Michael Burry’s Complete Investing Book List (2026)
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- Michael Burry, the investor portrayed by Christian Bale in The Big Short, has made book recommendations in three different ways over the yea...
Michael Burry, the investor portrayed by Christian Bale in The Big Short, has made book recommendations in three different ways over the years.
- A 1997 forum post where he listed six foundational investing books
- A mention in The Big Short of one book that helped shape his investing strategy
- A 2021 Twitter profile update where he quietly posted a photo of 18 book spines from his personal collection
Below you will find context and commentary for each list.
Table of Contents
Toggle1997 Forum Post: Burry’s Original Value Investing Book List
The earliest public record of Burry’s reading list came in 1997, when he was active on a site called The Silicon Investor. In response to a forum question, he listed six books that shaped his early thinking. That page is no longer active, but you can still view it on the Wayback Machine.
#1. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
A classic book on value investing, The Intelligent Investor is a popular favorite among the greatest investors of all time. Written by Benjamin Graham in 1949, and updated numerous times since, its lessons remain timeless.
An example of one principle frequently cited today, and utilized by Burry in 2008, is that of “Mr. Market,” which expands upon the idea that short-term prices are determined by an investor’s mood and not fundamental analysis.
Or, as Graham famously explained, “In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.“
#2. Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip A. Fisher
Warren Buffett has said that his own investment approach is 85% Benjamin Graham and 15% Phillip Fisher.
Graham stuck in his lane as a value investor; he knew how to identify companies going for deep discounts to book value.
Phillip Fisher’s approach, which he lays out in this book, was the opposite , he wanted to find companies that were priced well and bound to grow, which could also be held for a very long time.
In other words, he was an advocate for growth investing.
#3. Why Stocks Go Up and Down by William H. Pike
Being able to read a financial statement to learn whether a company is valued correctly is a core skill for value investors. And for decades, William Pike’s Why Stocks Go Up and Down has been a top recommendation for investors to learn this skill.
Last updated in 2013, there’s little technical theory in this book. Instead, it’s heavy on practical application for understanding financial statement analysis, cash flow generation, stock cost valuation, and more.
#4. Buffettology by Mary Buffett and David Clark
As with numerous investors, Burry learned a lot from following Warren Buffett. The book Buffettology takes a deep dive into Warren Buffett’s investment approach.
Updated in 2002 under the name The New Buffettology, the book reviews decades of Buffett trades and dives into the lessons you can learn from them.
#5. Value Investing Made Simple by Janet Lowe
The subtitle of this book is “Benjamin Graham’s Classic Investment Strategy Explained for Everyone.”
So, again, Graham’s influence on Burry is clear.
#6. Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham (1951 Edition)
Graham wrote The Intelligent Investor with the aim to teach value investing to the masses. Security Analysis, on the other hand, is the more technical book, aimed at those looking for a deep dive into value investing.
The Big Short Bonus Pick: One Book That Shaped Burry’s Strategy
If you read the book version of The Big Short, you might catch that there’s one book recommended by both Burry and Jamie Mai (the president of Cornwall Capital).
That book is You Can Be A Stock Market Genius by Joel Greenblatt. Final Thoughts
Before you check out, double-check michael burry complete investing against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.
Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.
R.J. Weiss
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