Best Personal Finance Books to Read

© Provided by Work + Money You can learn a lot from reading.

There are plenty of books on personal finance. From books on how to trade stocks to how to save for retirement, the choices can be staggering. It could take months of reading dozens of books that don't pertain to you to find one that resonates. How do you know which books will help you?

Personal finance should be just that, personal. People want and need books that will help them build upon or improve their financial positions. If you spend all your money and time reading books that won't help you, how are you actually saving for the future?

That's why we've compiled a list of books that emphasize the personal and cover a range of topics, from raising financially smart kids to pulling yourself out of debt to early retirement. This list will not only narrow down your to-read list, it will also help you get on your road to financial freedom.

'Unshakable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook' By: Tony Robbins

A concise companion volume to Robbins's "Money: Master the Game" (which is almost 700 pages long), "Unshakable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook" is a great read for those of us who have little time to devote to reading and learning about finance. This book will provide you with essential knowledge: who the players are, what their agendas are, what the pitfalls are, how to avoid them, and how to win. After all, as Robbins points out, being unshakable is not just about having money: It's a state of mind. A small but mighty book, pumped full of info, "Unshakable" provides you with the knowledge to improve any financial position. And because of its length (just 257 pages), you won't get bogged down with too much information. Instead, you will come away inspired and ready to take control of your finances.

'Make Your Kid A Money Genius (Even If You’re Not): A Parents’ Guide For Kids' By: Beth Kobliner

Do you have kids? Do you want them to have all the financial advantages that you didn't? Try Kobliner's guide geared toward those who want to set their children up with the kind of financial knowledge that will prepare them for their future. 

A quick and fun read, the guide is literally broken down into steps on how to talk to your youngsters about money. From age-appropriate conversations to setting clear savings goals, this book will help you teach your kids about financial independence. Bonus: the book has tips for adults, too.

'How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide' By: Jane Bryant Quinn

Who doesn't think about retirement? When we're young, we imagine ourselves on sandy beaches enjoying our golden years while watching our grandkids grow. However, as we age, these images are replaced with fears of never getting to retire, let alone retire on a beach somewhere with no worries other than what SPF sunscreen to wear. 

"How To Make Your Money Last" is a great choice for those of us whose retirement still feels like a long way off, but old enough to understand that saving today means a better tomorrow. 

'I Will Teach You to be Rich' By Ramit Sethi

Remember, you don't have to be a financial expert to start managing your money. "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" is a solid beginner's guide to all things personal finance and investing.

If you're ready to stop with the excuses and realize that your financial future rests in your hands, this is the book for you. Sethi writes the essential book for millennials, those of us who are ambitious but are unsure how to begin. As he states in his first lesson, getting started is more important than being the smartest person around. When you're ready to take action, Sethi sets you up with a 6-week plan, so you can start saving for your future today.

'Investing 101: From Stocks And Bonds To ETFs And IPOs, An Essential Primer On Building A Profitable Portfolio' By Michele Cagan

Are you completely new to investing? If so, this is the book for you. Cagan's "Investing 101" is a crash course in all you need to know about investing right now. Even if you've been at the game for a few years, it never hurts to get a refresher. Best of all, this book doesn't just focus on what stocks to invest in. It also delivers great information about bonds, ETFs, and IPOs. Not sure what those are? This is probably the book you want to start with. 

'The Truth About Your Future: The Money Guide You Need Now, Later, and Much Later' By: Ric Edelman

Edelman's book made the list, but don't expect it to be like the others. Edelman tackles many ideas and issues, starting with technology and how it will affect our future retirement regarding age, income, and health. Did you know that it's estimated that by 2025, 40 percent of the current Fortune 500 companies will no longer be around? It's true that technology evolves in almost the blink of an eye. Don't get left behind. Pick up a copy of "The Truth About Your Future" to keep ahead of the times. 

'The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich' By: David Bach

This book is for those of us who are beginners to personal finance. Well, let’s say beginner to intermediate. Ignore the buzz words and focus on the "automatic." No, Bach doesn't promise you'll automatically be a millionaire after reading this book. Rather, it's the practice of participating in automatic money savings that will put you on that path. He stresses the importance of automating all of one's bills so that you don't miss the money being diverted into savings and retirement accounts. You can't miss what you never had! Read this book if you're looking for an easy read on how to get started saving today.

For more books on finance, check out Work + Money.