5 IFs to Help You Start Investing
Oct 05, 2025Hello Stoic Investors,
I don’t know about you, but every time autumn rolls in (with the rain, the cold, and the shorter days) I feel it’s the perfect season to sit down with a good book.
And since we’re all here to get better at investing, it’s also a great chance to combine pleasure with purpose:
The joy of reading and the value of learning how to invest.
So I’ll take advantage of this Reddit post I came across this week to share with you the books that, in my opinion, are truly worth reading — the ones that really helped me when I first started investing:
So these are the 5 books I consider essential, and you can choose which ones to read based on what you want to learn:
1. If you want to understand how money really works:
"Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki
Kiyosaki uses the stories of his two “dads” to show how financial success comes not from a high salary, but from learning how to make money work for you.
The book introduces key ideas like the difference between assets and liabilities, the importance of cash flow, and why financial education is the real driver of wealth.
What you’ll learn from this book:
The first step toward freedom is understanding the difference between buying things that take money out of your pocket and building assets that put money in.
2. If you need a clear plan to manage your finances:
"I Will Teach You to Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi
This is one of the most practical guides available. Sethi shows you how to set up bank accounts, automate savings, cut unnecessary costs, and start investing without fear.
It’s designed for people who want a system that works in the background, while they focus on life.
What you’ll learn from this book:
Automating your finances is one of the simplest ways to grow wealth consistently.
3. If you believe success starts in the mind:
"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
Hill studied hundreds of successful people and found that wealth begins with mindset: clear goals, persistence, and belief in your own ability.
This isn’t just motivation—it’s the foundation that allows every financial strategy to actually work.
This principle is also the cornerstone of my work. My entire approach to teaching investing, shaped by Stoic philosophy, starts with the belief that mindset comes first.
Because without the right mental framework, even the best financial knowledge is wasted.
What you’ll learn from this book:
Investing success starts with how you think—discipline, vision, and resilience come before numbers.
4. If you want the safest way to grow wealth long term:
"The Little Book of Common Sense Investing" by John C. Bogle
Bogle, founder of Vanguard, explains why chasing short-term wins usually fails.
Instead, he shows why low-cost index funds are one of the most reliable ways to grow money over decades. It’s about patience, simplicity, and the power of compounding.
What you’ll learn from this book:
The smartest long-term move is often the simplest—invest in low-cost funds and let time do the work.
5. If you want to learn how to spot undervalued opportunities:
"Modern Value Investing" by Sven Carlin
Carlin brings value investing into today’s markets, teaching you how to analyze companies, calculate intrinsic value, and recognize when a stock is trading below its worth.
He blends timeless wisdom with practical tools for modern investors.
What you’ll learn from this book:
Successful investing is about patience—waiting until you find a strong company at the right price.
These five books, in my view, are an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to go deeper and truly learn how to invest.
They cover the fundamentals, the mindset, and the practical steps that can help you build confidence and independence on your investing journey.
So, note down these 5 books and start investing today:
1. "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki
2. "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi
3. "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
4. "The Little Book of Common Sense" Investing by John C. Bogle
5. "Modern Value Investing" by Sven Carlin
