Some of my favorite money books of all time:
I think this book should be a mandatory graduation gift for every single high schooler. I first read this when I was a teenager and I was blown away. It’s one of the most highly recommended books in the personal finance world because of the way it completely changes your mindset about money. Rich Dad Poor Dad focuses on how you can make your money work for you—by owning assets. It presents the idea that there is an alternative to simply working for a paycheck your entire life. You can use your paychecks to invest in assets that will produce income for the rest of your life. Can’t recommend this book highly enough. PLEASE do yourself a favor and read it!
Read this if: you have a pulse
Tired of the 9-5 grind and depressed at the prospects of working your job until you are 65+? This book is an incredible resource for those who are looking to learn about financial independence and the incredible freedom it can bring. Scott teaches you how to accumulate savings by boosting your income and managing your spending (especially the big three of housing, transportation, and food). And he then shows you how to use your savings to buy assets that will build you a financial runway and give you the freedom to live the life of your dreams.
Read this if: you want to escape the rat race
Investing is really simple if you follow the guidelines of this book. Jack Bogle explains why you shouldn’t try to beat the market by picking individual stocks or by buying an expensive mutual fund. All you need to do is invest in a simple index fund consistently, and you will end up as an above average investor. If you are interested in learning basic principles of investing to build your wealth, this is the book for you.
Read this if: you want to learn how to invest
This classic bestseller will show you how almost any middle class person can become a millionaire with a few simple habits. Thomas Stanley profiled thousands of millionaire Americans and found that most don’t live in Beverly Hills or drive Lamborghinis. In Millionaire Next Door, Stanley highlights seven common traits that show up again and again for people who have accumulated wealth. He finds that there are a number of habits that can make the average person financially successful, and it doesn’t require winning the lottery or being a trust fund baby.
Read this if: you want to learn the habits of the financially successful
Set in Ancient Babylon, and written in 1926, this is a classic money book that has survived the test of time. It’s still a best seller today because of the way it teaches wealth building principles through a collection of simple parables. Through entertaining stories of shepherds, merchants, and tradesmen, you’ll be taught the basic principles of money: how to save, get out of debt, put your money to work, and have it last for the long term.
Read this if: you want to learn principles of wealth building through entertaining parables
Interested in real estate investing? Brandon tells you all about the strategies he used to grow his real estate empire to millions of dollars by the time he was in his 30s. Owning rental real estate is one of the fastest ways to grow your wealth and achieve financial freedom. If listening to podcasts is more of your thing, Brandon is also host of one of the best weekly real estate podcasts out there, The BiggerPockets Podcast.
Read this if: you’re interested in real estate