Best Books For Twenty Somethings: 10+ Books On Money And Life
I wish I could go back to the tailend of my college years and start of adulthood to hand deliver some much needed knowledge on money and life to my younger self. This collection of what I dub my personal collection of the best books for twenty somethings could’ve helped expedite my path to success and living a rich life on my own terms.
From the basics of money management and concept of financial freedom to the habits and mindsets for productivity, the possibilities seem limitless if you can grasp the building blocks early in life.
What do the experts say on the benefits of reading?
- Reading benefits your general intelligence and boosts brain power
- It can help make you more open-minded and creative
- Reduced stress is another benefit from reading daily
Unfortunately, I missed out on reading these books until the closing years of my twenties. However, if you’re a young and motivated twenty something stumbling upon this, there is so much value packed in the pages of the literature below.
Life-changing value.
Here are 10 great books that can help twenty somethings master their personal finances, career, personal development and more.
BEST PERSONAL FINANCE BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Rich by Dr. Thomas J. Stanley
What common traits and habits do millionaires have in common? Are there specific lessons we can learn from those best managing their financial situations? Can the everyday person put in place any of these strategies?
Thomas J. Stanley answers these questions and so much more in the New York Times bestseller, The Millionaire Next Door. The book highlights seven different traits that are frequently seen over and over again in millionaires. These are quantified discoveries about their spending habits, lifestyle, careers and money mindset.
The subjects behind the data being profiled aren’t multi-millionaire athletes or high-level CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. These are the millionaires next door. The stealth wealth who are mastering their money and personal finances.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
The biggest takeaway I had from this book was in regards to spending habits and lifestyle inflation. As an impressionable twenty something, I was too quick to spend any surplus of money I had. Vacations, leasing a car, bigger TVs, unnecessary nights out, sneakers and so on.
The Millionaires Next Doors are living below their means, building assets and income streams to generate wealth and the perception of others doesn’t influence their spending.
The concepts of keeping up with the Joneses, FOMO and doing what everyone around me was doing skewed the relationship I had with spending vs. saving. This book would’ve helped shift that and the compounded value of that knowledge so early in life would’ve delivered limitless value.
BEST FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You Will Ever Need by Grant Sabatier
Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier is the perfect blend of being a comprehensive guide to building wealth and also a motivational tool to living a rich, fulfilling life on your own terms. It’s toned perfectly to inspire an impressionable young adult.
From saving and investing to growing your income through hacking a career and building entrepreneurial ventures, all boxes are checked. The blueprint provided hits the pillar blocks of building wealth and getting to a life of financial freedom.
The abundance mindset and strategies around growing your income are themes missing in so many other personal finance books. This is what truly helps separate Financial Freedom as an ideal book for twenty somethings.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
The concepts of financial freedom, taking control of my career and expediting retirement were not considerations in my early 20s. However, if I had read the 352 pages of Financial Freedom during that early stage of adulthood, I truly believe the entire trajectory of my money and life would’ve been altered.
Developing an abundance and enterprise mindset would’ve sent me on a quest to scale a business. The fundamental lessons on investing for retirement would’ve motivated me to stuff my accounts early and often.
You can read the full Financial Freedom book review I did to get further insights into why I think it’s such an effective resource.
BEST INVESTING BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
The Value of Simple: A Practical Guide to Taking the Complexity Out of Investing by John Robertson
Given I’m from Canada I would be remiss not including a great personal finance book featuring content aimed towards Canadians. The general strategies and mindset around money are often consistent to the States but the little nuances of our financial systems differ.
The specifics around RRSPs, TFSAs, retirement, index funds, taxes and other fundamental personal finance topics in Canada around investing are tackled in The Value Of Simple.
John Robertson helps break down the complexities of investing and taking control of your financial future. It’s an easy read with a flow and framework geared toward setting you up for success.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
The Value Of Simple would’ve helped me understand the core components of personal finance and investing within Canada. As a young adult these lessons undoubtedly would’ve set me down the path to saving as much as I could early and often thanks to being motivated by the power of compound interest.
If you aren’t Canadian, I recommend The Little Book Of Common Sense Investing.
BEST MOTIVATIONAL BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
You Are A Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
You Are A Badass is one of two books I’ve read from the #1 New York Times bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero. This book on becoming a better you and living a life you’ll love has sold over 2 million copies worldwide since the 2013 release.
While not rooted entirely in intensive quantitative research, this book is an inspirational tool to kickstart change.
Jen wants readers to break free from the chains of self doubt we create based on the ruts we get stuck in and mistakes we make. Stop worrying about pleasing the masses and putting your own dreams lower on the priority list. Focus on you and being the best version of that based on your vision of that.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
At a young age I was often too worried about what others thought about me. I was pandering to the person I wanted to be viewed as in their eyes instead of the person I actually wanted to be. You Are A Badass undoubtedly would’ve helped ignore that misdirection and instead focus on myself.
BEST MINDSET & HABITS BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
When it comes to improving productivity and taking control of your time, few (if any) books have been as well-received as Atomic Habits. This 2018 release by James Clear sits at almost a perfect 5-star rating on Amazon with 600 reviews.
The goal of the book is to help you:
- Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy)
- Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower
- Design your environment to make success easier
- Get back on track when you fall off course
So does it deliver on that goal? Yes, 100%. It turns what could be a complex and dry topic into an exciting, easy to digest package of actionable tips and strategies.
It’s stuffed full of practical advice to reshape the way you think. This book helped me evaluate aspects of my career, business, fitness and life in general. I recommend this book to anyone no matter where you’re at in your life. It has universal use and value.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
Thankfully, I performed well in school and was able to break down the door into the industry I set out to work in. However, as I entered in the life of being a working professional my productivity, habits and mindset slowly slid in the wrong direction. I wrote about this in more detail when discussing how waking up at 5am change my life.
Reading the contents of Atomic Habits as a young adult would have formed an evergreen collection of habits to counteract any dips in motivation or energy. The book helps build a toolbelt of skills and strategies to simplify your life while also making it more effective and efficient.
BEST PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Dr. Brene Brown
I read Rising Strong after it got a glowing recommendation from a coworker in 2017 who had just gone through a bad breakup and experience with depression. The book focuses on overcoming those troublesome times and getting back up when life knocks you down.
Dr. Rene Brown is a social scientist and interviewed hundreds of people from all walks of life to get their stories of of failure, bravery and rising up. The goal was to discover common traits amongst those to understand how we can can learn to regain our footing.
According to Dr. Brown, the answer was clear: they recognize the power of emotion, and they’re not afraid to lean in to discomfort. The ability to rise strong is covered in three phases: reckon (identify), rumble (exploration) and revolution (change).
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
As a young adult, you’re going to hit adversity. Whether it’s a breakup, job loss or struggle to find your purpose, those moments of getting knocked down can be even more damaging when you’re a twenty something without the experience and emotional intelligence to fall back on.
Rising Strong helps prepare you to deal with these situations. The contents of the book examine real-world experiences of rising up from Fortune 500 CEOs to high-school teachers. It’s a great read to fast-track building the ability to understand your emotions.
BEST BUSINESS BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
Principles: Life And Work by Ray Dalio
Principles is another amazing book to help shift the mindset of a twenty something towards success. The book is written by Ray Dalio, one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world and one of the most successful entrepreneurs and investors ever.
Principles, a New York Times bestseller, shares what Ray learned over the course of his career heading up Bridgewater Associates. Ray was a normal, middle-class kid and rose to heights that would see him managing billions of dollars in assets. He argues that life, management, economics, and investing can all be systemized into rules and understood like machines.
From habits and routines to growth and success, Principles can help shift your personal finance and personal development journey as a young adult.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
The fundamental lessons ingrained in Principles can be transcended across all areas of your life, career and finances.
The process of improving decision-making and developing routines rooted in the advice from an uberly successful business person would’ve paid immediate dividends in my early 20’s.
BEST LEARN FROM THE PROS BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss has been a constant source of inspiration and knowledge for twenty somethings. From the Four Hour Work Week to the Tim Ferriss Show Podcast, Tim has been a proven thought-leader for over a decade.
Tools of Titans is one of the books I wish I could’ve gotten my hands on at age 20. Why? Tim spent two years interviewing over 200 successful, world-class performers from every corner of the world. Business owners, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, athletes, authors and son.
The pages of this book feature the lessons learned, most impactful advice, tools, resources and tips from those 200+ interviews.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
What’s a proven way to grow and better understand opportunities for success? Learn from those who have done it, like those featured in Tools of Titans. It’s one part business book and one part motivation.
Plain and simple this book is jammed full of value.
The life lessons on success, productivity, finding your passion, breaking through the clutter and mastering your mindset all would’ve paved the way for great opportunities to springboard off all the knowledge shared.
GENERALLY AWESOME BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want by Jenny Blake
Next up on the list of best books for twenty somethings looking to master their money and life is Life After College. This book by Jenny Blake is aptly named and encompasses a holistic view to that stage of life immediately after closing out your formal education.
It’s a road map, compass and guide to getting on the right track. The subject matters covers money, relationships, careers, fitness and much more.
Best of all, it’s an enjoyable and easy read to keep you motivated, focused and in good spirits.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
The majority of the books above are very focused and dialed in. Whether on personal finance or personal development, the examples above really cut through the surface to get deeper on a central theme.
Life After College takes the more broad and wide-ranging view to discuss all things adulthood. It hits on a number of topics and gets your motivated mind running in different directions. As an impressionable young adult looking to master your money and life as a twenty something, sometimes the higher-level approach can be more effective.
BEST HISTORY & SCIENCE BOOK FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS I WISH I READ
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Who doesn’t love having a tidbit of knowledge about a unique topic about the Earth, animals, space, chemistry, etc.? Whether at a bar, party or conversation in the classroom, those little nuggets of information always seem to come in handy.
Especially as a twenty something.
A Short History Of Nearly Everything is exactly as the name suggest. It of course doesn’t cover everything (that would be impossible in a bite size book ranging a couple hundred pages). But it does give you some amazing insights to the history of this crazy world we live in and breaks down some of the common questions many of us have.
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Why I Wish I Read This Book In My 20s
The majority of books listed here focus on the financial and self improvement areas of being a twenty something, A Short History Of Nearly Everything is fun, engaging and makes you go “really?” as you zip through the pages.
Whether on the couch, beach or bus, it’s the perfect read to get your mind looking at the world in a different way.
7 MORE OF THE BEST BOOKS FOR TWENTY SOMETHINGS
The suggestions above are only a small sample of the 150+ books that I’ve read on personal finance, business, mindset and personal development. The books I’ve read were all recommended to me or found by Googling for “the best personal finance books” or “motivational books”.
There is so many amazing books out there waiting to help inspire you.
If you wanted to explore other books, here is a rapid-fire list of 7 more highly respected books that would be beneficial reads as a young adult.
Dive into any of these great reads for young adults:
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau
- You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
- Unf*ck Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life by Gary Bishop
- The Simple Path To Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life by JL Collins
Conclusion: Best Books For Twenty Somethings That I Wish I Read Earlier In Life
Again, these are the personal recommendations for the younger me. Who is that? White, middle class, male and Canadian so about as vanilla as it comes. People from different walks of life might connect better with other books but I truly believe these 10+ books above are evergreen and packed with value applicable to most.
Are these the best books for twenty somethings? Maybe yes, maybe no.
Each book is a root of knowledge that you can use to dig into the foundation of your own journey. As you continue in that journey, these roots will continue to pay dividends. The more roots you’ve built, the stronger that foundation is.
Whether you’re 20 or 60, the benefits of a great book should never be ignored. So crack open those pages and bask in the value that’s packed into those well written pages.
What books would you recommend to a twenty something?
If you’re a twenty something, which books have had the most impact on your money and life?
Let me know in the comments below.
Here are some other posts to help you take control of your money and life:
- Waking Up At 5AM Changed My Life – Win The Morning, Win The Day
- 12+ Best Reddit Personal Finance Subs To Follow In 2019
- Best Personal Finance Podcasts: 40+ of the Top Podcasts
- Improve Financial Literacy: 7 Great Free Money Education Resources
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Thanks for sharing – I’m always looking for new books. I’m currently reading Financial Freedom, and think the Millionaire Next Door is next on my list.
One of my personal favorites is the little book on common sense investing by John Bogle. I think you might enjoy that one.
Thanks for checking out the post! I loved Grant’s book and am sure you will really enjoy the Millionaire Next Door. I read Little Book too and it really helped keep me set on the long-term investing landscape of buy and hold with my portfolio. I included a small note to the book under “The Value of Simple” list in the post!
I’ve read several of these books and recently finished The Next Millionaire Next Door, the follow-up written by Dr. Stanley’s daughter, Sarah Stanley Fallaw, Ph.D. twenty years later. Definitely recommend it as well. Another one to add is Vicki Robin’s recently updated Your Money or Your Life. I’d read the original that Vicki & Joe Dominguez wrote years ago and enjoyed the updated version very much!
Both The Next Millionaire Next Door and Your Money or Your Life talk about living below your means and recognizing “enough” so that you are able to enjoy your life. Follow the advice in these books, and you will become financially independent, though.