Must-read in 2025: 12 Financial Education Books to Help You Master the Wealth Code

At the beginning of the new year, many people set various goals, but very few can actually follow through. Instead of creating complicated plans, it’s better to start by changing your mindset. Reading is the most cost-effective investment—less than the price of a meal, yet it can help you avoid thousands of dollars in investment mistakes.

Imagine: in 2025, while most people are still struggling with “what should I invest in,” you have already mastered the core principles of value investing, psychological traps, and risk management techniques through books. This is the power of knowledge.

To this end, we have selected 12 of the world’s top financial education books, covering comprehensive content from beginner basics to advanced strategies. These works have not only transformed the financial situations of millions of readers but are also must-reads for Wall Street elites and successful entrepreneurs.

Beginner Basics: Building a Strong Foundation in Financial Management

1. The Richest Man in Babylon( - George S. Clason
Publisher: HarperCollins

A classic nearly a century old that still shines brightly. Through ancient Babylonian parables, Clason uses simple language to convey profound truths about wealth: live below your means, save consistently, invest rationally. The beauty of this book is that it doesn’t pressure you; instead, it communicates financial principles in a relaxed, friendly manner. Especially suitable for those new to financial planning—no complex formulas needed, just understanding basic logic.

2. Rich Dad Poor Dad) - Robert Kiyosaki
Publisher: Alta Books

Having topped the financial bestseller charts for 20 years, this book’s core argument is enough to overturn your understanding of money: the difference between assets and liabilities. Kiyosaki contrasts two “fathers” to reveal why some people get richer while others get poorer—the key lies in whether you buy assets or liabilities. Although some criticize certain viewpoints as overly simplified, this simplification is actually an advantage for beginners, making complex financial concepts easy to grasp.

Psychology and Behavior: Uncovering Investment Psychological Traps

3. The Psychology of Money( - Morgan Housel
Publisher: HarperCollins

Behind its million-copy sales lies profound insight. Housel’s main point is straightforward: in financial markets, psychological resilience is more important than mathematical ability. He uses real cases to show how fear and greed take turns dominating the market, and how ordinary investors lose money due to emotional swings. More valuable is his practical advice on mental adjustments, helping you stay rational amid market volatility.

4. Thinking, Fast and Slow) - Daniel Kahneman
Publisher: Objetiva

A Nobel laureate’s masterpiece. Kahneman divides human decision-making into two systems: fast intuition and slow analysis. Investors should understand how these two modes of thinking interfere with each other and how to recognize and avoid cognitive biases arising from them. This is a must-read for a scientific understanding of financial decision-making.

Strategies and Methods: Building an Investment Framework

5. The Intelligent Investor( - Benjamin Graham
Publisher: HarperCollins

Warren Buffett himself calls it “the greatest investment book of all time,” a testament to its importance. Graham’s value investing theory is the cornerstone of modern investment science. He teaches how to analyze companies, identify undervalued stocks, and build a solid portfolio. This book is more challenging than the previous ones, but once mastered, you’ll have a true investment weapon.

6. Antifragile) - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Publisher: Objetiva

In a world full of uncertainty, merely “resisting risk” is not enough. Taleb introduces the concept of “antifragility”—becoming stronger amid chaos. Through interdisciplinary thinking involving economics, statistics, and philosophy, he demonstrates how to construct investment portfolios that profit in crises and how entrepreneurs can turn risks into opportunities.

7. Investment Secrets of Warren Buffett and George Soros( - Mark Tier
Publisher: Elsevier

Conservative icon Buffett and aggressive investor Soros—two vastly different styles, yet both highly successful. Tier analyzes their decision principles—sticking to one’s convictions and adapting quickly. The value of this book lies in showing that successful investing isn’t limited to one mode.

Practice and Reflection: From Theory to Application

8. Principles) - Ray Dalio
Publisher: Intríseca

Dalio founded the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. What is his secret to success? This book reveals his personal and professional philosophy. Dalio emphasizes the importance of principles—building clear frameworks for complex decisions. Whether in investing or life, these principles help you make wiser choices.

9. Fora da Curva( - Pierre Moreau et al.
Publisher: Portfolio-Penguin

Unlike the previous international works, this book focuses on real cases in the Brazilian market. Local investment elites like Florian Bartunek and Luiz Alves Paes de Barros share their mistakes and successes. This localized perspective is especially valuable for investors in Brazil—you can learn where real opportunities lie and what common pitfalls to avoid.

10. Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life) - Alice Schroeder
Publisher: Actual

If you want to truly understand the mindset of a great investor, this detailed biography is the best case study. Schroeder traces Buffett’s key decisions from an ordinary investor to the world’s richest. You’ll find that success is not instant but built over decades through discipline and compound growth.

Big Picture Thinking: Beyond Money

11. Sapiens( - Yuval Noah Harari
Publisher: L&PM

Though not a narrow financial book, this work is crucial for understanding the foundations of economic systems. Harari traces human development from the Agricultural Revolution to modern society, explaining how money, markets, and power structures have shaped civilization. For investors, understanding historical trends can help predict future directions.

12. Freakonomics) - Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
Publisher: Alta Books

Economist Levitt and journalist Dubner examine everyday phenomena from unconventional perspectives. They show how economics explains seemingly absurd human behaviors—from cheating in sumo wrestling to incentives in schools. This book trains you to think about financial decisions from the perspective of incentives, a very useful mindset for spotting market opportunities.

How to Truly Apply This Knowledge in 2025

After reading these 12 books, knowledge must be transformed into action:

Step 1: Establish a Personal Investment Framework
Start with Graham’s value investing theory, combined with Dalio’s principles thinking, to create your own investment decision process.

Step 2: Psychological Preparation
Under Housel and Kahneman’s guidance, recognize your psychological weaknesses. When markets rise or fall, ask yourself: “Am I making a rational decision, or am I driven by emotion?”

Step 3: Risk Management
Borrow from Taleb’s antifragile theory to build an investment portfolio that can survive and even benefit from market crises.

Step 4: Continuous Learning
Reading is not the goal; application is. Regularly review the core concepts from these books and test them in actual investments.

Real-time Market Data (Updated on 2025-12-24 23:01:12)

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Summary

In 2025, there’s no need to rush into aggressive investments. Instead of chasing hot trends, focus on building a solid foundation. These 12 books represent the essence of global investment thought—from basics to psychology, from conservative strategies to innovative approaches.

Use holidays or weekends to systematically read this list. When you master these concepts, understand how money works, and recognize your psychological biases, you’ll have already surpassed 90% of investors. In the new year, let reading be your best investment.