These are a handful of the books I’ve enjoyed recently about finance. The summaries are brief because countless others on Amazon have done the job for me.

The Concepts and Practice of Mathematical Finance
by Mark S. Joshi, 2003
One of the most succinct, to-the-point explanations of what finance is all about. Joshi, in very clear words, turns the theory into complete understanding.

My Life as a Quant
by Emanuel Derman, 2007

For those considering jobs as Quants, this memoir leaves you with plenty of inspiration, but little practical insight.

Statistical Arbitrage
by Andrew Pole, 2007

A decent numerical guide to the guiding principles behind stat arb. Very similar to other Wiley Finance books.

The (Mis) Behavior of Markets
by Benoit B. Mandelbrot

Mandelbrot—without question—is one of the most influential, yet under-appreciated figures in complexity, math, and finance. This book should be required reading for any risk manager, trader, or economist.