Money Crashers: 17 Personal Finance Books to Read

First of all, let me be clear: the rather immodest title of this article, "17 Best Personal Finance Books to Read of All Time," was the editor's idea, not mine. I make no attempt to claim that the books on this list are the absolute best treatises on personal finance ever written, or even the best currently in print. Instead, this list features:

• 15 books selected because they consistently get good marks from reviewers for their ability to present financial topics, from basic budgeting to early retirement, in a way anyone can understand
• One book that I added to the list because it's a personal favorite of mine, and one that I think doesn't get enough recognition for its ability to make financial matters not merely understandable but entertaining
• One book (the last) that I added to the list by request because Money Crashers has "a partnership" with the author. In other words, he's paying us for our recommendation. I originally added a "full disclosure" notice revealing this information at the bottom of the section, but the editor removed it. So please take this as my personal disclaimer: I have not personally read this book, nor have I seen a recommendation for it anywhere. It gets pretty good ratings on Amazon.com, but for all I know, the author paid for those too, so I make no guarantees.

With the exception of this last one, all the books on this list come with solid recommendations. Whatever your financial goals may be — from making your first budget to buying a home to achieving financial independence — there's sure to be a book on this list that can help you achieve them.