Money-Making Mindset: 11 Books That Will Shift Your Perspective on Wealth

Most of us have been brought up to believe an outdated financial philosophy. Go to work, get paid, pay bills and start again. If you don’t just want to get by, but build real wealth, then it’s time to reset your money mindset.

If you’re ready to get serious about your financial future, here are the 11 best books on making money. There’s advice on motivation and mentality, plus practical tips you can put into action. Whether you want to learn more about saving, investing or starting your own business, there’s something for everyone.

1. 'The Millionaire Next Door' by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

Who do you think are millionaires? It’s not the people wearing expensive suits and driving luxury cars. No, it’s the person next door who lives within their means and makes long-term investments. Stanley and Danko look into the habits and mindsets of self-made millionaires, so you can apply these to your own life. The rich, as it turns out, are more frugal than we thought.

2. 'The Compound Effect' by Darren Hardy

The Compound Effect isn’t strictly about money. Instead, it’s about the everyday habits that shape your life, including your finances. Hardy doesn’t believe in overnight success; he believes the small, mundane choices we make each day compound over time and determine our outcome in life. By implementing positive financial habits everyday, we’ll end up a lot better off than by following get rich quick schemes.

3. 'One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market' by Peter Lynch

Peter Lynch is a legendary hedge fund manager, who is imparting his wisdom on the average investor. In fact, he believes the average investor has an advantage over Wall Street. They have everyday experience with the brands they invest in; they can hear the products their friends are excited about and the ones they are not. This is a great radar of what to invest in. This is one of the best money books for people who have a grip of the basics and want practical advice about investing.

4. 'The Psychology of Money' by Morgan Housel

Our financial decisions are not ruled by logic, instead they’re influenced by our experiences, marketing and emotion. Housel talks us through the psychology of money to help us make smarter choices. He believes that the key to financial success is not how smart you are, but how you behave. These are behaviours we can all do, like not being greedy.

5. 'The Money Magpie' by Jasmine Birtles

Want practical tips about handling money? The Money Magpie by Jasmine Birtles is the book for you! In her book, she shares tips for saving, getting out of debt and getting the best deals. All things that you will feel a real benefit from. You might recognise Birtles from shows like This Morning or her column in the Daily Mail. She also has a website called The Money Magpie where you can find more money-making tips.

6. 'What They Don’t Teach You About Money' by Claer Barrett

Claer Barrett’s What They Don’t Teach You About Money is one of the best money books for beginners. She provides clear, non-judgemental financial advice. She reassures readers that everyone starts out confused by money. Then, she teaches us the 7 habits we need for financial security and, eventually, freedom.

7. 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill

Written in 1937, Think and Grow Rich remains one of the best money books to date. Hill interviewed 504 of the wealthiest people over 20 years to find out what makes the rich stay rich. Hill expounds the power of positive thinking, goal-setting, planning and action. This remains on many people’s must-read list today.

8. 'The Richest Man in Babylon' by George S. Clason

The Richest Man in Babylon has a simple, but important message. It teaches good financial sense, like saving 10% of your wage to invest and avoiding debt. It is written as a series of parables, each with their own lesson. A must-read if you’re prone to over-spending.

9. 'S.U.M.O. (Shut Up, Move On): The Straight-Talking Guide to Creating and Enjoying a Brilliant Life' by Paul McGee

Another motivational book that has important lessons for your finances too. Paul McGee teaches us that we have the power to change our lives, we just have to use it. There are important lessons that other self-help books overlook like Hippo Time; the idea that sometimes we’re sad and we just need to wallow in it. But we also need to know when to change the victim T-shirt we’re wearing and do something about the situation. He also tells us to forget the notion “que sera, sera” and actually take action to make change; an idea that’s vital for money-making.

10. 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki

Don’t work for your money, make your money work for you. That’s the one thing Robert Kiyosaki wants you to take from this book. He criticises the belief that the pathway to wealth is to go to uni, get a job and buy a house. Kiyosaki’s brash writing style may not be for everyone, but it will certainly challenge your ingrained financial beliefs.

11. 'The Financial Diet: A Total Beginners Guide to Getting Good With Money' by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage

Fagan and Ver Hage have taken their popular YouTube series to book form. They teach young people how to manage their income and steer them away from the trappings of an Instagram influencer lifestyle. They also include a chapter on talking to friends and family about money, an important topic which few other money books touch on. The Financial Diet is rather basic, but that’s the beauty of it.

There you have it! A list of the best money books so you can take control of your financial future. Whether you need to change your attitude to money or just want a practical guide to investing, we hope there’s something on here for everyone.

And don’t forget, you can make some money from your money-making books! Sell them to webuybooks to earn some extra cash. Just enter the ISBN code and get an instant valuation. Post them to us for free and we’ll pay you the next day, as soon as we’ve received them.