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Best Personal Finance Books of All Time:

I believe that each one of these books has the potential to change your financial life.

Many people want to achieve financial independence

for their families,
to leave a job they hate,
or just to live a better life.

Whatever your motivation, these books can help you get there.

*Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains links to products and companies that I endorse. I may receive a fee, but the reader is never charged anything.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

The book has sold over 5 Million Copies.

This is the book to read when you get serious about getting out of debt.

Read How I paid off $17K in Debt last year here.

It provides a simple and straightforward game plan for completely making over your money habits. And it’s based on results.

With The Total Money Makeover: you’ll be able to:

Design a plan for paying off all debt—meaning cars, houses, everything
Recognize the 10 most dangerous money myths
Secure a big, fat nest egg for emergencies and retirement

Why it’s a great personal finance book: The book provides a game plan that’s worked for Millions of people to become financially free. Also, it’s really inspiring and motivational.

I recommend it all the time.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

In Rich Dad Poor Dad, the #1 Personal Finance book of all time, Robert Kiyosaki shares the story of his two dads:

Poor Dad: His real father, whom he calls his ‘poor dad,’
Rich Dad: The father of his best friend, the man who became his mentor and his ‘rich dad.’
Rich Dad’s education was “street smarts” over traditional classroom education and he took the path of entrepreneurship… a road that led him to become one of the wealthiest men in Hawaii.
Robert’s poor dad struggled financially all his life, and these two dads—these very different points of view of money, investing, and employment—shaped Robert’s thinking about money.”

Published in 1997, Robert Kiyosaki reflects on a mindset that many wealthy people adopt:

Financial success isn’t just about saving money, it is about putting money to work to actively grow.

He compares the approaches his two father figures took toward earning and saving money. While both had successful careers, his poor dad “left bills to be paid,” while the rich dad “died with tens of millions of dollars for his family, charities and his church,” Kiyosaki writes.

Ryan Broyles, formerly a wide receiver for the NFL Detroit Lions, wrote that the book changed his outlook as well.

The Poor Dad’s philosophy basically reinforced the way I already thought about money: Make money to live, and save some along the way,” Broyles writes.

“But the Rich Dad’s lessons — making your money work for you by investing it and acquiring income-generating assets — made me realize that I needed to make changes in how I thought about money if I ever wanted to be that Rich Dad and not have to work for somebody else.

The Millionaire Next Door:

The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Staley

The investment classic that explores the seven traits necessary to become a Millionaire. This is an in depth exploration of the ordinary people who have achieved an extraordinary level of wealth and how they did it.

Truly inspirational for those on a debt free journey. More about my debt free journey.

Notable Reviews of The Millionaire Next Door:

… nearly anybody with a steady job can amass a tidy fortune. (Forbes)
A primer for amassing wealth through frugality. (The Boston Globe)

Imagine being able to sit down with 50 millionaires who made their wealth from a normal job.

And ask them how they did it.
What were their habits?
What was their mindset?
That’s what this book is.

How did you do it? If you want to be wealthy, this book is the answer to most of your questions. Learn more here

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

I include The Intelligent Investor because investing is an important part of personal finance. Even if you intend to focus on passive investing, this investment classic is worth a read. It is the essence of the value philosophy both in business and in life. And if you intend to be an active investor in the stock market, this classic is simply a must read.

Legacy: Ben Graham is an investment legend. His book, The Intelligent Investor and Security Analysis have become a blueprint for investment success for generations of high profile Money Managers including Warren Buffett, Seth Klarman, Mario Gabelli, and Leon Cooperman.

Warren Buffett in 1962 and Benjamin Graham in 1947

“By far the best book on investing ever written.” — Warren E. Buffett

If you want to become an above average investor, this book is a great place to start. It is well worth the time and money. “The Intelligent Investor.

This is the book I re-read during the 2008 Financial Crisis. And it helped me tremendously.

You may want to read my post, Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis and How to Profit from the Next Crisis.

“The best known investing book and most likely to make you money is The Intelligent Investor.” — Andrew Tobias

Much More on Benjamin Graham, his books, and legacy.

Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham:

After reading “The Intelligent Investor” at age 19, Warren Buffett enrolled in Columbia Business School in order to study under Graham, and they subsequently developed a lifelong friendship. Later, he worked for Graham at his company, the Graham-Newman Corporation.

One of the best in-depth profiles of Warren Buffett was done by Roger Lowenstein, a Wall Street Journal reporter. Buffett: Making of an American Capitalist. Here

The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason

“The most inspiring guide to wealth ever written.”

“Hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of debt, financial planning, and personal wealth.

At some point in all of our lives we realize that we’re making money, but our money never lasts. We have no control of our money. This book is about the conversation between fathers and sons (or daughters) about money.

How to succeed financially.

The principles are timeless. Our money problems are the same. The answers are straight forward and timeless. More on The Richest Man in Babylon here.

These are the Best Personal finance books of all time. Each one offers a practical guide to help you take control of your money. The reason they still sell millions of copies each year is because they work.