“The man who does not read good books
has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”
-Attributed to Mark Twain (but who really knows?)
I
will always be thankful for both the Sedgwick Library on the corner of 176th
St and University Avenue and the Francis Martin Library at 181st St
and University Avenue, from where I borrowed many books and cultivated my hobby
of reading. From Goosebumps and Animorphs to Outliers and Predictably
Irrational, like The Sword of Omens, books “give me sight beyond sight.”
Below are some of favorites which have help me along my financial journey:
(please note: the list below is not meant
to be comprehensive and I will be updating as time permits)
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey – whether you are lost and starting from zero or already along your financial journey, Dave gives a nonsense 7 “baby steps” financial blueprint to get your financial house in order, from establishing an emergency fund, paying off debt and to retiring with dignity.
The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins – this is my go to book for investing. JL Collins wrote the book as if he were writing financial letters to his daughter. I enjoyed this book so much I immediately read it a second time. Aside from his easy to read style, JL Collins not only recommends specific funds to invest in (which is often lacking in other financial books) but his financial anecdotes make the book a page turner.
How to Retire Early by Robert & Robin Charlton – this is one of the best books I have ever read on financial independence/early retirement. Robert & Robin provide the roadmap they followed to retire in 15 years, at the age of 43. They don’t hold any punches, providing intimate financial numbers and a wide range of resources to empower you to do the same. Having been retired for over ten years, now they full time travel, which you can follow here.
The Tortoise and The Hare (Aesop’s Fable) – not the usual book one thinks of when it comes to investing. One of the reasons people don’t save for retirement is because they do not start. The fable’s moral of “slow and steady wins the race” directly translates to investing: consistently contributing to investment vehicles plus the time factor of compounding interest will help you win YOUR race. But you must start.