There’s an amazing variety of personal finance books now; add just one or two of these titles to your summer reading list and I’m confident you’ll learn a trick or two about making progress on your money.
These are my top picks, and a few of my own books are in here, too.
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Pop finance
These titles are the big sellers this season.
“Die with Zero” by Bill Perkins is about shifting our obsessive focus on wealth to living the best quality life that maximizes our experiences, memories and happiness. I find the narrative refreshing and hopeful.
“The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel addresses the behaviours that feed wealth, greed, happiness and more. I like this book because it digs into why we do what we do with money, and offers a framework on how to move forward as life changes.
“I Will Teach You to be Rich” by Ramit Sethi (he also hosts an interesting podcast) outlines money basics, from banking and credit to negotiations and how investments work. It’s a solid starting point when you’re newish to money matters. I also like his take on ruthless prioritization in order to afford what you love in life.
“Financial Feminist” by Tori Dunlap is a must read for young women. It empowers women to take financial control, overcome patriarchy and create financial freedom for themselves. Her podcast plays are now surpassing those of Dave Ramsey’s podcast.
Canadian author and feminist Janine Rogan’s “The Pink Tax” is another important read, especially for mothers and women business owners who often experience financial hardship because of the way banking and benefits systems work in Canada; many are outdated and discriminatory.
“Well-Heeled: The Smart Girl’s Guide to Getting Rich,” was my third book originally published in 2014, and it became very popular on the talk-show circuit because it addressed career and money mastery for women, and how to avoid marrying a financial dough-head.
Finance books for kids and teens
I published the first version of “Rich by Thirty” in 2007, and it was an instant bestseller. Then, I was one of the youngest female financial authors in North America. The book remains a staple in schools and libraries today (updated versions, of course). It teaches basic budgeting, how banking works, how to start investing and earning an income.
“How to Money: Your Ultimate Visual Guide to the Basics of Finance” by Jean Chatzky, Kathryn Tuggle, Nina Cosford (illustrator) is extremely popular right now because it’s so simple and highly visual. It provides helpful tools about earning, using and growing money.
One of my favourite Instagram librarians is @maistorybooklibrary and she put together a great reel recently summarizing her top money reads for kids. I agree with all the titles she chose and my top three from those are “I Am Money” by Garrett Gunderson and Julia Cook; “Bunny Money” by Rosemary Wells; and “Daisy Bubble: A Price Crash on Galapagos” by Sheila Bair.
The classics
“Rich Dad, Poor Dad” (there’s a teen version now) by Robert Kiyosaki; “The Automatic Millionaire” by David Bach; and almost anything written by Suze Orman are worth reading. These were the first titles I ever picked up on the subject of money. Many of the financial classics have been updated to keep up with the times — the versions from the ‘90s were real old-school. The fundamentals of what these authors covered are still valuable, but definitely need to be weighed against the significant changes in the housing and job markets.
For entrepreneurs and side-hustlers
Even if you’re not quite ready to launch your own business these books are still great reads, and if you’re already a business owner, I consider these a must.
“Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown is possibly my favourite book on leadership and business of all time. You feel absolutely clear about the role bravery plays in moving your business forward — and frankly, your whole life.
“Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss is essential if you want to run a profitable business. The art of negotiation will save you money and help you to understand what motivates people — they key to getting a positive outcome.
“You are a Badass at Making Money” by Jen Sincero is all about removing the barriers to making the most money possible. It’s also a book for people who have a problem with money burning a hole through their pockets (in other words, if you’re terrible at letting money slip through your fingers).
“Blitzscaling” by Reid Hoffman and Chris Yeh (Bill Gates wrote the forward). This book is a top pick of entrepreneurs I know who are trying to rapidly grow their already profitable businesses, and they need the right systems and processes to support the fast expansion.
Other notable titles that might pique your interest while you’re dipping your toes in the lake this summer are “The Simple Path to Wealth” (J.L. Collins); “Your Money or Your Life” (Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez); and “Modern Couple’s Money Guide” (mine). While you’re reading these, I’ll be working on my next money book from my backyard.
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