In 2018, a study found that 58% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings in the bank. It gets worse: More than half of those people not only have less than $1,000 but $0! that’s bad.
You are reading: Best books on money management
Not bad because you “need to save money,” but because not having an emergency fund puts you in a vulnerable position. What happens if someone crashes into your car? what if you break some bones? things out of our control can force us to pay. you don’t want to come up short when that happens.
That’s just the most compelling example of why you should learn to manage your finances. there are others: retiring peacefully without worrying about money, having enough to invest in a new business, giving freely to friends, family, and charities — money makes our lives easier to a point.
Fortunately, there are plenty of good books out there to help us become financially smart. In Four Minute Books, we’ve reviewed and summarized over 1,000 books to date, and we believe the best finance books come down to three things:
- practical advice. Money is a tangible thing, so any advice the authors give should be easy for you to implement right away.
- relevant information. depending on your situation and goals, you may need a beginner book or a more advanced one.
- inspiring stories. if a book is boring, it won’t be to motivate you to take action. the easiest way to change is to listen to a good story.
Based on these three criteria, we’ve selected the 14 best finance books for you to read. If you want to get smart about your finances, get smarter in the way you spend and save, and learn how to invest your money to build freedom, consider these books.
Our list includes our favorite quote, a short summary, three key lessons, and some arguments for why you might want to read each book in question. each of them is available in four-minute books, so you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
To make it easier for you to navigate this page, we have divided the list into different categories and created a table of contents. you can also go back up here with the little arrow in the bottom right corner of the page.
Whether you’ve been down on your luck, have bad financial habits, or just aren’t good at math, these books can ultimately change your financial life for the better. Here are the best finance books!
best finance books in general
1. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. kiyosaki
favorite quote
“The main reason more than 90 percent of the American public struggles financially is because they play not to lose. They don’t play to win.” — Robert T. kiyosaki
the book in a sentence
Rich Dad Poor Dad tells the story of a boy with two parents, one rich and one poor, to help him develop the financial mindset and knowledge he needs to build a life of wealth and freedom.
why should you read it?
This book is controversial, but by getting you to actually do something, it just works. It is partially based on the life of Kiyosaki, who learned two different ways of handling money from his father and from his best friend. The lessons are a mix of how to approach money as a concept, basic accounting skills, budgeting and investing, and how to manage your money so it works for you. By the time you’re done with the story, you’ll enjoy implementing the tips.
key takeaways
- Use your money to acquire assets, not liabilities.
- Manage risks rather than avoid them.
- Work to learn, not to earn.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
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2. money: master the game by tony robbins
favorite quote
“Either you dominate money or, at some level, money dominates you!” —tony robbins
the book in a sentence
money: master the game presents seven easy steps to financial freedom, based on advice from the world’s top billionaire investors, interviewed by tony robbins.
why should you read it?
tony robbins devoted ten years of research to this book. after the financial crisis of 2008, she decided to help ordinary people secure a good future. After interviewing several billionaire financial legends, like Ray Dalio, Warren Buffett, Jack Bogle, she put together her best strategies. The book contains everything from mindset changes to saving tips and asset allocation. interview transcripts are worth the price of the book alone.
key takeaways
- Never underestimate the exponential power of compounding.
- Choose one of three financial goals to demonstrate that financial freedom is within your reach: Basic Spending, Basic + Fun, or Financial Independence.
- diversify your investments using a 3-cube system: a security cube, a growth cube, and a dreams cube.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
best finance books for beginners
3. scott pape’s barefoot investor
favorite quote
“you can continue living in the past, beating yourself up for the financial mistakes you made when you were younger, telling yourself you left too late…or you can stand up and be proud.” — scott paper
the book in a sentence
The Barefoot Investor is an Australian farmer’s basic guide to taking charge of your personal finances with a simple system to eliminate debt, live in the now and retire in peace.
why should you read it?
scott pape is australia’s most trusted personal finance expert. his book has sold more than 1,000,000 copies. Despite growing up on a farm, Pape wanted to get rich trading stocks. This is not functional. he returned to his farm and now uses the simple life as a metaphor for managing his money. the book helps you take control in three phases: plant, cultivate, and then harvest the money from it. he balances easy advice with radical advice. a great book for beginners.
key takeaways
- simplify your money management by using different bank accounts.
- shred your credit cards first, then start paying down your debt.
- automate some of your planning pension with index funds.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
4. the one page financial plan by carl richards
favorite quote
“People who understand interest earn it. people who don’t pay for it. —carl richards
the book in a sentence
one page financial plan makes financial planning less of a burden to the less disciplined by helping you plan your entire financial future on a single page.
why should you read it?
carl richards has spent more than 40,000 hours over the last 20 years as a financial advisor, working at wells fargo, merrill lynch and others. some of the sketches of him that he shares on instagram went viral. they illustrate the ideas that helped him and his wife plan their finances on a single sheet of paper. his book shows you how to do the same.
key takeaways
- Set some goals, but be flexible and adjust them as you go.
- Make budgeting a game to make saving fun.
- Watch Payment of debt as an investment in your future.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
best finance books for investors
5. benjamin graham’s intelligent investor
favorite quote
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“Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” — Benjamin Graham
the book in a sentence
The Smart Investor explains value investing, which focuses on generating consistent long-term returns by ignoring the current market and choosing companies with high intrinsic value.
why should you read it?
warren buffett says this is the best book on investing ever written. It is based on Benjamin Graham’s classes, which Warren Buffett took when he was a young student. Value investors find companies with excellent fundamentals and buy their shares at a discount. after that, all they have to do is wait. eventually, its real value will be unlocked. a true timeless classic.
key takeaways
- there are 3 principles to smart investing: think long term, protect yourself from losses and don’t go for crazy profits.
- never trust mr. market, it can be very irrational in the short to medium term.
- Stick to a strict formula by which you make all your investments, and you’ll be fine.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
6. the little book that beats the market by joel greenblatt
favorite quote
“Choosing individual stocks without having any idea what you’re looking for is like walking through a dynamite factory with a lit match. you can live, but you’re still an idiot. — joel greenblatt
the book in a sentence
the little book that (still) beats the market is a step-by-step tutorial for implementing a simple mathematical formula when buying stocks that guarantees long-term profits.
why should you read it?
joel greenblatt is an investment legend. his gotham fund investment company returned more than 40% annually for 20 years, from 1986 to 2006. with his simple formula, joel has turned benjamin graham’s approach to value investing into a system that only needs to be updated once Once a year. in 2005, she wrote it to pass on to his children. If she’s looking for a no-nonsense, targeted investment approach, this is her best bet.
key takeaways
- look at earnings performance and return on equity to evaluate stocks.
- rank and combine these two factors to find winning companies.
- be patient, is what makes this formula unpopular, but effective.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
best finance books for entrepreneurs
7. the millionaire fastlane by mj demarco
favorite quote
“many people want to change their lives, but they are not willing to change their choices and, ultimately, this does not change anything”. — mj demarco
the book in a sentence
The Millionaire Fast Track points out what’s wrong with the old “get a degree, get a job, work hard, retire rich” model, defines wealth in a new way, and shows you the path to retiring young.
why should you read it?
This book must have the most misleading title in the world. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme at all. instead, it’s a story of persistence, daring, risk-taking, and unconventional thinking. After seeing a man in a Lamborghini when he was a teenager, MJ DeMarco knew he wanted to be rich, but he didn’t want to slave away for 40 years to get there. after launching, selling and buying back his own company, he retired at age 33 a billionaire. An inspiring read!
key takeaways
- wealth represents 3 things — and money is not one of them: health, relationships, and freedom are what really matter.
- at some point, you have to make your Income is independent of your time.
- Think like a producer, not a consumer.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
8. think and grow rich napoleon hill
favorite quote
“The starting point of all achievement is desire. keep this in mind constantly. weak desire produces weak results, just as a small fire produces a small amount of heat.” — napoleon hill
the book in a sentence
Think and Grow Rich is a selection of the 13 most common habits of rich and successful people, drawn from the study of more than 500 people over the course of 20 years.
why should you read it?
This might be the most popular book on success in the world. After steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie himself put him to the task, Napoleon Hill interviewed successful people for 20 years. the result, was published in 1937 and has sold 70 million copies. is a book about thinking, vision, and doing what it takes to be successful. If you are a young entrepreneur, this is for you.
key takeaways
- Use autosuggestion to build an unshakeable belief in yourself.
- Be stubborn and always stick to your decisions.
- Join a group of experts to reduce your learning curve.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
best finance books to save money
9. i will teach you how to be rich by ramit sethi
favorite quote
“getting started is more important than becoming an expert”. — ramit sethi
the book in a sentence
I’ll Teach You To Be Rich helps you save money on autopilot while letting you spend guilt-free on the things you enjoy.
why should you read it?
ramit sethi’s blog started in his bedroom in 2004. after selling an ebook for a few dollars and seeing the magic of winning online, he doubled down. 15 years later, growlab generates millions in annual revenue with online courses. This New York Times bestseller will help him cut costs in all areas of life, splurge on the things he enjoys, and automate his retirement planning. a realistic perspective of someone who has done it.
key takeaways
- You alone are responsible for your financial problems.
- Know how much money you’re bringing in, and then automatically direct it where you want it to end up.
- Start investing today, even if it’s only $1.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
10. the total change of money for dave ramsey
favorite quote
“We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” —david ramsey
the book in a sentence
The Total Money Makeover shows you how to stop accepting debt as business as usual, eliminate it forever in small increments, and build the financial future you deserve in seven steps.
why should you read it?
The Dave Ramsey Show is one of America’s most popular radio shows. Ramsey helps people become debt free, at which point they come on his show to talk about the experience. it also helps them with the emotional issues of dealing with money and goes beyond simple math advice. Ramsey encourages you to tackle your debt from small to large, then start saving slowly and invest only after you’ve covered the basics. a rock-solid approach to finances.
key takeaways
- before you do anything else, put away $1,000 in an emergency fund.
- start paying down your debts, starting with the smallest.
- build up your fund until you have at least a three-month margin.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
best finance books for retirement
11. David Bach’s Automatic Millionaire
favorite quote
“The fact is that none of us have a choice: we are all playing the money game whether we want to or not. the only question is: are we winning? — david bach
the book in a sentence
The Auto Millionaire is an actionable, step-by-step plan to build wealth without being disciplined by relying on fixed percentages, small payments, and automated transactions.
why should you read it?
when he was seven years old, his grandmother took david bach to mcdonald’s. Over lunch, she told him that there are three types of people in the world: those who eat at McDonald’s, those who work at McDonald’s, and those who invest in McDonald’s. wow! Bach later became vice president of Morgan Stanley. he today he runs a consultancy and publishes books. 7 out of 12 is a new york times best seller, and this is his most practical template for building wealth.
key takeaways
- saving a little every day will go a long way.
- pay yourself first to take care of your financial future.
- automatic payments allow you to invest in a disciplined way without being disciplined yourself.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
12. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. stanley
favorite quote
“whatever your income, always live below your means”. — Thomas J. stanley
the book in a sentence
The millionaire next door shows you the simple spending and saving habits that lead to more cash in the bank than most people earn in a lifetime while helping you avoid critical mistakes on your way to success. financial independence.
why should you read it?
stanley and his co-author william danko studied people with normal incomes and high net worths for decades. the book helps you avoid becoming a uaw — a sub-accumulator of wealth. most people could save half of their income. this book shows you why it’s worth the effort in the long run.
key takeaways
- Save responsibly from the moment you start earning more than you need to live.
- Use a simple net worth formula to calculate if you’re not reaching your financial potential.
- avoid cheap outpatient care — spending too much money supporting others — to reach your goal.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
best finance books for financial freedom
13. secrets of the millionaire mind of t. harvester
favorite quote
“If you want to change the fruits, you will first have to change the roots. If you want to change the visible, you must first change the invisible.” — t. harvester
the book in a sentence
secrets of the millionaire mind suggests that our financial success is not determined from birth and shows us what to do to break through mental barriers and acquire the habits and thinking of the rich.
why should you read it?
After an absolute roller coaster ride of building, selling, losing and failing in over a dozen businesses, T. Harv Eker analyzed his own relationship with money. he discovered that he had just emulated the financial strategies of his parents, just like most of us. This book will help you undo the damaging aspects of that wiring and replace it with sound financial thinking and habits.
key takeaways
- You naturally tend to replicate your parents’ income strategies.
- If you want to control your finances, you must first realize that you are in control.
- don’t despise the rich or you’ll never get rich.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
14. the richest man in babylon by george clason
favorite quote
“advice is a thing that is freely given, but be careful that you only take what is worth having”. — George S. class
the book in a sentence
The richest man in Babylon gives common sense financial advice you can apply today, told through tales and parables from ancient Babylonian times.
why should you read it?
jorge s. Clason, a soldier, businessman, and writer, was smart when he published this book in 1926. Instead of giving dull, unreliable advice, he wrapped his lessons in stories of the Babylonians. Generally believed to be an amazing town, George was given the power to transfer these lessons to us. the advice is as strong today as it was then.
key takeaways
- live below your means.
- learn to be lucky.
- never go into debt.
If you’d like to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or grab a copy for yourself.
See Also: The Best Completely Free Kindle Books for 2022 | Digital Trends
conclusion
We have summarized over 1000 books to date, many of them about money. In our opinion, these are the best finance books of all time to start mastering the money in your life.
Whether you’re recovering from an unfortunate turn of events, suffering from bad financial habits picked up in childhood, or just not good at math, after diving into these books, you’ll soon create more financial room to breathe in their life. .
Improve your financial literacy, reduce your spending, start saving and investing, and you’ll be well on your way to financial independence.
When it comes to taking control of your finances, the most important part is starting today.
“an investment in knowledge pays the best interest”. – benjamin franklin
other book lists
Looking for more of the best books on various topics? here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:
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