Reddit reviews Deep Value: Why Activist Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations (Wiley Finance)

I see that Intelligent Investor by Graham has already been posted but that's certainly a good one. However it can be a bit dry for most readers and if you would prefer something a bit fresher I would read Deep Value by Toby Carlisle. He discusses and critiques Graham's teachings along with the strategies of other notable value investors such as Buffet, Icahn, Greenblatt and many others all in a more modern tone. It's been the bible for my own value investing strategies.

Other books to look into are:

• Dhandho Investor by Monish Pabrai (lots of simple strategies and examples for small risk - big payoff investments)
  
• Education of a Value Investor by Guy Spier (good for understanding the discipline and mental state of a good value investor)
  
• Michael Lewis books such as Big Short and Flash Boys (These are less for learning investing and more for generating your own interest in finance with some fantastic writing. It's also good for learning what the reality of the markets and Wall Street are.)

One of the best new books on the subject is Deep Value http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Value-Investors-Contrarians-Corporations/dp/1118747968/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412616436&sr=8-1&keywords=Deep+value it's an updated take on Graham's approach to value investing and quantitatively evaluates different variations based upon their back-tested results over long periods of time. Expensive book but worth every penny IMHO.

> We examine explanations for why "active" value investing may not provide the promised payoffs.

Quite the contrast to the recent literature which says activist investing does tend to pay off well.

You can be a stock market genius https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Stock-Market-Genius/dp/0684840073

Deep Value https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Value-Investors-Contrarians-Corporations/dp/1118747968/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1482441120&sr=1-1&keywords=deep+value

I have not personally done any research, but a lot has been done. A quick google search showed the following:

• http://www.theactivistinvestor.com/The_Activist_Investor/Academic_Research.html
  
  Additionally, there is this book, in which Tobias Carlisle (of Greenbackd fame) provides a great overview of activist investing: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Value-Investors-Contrarians-Corporations/dp/1118747968
  

Seems like an interesting book. From the Amazon listing , it looks like it goes deeper than "buy quality companies at discount prices". I have a few books I'm working through, but this is on my shortlist for my next one.