Books that Changed How I Look at Money
I got interested in money pretty young. And no, I’m not talking about lemonade stands and allowance. My mom gave me a book for my 14th birthday (stay tuned for which one) and I remember getting halfway through and going,
“Why aren’t I learning this in school instead of algebra?
When am I ever going to use algebra?”
Turns out, I was pretty spot on. And I really wish more schools would teach some basic personal finance way younger to give more people (especially women) confidence in their knowledge about personal finance. So I’ve continued to add to my knowledge over time, through my favorite source of new knowledge: books!
Now let’s get a couple of things clear (I’ve said some of these things before but they bear repeating):
Most importantly, I am not a financial advisor nor a fiduciary. I have no formal training so on all things money, please speak to an expert or do your own independent research!
Everybody starts from a different place of knowledge on this topic and there is nothing wrong with starting with a little less knowledge. All that matters is you’re pushing yourself to learn more. I have so much to learn and am still constantly asking people I trust to explain new topics to me. I share all of this in the same spirit - you are already doing amazing things by being here and trying to learn.
No financial advice is one-size-fits-all. Even in these books written by experts or that article about the next big stock or investment everybody’s talking about, it’s all about tracking back to your individual goals. Own them and do what’s right for you. FOMO is personal finance can be an expensive mistake.
Money gives us the freedom to live us the lives we’ve always dreamed of.
Okay, let’s get to the matter at hand. These are books I’ve read throughout my life (yes, I was that kid that was reading nerdy books like this in middle school) but to be honest, most have them have been concentrated in the last few years as I started to feel like I was falling behind.
THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL
Girls Just Want to Have Funds by Susannah Blake Goodman
So let’s be real, I read this a long time ago and even then I remember some of the stories/examples being a little kitchy even then. So if that stuff bugs you, keep that in mind. But this did something to get me to care at age 14 when money isn’t on most girls (or kids in general mind).
THE ONE THAT CHANGED THE GAME IMMEDIATELY
Ask For It by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever
I could talk about this book for hours. I wanted to make an aggressive ask at work (I knew I could handle a job that was a significant promotion but unprecedented for the company). Without exaggeration, I read it top to bottom in one day. Linda Babcock is an incredibly accomplished psychologist who has studied negotiation, especially as it relates to bias.
This does an incredible job explaining the basics of negotiation strategy, with some really practical context as to the (unfortunate) bias that women often face.
(Spoiler alert - I used her tips in the negotiation for the job and got the promotion and a raise. I gave it to all my best friends as their Christmas gift that year.)
THE ONE THAT BREAKS IT DOWN
Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach
David Bach is an incredibly prolific writer of personal finance literature. This book is incredibly methodical in helping you think through where you currently are and where you might want to go in terms of your money goals. (Caveat: He’s gotten a little pushback lately for some advice around not ordering lattes being able to change your financial future. My opinion on the matter is that it’s an extreme interpretation of what he was advising but that said, maybe not the best way to frame it.) I found the way he broke down these topics really manageable. Good if you’re ready to start taking steps.
THE ONE REMINDS YOU TO BE STRONG
Knowing Your Value by Mika Brzezinski
This book is less of a practical money guide but a philosophy of thinking about money and value book. But Mika went through an incredibly difficult and familiar path to her current position in television. I found her story really helpful to hear how in some of the toughest moments it wasn’t all “I’m amazing and I deserve it!” Overcoming your own doubts and insecurities and still recognizing what you bring to the table is a really powerful mindset shifts that can lead to some major breakthroughs.
THE ONE THAT BLEW MY MIND
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
This is a “do not pass go” book but I do recommend it once you have a little bit of a baseline on negotiation. That said, it’s so entertaining because it’s written by a former lead hostage negotiator for the FBI (so it turns these concepts basically into an action movie). This book acknowledges the human/emotional side of negotiation. Negotiation and money are obviously not the same thing but they’re so closely linked and this book is potentially my most recommended book of the last 3 years so I have to include it!
Real world proof point: my roommate used one tip from the first chapter on a call to negotiate salary on a job she had just gotten offered (I was so into it, I had to start talking about it immediately, even one chapter in) and 30 minutes later, she walked out of her room, sort of dazed and said “I used that thing you said and… it worked!”
I wish you all the best, mindblowing reading of these books. But I’m sure this isn’t the last of it. I’ll try to keep this post as updated as I can as I continue to read books. There’s always something new coming out.
Do you have a book you love that changed how you look at money? What is it?
