Learn to Earn: A Beginner's Guide to the Basics of Investing and Business
Peter Lynch

Learn to Earn: A Beginner's Guide to the Basics of Investing and Business

$8.73
Last updated Sep 20, 2026 at 2:32am
Peter Lynch

About this product

Mutual fund superstar Peter Lynch and author John Rothchild explain the basic principles of the stock market and business in an investing guide that will enlighten and entertain anyone who is high school age or older.
Many investors, including some with substantial portfolios, have only the sketchiest idea of how the stock market works. The reason, say Lynch and Rothchild, is that the basics of investing—the fundamentals of our economic system and what they have to do with the stock market—aren’t taught in school. At a time when individuals have to make important decisions about saving for college and 401(k) retirement funds, this failure to provide a basic education in investing can have tragic consequences.
For those who know what to look for, investment opportunities are everywhere. The average high school student is familiar with Nike, Reebok, McDonald’s, the Gap, and The Body Shop. Nearly every teenager in America drinks Coke or Pepsi, but only a very few own shares in either company or even understand how to buy them. Every student studies American history, but few realize that our country was settled by European colonists financed by public companies in England and Holland—and the basic principles behind public companies haven’t changed in more than three hundred years.
In Learn to Earn, Lynch and Rothchild explain in a style accessible to anyone who is high school age or older how to read a stock table in the daily newspaper, how to understand a company annual report, and why everyone should pay attention to the stock market. They explain not only how to invest, but also how to think like an investor. Read more

Editor's Take

Readers generally describe Learn to Earn as a beginner-friendly, easy-to-follow introduction to investing and business, with many praising its simplicity and approachable explanations. Goodreads reviewers frequently say it is a strong starting point for new investors, while several blog-style reviews recommend it for students and first-time readers.

Some reviewers also note drawbacks: the book can feel dated, and a few say the title suggests a more advanced investing guide than it actually is. One Reddit review calls it solid and insightful, especially for newcomers, while a separate blog review says it is best for readers with little prior investing knowledge.

Overall sentiment appears positive, with the strongest themes being clear writing, good beginner value, and age-related limitations.

Price History

Specifications

Topic Investing

Product Details

Publisher Simon & Schuster
Publication date January 25, 1996
Edition Advanced Reading Copy
Language English
Print length 272 pages
ISBN-10 0684811634
ISBN-13 978-0684811635
Item Weight 11.2 ounces
Dimensions 8.43 x 5.51 x 0.91 inches
Best Sellers Rank #52,794 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #12 in Mutual Funds Investing (Books) #127 in Introduction to Investing #558 in Personal Finance (Books)
Customer Reviews 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (3,024)

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