Personal Finance Books I love (and the One I Just Couldn’t Finish)

 

Confession: I have not read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

I cannot remember the year but there was a time when this book was all the rage and reading it made you one of the cool kids.

At the time I guess I wanted in on the cool kids’ club so I bought the book, read the first chapter and put it down.

I don’t know but something about his style (not necessarily the message) rubbed me the wrong way.

So while I know this book comes highly recommended, I cannot recommend it because I have not read it.

And I will not! Sorry Robert😩!

 

Here are some books I HAVE read, though and which I recommend if you, like me, are on a quest to manage your money better:

 1.       I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

I love Ramit and follow him on all his socials. His witty and often sarcastic takes have many people up in arms but Ramit is really good and discusses money from a psychology perspective. Yes, he is American, and many of his examples are American. But the principles are what matter most. Ramit’s book takes the guilt out of personal finance; he teaches principles such as automating your finances and investing without sacrificing spending on what you love. So if you are the type that hides away from budgeting and investing because “what’s the point of saving my money to spend later when I’m old?” then Ramit is the man for you. Ramit emphasizes that anyone can build wealth by starting early, focusing on big wins, and avoiding perfectionism.

 

2.      Making Cents: Real Conversations About Personal Finance by Waceke Nduati Omanga

 My dad is an avid reader of newspapers, and used to buy not only the local dailies but some Kenyan ones as well! I was introduced to Waceke’s writing a (very very very) long time ago when she used to write a column in the Saturday Nation.  Her book, Making Cents is a practical and relatable financial guide, drawing on real stories from everyday Kenyans, including herself, to highlight highs and lows in money management. 

Key lessons :

•  Understanding how beliefs and habits shape financial behavior
• Basic budgeting, saving, debt, and investing strategies
• Reflection on personal narratives and beliefs around money

 

3.      Atomic Habits by James Clear

Not specifically about money; more about habit formation, but that is the beauty of it. You can apply the principles of Atomic Habits to just about any area of your life.  The premise is that small, consistent changes compound into major personal transformation, and that success is not just about doing things when you feel motivated but about designing systems that make it easy for one to develop and maintain good habits and make it hard to maintain bad ones.

 

4.      The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

How we think and behave with money often matters more than technical knowledge. Emotions, life experiences, and personal values shape financial decisions in ways that pure logic can’t always explain. This is the premise of Housel’s highly-rated book.

 

5.      Straightforward Financial Growth by Moses Mukisa

As the title suggests, Pastor Mukisa’s book is written simply and to the point. It is based on Biblical principles but remains relevant regardless of one’s personal beliefs. He argues that financial growth is a journey of intentional decisions, starting with managing what you have and expanding through giving, saving, investing, and creating value. Mukisa grounds his message in practical Ugandan realities and addresses one of the biggest challenges for Ugandans i.e. the idea that we don’t have enough to invest and grow our money! No amount of money is too small to start with, Mukisa argues!

 

I hope you do read at least one of these offerings.  

Reading good books is one of the best ways to build financial literacy, discipline and good money habits.

Enjoy!