Whether you listen to audiobooks or read the hard copy, I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to save money and check these out at your local library for FREE.
Side note: You can download your library’s audiobook or ebook right to your phone and listen in your car on the drive to work. Your library has an app, and you can get a library card via the internet without even having to walk into a building. They make it extremely convenient.
Three Good Starter Books
www.therealhowmoneyworks.com – a handy pdf that gets down to the brass tacks of everything to get you started, including explanations on financial jargon… so again, if you don’t want to actually read a whole book with all the fluff, you want to cut to the chase, these are the cliff notes. (See what I did there? I made you read more than necessary cause I’m annoyingly illustrating a point. This pdf won’t make you do that. Seriously, you could have read multiple pages by now. And I didn’t even provide a chapter describing my credentials yet).
My Favorites
These books in particular helped shape my personal finance paradigm shift towards building lasting wealth.
Quit like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung – This power-couple has a website with amazing resources. Resources include a free online workshop that walks you through step-by-step investing, including what investments are safe. I highly recommend. Available in Kindle, audio, or paperback formats.
The Power of Zero by David McKnight – teaches you about what to anticipate in paying taxes in retirement. Suggests three buckets to keep your money: tax deferred, tax free and taxable accounts to hit a zero tax sweet spot in retirement. Everyone always talks about diversifying – this gives you a roadmap! Available in Kindle, audio, or hardcopy formats.
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers – Perhaps my newest favorite, recently published in 2020. This is an inspiring book that flips the scarcity mindset upside down. Written by someone who isn’t white or male, this book has voice and shockingly argues the path to building wealth is not the Dave Ramsey way of pinching pennies, but to knock down patriarchal barriers and earn more! (What?! Imagine that!) She encourages you to find your financial squad to elevate your goals. Available in Kindle, audio, or hardcopy formats.
100 Side Hustles by Chris Guillebeau – Guillebeau also has has a fun podcast that carries on the inspiration. Available in Kindle, audio, or hardcopy formats.
Chillpreneur by Denise Duffield-Thomas – An Aussie who cuts through imposter syndrome and dispels myths of needing to over-work to “make it.” After only 3 of 18 chapters, I found myself already inspired to write down a few quotes and was intrigued to learn about a collective “witch wound” theory that holds women back even today. Available in audio, or hardcopy formats. (While I couldn’t find as an audiobook on Amazon, I did find it through my library.)
Additional Titles
This list of titles (most I’ve read fully, a few I have not) were either redundant to those above, or not as life-changing for me personally. There are many here though that others ‘swear by’ and highly recommend. Others I added because parts definitely offer some great insights.
- Work Optional by Tanja Hester
- Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez
- Taking Stock: a Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life by Jordan Grumet, MD
- I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
- The Warren Buffet Way by Robert Hagstrom
- Rich Dad Poor Dad & Rich Dad’s Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert T. Kiyosaki (I personally am not as big of a fan of these books as others)
- The Latte Factor by David Bach
- Rich as F*ck by Amanda Frances
- The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Money by Jill Schlesinger – some great food for thought written by an author who is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Schlesinger provides case studies of clients. The combo of real life scenarios pared with Schlesinger’s “Aunt Jill” honesty came across a bit condescending and abrasive to me at times, BUT if you like tough-love frankness, you’ll definitely enjoy this read.
- Financially Forward by Alexa von Tobel
- Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi
- Money Hacks by Lisa Rowan
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Recent recommendations from peers I plan on checking out:
- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgensen
- Balance by Andrew Hallam
- A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel
- The 4 Pillars of Investing by William J. Bernstein
- If You Can by William Bernstein
- The Power of Passive Investing by Richard A Ferri
- Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn
- Meet the Frugalwoods by Elizabeth Willard Thames
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- White Coat Investor blog
Books about Mindset in Retirement
- Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
- How to Retire, Happy Wild and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won’t Get from Your Financial Advisor by Ernie J. Zelinski
- The Joy of Not Working by Ernie J. Zelinski
Feeling overwhelmed on where to start?
Honestly, just about any financial book will teach you something. Pick the first thing that calls to you. Eventually, read it all. You can’t go wrong.
Incorporating a regular read or listen from an audiobook will help normalize good money practices. As they say, it takes pennies to make dollars. So go snowball that knowledge!
Interested in going a step further?
See my list and review of podcasts on personal finance.
Check out my post on FREE or Low Cost Personal Finance Programs That Teach Money Management, Budgeting and Investing
Savings That Makes You Money: High Yield Savings Account (HYSA). Check out my post comparing banks when you’re ready to pick one!
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