Dave Ramsey consistently recommends certain books that most financially struggling people avoid reading. These aren’t quick-fix guides or get-rich-quick schemes. Instead, they’re foundational works that require a real commitment to change. Here are the ten books that can separate financially successful people from those who remain broke based on Dave Ramsey’s recommendations:
1. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko
This research-based book destroys every stereotype about wealthy people. Stanley and Danko spent years studying actual millionaires, not the flashy celebrities on television. Their findings reveal that most millionaires drive used cars, live in modest homes, and save religiously.
The book introduces the concept of “Prodigious Accumulator of Wealth” (PAW), showing how ordinary people build wealth through consistent saving and smart spending habits. The authors discovered that most millionaires are first-generation wealthy, meaning they built their fortunes from scratch.
Broke people avoid this book because it forces them to confront uncomfortable truths about lifestyle choices. The wealthy don’t necessarily earn more; they spend less and save more. This requires abandoning the belief that high income equals wealth and embracing delayed gratification instead of immediate pleasure.
2. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
This timeless classic uses ancient Babylonian parables to teach money principles that remain relevant today. Clason’s simple stories make complex financial concepts accessible to everyone. The book’s most famous lesson is “pay yourself first,” advocating for saving at least 10% of income before paying any bills. These parables demonstrate how discipline and consistent saving habits create wealth over time.
Broke people avoid this book because it requires long-term thinking rather than quick fixes. The principles seem too simple to be effective, but they need the discipline most financially struggling people lack. The book demands changing spending habits and practicing patience, which conflicts with the instant gratification mindset that keeps people broke.
3. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This classic has sold millions of copies worldwide since its original publication. Carnegie’s principles focus on genuine interest in others, avoiding criticism, and making people feel important. These relationship skills directly impact earning potential and financial success. Better relationships lead to better business opportunities, career advancement, and increased income. The book teaches that economic success depends more on people skills than technical knowledge.
Broke people avoid this book because it requires a genuine effort to change interpersonal habits. It demands focusing on others’ needs rather than personal problems. Many financially struggling people are so focused on their situation that they can’t see how improving relationships might solve their money problems. The book requires emotional maturity and consistent practice of new behaviors.
4. Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin
This unique book connects spiritual principles with practical wealth-building strategies. Lapin addresses money from a moral perspective, showing how wealth creation can be a form of service to others. The book challenges negative beliefs about money and wealthy people that keep many impoverished. It emphasizes the importance of building relationships and creating value for others as the foundation of financial success.
Broke people avoid this book because it challenges beliefs about money being evil or corrupt. It requires moral self-examination and accepting that wealth creation can be a positive force. Many financially struggling individuals hold onto limiting beliefs about money that this book directly confronts, making it emotionally difficult to read.
5. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
Maxwell’s leadership principles directly impact earning potential and financial success. The book outlines specific laws, such as “The Law of Influence” and “The Law of the Lid,” showing how leadership skills affect every aspect of life. Better leadership leads to promotions, business opportunities, and increased income. The book demonstrates that leadership isn’t just for executives but for anyone who wants to improve their circumstances.
Broke people avoid this book because it requires personal responsibility and developing others rather than focusing solely on self-improvement. It demands stepping up and leading, which feels risky when struggling financially. The book requires thinking beyond immediate needs to consider long-term growth and development.
6. Good to Great by Jim Collins
This business classic studied companies that achieved exceptional performance over time. Collins identifies factors that separate great companies from good ones, including disciplined thinking and consistent action. The same principles that make companies great can make individuals financially successful. The book emphasizes the importance of systematic, long-term approaches over quick fixes.
Broke people avoid this book because it requires disciplined, consistent action over time rather than immediate results. It focuses on building systems and making gradual improvements, which doesn’t appeal to those seeking quick financial relief. The book demands patience and commitment to long-term processes that many financially struggling people find difficult to maintain.
7. Built to Last by Jim Collins & Jerry I. Porras
This book examines companies that have thrived for decades, identifying the characteristics that create lasting success. The authors emphasize building strong foundations and maintaining core values while adapting to change. These principles apply to personal finance and business, showing how to build lasting wealth rather than seeking quick fixes. The book demonstrates that lasting success requires building systems and maintaining discipline over time.
Broke people avoid this book because it focuses on building systems rather than immediate results. It requires thinking about long-term financial health rather than quick fixes to current problems. The book demands patience and commitment to processes that may not show immediate results, which conflicts with the urgency of financial struggles.
8. Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson
This simple parable about adapting to change has resonated with millions of readers worldwide. The book’s core message emphasizes anticipating and adapting to change rather than resisting it. Those who adapt to economic changes and new opportunities thrive in the financial world, while others struggle. The book teaches that success comes from embracing change and looking for new opportunities.
Broke people avoid this book because it requires leaving comfort zones and embracing uncertainty. When struggling financially, change feels risky and threatening. The book demands accepting that current strategies aren’t working and trying new approaches, which can be frightening when resources are limited.
9. Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
This book addresses relationship dynamics that significantly impact financial well-being. Eggerichs shows how relationship conflicts, particularly about money, create stress and poor financial decisions. The book’s core principle of the “crazy cycle” in relationships demonstrates how misunderstanding leads to destructive patterns. Strong relationships provide stability for long-term financial planning and success.
Broke people avoid this book because it requires addressing relationship issues that may contribute to financial problems. Blaming external circumstances is easier than examining how relationship dynamics affect money decisions. The book demands emotional maturity and a willingness to work on personal relationships, which can be challenging when stressed about finances.
10. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
This recent book focuses on exceeding expectations in service and creating exceptional experiences for others. Guidara demonstrates how small gestures create significant returns and extraordinary service leads to business opportunities and referrals. The book shows that giving more than expected often results in greater financial rewards.
Broke people avoid this book because it requires giving more than you receive initially, which seems counterintuitive when struggling financially. The book demands focusing on others’ needs and exceeding expectations, which can be difficult when worried about personal financial problems. It requires faith that generous behavior will eventually lead to monetary rewards.
Conclusion
These books remain unopened by most broke people because they require the one thing that creates lasting change: personal transformation. They demand discipline, patience, and long-term thinking rather than quick fixes. Reading these books won’t immediately solve money problems, but applying their principles will create the foundation for lasting financial success.