There are a lot of money books and I have read hundreds of personal finance books over the years, but there aren’t a lot of fire books. The strategies that are necessary to become financially independent and retire early can be learned from these books.
I have had the chance to read all of them and here are the books I think are the best. Anyone looking to take control of their financial future and achieve financial independence should read these books.
Best FIRE Books for 2023
As more make the cut, I will add to this list. This list is made up of the best, so you can be sure that anything on it is worth your time. If you’re interested in pursuing FIRE, then this list of books is not only an incredible place to start, it will literally give you the exact blueprint that you can customize to accelerate your own financial independence journey.
- Financial Freedom
- Your Money or Your Life
- The Simple Path to Wealth
- Set for Life
- Quit Like A Millionaire
- The 4-Hour Workweek
- I Will Teach You To Be Rich
- Playing with FIRE
- Retire Early with Real Estate
- The Art of Living
- The Bogleheads Guide to Investing
1. Financial Freedom: A Proven Path To All The Money You Will Ever Need by Grant Sabatier
This is my book, so it’s a shameless plug, and I’m not putting it first because I think it’s the best. Financial Freedom is the perfect starting point for anyone interested in financial freedom because I worked hard to make it as comprehensive as possible. Financial Freedom will help you take the first step towards financial independence.
Financial Freedom was voted one of the top 10 personal finance books of all time by The Ladders, Lifehacker said it blew their mind, and over 100 Amazon reviewers called it “life-changing”.
The book is a step-by-step guide that will show you how to make more money in less time. actionable advice from experts in the field and practical tips to help you get started on your journey are contained in it.
I held nothing back when writing this book and go deep on all the key topics you need to know to reach FIRE, including:
- How much money do you need
- How to maximize your happiness per dollar
- How to change your relationship with money
- How to get a raise
- How to start a side hustle
- How to invest in stocks, bonds, and real estate
- The best money habits to help you fast-track financial independence
Don’t forget to let me know what you think about it. I’m sure you will love it.
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2. Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
The book made me think about money in a different way. It changed my life. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made, it opened up a world of opportunities that I never knew existed. em>Your Money or Your Life/em> is an absolute classic for a reason. The book has an innovative approach to financial literacy that makes it a timeless resource.
The mindset ones, the discussion about the four pillars of financial independence, frugality, and the step-by-step strategy for calculating how much money you’re actually making per hour are my favorite chapters. It has given me the tools I need to make wise decisions with my money, and opened my eyes to the importance of financial literacy.
If you want to calculate your real hourly wage check out the real hourly wage calculator. The classic book that has sold over 1 million copies and started the fire movement is worth reading no matter where you are in your financial journey.
You can also check out Vicki and me chatting about the FIRE movement and a whole lot more in the financial freedom podcast episode, The Space of Freedom w/ Vicki Robin, or below.
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3. The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
This book is one of the best to help you reach financial independence, even though I didn’t read it until after I reached financial independence. It has become a staple in the personal finance community, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to take charge of their finances and secure a financially independent future.
The book is popular because it is easy to follow and the writing is simple. It’s a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about investing.
A Simple Path to Wealth is based on a series of posts on his website about stock investing for his daughter. The book will help readers better understand the basics of stock investing.
While most of this information is free in the stock series, there are some additional high value content that makes it worth a read.
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4. Set for Life by Scott Trench
Scott Trench is the CEO of Bigger Pockets, the popular real estate investing community, and one of the smartest people I know when it comes to money.
He walks you through a three phase approach to accelerate your financial independence. This approach can be used to build a life of financial freedom and long-term security.
Scott lays out a step-by-step plan for anyone to strategically use real estate to make work optional, with a focus on house hacking and real estate.
I think the creative ways he thinks about money make this a must-read for anyone starting their financial independence journey, even if the book is geared towards people who are single and in their 20s or early 30s. His advice is applicable to a wide range of ages and lifestyles.
5. Quit Like A Millionaire by Kristy Shen & Brice Leung
Quit Like A Millionaire review.
I really liked this book. I can’t wait to read it again. It is beautiful and full of life. Readers are taken on a journey of exploration and discovery with the story. I was surprised but not surprised. The experience exceeded my expectations. I have never read a book like this before and it will inspire a lot of people. Money can be used to create positive change in people’s lives, and it offers a unique perspective on the power of money.
Quit Like A Millionaire is the perfect balance of story, tactics, and motivation.
It is without a doubt the most entertaining money book I have ever read. It is a great read about money management.
I laughed out loud while reading the entire book on the plane. It was one of the best plane rides I’ve ever had. I can’t remember laughing at a book like a personal finance book.
The amount of detail in the book was amazing, with many charts and graphs to show the most important points. There were a number of case studies included in the book. There are two people on my financial freedom show.
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6. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
This is the book that started it all for digital nomads and while it’s not a money book, its focus on entrepreneurship and making money from anywhere makes it indisputably a FIRE book.
The book is useful for the mindset that instills in the reader because Tim makes it seem a lot easier than it actually is. It’s a great way for people to identify opportunities for their own location-independent business.
The 4-Hour Workweek blew my mind when I read it when I was 24. I had never seen anyone advocating for a lifestyle that prioritized freedom over money. In my book, I expand on the idea of building a passive income lifestyle business, which is one of the best parts of the book. It is possible to build a successful business and achieve financial freedom with these strategies.
The idea of the mini-retirement was created by Tim, who saw your earning years as a series of phases, instead of one long 9 to 5 grind.
The 4-Hour Workweek is definitely worth a read if you are interested in entrepreneurship, which is one of the fastest paths to financial independence. It gives useful advice on how to start a business and live the life you want.
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7. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
If you’re interested in making more money (remember you can only cut back so much), then you should check out I Will teach you to be rich is a personal finance classic. Anyone interested in taking control of their finances should read the book.
The updated version was released in honor of the 10th anniversary of the book. There are plenty of new resources to help readers reach their financial goals in the new version, as well as updated information about the changing world of personal finance and investment. When I was 25 years old, I first read the book and it left a huge impression on me and I was able to implement a number of the strategies immediately. I can confidently say that reading the book had a profound impact on my financial success.
This is a great book for entrepreneurs because it has a great way of making money very simple and has a lot of focus on income maximization.
He presents a number of different mindsets in the book that will change how you think about money. By following his strategies, you can gain greater financial security and take control of your finances for the long term. He presents a compelling case for spending money to maximize happiness in your life. He believes that financial freedom can provide immense fulfillment in life, as he is passionate about helping others use their money wisely.
It is an excellent addition to any fire movement bookshelf. Anyone looking to gain a better understanding of the fire movement can benefit from this book.
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8. Playing with FIRE by Scott Rieckens
In addition to putting out the incredible Playing with FIRE documentary, which I was honored to be included in, Scott Rieckens also wrote a great starter book about him and his wife’s discovering and the first year following the FIRE movement.
If you want to get one of your friends or your partner on board, this is the perfect story. I recommend that you watch the documentary to learn more about fire and how it can change your life. Sometimes books full of charts and numbers can be hard to read. It’s important to find the right book for you because it can be enjoyable and rewarding.
The book is not about charts and steps to follow if you want to pursue fire. It focuses on the mindset and principles that can help you develop a plan that works for you. To introduce you to what it feels like to change your financial life and prioritize happiness in your life is the point. With the right guidance and dedication, you can create a life of abundance and financial freedom.
I liked Scott’s writing style and his overview of the fire movement that is spreading the world. I was inspired to start taking steps towards financial independence after reading Scott’s book.
If you are looking for a book to get your friend on board with the movement or a human story about how it feels to discover and follow the movement then this is definitely worth a read. The book shows how the fire movement can lead to financial freedom and more control over your life.
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9. Retire Early with Real Estate by Chad Carson
Real estate investing, in my opinion, is the fastest path to financial independence, and Retire Early with Real Estate is an exceptional blueprint for making it happen.
I have known Chad for a long time and he is the real deal, having invested in hundreds of properties and reached financial independence in his 30s. He’s an inspiration to people who want to take control of their finances.
I am not an advanced real estate investor, but this is my favorite real estate investing book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in investing in real estate.
The focus of em>Your Money or Your Life/em> is on how much is enough because of the simple steps that get more complicated as the book builds. This book is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the principles of financial freedom and take control of their money, no matter what stage in their financial journey they are at.
So many real estate books focus on building insanely large portfolios or helping you build a real estate empire, Chad’s book is about helping you retire early using real estate. Chad’s book outlinesthe strategies and techniques necessary to build a real estate portfolio that will enable you to reach your financial goals and achieve financial freedom by retiring early.
There is a big difference between mindset and strategies. Understanding the difference between the two approaches is important in order to be successful. I learned a lot from this book and it made me think about buying my next investment property. I’m excited to use my new knowledge to make a smart investment decision.
If you are interested in investing in real estate, you should read Retire Early with Real Estate. The book is useful for people who want to learn more about real estate investing and possibly increase their retirement savings.
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10. The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
Money only matters if it helps you live a life you love. This is not a money book, but one of my favorite books of all time. This book has the potential to change lives for the better.
Choosing to live differently than those around you is one of the biggest challenges of following fire. It is not the life that anyone else is living. Even if they don’t align with popular opinion, you can still make your own decisions.
This book is about living life on your own terms, which is what the fire movement is all about. It encourages readers to set their own goals and take control of their lives.
The work of Thich Nhat Hanh was helpful in guiding my own financial independence path. I have found his teachings to be helpful in setting me up for financial stability and success.
While Thich Nhat Hanh has written many books and I have read many of them, The Art of Living is by far my favorite and will likely be his last book given his stroke a few years ago. The core teachings and wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh are encapsulated in this book, making it a timeless classic that will be cherished for generations to come.
I recommend this book no matter where you are in your financial journey because it has helped me in my life after reaching financial independence.
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11. The Bogleheads Guide to Investing by Taylor Larimore, Mel Lindauer, and Michael LeBoeuf
While many of the best FIRE books include sections on investing, The Bogleheads Guide to Investing is by far the best investing book I’ve read and is a great place to dive deeper into the FIRE investing strategy.
I found this book even better than Jack’s books and the perfect starting point for anyone interested in investing. It is an accessible and comprehensive guide to investing that offers sound advice and a lot of knowledge.
With a large focus on index fund investing, this guide gives you not only the steps but also a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at how and why investing in index funds works. This guide is designed to help you make informed decisions when it comes to your investments, and is a great starting point for anyone looking to get started with index fund investing.
There are detailed instructions on how to build and manage your own two or three funds investing portfolio. It can be rewarding and cost-effective to invest in the stock market.
It is worth reading for anyone interested in making the most of their money, and I have come back to this book many times.
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What are your favorite books? I’m always looking for new books to read, so I’d love to hear your suggestions.
