The best personal finance books to help you master your money and set you on a path to financial freedom

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been curious about how money, the economy, and businesses work since I was a kid. That’s why it was so infuriating when I became a young adult and made a total mess of my finances. After getting back on solid financial ground, I’ve devoted myself to learning everything I can about building wealth sustainably. But more importantly, I dedicated myself to helping others, especially young people, become financially literate. Through my books, events, and products, I want to ensure the next generation learns how to manage their money before they need to, so that they can avoid my mistakes and embark on a path to financial success.


I wrote...

Your Kids, Their Money: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Financially Literate Children

By Clifton Corbin,

Book cover of Your Kids, Their Money: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Financially Literate Children

What is my book about?

Unlock the secret to raising money smart kids with Your Kids, Their Money – the must-have guide that empowers parents to shape their children's financial future.  Authored by registered financial consultant Clifton D. Corbin, this book is a modern parent's indispensable companion. Explore innovative methods that seamlessly integrate money management lessons into everyday activities, making it relatable for parents and kids alike.

Discover the essential tools you need to instill financial literacy in your children, regardless of their age. From allowances and first jobs to borrowing, credit, and investing, Corbin’s practical approach simplifies complex concepts while engaging your children with interactive activities and games.

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

Clifton Corbin Why did I love this book?

The Richest Man in Babylon is my favorite book to teach how to manage your money, full stop.

It’s written as a collection of short stories set in ancient Babylon. The reason I love this book so much is because, in addition to being easy to understand, it highlights that we all stumble but can learn and even achieve great wealth when seek to learn from the wisdom of others. 

If it were not for this book and its lesson to “pay yourself first”, I would likely still be wallowing in debt without much saved or invested for my future. 

Published in 1926, it lacks inclusivity, and Clason’s literary flourishes are loved by some and hated by others. However, few books come close to changing as many lives and building as much wealth as this book has. 

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 The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

Clifton Corbin Why did I love this book?

The Psychology of Money is the best book to be released in the last 50 years that clearly shows how and why we manage our money the way we do.

Housel takes a refreshingly realistic view of how people behave. We all know we should eat well and exercise, but we don’t. The same can be said about what we should do with our money. With that as the backdrop, Morgan Housel emphasizes that if we can make good money decisions sometimes, we will still be okay. He also permits us to make mistakes and do what is reasonable. 

The book is funny in a subtle way and a joy to read. I loved everything about this book. Even the book’s postscript, which could have been its own mini-book, was terrific. If you want to feel better about what you have done with your money and get tips on making the most out of your finances, you can’t go wrong with this book.

By Morgan Housel,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Psychology of Money as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Doing well with money isn't necessarily about what you know. It's about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people.

Money-investing, personal finance, and business decisions-is typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. But in the real world people don't make financial decisions on a spreadsheet. They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together.

In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan…


Book cover of First to a Million: A Teenager's Guide to Achieving Early Financial Independence

Clifton Corbin Why did I love this book?

First to a Million flips the script for teens and young adults. It lets young people know the “go to school, get a job, and work for 40+ years, then enjoy your retirement” isn’t for everyone.

This is the book I wish I had when I was a teen. Packed full of real-life examples of people who have reached financial independence at remarkably early ages, it is both inspiring and motivational.

I love how Dan Sheeks, the author and a high school teacher, gives teens and young adults a blueprint to shed the playbook that so many of us were given and learn to live life on their terms and maybe even retire before they are 30. 

Seeing there are many ways to build wealth and reach financial independence at an early age in a sustainable way is a gift we need to give to more young people. 

By Dan Sheeks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked First to a Million as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Change the way you look at money before you turn 20―and become a FI Freak!

Most teenagers are told about only one financial path: Work until you’re old and then retire. But what if you want to spend your adult life traveling, creating, or bettering the world instead of working all day, every day?

Financial independence (FI) is the only way to win the resource you can’t rewind: time. Time for yourself, time for your family and friends, and time for your dreams. Build the freedom to define your own future by building a strong financial base―which means saving more,…


Book cover of Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence

Clifton Corbin Why did I love this book?

This classic kicked off the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement.

A revolution that has changed how many people view money, work, and life. In the latest version of Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robin provides a step-by-step guide to re-think how we view and use our money and limited time on this earth. It was the first book I read that focused on why and how we should align our spending with our values. 

Following the steps in this book will fundamentally change your relationship with money, setting you on a path to no longer needing to work for your money, while also helping you become much more mindful of how you use our limited resources. 

A classic that is as relevant today as is when it was released.

By Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Your Money or Your Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Have Enough Money for a Rich Life-Without Winning the Lottery
How much money is enough? Vicki Robin has made it her life's work to explore this question. Her remarkable discovery: money is energy-and conscious awareness is the key to finding its real value. On Your Money or Your Life Robin shares the nine-step program originally created with her teaching partner Joe Dominguez, which has helped nearly three quarters of a million people worldwide reach new levels of comfort, competence, and consciousness around their personal finances. Updated for the 21st century, this two-CD program offers hands-on tools and practical insights to…


Book cover of Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Clifton Corbin Why did I love this book?

While not a book about money per se, it was the book that helped me let go of the shame I felt from destroying my finances as a young adult.

Unfortunately, money is still a subject that isn’t discussed openly. So many people can feel shame, guilt, and anxiety from money missteps. It can be easy to get trapped in a spiral of negative thinking regarding how we have been managing our finances. And without healthy outlets to learn and grow, we may look for solace in retail therapy or other destructive habits.  

Daring Greatly gave me the inspiration and courage to face the guilt and shame I felt about my finances. It gave me a roadmap on how to be vulnerable, experience joy, and let go of my shame. It also permitted me to understand that I am enough. An excellent book that should be a must-read for anyone who wants to experience joy more fully.

By Brené Brown,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked Daring Greatly as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

**Now on Netflix as The Call to Courage**

'She's so good, Brene Brown, at finding the language to articulate collective feeling' Dolly Alderton

Every time we are faced with change, no matter how great or small, we also face risk. We feel uncertain and exposed. We feel vulnerable. Most of us try to fight those feelings - or feel guilt for feeling them in the first place.

In a powerful new vision Dr Brene Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability, and dispels the widely accepted myth that it's a weakness. She argues that, in truth, vulnerability is…


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Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

By Antonieta Contreras,

Book cover of Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

Antonieta Contreras Author Of Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

As a trauma therapist and dedicated researcher, I love uncovering valuable insights within lesser-known books. There are hidden gems, free from the pressure of commercial success, crafted by authors deeply committed to research, understanding, and the art of writing itself. Their dedication resonates with me, as I believe in the profound value of information and the power of critical thinking. Through my own book, Traumatization and Its Aftermath, I aim to emphasize that psychological concepts often lose their depth in translation and my mission is spreading awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of trauma and its intricate facets. With that idea in mind, I chose these five titles. 

Antonieta's book list on uncovering the human experience and exploring the depths of trauma

What is my book about?

A fresh take on the difference between trauma and hardship in order to help accurately spot the difference and avoid over-generalizations.

The book integrates the latest findings in brain science, child development, psycho-social context, theory, and clinical experiences to make the case that trauma is much more than a cluster of symptoms to be tamed, but instead best understood as development gone off course, away from growth and towards (only) survival.

This book prompts a profound shift in perception, inviting to view trauma as an intricate and diverse experience, a point of view that ultimately leads to sharper treatment and, hopefully, more healing. It encourages a transition from asking, "What happened to you?" to the deeper question, "What is your relationship with what happened to you?"

Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

By Antonieta Contreras,

What is this book about?

The book is comprehensive, bold, and practical-a much-needed resource for the assessment and treatment of trauma. Instead of the traditional focus on the overall importance of healing, Traumatization and its Aftermath decodes why some people don't heal as easily as others, analyzes the various failures of diagnosis, and explains how to make therapeutic interventions truly effective.

This book offers a systemic deep dive into traumatization that clarifies myths and misinformation about the entire spectrum of trauma and provides both clinicians and non-clinicians with the right level of validation, preventive measures, conceptualization methodology, assessment tools, and healing facts that have not…


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