The best books on building wealth

Why am I passionate about this?

William D. Danko, Ph.D. has studied wealth formation since 1973. He is the co-author of The Millionaire Next Door, a research-based book about wealth in America that has been ranked as a bestseller by The New York Times for more than three years. More recently, he co-authored Richer Than A Millionaire ~ A Pathway To True Prosperity, a book that shows how to build wealth with a greater purpose in mind. Dr. Danko resides in upstate New York with his wife, and is the father of three, and the grandfather of five.


I wrote...

Richer Than A Millionaire: A Pathway to True Prosperity

By William D. Danko,

Book cover of Richer Than A Millionaire: A Pathway to True Prosperity

What is my book about?

Richer Than a Millionaire: A Pathway to True Prosperity was inspired by the thousands of students we taught over our careers. We found that many young people are clueless about their direction in life. Yes, they want a career, and yes, they want a good life, but knowing what to do is to many quite a challenge. Some say they want to be rich, but they really don't know what that means. In a sense, to paraphrase the Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci, many are like ships on the high seas of life without rudders! They have tremendous potential but no direction.

In our book, we hope to inspire and to point all people (but especially young adults and concerned parents and grandparents who want sound advice for the next generation) in what we believe is the right direction. This direction has been reinforced by over forty years of academic and consulting research on what it really means to be rich. We show that it is possible to be modestly wealthy and happy, which is far better than being rich and miserable.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Richest Man In Babylon

William D. Danko Why did I love this book?

This book is a short parable that is called the most inspiring book on wealth ever written. Quite a claim, but it does show that the laws for wealth building applicable 6,000 years ago hold true today.

By George S. Clason,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked The Richest Man In Babylon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Richest Man in Babylon, based on “Babylonian parables”, has been hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth.  In simple language, these fascinating and informative stories set you on a sure path to prosperity and its accompanying joys.  A celebrated bestseller, it offers an understanding and a solution to your personal financial problem.  Revealed inside are the secrets to acquiring money, keeping money, and making money earn more money.

This original edition has the original language, content, and message from George S. Clason as intended in 1926.  It's all…


Book cover of Think and Grow Rich

William D. Danko Why did I love this book?

The success of Andrew Carnegie inspired Napoleon Hill to write this book. Particularly useful is the section of 55 famous alibis by old man "IF". If I had more time, if I had money, if I lived in a big city, if I were not fat….. These ghosts of fear can be destroyed by studying Hill’s book. This book will also show you how to develop persistence, and how to surround yourself with wise people.

By Napoleon Hill,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked Think and Grow Rich as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is one of the bestselling motivational books of all-time. Inspired by a suggestion from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, Hill explains the philosophy that helped the wealthiest and most accomplished members of society succeed.


Book cover of A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing

William D. Danko Why did I love this book?

Princeton economics emeritus professor Burton G. Malkiel’s book is updated periodically. With thousands of sources for investment advice available to all of us, it is easy to get confused. The good professor lays out a plan for managing a diversified set of investments over a lifetime, paying particular attention to risk tolerance. This could be the only investment guide you need to grow and protect your wealth.

By Burton G. Malkiel,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked A Random Walk Down Wall Street as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Today's stock market is not for the faint hearted. At a time of frightening volatility, the answer is to turn to Burton G. Malkiel's advice in his reassuring, authoritative, gimmick-free and perennially best-selling guide to investing. Long established as the first book to purchase before starting a portfolio, A Random Walk Down Wall Street now features new material on "tax-loss harvesting"; the current bitcoin bubble and automated investment advisers; as well as a brand-new chapter on factor investing and risk parity. And as always, Malkiel's core insights-on stocks and bonds, as well as investment trusts, home ownership and tangible assets…


Book cover of Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism

William D. Danko Why did I love this book?

It is personally rewarding to donate your time as a volunteer, no matter what your financial wealth is. But money certainly helps to fund causes in this material world. Brooks’ book shows that compassionate conservatism is an important driving force in America. He shows through extensive survey work that giving money to charity speaks louder than just talking about caring. He argues successfully, that those who are charitable improve life for all of us, and the selfish make us all worse off. Clearly, money can help you achieve true prosperity by helping others with it.

By Arthur C. Brooks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Who Really Cares as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

We all know we should give to charity, but who really does? In his controversial study of America's giving habits, Arthur C. Brooks shatters stereotypes about charity in America-including the myth that the political Left is more compassionate than the Right. Brooks, a preeminent public policy expert, spent years researching giving trends in America, and even he was surprised by what he found. In Who Really Cares , he identifies the forces behind American charity: strong families, church attendance, earning one's own income (as opposed to receiving welfare), and the belief that individuals-not government-offer the best solution to social ills.…


Book cover of Free to Choose: A Personal Statement

William D. Danko Why did I love this book?

To build wealth, we need an environment that allows for unequal outcomes. The Friedmans argue that using societal or governmental force in the name of equality will destroy the environment where we are free to choose how wealth is grown. In their words: Freedom “preserves the opportunity for today's disadvantaged to become tomorrow's privileged and, in the process, enables almost everyone, from top to bottom, to enjoy a fuller and richer life.” Let the market determine the outcome. Bad ideas will wither away, and good ideas will thrive.

By Milton Friedman, Rose Friedman,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Free to Choose as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Argues that free-market forces work better than government controls for achieving real equality and security, protecting consumers and workers, providing education, and avoiding inflation and unemployment.


You might also like...

Weird Foods of Portugal: Adventures of an Expat

By Wendy Lee Hermance,

Book cover of Weird Foods of Portugal: Adventures of an Expat

Wendy Lee Hermance Author Of Weird Foods of Portugal: Adventures of an Expat

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Wendy Lee Hermance was heard on National Public Radio (NPR) stations with her Missouri Folklore series in the 1980s. She earned a journalism degree from Stephens College, served as Editor and Features Writer for Midwestern and Southern university and regional publications, then settled into writing real estate contracts. In 2012 she attended University of Sydney, earning a master’s degree by research thesis. Her books include Where I’m Going with this Poem, a memoir in poetry and prose. Weird Foods of Portugal: Adventures of an Expat marks her return to feature writing as collections of narrative non-fiction stories.

Wendy's book list on why Portugal is weird

What is my book about?

Weird Foods of Portugal describes the author's first years trying to make sense of a strange new place and a home there for herself.

Witty, dreamlike, and at times jarring, the book sizzles with social commentary looking back at America and beautiful, finely drawn descriptions of Portugal and its people. Part dark-humor cautionary tale, part travel adventure, ultimately, Hermance's book of narrative non-fiction serves as affirmation for any who wish to make a similar move themselves.

Weird Foods of Portugal: Adventures of an Expat

By Wendy Lee Hermance,

What is this book about?

"Wendy Lee Hermance describes Portugal´s colorful people and places - including taxi drivers and animals - with a poet´s empathy and dark humor. Part travel adventure, part cautionary tale, Weird Foods of Portugal is at it´s heart, affirmation for all who consider making such a move themselves."


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in wealth, investment, and Babylon?

11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about wealth, investment, and Babylon.

Wealth Explore 61 books about wealth
Investment Explore 66 books about investment
Babylon Explore 12 books about Babylon