Hi everyone!  Since people know that I read a lot of books, I am often asked for recommendations on personal finance books.  Because of that, I thought a great way to kick off the new year would be with a list of the personal finance books that are, in my opinion, the absolute BEST out there in terms of helping you understand and manage your money.

 

Note:  This post contains affiliate links.

 

I personally have read them all, and I can attest to the fact that they are all great books, but each one taught me something different.  Some of these books may be ones that you’ve heard of before, and others maybe not.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Top 8 Best Personal Finance Books

 

1. The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas Stanley & William Danko

This is my all-time favorite personal finance book.  It was written by two researchers who did in-depth studies on how people become wealthy and what the lives of wealthy people look like.  The results, which are described in detail in this book, are eye-opening.  My favorite thing about this book is that it completely changed my perception of wealth the first time I read it.  I’ve now read this book dozens of times.  Whenever I am experiencing a case of the “wants,” I pick this book up and re-read it.  It never fails to remind me of the fact that true wealth often looks very different than most people think.

 

 

 

2. The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey

I know that Dave Ramsey catches some flack in the personal finance world, but I personally think that most of his advice is spot-on, especially for those who are just starting out on their road to financial freedom.  In this book he debunks common money myths and addresses common financial hurdles that people face, all in a very no-nonsense tone.  He also shares many examples of his readers who have successfully achieved their own financial goals, which I find hugely inspiring.

 

 

3. The Automatic Millionaire, by David Bach

This was one of the first personal finance books that I ever read.  In this book, David Bach addresses some of the key components of wealth building, including paying yourself first and automating your savings.  He adds some fascinating tables that really help underscore the power of compound interest and starting to save and invest early.  This book was an eye-opener for me because it helped me to understand in a very real way WHY it is important to start investing at a young age if possible.  He also offers solid strategies on how to do just that.

 

 

4. Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki

I really like this book.  It is not so much about investing strategies as it is about perspective on money.  In this book, Robert Kiyosaki shares his unique perspective on wealth and education.  He grew up with two dads, as he explains in the book, and his two dads had dramatically differing views on wealth, education, investing, and business.  He discusses how people get stuck in the “Rat Race,” as well as how to get out of the Rat Race and/or avoid it by playing by a different set of rules.  A really great read for those interested in passive income, entrepreneurship, or just wanting to expand their view of money and wealth.

 

 

5. Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez

This book is a personal finance classic.  It dives into the more emotional and philosophical side of money and helps the reader really look closely at their money motivation.  It aims to help readers identify the WHYs behind their spending and evaluate whether their spending is in line with their goals, values, and priorities.  These factors are so often overlooked, but they can play a huge role in your relationship with money (not to mention your level of wealth)!  That’s why I really like this book and think it is such an important one to read.

 

 

6. I Will Teach You To Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi

I love this book, which is geared toward readers in their 20s and early 30s.  Sethi lays out strategies for money management that are simple but powerful, and he does it in a funny and irreverent style that makes him really relatable.  He provides solid advice and actionable steps for those wanting to better their financial future.  Any time an author has me both laughing and learning, it’s golden.  🙂

 

 

 

7. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, by T. Harv Eker

This book is unique because, more so than any of the others on this list (except maybe Rich Dad Poor Dad), it addresses the mindset of individuals who attain wealth.  I think mindset is another often-overlooked factor in achieving financial independence, which makes this an important read.  In this book, T. Harv Eker shows the reader the difference between the mindsets of people who are poor, middle class, and rich, and offers action steps to take if you wish to change your mindset.

 

 

8. The Richest Man in Babylon, by George Clason

This book is an oldie (written in 1926) but a goodie.  It’s a parable set in Babylon, the wealthiest city of the ancient world.  Babylon’s citizens were said to be the richest of their time.  This book offers a series of simple stories that illustrate the principles that the citizens of Babylon were said to live by in regard to money management, household budgeting, business finance, etc.  This book is easy to follow and relatable, and it helps make complicated money topics easier to understand through the use of examples.

 

 

 

Many of these books are ones that my husband and I have read around the same time.  For us, reading the same books and then spending some time talking about them has been one of the best ways we’ve found to “get on the same page” with each other financially.  We don’t always agree with each other, or with every single thing we read in books, but it at least gives us a solid place to start having these conversations.  And books like these give us a TON more information to talk about when it come to our money!

 

What do you think?  Have you read any or all of these books?  Are there any personal finance books that you would add to the list?

 

 

P.S. If you liked this post, you might enjoy using our free Net Worth Calculation Template. Sign up now to receive each new post delivered to your inbox, and we will email you the template!  Sign up here.

 

 

CMF’s favorite FREE money management tools!

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