1. The best investment books to read offer investment fundamentals without a lot of jargon.

Best investment books to read don’t just teach theory; they show you how to apply that theory in real life. Whether you want to learn how to day trade for a living, how to manage significant student loans or what to do during big debt crises, the most successful investors are those that don’t just understand the theory of investing but actually put it into practice.

2. The best investment books include a mix of traditional, modern and newer topics.

While old-school books like The Intelligent Investor, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and the Millionaire Next Door will always be relevant, more recent investment books can be just as useful for new or experienced investors. This includes books written by Morgan Housel, who explains how to be a better investor through a series of 19 short stories; Benoit Mandelbrot, whose book applies his concept of fractal geometry to the way the financial world works; and Ray Dalio, co-founder of the world’s largest hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, who has been publishing research observations on a wide range of subjects since 2015.

3. The best investment books focus on the basics.

The investment classics that are a must-read for anyone looking to start or build on their portfolio include The Intelligent Investor and Security Analysis. Both books were updated a few years ago and are great for learning about value investing, understanding risk, identifying bargains, and how to recognize cycles in the market. For the less technically inclined, Joel Greenblatt’s “The Little Book That Still Beats the Stock Market” lays out his formula for success using middle-school math and plain language.