8 money books to read in 2024 –recommended by the MoneyWeek team

Book: Psychology of Money 

Author: Morgan Housel

Recommended by: Kalpana Fitzpatrick, digital editor

Appeared on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast - this Sunday Times Bestseller delves into the importance of your behaviour with money. 

Kalpana says: "How we manage our money has a lot to do with how we behave, and the stories in here are eye-openers and full of life lessons. 

I found it inspirational, thought-provoking and a great read - it doesn't feel like you're reading about finance at all. It’s not your everyday money book telling you how to manage your money, but it is one you'll want to dip into everyday."

Book: Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

Author: Edwin Lefevre

Recommended by: Andrew VanSickle, editor

The 2019 reprint of this fiction takes you through a character's journey of trading, to ending up on Wall Street and the lessons that came with it. 

Andrew says: “A fictionalised account of the life of Wall Street trader Jesse Livermore, this book is an investment classic. It has been reprinted several times since it was first published in 1923 as it is a gripping exploration of pre-World War 2 Wall Street, making and losing large fortunes, and human nature.”

Book: A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing: The Best Investment Guide That Money Can Buy

Author: Burton G. Malkiel

Recommended by: Matthew Partridge, shares editor

The fifth edition of this book is great for those from many walks of life, from investing beginners to those thinking about retirement.

Matthew says: “There are a huge number of books about investment out there. However, if I had to recommend one to complete beginners wanting to get a broad overview about finance and investing, I recommend A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton G. Malkiel. 

“While I don’t agree with its conclusion that it's not possible to beat the market, it’s certainly true that many investors, especially those with smaller amounts of money, or who lack time to scrutinise their portfolio would be better off with simple low-cost index funds that track the market.”

Matthew reviews books for MoneyWeek Magazine. Read one of his latest reviews of Michael Lewis’ Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon. 

Book: The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World (Released April 2023)

Author: Tim Marshall

Recommended by: Chris Carter, wealth editor

A book by one of the UK's most well-known geopolitics writers, Tim Marshall. awarded number one on Sunday Times Bestseller and Waterstones paperback of the year 2023. 

Chris says: “In this third book of a trilogy exploring the relationship between geography and politics, Tim Marshall looks at how countries will seek to exploit the resources of space, through mining and competing satellite systems, for example, and how that has the potential to bring about conflict in the future. 

The Future of Geography is a hugely engaging and enjoyable book and a must-read for anyone who is thinking about investing in the space sector.”

Book: Invest Now

Author: Kalpana Fitzpatrick 

Recommended by: Vaishali Varu, staff writer

A simple guide to investing, which busts common money and investing myths, and explains why you're money sitting idle is losing its value. 

Vaishali says: “This is a great read if you’re interested in how to invest, and I would say it’s not limited for beginners. The book explains investing in a simplified way, and it’s also a good option if you prefer to dip in and out of the book for useful tips or information. 

My favourite aspect of the book is how it doesn’t just tell you where to put your money, for example in funds or shares, but it recommends which investment platforms to consider too.”

Book: Fool's Gold: How Unrestrained Greed Corrupted a Dream, Shattered Global Markets and Unleashed a Catastrophe

Author: Gillian Tett

Recommended by: Marc Shoffman, contributing editor, MoneyWeek

Set back in the late 90s, this book gives an insight into complex finance through an investigative take. 

Marc says: "A pretty old one but still feels current today- Fool's Gold. A brilliant narrative by the Financial Times' Gillian Tett that illustrates how greed and the creation of complex products caused the 2008 financial crisis, the impact of which still reverberates.”

Book: What they don't teach you about money

Author: Claer Barrett

Recommended by: Ruth Emery, contributing editor

Find out what your 'financial personality' is in this book, and let that navigate how you budget and set financial goals. 

Ruth says: "I often recommend this book to friends. As the title alludes, we are taught very little about money in school, and it's tricky navigating the grown-up world of credit cards, mortgages, pensions and so on. 

From explaining exactly what shares are to thinking about your own financial independence - and lots of Claer's personal anecdotes inbetween - this is an essential and enlightening book for anyone wanting to feel more confident about their money."

Book: Back from the Brink 

Author: Alistair Darling 

Recommended by: John Fitzsimons, contributor

Written by an award-winning author, this book delves into one of the biggest financial crises in the 21st century. The Guardian quotes, "one heck of a good read."

John says: "Great insight into the financial crash and the political side of stepping in to bail out the banks, and particularly timely after he passed away recently."