What's a good general financials book?

[Rugger]

The shitstorm on wallstreet has me feeling really left out and feeling like I've made the wrong choice of college majors.

Can anyone recommend me a good book that will help me grasp everything with out getting into painstaking details? Something like a "wallstreet for dummies"?

I figure a golf forum wouldn't be a bad spot to ask about this sort of thing.

[baal]

Well I don't think any "wallstreet for dummies" will do any help.

You can start reading Microeconomics and Macroeconomics university books. Those can offer you a proper basic understanding of markets. Just look at any university curriculum for economics major, and see what books they use for those 2 courses.

[Ben]

I work at a country club and have a fair share of financial savvy members there. One in particular who made his money from investing recommended to me The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham I never got through the whole thing, and it's been a while since I picked it up, but, I do remember it being relatively easy to read and follow. As well as helpful.

[Rugger]

I work at a country club and have a fair share of financial savvy members there. One in particular who made his money from investing recommended to me

Thanks for the tip, I'll look into that.

Baal, I've taken micro and macro but neither offered any insight to actual markets and investing.

[dragonflyin]

If you want to understand the underlying trends and fundamentals of economics, read The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. It is still the classic. Word of caution, it's a huge read.

[Rugger]

If you want to understand the underlying trends and fundamentals of economics, read The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. It is still the classic. Word of caution, it's a huge read.

Read it

[Lemay427]

My personal opinion is to read the Wall Street Journal everyday. I graduated with a Finance degree and most of my professors thought that the wall street is better at teaching finance than the textbooks because you are dealing with up to the minute current events. I agree. Read the wall street and if there are words or acronyms that you do not understand, google it.

[Rugger]

My personal opinion is to read the Wall Street Journal everyday. I graduated with a Finance degree and most of my professors thought that the wall street is better at teaching finance than the textbooks because you are dealing with up to the minute current events. I agree. Read the wall street and if there are words or acronyms that you do not understand, google it.

good call. I gotta look into that.

[paperclip]

I work at a country club and have a fair share of financial savvy members there. One in particular who made his money from investing recommended to me

I also recommend that book, one of the best ever written on the subject

[nevets88]

Get the level I CFA exam workbooks (save money - get last years') on Ebay or check your school's bulletin boards. It covers Econ, Accting, Equities, Corporate Finance, Fixed Income, etc... I've seen some great material for first year hires in investment banks (too bad they didn't use some of it), but obviously you can't get those.

Also, read the Financial Times - it's getting more attention since Murdoch bought WSJ.

Check for podcasts in iTunes.

Open an trading account and trade small, a couple of shares. It's more interesting when you have real money on the line (OK, I'm a bit of a gambler).
Try the different buy/sell options. Try shorting.

[WilsonWedgeMan]

..umm, tell me if I'm wrong here, but isn't the present financial condition(falling like a rock) directly related to/caused by the so-called "finacial experts"? I mean, aren't those who were in charge of Stearns/AIG/etc, financial professionals?
..not sure I'd trust any financial folks these days....

as for the best Book on financial advice... it's the best seller year after year