It feels good to give, doesn’t it?
But most of the things we tend to give to family and friends have a short-term effect. They get a gift, consume it, and then it’s on to the next thing.
That’s cool and all but would it be great to give a gift that could really impact a person’s life?
When I started getting my head straight about my personal finances books were the place to go. The internet didn’t have as many useful sites about the subject.
But you know what? Even with all of the information out there I still turn to books for information.
Below are some great books that I’ve either read or have heard so much about they are on my reading wish-list. Take a look and consider checking these out. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the books and what your favorite personal finance book is in the comments.
Oh, and you don’t have to give one of these to someone else for i to be a gift. This could be a gift to yourself too!
Here are some of the best personal finance books that would make great gifts:
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)
My beautiful wife got me this one as a gift (she’s cool like that). Great book on investing from a respected master in the field (he was Buffett’s teacher). I have to re-read this one myself as there’s too much to learn in one read!
Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
This one lives up to its cover. YMYL takes a full life approach to your finances and shows you what your true hourly wage is. This is really a fantastic read!
The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing
This book provides you with sounds investing advice based on the investing ideas of John C. Bogle (the guy that founded Vanguard). Invest in mutual funds with low or no fees is the running theme here. Fun read too.
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy
Here’s the deal — Millionaires don’t all live the extravagant lifestyle you see some live on TV. In fact most don’t. You may be surprised about the lifestyle of the average millionaire! Very enlightening book.
Your Money and Your Brain: How the New Science of Neuroeconomics Can Help Make You Rich
Look, handling your money is pretty easy math — spend less than you earn and save the rest, right? But we don’t do that. In fact we have a tendency to sabotage our finances against our better judgement. Why? Our brains. This book tells you why.
Soldier of Finance: Take Charge of Your Money and Invest in Your Future
This one is from our friend Jeff Rose of Good Financial Cents. Jeff does a great job weaving his own personal story into practical personal finances tips.
Not so personal finance but related to money or business and great reads:
Liar’s Poker
A great look into Wall Street greed in the 80’s which is still very similar today.
Moneyball
Baseball fan? Check! A book about thinking outside of the given norm to look for value in order to get ahead? Check! Same author as Liar’s Poker and also a fun read! Basically this is a book about changing the way you think to do more with less.
Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science
A look at economics in a language we all can understand.
How To Win Friends and Influence People
People skills. You need them. Read this book then read it again!
The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated
I can’t say everything in this book works but it is eye-opening to how a business can be run.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
This one is in my Kindle app right now. It’s all about tuning out the noise to make those decisions that actually make a difference (and it’s mostly noise out there).
The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
An easy read where the author uses modern examples of people using Stoic philosophy to overcome obstacles. This will show you that most problems that come our way can be switched up into benefits if we can chaneg the way we think about them.
Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
Another one in my Kindle app. Here you find out how utterly important it is to network as well as how to go about it. I’m not one who’s so great at this in general but I’ve found many great gems that have helped.
By no means is this a definitive list. But I can tell you that I’ve personally read each of these books (or I’m reading them now) and they are all worth the time!
What do you think? Know any other books? I’ll add them to the list!
Thanks for the great list! I’ve read about half the books on here, and am currently reading The 4-Hour Workweek. I think that there’s a lot of good stuff out there that can help, and reading a variety of books on finance can help you create a style that bests fits you.
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@ Miranda – I like what you say about finding a style. Personally I don’t follow any one person’s advice. I take it all in and use what I find helpful. The more you read the more rounded you’ll get.
@ Joe – I’ve definitely got to find time to go back to the Intelligent Investor! If there were only more hours in the day. And I like your book idea!
I am a HUGE fan of The Intelligent Investor !
It’s one of the first investing books I read, based solely on the Buffett connection (why not learn from the best?). It’s a pretty dense read, but so informative.
Ironically, or maybe just to be “fair and balanced” I’d also recommend Jim Cramer’s Real Money. In many ways it’s the compliment to the value investing view of The Intelligent Investor. Just another set of tactics, though I think Real Money is more for the short term, where The Intelligent Investor is long haul.
Incidentally, I’ve always wanted to write my own investment book: “The Inelegant Investor” (subtitled: “A Guide to Undisciplined Investing and Winning Ugly on Wall street”) 😉
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@ Lindsay – Yeah, I’m sure the Rich Dad, Poor Dad brand is doing ok dollar wise! But I do recall one piece of advice from the book is to find a good professional to work with like a good lawyer or accountant. That’s pretty wise.
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Thank you for this list! I just added “Millionaire Next Door” to my request list from my library. Been meaning to read more PF books and I’m going to start over the Christmas holiday.
That’s a classic one! Let us know what you think of it.
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Thanks for the amazing list! The Millionaire Next Door is one of my favorite books. I think anyone who loves finance should really read it!
I think great books that I’ve either read or have heard so much about they are on my reading wish-list. Take a look and consider checking these out. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the books and what your favorite personal finance book.
Thanks
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