tape reading and stock market tactics is by one of its most astute students. Wyckoff for many years was a publisher of the Ticker Magazine which was later changed to The Magazine of Wall Street. He contributed more to the study of price movements than anyone else in America.


Book cover of 100 to 1 in the Stock Market: A Distinguished Security Analyst Tells How to Make More of Your Investment Opportunities

Christopher W. Mayer Author Of 100 Baggers: Stocks That Return 100-to-1 and How To Find Them

From my list on finding big winners in the Stock Market.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been investing in markets for nearly 30 years. I remember first being interested in the stock market after the 1987 crash. I read everything I could about Warren Buffett. And went on to study finance in college finishing magna cum laude (and later earned my MBA). I started my professional career as a commercial banker in the early 1990s. Then, I started my own investment newsletter in 2004 and compiled a strong track record over the next 12 years, wrote four books, and traveled all over the world in search of great investment ideas. I’ve appeared as a guest on TV and radio shows, as well as numerous podcasts. In 2019, I co-founded Woodlock House Family Capital where I currently manage a portfolio of global investments.

Christopher's book list on finding big winners in the Stock Market

Christopher W. Mayer Why did Christopher love this book?

The classic from 1972 is the book that inspired me to write 100 Baggers. Phelps studied all the stocks that returned at least 100 to 1 from 1932 to 1971. You’ll learn where to look for 100 to 1 stocks and what key traits to focus on. Phelps writes in a folksy and quotable manner as he expounds on his philosophy of buying right and holding on. He writes, “When I was a boy a carpenter working for my father made this sage observation: ‘A lot of shavings don’t make a good workman.’” Let Phelps show you the power of patient, long-term investing.

By Thomas William Phelps,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked 100 to 1 in the Stock Market as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In 100 to 1 in the Stock Market, Thomas Phelps discloses the secrets and strategies to increasing your wealth one hundredfold through buy-and-hold investing. Unlike the short-term trading trends that are popular today, Phelps's highly logical, yet radical approach focuses on identifying compounding machines in public markets, buying their stocks, and holding these investments long term for at least ten years. In this indispensable guide, Phelps analyzes what made the big companies of his day so profitable for the diligent, long-term investor. You will learn how to identify and invest in profitable business models without visible growth ceilings that will…


Book cover of The World's Simplest Stock Picking Strategy: How to make money investing in the companies in your life

Jason Kelly Author Of The 3% Signal: The Investing Technique That Will Change Your Life

From my list on to learn systematic stock market investing.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing and The 3% Signal, among other financial books, and editor of The Kelly Letter. Despite having been ranked by CXO Advisory as one of the best stock-market forecasters, I gave up the practice in favor of price reaction. I realized that nobody knows where stocks are headed, myself included, and set out to find ways to beat the market without forecasting—and succeeded. My readers and I are now much happier and wealthier.

Jason's book list on to learn systematic stock market investing

Jason Kelly Why did Jason love this book?

I liked this book enough to write a blurb for it, as follows: “Any plan that would have led investors to Amazon, Apple, and Google is fine by me—and this one would have. Edward Ryan has created a systematic framework for owning what you know, a tried-and-true tactic.” No less a luminary than Peter Lynch endorses the idea, and in this book you’ll learn five steps to systematize it: list your life activities, extract stock ideas from them, rank those stocks, invest, and manage the portfolio. The second step is the most interesting to me; it’s where you consider which products and services in your life are most likely to keep a stock moving higher.

By Edward W. Ryan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The World's Simplest Stock Picking Strategy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Every investor needs an edge.

Professional investors on Wall Street have the best education, the deepest knowledge of company accounts, the latest technology, and teams of analysts at their disposal to help them identify the best stock investments. That is their edge. As a part-time, individual investor, you cannot compete on their turf.

What can you do? This is where The World's Simplest Stock Picking Strategy comes in.

As you go about your life, there are companies you interact with regularly as a consumer. Some companies will stand out to you as having remarkable products or services, which you use…


Book cover of The Encyclopedia Of Technical Market Indicators

Mark Leibovit Author Of The Trader's Book of Volume: The Definitive Guide to Volume Trading

From my list on trading your way to profits in the stock market.

Why am I passionate about this?

Mark Leibovit is Chief Market Strategist for Leibovit VR Newsletter. His technical expertise is in overall market timing and stock selection based upon his proprietary Volume Reversal (TM) methodology and Annual Forecast Model. Mark's extensive media television profile includes seven years as a consultant ‘Elf’ on Louis Rukeyser’s Wall Street Week television program, and over thirty years as a Market Monitor guest for PBS The Nightly Business Report. He also has appeared on Fox Business News, CNBC, BNN (Canada), and Bloomberg, and has been interviewed in Business Week, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. His comprehensive study on Volume Analysis, The Trader’s Book of Volume is a definitive guide to volume trading.

Mark's book list on trading your way to profits in the stock market

Mark Leibovit Why did Mark love this book?

Robert and I were friends and co-members of the Market Technician's Assn back in the late 1980s and I was honored that chose my Volume Reversal Indicator to be mentioned in the book.

I was a friend of Robert Colby and co-members of the Market Technicians Association and was personally honored he incorporated my VR (Volume Reversal) in his book. I also felt he was way ahead of the crowd in putting together such a comprehensive book and I wanted to honor him with a mention.

Book cover of How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market

Michael Lamothe Author Of The Trading Mindwheel: Eight Essential Skills for Trading Mastery

From my list on trading stocks part-time.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up poor. At 6 years old, I was homeless. My parents had a messy divorce, and I was bounced around a lot as a child. As a result, I grew up with many limiting beliefs; about myself and about money. By age 13, I heard about the stock market and the ability to turn a little into a lot. By the time I graduated high school, I had saved up some money and placed my first trade… I then struggled for more than a decade. After learning the hard way, I finally turned the corner in 2011. My dream is to help others do the same.

Michael's book list on trading stocks part-time

Michael Lamothe Why did Michael love this book?

Darvas’s book How I Made 2 Million In The Stock Market wasn’t the first book I read, but it was the one that gave me the biggest confidence boost when I was trading part-time. 

Darvas was a professional ballroom dancer who taught himself how to trade part-time back in the 1950s. Back then there was no internet, he drew his charts by hand, and transaction fees were over $100 in today’s money. 

He saw not being glued to the market all day as his advantage and he leveraged it. He even threatened his broker not to call him in the middle of the day. He did all of his work at night and on weekends. 

This book reads like a novel. If you’re looking for inspiration, and a basic philosophy that can still work today, this is it!

By Nicolas Darvas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Nicolas Darvas was a world famous dancer and a self taught investor. He had never considered investing in the stock market until he was paid in stock for a performance. That stock shot up in value and he realize that there was a great deal of money to be made investing in stocks. Over the next few years he read widely about stocks and spent every free moment studying the market. In a very short amount of time he learned when to buy, when not to buy, and when to sell. This book spells out exactly how Nicolas Darvas made…


Book cover of The 12% Solution: Earn a 12% Average Annual Return on your Money

Jason Kelly Author Of The 3% Signal: The Investing Technique That Will Change Your Life

From my list on to learn systematic stock market investing.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing and The 3% Signal, among other financial books, and editor of The Kelly Letter. Despite having been ranked by CXO Advisory as one of the best stock-market forecasters, I gave up the practice in favor of price reaction. I realized that nobody knows where stocks are headed, myself included, and set out to find ways to beat the market without forecasting—and succeeded. My readers and I are now much happier and wealthier.

Jason's book list on to learn systematic stock market investing

Jason Kelly Why did Jason love this book?

This monthly approach uses three-month momentum to select two funds from a pool of four stock funds and two bond funds. The stock indexes are the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, Russell 2000, and Nasdaq, i.e. US large caps, mid caps, small caps, and tech. It’s not a revolutionary idea but provides a good introduction to major asset class switching, which runs circles around pundit guessing games. If you do nothing but swear off gut-guessing in favor of price reaction, you’ll beat almost everybody—including the supposed pros.

By David Alan Carter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The 12% Solution as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

How to make money in stocks?

First step: don't trade stocks. In a radical departure from most investment books, a former day trader demonstrates how a simple asset allocation strategy that 'adapts' to changing market conditions has delivered a 12% average annual return over the past 10 years. What does 12% mean?

If you're familiar with investing basics, you'll know that figure comes close to doubling the average return of the benchmark S&P 500. It also outperforms 99% of all mutual funds.

But what's outperformance without protection? When the S&P 500 crashed in 2008 and lost 37% of its value,…


Book cover of The Star Principle: How it can make you rich

Guy Thomas Author Of Free Capital: How 12 private investors made millions in the stock market

From my list on making a fortune in the stock market.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been an independent investor for nearly 25 years. In my previous life as an employee, I was a research actuary for a firm of pension consultants, and then a university lecturer. I left my last academic job at the age of 35 because I had made enough money to survive, and freedom was worth more to me than a salary. FIRE (Financial Independence – Retire Early) is what it’s called these days, but with two differences. First, I’m not retired: I spend most of my time on investing, but entirely on my own terms. Second, and relatedly, I’m an active investor, albeit a cheap one, nearly as cheap as an index fund.

Guy's book list on making a fortune in the stock market

Guy Thomas Why did Guy love this book?

A star business has market leadership of a niche, where the niche is itself growing fast. This is arguably close to a tautology, but it is also quite a rare thing to find.

This book is about how to spot these star businesses at an early stage, and the enormous returns which can flow from doing so. Much of my wealth has come from doing this a few times (probably largely by luck).

It also makes interesting suggestions about how to create and manage a star business, albeit this is not something that I’ve ever tried myself.

By Richard Koch,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Star Principle as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Richard Koch has made over GBP100 million from spotting 'Star' businesses. In his new book, he shares the secrets of his success - and shows how you too can identify and enrich yourself from 'Stars'. Star businesses are ventures operating in a high-growth sector - and are the leaders in their niche of the market. Stars are rare. But with the help of this book and a little patience, you can find one, or create one yourself.

THE STAR PRINCIPLE is a vital book for any budding entrepreneur or investor (of grand or modest means). It is also invaluable for…