Johnny's Summer Reading List: Part 1
One of my favorite ways to spend a summer day at the beach is reading a good book. As you may know, there are countless benefits to reading. A few that come to mind are knowledge enhancement, mental stimulation for your brain, and stress reduction. Whether it be a good fiction novel or a non-fiction personal development book, reading is without question a great way to invest your time. Given that we are in the middle of the summer, I thought it would be a good time to share a list of my favorite books. I narrowed it down to ten books. I chose four related to personal finance and six related to personal development. This will be a two-part series, so stay tuned for part two in August! I hope you get a chance to check out at least one of the books below. Enjoy!
"Doing well with money isn't necessarily about what you know. It's about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people.
In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life's most important topics."
Johnny's take: This is my favorite personal finance book that I have read to date, and it absolutely deserves a spot on your bookshelf. It really drills down on the fact that behavior is key to building wealth and improving our financial lives. Housel knocks it out of the park with this one.
"In Just Keep Buying, hugely popular finance blogger Nick Maggiulli crunches the numbers to answer the biggest questions in personal finance and investing while providing you with proven ways to build your wealth right away.
You will learn why you need to save less than you think; why saving up cash to buy market dips isn't a good idea; how to survive (and thrive) during a market crash; and much more.
By following the strategies revealed here, you can act smarter and live richer each and every day. It's time to take the next step in your wealth-building journey. It's time to Just Keep Buying."
Johnny's take: Maggiulli authored this book in 2022, and I picked up a copy as soon as it came out. He is truly a data guru and has an outstanding weekly blog called, Of Dollars and Data - Act Smarter. Live Richer., which I would highly recommend you follow. His book is broken down into two sections: saving and investing, and was written to be a quick reference guide for readers. It is jam-packed with outstanding practical examples that we can all learn from, no matter where you are in your wealth-building journey.
"The greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham, taught and inspired people worldwide. Graham's philosophy of "value investing" - which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies - has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949.
Vital and indispensable, this HarperBusiness Essentials edition of The Intelligent Investor is the most important book you will ever read on how to reach your financial goals."
Johnny's take: If you are looking for an in-depth book on investing, Graham's book is for you. However, it is not for the faint of heart and may be more info than many are looking for. Pick up a copy if you'd like to do a deep dive on investing fundamentals and how to become a value investor. Steer clear if this sounds like too much information for you.
"If you're a cash-strapped 20- or 30-something, it's easy to get freaked out by finances. But you're not doomed to spend your life drowning in debt or mystified by money. It's time to stop scraping by and take control of your money and your life with this savvy and smart guide.
Packed with refreshingly simple advice and hilarious true stories, Broke Millennial is the essential roadmap every financially clueless millennial needs to become a money master. So what are you waiting for? Let's #GYFLT!"
Johnny's take: Lowry's book was one of the first books I read about personal finance. As a Millennial myself, the title immediately grabbed my attention. Her book does a really nice job of explaining some complex financial topics in a simple manner and is a practical financial guide that any young person can learn from.
