Accounting Books : You don't have to be an accountant to understand accounting!

Most of the start-up business ends up in failure only because of inadequate knowledge of managing money. Basic accounting knowledge can save your business from drowning.  Here are some amazing accounting books to make your concept of accounting clear. Happy reading:

Accounting Made Simple: Accounting Explained in 100 Pages or Less
Author: Mike Piper
Published at: 01/01/2013
ISBN: 0981454224

Accounting Made simple is written by Mike Piper, who himself is a CPA, has explained basics of accounting in this small-100 page book.  Thinking of accounting books, we always have an image of a big, hard to understand and boring book in our mind. But this book is a rare gem in a sea of over-inflated, hard-to-read accounting books.  This book is written from an average point of view. If you are a newbie in accounting, this book is for you. Or if it is 3 or 4 years since you have graduated in accounting and now you need to have a  quick overview for some reason, this book is for you too.

Topics covered in this book are presented in a ‘compact and easy to digest’ style and examples given are extremely easy to follow.  In this book, the author uses short explanations and reiteration to instill points while also including technical illustrations and real-world examples to give the readers a better experience.

Welcome to the world of accounting. Don't hesitate, let this book to take care of your hesitation about accounting.



Cost Accounting (15th Edition)
Author: Charles T. Horngren,Srikant M. Datar,Madhav V. Rajan
Published at: 14/02/2014
ISBN: 0133428702

Cost Accounting by Charles T. Horngren, Srikant M. Datar, and Madhav V. Rajan is an excellent textbook for students who are currently enrolled in undergraduate and professional accounting programs. This book covers everything from accounting in depth. Real-life experiences are described accordingly. Every chapter starts out with a story about a well-known company to illustrate the concepts to be discussed. The information presented is detailed and well organized. Tables and info-graphic presentation are given to help to understand easily. There are practice problems included in the last of every chapter which pushes students hard for critical thinking and brainstorming. Very challenging accounting problems are included in the exercise section, yet students can solve them if they go through the examples properly.


Students who are serious enough to accept the challenges of learning accounting, as it is kind of a not interesting-detailed study and need some real attention, are advised to take this book as their textbook.


This edition incorporates the latest research and most up-to-date thinking into all relevant chapters and more MyAccountingLab coverage! MyAccountingLab is the web-based tutorial and assessment software for accounting that not only gives you more "I Get It" moments, but gives instructors the flexibility to make technology an integral part of their course, or a supplementary resource for students.


Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyAccountingLab does not come packaged with this content. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and MyAccountingLab search for ISBN-10: 0133803813/ISBN-13: 9780133803815



The Accounting Game: Basic Accounting Fresh from the Lemonade Stand
Author: Darrell Mullis,Judith Orloff
Published at: 01/03/2008
ISBN: 1402211864

Is the term Accounting new to you? Never took an accounting course in your college? How about a story of a lemonade stand business operated by a 5-year-old kid? Trust me, this funny-childish story will give you a solid foundation of basic accounting knowledge. This book is like a storyteller or maybe a personal tutor, very interactive.  Read The Accounting Game to have the clearest explanation ever of the key accounting basics.

The book presents relatively complex concepts in a manner that is so basic, you don't realize the depth of what you have absorbed until later.  The Accounting Game presents financial information in a format so simple and so unlike a common accounting textbook, you may forget you're learning key skills that will help you get ahead. The book is a quick read, and worth the cost and the time it takes to read.

Do not be dissuaded from buying the book by reviews that criticize it as being too simplistic. The book may seem simplistic, but it is not. Just because the hypothetical business is a lemonade stand rather than a manufacturing company, and the dollar amounts are very small and rounded off to the nearest dollar, does not mean you cannot learn something from this book.

The presentation approach taken by the authors of this book is revolutionary. Making an accounting book is not easy. This book takes you from novice to expert with its interactive format and color-coded charts and worksheets which will help to remember key terms.



Warren Buffett Accounting Book: Reading Financial Statements for Value Investing
Author: Stig Brodersen,Preston Pysh
Published at: 28/04/2014
ISBN: 1939370159
If you are an admirer of works of Warren Buffett, then this book of your interest. Warren Buffett Accounting Book is the second volume to the Amazon Bestseller Warren Buffett’s Three Favorite Books.


The first book of this series provides an outstanding foundation on the principles of value investing. While this book takes the reader through Buffett’s methods for understanding key financial statements – balance sheets, cash flow statements and income statements. The authors introduce the reader to the key concepts including principles of accounting and value investing before diving into the technical details of financial statements. The book will appeal to the seasoned investor and neophyte alike because it is written in a clear, narrative format while also detailing which data and key ratios are important to the value investor.

The use of examples and case studies in the book is helpful. The flow of the book is clear and well organized.


In this book, you will learn how to:

  • Pick stocks like Warren Buffett
  • Calculate the intrinsic value of stocks using two methods

During the second half of the book, readers will learn in-depth methods for:
  • Reading an income statement
  • Reading a balance sheet
  • Reading a cash flow statement
  • Calculating and interpreting key ratios



Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners
Author: Dawn Fotopulos
Published at: 03/09/2014
ISBN: 0814434320
As a business owner you need to have a basic idea of your business's accounts. It is true that your accountant is there to make all the financial statements. But it is the owner who need to understand the financial statements. So that he or she can improve and improvise the business outcome.

Financial statement is the most powerful tool to judge your business situation. It shows you the return on your investments, are you making profit or loss at the end of the year. As a business owner, it is better to learn how to implicate the findings of financial statements.

Accounting for the Numberphobic demystifies your company's financial dashboard. Net Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet are the basic elements of a financial dashboard. This book explains how each measurement reflects the health of your business. You will be able to identify the gaps where you can imply changes. This book will give you some insight to understand the impact of your decisions.
Case studies and practical action steps will help you to lead your business on the path of profitability

You will also discover:
  • How your Net Income Statement is the key to growing your profits.
  • How to identify the break-even point that means your business is self-sustaining.
  • Real-world advice on measuring and increasing cash flow.
  • What the Balance Sheet reveals about your company's worth.


Accounting All-in-One For Dummies (For Dummies Series)
Author: Kenneth Boyd,Lita Epstein,Mark P. Holtzman,Frimette Kass-Shraibman,Maire Loughran,Vijay S. Sampath,John A. Tracy,Tage C. Tracy,Jill Gilbert Welytok
Published at: 10/03/2014
ISBN: 1118758005
Accounting All-in-One For Dummies is a one-stop reference for accounting students. Also a valuable desk reference for accounting professionals in the workforce. Several authors in this book give extensive vital information about different accounting concepts.

Accounting All-in-One For Dummies will help you in setting up an accounting system for your business. This book shows how to record transactions and adjust closing entries. You will learn how to prepare income statements and balance sheets too. Accounting knowledge helps a business owner in business planning and purchase decision making.

While reading this book you will learn:
  • Ways to report on your financial statements
  • How to make savvy business decisions
  • Auditing and detecting financial fraud





Schaum's Outline of Principles of Accounting I, Fifth Edition
Author: Joel J. Lerner,James A. Cashin
Published at: 14/09/2009
ISBN: 0071635386

Schaum's Outline of Principles of Accounting 1 may not replace your text book. Still, this book will help to improve your accounting skills. This book is full of practical accounting examples. This book shows 520 accounting problems, immediately followed by step-by-step annotated solutions. Which makes understanding different accounting principles so easy.


Schaum's Outline of Principles of Accounting 1 is the first one of two book series and covers the basic topics of accounting. This book gives a brief discussion on the following topics:

  • Financial Statements
  • Classifying Transactions (ledger and trial balances)
  • Accounting transactions (journal entries)
  • Adjusting and Closing entries
  • Merchandise (retail) accounting (COGS, inventory)
  • Special and repetitive transactions
  • Capital and Equity
  • AR and AP
  • Cash and its control.
  • Payroll
  • Plant, equipment, and depreciation


Accounting for Small Business Owners
Author: Tycho Press
Published at: 10/04/2015
ISBN: 1623155363

There are so many accounting books available in the market to help the students and business professionals. The specialty of this particular book is hidden in its title: Accounting for small business owner. Yes, for the small business owners!

As the target reader of this book is the small business owners, in the first few chapters, The author Tycho Press first gives an idea of general procedures for setting up and running a business. This book also gives advice on selling of products and services.

Running a small business may seem complicated sometimes. You have to develop your product, improve marketing and finally focus on sales. Sales is a very crucial part of every business. In a small business, it is the only way you can make revenue. And then you have to be prepared to handle the money that's coming in, pay your employees. Also, track your expenditure, consider your stock options, and much more. By using different types of graphs and tables, this book illustrates real-life business situations to make you feel more involved. This book is not overly detailed but covers most of the things you need to know to make sure you are doing appropriate accounting for your business.



Schaums Outline of Intermediate Accounting I, Second Edition (Schaum's Outlines)
Author: Baruch Englard
Published at: 01/04/2011
ISBN: 007175606X

The ideal review for your intermediate accounting course

More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum’s Outlines for their expert knowledge and helpful solved problems. Written by renowned experts in their respective fields, Schaum’s Outlines cover everything from math to science, nursing to language. The main feature for all these books is the solved problems. Step-by-step, authors walk readers through coming up with solutions to exercises in their topic of choice.

  • A complete guide to the second-level course in Intermediate Accounting
  • Covers all recent (FASB) changes
  • More than 500 fully-solved problems, including “real-world” examples
  • End-of-chapter review problems to test knowledge
  • Appropriate for the following courses: Intermediate Accounting I, Accounting I, Principles of Accounting, Financial Accounting
  • Supports all the major textbooks for intermediate accounting courses


Accounting Principles - Standalone book
Author: Jerry J. Weygandt,Paul D. Kimmel,Donald E. Kieso
Published at: 12/01/2015
ISBN: 1118875052

Accounting Principles 12th Edition by Jerry J. Weygandt, Paul D. Kimmel, and Donald E. Kieso is one of the best accounting textbook ever written. This book provides a comprehensive knowledge different principles of accounting. Fundamental accounting concepts are described along with simple examples which makes them very easy to understand. This book provides adequate accounting problems, which will help the students practicing learned accounting concepts. Practice problems are categorized into A & B class which encourages students to develop their problem solving ability step by step, from the easiest to the hardest one.

There is a dedicated website for this text, which is so helpful. It contains pre-made flashcards, study guides, outlines, a glossary for each chapter, quizzes, powerpoint slides etc. The website is absolutely free. You need to read the instructions on the very first page of the book to figure out how to get to the correct site. The website helps the students to use their study time efficiently by creating a clear connection between the reading and video content, and the practice, homework, and assessments questions.


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