My Personal Top 6 Wealth Books That You Must Read THIS YEAR
Just before the recent happenings with the economy in 2008 I was fortunate enough to get really interested in finance books. Even though the majority of my reading is business, sales, marketing and personal development I decided in my teens that money and wealth were very important and came to the conclusion that money was the cause of many people’s depression and family problems.
Knowing how to handle money shouldn’t be a special skill or talent, because really, everyone should know finance basics. They don’t teach you how to save in school. They don’t teach that if you spend more than you make, year after year, you’ll eventually hit rock bottom. Even though this is common sense, it’s not common practice. Another thing they are poor at teaching in schools is how to make money, and what to do with it when they get it. Most college students expect to coast off their degree or expect to end up broke in 5 years. In short, most college students don’t know anything about money.
You can be a CPA and still no little or nothing about money. So how do you learn about money? Simple, seek knowledge. Don’t rely on any educational institution to teach you all you need to know. Your life is too important to waste it on suffering because of financial ignorance. Who do you listen to? Authors like Thomas J. Stanly who study millionaires and can tell you what real rich people look like, what they drive and where they live. Or Brain Tracy, a life long student on the subject of wealth, riches and achievement.
Let’s take look at a few of the books that I recommend you read to educate yourself on the subject money:
My Personal Top 6 Wealth Books
1. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley

What do rich people look like? What do they drive and where do they live? You might be surprised if you never read this book. Millionaire Next Door Is a perfect read for anyone who wants to accumulate wealth but doesn’t make 6-figures in yearly income. Stanley outlines the steps in his book for joining the ranks of America’s wealthy. He explains that it’s quite easy to become a millionaire within a relatively short period(being 5-20 years, depending on your financial situation) by number one, living below your means, number two, choosing an occupation that suits you, number three, valuing wealth over social economic status(appearing rich).
In the book, Stanley defines wealth and what wealth REALLY is as opposed to what it’s generally viewed as. I need to read Millionaire Next Door a few more times. It’s truly one of the best you could ever read on wealth building. First time reading it, it blew my mind. There’s so much common sense packed in this book you begin to see how extremely brainwashed we’ve all been on the subject of money.
2. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker

T. Harv Eker introduces the concept of the wealth blueprint and provides steps on how to become aware of not only what your wealth blue print is but how to change it. The first few chapters explains where we got our wealth blueprint, our parents, our peers, our teachers, people in power that we admire. The last half of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind gives 17 lessons to contrasting between the rich-minded and the poor-minded and the results of each. Again, one of the best books on wealth, second to Millionaire Next Door.
3. Million Dollar Habits: Proven Power Practices to Double and Triple Your Income by Brain Tracy

Brian Tracy is one of my favorite personal development authors. I’ve listened to much of his audio collection and benefited greatly from his material. Tracy is a very down to earth, nose to the grind stone, common sense type of person. I listened to the audio of Million Dollar Habits, however I’m suggesting you read the book as well. In, Million Dollar Habits, Tracy goes over a few key wealth principles and gives examples of millionaires he’s studied.
4. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money-That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki

What can I say about Rich Dad Poor Dad? Quick read, perfect for a younger audience that wants to learn business and wealth building concepts. Robert Kiyosaki gives the story on how he acquired wealth by building a business. He talks about modest beginnings and how listening to the advice of his Rich Dad allowed him to eventually accomplish a life long dream. He also talks about how his Poor Dad’s attitude towards money and lack of financial education eventually ruined him.
To be honest, much of Kiyosaki’s books don’t appeal to me, besides this one. I recommend you read a few of his other books, like Cash Flow Quadrant, which is not bad at the beginning but seems to dry up in the end. Also, take a look at Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump’s book, Why We Want You To Be Rich.
5. Money Grows on Trees by Alton Howard

Another simple book(wealth shouldn’t be complicated). The subtitle suggests that it teaches you how to make, manage and master money. The book is forwarded by Sam Walton, which I find somewhat impressive. Money Grows On Trees provides some insight on building your “money tree” which is your ability to build wealth. He also has a section in the book on how to become dept free in 24 months. Overall, I thought this was a pretty good read. Quite a long book, but not too much fluff. Very informative the whole way through.
6. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S Clason

Ok, I’m going to use the word “simple” again. Because Richest Man in Babylon is one of the simplest books on wealth I’ve read yet. To be honest it doesn’t teach anything profound or anything you really didn’t know before. But then again, maybe it will teach you something about wealth. Each chapter is based on a very simple wealth principle, but each page is packed with thought provoking and inspiring insight on each principle. The whole book is basically a parable taken place in the time of ancient Babylon. I didn’t get to the last few chapters, but the book is one that everyone needs to read at least ONCE.
Enjoy…
Like I said earlier, there’s noting overly complicated or confusing about wealth. We’re just taught the wrong stuff. You need to seek understanding if you really want it. And if you don’t, have fun with that to



