There are countless finance books on the market, and these are my favorite picks.
The classic must-reads:
The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton
This book is perfect for teenagers that need to be eased into learning about financial concepts. David Chilton is a funny character that frequently appears on TV and radio shows. His book makes finance interesting using humor and a little bit of sarcasm. He includes practical tips such as writing your will and deciding on a life insurance policy using fictional funny characters to entertain you. I highly recommend this book because it emphasized that wealth depends more on saving a fixed percentage of your income rather than how much you make.
The illusion of money by Kyle Cease
I discovered Kyle Cease on a podcast about health. It makes sense that being financially literate is healthy for the body and the mind. Kevin Cease is a New York Times best-selling author and uses his skills as a comedian to talk about money. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the obsession about money that will help you attain wealth, it’s your true passion. This book changed my life because it challenged my Western beliefs about money. Money isn’t everything, but it will be the result of everything else. It’s a little paradoxical and twisted. Be ready for this transformative journey!
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
This the first finance book I ever read in my life, so this holds a special place in my heart. This book is definitely not for the poor, but for the middle class who has some savings to invest. It’s a great book to change your mindset and seek financial freedom, especially through real estate. I really enjoyed reading about his childhood experiences and going over the basics of personal finance. I found the book a bit repetitive, but it might help you absorb the message.
Think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill
This book has a similar vibe to the movie The Secret, which claims that every wish can be granted with a positive emotional state to attract the result you want. The take home message of the book is to use the power of your mind to better your life.
Enjoy the ladies touch:
Secrets of six-figure women by Barbara Stanny
Barbara Stanny is a journalist and motivational speaker who interviewed more than 150 women whose annual earnings range from $100k to $7 million. She describes in each story the ups and downs of financial success. Topics include work addiction, resilience, self-awareness and ambition. The book is inspirational and empowering. It invites the reader to get over their fears, empower you to seek higher salaries.
You are a badass at making money by Jen Sincero
This book gives the same advice as many other self-help materials. However, I’d like to mention it for its delightful tone and easy writing because of that, it is appropriate for a young audience. I would recommend this to kids because the author’s enthusiasm is quite contagious. It’s important to have a positive and optimistic approach to money and to keep an open mind. However, this won’t be life-changing nor revolutionary, it’s just a good intro book.
Women and money by Suze Orman
This book focuses on building women’s confidence around money rather than tips on how to invest (actually, there’s a bonus chapter at the end on investing, but I wish it would come sooner). The author emphasizes the power of knowledge and urges you to take control of your finances. It would be an awesome gift to your daughters so they can learn to have all the components to true wealth and set them up for success.
Honorable mention to:
The 4-hour workweek by Tim Ferriss
This book contains practical tips for people who want to work in an efficient way. It’s not targeted for people who would like to get rich fast, but rather people who value a good work-life balance with an automated business. It’s an awesome philosophy that can also be applied in your personal life to eliminate useless information and focus on productive work. Some people have negatively criticized the book as it’s not for every profession. It mostly targets business owners and free-lancers who can work remotely online.
I will teach you to be rich by Ramit Sethi
Ramit Sethi is an American financial advisor with a background in psychology and sociology. He studied people and realized the importance of fear. Fear is common in all of us, especially when it comes down to controlling our finances. He designed a step by step program to rid us of fear and be financially educated. This book is well-intentioned and funny. I gave an honorable mention to this book because although the information isn’t ground-breaking, it’s easy enough to understand that I would highly recommend it as a high-school course.