What if you knew exactly which books could help you excel in financial modeling and investment banking?
Books are one of the best ways to grasp financial concepts.
Why?
Because they provide a structured, time-tested approach to learning, making it easier to absorb complex ideas.
When it comes to finance, having the right guidance is crucial.
Without it, even a small mistake can cost you and others—big time.
In this blog, you’ll discover:
- 9 Best Financial modeling and Investment banking books
- Best practices to study like a Pro
If you’re preparing for a career in financial modeling or investment banking, these books are a must-have.
Keep them within arm’s reach, you’ll thank yourself later.
Let’s dive in!
9 Best Financial Modeling and Investment Banking Books
If you’re serious about financial modeling or investment banking, having the right books is essential.
These books will help you understand:
- Valuation
- Modeling
- Strategies used by top investors and bankers.
1. Rosenbaum and Pearl Investment Banking:
This is the go-to guide for college grads and MBAs breaking into investment banking.
It walks you through:
- Valuation
- M&A
- LBO models with real-world examples.
Follow along with Macabacus pages, and you’ll
grasp these concepts in no time.
Price: ₹6,756
You could easily find it on Flipkart or Amazon.
2. The Dark Side of Valuation by Aswath Damodaran:
Damodaran helps you navigate the challenges of valuation, from risk-free rates to valuing startups and financial companies.
Perfect for anyone who wants to avoid oversimplified or misleading valuation methods.
Price: ₹4,974.
It’s available on Amazon.
3. The Partnership: The Making of Goldman Sachs by Charles D. Ellis:
This book tells the fascinating story of Goldman Sachs.
It tells you:
- How it survived crises
- Adapted to market changes
- How it became a global financial powerhouse
A must-read if you want to understand the history and culture of investment banking.
Price: ₹921
You can purchase this investment banking book from Amazon
4. Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein:
An inside look at Warren Buffett’s life, philosophy, and investment strategies.
It breaks down his long-term approach of buying undervalued stocks and holding them until their true worth is recognized.
Price: ₹932
You can easily buy this from Amazon.
5. Building Financial Models {John Tjia}:
If you want hands-on guidance in creating financial models, this book is for you.
It teaches you:
- How to build
- Interpret
- Refine models, with Excel tips and real-world applications.
Price: ₹5472
It’s also available on Amazon.
6. Investment Valuation Tools and Techniques {Aswath Damodaran}:
A deep dive into valuation techniques from one of the best in the field.
Whether you’re:
- Valuing startups
- Large corporations
- Financial institutions, this book gives you the tools to do it right.
Price: ₹406
You can purchase this book from Amazon.
7. Financial Modelling {Simon Beninga}:
This book simplifies financial modeling with step-by-step Excel examples. It also covers:
- Corporate finance
- Portfolio management
- Risk assessment
It’s great for both beginners and experienced professionals.
Price: ₹7,516
Available on Amazon
8. Barbarians at the Gate by Brian Burrough and John Helyar:
If you think investment banking is just about numbers, think again.
This book takes you inside one of the biggest takeover battles in Wall Street history—the RJR Nabisco leveraged buyout (LBO).
It’s full of:
- Drama
- High-stakes deals
- Power struggles
It shows how investment bankers play a key role in mergers and acquisitions.
If you love business thrillers, this one’s for you.
Price: ₹2,029
You can buy this from Amazon.
9. The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America:
A collection of Buffett’s letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, offering timeless insights on:
- Business
- Investing
- Corporate governance in simple, practical language.
This book is your cheat code for smart investing and corporate finance.
If you want to think like a top investor or banker, this book gives you a masterclass, without the complicated jargon.
Price: ₹555 to 1000+
It’s available on Amazon to purchase.
These books will give you a strong foundation in financial modeling, valuation, and investment banking.
Grab a few, start reading, and sharpen your finance skills!
How to Study From Books Like a PRO?
Studying finance effectively requires 2 key approaches:
1. Theoretical Learning (Accounting & Corporate Finance):
A solid university education (Hons level) is usually enough to cover the foundational concepts.
However, reading additional books can help.
Don’t underestimate accounting knowledge—you don’t need to be a CA/CPA, but you must understand:
- The 3 financial statements and how they connect.
- How transactions impact each statement.
- Proper cash flow accounting (most model imbalances come from this).
2. Practical Application (Building Financial Models):
Knowing how to build usable financial models for different business scenarios is crucial and the best way to learn is through hands-on courses.
In the end, it all boils down to your knowledge gaps, identify them, and allocate time accordingly.
3 Tips to Study Like a Pro:
a. Increase reading speed:
Skip internal monologues; see the words instead of “hearing” them.
b. Organize information:
Break chapters into small sections.
Process one at a time, and take breaks to stay fresh.
c. Interlink Topics:
Finance concepts (especially in accounting and modeling) are interconnected.
Understand how they fit together.
By balancing theory and practice, structuring your study approach, and applying concepts actively, you’ll master finance like a pro!
Conclusion
Investment banking books are a great starting point for your finance journey, but what truly matters is your ability to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios.
While reading and understanding concepts is important, equal time should be spent practicing them.
Financial modeling and investment banking is a highly practical skill.
The best way to improve is by:
- Reviewing models across different industries and transaction structures
- Understanding various capital structures
- Building your models from scratch
- Deep understanding of various industry domains
By combining theory with hands-on practice, you’ll be well-equipped to excel in your finance career.
Wishing you all the best!
