accounting book recommendation

[dankotee]

I would like to start investing into stocks. In order to screen for stocks, one of the things I guess I should do is to learn how to read the balance sheet or income statement. I am an Engineer, so I don't know anything about accounting. Could anyone recommend some accounting books for beginners?

[Investing First Steps]

Personally I'd forgo an accounting book and just go with a financial analysis book. While it's nice to know the details of accounting, most of what you want to know from a Balance Sheet and Income Statement (as well as a Cash Flow Statement) is more defining by valuation philosophy vs. just the raw numbers. Graham and Dodd is the original "textbook" in this field, but it really depends on your approach and your philosophy.