Recommended Reading
Books that have shaped how I think about mortgages, housing, markets, behavioral finance, and decision-making.
Behavioral Finance
Rich Dad Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki
One of the earliest books that pushed me to think differently about assets, liabilities, cash flow, and the difference between earning income versus building long-term financial leverage. Even where I don’t fully agree with it, the framework is thought-provoking and difficult to forget.
The Total Money Makeover — Dave Ramsey
A highly practical book on budgeting, debt reduction, and building financial discipline. What stands out most is its focus on behavior and habit formation rather than complex financial theory. For many people, that structure alone can be life-changing.
Money: Master the Game — Tony Robbins
I’ve followed Tony Robbins’ work for many years and have seen him live numerous times. This book blends personal finance, behavioral psychology, and long-term investing into a framework that encourages people to think more intentionally about money, financial freedom, and the habits that shape both.
The Psychology of Money — Morgan Housel
If you only read one book on this list, read this one. The central argument — that financial outcomes depend far more on behavior than spreadsheets — is the intellectual foundation of so much of my thinking.
The Millionaire Next Door — Thomas Stanley
Some parts of this book feel a bit old school today, but the core lessons around wealth-building, lifestyle inflation, discipline, and delayed gratification remain incredibly relevant. One of the book’s most important ideas is that many financially successful people live far more modestly than most would assume.
Housing & Real Estate
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor — Gary Keller
One of the more practical books I’ve encountered on long-term real estate investing and the financial mechanics behind building wealth through property ownership. What makes it useful is the emphasis on systems, discipline, and thinking beyond individual transactions toward long-term strategy.
Negotiation & Communication
Never Split the Difference — Chris Voss
One of the more practical books I’ve read on negotiation, communication, and the psychology behind difficult conversations. What makes it particularly useful is how often the lessons apply far beyond formal negotiation settings and into everyday business and personal interactions
Markets & Economics
Basic Economics — Thomas Sowell
One of the clearest introductions I’ve encountered on incentives, markets, tradeoffs, and the unintended consequences that often follow economic decisions. Sowell has a rare ability to explain complex economic ideas in a way that feels practical, grounded, and remarkably easy to follow.
Clearer Thinking
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Not a finance book, but the best book on how to actually change behavior. If you’re worried you won’t follow through on redirecting cash flow to principal, this gives you the tools to make it stick.
Seeking Wisdom — Peter Bevelin
A thoughtful and surprisingly dense book on decision-making, human misjudgment, and the mental models that quietly shape how people interpret the world around them. Much of it reinforces the idea that clearer thinking comes less from intelligence alone and more from understanding our own biases, blind spots, and patterns of behavior. Not inexpensive, but one of the more thought-provoking books I’ve read in this area.
Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
A foundational book on cognitive bias, decision-making, and the surprisingly predictable ways people misjudge risk, probability, and uncertainty. I find myself thinking about the ideas in this book often when watching how people make financial, housing, and long-term planning decisions.