John C. Bogle is a household name in the finance world and has penned some of the best stock market books of all time.
He passed in January 2019, leaving behind a legacy of books, essays, and articles. John Bogle grew up during the Great Depression and spend years navigating the aftermath of this hard financial time. For his education, Bogle studied at Princeton where he started developing his unique investing philosophy.
Bogle’s idea was that index funds should be available to individual investors, including people who had limited funds to work with. Before this, index funds were only available to the wealthiest investors. Another philosophy he promoted was no-load mutual funds.
Guided by his vision for the modern day investor, Bogle started his mutual fund company, The Vanguard Group. They made index funds and no-load funds widely available, changing the face of Wall Street forever.
Quick Look: The Best John Bogle Books To Read Right Now
- Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor by John Bogle
- Character Counts: The Creation and Building of The Vanguard Group by John Bogle
- The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism by John Bogle
- Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life by John Bogle
- The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation by John Bogle
- John Bogle on Investing: The First 50 Years by John Bogle
- The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle
- Bogle on Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor by John Bogle
- Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution by John Bogle
- Don't Count on It! by John Bogle
What Makes a Great John Bogle Book
If you enjoy reading finance books, Bogle’s advice will find great company among other works in your collection. Experts often reference and analyze his books; it will help your overall understanding to study the impact of his work.
With his extensive bibliography, it can be difficult to know where to start. We’re taking a look at factors you should consider when selecting a John Bogle book.
Subject Matter
The crux of Bogle’s philosophy is buy-and-hold investing. This investment method is a good option for all investors who would rather not time the market or worry about short term volatility. Many of Bogle’s books specify how to use this investment type to the best effect.
He also wrote about the development of The Vanguard Group and many of the day-to-day challenges that affect an investor. Readers with an interest in sociology and economic theory can benefit from studying his works too. He often wrote about the past, present, and future of capitalism, as well as the way investors’ beliefs and psychology influence strategy.
Give You Actionable Ideas
Bogle’s investor-centric philosophy had a significant impact on his works. His books are easy to follow; there’s a good balance of theory and practical advice.
When choosing the best investment-related business books, you want to match the contents to your personal circumstances as much as possible. Understanding both big picture situations and specific scenarios will help you make decisions in the future.
Reading the words of investors like Bogle can help you find the motivation to start investing. We’re taking a look at his best works to help you find the right text for your investing needs.
Our Top Picks
If you’re not sure if Bogle’s investment philosophy is right for you, we’re breaking down the high-level points for each of the 10 books we’ve selected.
1. Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor by John Bogle
Common Sense on Mutual Funds is one of Bogle’s masterpieces. Published in 2000, this book covers some eternal truths about the investment market. It was written with the everyday person in mind.
Bogle dives into the importance of having a long-term strategy with a focus on index funds, which were more of a novelty than a hot commodity at the time. Though the market has changed a great deal over the last two decades, you can still rely on Common Sense. It’s not dependent on individual stocks and company performance.
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2. Character Counts: The Creation and Building of The Vanguard Group by John Bogle
Character Counts: The Creation and Building of The Vanguard Group focuses on Bogle’s Vanguard Group and the path it took to flourish into one of the biggest investment companies in the world.
Today, The Vanguard Group manages around $5.3 trillion in global assets. Bogle built it from the ground up based on his personal philosophies. The speeches featured in this book are a worthwhile read if you’re planning to start and grow your own business.
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3. The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism by John Bogle
The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism was written in 2005. Bogle sharply criticizes the present-day capitalist system in the United States.
He uses this text to draw attention to the flaws that would later cause the market to crash. He also takes a unique stance in placing a clear blame on a certain group for the crash.
This stirring book champions small investors and those looking to maintain financial independence in the face of social inequality.
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4. Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life by John Bogle
Bogle takes a philosophical approach to the world of finance in Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life. This text inspires readers to ask questions instead of assuming the answer.
Readers will be encouraged to ask things such as, how do we understand our role in society? What is our end goal in business and in our personal lives?
Bogle’s thoughts on this topic offer new insights to investors and general readers alike. His prose is both engaging and inspiring.
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5. The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation by John Bogle
If you’re interested in the history and future of investing, The Clash of Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation is a must-read.
Published in 2012, the text covers some past and present Wall Street trends. It also takes a critical look at speculation.
Formatted as a case study, Bogle analyses the history of the Wellington Fund, Vanguard’s oldest mutual fund which emphasizes a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds.
It's a must-read for any John Bogle fan.
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6. John Bogle on Investing: The First 50 Years by John Bogle
John Bogle on Investing is an extensive collection of Bogle’s speeches, ranging from the theoretical to practical. This book is a good option for finance experts who want to deepen their knowledge in topics like bond fund management and cutting back on fiscal drag.
Even if you are not familiar with the world of finance, Bogle’s speeches are an enjoyable read and summarize his views very well.
This text may also be a great choice for those looking to expand their speech writing skills and want great examples to learn from.
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7. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing is a great option for people who are beginning to build their investment portfolio. Bogle lays down the basics of low-cost index funds and describes a safe and sensible investment strategy.
If you are interested in making a splash on Wall Street, this text is an amazing choice.
Bogle’s philosophies carry extremely well over time. Note that the book was written in 2007 and then reprinted in 2017, which is proof of its relevance.
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8. Bogle on Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor by John Bogle
Bogle on Mutual Funds is John Bogle’s first book. Thought it was his introductory text, it still left a significant impact on the world of finance.
Lead by his personal philosophies, Bogle on Mutual Funds can help any level of investor gain clarity and understand how to manage risk wi
th their investments. Bogle also covers the dangers of misleading advertising, stresses the importance of skepticism, and encourages investors to use their common sense.
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9. Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution by John Bogle
Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution is Bogle’s final book published in 2018. It details a fascinating retrospection of The Vanguard Group’s development.
If you are interested in a bit more anecdotal side of Bogle’s work, Stay the Course is a great option for you.
On top of recounting on his success, Bogle also takes the time to explain his own ethics and values as an investor. These are the principles that guided his decisions throughout his career.
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10. Don't Count on It! by John Bogle
Don’t Count on It! is another extremely important work that will benefit casual readers as well as investors. Bogle focuses his time on looking into the reasoning behind his bad investment decisions.
It criticizes many aspects of financial markets and economic systems and offers sound advice about staying objective.
If you want a detailed look into Bogle’s decision making and mistakes, Don’t Count on It! should be high on your list of must-reads.
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Final Thoughts
Reading the works of great investors is important for finance experts and novices alike. It can give you the reassurance that you’re on the right path, or draw your attention to mistakes you’ve started making.
John Bogle’s bibliography gives an extensive range of topics to learn from. From the logistics of his success with The Vanguard Group, to personal philosophies, and to mistakes in his career, there’s a Bogle book for every step of an investor’s journey.