48 Books recommended by Warren Buffett
The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money
Author :John Maynard Keynes
"Talked about investment speculation and the propensity of people to speculate." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Paths to Wealth Through Common Stocks
Author :Philip A. Fisher
"Very good." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Common Sense on Mutual Funds
Author :John C. Bogle
"Cogent, honest, and hard-hitting. A must read for every investor." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Farmer from Merna
A Biography of George J. Mecherle and a History of the State Farm Insurance Companies of Bloomington, Illinois
Author :Karl Schriftgiesser
"By 1999 [State Farm] had amassed a tangible net worth exceeding that of all but four American businesses. If you want to read how this happened, get a copy of [this book]." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Moment of Lift
How Empowering Women Changes the World
Author :Melinda Gates
"I think this is one of the best books I've ever read." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Stress Test
Reflections on Financial Crises
Author :Timothy F. Geithner
"Sensational . . . [This book] will forever be the definitive work on what causes financial panics and what must be done to stem them when they occur." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Outsiders
Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success
Author :William N. Thorndike
"An outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation." - Warren Buffett [Source]
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Author :Bill Bryson
"It’s very impressive [to] read about people pondering how to figure out the weight of the Earth or something in the 18th century." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Investing Between the Lines
How to Make Smarter Decisions By Decoding CEO Communications
Author :L.J. Rittenhouse
Warren Buffett recommended this book in his 2012 Annual Letter. [Source]
Where Are the Customers' Yachts?
or A Good Hard Look at Wall Street
Author :Fred Schwed
"The funniest book ever written about investing." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Warren Buffett CEO
Secrets from the Berkshire Hathaway Managers
Author :Robert P. Miles
"We have as fine an array of operating managers as exists at any company. (You can read about many of them in [this book])." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Making of the President 1960
The Landmark Political Series
Author :Theodore H. White
"I love reading good political books, starting with [this book]." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Smartest Guys in the Room
The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron
Author :Bethany McLean
Warren Buffett recommended this book in his 2003 Annual Letter. [Source]
First A Dream
Author :Jim Clayton
"I made an offer [to buy Clayton Homes] based solely on [this book] my evaluation of Kevin, the public financials of Clayton and what I had learned from the Oakwood experience." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
Author :Charlie Munger
"The ever-popular book about my partner." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Nuclear Terrorism
The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe
Author :Graham Allison
"A must-read for those concerned with the safety of our country." - Warren Buffett [Source]
One Thousand Ways to Make $1000
Author :F.C. Minaker
"Very early, probably when I was seven or so, I took this book." - Warren Buffett [Source]
A Few Lessons for Investors and Managers From Warren Buffett
Author :Peter Bevelin
"Sums up what Charlie and I have been saying over the years in annual reports and at annual meetings." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Keeping At It
The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government
Author :Paul A. Volcker
"I think you’ll enjoy reading [this book]." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Most Important Thing Illuminated
Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor
Author :Howard Marks
"When I see memos from [this author] in my mail, they're the first thing I open and read. I always learn something, and that goes double for his book." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Limping on Water
My 40-Year Adventure with One of America's Outstanding Communications Companies
Author :Philip Beuth
"Much of what you become in life depends on whom you choose to admire and copy. Start with Tom Murphy, and you’ll never need a second exemplar." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Warren Buffett's Ground Rules
Words of Wisdom from the Partnership Letters of the World's Greatest Investor
Author :Jeremy C. Miller
"If you are fascinated by investment theory and practice, you will enjoy this book." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Personal History
Author :Katharine Graham
"The best autobiography I’ve ever read." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Ten Commandments for Business Failure
Author :Donald R. Keough
"[The author]'s best ability is to cut to the chase on an issue, to cut through the bureaucratic fog. Keep it simple is his principle and mine too." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns
Author :John C. Bogle
"Investors – large and small – should [read this book]." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Intelligent Investor
Author :Benjamin Graham
"I obviously recommend, first and foremost, [this book]. Considered to be the 'Bible of Value Investing.'" - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Most Important Thing
Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor
Author :Howard Marks
"This is that rarity, a useful book." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Security Analysis
Author :Benjamin Graham
"A road map for investing that I have now been following for 57 years." - Warren Buffett [Source]
40 Chances
Finding Hope in a Hungry World
Author :Howard G Buffett
"Forgive a parent when I say I couldn't be more proud of him, as would his mother be if she were alive to watch him. As you read his words, you will understand why." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Clash of the Cultures
Investment vs. Speculation
Author :John C. Bogle
Warren Buffett recommended this book in his 2012 Annual Letter. [Source]
The Man Behind the Microchip
Robert Noyce and the Invention of Silicon Valley
Author :Leslie Berlin
"[The author] does an excellent job of capturing the Bob Noyce I knew: part small-town boy, part big-time genius and always a wonderful friend and citizen." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Business Adventures
Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street
Author :John Brooks
Warren Buffett's favorite book about business. [Source]
Pride in Performance
Keep It Going!
Author :Les Schwab
"It’s an interesting book." - Warren Buffett [Source]
A Piece of the Action
How the Middle Class Joined the Money Class
Author :Joe Nocera
"A terrific history of the credit card business." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Essays in Persuasion
Author :John Maynard Keynes
"Reading [this author] will make you smarter about securities and markets." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits
and Other Writings
Author :Philip A. Fisher
"I am an eager reader of whatever [this author] has to say, and I recommend him to you." - Warren Buffett [Source]
In an Uncertain World
Tough Choices from Wall Street to Washington
Author :Robert Rubin
Warren Buffett recommended this book in his 2003 Annual Letter. [Source]
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Author :Dale Carnegie
"In my office, you will not see the degree I have from the University of Nebraska, or the master’s degree I have from Columbia University, but you’ll see the certificate I got from the Dale Carnegie course." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Great Crash 1929
Author :John Kenneth Galbraith
"A wonderful book." - Warren Buffett [Source]
The Science of Hitting
Author :Ted Williams
"Said the most important thing in hitting is waiting for the right pitch." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Showing Up for Life
Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime
Author :Bill Gates Sr.
"[The author] is as wise as his son is brilliant. I’ve learned a lot from both of them and believe everyone can benefit from the insights [the author] shares in this book." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Take on the Street
How to Fight for Your Financial Future
Author :Arthur Levitt
"Excellent." - Warren Buffett [Source]
Supermoney
Author :Adam Smith
"In this book, [the author] says I like baseball metaphors. He’s right." - Warren Buffett [Source]
FAQs
Q1: What titles have Warren Buffett recommended?
Warren Buffett recommends the books “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham, “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits” by Philip Fisher, and “The Outsiders” by William Thorndike Jr., as well asWarren Buffet's own book entitled “The Snowball”.
Q2: Why did Warren Buffett choose these books?
Warren Buffett believes that the books he's chosen inform the strategies he applies to his investment decisions. In particular, he's drawn from the principles outlined in “The Intelligent Investor” and “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits” to create his value-oriented investing approach.
Q3: Are there any other books Buffett recommends?
Yes, Warren Buffett notes that there are a range of other books related to value investing that he considers essential reading for anyone pursuing investment strategies. Specifically, he recommends titles such as “The Essays of Warren Buffett” by Lawrence Cunningham, and “Security Analysis” by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd.
Q4: What is the primary takeaway from these books?
Warren Buffett believes each of the titles he's recommended offers lessons about the importance of thoroughly researching investments, making informed decisions, and not speculating on short-term risks. Additionally, many of these books offer more general lessons about the perils of overconfidence and the importance of setting clear goals for investing.