Books Recommended by Warren Buffett: A Glimpse into the Library of the “Oracle of Omaha”

Forget fleeting investment fads and hollow promises. Join us on a pilgrimage for serious investors—a trek into the intellectual landscape that shaped the legendary Warren Buffett. In this article we’ll dive into the books recommended by Warren Buffett, a curated collection brimming with value investing books, business biographies, and philosophical insights.

This isn’t just a reading list; it’s a masterclass in Buffett’s investment philosophy. We’ll navigate his complete library, dissecting all books recommended by Warren Buffett and unlocking the value investing library that fueled his genius. From classic investment bibles like “The Intelligent Investor” to compelling business biographies like “Shoe Dog,” we’ll delve into the knowledge that propelled Buffett to the top.

But this journey isn’t solely about finance. We’ll explore personal development books that honed his legendary discipline and American business history that shaped his understanding of capitalism. This is a chance to discover not just investment classics but the business must-reads that shaped Buffett’s entire approach.

So, pack your intellectual backpack and crack open the Warren Buffett reading list. Brick by brick, we’ll build your own investment philosophy, fueled by the wisdom of the “Oracle of Omaha” himself. This is your chance to understand Buffett’s biography through the lens of his intellectual influences, to witness the development of his investment philosophy, and to gain a deeper understanding of American capitalism.

Investing & Business Books Recommended by Warren Buffett:

1.   The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

One of the most popular classic business books recommended by Warren Buffett is a bible for value investing, teaching sound principles for analyzing and selecting stocks.

2.   Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham

Another masterpiece among classic business books recommended by Warren Buffett which deep dives into financial valuation methods, emphasizing careful research and margin of safety.

3.   Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip Fisher

Growth investing playbook from Philip Fisher, focusing on identifying companies with exceptional potential.

4.   The Outsiders by William Thorndike

One of the classic business books recommended by Warren Buffett featuring inspiring stories of eight CEOs who built exceptional businesses through unique strategies.

5.   Competitive Advantage by Michael Porter

Michael Porter’s framework for understanding a company’s sustainable competitive edge.

 

6.   Business Adventures by John Brooks

Another masterpiece among the classic business books recommended by Warren Buffett which is a captivating collection of real-life business stories with timeless lessons.

 

7.   Barbarians at the Gate by Bryan Burrough & John Helyar

Thrilling account of the hostile takeover battle for RJR Nabisco, showcasing Wall Street power plays.

 

8.   The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes

Keynesian economics classic influencing modern monetary policy and fiscal interventions.

 

9.   Capitalism in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

Piketty’s examination of wealth inequality and its potential consequences for future societies is one of the best classic business books recommended by Warren Buffet.

 

Biographies & History Books Recommended by Warren Buffett:

 

10.  Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow’s masterful biography of John D. Rockefeller, exploring his rise to oil tycoon and philanthropic initiatives.

 

11.  Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder

Alice Schroeder’s in-depth biography of Warren Buffett, tracing his intellectual influences and investment journey.

 

12.    Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein

This Warren Buffett biography is Roger Lowenstein’s insightful account of Buffett’s early career and value investing principles.

 

13.    Memories of a Stockbroker by Reminisces of a Stockbroker by Edwin Lefèvre

Edwin Lefèvre’s classic Wall Street memoir offering a glimpse into the world of early 20th-century finance.

14.    The Big One by Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis’ exploration of the financial crisis of 2008, exposing systemic flaws and Wall Street misconduct.

 

15.    Moneyball by Michael Lewis:

How the Oakland A’s defied baseball convention by applying statistical analysis to build a winning team on a shoestring budget.

 

16.    Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis:

Michael Lewis’ humorous and insightful memoir of his Wall Street bond salesman days, exposing the culture and excesses of the financial world.

 

17.    King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Mark Rich by Daniel Yergin:

Daniel Yergin’s biography of Mark Rich, chronicling his rise and fall in the global oil trade amidst political intrigue and scandal.

 

Philosophy & Psychology Books Recommended by Warren Buffett:

18.    Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman:

Daniel Kahneman’s groundbreaking exploration of human decision-making biases and heuristics.

 

19.    Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Robert Cialdini’s guide to understanding persuasion techniques and learning to resist manipulation.

 

20.    Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Viktor Frankl’s account of finding purpose and resilience amidst the horrors of Nazi concentration camps.

21.    Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ reflections on stoicism, offering timeless wisdom on virtue, resilience, and living a good life.

 

22.    The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu’s ancient Chinese military treatise, applicable to strategic thinking in business and beyond.

 

23.    The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg’s exploration of habit formation and its impact on our lives, offering strategies for positive change.

 

24.    The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey’s principles for personal and professional success, emphasizing character, integrity, and goal-setting.

 

25.    Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell examines what makes successful people successful, exploring factors like talent, opportunity, and cultural context.

 

26.    Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell investigates the psychology of snap judgments and intuition, showing how they can be both insightful and misleading.

 

27.    Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner apply economic principles to analyze unexpected aspects of human behavior.

 

Autobiography & Business Leadership books recommended by Warren Buffett:

28.    My Life and Work by Henry Ford

Henry Ford’s autobiography detailing his revolutionary assembly line methods and impact on the auto industry.

 

29.    Sam Walton: Made in America by Sam Walton

The Walmart founder’s story of building a retail empire through low prices, efficiency, and a strong company culture.

 

30.    Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca

Lee Iacocca’s account of leading Chrysler’s turnaround and clashing with corporate bureaucracy.

 

31.    Jack: Straight From the Gut by Jack Welch

Straight From the Gut: Jack Welch’s leadership principles from transforming General Electric into a global powerhouse.

 

32.    Losing Control and Finding Yourself: A Memoir by Jeffrey Immelt

Jeffrey Immelt’s reflections on leading GE after Welch, navigating challenges and embracing change.

 

33.    Shoe Dog by Phil Knight:

Phil Knight’s story of building Nike from a shoestring operation to a global sportswear giant through innovation and dedication.

 

34.    Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh

Tony Hsieh’s unconventional approach to building Zappos, prioritizing employee happiness and customer service.

 

35.    Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel’s contrarian views on innovation and building monopolies, challenging conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley.

 

36.    High Output Management by Jim Collins:

Andrew Grove’s guide to effective management practices for achieving ambitious goals in demanding environments.

 

37.    Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t by Jim Collins:

Jim Collins’ framework for identifying and replicating the qualities of exceptional companies.

 

General Non-Fiction books recommended by Warren Buffett:

38.    How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie:

Dale Carnegie’s enduring guide to interpersonal communication and building positive relationships.

 

39.    A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson:

Bill Bryson’s humorous and engaging tour of scientific knowledge, covering everything from the Big Bang to the human brain.

 

40.    Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Yuval Noah Harari’s exploration of human history, examining how our species rose to dominate the planet and pondering potential future scenarios.

41.    Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner:

Applying economic principles to analyze surprising aspects of everyday life, revealing hidden incentives and unexpected connections.

 

42.    Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell:

Malcolm Gladwell examines what makes successful people successful, exploring factors like talent, opportunity, and cultural context.

 

43.    Blink by Malcolm Gladwell:

Gladwell investigates the psychology of snap judgments and intuition, showing how they can be both insightful and misleading.

 

44.    The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg:

Charles Duhigg’s exploration of habit formation and its impact on our lives, offering strategies for positive change.

45.    The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey:

Stephen Covey’s principles for personal and professional success, emphasizing character, integrity, and goal-setting.

46.    The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver:

Nate Silver’s guide to understanding and using statistics to make better decisions in a world of uncertainty.

 

47.    Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

“Thinking, Fast and Slow” dissects our two thinking systems, exposing how biases and shortcuts often make us stumble in decision-making.

 

Fiction recommended by Warren Buffett:

48.    Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand:

Ayn Rand’s controversial philosophical novel arguing for individual achievement and rational self-interest.

 

49.    Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder:

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s heartwarming series about pioneer life on the American frontier.

 

50.    The Godfather by Mario Puzo:

Mario Puzo’s classic tale of family, loyalty, and power in the world of organized crime.

 

51.    Moby Dick by Herman Melville:

Herman Melville’s epic whaling adventure exploring themes of obsession, nature, and humanity’s place in the universe.

 

52.    The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien:

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy saga of good versus evil, friendship, and courage.

 

53.    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:

Harper Lee’s timeless coming-of-age story about racial injustice and moral courage in the American South.

 

54.    Animal Farm by George Orwell:

George Orwell’s satirical allegory of the Russian Revolution, exposing the dangers of totalitarianism.

 

55.    Catch-22 by Joseph Heller:

Joseph Heller’s darkly comedic portrayal of wartime absurdity and bureaucracy in World War II.

 

56.    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain:

Mark Twain’s classic American novel exploring themes of racism, friendship, and individual freedom.

 

57.    Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes’ satirical masterpiece about a delusional nobleman who sets out on chivalrous adventures in a changing world.

 

Conclusion

We delved into the treasure trove of Warren Buffett’s recommended books, unearthing the intellectual bedrock that shaped his legendary investment prowess. The books recommended by Warren Buffett include the tenets of value investing, possessing the unyielding power of long-term thinking, and the magnetism of rationality, which seem to have influenced his every move.

 

Let’s draw inspiration from the best books for investors—not just the value investing classics that Buffett championed but also business biographies that ignite our entrepreneurial spirit and personal development books that hone our decision-making skills.

Bring home a value investing library stocked with investment classics like “The Intelligent Investor” and “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits,” alongside business must-reads like “Business Adventures” and “Shoe Dog.” These narratives whisper the secrets of successful businesses, while the Warren Buffett biography reveals the man behind the magic. Delve into the history of American capitalism and understand the forces that shape the financial landscape. This intellectual breadth will inform your investment philosophy development, ensuring your decisions are rooted in reason, not fleeting trends. Let the books recommended by Warren Buffett be our starting point, not our finish line.

But if you’re worried that time is limited and you won’t be able to finish all the books recommended by Warren Buffett in a single sitting, you’re just at the right place. With Wizdom, you can read summaries and key insights from all the books recommended by Warren Buffett in half the fraction of time it’d take to finish them all. Join Wizdom today and embark on a unique quest for knowledge and wisdom.

Ready to chart your own course? What books will you add to your reading list?