CFA & CPA Study Books

Curated picks verified against expert recommendations from Investopedia, CFA Institute, and top CPA prep sites — the books worth buying and the ones to skip.

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CFACFA Study Books

2025 CFA Program Curriculum Level I Box Set
Official Curriculum

2025 CFA Program Curriculum Level I Box Set

by CFA Institute

Published by CFA Institute — the source of truth for all exam content

The definitive source — directly maps to every LOS tested
Trusted as the gold standard by all prep providers
Includes practice problems aligned to exam format
Dense and lengthy — best paired with a study guide
Not beginner-friendly as a standalone resource
4.3

117+ reviews

~$210

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CFA Level 1 Calculation Workbook: 300 Calculations (2026 Edition)
Best Calculation Practice

CFA Level 1 Calculation Workbook: 300 Calculations (2026 Edition)

by Coventry House Publishing

Updated annually since 2017 — the longest-running dedicated CFA calculation drillbook on Amazon

300 worked calculations covering every quantitative topic
Organized by exam section — easy to drill weak areas
Updated to 2026 curriculum — no outdated material
Calculations-only — no conceptual explanations
Best paired with a full study guide, not standalone
4.4

120+ reviews

~$30

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The Psychology of Money
Mindset Foundation

The Psychology of Money

by Morgan Housel

Reviewed by CFA Institute & CFA Society North Carolina

Builds the investor mindset CFA directly tests
Modern, highly readable — feels nothing like a textbook
Cheap — best ROI of any finance book on this list
Not exam-specific — no formulas or LOS coverage
Supplement to prep materials, not a replacement
4.7

344,000+ reviews

~$25

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CPACPA Study Books

Intermediate Accounting
FAR Foundation

Intermediate Accounting

by Kieso, Weygandt & Warfield

The gold-standard accounting textbook — Wiley, used in CPA-track programs globally

Covers the core of FAR: revenue, leases, pensions, consolidations
Trusted by accounting programs at 1,000+ universities
Rigorous explanations build deep understanding, not just test tricks
Textbook depth — not a quick-pass shortcut
Does not cover governmental/nonprofit accounting (pair with Copley)
4.5

101+ reviews

~$122

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CPA Exam For Dummies with Online Practice
Best for Beginners

CPA Exam For Dummies with Online Practice

by Kenneth Boyd

Author Kenneth Boyd: CPA, ex-KPMG, 30+ yrs accounting

Covers all 4 sections in one book
Highly accessible — great starting point
Includes online practice questions
Not deep enough to pass on its own
Better as an orientation guide than primary study material
4.4

44+ reviews

~$19

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Essentials of Accounting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organizations
FAR Score Booster

Essentials of Accounting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organizations

by Paul Copley

University-standard textbook — adopted in CPA-track programs

Covers governmental & nonprofit accounting — FAR's hardest topics
15th edition updated for current standards
Used in university courses — authoritative and thorough
Textbook style — denser than a prep guide
Covers FAR subsection only, not full exam
4.6

110+ reviews

~$54

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