What I love about books is that they contain knowledge. Pretty obvious right? but for those of us who are lifelong learners, a well written book with clear concise instructions is a little treasure that is worthy of a prime spot on our bookshelf. Here are 4 books that transformed how I thought and felt about money, and taught me the difference between compound interest and dollar cost averaging.

1. Smart Couples Finish Rich by David Bach: If there is one book you should read before starting a family, this is it. My wife (then fiancee) and I read this book together (we actually purchased two copies so we could read it at the same time) and it really prepared us for joining our lives together. It’s a real eye-opener with a terrific plan on getting you on the path to wealth. We both still get the occasional cappuccino though.
2. One Up On Wall Street by Peter Lynch and John Rothchild: A fantastic primer on picking the right stock for you. It’s all about leveraging your knowledge and investing in businesses you like and understand (very Buffet-like that way). Easy and fun to read. Lynch and Rothchild tell some great stories and teach you all about picking the right stock.
3. The Warren Buffett Way by Robert G. Hagstrom: One of the easiest to read books on Buffet. Let’s face it, the man is a genius. Learning about his stock picking methodology can only help. This book is great because it distills into an easy to read format all of Buffet’s lessons. It draws heavily on all the writing Buffet has done in his annual letter to shareholders (which are terrific in their own right). In my opinion, one of the better books on Buffet.
4. Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin: What is great about this book is the practical step-by-step advice that really do help you achieve financial independence. An absolutely terrific read for anyone drowning (or even wading) in debt.