Learning about investing can be very daunting to those without an idea of where to begin
. When you go to the bookstore there are an incredible number of topics and options in each topic. Do you want to know about day trading? Do you need to learn about mutual funds? How would you know?
The key to purchasing investing books is to make sure they are tailored to your needs. Don't buy books on complex topics if you are just trying to learn the basics. In fact don't learn about certain techniques at all until you're sure what the terms in question mean. If you're a beginner, get a book for beginners. That way you can know what all the various terms mean, without having more complex ideas thrown at you.
At the same time it's also important to make sure that you're not buying a book trying to prey on your ignorance. Make sure any book you are purchasing seems to be pointed at general education and not at trying to sell you something. Oftentimes authors are trying to get you to buy their system or other products. This is particularly true of information on the Internet.
The most important thing to remember is that if a book is promising something that is too good to be true, then it almost certainly is. If everyone could make fantastic returns simply by reading one book, everyone would be reading it. There are no magic money machines and there are plenty of scammers. Approach any potential purchase with skepticism. This can be part of your education.
Books however are often the best way to learn the basics. They tend to be directed more at actual education instead of trying to sell you something. While the Internet may win on immediacy and timeliness, when learning about investing, timelessness may actually be more desirable. You probably don't want to learn about fads, especially when you're just starting out.