Money. The international language. The magical substance that makes the world go round. We all want to get our hands on it. But being college students, we see it as a future goal, instead of a current one. Well not any more. The books I’m going to list for you will take you from a dreamer to a believer.
After reading these 10 books, which are super easy reads by the way, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to become a millionaire, even on a 40k per year salary. It’s good to have these skills before the money starts coming in, so as not to develop bad habits. And when are you going to have more time to read than in college right?
But enough talk, let’s dive into the goods! The list is also in order of what you should read first.
- Who Moved My Cheese - A very motivational parable. I found Who Moved My Cheese to be an easy way to learn simple financial life lessons, a way of shaping a more fiscally responsible mindset. Because it’s very basic and easy to read, I always recommend it as a first personal finance read.
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Another inspirational tale of a boy who has a dad and a friends dad. His dad makes poor decisions, lives in fear, and never takes risks. His friends dad is exactly the opposite; He takes calculated risk, works for himself, and does not fear. This book will teach you the difference between an asset and a liability. It will help you to learn how to invest in assets and stay away from liabilities. It’s another great ‘starter’ finance guide.
- Rich Dad’s Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money – I have to be honest… I haven’t read this one yet. But my trusted friend and financial advisor recommended it to me, and every recommendation he’s ever made turned out well, so I trust it enough to recommend it to you.
- The Millionaire Next Door – This book will teach you how saving a little today adds to millions tomorrow. It also shows the different lifestyles of the “rich and famous” and the responsible middle class, and shows a different kind of millionaire; the kind that lives next door and who’s neighbors would never know they are rich. This book will teach you how to become a millionaire even if you only make 40k a year.
- Think and Grow Rich – If you haven’t heard of this one by now, you should probably get out of the basement for a little while. Napoleon Hill wrote this classic of 13 simple success principals that will lead to increased success, both financially and personally. It’s a fantastic read.
- Automatic Millionaire – Automatic Millionaire was a really fun read. It was fast and simple and it taught me how to automate my finances in a way that I’ll never be stressed again. My finances are almost completely automated, which includes investing, bill pay, and even money to go on dates… Not bad, huh?
- Personal Finance Handbook - I like this book because it teaches you the basics of every aspect of money. This includes paying debt, credit cards, stock market, real estate, making large purchases, and so much more. This book will help you find your way, and from it you can choose more specialized books depending on what you want to get into. Think of it as a wikipedia page on personal finance.
- 4 Hour Workweek - Two words: Passive Income. 4 Hour Workweek teaches you to build and implement systems in your life that with very little work on your part will develop into income generating systems. I was inspired to get off my butt and figure out a few ways to bring some $$ my way after reading this book.
- I Will Teach You To Be Rich – This is another book I have yet to read, but with all the hype it’s generating in the business world right now, I thought it might be a good idea to list it. The book is geared towards 20-35 year olds, and teaches everything from automating your finances to entrepreneurship. It’s apparently a great read for everyone our age!
- A Gift To My Children: A Father’s Lessons For Live and Investing – I love this book. You get a real personal feel with this one, as if it were your own dad giving you great advice. You’ll definitely want to pick this one up, both for knowledge and inspiration.
So there you have it, my Must Read Money Books. What books do you think are worth mentioning in this group? What books got your finances on track? Leave your awesome comment below and inspire someone to take charge of their money!
