If you were to recommend a book to someone completely new to investing, would you suggest 'The Intelligent Investor'? Why or why not?

Hey friend! This question totally resonates with me. It’s like asking, "I want to learn cooking—should my first dish be Sichuan's boiled cabbage (a state banquet signature)?" My answer is straightforward:

Strongly not recommended!

The Intelligent Investor absolutely should not be a beginner’s first investing book.

This might clash with what many "gurus" preach—they call it the "bible of value investing." And yes, it is the bible. But have you ever seen a believer start by reading the entire Bible cover to cover and instantly gain enlightenment? Most begin with stories, simple gospels, or church activities, right?

Let me explain why I don’t recommend it as a starter—just like chatting over coffee, I’ll keep it plain and simple:

1. Too "Hardcore"—Easily Leads to "From Beginner to Quitter"

Think of it as a university textbook
The Intelligent Investor isn’t light bedtime reading. Its style is rigorous, almost academic. Graham wrote it for serious, professional investors. It’s filled with outdated examples (like railroad bonds) and dense financial analysis. Newbies who can’t even read K-line charts will likely flip a few pages, get overwhelmed, shelve it forever, and conclude: "Ugh, investing isn’t for me." What a shame!
A simple analogy: Learning to swim
A good coach starts you in shallow water—breath control, floating, basic strokes. But The Intelligent Investor throws you into the deep end with a manual titled Fluid Dynamics and Swimming Form Optimization, saying, "Theory’s all here—figure it out yourself." Predictably, you’ll be lucky not to drown.

2. Core Ideas Are Gold, But Buried Deep

The book’s brilliance lies in Graham’s revolutionary concepts—gold nuggets hidden in a mountain of ore. For example:

"Mr. Market": He imagines the market as an emotionally unstable partner—wildly optimistic one day (offering high prices for your shares), deeply pessimistic the next (dumping shares at fire-sale prices). Your job? Ignore his moods and profit from them.
"Margin of Safety": Buy $1 worth of assets for $0.50. That discount is your cushion—even if your valuation’s slightly off, it protects you from major losses.

These ideas are crucial! But they’re buried under case studies and data analysis. Newbies must sweat to extract the gold, often crushed by the "ore" before they find it.

So Where Should a Newbie Start?

Don’t fret! Investing can be smoother and more fun. Start with a "mindset → practice" path:

Step 1: Build Your Money Mindset

Pick one of these engaging, big-picture books:

"Rich Dad Poor Dad": Groundbreaking financial literacy. Flips your view of "jobs" vs. "assets" and why "buy assets, not liabilities" rules. Controversial but elite for mindset shifts.
"The Psychology of Money": Modern masterpiece. Zero investing tactics—just human behavior and money. Shows success hinges more on behavior than IQ. Packed with stories; easy read.

Step 2: Master a Simple Tool

With mindset set, tackle index funds:

"Index Fund Investment Guide" or "The Little Book of Common Sense Investing": Clear guides on how index funds work, why beating the market is rare, and how "dollar-cost averaging" lets you grow wealth steadily. Perfect for busy professionals.

Step 3: When You’re Ready to Level Up

After 1–2 years of practice—once you grasp compounding, market swings, and managing a portfolio—that’s your green light for The Intelligent Investor.
Revisiting "Mr. Market," you’ll chuckle at your past panic during crashes. "Margin of Safety" will explain why seemingly "cheap" stocks still carry risks.

TL;DR

The Intelligent Investor is a dragon-slaying blade—divine but useless (or dangerous) if you’re still learning to stand.
Start simple: Master mindset → Learn one tool (e.g., index funds) → Start small.
Treat The Intelligent Investor as "grad school," not "kindergarten."

Hope this helps! Investing’s a marathon, not a sprint—slow and steady wins the race. Wishing you smooth investing! 🚀