Are you managing your finances with an overarching plan, or are you relying on trial and error to get by?
When it comes to making a financial plan, many people go out of their way to put it off until they finally “feel ready” or are hit with inspiration. I’m here to help you get started!
If you’re looking to learn about personal finance, investment strategy, the path to financial freedom, or gain financial success, educating yourself is the best way to do so.
After researching and having read some of these books myself, I have learned some money-making ways that people have used to increase income and make a lot of money. The 30 best rich books listed below are the perfect place to start.
Related: If you’re a beginner, here are the best financial books for beginners to manage their money.
Savings Tip: Many of the financial books are available on Audible, an Amazon company with the largest selection of audiobooks. If you don’t already have an account with Audible, a 30-day free trial period allows you to get 2 audiobooks for free. Even if you cancel within the free trial period, the books are yours to keep!
If you want to change your lifestyle by improving your net worth, then this post will show you how to use books as a way of accelerating that process.
What are the best finance books?
Financial self-improvement books are a great way to reset your financial mindset. These personal finance books can help you gain control over your money and help you make better decisions so that you don’t fall into the same traps that many others have fallen into in the past.
However, reading books alone will not make you rich. The knowledge that personal finance books provide can give you the tools needed to achieve your goals, and saving money is a big part of it.
Financial self-improvement books help you understand what actions are needed to make money and build wealth.
Not all the books listed are about finance, some books deal with psychological barriers to success.
Which books can make you rich?
There are many books out there about making and managing money. There are financial books that teach you how to plan and invest and inspirational stories of self-made millionaires.
Many of these finance books involve shifting one’s mindset and behavior changes regarding money and finances.
What better way to gain knowledge than to read and learn from someone who has been where you are now where you want to be.
What is the best book on how to become a millionaire?
The most successful millionaires will tell you the secret to their success was changing their perspective and behavior.
It’s been said that learning from others is the best way to learn, so why not take lessons from people who have accomplished what you want and are willing to share their stories?
One particular book that I found to be very insightful is The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley.
It takes years of careful personal finance-related decisions and habits to become a millionaire.
Can reading books help you get rich?
Yes! Reading books is one of the best ways you can educate yourself. Learning from other people’s paths to financial freedom is a great way to build wealth.
Some books on getting rich come from the author’s own experiences, so you can take their advice and see for yourself if their methods work as well.
30 Best get Rich Books (2021)
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1. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
The Richest Man in Babylon was written over 100 years ago by George Clason. It is a must-read for anyone that wants to get rich and build wealth.
Classic personal finance advice teaches you the basics of living well within your means, avoiding debt, and taking responsibility for your savings.
2. The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
If you’re serious about taking control of your money, then this is one of those “can’t put down” types of books that can literally change your life in a matter of months.
No list about financial success would be complete without this book written by the money guru himself, Dave Ramsey.
You’ll learn how to manage your income, save while paying off debt, and establishing a plan for saving and spending based on an emergency fund, house payment, professional fees/schooling expenses, mortgage payments, and long-term savings.
3. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley (1996)
The Millionaire Next Door is about ordinary middle-class people who have become millionaires. They drive used cars, live down the street, and work at regular jobs.
This book teaches a variety of ways wealthy people spend less money than most have found to live on less money than what most families spend.
One of the keys to building wealth is living below your means, having a budget, and investing well. If you do an honest review of your finances, you may find certain habits that we can adapt to improve our finances.
Always remember that becoming wealthy is a choice.
4. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Think and grow rich should probably be required reading in high school. It has some of the best advice about achievement and success that exists anywhere.
Napoleon Hill provides a common-sense action plan designed to tap into your most creative potentials rather than becoming caught up in fear thoughts or negative emotions, which will only hold you back from success due to being too distracted while running on autopilot.
5. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki
If you plan on being successful in business then you should pick up this book and learn the difference between being an employee, investor, or entrepreneur. It’s a short read but it can make a world of difference if followed.
Written from firsthand experience about what it takes to become wealthy by the author who grew up in the poor section of Hawaii and now has a net worth in excess of $80 million.
Robert Kiyosaki discusses the two very different approaches that his father figures had when it came to money.
To become rich, you need to think like a rich person.
6. The Millionaire Mind by Thomas J Stanley
This is another awesome book dedicated to the psychology of building wealth and financial independence through its principles, attitudes, beliefs, and habits that can build your own wealth thinking regardless of your background or income level.
Now that you know how the wealthy became so successful you need to understand why they think the way they do.
This is another one of those “can’t put down” types of books that will help open your mind to new possibilities for gaining wealth and success in life.
7. Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits Of Wealthy Individuals by Thomas C Moore (2012)
Another great book that will explain why the wealthy do what they do in an easy and systematic way. There are literally hundreds of books out there promising to teach you how to get rich but very few of them actually show you something new and different other than simply working harder. This one though is good!
The authors study revealed that his wealthiest clients have ten daily habits in common. People who come into contact with these habits will transform their lives.
You’ll be walking in the footsteps of wealthy people if you follow these principles.
8. The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach
The Automatic Millionaire is about a couple who make $50,000 per year and can afford two homes with no mortgages. They also manage to put their children through college while saving over $1 million in retirement funds.
The authors’ advice is to “make your financial plan automatic!” Put away money for retirement first, then pay the bills.
The book also discusses the Latte Factor. This concept demonstrates how we sometimes waste money without realizing it and can tighten our spending habits to save.
It’s hard to imagine savings when they are relatively small. By saving small amounts on a frequent basis, you could end up with substantial wealth over time.
For a young person with an entire future to best prepare for, the benefits of saving early are limitless.
9. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz (1997)
Another classic book about thinking big, setting goals, putting action behind those goals, and achieving them through a positive mindset.
Success is a standard you set for yourself. Negative thinking will produce negative outcomes, while positive thinking can lead to positive results.
Millionaires know the secret to use the power of belief to live a life more fulfilled than most.
Thinking big is the key to dealing with problems, conquering fears, and earning respect.
The first step to thinking big is believing in yourself.
Psychological barriers prevent people from thinking big.
10. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Ramit shares his secrets for how he turned $1000 into more than $1 million in less than 4 years starting with a small side business while working a full-time job and going to school at night after having read “The Total Money Makeover”.
This course teaches you how to spend less, save hundreds each month, eliminate your debt, set up high-interest bank accounts, learn a simple investment strategy, save for big purchases, and shows you how to get a raise.
“There is a limit to how much you can cut, but no limit on how much you can earn.”
Ramit Sethi
11. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
The Compound Effect is the idea that if you make a series of small, consistent choices, you can reap huge rewards. For example, if you start saving $5 for retirement each week and do this for 20 years, then when you retire your account will be worth more than someone who saves $100 per week but does it for only a short period of time.
What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while. Your daily routine determines your success or failure more than any other factor.
Hardy first recommends breaking the addiction to instant gratification. He shows his readers the power of taking 100% ownership of their actions considering everything they do and how every penny they spend will impact the future. Most of the book’s content focuses on effectively taking these steps.
12. Awaken The Giant Within by Tony Robbins (1991)
This book focuses on motivation and how you can be motivated to take action. It helps teach the way the subconscious mind works so that you can get into a state of abundance, or “flow”. How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!
It is designed as a guide with exercises on how to release your potential by reminding you of your unlimited capacity to do and be whatever you determine for yourself. It also gives advice on avoiding procrastination.
The book teaches how to overcome negative self-talk and decision-making.
It shows how to set goals and overcome obstacles, learn about habits, build a spiritual body, and achieve peak performance. It also gives advice on how to use time more effectively. Robbins points out that most people don’t give themselves permission to have what they truly want in life.
13. The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D Wattles
It is a book that teaches us how we can use the power of our minds to help us create the life of our dreams.
It focuses on positive thinking, setting goals, and realizing that you can have what you want out of life if you believe in yourself enough to go for it. Wattles teaches us not only how to change what you focus on, but also how and why you can get what you want out of life.
Wattles focuses on the laws of attraction to help you focus your thoughts in such a way that your subconscious mind works with you and not against you.
You don’t have to live in poverty or lack. The power is within yourself to create riches if you follow these teachings.
14. The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
It teaches a proven method to becoming rich that is simple, clear and easy for anyone to follow.
The book goes into great detail on how you can make money online without any experience or start up money.
MJ DeMarco, the mastermind behind a limousine booking empire, offers hard-earned business advice based on his personal experience. He reveals the formula for getting rich slowly by creating a lifestyle business, which offers immediate rewards and income while keeping your start up costs to a minimum.
15. How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie (1936)
This book is an absolute classic when it comes to reading material that can teach you how to get more out of life with people both personally and professionally. It teaches people about human communication skills and how to work with others better.
It is designed to help you build better relationships with all types of people. It focuses on showing how we can use our personalities and natural instincts in an effective way so that we can get along well with other people.
The things you want in life, you can get.
The things you have, you can make better.
You can do anything to make your life better.
16. The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons In Personal Change by Stephen R Covey
This book is the # 1 bestselling personal development book of all time. It focuses on seven habits that can help us reach our full potential and become effective in everything we do. It helps people identify their goals and values so that they can create plans for achieving success.
It teaches how to put first things first and develop a “win-win” philosophy in order to resolve conflicts. It is designed as an easy to read self improvement guide that can enhance your life on many different levels. The lessons taught in this book are highly valuable and they work for anybody who wants to improve themselves.
17. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone
The author of this book is a motivational speaker who teaches people how to set goals and achieve them. He talks about eliminating excuses that hold you back from achieving success in life.
When you set a goal, set a goal ten times higher than what you believe you can achieve.
Take actions that are ten times greater than what you believe is necessary to achieve your goals.
The biggest mistake most people make in life is not setting goals high enough. Taking massive action is the only way to fulfill your true potential.
People often set their expectations too low; you can rise to your true potential and achieve great things in life with a higher expectation.
18. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by Jack Bogle
Jack C. Bogle shows how you can invest on your own without paying a financial adviser.
It teaches people how to invest their money wisely for the long term, in easy-to-understand terms, so that anyone can learn to be an effective investor.
Story and analogies are used to show how investing can be easier than people think it is. Investing your money can be more straightforward than they initially thought.
19. As A Man Thinketh by James Allen
This is a classic self-help book written over 100 years ago whose message still holds true today. It teaches how to use positive thoughts and actions to have good things happen in every area of our lives.
We can make ourselves happy by changing our thoughts and actions, instead of just thinking about the bad things that happen to us each day.
This is a great book for anyone who wants to improve their lives through positive thinking and self-improvement.
20. The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) by Hal Elrod
There’s a pretty amazing morning routine that Hal shares in this book that could totally change your life.
This book is about getting up before 8 am and taking full advantage of the day to not only improve your life but allow you to work on positive habits that will serve you well in every way.
The Miracle Morning is hands down the most motivating book I have ever read. This book has helped me set my goals and find out what I really want out of life.
It is a huge motivator in helping you take action on achieving your goals and helping you break through your limiting beliefs.
21. Zero to One by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters
This business self-help book is about building a successful company rather than just striving to get by in today’s market and losing out on all the opportunities that can significantly benefit you over time if things are done differently.
Peter Thiel’s philosophy and strategy for making your startup successful are by looking at the lessons he learned from founding and selling PayPal, investing in Facebook, and becoming a billionaire in the process.
This book will teach you the way he thinks, the way he handles business, and what you can do to build your startup’s future and shape the future of the world in the process.
22. Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth – and How You Can Too by Chris Hogan
Are you looking to improve your self-worth, pay off debt and increase your personal wealth? This book will provide you with practical advice on how to do all of this.
It will show you how ordinary people achieved wealth and the best ways for creating financial freedom.
Chris Hogan bases his advice on real-life experience rather than theories that may or may not work one day. He believes that building a good stable foundation is essential to having a great future, but it takes hard work and smart decisions to achieve your goals.
23. Awaken The Giant Within: How To Take Immediate Control Of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical And Financial By Tony Robbins
Another classic introduction to self-improvement and personal development is done by one of the greatest minds in this industry today Mr. Tony Robbins.
If you’re looking to take more control of your life, this is the book for you. It helps us to understand the laws of personal development and how we can use these in order to achieve our goals for ourselves. It also offers an understanding as to what lies beneath every negative feeling that we have at any given point in time.
24. A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose By Eckhart Tolle
A New Earth is really about enlightenment and how to achieve it. This book offers an understanding as to what enlightenment is and the relevance of this in today’s society, which is shaped by ego.
This book will also teach you how to go deep within your consciousness and bring into the light what is latent there.
This process of illumination consists of four stages: waking up, letting go, getting out of your own way, and finding true purpose in life.
An essential read for those who are looking into spiritual development, true freedom from harsh inner judgemental thoughts, or just want to learn more about the human mind and how we have been shaped into what we are today.
25. 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness by Jim Rohn
You should follow your own dreams, not anyone else’s. Success and happiness are different for everyone. Successful people are people who live the life they want. They make decisions based on their values and goals.
When you are planning for a goal, it is important to focus on the few things that will make the biggest difference to your situation.
Knowledge alone will not help you as much as taking action. You need to take strong, focused, and consistent actions if you want anything to change.
26. The Power of Habit : Why We Do What We Do in Life And Business by Charles Duhigg
Why is it that some people have a hard time changing, regardless of how long they try? On the contrary, other people seem to turn their life around overnight.
This book will teach you why the things you do in life are resulting in the life that you have, despite your hopes and aspirations.
According to a Duhigg study, our habits reside in our brain. He explores how habits work and exactly what portion of our brain is associated with habits.
Many people will not be successful in their endeavors because they approach these with the wrong mindset. To be successful you need to have a much different approach (the right mindset) and mentality towards goals.
Successful people transform their habits.
27. The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
This is a book for those who want to do more with their lives than wait until they retire.
Some people do not want to be millionaires, but they would like to buy the expensive things they think only millionaires can buy. The question is, how can you live like a millionaire if you do not have a million dollars?
In The 4-Hour Work Week, Ferriss describes the DEAL principle, which stands for Definition, Elimination, Automation, and Liberation.
The 4-Hour Work Week will help you prepare a plan of action and prioritize what needs to be done first. This is a great book for those who want to take their life in control by learning how to manage time better.
The 4-Hour Work Week’ is not about how to save or find your dream job; it’s about how to free up the most time and automate your income.
28. Your money on your life by Vicki Robin
In her book Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, Robin teaches readers how to change their relationship with money and live well on less.
Money is not the root of happiness but it does play an important role in achieving happiness. One must keep in mind that money is just a tool that we use to achieve our goals and desires. The book offers practical advice on how to make this shift from being “money-dependent” to living more fully.
Learn how to live a life of meaning and value by living well on less.
29. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
This book is about the psychology behind money and how it affects people’s lives.
This book will help you learn about your relationship with money and what is driving this relationship.
It will also provide you with tools that will help you to change your relationship with money so that you can have more control over it instead of your life being controlled by it.
If you are concerned about how your financial decisions are affecting the rest of your life, this book will help to put things into perspective and teach you how to manage money in a way that is beneficial.
30. Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier
What would you give up in order to achieve financial freedom?
Grant Sabatier, the founder of Millennial Money, realized that in order for him to become financially independent he had to make some changes. He had to stop spending money on things he didn’t need or want.
He also had to start making an effort towards saving his money and spend it only on what mattered most to him. By following the rules outlined in Financial Freedom, Grant became a successful author, entrepreneur, and investor.
It’s certainly geared towards the younger crowd like Broke Millennial, but there are tons of great principles and simple breakdowns about money and achieving financial independence.
Final Thoughts
I hope that this list of books on how to make money will help change your way of thinking and get you closer to your dream of achieving financial freedom.
Many people read these types of books and start making a change but soon stop. Knowledge is important for making money; however, focus and discipline are the keys to creating wealth.
What are your thoughts on how to make money? If there is a book not mentioned that you have read, please share in the comments below.