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Best Personal Finance Books: The 40 BEST Books to Get Rich

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Arthur Worsley
by Arthur Worsley
M.A. Psychology, Oxford. McKinsey Alum. Founder & Editor at TAoL.

Looking for the best personal finance books of all time?

You're in the right place!

Here's what you'll find on this page...

Key Takeaways: The Top 5 Books

The 5 best personal finance books of all time are:

  1. The Richest Man In Babylon - George S. Clason
  2. Financial Peace Revisited - Dave Ramsey
  3. Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki
  4. Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant - Robert Kiyosaki
  5. The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey

Learn why and get the full list of best personal finance books below...

Contents
1. Key Takeaways: The Top 5 Books
2. Why These Top Personal Finance Books Matter
3. Which Book Should You Read First?
4. What You WON’T Find on This Page…
5. The 40 Best Personal Finance Books Ever Written
6. Books 1-10: The Top 10 Best Personal Finance Books of All Time
7. Books 11-40: The Best Personal Finance Books to Read Next
8. More Book Recommendations
9. More Best Books of All Time (by Type)
10. More Best Nonfiction Books (by Topic)
11. More Best Fiction Books (by Genre)
12. Wish There Was a Faster/Easier Way?

Why These Top Personal Finance Books Matter

There are few topics as divisive or important as money.

Why? Because while “the love of money” may be “the root of all evil”, a lack of it is a huge driver mental and physical suffering.

Hundreds of millions of Americans, billions of people worldwide, are slaves to debt or trapped in poverty with what seems like no hope of escape.

And so much of that suffering shouldn’t happen.

In fact, all many folks need to find the pathway to financial freedom is a basic financial education. One that’s sorely (and shockingly) absent from our schools and universities today.

That’s why these best books on personal finance are so important.

They fill a gap that simply shouldn’t exist.

Whether you’re deep in debt, struggling with more month than money or just never had the time (or opportunity) to learn how to conquer your cashflow…

Reading just one or two books on this list is hand’s down the fastest and easiest way to boost your life satisfaction and take control of your future today.

Which Book Should You Read First?

If you’re in debt, just getting started and/or want a quick action-plan to get on top of your finances, I’d strongly recommend starting with Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover.

Once the pressure’s off, you can come back to this list, scan from top to bottom and dive into whichever of these best personal finance books grabs you next.

If you loved Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover there’s a good chance you’ll also love Financial Peace Revisited. My personal favourites (and suggestions to read next) would be Rich Dad Poor Dad and then Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki.

What You WON’T Find on This Page…

This list is full of books that focus on financial freedom.

For more books on money, check out these reading lists of:

For more books to support the changes many authors suggest below, check out these lists of:

For now, though, here’s the list of the best personal finance books of all time…

The 40 Best Personal Finance Books Ever Written

Why these best personal finance books and not others? To stay objective, I rank all my book recommendations by what’s most loved (Goodreads rating), what’s most popular (Goodreads review count) and what’s proven timelessly relevant (first publication date).

This isn’t a whimsical list. It’s a data-driven, crowdsourced collection of the best personal finance books ever published as decided by book lovers just like you. (Note: To maximise diversity, I only include the top ranking book from any series in a list.)

And if you think something's missing? I LOVE book recommendations so if there are any other best personal finance books that you think deserve mentioning, email me and I’ll be sure to include them in the next round of updates.

Until then, enjoy this ultimate list of the 40 best personal finance books of all time...

Books 1-10: The Top 10 Best Personal Finance Books of All Time

The top 10 best personal finance books of all time are...

Best Personal Finance Books: The Richest Man in Babylon
1. The Richest Man in Babylon - George S. Clason (FREE Summary)
The Richest Man in Babylon is THE classic parable on how to acquire money, how to not lose money and how to make money multiply - by serial entrepreneur and author, George S. Clason.
Published 1926 // 194 pages // Rated 4.3 over 146,000 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: Financial Peace Revisited
2. Financial Peace Revisited - Dave Ramsey (FREE Summary)
Financial Peace Revisited is an approachable, practical guide to getting out of debt and unlocking your financial freedom no matter who you are or where you're starting from - by personal finance guru, radio host and businessman, Dave Ramsey.
Published 1992 // 352 pages // Rated 4.3 over 13,800 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: Rich Dad Poor Dad
3. Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki (FREE Summary)
Rich Dad Poor Dad is one of the few must-read handbooks for anyone who's serious about earning their financial freedom - by businessman, investor and best-selling author, Robert Kiyosaki.
Published 1997 // 195 pages // Rated 4.1 over 472,500 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant
4. Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant - Robert Kiyosaki (FREE Summary)
Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom
Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant is the practica sequal to Rich Dad Poor Dad that'll show you EXACTLY how to take control of your cashflow and build massive wealth - by businessman, investor and best-selling author, Robert Kiyosaki.
Published 1998 // 376 pages // Rated 4.1 over 47,600 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: The Total Money Makeover
5. The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey (FREE Summary)
A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
The Total Money Makeover is the über-practical, 7-step sequal to Financial Peace Revisited that maps out the EXACT sequence of baby steps you need to break free of debt and earn your way to freedom - by personal finance guru, radio host and businessman, Dave Ramsey.
Published 2003 // 223 pages // Rated 4.2 over 80,500 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: The Millionaire Next Door
6. The Millionaire Next Door - Thomas J. Stanley (FREE Summary)
The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy
The Millionaire Next Door is a fascinating study of the work and personal habits of America's surprisingly abundant blue-collar millionaires and PAW's (prodigious accumulator's of wealth) - by marketing professor, author and business theorist, Thomas J. Stanley.
Published 1995 // 258 pages // Rated 4.0 over 91,500 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: The Millionaire Mind
7. The Millionaire Mind - Thomas J. Stanley (FREE Summary)
The Millionaire Mind builds on The Millionaire Next Door by exploring EXACTLY how America's self-made, top 1% millionaires overcame obstacles like humble GPAs and rough starts - by marketing professor, author and business theorist, Thomas J. Stanley.
Published 2000 // 416 pages // Rated 4.2 over 24,300 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: Your Money or Your Life
8. Your Money or Your Life - Vicki Robin (FREE Summary)
Your Money of Your Life is a 9-step, ultimate guide to getting out of debt, building good habits, enjoying life with less stuff and investing for maximium financial success - by author, speaker and professional finance guru, Vicki Robin.
Published 1992 // 400 pages // Rated 4.0 over 22,700 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
9. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind - T. Harv Eker (FREE Summary)
Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind explores how your money-mindset may be suffocating your journey to financial freedom, no matter who you are or how much you're earning (and how to fix it) - by author, businessman and motivational speaker T. Harv Eker.
Published 2005 // 212 pages // Rated 4.2 over 52,800 reviews on Goodreads
Best Personal Finance Books: The Wealthy Barber
10. The Wealthy Barber - David Chilton (FREE Summary)
The Common Sense Guide to Successful Financial Planning
The Wealthy Barber maps out a simple, sure and steady path to financial success that is guaranteed to put you back on track to unlock your financial independence - by author, investor, and TV personality, David Chilton.
Published 1989 // 197 pages // Rated 4.0 over 9,200 reviews on Goodreads

Books 11-40: The Best Personal Finance Books to Read Next

Here are the next best personal finance books from my database...

11. I Will Teach You to Be Rich - Ramit Sethi
Published 2009 // 266 pages // Rated 4.1 over 34,200 reviews on Goodreads
12. Multiple Streams of Income - Robert G. Allen
How to Generate a Lifetime of Unlimited Wealth
Published 1998 // 336 pages // Rated 4.0 over 5,200 reviews on Goodreads
13. Smart Women Finish Rich - David Bach
9 Steps to Achieving Financial Security and Funding Your Dreams
Published 1998 // 328 pages // Rated 4.1 over 3,700 reviews on Goodreads
14. Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money - Dave Ramsey
The Handbook of Financial Peace University
Published 2011 // 330 pages // Rated 4.4 over 5,300 reviews on Goodreads
15. The Simple Path to Wealth - J.L. Collins
Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life
Published 2016 // 288 pages // Rated 4.5 over 14,300 reviews on Goodreads
16. Millionaire Teacher - Andrew Hallam
The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School
Published 2011 // 184 pages // Rated 4.3 over 5,000 reviews on Goodreads
17. More than Enough - Dave Ramsey
The Ten Keys to Changing Your Financial Destiny
Published 1999 // 352 pages // Rated 4.1 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads
18. The Automatic Millionaire - David Bach
A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich
Published 2003 // 272 pages // Rated 3.9 over 16,900 reviews on Goodreads
19. The 4-Hour Workweek - Tim Ferriss (FREE Summary)
Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich
The 4-Hour Workweek one of the most influential books on the reading list of nearly every successful digital nomad and online business owner I've ever met - by best-selling author, podcaster and life-hacker Tim Ferriss.
Published 2007 // 308 pages // Rated 3.9 over 240,800 reviews on Goodreads
20. The Psychology of Money - Morgan Housel
Published 2020 // 252 pages // Rated 4.4 over 43,300 reviews on Goodreads
21. How to Get Rich - Felix Dennis
Published 2007 // 352 pages // Rated 4.1 over 4,900 reviews on Goodreads
22. Smart Money Smart Kids - Dave Ramsey
Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money
Published 2014 // 272 pages // Rated 4.3 over 5,200 reviews on Goodreads
23. You Need a Budget - Jesse Mecham
The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want
Published 2010 // 224 pages // Rated 4.1 over 6,200 reviews on Goodreads
24. Million Dollar Habits - Brian Tracy
Practical, Proven, Power Practices to Double and Triple Your Income
Published 1999 // 250 pages // Rated 4.1 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads
25. Why We Want You To Be Rich - Donald J. Trump
Two Men, One Message
Published 2006 // 345 pages // Rated 3.9 over 14,700 reviews on Goodreads
26. The 21 Success Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires - Brian Tracy
How to Achieve Financial Independence Faster and Easier Than You Ever Thought Possible
Published 2000 // 91 pages // Rated 4.0 over 2,400 reviews on Goodreads
27. The Truth About Money - Ric Edelman
Published 1996 // 672 pages // Rated 4.1 over 700 reviews on Goodreads
28. How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt, and Live Prosperously - Jerrold Mundis
Based on the Proven Principles and Techniques of Debtors Anonymous
Published 1988 // 272 pages // Rated 4.1 over 400 reviews on Goodreads
29. All Your Worth - Elizabeth Warren
The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan
Published 2005 // 304 pages // Rated 4.2 over 2,100 reviews on Goodreads
30. The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke - Suze Orman
Published 2004 // 400 pages // Rated 3.9 over 6,300 reviews on Goodreads
31. Get a Financial Life - Beth Kobliner
Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties
Published 1996 // 352 pages // Rated 3.9 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads
32. MONEY Master the Game - Anthony Robbins
7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom
Published 2014 // 688 pages // Rated 4.0 over 19,100 reviews on Goodreads
33. Unshakeable - Anthony Robbins
Your Financial Freedom Playbook
Published 2017 // 257 pages // Rated 4.1 over 12,900 reviews on Goodreads
34. The Soul of Money - Lynne Twist
Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life
Published 2003 // 336 pages // Rated 3.9 over 3,000 reviews on Goodreads
35. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom - Suze Orman
Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying
Published 1997 // 352 pages // Rated 3.8 over 3,100 reviews on Goodreads
36. Quit Like a Millionaire - Kristy Shen
No Gimmicks, Luck, or Trust Fund Required
Published 2019 // 336 pages // Rated 4.3 over 3,500 reviews on Goodreads
37. Early Retirement Extreme - Jacob Lund Fisker
A Philosophical and Practical Guide to Financial Independence
Published 2010 // 240 pages // Rated 4.0 over 3,200 reviews on Goodreads
38. Conversations with Millionaires - Mike Litman
What Millionaires Do to Get Rich, That You Never Learned about in School!
Published 2001 // 240 pages // Rated 4.1 over 200 reviews on Goodreads
39. Personal Finance for Dummies - Eric Tyson
Published 1994 // 454 pages // Rated 3.8 over 1,700 reviews on Goodreads
40. Women & Money - Suze Orman
Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny
Published 2005 // 272 pages // Rated 3.9 over 3,600 reviews on Goodreads

More Book Recommendations

Enjoyed this list of the best personal finance books of all time?

You'll also like TAoL's other book recommendations...

More Best Books of All Time (by Type)

These are some lists of overall best books to read...

More Best Nonfiction Books (by Topic)

These are some lists of best nonfiction books to read...

More Best Fiction Books (by Genre)

These are some lists of best fiction books to read...

Or, you can read all my book recommendations.

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