A good financial planner will tell you about the importance of having diverse investments in a portfolio. One of the most common types of investments is bonds.

Bonds come in many forms and offer a range of returns. If you’d like to learn more about bonds and how they can help build a nest egg, you might consult one of the following books:

• “Naked Guide to Bonds,” by Michael V. Brandes, (John Wiley & Sons, 2003, $29.95). It breaks down the financial jargon to get to the essence of bond investment.
• “The Money-Making Guide to Bonds,” by Hildy Richelson and Stan Richelson (Bloomberg Press, 2002, $26.95). The book provides detailed information on dozens of bond types and bond funds.
• “The Bond Bible,” Marilyn Cohen, (New York Institute of Finance, 2000, $24). It makes the case for including bonds in a portfolio.
• “All About Bonds and Bond Mutual Funds 2nd Edition,” by Esme Faerber, (McGrall-Hill, 2000, $16.95). It discusses bond strategies and how to conduct research on types of bonds.