The difference between wealth and poverty often begins in the mind. While those struggling financially avoid personal development literature, wealthy individuals consistently turn to books that challenge their thinking about money, success, and potential. These transformative works fundamentally reshape how readers view wealth creation. Here are the top ten books that people with a rich mindset have read that people with a poor mindset never open.
1. Think and Grow Rich: The Power of Desire and Persistence
Napoleon Hill’s masterpiece reveals that wealth creation starts with burning desire and unwavering persistence. The rich mindset centers on the idea that thoughts become things and success requires definiteness of purpose.
People with a poor mindset tend to avoid this book because it requires them to take responsibility for their circumstances rather than blaming external factors. The wealthy understand that dominant thoughts shape reality and use this principle to maintain focus regardless of setbacks.
2. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Your Money Blueprint
T. Harv Eker introduces the concept that everyone has a subconscious “money blueprint” formed during childhood. Wealthy individuals embrace the uncomfortable work of examining deep-rooted attitudes about money.
Those with a poor mindset never open this book because confronting how their past programs their present feels threatening. Eker teaches that wealthy people play the money game to win, while others play not to lose—a defensive posture guaranteeing mediocrity.
3. The Psychology of Money: Behavior Over Intelligence
Morgan Housel’s modern classic dismantles the myth that financial success requires superior intelligence. The wealthy mindset recognizes that how you behave with money matters more than what you know.
Wealthy readers appreciate Housel’s insight that everyone makes financial decisions through their unique experiences. People with a poor mindset skip this book because it requires acknowledging that their emotional relationship with money might be sabotaging their progress.
4. Rich Dad Poor Dad: Assets vs. Liabilities
Robert Kiyosaki’s paradigm-shifting work teaches readers to think like investors rather than employees. The rich mindset centers on understanding that true wealth comes from acquiring assets that generate income, not earning a high salary.
Wealthy individuals embrace this message about financial literacy and making money work for you. Those with a poor mindset avoid it because it questions everything they’ve been taught about financial security and demands they learn business and investment principles their schools never taught.
5. The Magic of Thinking Big: Belief Precedes Achievement
David J. Schwartz’s timeless work emphasizes that thinking patterns determine results. The wealthy mindset involves believing you’re capable of far more than current circumstances suggest. Schwartz argues that excuses are the enemy of success and that thinking small guarantees small results.
People with a poor mindset never open this book because it challenges their comfort in mediocrity and demands they stop making excuses.
6. Rich Habits: Daily Disciplines That Define Success
Thomas Corley’s research-based approach reveals that wealth is built through consistent daily practices rather than luck or inheritance. The wealthy mindset focuses on the compound effect of small, disciplined actions repeated over time.
Wealthy individuals learn that reading daily, setting goals, maintaining relationships, and managing time effectively are unglamorous habits creating extraordinary results. Those with a poor mindset may avoid this book because it makes clear that success requires sustained effort and discipline, rather than relying on lottery tickets or lucky breaks.
7. Awaken the Giant Within: Mastery Through Decisive Action
Tony Robbins teaches that transformation happens through firm decisions and massive action. The wealthy mindset revolves around personal responsibility and the belief that you can change anything if you’re willing to do the inner work.
Robbins emphasizes modeling successful people and developing empowering habits. People with a poor mindset never open it because it requires acknowledging they’re responsible for their results and demands immediate, uncomfortable action.
8. How Rich People Think: Mental Patterns That Create Wealth
Steve Siebold’s direct approach highlights stark differences between how wealthy and average people process information. The rich mindset involves understanding that wealth is primarily a result of how you think, not what you do.
Siebold reveals that self-made wealthy individuals often embrace discomfort, think long-term, and view money as a means to achieve freedom. Those with a poor mindset skip this book because it’s confrontational and shows precisely how their thinking patterns keep them stuck.
9. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: Growth Over Fixed Thinking
Carol Dweck’s groundbreaking research distinguishes between people who believe abilities are fixed versus those who think they can be developed. The rich mindset centers on embracing challenges as growth opportunities rather than threats to avoid.
Wealthy individuals understand that failure is feedback, not identity, and effort is the path to mastery. People with a poor mindset never open this book because it challenges their comfortable belief that they either have what it takes or they don’t.
10. The Millionaire Mind: Living Below Your Means
Thomas Stanley’s research reveals that most millionaires don’t look like millionaires. The rich mindset involves prioritizing financial independence over appearing wealthy. Stanley demonstrates that true wealth originates from spending less than you earn, investing consistently, and resisting social pressure to display status.
Those with a poor mindset avoid this book because it destroys their fantasy that wealth means luxury, revealing instead that it requires sacrifice and delayed gratification.
Conclusion
The books wealthy people read share a common thread: they demand readers take full responsibility for their financial outcomes and challenge comfortable beliefs about money and success. People with a poor mindset tend to avoid these works because they don’t want to confront what these books reveal about their own thinking patterns.
The good news is that the mindset isn’t permanent. Anyone willing to pick up these books and undertake the uncomfortable inner work can begin the transformation from poor thinking to a wealth-conscious mindset. The question isn’t whether you can change your financial future—it’s whether you’re willing to start with changing your mind.