The Richest Man in Babylon

The Richest Man in Babylon is the oldest personal finance book still in print, and its wisdom is as relevant today as it was in 1926. Through parables set in ancient Babylon, George Clason teaches principles that sound simple but are incredibly powerful when actually applied: pay yourself first (save 10%), live below your means, invest wisely, and guard against loss. The story format makes these principles memorable and easy to internalize. At under 150 pages, you can read it in an afternoon, but the "pay yourself first" habit it instills can literally change your financial trajectory.