Money

The 15 Best Books About Money, Investing, and Personal Finance

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Updated on May 18, 2022 by
best books about money

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Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn how to budget, invest in the stock market, or how to manage debt, there’s a book in this list for everyone. Written by some of the greatest finance experts, these books are a great stepping stone for you to master your personal finance journey, and can definitely help you improve your financial future.

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned professional, there’s always something new to learn about finance. To start, we have a few books that are great for learning about personal finance and investing.

You can find these books on the Amazon Kindle app, Barnes & Noble, and other online bookstores. The topics covered in these books include:

  • Index funds,
  • Mutual funds,
  • Financial markets,
  • Investment decisions,
  • Crypto,
  • Common stocks,
  • Financial life,
  • Hedge fund,
  • Portfolio management
  • Investing advice,
  • Money management,
  • Successful investors,
  • Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF),
  • And many more.

Best Investing Books for Beginners

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad

rich dad poor dad

Written in 1997 by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, Rich Dad Poor Dad has sold millions of copies over the last 2 decades. The book promotes the value of financial education and independence and debunks myths of what it takes to actually be rich.

Rich Dad Poor Dad teaches readers how to build their fortune not only through their salary, but through investing in assets, and real estate, as well as starting their own businesses. Robert Kiyosaki advocates that increasing one’s financial literacy can help one make a lot more money. The book has been updated a number of times since the first edition came out in 1997 and continues to help people improve their financial aptitude all around the world today.

2. I Will Teach You To Be Rich

i will teach you to be rich

Written in 2009, Ramit Sethi’s I Will Teach You To Be Rich is a finance tool targeted towards the younger generation. The book offers a 6-week personal financial plan for 20 to 35 year olds, an age group considered to be more materially ambitious, yet less financially independent than the generations prior to them.

Sethi employs four pillars of finance (banking, budgeting, saving, and investing) to illustrate extremely practical approaches to managing your finance and enhancing your wealth. The book also offers a ton of other great advice such as how to negotiate higher salaries, and how to pay off your own debt.

3. The Automatic Millionaire

automatic millionaireIf you find it hard to take out time every week to plan your budget or look at your savings, this book is a must-read. Published in 2003 by David Bach, The Automatic Millionaire shows readers how to easily automate their finances. The book illustrates the story of an American couple who make $55,000 combined annually, and yet are able to own 2 houses, are debt-free, send their kids to colleges, and still retire by the age of 55 with substantial savings.

The Automatic Millionaire advocates that the key to becoming rich isn’t through budgeting, but through paying yourself first, and setting up an automatic system to do so. The book provides an easy-to-follow plan that anyone can adopt to secure and enhance their financial future.

4. The Simple Path To Wealth

simple path to wealth

If you’re looking to dive into the world of investing and the stock market, The Simple Path To Wealth is an ideal read for you. Published in 2016, the book was crafted from a series of letters written by author JL Collins to his daughter and showcases all his financial knowledge and advice.

Through the book, JL Collins discusses a number of topics such as navigating debt, how investments in the stock market work, how to invest, specific investment strategies, how to pick investment firms and advisors, asset allocation, and how to finally find financial independence. The book is full of notable information and a great read for anyone looking to tackle the investment world.

5. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets Of America’s Wealthy

millionaire next doorThe Millionaire next door debunks myths we all share about real life millionaires. Written in 1996 by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, this book shows how many of America’s millionaires live in modest suburban neighborhoods, and not in huge mega mansions as people perceive. These households reach their millionaire status, by having a net worth of over $1 million. They achieve this net worth by often living below their means and making their money from savings and investments, rather than splurging on luxury goods and other material things.

The book is a collation of research conducted by the authors who found that many of America’s millionaires are actually living amongst America’s middle class. By debunking people’s perception of what it takes to be a millionaire, this book provides some great perspectives on personal finance and savings.

6. Your Money Or Your Life

your money or your lifeYour Money Or Your Life is a great tool for anyone looking to completely transform their relationship with money. The book, written by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez in 1992, has sold over a million copies worldwide and continues to be one of the most appreciated books in the world of personal finance today.

The book provides readers with a 9 step program that they can easily employ to completely change their financial situation, learn how to budget better, and save more. Your Money Or Your Life also teaches the practice of mindful spending by asking the readers what’s more important to them between spending money and living a fruitful life.

7. Broke Millennial

broke millennialIt’s no secret that millennials are considered to be the least financially adept generation so far. For years now, researchers have been claiming that the millennial generation has no hold over their financial situation, has no savings, and has a ton of debt to pay off (remember the student loan crisis?). If you feel like you are stuck in the same pattern, Broke Millennial may be a great read for you.

Written by Erin Lowry, this book teaches people how to reclaim their power over their own money by handing out a number of powerful tips and tricks. Through the book, Lowry teaches readers how to navigate their own debt, and live a sustainable life even when living from paycheck to paycheck.

8. The 4-hour Work Week

four hour work weekThe 4-hour Work Week is a great read for anyone who is tired of the 9-to-5 grind and is looking to restructure their lifestyle. Written by Timothy Ferriss, this self-help book has sold over 2 million copies across the world, been translated over 40 times, and spent over 4 years as a New York Times Best Seller.

The book employs real life stories and case studies to show readers how they can manage to make a 5-digit income even while taking long vacations, and spending a lot less time sitting in the office. Ferriss’s ideas may not work for everyone, but can definitely help change people’s mindset, help them quit the rat race, and live a more fulfilling life.

9. Think And Grow Rich

think and grow richWritten by Napoleon Hill all the way back in 1937, Think And Grow Rich continues to be incredibly relevant and just as popular in the realm of finance today. The book was crafted during The Great Depression and has sold over 100 million copies across the world to date. Inspired by business magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, it’s been described as one of the best self-improvement and personal development books of the century.

Instead of simply teaching strategies to build wealth, Think And Grow Rich concentrates on the mindset required to become wealthy. The book uses examples of many real life millionaires such as Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison to illustrate its teachings.

10. Set For Life

set for lifeSimilar to the 4-hour Work Week, Set For Life helps people break away from the 9-to-5 rat race, and yet set a comfortable living for life. The book was written by Scott Trench in 2017 and promises to help people become financially free, and be able to retire within 10 years.

Trench advocates that success and a wealthy lifestyle aren’t necessarily achieved by working harder, but are actually easily attainable by working smarter. The book teaches people how to master their finances even if they make a median income. Trench’s teachings can help people build enough savings to eventually live without working a single day in the year, and hence retire relatively earlier than planned.

11. The Intelligent Investor

intelligent investor

The Intelligent Investor published back in 1949 and written by Benjamin Graham, is another great read for people looking to dive into the world of investment and stocks. The book may be decades old, but contains timeless wisdom about investing in the stock market and is a great tool for anyone looking to make long-term investments.

Graham’s book is based on his principle of value investing and teaches the right strategies for picking companies listed on the stock market. Many new investors have credited this book to have helped them vastly improve their portfolios and increase their wealth. After decades of popularity, The Intelligent Investor is considered to be the stock market bible for investors today.

12. Retire Early With Real Estate

retire early with real estate

Retire Early With Real Estate was written in 2018 by real estate investor Chad Carson, who used the methods taught in this book in his own life to be able to retire comfortably by the early age of 37. The book is great for people who are tired of the 9-to-5 grind and are looking to make a hefty passive income with ease.

Carson teaches proven strategies, techniques, and tips to help people plunge into the world of real estate investments and make enough money to retire early themselves. The book also uses case studies and provides step-by-step methods to help people get started on their real estate investment journey.

13. The Financial Diet

financial dietA great read for anyone looking to master their basic finances, The Financial Diet was published in 2017 and is written by Chelsea Fagan. This is a great book for younger audiences, who feel intimidated when it comes to managing their own financial situation. Fagan helps readers with a number of financial conundrums such as how to stop overspending, how to budget better, and how to pay off student debt.

The book also talks about investments, and how to grow your money best. Using the principle taught through the pages, the book promises to help people improve their relationship with money within a year.

14. Money: Master The Game

Money: Master The GameWritten by the famous Tony Robbins, Money: Master The Game was published in 2014 and is considered to be a great handbook for people looking to learn more about investments and personal finance. The pages are filled with detailed research and interviews conducted with 50 finance wizards across the globe such as Warren Buffet and Steve Forbes.

The book presents readers with a 7-step blueprint that promises to help anyone achieve and enjoy financial freedom. Robbin offers financial strategies for audiences from every walk of life, and also illustrates essential practices for gaining financial independence and security.

15. The Boglehead’s Guide To Investing

The Boglehead’s Guide To InvestingIf you feel intimidated by the idea of investing, but wish to start making profits on the stock market, this is an ideal read for you. The Boglehead’s Guide To Investing claims to be a great investment book for everyone, regardless of your age, or net worth. Written by Taylor Larimore, Michael Leboeuf, and Mel Lindauer, this book is an easy to understand financial guide.

The text is based on John Bogle’s (founder of the Vanguard Group) strategies of passive investing and illustrates a wide variety of topics such as tips for saving money, behavioral economics, insurance, and bond durations. The authors also advocate that the key to investment success is to get started early, as well as to begin saving at a younger age. With a number of helpful theories and strategies, The Boglehead’s Guide To Investing is a great tool for all investment novices.

16. One Up on Wall Street

One Up on Wall StreetOne Up on Wall Street is a book that was written by two former hedge fund managers. The book focuses on John Rothchild’s experience as a stock trader, and Peter Lynch’s experience as a mutual fund manager.

The authors give their readers the knowledge to trade stocks and investments, without needing to hire a professional. The book goes into detail about what the pros do, and how they do it. The book is full of case studies, interviews with some of the greatest hedge fund managers, and quotes from the best.

 

 

17. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market ReturnsThe Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns

John C. Bogle’s The Little Book of Common Sense Investing is a great book for beginners who are just starting out with investing. The book teaches you how to build your own investment portfolio.

It teaches you how to manage your risk, how to create a portfolio, and even how to get out of the market when it’s down. The book focuses on the fundamentals of investing, and teaches you about how to make your own decisions.

 

 

 

18. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: Including a Life-Cycle GuideA Random Walk Down Wall Street: Including a Life-Cycle Guide

Burton Malkiel is one of the greatest investors in the world. In this book, he shares his experience in how to start investing, and gives tips for what to look for when making an investment. This book is a great book for beginners who are looking to start investing, and is written in a way that’s easy to understand. It also includes a life-cycle guide that can help you learn how to invest when you’re ready.

19. The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate AmericaThe Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America

Buffett is a famous investor, and has made billions of dollars in the stock market. This book includes some of his most popular essays on how to invest, and it’s written in a way that’s easy to understand. Buffett is a true expert when it comes to investing, and this book can help you learn more about what he’s doing right, and what he’s doing wrong.

 

 

 

 

20. Berkshire Hathaway Letters to Shareholders 1965-2012Berkshire Hathaway Letters to Shareholders 1965-2012

This book is a compilation of letters that Warren Buffett has written to his shareholders. In these letters, he explains what he’s doing with Berkshire Hathaway, and gives tips on how to make money. This book can help you learn how to manage your money, and understand what you need to do in order to have success.

 

Further reading: The 12 Best Movies About Money, Investing, And The Stock Market

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