Reading books is a habit of rich and successful people.

Did you know that 88 percent of wealthy individuals read 30 minutes or more every day?

Rich people commit themselves to self education long after they have finished school. It gives them the mental edge over the Average Joe who struggles with monthly bills and debt.

If you are serious about improving your finances and paving the road towards wealth and success, then take a look at these great reads for all ages.

We’ve researched dozens of books and compiled a list of the best personal finance books including evergreen classics as well as newer releases.

Best Personal Finance Books

1. Think and Grow Rich

Our top rated personal finance book is an absolute classic that many financially successful people attribute much of their success to: Napolean Hill’s Think and Grow Rich.

Think and grow rich is one of the most important financial books ever written. Napoleon Hill researched more than forty millionaires to find out what made them the men that they were. In this book he imparts that knowledge to you.

Once you’ve read this book you will understand what gives certain people an edge over everyone else. By following the advice laid out clearly in this book you’ll be the one with an edge. It’s time to stop wondering what it’s like to be rich and start knowing.

This book contains 320 pages of well researched ideas and can be finished in 1 or 2 reading sessions.

2. The Total Money Makeover

“Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge.”

Dave Ramsey, author and radio show host, offers a comprehensive plan to get out of debt and achieve financial fitness.

Your current financial position represents the sum total of the decisions you’ve made to this point, and you must take personal responsibility for your financial problems.

His seven-step plan includes paying off all debts except the home mortgage at an accelerated speed, creating a financial safety net that covers three to six months’ expenses, investing 15 percent of income in a retirement fund, and saving for children’s college expenses.

He effectively shows how regular people can rid themselves of debt and grow their wealth using current income.

While many of Ramsey’s concepts are not new, his simple approach and client testimonials will resonate with a broad range of library patrons. This is important information in a society buried in debt, with unprecedented numbers of people facing bankruptcy.

This book is one of the shortest books on the list and contains 245 pages of pure financial wisdom.

3. Rich Dad Poor Dad

Rich Dad Poor Dad tells the story of Robert Kiyosaki and his two dads—his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad—and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing.

Robert Kiyosaki has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money. With perspectives that often contradict conventional wisdom, Robert has earned a reputation for straight talk, irreverence and courage. He is regarded worldwide as a passionate advocate for financial education.

The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.

This book is 274 pages and a very quick read because it is filled with lots of pictures and diagrams.

4. The Richest Man in Babylon

This is the book that reveals the secret to personal wealth. The Richest Man in Babylon is a book by George Samuel Clason which dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon.

Through their experiences in business and managing household finance, the characters in the parables learn simple lessons in financial wisdom.

It’s a great book for beginners because Clason explains every financial concept using characters and stories. Unlike some personal finance books, you will not hear anything about the author’s personal life and/or products. It is filled with pure financial wisdom that can turn your finances around if you apply what you read.

This book is very short and contains 92 pages of easy to understand sage advice. You can finish it in 1 reading session.

5. The Automatic Millionaire

David Bach offers a simple prescriptive plan for financial security. The secret: “Pay Yourself First,” which, in Bach’s words, is “the one proven, easy way to get rich.”

Instead of worrying about taxes, budgeting or investing, the key is to set aside between 10% and 15% of gross income for savings the equivalent of one hour’s worth of income every day.

While this strategy may seem obvious, many people don’t take this basic step. That’s why Bach says everyone should write down their “Automatic Millionaire Promise,” which spells out what percentage of their income they will start saving by a certain date. To ensure that people carry through on their efforts, Bach says they should have deposits automatically made to a retirement account.

Then, the next step is to capitalize on the power of compounding by contributing the maximum amount to, say, an employer’s 401(k) account.

Bach’s key principle, along with such advice as buying real estate, paying down debt and making charitable deductions, is not groundbreaking; and regrettably, it may be unrealistic for many.

However, his easygoing approach, complete with real-life examples and clever phrases such as “Latte Factor,” will appeal to the many money-challenged consumers who have made a New Year’s resolution to get their finances on a firmer footing.

This book contains 288 pages of sound financial guidance and can be finished in a few reading sessions.

Personal Finance Book Buyer’s Guide

If you’re not sure which personal finance book is right for you, then take a look at these helpful suggestions to help you make a better decision. Most people seek personal financial advice because they are struggling with these 3 issues:

• Getting Out of Debt
• Saving for Retirement
• Making more money

These are the most popular personal finance topics because everybody has experienced them unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth! Here are my book suggestions based on each specific need.

For People who wish to Get Out of Debt

Debt elimination is your biggest concern so I recommend you read The Total Money Makeover for starters. Not only will this book give you a blueprint to getting out of debt, but it will help reprogram your mind to avoid common money mistakes. It’s great for beginners and I’ve used it myself to pay off $17,000 of consumer debt in just 6 months.

For People who want to Prepare for Retirement

Retirement planning is something that everybody must plan for because there will come a day when you want to stop working and control all of your free time. However, you’ll need a solid plan and strategy to achieve a prosperous retirement.

I recommend you read The Automatic Millionaire and The Richest Man in Babylon to help you prepare your retirement nest egg. These 2 books will give you plenty of guidance so you can start planning for a better retirement today.

For People who want to make more money

If you want to increase your income, then I suggest reading Think and Grow Rich along with Rich Dad Poor Dad. These 2 books really pushed me to start my own businesses and strive towards achieving true financial independence.

You will start to think differently and see more opportunities around you after you read these books. They are absolute gold and will surely skyrocket your income if you follow them precisely.