Books

First Book of the Year: And Then We Grew Up

January 1, 2021 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

I read a lot. I mean, a lot – more than most people I know. Often, I read books related to personal finance, especially when I kind find money psychology books. But I have also found throughout the years that a lot of the good financial advice emerges from books on other topics. Some are tangentially related to money: work, life balance, productivity, etc. However, I’ve also gotten financial insight from novels, memoirs, and even occasionally a poem. This morning I started reading the first book of the year, and I thought I’d share what I’ve learned so far (about eighty pages in).

And Then We Grew Up by Rachel Friedman

My first 2021 read of the year is And Then We Grew Up. The subtitle is On Creativity, Potential, and the Imperfect Art of Adulthood. Rachel Friedman authored this book.

The book is my favorite type: a combination memoir and advice book filled not only with personal anecdotes but also with related research. In this particular case, it’s a book about trying to figure out what it means to make a living at a creative life.

Who Is Rachel Friedman?

Rachel Friedman started out wanting to be a musician (a viola player). However, in her first year of college, she became overwhelmed with the anxiety of the path. She ultimately quit music college and spent some time traveling around the world. As she did, she indulged another creative passion: writing.

Then she became a writer. As she notes in the intro of the book:

“I had taken on any and every freelance writing assignment, from churning out SEO clickbait for travel websites to “reporting” on heat-resistant makeup for a glossy women’s food mag.”

As a writer myself, working from the only city comparable in cost to where Rachel lived (she in Manhattan, myself in San Francisco), I can certainly relate. More importantly, I can relate to the deeper questions of what it means to be a creative person working in a field where earning money through your creativity doesn’t always look like what you had hoped it would look like when you started out on that path.

Premise of the Book

And Then We Grew Up is Rachel’s story of her own journey. Moreover, she seeks out a handful of highly creative people that she went to summer art camp with as a teenager. She visits them to discuss the paths that their creative careers have taken now that they’re in their thirties. Through analyses of those conversations, she comes to new conclusions and insights about what it means to make a living as an artist.

Additionally, she incorporates a wealth of research and relevant quotes about the artistic life, work-life balance, productivity, definitions of success, and making money through creativity. She is well-read, which shines through, and she curates her resources perfectly in the context of a memoir/biography.

And Then We Grew Up: Money Lessons

What does this have to do with money, per se? Lots, actually, both directly and indirectly. Directly, she mentions the reality of finances in the creative world. Indirectly, her exploration of what satisfaction means as a creative person naturally takes into account issues of finances. After all, unless you happen to be born into extreme wealth with zero need to work at all, your creative life has to find balance with earning money.

Your Financial Position in Life Affects Your Creative Career

One of the key things that she touches on is the privilege of even pursuing a creative career at all. Sure, there are outliers in the world – people who come from little access and yet persist with their art and become capable of making a living at it. But for the most part, having privilege gives you more options for exploring art as a career path. A few examples of how:

Having privilege, even of just a middle class life, gives you access to art events, classes, and opportunities throughout your childhood. You know that you have the option of becoming an artist because you see it around you.
The people in your life – parents and teachers – might be more likely to support your early creative dreams if they themselves believe that making art as a living is a viable possibility in life. Privilege makes it more likely they’ll see it that way.
Without privilege, you might not have easy access to a college education. Not that every creative person goes to college, of course. But those years of indulging in a creative education, particularly at a liberal arts school, go a long way towards supporting a career in the arts.
It takes a long time for most people to succeed financially in creative careers. If you have parents willing to help foot the bill for your daily life as you do so, then you’ll have a better chance at it.
Lack of privilege correlates with so many factors – health conditions, unplanned pregnancies, trauma, abuse … and all of those things do have the potential to limit an art career.

It’s not necessarily that you need money to make art. Instead, it’s that to be able to believe in art as a career choice over a sustained period of time is a luxury that privilege facilitates.

Most People Don’t Suddenly Get Rich Off Of Art

Friedman went to school with at least one actor who “made it.” However, she didn’t choose him to interview for the book. She was interested in what “regular people” do – people who are definitely talented in the arts but who aren’t ever going to make millions from the work. How do they make it financially and creatively? Some of the key takeaways are:

You can find alternative ways of doing what you love every day for pay. For example, one musician decided early on that she would work as a music teacher. It gave her the work-life balance she wanted and a steady paycheck. Some people say this is selling out, but for her it’s the right path to working with music every day.
People may choose to do their art part-time and other work part-time or full-time. The obvious example, cited in the book, is the actor/waiter. They may be looking for their big break. However, they may also just do both for the rest of their lives. She cites many famous people who held “day jobs” long after they could afford not to do so. Notably, she emphasizes composer Philip Glass who was famous enough to be recognized when he showed up as a plumber to work one a dishwasher.
You can add creativity to any type of work. You don’t have to work in your artistic field to create your art within your field in some way.
Living the fantasy that you’re going to get rich takes away from the richness of the process. There are so many wonderful aspects of life. The artist has access to enjoying them simply through art.
Artistic success is often as much about luck as it is talent and hard work. Your job as an artist is to do the work. You can’t decide how well it will do. If you believe in the work, then the work has to be enough. You can be ambitious in your goals but you have to also let go of the outcome.

Artistic Careers Aren’t Linear and Values Change

One of the biggest reminders for me is that artistic careers aren’t linear. We like the movie-edited version of famous creatives lives in which they start off with talent, undergo a variety of challenges, and then they “make it.” Friedman shares about a friend, Adam, who emphasizes the many starts and stops, peaks and valleys of his career. That resonated for me … the fantasy is that I’ll “make it” and do only the writing work I’m absolutely passionate about. The reality is that I’ve had so many ebbs and flows, and that those will continue.

Also, our values change with time. We may come to value financial security over creative pursuit. Or we may have times when it’s just the opposite – when we are so passionate about a project or idea that we’ll take a risk on it despite tending towards financial stability in the past. Life isn’t linear, no matter how much our storytelling brains like us to think it should be.

I stopped reading today just before Chapter 4, which – upon skimming – I see is going to include stuff about the gig economy. I’m excited to dig back in.

What is the first book that you’re reading in the new year? What financial tip can you take away from it?

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Books about Money I’m Most Excited to Get When the Library Re-opens

June 19, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

The library is one of the things that I’ve missed most during California’s shelter-in-place. Our libraries have been closed since March. The San Francisco Public Library offers a number of wonderful things. There are a ton of great online resources during this time. However, I really love to read print books. I miss going to the library and picking up a big stack of them. I can’t wait until I can do that again.

Since our library’s workers have been moved over to other essential work during this time, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to. But when I do, there are some relatively new books about money that I’m looking forward to picking up. Here is what’s on my list:

Invisible Americans: The Tragic Cost of Child Poverty

I like to read a wide variety of books about money. Oftentimes I read self-help or how-to guides that assist me with personal finance. But I also enjoy reading memoirs, biographies, and non-fiction books about money that give me insight into economics at a grander level. I’m very intrigued by this book by Jeff Madrick. It explores how poverty, even when experienced relatively briefly, negatively impacts children.

It reminds me a bit of The Deepest Well in which Nadine Burke Harris explores the long-term impacts of childhood trauma. We need to remedy the financial problem of poverty for children if we want them to have better outcomes as adults. This is an important topic. So, while it may not be on a traditional list of books about money, it’s right at the top of my own list.

Rogue Money and the Underground Economy: An Encyclopedia of Alternative and Cryptocurrencies

This book by John C. Edmunds purports to give a strong overview of cryptocurrency from its history to its current role in the marketplace. This is a part of personal finance that I’m always seeking to understand better. Therefore, this is definitely one of the books about money that I’m eager to pick up when my library re-opens.

More Money Now: Use your Existing Skills, Connections and Technology to Start Earning Cash Today

This book by Michael Zechmann was published in 2018. However, my own library only got its copy recently. Therefore, I’ve never had the chance to read it. I’m curious to see what it says about how students, retirees, and others can make some extra money right now. I’d love to compare how the advice in it relates to the current situation given that COVID-19 has changed the landscape in some ways. Plus, I always like books about money that give me ideas for making extra cash. I don’t always use the ideas but sometimes they get me thinking about earning money in new ways.

Wealth Unbroken: Growing Wealth Uninterrupted by Market Crashes, Taxes and Even Death

Similarly, Rebecca Walser’s book was published in 2018 but only came to my library recently. This one is about long-term investing. Again, since it was published before the pandemic, some advice in it may not apply. However, its subtitle suggests that it’s actually all about how to weather storms, even an unprecedented one such as this. So, I think that bodes well and makes it worth at least checking out.

Hustle and Gig: Struggling and Surviving in the Sharing Economy

I’m very fascinated in the pros and cons of the gig economy. I’ve worked in the gig economy myself for a long time in various ways. I’ve watched the landscape change significantly over the past decade. I’m curious to see what this book by Alexandrea Ravenelle has to say about it all.

What books about money do you most hope to read soon?

How to Start a Lending Library for Your Church or Other Organization

February 21, 2019 By Shannon Christman 26 Comments

Public libraries are great money savers for readers, but what can you do if your reading interests are more specialized than those of the general public? Many community organizations, historical societies, and places of worship offer small libraries of special-interest materials for their members. If your organization does not have a lending library, consider starting one of your own. Here’s how.

How to Start a Lending Library

You already share interests with your fellow SCUBA divers or philatelists; why not share your books? Bed and breakfast owners might also consider offering their guests a small selection of reading material to enjoy during their stays. Starting a library is not as expensive or time-consuming as it sounds. Specialized library supplies can be replaced with common office supplies, and a small collection doesn’t require an elaborate cataloging system.

Begin by asking members of your organization to donate books and other media on your subject of interest. You may wind up with some items that are outdated or in poor condition, but you will most likely get some generous donations, as well. You can also ask for monetary donations to buy new materials; if you do, ask the group for recommendations on the best books and videos on the subject.

Once you have enough materials to start a library, decide how you want to organize them, how you want to let people know what’s available, and how to manage the circulation. You can also consider promoting the library by writing reviews of items available for checkout in the organization’s newsletter.

Organizing the Books

This can be as simple as placing them in alphabetical order by author, or as complex as using the Library of Congress cataloging system. When I put together the library for our church, I alphabetized the fiction books and used the Dewey Decimal system for the non-fiction so that people could find books on similar subjects next to each other. (I searched the public library’s catalog for the same or similar books to get the appropriate Dewey Decimal number.) You can group materials by subject on the shelves and alphabetize within the subject.

Cataloging

A library of more than a hundred items or so should have a catalog to let people know what the library owns. Sophisticated cataloging software is available, or if you have a volunteer with computer skills, you can customize an ordinary database for the library’s catalog. There’s always the low-tech route, too—for our church library, we use index cards for a card catalog and place the cards in a box.

Each database entry or catalog card should include, at the minimum, the item’s title, author, and location on the shelf. I would also include publication date, publisher name, series, and subjects. The Library of Congress has a list of formal subject headings used by public and academic libraries, but you may choose to devise a set of subject headings that better suit your organization’s membership. (For example, the formal subject heading for books on the theology of end times uses the word “Eschatology,” but few members of our congregation have formal theological training, so our catalog cards say, “End times.”) I recommend keeping a list of subject headings so that the terminology is consistent throughout the catalog.

People may search for a book by its title, author, subject, or series, so be sure any computerized database is searchable in these areas. If you are using index cards for the catalog, make a separate card for each and alphabetize them all together.

Keeping Track of the Books

To manage the circulation (keep track of what’s checked out), you may either choose to set hours of operation and have volunteers staff the library, or you may design a self-checkout system that allows people to access the library at any time. If you choose the latter, it’s unlikely that you will be able to collect any fines, but you should still decide on and post guidelines for how long readers can check out items so that no one has to wait too long for a popular book or DVD. If you choose a self-checkout system, you might also consider holding orientation sessions (especially when the library is new) to let people know what’s available and how to check it out.

Preparing the Books

You can prepare materials to add to the library at a relatively low cost with items from an office supply store. To start our church library, I used address labels, envelopes, index cards, rubber cement, and contact paper. I printed out labels with the church’s name on it to place on the title page and labels with the book’s shelf location (Dewey Decimal number or first three letters of the author’s name) to place on the spine. On hardcover books, CDs, videos, and DVDs, I covered the spine label with contact paper; on paperbacks, I covered the entire spine and the vertical cover edges with contact paper (to reduce the wear that comes with multiple readings).

I then took a small envelope, cut off the top half of the flap side of the envelope, and sealed the bottom half to create a card envelope, which I glued in the back of the book using rubber cement. I wrote the title of the book on an index card with columns for people to write their names, phone numbers, and due date beneath the title and placed the card in the envelope pocket. (Caution: If your library is open to the public, learn about any applicable privacy laws before using cards with personal information on them.) Library users can take out this card and place it in a second box to indicate that the book was checked out.

Maintaining Your Lending Library

If you expect your library to grow beyond the original collection, you should also consider how you will handle donations and/or budget to buy new books, as well as how you will hold library users responsible if they do not return an item. (Will you expect them to pay to replace it with an identical item, ask them to donate a similar item, or just tell them to keep it and enjoy it?) Think, too, about what you will do if the library grows too big: will you weed out old books or find more storage space?

Each lending library has different needs, and each librarian or library committee (which may be just you) will have different ways of meeting those needs. Whatever decisions you make about how to operate your organization’s library, you will find that a little work and a small budget can create a valuable resource for everyone in your organization. As a bonus, you (the librarian) will often get to be the first person to read any interesting books donated to the cause!

Have you started a lending library and have any tips? Share with us in the comments below!

New Trend: Mental Health Books Outsell Diet and Exercise Books

January 13, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship Leave a Comment

At the beginning of the year, everyone is looking for something to better about themselves. While 71% of Americans who made resolutions resolved to focus on diet and exercise in 2019, it turns out more people may be interested in improving their mental health. According to recent data released from Barnes and Noble bookstores, mental health books are outselling those centered around diet and exercise.

Why Mental Health Books

Throughout the New Year’s season, Barnes and Noble collected data from its customers to predict what books may be popular in the year to come. It was collected from purchases made on Barnes and Noble’s websites and within its retail store locations from December 16 through January 5. What the bookstore found in its data was that more readers seem to be focused on reducing stress and increasing self-esteem than they are on losing weight.

This is a change in the usual trend, according to Liz Harwell, the senior director of merchandising for trade books. “Books related to self-improvement are always in high demand around the new year, but in a recent shift, books focused on mental well-being are far outpacing titles addressing exercise and dieting,” she said.

Across the chain of bookstores, more people are buying material about mental and emotional well-being than ever before. Whereas in previous years, January typically brought a peak in sales for diet and exercise books.

The Most Popular Books

If you’re interested in improving your mental health in the new year, you may be wondering what people are buying from Barnes and Noble. Below are the most popular mental health books being sold this year.

Barnes and Noble isn’t the only bookseller noticing a change in trends this year either. Amazon has also listed each of these among its top 20 list of bestselling books.

Other Lifestyle Change Books

That isn’t to say the popularity of diet and exercise literature has completely faded out. Amongst Barnes and Noble customers, physical health books were still popular. However, most of the health and wellness books sold seemed to focus solely on healthy eating.

When it comes down to it, if you want to really see a positive change in your life you will need to educate yourself on how to improve. Those wanting to seriously change their finances usually turn to a Dave Ramsey novel or another critically-acclaimed personal finance book. What is interesting is to see America’s focus switch from physical to mental and emotional well-being.

What Is Guillermo Del Toro’s Net Worth?

March 5, 2018 By David Robson Leave a Comment

The Shape of Water, the latest film from visionary director Guillermo del Toro, just won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, and has made $126.4 million at the box office so far. But what is Guillermo del Toro’s net worth?

His net worth is estimated at $40 million. He is perhaps the most famous and financially successful Mexican filmmaker, and among the best-known directors of horror and fantasy films.

But he achieved that position after more than two decades of hard, passionate work spent honing his craft and working on a huge number of projects.

His Directing History

His first feature as director, Cronos (total box office: $621,000), introduced to the world a bold and distinct new voice in fantasy cinema. He turned that initial success into a steady, busy career, alternating between Spanish language films (including the acclaimed fantasy Pan’s Labyrinth, which earned $83.3 million at the box office) and Hollywood franchise films such as the vampire actioner Blade II (box office: $155 million) and the Hellboy films (combined box office: $260 million).

Del Toro’s Pacific Rim, a high-budget tale of giant robots battling huge monsters from another dimension, brought in a whopping $411 million at the box office.

His recent work has taken a more adult turn, including works like the Gothic romance Crimson Peak (box office: $74 million) and The Shape of Water — which in addition to winning four Oscars also gave del Toro his first Golden Globes win earlier this year.

Diversified Career

Naturally much of his current net worth comes from his being an Oscar-winning director, but the fact is he’s incredibly diversified. As side hustles go, being a movie producer (of things like Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, which brought in over $1 billion at the box office combined) is more lucrative than most. And his Emmy-winning Trollhunters series is Netflix’s most-watched youth-targeted show.

As an author, he co-wrote a trilogy of novels and turned them into the long-running television series The Strain. And those novels have been translated into multiple languages, as well. Factor in the art-heavy books he releases as a writer and artist, and he’s comfortable off his author earnings alone.

As for his assets, del Toro owns multiple houses: one in Toronto, his second home and favored work city, and three houses in Agoura Hills, CA (average price: $1.02 million). Two of them hold his substantial collection of horror and fantasy memorabilia; this collection recently completed a tour of three museums in the exhibition “Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters,” and must itself be considered an asset.

Lessons from Guillermo del Toro’s Net Worth

His incredible career trajectory is the perfect illustration of the principle: Follow your passion. As one goes deeper into del Toro’s writing about the monsters that obsess him, it’s hard to imagine him becoming anything else. He has often put his directing salary (the guild minimum is about $220,ooo per movie) toward the effects of his movies to achieve his vision (though his movies are successful enough that he earns his salary on the back end). He will almost certainly continue to do this when needed, and be sure, his salary and his net worth will definitely increase as a result of his Oscar wins.

Also remarkable is del Toro’s persistence. Some of his projects were too big to execute, or too weird to find financing, but he hasn’t let those setbacks keep him from moving forward (or sideways, on other work). He’s also backed away from deals that haven’t worked for him; his second feature, Mimic (box office: $25 million) was taken from him by the Weinstein Company, and he vowed never to work for them again (a smart decision, given recent events).

Finally, del Toro himself exhibits a warm personality that has endeared him to his fans, and his collaborators are constantly sending messages of friendship and respect over social media. He has reaped huge success while maintaining artistic integrity, while amassing an enviable net worth. Such success could not have happened to a nicer guy.

20 of the Best Personal Finance Books to Add to Your Reading List

July 25, 2017 By Mary Newton 1 Comment

In a world of misguiding money advice, how do you find the right personal finance book for you? Covering everything from saving money to the consistent habits of the wealthy, these personal finance books offer a wealth of tried and true advice. Listed in no particular order, each book offers sound council rooted in experience; no frills, no tricks, just the honest truth about getting your finances in order. So, if you’re looking for a list of the best personal finance books to read in 2017, here you are.

1. The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing by Benjamin Graham

“The greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham, taught and inspired people worldwide. Graham’s philosophy of “value investing” — which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies — has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949.” If investing is your game, start off with Graham’s essential work. Updated and revised to apply to modern markets, this text offers everything you need to know to make smart investment choices, and thus has earned a spot on our list.

2.The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

“Acclaimed as a modern-day classic, this celebrated bestseller offers an understanding of—and a solution to—your personal financial problems that will guide you through a lifetime. This is the book that holds the secrets to keeping your money—and making more.” Included for its classing standing, Clason’s parable-style novel is rich with all the right solutions to your financial problems.

3.Debt-Free Forever: Take Control of Your Money and Your Life by Gail Vaz-Oxlade

“Make no mistake: Getting out of debt isn’t easy. But in Debt-Free Forever, Gail gives you a clear strategy and the steps needed to implement it. So if you’re finished with excuses, overdue notices, and maxed-out credit cards, pick up this book, follow Gail’s plan, and start becoming debt-free forever.” In this remarkable book, Vaz-Oxlade makes the path to becoming debt-free look like the yellow brick road: long and difficult, but also clear, straightforward, and definitely possible. We selected Vaz-Oxlade’s book for its unique yet universally applicable problem solving.

4. The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing by Taylor Larimore, Michael LeBoeuf, and Mel Lindauer, with a foreword by John C. Bogle

“Invest like a Boglehead, and let their grassroots investment wisdom guide you down the path of long-term wealth creation and happiness, without all the worries and fuss of stock pickers and day traders. If you face a financial crisis or problem, or simply want to know what is prudent to do with the money you save, the Bogleheads will have the answers you need to help you gain your financial footing and keep it.” In keeping with John C. Bogle’s investment advice, this witty and clever guide has all you need to know about investment. We chose this guide for its all-around, easy to follow, and thorough information on investing.

5. Pirates of Financial Freedom: A Novel by Joey Fehrman

“Through the financial advice they receive and the other characters they meet along the way, you will learn how to take control of your destiny and start achieving the thriving life of financial success you deserve!” Told through the eyes of fictional pirates, this entertaining read offers essential lessons on the most essential personal finance skills. This is the perfect book for learning those essential healthy financial habits through the experience of relatable characters.

6. The Wealthy Barber: Everyone’s Commonsense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent by David H. Chilton

“David Chilton simplifies the complex puzzles of personal finance and helps you achieve financial independence. With the help of his fictional barber, Roy, and a large dose of humor, Chilton shows you how to take control of your financial future–slowly, steadily, and with sure success.” See also: The Wealthy Barber Returns. Selected because it is one of the top-rated financial books ever, Chilton’s plan makes it possible to achieve financial independence, no matter your salary.

7. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt

“Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, they show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing.” While this book does not offer twelve-step plans for financial independence or a six week get-rich-quick program, it is essential in transforming your worldview. Understanding the freakonomics mindset will allow you to make smart and beneficial financial decisions.

8. Your Money: The Missing Manual by J.D. Roth

“Guides readers with practical advice for getting — and keeping — their finances in order, covering all the money-management bases, from saving and spending to getting out of debt to investing, and planning for retirement.” Roth’s sensible advice on money management is important in any financial journey. We chose this book because it offers the most comprehensive and simple guide to an essential aspect of financial health: taking control of your money.

9. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker

“According to T. Harv Eker, it’s simple. If you think like rich people think and do what rich people do, chances are you’ll get rich too!” Finances start with the person, and Eker’s approach to thinking like a millionaire will get you in top shape to begin your financial journey. We selected Eker’s book for the way it will transform your mindset on wealth.

Interested in learning about Personal Finance? Check out these other great articles:

10. Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey

“With practical and easy to follow methods and personal anecdotes, Financial Peace is the road map to personal control, financial security, a new, vital family dynamic, and lifetime peace.” A radio host and best-selling author, Dave Ramsey is a giant in the personal finance world. His advice for achieving financial peace comes from real experience grappling with gaining — and losing, and regaining — wealth and financial health. His financial plans are hailed for their honesty and effectiveness, which is why we had to include one of his works on our list. Ramsey’s acclaimed work focuses not only on financial peace, but also on peace in your life.

11. Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller by Napoleon Hill

“In the updated version, Arthur R. Pell, Ph.D., a nationally known author, lecturer, and consultant in human resources management and an expert in applying Hill’s thought, deftly interweaves anecdotes of how contemporary millionaires and billionaires, such as Bill Gates, Mary Kay Ash, Dave Thomas, and Sir John Templeton, achieved their wealth.” We included this classic in motivational literature as it offers an updated version of Napoleon Hill’s 1937 work with a modern perspective on success.

12. Effortless Savings: A Money Management Guide to Saving Without Sacrifice by Richard Syrop

“Effortless Savings is the ultimate guide to saving without sacrifice. Perfect for readers of any income level or household size, it contains hundreds of ways to save money that are easy and manageable.” We chose Syrop’s guide to saving money because it offers a wealth of ways to save money without having to make sacrifices.

13. On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar

“Succinct, straightforward, and visually appealing “On My Own Two Feet” will redefine “personal finance 101” for women in their 20s and 30s.” If you want a go-to guide for personal finance, look no further. Included because it meets the need of a modern target audience, Thakor and Kedar cover the basics of personal finance in fun and simple way.

14. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns by John C. Bogle

“Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing will show you how to incorporate this proven investment strategy into your portfolio. It will also change the very way you think about investing. Successful investing is not easy. (It requires discipline and patience.) But it is simple. For it’s all about common sense.” Bogle’s common sense approach to basic investing from the man himself is sure to offer the best advice out there for those looking to polish their investment game. We chose to include this book for its standing as an essential investment read, as well as for its short and sweet length.

15. Rich Bitch: A Simple 12-Step Plan for Getting Your Financial Life Together… Finally by Nicole Lapin

“In RICH BITCH, money expert and financial journalist Nicole Lapin lays out a 12-Step Plan in which she shares her experiences—mistakes and all—of getting her own finances in order. She talks to you not like a lecturer but as your friend. And even though money is typically an “off-limits” conversation, nothing is off-limits here.” Included for its spunky yet expert perspective, Lapin’s 12-step plan is offered in a fun and funky style, perfect for those seeking a bit of pizzazz in their financial advice.

16. Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties by Beth Kobliner

“From tackling taxes to boosting credit scores, Get a Financial Lifecan show those just starting out how to decrease their debt, avoid common money mistakes, and navigate the world of personal finance in today’s ever-changing landscape.” Since Finance 101 is not a class offered in high school, Kobliner’s guide to finances for young people offers the best and most thorough advice for young adults starting out in the scary world of finance. We chose this book because it offers the most comprehensive basic guide to beginning your financial journey.

17. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

“Personal finance author and lecturer Robert T. Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective from two very different influences – his two fathers.” Kiyosaki’s honest observations of his and his friend’s fathers was chosen for its unique perspective on wealth and what it takes to make it financially.

18. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

“A completely practical approach delivered with a nonjudgmental style that makes readers want to do what Sethi says, it is based around the four pillars of personal finance— banking, saving, budgeting, and investing—and the wealth-building ideas of personal entrepreneurship.” Perfect for young adults seeking structure, Sethi’s 6-week financial plan will have you starting on the right foot.

19. Money: Master The Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Anthony Robbins

“Based on extensive research and one-on-one interviews with more than 50 of the most legendary financial experts in the world – from Carl Icahn and Warren Buffett, to Ray Dalio and Steve Forbes – Tony Robbins has created a simple 7-step blueprint that anyone can use for financial freedom.” Robbins’ guide follows advice of financial greats and was included for its merit as a well-rounded first read for anyone looking to learn the ins and outs of the financial game.

20. The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach

“David Bach gives you a totally realistic system, based on timeless principles, with everything you need to know, including phone numbers and websites, so you can put the secret to becoming an Automatic Millionaire in place from the comfort of your own home.” Centered around an anecdote about an average American couple, Bach’s insights into financial health will change your world. We selected this book for its comprehensive information on how to make modern technology work for you.

Personal finance books offer a wide range of advice. While these twenty personal finance books cover a range of topics and financial situations, one thing remains true: their advice is the best of the best. These authors have proved their worth in the financial game, and now they are passing that wisdom on to readers like you. With all these topics out there, you are sure to find the right one for you! Have you read any great personal finance literature? Let us know in the comments.

Photo: Christopher