Good Books for Reading

A Random Walk Down Wall Street, by Burton G. Malkiel
If you haven't read this investment classic yet, now's the time. Princeton professor and former Vanguard board member Burton Malkiel has revised and updated his investment primer for the eighth time, showing why investors historically can't beat the stock market and including a new section on the dot-com boom and bust. Read an interview with the author.

Winning the Loser's Game, by Charles D. Ellis
Written by Charles D. Ellis, senior advisor to Greenwich Associates, member of Applecore Partners, and Vanguard board member, this insightful, accessible guide to how the financial markets work—and how to put them to work for you—was described by legendary management expert Peter Drucker as "by far the best book on investment policy and management."

Straight Talk on Investing: What You Need to Know, by Jack Brennan
Vanguard's chairman and CEO shares insights on building wealth that he's learned from clients and crew members in his 25 years at Vanguard. He provides sensible advice on how to build and manage a portfolio and reveals some common things that push investors off track.

Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor, by John C. Bogle
In his second book, Vanguard's founder provides timeless investment wisdom in his characteristic hard-hitting style. Through a series of essays, he spells out commonsense principles for novice and sophisticated investors alike.

The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing, by Taylor Larimore, Mel Lindauer, and Michael LeBoeuf
Written by three longtime Vanguard investors, this witty, commonsense guide to investing grew out of the authors' participation in the Vanguard Diehards message board on Morningstar.com. It includes a foreword by Vanguard founder John C. Bogle, from whom the self-described "Bogleheads" take their name.

The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio, by William Bernstein
Whether you're an experienced investor or just getting started, you'll appreciate William Bernstein's sage, straightforward guidance on creating a portfolio that can weather the market's long-term ups and downs. His key thesis—that it's usually impossible to beat the market by chasing performance or market timing—dovetails nicely with Vanguard's philosophy.

The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing, by Benjamin Graham, updated by Jason Zweig
First published in 1949, this classic has sold more than a million copies. Senior Money magazine editor Jason Zweig bolsters the wisdom of Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, with additional commentary in footnotes and updates relating to newer investment vehicles and trends.

Wealth of Experience: Real Investors on What Works and What Doesn't, by Andrew S. Clarke, with a foreword by Jack Brennan
Based on interviews and survey responses from more than 600 Vanguard shareholders, this book distills the experience and wisdom of ordinary investors into a simple plan that can help you enhance your prospects for long-term success and avoid major financial mistakes.

Books on retirement and financial planning

Mind Over Money: Your Path to Wealth and Happiness, by Eric Tyson
The author of Mutual Funds for Dummies, Personal Finance for Dummies, and several other titles offers indispensable guidance on how to avoid the most common mistakes Americans make with money—such as spending too much of it—and how to change the way you think about wealth. Listen to an interview with the author.

Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People, by Jane Bryant Quinn
One of America's preeminent writers on investing and personal finance, Jane Bryant Quinn has helped make the markets a less mysterious place for millions of investors. In her new book—described by former Vanguard board member Burton G. Malkiel as "encyclopedic in scope and written with clarity and style"—Ms. Quinn outlines her "No Worry" strategy for money management. It's a simple, easy-to-follow approach designed to help Americans save more, reduce debt, and invest wisely.

The Power Years: A User's Guide to the Rest of Your Life, by Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., and Daniel J. Kadlec
In the future, "retirement" will be more than just a life of golf, travel, and leisure. Dr. Ken Dychtwald, a leading expert on aging and the baby boomer generation, and Daniel Kadlec, a Time magazine columnist, will help you get ready for perhaps the best years of your life—where "old age" is instead a vibrant new age full of activity and personal reinvention. Read an interview with the author.

The Savage Number: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire? by Terry Savage
Chicago Sun-Times personal finance columnist Terry Savage's latest book answers one of pre-retirees' most common questions. Her plainspoken style helps make sense of the increasingly popular financial forecasting technique of Monte Carlo modeling and explains how to grow and draw down your assets to help make sure they last throughout your retirement.

How to Retire Happy: The 12 Most Important Decisions You Must Make Before You Retire, by Stan Hinden
Retired Washington Post financial columnist Stan Hinden covers 12 crucial decisions for those getting ready to retire, such as when to take Social Security and what to do about health insurance. Read an interview with the author.

Retirement Bible, by Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Whether you're in your 20s or 60s, single or married, work in a big corporation or own a small business, you'll find most answers to your retirement-planning questions in this comprehensive, 500-plus-page resource.