100 books like Happy Go Money

By Melissa Leong,

Here are 100 books that Happy Go Money fans have personally recommended if you like Happy Go Money. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Joy Luck Club

Bella Ellwood-Clayton Author Of Weekend Friends

From my list on on complex female friendships.

Why am I passionate about this?

Complex relationships have been the heart of my career. I have a BA in sexual anthropology from Concordia University in Montréal and a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne. My debut novel, Weekend Friends, was published by Post Hill Press in 2023. My nonfiction book, Sex Drive: In Pursuit of Female Desire, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2012. Themes I like writing about include friendship, desire, conflict, healing, and love. I have published short stories and poetry and have written for publications such as the Huffington Post and Daily Life. I appear on TV and give talks, including a TEDx talk. My work has been featured in a National Geographic documentary.

Bella's book list on on complex female friendships

Bella Ellwood-Clayton Why did Bella love this book?

I was completely immersed in this novel. Through her exploration of Chinese-American culture, Amy Tan draws us deeply into the intricate relationships between the mothers in this book and their daughters.

Cross-generational and cross-cultural, Tan skillfully portrays the conflicts within these friendships—both among the mothers and between mothers and daughters—ultimately demonstrating the power of understanding and forgiveness.

By Amy Tan,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked The Joy Luck Club as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'The Joy Luck Club is an ambitious saga that's impossible to read without wanting to call your Mum' Stylist

Discover Amy Tan's moving and poignant tale of immigrant Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters.

In 1949 four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, meet weekly to play mahjong and tell stories of what they left behind in China. United in loss and new hope for their daughters' futures, they call themselves the Joy Luck Club.

Their daughters, who have never heard these stories, think their mothers' advice is irrelevant to their modern American lives - until their own inner…


Book cover of The Visibility Mindset: How Asian American Leaders Create Opportunities and Push Past Barriers

Sheena Yap Chan Author Of The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within

From my list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women.

Why am I passionate about this?

This is a topic that is very passionate for me since growing up in Toronto, and I never had any role models that look like me to look up to. I wanted to showcase powerful Asian women authors to show others what is possible and that we can also dismantle the negative stereotypes we still face. I want to be able to create better representation for Asian women in the media, and highlighting these amazing authors is a great way to showcase that.

Sheena's book list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women

Sheena Yap Chan Why did Sheena love this book?

This is a great guide for any Asian professional who wants to create more visibility in the workplace.  There are great interviews from leaders and tips that you can use in your own journey. 

It’s such a timely book for anyone who wants to advance in their career and be seen as a leader in their industry.

By Bernice M. Chao, Jessalin Lam,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Visibility Mindset as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Explore the challenges faced by Asian professionals and how to overcome them.

A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOK FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER
A NEW ENGLAND BOOK FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER
A PINNACLE BOOK AWARD WINNER

"A must-read if you're ready to unlock your full potential!"
-Tiffany Pham, Founder and CEO, Mogul

Find your voice, own your story, and elevate your professional life. In The Visibility Mindset: How Asian American Leaders Create Opportunities and Push Past Barriers, Chao and Lam deliver an engaging and enlightening treatment of how Asian American professional leaders have powered through the obstacles in their way. Exploring a variety of myths,…


Book cover of Asian Women Trailblazers Who BossUp: Amazing women finding success and never looking back

Sheena Yap Chan Author Of The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within

From my list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women.

Why am I passionate about this?

This is a topic that is very passionate for me since growing up in Toronto, and I never had any role models that look like me to look up to. I wanted to showcase powerful Asian women authors to show others what is possible and that we can also dismantle the negative stereotypes we still face. I want to be able to create better representation for Asian women in the media, and highlighting these amazing authors is a great way to showcase that.

Sheena's book list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women

Sheena Yap Chan Why did Sheena love this book?

This book showcases the stories of 18 Asian women who are able to forge their own path, overcome obstacles and thrive. 

The stories in this book are so versatile and it dismantles the common monoliths Asian women still face today. Some stories include a woman who was sued by the FTC and diagnosed with brain cancer at the same time, and another is about a woman who was almost kidnapped by Thai parents in the middle of the ocean.  

By Tam Luc, Daphne Kwok, Katie Chin , Sue Ann Hong , Jeanie Chang , Susan Go , Leslie Lew , Amy Le , Amy Wang , Janan Sarwar , Julie Tran , Cary Kwok , Claudia Chan , Sandy Kusano , Sabrina Li , Mihae Kim Stefani

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Asian Women Trailblazers Who BossUp as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

We are so excited to celebrate Asian women from around the world once again. The word trailblazer indicates a person who blazes a trail for others to follow. A pioneer in any field of endeavor. Asian women are showing up in many different aspects that may not have been common for us to see in the past. This important time should not be missed.


Book cover of A is for Authentic: Not for Anxieties or for Straight A's

Sheena Yap Chan Author Of The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within

From my list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women.

Why am I passionate about this?

This is a topic that is very passionate for me since growing up in Toronto, and I never had any role models that look like me to look up to. I wanted to showcase powerful Asian women authors to show others what is possible and that we can also dismantle the negative stereotypes we still face. I want to be able to create better representation for Asian women in the media, and highlighting these amazing authors is a great way to showcase that.

Sheena's book list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women

Sheena Yap Chan Why did Sheena love this book?

This book has helped me learn to say that it's okay not to be okay and also be okay to ask for help when needed. 

In Asian culture, when a problem arises we are told to never share our troubles and because of that we suffer in silence. There is no shame in seeking help or talking to a licensed mental health therapist. Help comes in many different forms and this book has helped me learn to be okay with talking about mental health.

By Jeanie Y Chang,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A is for Authentic as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A is for Authentic shines a spotlight on the mental health stigma in the Asian community. This book outlines the identity journey of a second-generation Korean American who is emboldened to share her perspective through a mental health lens as a practicing clinician. Her memoir is about bringing healing and instilling hope as a catalyst for impactful change in normalizing mental health and mental illness in the Asian community. The author embraces cultural confidence™ to bravely express the thoughts and emotions she uncovered over the years.


Book cover of All the Money in the World: What the Happiest People Know about Getting and Spending

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta Author Of Edit Your Life: A Handbook for Living with Intention in a Messy World

From my list on inspiring you to change your life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an American author and writing teacher for both Harvard and Oxford’s online writing programs. I am also a mother of two who lived three years in a tiny backyard guest house with my family in an effort to focus more on what we love. Editing books is a practice I have honed over decades, and when my family was stuck in a living situation that felt unsustainable, the clearest way forward was for me to ask myself how I might edit our way out of it. It worked! In this book, I share the most valuable eight principles that we learned through the process.

Elisabeth's book list on inspiring you to change your life

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta Why did Elisabeth love this book?

A candid look at how we spend and how we feel about our spending. Vanderkam braids examples from her own life with deep research and statistics on the relationship between happiness and money. A memorable, practical read that I refer to often.

I love all of her books—she is definitely my continuing education for adulthood—but this one is probably my favorite.

By Laura Vanderkam,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked All the Money in the World as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

How happy would you be if you had all the money in the world? The universal lament about money is that there is never enough. We spend endless hours obsessing over our budgets and investments, trying to figure out ways to stretch every dollar. We try to follow the advice of money gurus and financial planners, then kick ourselves whenever we spend too much or save too little. For all of the stress and effort we put into every choice, why are most of us unhappy about our finances?

According to Laura Vanderkam, the key is to change your perspective.…


Book cover of Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin Author Of The Financial Anxiety Solution: A Step-by-Step Workbook to Stop Worrying about Money, Take Control of Your Finances, and Live a Happier Life

From my list on personal finance by people of color.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a licensed social worker, it struck me as bizarre that none of my training equipped me to talk to my clients about money. In grad school, the opening line from every professor was, “You didn’t choose this field to make money.” Yet? It’s something every single one of us needs and interacts with daily. So I started checking out personal finance books by the armsful. These books are different than novels: they deserve to be updated and modernized. But the same handful of personal finance books have been published and republished for decades, and most of them sound boringly redundant once you get past the intro.

Lindsay's book list on personal finance by people of color

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin Why did Lindsay love this book?

Not only does Finance for the People offer a blend of practical personal finance tips while addressing the emotional side of money, but Paco adds over 50 illustrations to help drive her point home.

Any time a book can explain something in diverse ways–from metaphors or stories to graphics–I find them more approachable. Paco's book helps people think critically and compassionately about how their beliefs about money shape their financial choices.

This book mirrors so many of my beliefs about money, making it a frequent go-to recommendation anytime someone asks me for a personal finance resource. 

By Paco de Leon,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Finance for the People as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An illustrated, practical guide to navigating your financial life, no matter your financial situation

"a potent mix of deeply practical and wonderfully empathetic" —Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial

"one of the most approachable financial books I've ever read." —Refinery 29

We are all weird about money. Whether you have a lot or a little, your feelings and beliefs about money have been shaped by a combination of silence (or even shame) around talking about money, personal experiences, family and societal expectations, and a whole big complex system rigged against many of us from the start. Begin with that baseline…


Book cover of Investing for Kids: How to Save, Invest and Grow Money

Juwan Rohan Author Of Money Talks: The Beginners Guide To Investing For Kids

From my list on for children to learn financial literacy.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm very passionate about teaching children's financial literacy and business because with social media, it's easy for children to get caught up in the flashy and shiny materialist things. I like to teach kids about business and how to use the mistakes in business to scale and grow. I have expertise in this area as I've written three books, taught financial literacy & business at schools, and own a few different businesses. After I graduated college, I was thrown into the 'real world' with a good job and learned my lessons the hard way by spending too much money on things that did not matter. Hence my passion to want to help The Misguided.

Juwan's book list on for children to learn financial literacy

Juwan Rohan Why did Juwan love this book?

I recommend this book because after carefully reading it and completing the exercises with my 13-year-old niece, I found myself having fun and enjoying the quality time while also teaching the basics of money and how it works in our economy.

This eventually led to my niece asking questions about money and how to manage, save, and invest it. That's amazing to hear a young person start to think about money.

By Dylin Redling, Allison Tom,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Investing for Kids as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Outgrow your piggy bank—an intro to investing for kids ages 8 to 12

Did you know that the sooner you understand money, the sooner you can make more of it? It’s true! Investing for Kids can help make you money savvy, showing you how to earn it, how to start a savings plan, and the best ways to invest and create a future with money in the bank.

With a little help from the astounding Dollar Duo—Mr. Finance and Investing Woman—this engaging guide to investing for kids ages 8 to 12 covers essential information about stocks and bonds, how you…


Book cover of Emotional Currency: A Woman's Guide to Building a Healthy Relationship with Money

Kelley Holland Author Of You Are Worthy: Change Your Money Mindset, Build Your Wealth, and Fund Your Future

From my list on personal finance for women.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a writer and financial wellness coach, and I am on a mission to help women like you become more confident and capable with money. Previously, I was an award-winning business and financial journalist with The New York Times, Business Week, and CNBC, and I have a graduate business degree from a top university. Even with all that, though, it took me years to build healthy personal financial habits and start using my money to achieve my life goals—so I understand the pain of financial stress and self-blame. I wrote my book to help you find an easier path to financial wellness and empowerment.

Kelley's book list on personal finance for women

Kelley Holland Why did Kelley love this book?

Emotional Currency was the first book I read when I started making my way through the literature on women and money, and it has stayed with me. Levinson is a therapist, and her training shows through—not with jargon, but with her approach. She offers exercises that are equal parts psychological and financial, which is a gentle and affirming way of inviting readers anxious about their money lives to start digging in. Most of this book is, as the title suggests, about improving our emotional relationship to money, but really, isn’t that a necessary first step for all of us? Happily, Levinson mixes in practical/tactical advice and suggestions as well.  

By Kate Levinson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Emotional Currency as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Every day, women face new challenges that come with having control over, and responsibility for, their financial lives. Sometimes exciting, sometimes frightening, these issues always have an emotional side. Author and psychotherapist Dr. Kate Levinson offers fresh approaches to navigating the astonishing range of beliefs about the role of money in our lives, coming to terms with our feelings about being “rich” or “poor,” and exploring our inner money life so that we can put our feelings to work for us in a positive way. By understanding our intimate history and relationship with money we are better able to handle…


Book cover of Money Out Loud: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin Author Of The Financial Anxiety Solution: A Step-by-Step Workbook to Stop Worrying about Money, Take Control of Your Finances, and Live a Happier Life

From my list on personal finance by people of color.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a licensed social worker, it struck me as bizarre that none of my training equipped me to talk to my clients about money. In grad school, the opening line from every professor was, “You didn’t choose this field to make money.” Yet? It’s something every single one of us needs and interacts with daily. So I started checking out personal finance books by the armsful. These books are different than novels: they deserve to be updated and modernized. But the same handful of personal finance books have been published and republished for decades, and most of them sound boringly redundant once you get past the intro.

Lindsay's book list on personal finance by people of color

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin Why did Lindsay love this book?

A common question I'm asked as a financial therapist is, "Why don't people talk about money more?"

In this book, Berna doesn't just talk about the practicalities of money; she gets others' thoughts and opinions on it too. The "Open Mic" section is so powerful. It's a segment sprinkled throughout the book where Berna asks others about money–everything from their financial goals to what they've nicknamed their savings accounts.

When money is so taboo, it's helpful (and fun!) to read about what others are doing with their money. 

By Berna Anat, Monique Sterling (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Money Out Loud as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

So no one taught you about money, either? Let's figure this me$$ out together.

In this illustrated, deeply unserious guide to money, Berna Anat-aka the Financial Hype Woman-freaks out her immigrant parents by doing the unthinkable: Talking about money. Loudly.

Because we're done staying silent, anxious, and ashamed about our money. It's time to join the party and finally learn about all the financial stuff that always felt too confusing. Stuff like:

How to actually budget, save, and invest (but also make it fun) How our traumas shape our most toxic money habits, and how to create new patterns How…


Book cover of Mind Over Money: Overcoming the Money Disorders That Threaten Our Financial Health

Ed Zinkiewicz Author Of Retire to Play and Purpose: How to have an amazing time going forward

From my list on taking your retirement to a new level.

Why am I passionate about this?

Some retirement choices start out as great adventures but stall. The RV loses its sheen or the cruises begin to look alike. Some retirees actually finish the infamous to-do list or tire of golf. Some people avoid retiring because they’ve heard of those failures! My goal is to help people find meaning and purpose in the activities they undertake in retirement and avoid any pitfalls. The books I’ve chosen here have helped give me a great platform to work from. I’ve discovered that if you can be curious, reach out in empathy, and be determined to keep at the search for joy and meaning, you’ll find that retirement adventure of play and purpose.

Ed's book list on taking your retirement to a new level

Ed Zinkiewicz Why did Ed love this book?

Ted Klontz is a personal friend and sometime mentor. I’ve found the words of wisdom he and his son have put in this book very helpful for identifying some common money-spending pitfalls. Do you avoid risk or take too many, underspend, or overspend? 

Many of these behaviors have their roots in our lives at a very early age. What kinds of toys did we play with? How did they compare to the toys our friends had? How did our parents describe the poor in our neighborhood or treat the more well-off?

Uncover some of the causes that molded your treatment of money and earn a new freedom to make better decisions based on more balanced views.

By Brad Klontz, Ted Klontz,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Mind Over Money as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Do you overspend? Undersave? Keep secrets about money from a spouse or family member? Are you anxious about dealing with your finances? If so, you are not alone. Let's face it–just about all of have complicated, if not downright dysfunctional, relationships with money.

As Drs. Brad and Ted Klontz, a father and son team of pioneers in the emerging field of financial psychology explain, our disordered relationships with money aren’t our fault. They don’t stem from a lack of knowledge or a failure of will. Instead, they are a product of subconscious beliefs and thought patterns, rooted in our childhoods,…


Book cover of The Joy Luck Club
Book cover of The Visibility Mindset: How Asian American Leaders Create Opportunities and Push Past Barriers
Book cover of Asian Women Trailblazers Who BossUp: Amazing women finding success and never looking back

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