There is always a story – sometimes interesting, sometimes boring – explaining how we got here and why things are the way they are. In an age where Wall Street remains largely misunderstood by non-Wall Streeters, and many on Wall Street must maintain such a laser focus on the task at hand that they can’t see the forest for the trees, hearing the stories that explain how the market really works and why it works the way it does is more important than ever. Innovation, failure, genius and greed all played their part – but putting those things in context is of critical importance and will help move the market and your career forward. These are my favorite books that tell those stories: