I don’t remember being a big reader as a kid, and from high school until I graduated with my doctorate, I didn’t pick up a single book for pleasure. But once the textbooks were all turned in, I vowed to do more reading for fun and have never looked back.
Until this year, you wouldn’t catch me cracking open anything that wasn’t a rom-com, cry-your-eyes-out kinda novel, or mystery that keeps you turning pages late into the night. (Podcasts were how I consumed all my other content.) But the potential I’ve seen in people who put time and energy into personal development is undeniable, and it’s been so eye-opening to jump on that bandwagon.
In 2025 I committed to reading twelve finance & money mindset books, and am pleased to say “mission accomplished”! But beyond checking the book boxes, what I’m most proud of are the lessons I’ve learned, ideas I’ve heard, and the better person I’ve become because of them.
Some of these books were recommended by people I admire, others have been on the “to read” list in my notes app for years, (almost) all of them were worthwhile and titles I would recommend. If “new year, new me” is an attitude you’re adopting as 2026 is just around the corner, then I just MUST recommend that your reading habits support that sentiment and you can consider the books below to be a great starting point.
How I made this happen
2025 could’ve…would’ve…should’ve been a year of significant stress, specifically financial stress. I started it unemployed because I left my job of ten years, then quit my new job after one day *face palm*. I homeschooled my daughter, opened my own pelvic health clinic (more on that later), lost another baby, and invested more time, money, and energy than ever into my health. Despite this wild year, I not only made reading one money book a month happen, but I’m convinced reading one money book a month helped me survive and even thrive in 2025.
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At any given moment I’m always reading three books – one for personal development, one for learning more about a topic I’m interested in, and one fiction. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, blogger, wife, and mama to a very active nearly-five-year-old, you may be questioning how I have time for all that reading (honestly, I often wonder the same). The simple answer? I prioritize the things that matter the most, and being the best version of myself means a great deal to me. The “how to” answer? Well…keep reading, friend.
Take advantage of audiobooks. When I’m reading for fun, it’s my kindle or paperbacks all the way. When I’m reading to learn, audiobooks keep me from falling asleep within ten minutes. (Yes, even with the good ones.) Not only did using audiobooks for this challenge save me from getting bored, but I was able to multitask reading with driving, walks, chores, showers, etc.
Enlist a friend. I asked my business bestie, Lauren, if she wanted to do this challenge with me, and I was so excited when she said yes. Not only did she help me pick out books (we switched off every month), but we kept each other accountable and had a built-in sounding board for thoughts, questions, frustrations, ideas, and wins along the way.
Use your library card. We all know we can go to a physical library and check out physical books. But did you also know that the Libby App allows you to check out digital and audiobooks for free from your phone? All you need is a library card! I was able to use Libby for probably 50% of the money books below; the other half I purchased through the Apple Books App.
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Don’t do every single prompt. Many of these books have questions at the end of each chapter to help make the information actionable. I started out completing every single prompt (if I’m gonna take on a challenge, I’m gonna do it right!) but quickly learned ^^that^^ was unsustainable for me at the one-book-a-month pace. So rather than adopt an all-or-nothing attitude, I committed to completing the prompts that made me think, the ones that challenged me, and those that felt scary, and left the rest behind with zero guilt.
Some of the best money books out there
So what did I actually read? I’m so glad you asked! Below you’ll find honest reviews of all twelve money books I read this year – the great, the not-so-good, and the ones that literally changed my life. Some focused on the practical side of personal finance (think budgets, savings accounts, and investment strategies), while others dove deep into the emotional relationship with and mindset around money. If you’re trying to decide which money book deserves a spot on your nightstand, [this] is a great start.
JANUARY: “YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY” BY JEN SINCERO
When I signed up for this monthly money book challenge, I was honestly prepared to yawn my way through many of the pages. But Jen Sincero had me laughing out loud by the end of the introduction, ugly crying not even halfway through chapter one, and excited to do the exercises along the way (which, I’ll admit, I usually skip). “You Are a Badass at Making Money” gave me permission to want and love money (because I love myself!), to dream bigger about what I would do will do when I have more, and to be unapologetic in pursuing it.
With a subtitle of “Master the Mindset of Wealth”, this was the perfect book to kick off this challenge and this year – it allowed me to go into every other book on this list feeling empowered and excited to learn more and earn more. While I used a regular ol’ notebook to complete each chapter’s prompts, I highly recommend the “Badass Money Workbook” if you’re feelin’ feisty, and if you’re as motivated by Jen’s wisdom & wit as I was, her 60-card affirmation deck is another lovely addition to improving your “badassery”.
FEBRUARY: “THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON” BY GEORGE S. CLASON
For being the “#1 Best Seller in Financial Engineering” (per Amazon), “The Richest Man in Babylon” left me feeling less than impressed. While the book outlines the “7 Laws of Wealth” – saving 10% of your income, controlling expenses, investing, guarding against financial loss, owning a home, planning for retirement, and increasing earning ability – the concepts weren’t revolutionary by any means and the author spent little to no time giving practical advice for *how* to actually achieve those things (you know I’m all about keeping things realistic & relatable over here ;)).
Instead, the bulk of the book includes parables set in ancient Babylon and shares stories of men trying, failing, and eventually attaining financial success through the steps above…and [that] is where I found my main takeaway – the simple truth that results come from action. The characters who acquired wealth weren’t just dreamers or had rich dads, they were doers who questioned, implemented, and persisted. Even though the language felt a bit dated and the stories repetitive (did I mention I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this one??), the central message to just keep going towards your goals was a good reminder.
MARCH: “YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE” BY VICKI ROBIN & JOE DOMINGUEZ
“Your Money or Your Life” promises to “transform your relationship with money” and help you achieve “financial independence”, and it delivered far beyond the basics of budgeting, saving, and investing. This book highlights the relationship between time, money, and fulfillment, and after the eye-opening exercise of calculating the actual value of an hour of my life energy, I’m even more conscious of my consumption, intentional with where I invest my time and money, and aware of my worth. After the nine steps of this book are complete (which I’m still working through & will be working through for a while), the end goal perfectly aligns with my dream life – one where investment income covers living expenses and I can spend my days with my guy and little girl, gardening, baking sourdough, and going on walks. *Sigh*
As someone who’s always looking for ways to cut costs and even sometimes considers herself “cheap”, my favorite part of this book was their definition of frugality. Rather than deprivation or sacrifice, they reframe it as “enjoying life on less”, finding happiness & fulfillment in the things that really matter, and the mindful choice to value quality experiences over quantity of material possessions. As a girl who loves to romanticize life and has kept a daily gratitude journal filled with all the “little things” this year, this gave me permission to continue to pinch pennies, but from a place of abundance and with an attitude of enough. Written in 2008 (and revised in 2018 with us millennials in mind), I have a feeling the guidance in this book will continue to stand the test of time.
APRIL: “MAKE MONEY EASY” BY LEWIS HOWES
This book came out after I had already started this challenge, but hearing Lewis Howes promote “Make Money Easy” on multiple podcasts, I added this one to the list ASAP. Lewis makes it clear from the beginning that he is not giving financial advice, so if you’re looking for step-by-step, concrete guidance for budgeting, saving, and investing this isn’t your book. This is about the “softer”, energetic, more “woo woo” side of money – identifying your money story and style, defining your relationship with money, and doubling down on your money mission.
I think my favorite part of this book was the quizzes that helped me discover my money style (I’m an “analyzer” to no one’s surprise) and determine which of the seven money habits I’m best at (protecting my money) and which one needs a bit more work (making my money work for me). There’s nothing like ending a book feeling confident in the next steps you need to take to see success, and Lewis not only made it easy for me to know where to put my focus to achieve peace, freedom, and financial abundance, but he got me excited to do it too.
MAY: “MONEY: A LOVE STORY” BY KATE NORTHRUP
I’ve been a fan of just about everything Kate Northrup touches for some time now – her Instagram account is a must-follow, I subscribe to her weekly podcast, and her book “Do Less” absolutely changed how I plan out my schedule each month. So when I stumbled across the fact that she also has a book about money (don’t know how I missed that one!), I instantly added it to the list and let me tell ya…”Money: A Love Story” did not disappoint. In the forward Kate talks about how our relationship with money is directly connected to the energy & balance of the sacral chakra, and as a pelvic rehab therapist this fascinated me and I was hooked from there.
Unlike many of the other books shared here that are all about strategies to get more, save more, and invest more money, this one is more about how to truly love and take care of your money, and therefore love and take care of yourself and your life. Because when we’re not stressed about money, we can be our best selves, show up in the world in a bigger way, and more abundance will naturally flow. From the Money Love Quiz that helps you DTR with money to her real & raw life lessons along the way (you *must* listen to the audiobook as she goes off script multiple times in the most fun ways!), this one is definitely in the top five for me.
JUNE: “PROFIT FIRST” BY MIKE MICHALOWICZ
As I mentioned earlier, I did this challenge with a friend (again…highly recommend!), and when she chose “Profit First” as our next book I mayyyyyyy have rolled my eyes. You see, my accountant loaned me a copy of this book years ago, but I flipped through it, saw a bunch of numbers, and promptly returned it at our next meeting with a “thanks but no thanks” look on my face. But my friend knew I was opening a private pelvic health practice in just a few months and felt this would be our next best read, so between our rule of taking turns on who selects the book and her heart in wanting the best for me, I couldn’t say no.
This book is definitely geared towards business owners and encourages them to set aside personal profit no matter their income, and I’ll be honest – I’m totally on board after finishing this one and have even set up the five bank accounts Mike recommends every business has. But the bigger picture anyone can take away from this one, entrepreneur or not, is the importance of a money management system, and preferably one that makes it easier and more enjoyable to save rather than spend. Do I feel like I need to call my old accountant and tell him he was right? Kinda. And I highly recommend this one gets added to your list, especially if you’re a fellow business owner like me.
JULY: “HAPPY MONEY” BY KEN HONDA
Just about every book I read up until this point mentioned “Happy Money” as a must-read, so I knew I had to grab this one next (plus it’s half the length of all the others, making it a quick read…perfect for the middle of summer). Ken starts by talking about how money itself can be happy or sad based on how it’s given and/or received, then uses the rest of the book to explain multiple ways that money can be a source of positivity (or negativity) in your life depending on how you interact with it and your feelings towards it.
This is definitely not a “money IQ” book with specific directions on saving, investing, and budgeting. This is a “money EQ” book focused on the more emotional side of finances. For instance, one of my favorite points from “Happy Money” is how money is like the tide – sometimes the water is high and it’s a time of abundance and sometimes the water is low and it’s a time of less, but you can always trust that money will flow in and out like the tide, and it’s how you act in each season that allows you to be happy in both. If ^^that^^ is the style of money book you’re looking for, then you’ll want to read this one twice.
AUGUST: “THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY” BY MORGAN HOUSEL
Did you know that the 401(k) was developed in 1981 and the Roth IRA in 1997?! I didn’t. But Morgan Housel brings this up towards the very beginning of “The Psychology of Money” to make it very clear that, at this point in the game, we’re saving & investing with less than fifty years of facts and figures in front of us, therefore we’re running more on feelings…hence the title of the book. Rather than tips on how to get more money, most of this book is spent talking about what it looks like to manage your money in a way that helps you sleep at night, and I absolutely loved the concept.
While I’m not toooootally obsessed with 100% of each of these money books, I am picking up at least one or two super valuable nuggets from each one along the way, and my favorite point from “The Psychology of Money” was this – it’s hard to know how to be wealthy because we don’t see people’s accumulation of money, we watch them spend it (theeeee exact opposite of being rich). True wealth is not getting more, it’s saving and being more efficient with what you have, because an excess of money in the bank leads to flexibility, peace, and control over how you spend your time. This point had me pausing the audiobook and pulling out my ear buds, and now I feel like my outlook on what it means to be wealthy has completely changed.
SEPTEMBER: “THE 5 TYPES OF WEALTH” BY SAHIL BLOOM
When I realized (before reading “The 5 Types of Wealth”) that you can be abundant in more than money, my mind was blown. As someone who’s always felt behind in finances thanks to six figures of student debt, I’ve never considered myself wealthy by any means. But as Sahil Bloom proves in this book, you can also be rich physically, mentally, in time, and in relationships (and yes…financially too), and becoming wealthy in all of the above is what *really* makes for a dream life.
“The 5 Types of Wealth” goes over what it looks like to be abundant in each area, has a quiz to help you identify where you are and where you want to be with each one, then tips to get you there. I loved the overarching concept of the book – that every type of wealth takes time and compounding to build and decisions made with all five types in mind is always a positive investment in yourself. But in true transparency, I felt the “systems for success” (the how of each type of wealth) were nothing revolutionary and even boring at times. This wasn’t my favorite book on the list, but the message is one I think everyone could benefit from appreciating.
OCTOBER: “I WILL TEACH YOU TO BE RICH” BY RAMIT SETHI
There have been a few books throughout this year where I walked away with one or two nuggets that made the read feel worthwhile. “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” had at least twenty! Not only does Ramit get ridiculously detailed and specific in all things spending, saving, and investing, the audiobook was so engaging and entertaining that it had me binging my way through it like my favorite rom-com novel. And unlike many of the other books where I finished with I-should-consider-doing-that-someday kinda steps, this one had me hitting pause and taking action right in the moment.
I love that Ramit gives advice on personal finance and lives up to his “No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6 Week Program That Works” subtitle and explains why each step matters, walks you through his reasoning, and gives tips for making it work in real life. I wish I had this book when I was 18, so I’ll be gifting it to every young person I know this Christmas. I’m 38 and have vowed to read this again when I’m 40 (and next time make my husband read it with me). In other words, this is a money book everyone should read…*scratch that*…this is a money book everyone should own.
NOVEMBER: “FINANCIAL FEMINIST” BY TORI DUNLAP
I hate to be harsh…I don’t want to be harsh…but “Financial Feminist” just didn’t do it for me. Maybe it’s because I had just read (& absolutely loved) “I Will Teach You to Be Rich”, but this one felt like surface advice and I had to search for it between Tori’s constant complaining about the patriarchy. I agree that marginalized populations might have a harder time making and managing money, but at the end of the day, the saving, spending, and investing instructions were overall the same as every other author who didn’t waste time throwing blame at “the system”.
If I had to say something nice about this book, it would be that Tori’s teachings take into account the emotions & mindset that comes with being a woman – the fact that we are givers and carers, the fact that we often put ourselves last, the fact that our lives come with milestones (like marriage & motherhood) that can change how we manage money. I especially liked the last chapter where she focused on how to apply the personal finance steps while still focusing on self-care. I personally wouldn’t recommend this one or ever read it again, but it has thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon, so it just may be for you!
DECEMBER: “ABUNDANT EVER AFTER” BY CATHY HELLER
You know when things happen and it feels like the universe led you to that very moment? Well I stumbled across this book within five seconds of scrolling through Instagram stories one day – someone I follow was *gushing* about how much she loved “Abundant Ever After” and I instantly knew it had to be the last book of this challenge. With the subtitle “Tools for Creating a Life of Prosperity and Ease”, this seemed like it would perfectly & properly wrap up a year of learning about money, and both I and the universe were right.
I don’t think “Abundant Ever After” mentioned the words “spending”, “saving”, or “investing” once, and I kind of appreciated it at this point in the game. While it still talks about tools for receiving more money (like getting paid for your life purpose, charging what you’re worth, acting in a way that promotes attraction, and expanding your capacity for limitless possibility and opportunity), it also engrains the fact that abundance and wealth are so much more than what’s in your bank account. Between her positive energy and practical tools, this book is the best possible mix of “woo” and work and one I’ll be reading again and again.
The undeniable results of completing this “one money book a month” challenge
I have zero shame in admitting that I want to have a rich and abundant life, and through this “one money book a month” challenge I’ve learned that “rich” and “abundant” mean so much more than having a lot of money…butttttttt they also mean having a lot of money! There’s a saying “money flows where attention goes”, and I knew that if I learned more about saving, spending, investing, and the softer (but just as essential) money mindset stuff in between, I would see a significant shift. And OMG was I right!
Less fear and stress around money. I already shared that I spent the first three months of 2025 unemployed. I didn’t mention that, during that time, we found out we owed a significant amount of money in taxes. If that would have happened at any other time in my life, I would have been an absolute mess. But I know, without a doubt, that having a few of these money books under my belt helped me approach that setback with far less fear or stress and it honestly left me surprised at myself and certain that this challenge was “working”.
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More confidence and control with money. This year I’ve invested more money than ever into my retirement, given away more money than ever before, and…*drumroll please*…had the courage to finally open my own pelvic health clinic. I’m convinced this is not a coincidence, rather confirmation that money flows where attention goes, and I can’t wait to see what else comes out of this challenge as a practice and implement everything I’ve learned this year.
Better conversations about money. It’s so much easier to talk about money when you have a better understanding of how it works and awareness of your money mindset and beliefs. My conversations about finance, both personally and professionally, are so much richer (pun definitely intended). I’m able to teach my daughter about money from a place of abundance and ease. I don’t yet feel like an expert on the subject, but I’m leaps and bounds beyond where I was one year ago.
The top five best money books everyone should read, IMO
A few of these books were flops, others changed my life, all of them were worth reading for one reason or another. Whether you want to try this “one money book a month” challenge and start with the best of the best or could just use a few “top money books” recommendations, [these] were my five favorite money books that I read in 2025 and I think you’ll love them too.
- “You Are a Badass at Making Money” by Jen Sincero
- “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi
- “Happy Money” by Ken Honda
- “Money, A Love Story” by Kate Northrup
- “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel
The money books I didn’t read (that are still on my list)
I could do this “one money book a month” challenge for the next ten years and barely scratch the surface on all the saving, spending, budgeting, and investing reads out there. And honestly? I love that because it means the opportunities to learn about finance are endless! While I’m switching gears to another topic in 2026 (keep reading to learn more ;)), I’ll come back to all things money at some point because there are still quite a few books on my “to read” list that I can’t wait to learn from.
It’s settled…I’m definitely doing this again!!!!
I forget what ultimately inspired me to do this challenge one year ago, but I do know that I want to do it again in 2026. A few topics I’m considering exploring next year include marriage, motherhood, productivity, manifesting, menopause…the list goes on. Even though I haven’t 100% decided what I want to learn about next year, I’m 100000000% certain that wherever I decide to put my time and attention will benefit beyond my wildest expectations.
-Amanda
Disclaimer: The content provided here does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personalized healthcare. I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. If you have concerns about a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.
