If you’ve read a business or finance book roundup, chances are “Rich Dad Poor Dad” made the list.
So many investors have cited Robert Kiyosaki’s classic that this Business Insider reporter had to read it herself to see what all the hype was about.
For this list, though, we’re highlighting more underrated or surprising titles we’ve heard recommended by financially savvy individuals. Here are three that shaped how they think about money, work, and retirement.
Alex Nathanson and Josette Chang reached financial independence in Manhattan, partly thanks to the mindset they adopted from “Die With Zero.” The book encourages readers to prioritize meaningful life experiences over endlessly growing their portfolios.
“We like the ‘Die With Zero’ approach: Use the money when you can. There’s no point in continuing to accumulate forever,” Nathanson said. “If you want to travel, that’s the money to use now. When you’re older, there are more health issues, you’re less active, and you’re not likely to spend all that money.”
For them, financial independence isn’t about building the biggest possible net worth. It’s about having the flexibility to spend intentionally on experiences and priorities that matter to them.
Michela Allocca built a brand around money advice for young women, creating the kind of content she wished she’d had in her early 20s. She monetized her platform, Break Your Budget, quit her corporate job, and built a seven-figure portfolio all by age 30.
Allocca says one of her favorite, and “incredibly underrated,” personal finance books is Tanja Hester’s “Work Optional.”
“A lot of the finance books that get the most attention feel so cookie-cutter,” she said. What sets this one apart is how thoroughly it walks readers through the nuances of financial independence planning.
“It lays out all the little intricacies you need to think about,” Allocca said. “If you want to buy a house, how does that factor into your plan? How does health insurance factor in? From a lifestyle standpoint, what do you value? If you’re planning before you have a family, how would kids impact the picture?”
Allocca said she frequently gets questions about how major life decisions — like having children — affect someone’s financial independence number.
“I can’t give a straight answer because I don’t know your life — how many kids you want, what kind of lifestyle you’re aiming for,” she said. “Those things have to be factored into the plan. I think this book does a good job of helping you think through it in a tactical way.”
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert
For Rose Han, early retirement was once the ultimate goal.
“At 32, I basically achieved a version of FIRE — living in my camper van and having freedom — and it was fun for like the first six months.”
Less than a year later, she found herself bored and unfulfilled. Only after quitting her Wall Street job did she realize she was chasing the wrong thing all along.
“The question shouldn’t be: ‘How can I retire early and finally live my life?’ The question should be: ‘How can I build a life I don’t want to retire from?'”
That shift in mindset led her to think differently about money and purpose. Many people, she said, don’t actually want to do nothing. Rather, they want to spend their time on meaningful work.
In “Big Magic,” Elizabeth Gilbert writes about waitressing while pursuing writing, deliberately choosing a job that paid the bills so her creative work wouldn’t be burdened by financial pressure.
Han embraces a similar framework: You can have a “cash cow” that supports you and separate passions that fulfill you, and they don’t have to be the same thing.
“Your job can fund your passions,” she said. “It could be the lawyer who has a rock band on the weekends, or the waitress who writes at night. Or, if you’re lucky, what you love to do also makes you money.”
Han says she’s found something close to that sweet spot — she loves creating YouTube videos and writing about personal finance, which is how she makes money — but she also maintains hobbies she has no intention of monetizing, like dancing and cooking.
“You don’t have to do it one way,” she said. “If you’re intentional about building a whole package of a life — thinking about your income and your passions — you can create something you don’t want to retire from.”