If you are looking for a meaningful gift for a loved one, consider the gift of expanding their knowledge in personal finance. Are you concerned about a loved ones relationship with money? Gifting the right book could literally change their life for the better. But only if they take the time to read it! Below is a list of books that addresses various needs and interest levels in personal finance. I have summarized these books for your convenience. All of these books can be purchased on Amazon.
Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
I first read this book in 1998. For the person who wants to stop the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck - this is a must read for anyone who is “coasting” on autopilot. The reader is inspired to identify their own priorities. This book teaches the reader how to embrace and start healthier habits that leads to debt elimination, saving time, money, and investing for retirement.
Money Honey by Rachel Richards
Written by a Millennial for Millennials. This book is the perfect motivation to get your financial life organized and on the fast track to success. It’s also good for those aspiring to get into real estate investing.
How to Avoid H.E.N.R.Y (High Earning, Not Rich Yet) Syndrome by Gideon Drucker
This book is perfect for young adults well on their way to making 6-figures+. This is an introduction to how to develop personal financial goals, start systematically saving and investing, and an introduction to taxes and insurance.
The Price You Pay for College by Ron Lieber
Don’t even think about looking at colleges let alone financing tuition until you read this book. Perfect for families with aspiring college-bound students age 13-20. You can’t afford to NOT read this book. Highly recommended amongst financial planners.
What Would the Rockefellers Do? By Garrett Gunderson
Good read for the person curious about how the wealthy create and maintain generational wealth. It details the financial system used by the wealthy, including the Rockefeller family, the Kennedy family, Walt Disney, and many others to create legacy wealth that lasts for generations. It also exposes the mistakes made by wealthy families who eventually lost the money, so you can avoid those mistakes.
The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber
Great for parents with children age 6+ to teach them age-appropriate money values and behavior.
Money Unmasked by Garrett Gunderson
By tapping into your Money Persona, you see beyond the constraints of scarcity to accelerate results, reduce risk, have more energy, and start making better financial decisions. Rather than trade time for money, or speculate and take risks, you will learn how to plug financial leaks, tap into hidden capital, and leverage the Cycle of Creation to profit up front and generate immediate cash flow.
Women and Money by Suze Orman
The perfect gift for women who are anxious when the subject of money comes up. A nice gift for someone who is lacking an equitable financial voice in their current relationship whether that is their partner, or their adult children.
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
This book is for men and women – but may be more relatable for men who want to take a leadership role in household finances.
Worth It by Amanda Steinberg
A book geared towards women who are making good money – and their money lives are out of control. Particularly interesting is that the author is a tech guru and thru her own negative experiences with debt and a failed marriage, founded DailyWorth. This book is perfect for women looking to confront their financial situation (knowledge) and confidently take control.
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
This book should be required reading for all. Emotion is the enemy of making good investment decisions. This book brings awareness to when and how our emotions will attempt to undermine us from doing the right thing.
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
This book is a must-read for self-employed women and aspiring female entrepreneurs. This book inspires women to charge what they are worth, make more money than they ever dreamed possible, and why they should be investing.
Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? by Cary Siegel
This is a fast read and perfect for men and women of any age. It is a suggested graduation gift for high school and college grads. The book includes eight important lessons focusing on 99 principles that will quickly and memorably enhance any individual's money management acumen.
Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts by Tom Margenau
Written by a retired SSA agent, this short read will make you smarter than 95% of the population about Social Security. This book should be required reading for all – learn how to maximize your future SSA benefits.