Reddit reviews The Financial Times Guide to Investing: The definitive companion to investment and the financial markets (2nd Edition) (Financial Times Guides)

Over at /r/ukpersonalfinance we have a small "recommended reading" list that's worth looking at.=: http://www.reddit.com/r/ukpersonalfinance/wiki/faq#wiki_recommended_reading

> Intelligent Investor - Benjamin Graham
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> This book was written by the father of "value investing", and the mentor of Warren Buffett, who is widely accepted to be the world's most successful investor.
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> It was originally published in 1948, but Ben Graham updated it periodically over the years, and it stands as true today as it ever has.
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> Beating the Street - Peter Lynch
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> Published in 1994, this is arguably showing its age more than Intelligent Investor. Either way, valuable reading from one of the best managers of money in the past few decades.
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> Naked Trader - Robbie Burns
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> Subtitled "How anyone can make money trading shares", this is an entertaining, tongue-in-cheek account of one financial journalist's attempt to quit his job and make £1,000,000 using a short-to-medium term trading strategy. Not very scientific, but an interesting counterpoint to the previous recommendations.
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> Smarter Investing - Tim Hale
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> The ultimate counterpoint to attempting to "beat the markets" - after spending 15 years working in active fund manager, Tim Hale concluded that the best outcomes for most investors in most situations would be a simple portfolio of "passive" investments (that is, funds which attempt to track a market, rather than outperform it). This style is favoured by the likes of Monevator, and many of the subscribers here.
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> Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder letters - Warren Buffett
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> Not a book, but a series of essays over the years from the world's most successful investor. Makes interesting reading! Notably, the 2014 letter (not published in the above link but published here in abridged form) implies that he now feels most investors would be best served by low-cost trackers.
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> The Financial Times guide to investing - Glen Arnold
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> A great starter guide, going from the very basics (why businesses need shareholders) to more in-depth explanations of different types of investment, and step-by-step guides on how to execute trades.
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My boss forces every entry-level employee to read The FT Guide to Investment. It goes from the very, very basics (why a company needs shareholders) to in-depth explanations of different types of investment.

Get your hands on a copy of the Financial Times Guide to Investing. It's a great place to start.

This book is a pretty good place to start. I also like A Random Walk Down Wall Street which is a little less dry. For equities algo trading Flash boys is a good read too.

Also networking is important if you want to make your way into the industry as it's very competitive. It gives tou opportunity to soak up knowledge and advice like a sponge.