What is a good book to help me learn about stocks? I'm rolling over my 401K into an IRA and would like advice.?

I'm close to graduating college and have been putting funds into my 401K until I was laid off. I've lost close to half of the invested funds and am now wanting to try the stock market. I have little to invest now but plan on contributing more as soon as I can. I just want to learn and know more before I roll over my 401K into an IRA account.What is a good book to help me learn about stocks? I'm rolling over my 401K into an IRA and would like advice.?
Here is some reading material that can get you started in the right direction,


The first book you should read is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki


Then try some of these


What Works on Wall Street by James O'Shaunessey


Beating the Street by Peter Lynch


One Up on Wall Street by Peter Lynch


The Warren Buffett Way by Robert Hagstrom


Trading For a Living by Alexander Elder


Mastering the Trade” by John Caster


How to Make Money in Stocks” by William O’Neil


24 Essential Lessons for Investment Success by William O’Neil


The Disciplined Trader by Mark Douglas





Get into the habit of making daily visits to some websites like MSN Money and Yahoo Finance. (http://moneycentral.msn.com/home.asp http://finance.yahoo.com/ )





While at MSN following the strategy lab analysts to get a feel for what the pros are doing and why. This site has some basic information for beginners. If any site offers free information, take it.





Other website that can provide instructions and help with procedures and terminology are


Investopedia - http://www.investopedia.com/ Stock Charts - http://stockcharts.com/


http://www.investorshub.com/ http://www.1source4stocks.com/





Visit some of the more professional websites like Zacks - http://www.zacks.com/


Smart Money - http://www.smartmoney.com/ Schaeffer’s – http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/


Some of these web sites will have advertisers who are worth looking into also. And remember, if they offer free information, get it.





Attend all the free seminars you can, just be careful and don’t get pressured into anything you really don’t want or need. Most schools offer courses in finance and economics, but very few will have courses on the mechanics of the investment markets, if they do try taking the course. You may want to consider on-line courses, the New York Institute of Finance use to have such courses. Try to get some fee information from the stocks exchanges they all have (had) free booklets, SIAC and some of the regulators (FINRA SEC MSRB CBOE) may provide some free literature.What is a good book to help me learn about stocks? I'm rolling over my 401K into an IRA and would like advice.?
I rarely buy individual stocks any more due to the ';single point of failure'; theory. Instead I try and pick a sector using ETFs (both leveraged and non-leveraged).





Some free resources for learning:


www.etfnewsletter.biz


www.etfguide.com


www.thefundtimer.com