There are hundreds of books on personal finance and real estate. Here are the ones that I think are worth reading.
This section will just grow as I read and listen to more books, so check back often!
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Categories of Books
Business
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results
- Category: Business
- Author: Gary Keller
This is a fantastic book the help you define the real motivation that lurks behind a lot of your decision making. By figuring out your true goals, you can super charge your progress towards those goals.
I read this book every year to re-focus my efforts on what really matters to me.
The E-Myth
- Category: Business
- Author: Michael E. Gerber
This is required reading for everyone building a business (or if you already have one). It teaches you to systematize your business so you can build it in a sustainable way.
I’m finding really valuable insights to apply to my real estate business in particular.
Personal Finance
The Automatic Millionaire
- Category: Personal finance
- Author: David Bach
Read this book for simple wealth building concepts like:
- Everyone has room in their budget to start saving by cutting out the “Latte Factor” (extraneous daily expenses)
- “Pay yourself first” by always saving at least 10% of your paycheck
- Automate the process by auto-investing
This is a great gift for anyone who feels they are living paycheck to paycheck and can’t imagine how they can start building wealth. It speaks to these concepts at a very basic level, and that’s its beauty.
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
- Category: Personal Finance
- Author: Ramit Sethi
I really enjoyed reading this book. I listened to a lot of it via Audible, which I highly recommend. It’s narrated by Ramit himself and is infused with his irreverent and straightforward charm. In this book, he gives you a no excuses, easy to follow path towards financial empowerment. I especially liked how he gives specific examples of which accounts to open and exactly how to do the things he recommends. This is another basic personal finance book that everyone should read.
As Ramit says, “Buy as many lattes as you want. Choose the right accounts and investments so your money grows for you—automatically. Best of all, spend guilt-free on the things you love.”
MONEY Master the Game
- Category: Personal Finance
- Author: Tony Robbins
This is that rare book that is both very useful and very motivational. It’s a beast of a book at 688 pages, but is chock full of fundamental personal finance guidelines that everyone should know. Using interviews with legendary investors like John Bogle, Ray Dalio, and Warren Buffet, this book arranges all their advice into a 7 step path to wealth. It’s all grounded in Tony Robbins’ signature motivational and aspirational messaging that I found convincing, not corny. I consider this a must read for all investors.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
- Category: Personal finance/Real Estate
- Author: Robert Kiyosaki
This famous book follows the story of young Robert Kiyosaki growing up in Hawaii. It talks about Kiyosaki’s biological dad, an employed worker bee, and contrasts him with Kiyosaki’s adopted dad, an entrepreneur.
Despite the simple concept and contrived scenarios, it’s remarkably effective in showing the allure of working for yourself. It’s literally the most recommended book on the Biggerpockets Podcast for both business owners and real estate investors alike.
The Richest Man in Babylon
- Category: Personal finance
- Author: George S. Clason
The Richest Man in Babylon was first published in 1926, but is a book that I feel should be required reading today. It uses the method of parables to teach the basic and timeless message of financial planning, like setting aside money for investments, controlling your expenditures, and investing in yourself. I recommend this book to those that need a simple way of looking at personal finance and the way it can empower everyone.
The Simple Path to Wealth
- Category: Personal Finance
- Author: JL Collins
- Published: 2016
The Simple Path to Wealth is probably the top book I’d recommend if you are interested in long term investing success via index funds. His accessible, well reasoned investing philosophy provides a clear path to success for every investor. It’s the book I recommend when someone wants to see why it makes sense to buy stocks over the long term. Hint: “the market always goes up.”
Go to the full review.
Real Estate Investing
The ABCs of Real Estate Investing
- Category: Real estate investing
- Author: Ken McElroy
One of the most commonly recommended books on real estate investing, this book is a must read for hopeful investors. This book covers it all, including how to:
– Achieve wealth and cash flow through real estate
– Find property with real potential
– Show you how to unlock the myths that are holding you back
– Negotiating the deal based on the numbers
– Evaluate property and purchase price
– Increase your income through proven property management tools
Retire on Real Estate
- Category: Real estate investing (residential)
- Sub-category: Residential real estate. Personal finance and investor mindset
- Author: K. Kai Anderson
The premise of this book is simple: Secure the retirement of your dreams by securing cash flowing rental real estate. This is the perfect book for someone just starting to consider “alternative” investment into real estate. Anderson aptly pokes holes into the strategy of relying solely on your 401(k) in retirement, and presents rental real estate as an appealing way to supplement your retirement.
Go to the full book review.
The Science of the Deal
- Category: Real estate investing
- Sub-category: large multifamily investing, business creation, deal analysis
- Author: Shravan Parsi
Although at times the book reads more like an advertising for his multifamily investing group, American Ventures, there is a lot to love here. Parsi started with small fix-and-flips in Texas and now runs a commercial real estate investment company. In telling his story, he goes into the basics of creating and scaling a professional real estate investment company and also touches on the basics of deal evaluation and execution. This is a good book to read if you’re thinking about scaling up into larger multifamily residential real estate.
Mindset / Motivation
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
- Category: Mindset
- Sub-category: Venture Capital
- Author: Naval Ravikant
Naval is an incredibly successful venture capitalist turned philosopher. If you read his text or listen to the audiobook, you’ll wonder why you’re still working for the Man, instead of starting your next multi-billion dollar company. More seriously, it will start to unlock your mind to your true potential. I recommend reading this every year at least once.
Note: you can download this book for free on Naval’s website.
