As we start the third quarter of this year, I’ve continued to focus on personal finance and investing books for my best books to read while traveling list. I started reading about this topic in my April book list and continued the topic for my May book list.
In my January book list, February book list, and March book list, I focused on learning about negotiation. If you’re looking for books in this category, check out the ones that I read and recommended.
In summary, June was an extremely productive reading month. I finished 5 books, all on personal finance, and felt like I came away with an even greater understanding of how to set myself up for a financially secure future.
Best Credit Cards to Use to Purchase Books
The reason Ashlee and I can travel the way that we do is because we earn transferable points. The credit cards that earn transferable points are issued by American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Marriott.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is my go-to credit card for my Amazon book purchases. You’ll earn 3% cash back per transaction in your first cardmember year with the Freedom Unlimited. To make the cash back more valuable, pair the card with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred, and you can convert the cash back into Chase points.
Business owners should consider the Amex Blue Business Plus (Learn More Here). The card earns 2X points on every transaction. You could also pair the Freedom Unlimited with the Chase Ink Business Preferred. The cash back earned from the Freedom Unlimited can be converted into Chase points if you have the Ink Business Preferred.
Top 5 Best Books to Read While Traveling
Rich Dad Poor Dad
Rich Dad Poor Dad is the story about Robert growing up with two dads. His friend’s dad is the Rich dad and his dad is the Poor dad. The book explores how each dad teaches Robert about money and how to invest.
Kiyosaki does a nice job explaining what an income statement is, why you shouldn’t look at your house as an asset, and the difference between an asset an a liability.
Rich Dad Poor Dad falls short in explaining how to create more assets and less liabilities as well as how Kiyosaki actually makes money. The book skims important concepts without providing any depth.
In summary, Rich Dad Poor Dad isn’t a book that is actionable like I Will Teach You To Be Rich. The ideas shared are interesting but there’s not enough substance in the book for you to use.
Recommend: No
The Total Money Makeover
In Total Money Makeover, Ramsey does a nice job showing you how to primarily pay off your debt. If you’re in debt, this would be an excellent book to put you on the path to becoming debt free.
For those of you who are not in debt, start this book on page 124. From this point in the book, Ramsey provides helpful advice on creating an emergency fund, investing for retirement, funding you children’s education, and paying off your mortgage.
The Total Money Makeover is primarily for people who need to get out of debt. It’s a 203-page book that’s really 79 pages (203-124) if you are coming into the book debt free.
Recommend: Yes
The Intelligent Investor
In the Intelligent Investor, Benjamin Graham simplifies the concept of value investing. Graham is the investing mentor of Warren Buffett so this book provides insight into who Buffett learned investing from.
What I appreciated most about this book is how clear Graham writes. He takes complicated investing topics and helps you to easily understand them. Graham shares why mutual fund managers are overrated as well as how to invest based on the type of investor you are, among other topics.
The Intelligent Investor falls short in that you can skip large portions of this book. For those of you looking to get into investing, focus on chapters 3, 4, and 9. These chapters will provide you with the building blocks of value investing.
Recommend: Yes
I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Ramit Sethi’s first book, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, was one that put me on a path to a financially secure future in 2015. The book is a 6-week personal finance plan teaching you the concepts of saving, budgeting, and investing.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich, along with I Will Teach You To Be Rich Second Edition, are the most actionable books I’ve read on personal finance. If you don’t know where to start with respect to personal finance, these books will set you up for life in 6 weeks.
There’s no downside to I Will Teach You To Be Rich. It takes time to implement the recommended steps, so if you’re looking for a quick solution, this is not your book.
Recommend: Yes
Principles: Life and Work
Ray Dalio’s company Bridgewater Associates is one of the most successful hedge funds in history. So successful that Dalio has been called “the Steve Jobs of Investing.” Principles outlines Dalio’s principles that guide his investing thought process and how meritocracy has helped his team succeed.
One of the biggest takeaways from Principles is how clearly Dalio communicates. The lessons he shares are not only applicable to investing but also in life. Dalio shows you how the systems that Bridgewater has built helps them to make decisions more efficiently and faster.
Principles is not as actionable as I Will Teach You To Be Rich. If you’re looking for tactical advice, I would recommend another book instead.
Recommend: Yes
Which Books are in my Shopping Cart?
I’m getting towards the end of the personal finance books that I want to read. With that said, here are the ones I still have left to finish:
Personal Finance Books to Read while Traveling
- MONEY Master the Game by Tony Robbins
- The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and William Danko
- Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
- Bogle On Mutual Funds by John Bogle
- Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing by Robert Kiyosaki
- Rich Dad’s CASHFLOW Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki
- Common Sense on Mutual Funds by John Bogle
- The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason
In addition to personal finance, here are additional non-fiction books that will be on my radar when I finish reading the books above:
Miscellaneous Books to Read while Traveling
- Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
- 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
- Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
- Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines
- Upstairs at the White House by J.B. West
- Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari
- Tribe by Sebastian Junger
- Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, Tahl Raz
- The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
Conclusion on the Best Books to Read While Traveling:
Reading is a skill that I’ve continued to work on by focusing on books that peak my interest at the time. Hopefully my best books to read while traveling list includes books that you’ll find interesting and enjoy too.
What about you? What books did you read while traveling this month? Do you have any book recommendations? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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