# Recommend Finance/investment book for a newb **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062 "2009-05-11T17:26:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/1 "2009-05-11T17:26:48Z")
Hi, My name is Kinthalis and ::hangs head down in shame:: I don’t know what a Roth IRA is, how the stock market works/how to invest in it, or how to develop a short and long terms savings/retirement plan. Help me! What books would you guys recommend to someone like me - a total newb trying to prepare for things like buying a home, having a family, retirement, etc? I’ve been navigating the alleyways of commerce using this book I got from a little guy I met briefly at a sci-fi convention. But I can’t make heads or tails of all these rules of acquisition. And who is this nagus guy anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/2 "2009-05-11T18:03:02Z")
Not a book to read but a good website to browse through is [BANKRATE](http://www.bankrate.com/). They have a big glossary section and lots and lots of articles and a variety of topics. As well as current typical loan rates and finance calculators. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/3 "2009-05-11T18:14:12Z")
I’ve always really liked Eric Tysons “Personal Finance for Dummies” as a good general intro. ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/4 "2009-05-11T18:14:48Z")
I found this book to be a good primer: [The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing.](http://www.amazon.com/Neatest-Little-Guide-Market-Investing/dp/0452289211/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242065594&sr=8-1) When you feel like you’ve got a firmer understanding of the basics of investing, different investment types, etc., I’d highly recommend [The Intelligent Investor.](http://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Investing-Practical/dp/0060555661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242065668&sr=1-1) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/5 "2009-05-11T18:21:09Z")
How intelligent are you and how good are you at maths? ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/6 "2009-05-11T18:33:40Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > I’ve always really liked Eric Tysons “Personal Finance for Dummies” as a good general intro. I second this. In general I HATE the Dummies books – hate hate hate – but Eric Tyson knows his stuff. Ric Edelman is also a pretty good source, lots of good info on his web site. His books get a bit repetitious, but picking up one of the basic ones isn’t a bad idea. Stay far, far away from Dave Ramsey – he’s not bad on some of the basics, but he’s an angry, judgmental hardass. You could also start listening to _Sound Money_ on public radio; this is what got me started. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/7 "2009-05-11T22:31:04Z")
> [@Angry Lurker](#): > > How intelligent are you and how good are you at maths? I would say I’m somewhere between Homo Habilis and Einstein 🙂 I’m a programmer (studying computer science and engineering) so I don’t think I’m out of the loop math wise. Thanks for the suggesitons so far guys, I got Eric Tysons “Personal Finance for Dummies” on my Barnes & Noble wish list! ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/8 "2009-05-11T22:51:14Z")
when I was in your position I read this book by Gail MarksJarvis ‘Saving for Retirement–without living like a pauper or winning the lottery’ here is her website: [http://www.gailmarksjarvis.com/index.html](http://www.gailmarksjarvis.com/index.html) I found her explanations quite clear and helpful–especially when it comes to saving for your retirement AND the market. good luck! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/9 "2009-05-11T22:59:55Z")
The Suze Ormand books are kind of “Personal Finance for Dummies”. You might also try websites like [www.motleyfool.com](http://www.motleyfool.com) I would avoid Robert Kiyosaki’s books (Rich Dad Poor Dad, etc) as critics widely regard him to be full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/10 "2009-05-11T23:24:07Z")
I recommend The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias. ---
**Author:** ![Razrak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/razrak/32/5888_2.png) [@Razrak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razrak)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/11 "2009-05-12T00:32:26Z")
I suggest CNN Money’s website. [The ultimate guide to retirement](http://money.cnn.com/retirement/guide/). It’s free, which is nice. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/12 "2009-05-12T00:49:05Z")
I like _8 Steps to Seven Figures._ ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Cream\_Conquest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@Ice\_Cream\_Conquest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Cream_Conquest)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-finance-investment-book-for-a-newb/496062/13 "2009-05-12T00:57:01Z")
The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton. Best book for beginners that I’ve found.