"Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives" (John Hull) is the definitive newbie handbook in quant finance. If you are interested in Quantitative Finance, you sho

"Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives" (John Hull) is the definitive newbie handbook in quant finance. If you are interested in Quantitative Finance, you should understand this book, cover-to-cover. "Principals of Corporate Finance" (Brealey & Myers) is the definitive newbie handbook for Corporate Finance, which is not the same subject as Quant Finance.