The best 54 Personal Finances books

The Ascent of Money is an explanation of how different historical events led to the development of the current financial system.

It aims to show how, despite its proneness to crises and inequality, the financial system and money itself are drivers of human history and progress.

More Money Than God takes a critical look at hedge funds, the powerful and often mysterious organizations that have a huge impact on global finance and our day-to-day lives. By looking back at the history of this influential investment practice, it reveals how hedge funds developed and how they operate today.

Kevin Roose spent three years following eight young Wall Streeters in an attempt to find how the 2007 crash – and its aftermath – influenced the financial industry. Young Money paints a decidedly grim picture of junior analysts who find themselves on a non-stop rollercoaster of all-nighters and extreme stress, while earning six-figure incomes.

When Genius Failed (2001) follows the rise and fall of Long-Term Capital Management, the world’s largest ever investment fund. The book reveals uncomfortable truths about the nature of investment and the fragility of the models we use to assess risk.

Meltdown (2009) gives you a guide to understanding the government regulations which in effect caused the 2008 global financial crisis. These blinks will explain how government spending has and always will worsen economic recessions, and importantly, what needs to be done to save the world economy.

Makers and Takers (2016) investigates the role of finance in the 2008 crisis and subsequent recession. From the Great Depression onward, these blinks trace the history of loose regulation and blurred boundaries between commercial and investment banking, while highlighting the role of banks, businesses and politicians in the crisis. They also suggest actions the powerful can take to kickstart reform.

Investing With Impact (2015) explores how people have harnessed the power of capitalism to do good and improve society at large. As a number of ethical and philanthropic investors have shown, finance needn’t be a system of pure greed. Find out why the frequently demonized capitalist system may well be the secret to saving the world.

Other People’s Money (2015) offers a detailed breakdown of the financial sector: how it functions, the effect it has on economies and what its purpose should ideally be – as opposed to what its current purpose is. Find out why the international financial sector has become a ruthless mechanism made up of rotten parts, and discover how these parts can be eliminated and, eventually, replaced.

The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings (2018) shines a light on the mistaken beliefs, assumptions, and attitudes about money that are standing between you and financial freedom. Making use of a colorful cast of fictional characters, these blinks present invaluable financial life lessons with a narrative twist.

Clever Girl Finance (2019) aims to help women take charge of their financial well-being without feeling judged or pressured. It shows the best ways to manage your finances, get out of debt, save money, and create wealth while staying true to your values and personality.

The Wisdom of Finance (2017) demonstrates that the world of finance has much to teach us, despite its reputation for avarice and irresponsibility. And likewise, there is much that finance can learn from our wider human endeavors, like literature, art, and philosophy.

The Behavioral Investor (2018) explores the subconscious thought patterns and emotions that influence financial investors. Author Daniel Crosby provides insight and guidance that will help you overcome your natural inclinations so that you can make better financial decisions.

How to Make Money in Stocks (1988, new edition 2008) is a guide to building wealth in the stock market, with proven tips for finding winning stocks and avoiding losers. By learning from the past, How to Make Money in Stocks shows us how to spot telltale patterns in unpredictable markets and profit from them. 

Rich Dad’s Retire Young Retire Rich (2012) unpacks entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki’s unique approach to personal finance. If you want to get rich, he argues, you need to understand how to leverage your mind, plan, and actions. Whether it’s cultivating simple habits conducive to success or using debt to buy income-generating assets, Kiyosaki demonstrates that making money is easier than you might think.

Know Yourself, Know Your Money (2021) tackles personal finance from a novel perspective. Rather than simply showing you how to create a budget or telling you to save more each month, it unpacks the psychology behind decision-making. If you want to improve your financial health, you have to understand why you make the mistakes you do. Get a handle on that and you can start changing your money mindset and build a better future.

Dropshipping (2018) is a handy, straightforward guide to setting up your own e-commerce empire with minimal investment and overhead. This brief manual gives a detailed overview on operating an online retail business and the benefits of doing so.

Get Good With Money (2021) is a ten-step guide to developing a healthy, happy relationship with your money. It focuses on building wealth through the concept of financial wholeness, which embodies constructive spending and saving habits – leading to financial security and peace of mind.

The Price You Pay for College (2021) is a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about choosing a college and financing your education. Exploring mentorship, financial aid, and graduate salaries, it clarifies an often confusing world, aiming to ensure that students’ momentous decisions are informed ones.

The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb (2021) is a practical handbook to achieving your retirement goals. This level-headed guide provides an easy-to-follow plan for cultivating a nest egg even during turbulent times.

Your Money or Your Life (1992) is a nine-step guide to taking control of your finances – so you can enjoy your life rather than just make a living. You’ll learn how to adjust your attitude toward your money and time, get out of debt, start saving, and ultimately reach Financial Independence. 

Learn to Earn (1995) is a beginner’s guide to investing. It gives novice investors information about the history of capitalism and advice on how to pick investments and choose stocks.

Crypto Wars: Faked Deaths, Missing Billions, and Industry Disruption (2021) lifts the lid on some of the cryptosphere’s most audacious scams and notorious scandals. From the missing cryptoqueen, Dr. Ruja Ignatova, to the tech whiz kid who – according to his creditors, at least – faked his own death, Crypto Wars shares this secretive industry’s most compelling stories.

We Should All Be Millionaires (2021) shows how women can attain financial success by casting off impostor syndrome and demanding that they be paid what they’re really worth. Here, you’ll learn how the ability to earn, save, and manage money has been denied to women – and why that’s a bad thing for the world as a whole.

Smart Money Smart Kids (2014) guides parents – or anyone helping raise children – in teaching those kids to become financially smart. Review basics like the relationship between work and money and find actionable advice for instructing toddlers through teens to gain confidence with money.

Million Dollar Habits (2017) is the manual to your brain and your life that you never got in school. It explains the “secrets” of success and what you need to do to unlock your full potential.

Good Money Revolution (2022) is your guide to making more money – so that you can give more away. Earning money with a purpose benefits everyone, including you.

Tax-Free Wealth (2012) takes the mystery out of taxes. It offers priceless insights on taxes and tax planning that you can use to ultimately build your wealth. Drawing from professional experience and a deep understanding of tax law, it breaks down the principles and rules underlying the best financial planning, and shows you how the laws are there to help you save your money.

The NFT Handbook (2022) is your go-to guide to “non-fungible tokens” – a new kind of digital asset that’s changing the way we think about ownership in the internet age. Written by two leading experts on NFTs, this explainer covers everything from how NFTs work to how you can enter this booming global market.

Just Keep Buying (2022) is a no-nonsense guide to personal finance that delights in busting myths and dispelling old clichés. Tackling all-important questions like saving and investing, it digs into the psychology behind money and provides a realistic guide to making sound financial decisions. 

Financial Feminism (2022) debunks the money myths and exposes the systemic oppression that keeps many stuck in toxic jobs or cycles of debt. Offering practical solutions that everyone can start today to close the wage gap, ramp up financial fitness, and build the life of their dreams.

Buy This, Not That (2022) is your ultimate guide to achieving financial independence and freedom. It tells you what to buy, how much to spend, and how to make the most of your money.

Trade Like a Stock Market Wizard (2013) is a guide to the SEPA (Specific Entry Point Analysis) investment methodology. It navigates you through managing risk, maximizing profits, and, most importantly, having faith in your own ability. You don’t have to be a professional to get started in the stock market – in fact, your status as a lay investor might actually be your biggest strength. 

Happy Money (2019) is your guide to turning your attitude to money around. What’s important isn’t how much money you have – it’s whether your money is happy or unhappy. And it’s up to you to change your money’s energy.

The Five Core Conversations for Couples (2020) examines the five important topics every couple should talk about. It offers expert guidance on the core facets of a relationship that can help you strengthen yours. 

Getting Good With Money (2022) combats common money struggles by demystifying the often complicated world of personal finance. Following one family’s journey to financial freedom, it equips readers with practical strategies and helpful tips to develop better money habits and build their dream life.

Smart Women Finish Rich (1998) is a guide to financial empowerment. The personal finance classic walks readers through everything from saving to investing to – ultimately – building a values-based life and funding your dreams. 

The Millionaire Fastlane (2011) challenges conventional wisdom about accumulating wealth and presents an alternative roadmap to financial independence. As opposed to taking the “Slowlane” approach of saving and investing over decades, it argues that investors should instead seize opportunities in entrepreneurship that can lead to rapid wealth accumulation. It covers key principles such as creating scalable businesses, taking calculated risks, and leveraging time to achieve financial freedom more quickly.

Baby Steps Millionaires (2022) is a straightforward, practical guide to how anyone can become a millionaire. It lays out seven simple steps that you can follow to get yourself out of debt, grow your net worth, and improve your life. 

My Philosophy for Successful Living (2011) examines the secrets of how to lead a financially successful and personally fulfilling life. Drawing from the author’s experiences, it presents nuggets of wisdom on topics such as finances, personal development, and goal setting.

How to Attract Money (1959) is a classic handbook on how to grow your wealth and enrichen your life spiritually, mentally and materially. It shows how, by training your mind and your subconscious, you can gear yourself toward a life of abundance and fulfillment.

How to Day Trade for a Living (2015) propels you into the exhilarating world of day trading, equipping you with proven strategies and insights for consistent income. This no-nonsense guide demystifies complex concepts, revealing how you can turn the stock market into your personal ATM.

Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide To Money (2011) is a hands-on guide to personal finance. It details the best approaches to everything money – including budgeting, saving, investing, and getting insurance.

Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (1923) looks at the life and trading strategies of Jesse Livermore, a professional stock and commodities trader, through the pseudonymous character of Larry Livingston. It explores the psychological challenges and strategic complexities of trading, offering timeless insights into market behavior and the discipline required for success in the financial world.

Trading in the Zone (2001) is a deep dive into the psychological aspects of stock trading. It presents a view into a trader's mind, identifying how fear and overconfidence often lead to financial downfall. It also offers a practical framework to manage risk, navigate uncertainties, and develop a winning mindset – enabling anyone to overcome emotional barriers and make more consistent and profitable trades.

The Great Money Reset (2023) is a plain-talking, practically focused handbook aimed at empowering everyday people to take the financial steps necessary to build their dream lives. Simple strategies explain how to bring your financial life into alignment with your values, desires, and dreams, to put a truly fulfilling life within reach.

Love Your Life, Not Theirs (2016) looks at the pervasive issue of financial comparison, with a focus on personal values, informed spending and sustainable money habits. It encourages an authentic lifestyle, advocating for financial stability through debt-avoidance and saving for the future, rather than through striving to keep up with others’ expectations.

The Insider’s Edge to Real Estate Investing (2023) is a wealth of knowledge and insights for beginner and intermediate real estate investors alike. Based on the podcast of the same name, and framed as a 10-step process, it guides you through the many considerations and choices needed to build a successful real estate investment portfolio.

You Were Born Rich (2007) delves into the idea that every person is born with the potential and capacity to lead a rich life, not just in terms of financial wealth but in all areas of life. Inner beliefs and mindsets shape external experiences, and by transforming these inner structures, one can truly realize their innate potential. Every person has the innate capability to manifest their desires and create the life they dream of.

The Warren Buffett Way (2013) chronicles the unprecedented success of one of the world’s greatest investors. From his first $120 investment to his ultimate $120 billion net worth, it focuses on the history and strategies of the man who seemed to do the impossible: beat the market.

You Will Own Nothing (2023) challenges you to confront a possible future where global elites dictate what you do and don’t have. Dive into an investigation of the forces striving to reshape our very notions of ownership, and discover strategies to ensure your autonomy and assets aren't just safe but thriving. Brace yourself: it's time to redefine your future.

The Simple Path to Wealth (2016) navigates the intricate world of investing, presenting clear and direct strategies for financial success. By demystifying money's role it reveals the authentic mechanics of the stock market, and offers a straightforward method to avoid financial snares, all while emphasizing the power of simplicity in wealth building.

Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement (2019) is a roadmap to financial freedom through diversified income streams like real estate, stocks, and other forms of passive income. As traditional retirement plans become outdated, financial independence emerges as the new goal. Discover the tools to craft your prosperous financial narrative.

Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs (2008) provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing financial information effectively, specifically tailored for entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers without a financial background. Through practical insights and real-world examples, it demystifies complex financial terms and empowers nonfinancial professionals to leverage financial intelligence for business success.

Unscripted (2017) exposes societal norms and stories that often trap individuals in unfulfilling lives, mediocrity, and financial dependency. It emphasizes entrepreneurship as a vehicle for breaking free from these constraints, and provides principles for creating a business that generates explosive wealth and life-changing outcomes.