2025 Stock Beginner's Must-Read Investment Introduction Guide

The stock market is an attractive way to grow financial assets, but it also involves significant volatility and risk. Especially for those with little investment experience, systematically learning the fundamental principles of the market and practical skills is essential. Many experts emphasize this point. The key is that investors who are well-informed and knowledgeable have a much higher success rate than those who are not. In this article, we will introduce 10 carefully selected must-read books and detail their learning value for beginner investors starting stock investing in 2025.

Why Systematic Learning Is the Key to Investment Success

Investing relying solely on luck often leads to losses in the end. To accurately grasp market trends and make rational investment decisions, sufficient knowledge and analytical skills are necessary. In this regard, excellent books organize complex concepts systematically and provide practical lessons through success stories and failures.

Unlike online information, published books go through verification processes by authors and publishers, making them more reliable. Therefore, for beginners establishing their foundation, books containing verified content can serve as the best mentors.

Choosing Stock Books That Fit Your Investment Style

Before selecting investment books, it’s important to clarify your investment goals and style. If you want to learn the basic concepts of the market, start with books covering fundamental theories. If you are interested in chart interpretation or technical analysis, look for specialized professional books. Also, consider your preferred learning method. If you favor in-depth theoretical learning, theoretical books are suitable; if you prefer learning through real-world cases and storytelling, practical-oriented books are better.

Analysis of 10 Must-Read Books for Stock Investing in 2025

1. The Psychology of Money - Morgan Housel

This work explores how human psychology plays a crucial role in financial decision-making. It analyzes why investors repeatedly make irrational choices and how emotions can impair profitability.

The author mentions a case during a financial crisis where an investor sold high-quality bank stocks at a low price, only for those stocks to rise significantly years later. This illustrates how emotional judgment can lead to substantial losses. This book is a must-read for all investors who want to understand the basics of investment psychology and learn how to overcome emotional biases.

2. The Technique of Short-Term Trading Based on Principles - Won Jeong-yeon(Manju)

This book systematically presents the fundamental principles and practical strategies of short-term trading. It explains core technical analysis techniques and the psychological preparation needed for short-term trading.

The case of GameStop stock is impressive. One short-term trader recorded profits during a surge but missed the decline point, losing all gains. The book teaches how to set precise entry and exit criteria and emphasizes the importance of risk management to reduce such failures. It offers practical value for investors interested in short-term trading.

3. Moving Averages Investment Method - Instructor Gojiro

This book explains the use of moving averages, a key indicator in technical analysis, from a beginner’s perspective. It simplifies complex theories and offers strategies that can be directly applied to real trading.

Moving averages are useful for identifying long-term market trends and managing volatility. Investors who detected a downtrend early during the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s by using moving averages could significantly reduce losses. Recommended for beginners starting with technical analysis.

4. Legendary Wall Street Heroes - Peter Lynch

A long-loved classic in the investment industry. Through the author’s investment philosophy and actual portfolio examples, it helps develop the ability to analyze companies from a long-term perspective and make independent investment decisions.

Lynch shares his experience investing in ordinary household product companies and generating high returns. He emphasizes that “ordinary investors can succeed,” and stresses the importance of setting and consistently following personal investment principles. A must-read for investors aiming to build long-term investment strategies.

5. Starting Stock Investment with Short-Term Strategies - Hong In-ki

A practical guide for those with no prior stock investment experience. It explains basic concepts of short-term trading and advanced techniques step-by-step, helping beginners build a solid foundation.

Recently, there have been cases of profits made using short-term strategies in the Korean market, but also many losses due to poor entry and exit strategies. This book is suitable for investors who want to learn how to minimize risks while generating short-term gains.

6. Follow Stock Investment Unconditionally - Yoon Jae-su

Emphasizes the fundamental principles of stock investing and explains in an understandable way so anyone can follow. Covers basic market concepts, actual trading situations, account opening, stock selection, risk management, and trading procedures—everything a beginner needs to know.

In the early 2010s, many novice investors used the “divided buying and divided selling” strategy introduced in this book to spread out losses during stock declines. One investor minimized losses during downturns and realized profits at recovery points using this method. Setting stop-loss criteria is especially crucial for avoiding emotional decisions and ensuring stable returns. A comprehensive guide for market newcomers.

7. The Power of Reading 1% - Mer

Shows how to capture subtle market changes and turn them into profit opportunities. Explains a detailed process of establishing investment strategies through data and information analysis, helping develop scientific investment analysis skills.

Quantitative investors known for data-driven strategies have consistently generated profits from minor market fluctuations. Although the content is relatively analytical, it is explained in a way that even beginners can understand, making it suitable for those who want to learn systematic and analytical approaches.

8. Golden Star’s American Stock Dividend ETF Investment Habits - Choi Yoon-young(Golden Star)

Explains the basic concepts and investment methods of dividend ETFs, offering long-term asset growth strategies for investors seeking stable income. Also enhances understanding of the U.S. stock market.

A long-term investor who invested in dividend ETFs for 10 years and reinvested quarterly dividends achieved about 30% additional return on the principal, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of dividend reinvestment strategies. Recommended for beginner investors aiming for steady income and long-term asset growth.

9. Don’t Invest in Stocks Without Knowing Electronic Disclosure - Jang Woo-jin

Explains how to develop the ability to read and analyze corporate electronic disclosures. Emphasizes the importance of accurately evaluating a company’s performance, financial health, and growth potential to make rational investment decisions.

There is a case where an investor analyzed a small company’s sales growth and new contract information through electronic disclosures, then invested, and five years later, the stock more than doubled, yielding significant profit. Careful analysis of disclosure information helped reduce risks and seize opportunities. A must-read for those who want to improve their corporate analysis skills and invest based on financial statements.

10. The Wise Investor - Benjamin Graham

A classic among value investing books, greatly helpful for beginners to establish long-term investment strategies. It teaches how to analyze a company’s intrinsic value and invest steadily regardless of market volatility.

Known as the father of value investing, Graham emphasizes the importance of stability and thorough analysis in investing. Warren Buffett’s example of buying Coca-Cola stock in 1988 and holding it for over 30 years, earning many times the initial investment, proves the effectiveness of this philosophy. Buffett analyzed Coca-Cola’s brand value and financial health before making a long-term holding decision. An essential work for investors who pursue stable growth based on rational analysis without emotional influence.

The Importance of Practical Learning Through Stock Books

The core of successful stock investing is solid foundational knowledge. The books introduced above provide practical help for beginner investors to understand market principles and build effective investment strategies.

In stock investing, knowledge and experience are the greatest assets of an investor. To systematically accumulate these, continuous reading and learning, practical experience, and establishing your own investment principles are necessary. Wishing you long-term success in the stock market through ongoing learning and reflection.