Podcast
ChooseFI book list: the books mentioned on the show
How would your life change if you reached Financial Independence and got to the point where working is optional? What actions can you take today to make that not just possible but probable. Jonathan & Brad explore the tactics that the FI community uses to reclaim decades of their lives. They discuss reducing expenses, crushing debt, tax optimization, building passive income streams through online …
Recently mentioned books
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Die with Zero
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Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement
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Goodbye, things
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Outlive
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The Psychology of Money
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Parent Like a Millionaire (Without Being One)
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The Simple Path to Wealth
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The Happy Body
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Thinking in Bets
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The Simple Path to Wealth
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How I Lost Money in Real Estate Before It Was Fashionable
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The Happiness Trap
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I will teach you to be rich
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Blue Chip Kids : what Every Child and Parent Should Know about Money, Investing, and the Stock Market
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M Is for Money
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Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor
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Top Five Regrets of the Dying
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The Time Paradox
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The Soul of Wealth
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Retire Often
Most recommended on ChooseFI
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The Simple Path to Wealth
JL Collins's book The Simple Path to Wealth was frequently discussed on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett, Kim, and Laura across multiple episodes, including 'Unpacking the Path to the Boring Middle' and 'Financial Independence Basics with Jackie Cummings Koski'. The speakers recommended the book to illustrate how simple and effective low-cost index fund investing is compared to managed funds. Guests and hosts praised it for succinctly summarizing investing principles and helping demystify retirement accounts and personal finance for beginners.
Discussed“And it was fascinating because I was listening to an old episode with JL Collins, the original episode he did on Choose a VI about the simple path to wealth.”
Where to get it
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Die with Zero
Bill Perkins's book Die with Zero was frequently recommended on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett and various guests across multiple episodes, including editions in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The speakers praised the non-fiction title for shifting their mindsets around money, arguing that extreme delayed gratification prevents people from enjoying life and encouraging listeners to spend money, give inheritances, and embrace experiences earlier.
Discussed“And in that book, the author Bill Perkins talks about exactly this, gifts to your children. And it's like, do you wait to do this until you've passed and it goes through your state when maybe you're in your 90s and your kids are in their 70s.”
Where to get it
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Atomic Habits
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett, Jonathan Mendonsa, and community guests frequently recommended Atomic Habits by James Clear. Speakers shared how they reread the book annually or multiple times to build positive routines, manage lifestyle changes, and improve their personal financial and fitness habits.
Discussed“So, the goal, it's fascinating because you hear people like James Clear from the author of Atomic Habits talk about systems versus goals.”
Where to get it
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The 4-Hour Workweek
Tim Ferriss's The 4-Hour Workweek was featured extensively on ChooseFI. Hosts Jonathan and Brad Barrett, alongside guests Ava Wetrick, Jacques Hopkins, and Tim Ferriss himself, discussed the book across several episodes. Barrett and Hopkins credited it as the original inspiration for starting their online businesses and pursuing entrepreneurship, while Ferriss and Barrett highlighted the frequently overlooked chapter titled 'Filling the Void'.
Discussed“and the most underestimated underread chapter in the 4-hour work week is called filling the void and it's about this exactly.”
Where to get it
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The Simple Path to Wealth
J. L. Collins's book The Simple Path to Wealth was frequently highlighted on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett, Jonathan Mendonsa, and guest Sean Mullaney. The hosts regularly featured the book as a prize in weekly listener giveaway drawings, while Mullaney recommended it during a hot seat segment as a top personal finance resource originating from blog-based investing advice.
Discussed“We then started reading through the simple path to wealth together and it has been a special time for both of us.”
Where to get it
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Thinking in Bets
Annie Duke's book Thinking in Bets was regularly recommended on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett and co-host Jonathan Mendonsa. Barrett and the hosts frequently praised the book as essential for decision-making and used its concepts, particularly 'resulting,' to explain cognitive biases in evaluating past choices based solely on outcomes rather than probabilities and processes.
Recommended“So she wrote a book called Thinking in Bets, which I think is just an absolutely essential book for just living, basically.”
Where to get it
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Rich Dad, Poor Dad
On ChooseFI, hosts Brad Barrett and Alan Donegan, along with guests like Ryan Brennan and Brian Feroldi, discussed Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon L. Lechter's Rich Dad, Poor Dad across multiple episodes. The speakers recommended the book as a must-read classic, noting how its core concepts about distinguishing assets from liabilities and building passive income served as their first introduction to financial independence.
Discussed“My first real exposure to the concepts was reading the book Rich Dad Poor Dad pretty shortly after I graduated college. And you know, just understanding the concept of passive income and making your money work for you really resonated with me.”
Where to get it
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Your Money or Your Life
Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez's Your Money or Your Life was celebrated on ChooseFI by hosts and guests like Chad Carson and Vicki Robin herself. Contributors recommended the book as a foundational text for the FIRE community, highlighting how it shifted their perspectives on work, money, and the concept of 'enough.' Speakers also noted the book's massive global reach and its influence on understanding the non-linear relationship between money and happiness.
Recommended“Many of you have read her book, Your Money or Your Life. But even if you haven't, you know about this book. It's changed the way so many people think about work and money.”
Where to get it
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The Total Money Makeover
Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover was recommended and reviewed on ChooseFI by hosts and guests including Becky Heptig, Kristen Knapp, and Mr. Groovy. Contributors praised the book as a vital foundational resource for individuals starting from scratch with their personal finances, noting how it helped them climb out of debt, organize their financial houses, and begin their journeys toward financial independence.
Discussed“Dave Ramsey came on my newscast when he first released his Total Money Makeover book in the early 2000s. Okay. This is before he got super famous, right? And I read that book”
Where to get it
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How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
Scott Adams's book How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big was recommended and discussed multiple times on ChooseFI. Host Brad Barrett frequently brought up the book to introduce listeners to the concept of the talent stack, emphasizing the value of focusing on systems rather than goals and combining multiple moderate skills for success. Other guests, such as Kyle Homson, also referenced the book to highlight the importance of systems thinking on the path to financial independence.
Discussed“we talked a very long time ago about about the talent stack and I read that book by Scott Adams I think it's how to fail at nearly everything and still win big or something like that”
Where to get it
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The Millionaire Next Door
Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko's The Millionaire Next Door was frequently recommended and discussed on ChooseFI by hosts and guests like Brad Barrett, Paula Pant, Chris Travers, and Yanely Espinal. Contributors shared how reading the book transformed their financial worldviews, particularly by introducing concepts of frugality, wealth accumulation, playing defense with money, and identifying silent practitioners of financial independence.
Discussed“well I remember when I was in high school, I read The Millionaire Next Door and even that that was a promise.”
Where to get it
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Freelance to Freedom
Vincent Pugliese's book Freelance to Freedom was frequently featured on ChooseFI as part of weekly listener giveaway drawings. Hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa repeatedly recommended the title to listeners who left podcast reviews, and the author himself appeared on the show to discuss mindset shifts and mention influences like Andy Andrews.
Discussed“I know Jonathan when you read through his book you said to me instantly this is going to be a New York Times bestseller and you just you just loved it”
Where to get it
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Your Money Or Your Life
Your Money or Your Life by Joseph R. Dominguez and Vicki Robin was discussed across several episodes of ChooseFI by hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa, along with guests Ginger Kim and Vicki Robin herself. The speakers explored key concepts like the true hourly wage, how purchases translate into giving up life energy, and the book's lasting impact on frugal mindsets.
Discussed“Many of you have read her book, Your Money or Your Life. But even if you haven't, you know about this book.”
Where to get it
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Tools of Titans
Timothy Ferriss's book Tools of Titans was frequently highlighted on ChooseFI. Hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa recommended it as a listener giveaway prize, sharing practical insights from the book regarding intermittent fasting, three-day fasts, and the daily habits of high performers, which also inspired guest Chris Mamula.
Discussed“and I've been reading tools of Titans with Tim Ferriss and he was talking about how he would go about doing this three-day fast”
Where to get it
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Early Retirement Extreme
Jacob Lund Fisker's book Early Retirement Extreme came up frequently on ChooseFI as a foundational text for the financial independence and FIRE movements. Guests and hosts including Mad Fientist, Travis Shakespeare, David Sawyer, Mary Kate Williams, and Brad Barrett discussed discovering the book early in their journeys, utilizing its 21-day frugal living steps, and drawing inspiration for minimalist lifestyle changes and early retirement planning.
Recommended“so the whole mad scientist came about because I thought that like I was like everyone else when they stumbled upon this whole world like I I found Early Retirement Extreme first and you know I was super excited about it and I was like well this is you know this is what I've been saving for for all these”
Where to get it
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Man's Search for Meaning
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl frequently came up on ChooseFI as a powerful resource for finding purpose and perspective. Dominick Quartuccio recommended it multiple times across episodes to illustrate choosing one's attitude during hardship and cited the insight on creating space between stimulus and response. Gretchen Rubin named it during a hot seat segment as the one book everyone should read. Ava Wetrick and Bo Loy also highlighted it as a personal favorite read for deep life meaning, while Brad Barrett discussed its wisdom on intentional decision-making.
Recommended“one of the greatest insights that I've ever come across was by a man named Victor Frankel and Victor Frankel is the author of man search for meaning one of the best best books you could ever read about finding your purpose and meaning in life”
Where to get it
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Outlive
Peter Attia and Bill Gifford's Outlive was frequently discussed on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett, the host, and various listeners and guests. The book was recommended as a dense but valuable resource for planning health span and longevity, inspiring listeners to undergo specific health tests, though Barrett also briefly referenced it when discussing controversies surrounding wellness authors.
Critiqued“We've all seen in the last couple of weeks the author of Outlive who a lot of us would have considered one of the pinnacle people in the longevity movement is essentially a total scumbag, right?”
Where to get it
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The Simple StartUp
Rob Phelan's book The Simple StartUp was featured regularly on ChooseFI as a student workbook and manual designed to help students and kids create their first entrepreneurial ventures. Brad Barrett, David McKeegan, and other speakers discussed using the book for interest-led learning, offering it in giveaways, and praising how it encouraged young people to think like entrepreneurs.
Discussed“Don's podcast really inspired Rob Phelan who's the author of the simple startup the educational that we're going to be bringing out through chooseify publishing”
Where to get it
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Contribution to the Biology of Ambystoma Opacum
On ChooseFI, the host frequently recommended Vincent A. Puglisi's book Contribution to the Biology of Ambystoma Opacum, alongside two other titles, as part of a weekly drawing for listeners who left podcast reviews. The host described the book as a phenomenal read for individuals looking to reclaim control of their lives and pursue personal freedom.
Book club“as you guys know we like to finish every episode by doing a drawing for a copy of a book that we have found useful and we have three books that we do we have JL Collins book The Simple path to wealth dominant cortuccio's book design your future and Vincent puglisi's book freelance to Freedom”
Where to get it
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Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence
Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence by Doug Nordman and Carol Pittner was regularly recommended on ChooseFI by hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa, as well as various guests. The hosts praised it as a phenomenal resource for teaching children about financial independence, noting that Jonathan had personally encouraged the authors to write it for the community.
Recommended“I remember I listened to the Liz frugalwoods episode and then I ended up buying her book is you know Jamie likes to read and I just gave it to her as a gift I was like Hey like I think you'll really like this book if you want to check it out and and she devoured it”
Where to get it
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Set for Life
Scott Trench's book Set for Life was repeatedly recommended on ChooseFI by hosts Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett, as well as guest Frank, who praised it as an essential manual for beginners starting their financial independence journey. The hosts highlighted its practical framework for house hacking and solving major financial hurdles.
Discussed“you know when we were talking about your book set for life and that I know was a really key part of your financial Journey your financial Independence Journey”
Where to get it
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The Golden Albatross
The Golden Albatross by Grumpus Maximus and Doug Nordman was featured on ChooseFI as a resource for evaluating pensions when pursuing financial independence. Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa recommended the book to listeners and guests, while author Grumpus Maximus and guest Julia Harder discussed how the book helped analyze the strength and value of military pensions.
Discussed“Episode 57, episode 227, and I think 316 also actually. And he had the book The Golden Albatross. And it talks about basically is your pension worth it, more or less.”
Where to get it
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The ONE Thing
On ChooseFI, hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan, along with guests like Jamie Masters, discussed Gary Keller and Jay Papasan's The ONE Thing. The hosts recommended the book for shifting perspectives on goal setting, focus, and prioritizing essential tasks that make other efforts easier.
Discussed“I Love the One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan like what's one thing you can do now which by accomplishing will make everything else easier or unnecessary in the future”
Where to get it
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The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel's book The Psychology of Money was recommended across multiple episodes of ChooseFI as an essential resource for understanding personal finance. Hosts Brad Barrett and various guests praised the book as a masterpiece for exploring human behavior surrounding wealth, though Barrett also noted Housel's critical perspective on the broader FIRE movement.
Discussed“So, even somebody as well-meaning as Morgan Housel, who we talk about the psychology of money all the time, this is at its essence, he is a FI guy, but when you hear him on podcasts, he actually talks down about the FIRE movement and it's it's just out of ignorance.”
Where to get it
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Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich was featured on ChooseFI. Alan Donegan, Rob, and Dominick Quartuccio discussed how the bestselling book inspired personal growth, business networking, and overcoming the mental trap of drift by studying successful historical figures.
Discussed“if you guys are Think and Grow Rich fans like I'm sure a lot of your listeners are Think and Grow Rich is one of the best selling”
Where to get it
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Tools der Titanen
On ChooseFI, the hosts and guests frequently discussed and recommended "Tools der Titanen" by Tim Ferriss across multiple episodes in 2023. Brad and Chris Mamula expressed admiration for the book, noting that it details the tactics, routines, and habits of billionaires and high-performing individuals. The text was also included in weekly listener giveaways and served as a reference point for discussions regarding intermittent fasting, anchoring, and three-day fasts.
Discussed“and I've been reading tools of Titans with Tim Ferriss and he was talking about how he would go about doing this three-day fast”
Where to get it
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Why Does The Stock Market Go Up?
On ChooseFI, hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan frequently recommended and discussed the book as a prime resource for learning about investing and Wall Street mechanics. They highlighted its publication through ChooseFI Publishing, featured the author as a guest, and pointed listeners to the book as an accessible foundational guide for understanding the stock market and compounding.
Recommended“so I would have to mention his book which is literally called why does the stock market go up so you can find links for that at choosefi.com”
Where to get it
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Deep Work
On ChooseFI, hosts and guests frequently recommended the book to emphasize the importance of focused productivity and uninterrupted environments. Brad Barrett and Jonathan discussed struggling with distractions and feeling scatterbrained, while guests named the title as a favorite text for improving professional habits and deep thinking.
Recommended“there is a book by Cal Newport called Deep work”
Where to get it
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Four Thousand Weeks
Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks was featured prominently on ChooseFI, where hosts Brad Barrett, Ginger, and guests like Josue and JT Alstead discussed its time-management principles. The book inspired the creation of the ChooseFI Book Club in late 2022. Contributors frequently praised Burkeman's insights on letting go of perfectionism, accepting that one will never finish every task, and deliberately choosing what to neglect to find personal centeredness.
Discussed“Did you read the Oliver Burkeman book? I did. 4,000 Weeks? Is that what it's called? We talked about it on the show. But that was one thing I'm kind of laughing when you're talking about the emails because that part where he is like, "You have to realize like you will never win and you will never complete it."”
Where to get it
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Just Keep Buying
Nick Maggiulli's book Just Keep Buying was frequently featured on ChooseFI. Brian Feroldi, Brad Barrett, Tyler, Lexi, and Nick Maggiulli himself discussed the text across multiple episodes. Guests and hosts praised it as a fantastic non-fiction guide for mindset and wealth building, used the title phrase to illustrate continual index fund investing, noted its inclusion in local book club readings, and explored the opportunity costs of financial decisions.
Recommended“So if you read any book or study market history at all, the best thing for investors to do is just Nick Julie said this in his book title, just keep buying, right? continually plow money into”
Where to get it
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Make Time
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett and Jonathan recommended the book to help listeners address excessive phone usage, avoid content distractions, and regain work-life balance. The hosts also referenced past podcast interviews with the author to discuss crafting time and focusing on daily priorities.
Recommended“and I think I'm reading this book called make time and how to focus on what matters every day”
Where to get it
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MONEY Master the Game
On ChooseFI, several guests and hosts credited the book with introducing them to the financial independence movement and index fund investing. While one contributor humorously critiqued its length, others discussed how the core principles and portfolio strategies outlined in the text shifted their perspectives on personal finance.
Discussed“So we first heard about financial independence actually through a Tony Robbins book. It's called Money Master the Game. Please don't read it. It's 800 pages too long.”
Where to get it
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Outwitting the devil
On ChooseFI, guests Dominick Quartuccio and Ava Wetrick recommended Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil as a profound cautionary tale about drift, drawing from their own personal awakenings and book club selections, while host Brad Barrett also engaged with listener voicemails discussing the book's principles.
Recommended“and it was called outwitting the devil now this book if you don't know Napoleon Hill was basically big during the depressioner”
Where to get it
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Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett, Navish Bahl, and Chad Carson frequently discussed The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor by Chad Carson across multiple episodes, including in October 2023, December 2023, and November 2025. Brad Barrett introduced the book to highlight its aligned message on financial independence and fewer rental properties, recommending it for listeners interested in alternative real estate perspectives and mindset. Navish Bahl also recommended it during the hot seat segment as a crucial blueprint for utilizing home equity.
Recommended“So that's uh Chad Carson, our great friend, has a book called The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor. And I think this is fantastic.”
Where to get it
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The Comfort Crisis
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter was recommended and discussed across several ChooseFI episodes by Brad Barrett, Ron Babcock, JT Alstead, and Dr. Bobby Dubois. The speakers praised the New York Times bestseller for exploring how modern comfort negatively impacts health and for introducing concepts like the Japanese misogi and rucking. Listeners and hosts shared how the book inspired them to undertake new physical challenges, journal more, and rethink their personal habits.
Discussed“And you know, you think about a book like The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter and talking about Misogi and these different things that we can we can undertake.”
Where to get it
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The Five Love Languages
On ChooseFI, the hosts and listeners discussed Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages across several episodes. Contributors recommended the book as a game-changing framework for understanding relationships, gift-giving, and how different people show and receive love, and related these principles to financial independence and spending choices.
Recommended“and Don said if you haven't I suggest reading the five love languages”
Where to get it
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Why We Sleep
Matthew Walker's book Why We Sleep was recommended on ChooseFI by guests Dr. Bobby Dubois and host Brad Barrett. The speakers praised the book as an authoritative resource on the neurobiology and evolutionary purpose of sleep, citing its insights into optimal sleep duration and the benefits of a cold sleeping environment.
Discussed“Bobby, I'm curious just to take another big step back. You referenced in our last episode uh Dr. Matthew Walker and his book Why We Sleep. I'm curious if you could go into your understanding of literally why we sleep.”
Where to get it
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Design Your Future
On ChooseFI, host Jonathan mentioned Dominick Quartuccio's book Design Your Future as part of listener review giveaways. Brad Barrett also referenced the book to discuss building a purposeful life alongside financial independence and formally introduced Quartuccio as a guest using the book's title.
Discussed“and I know that you've read Dominic's book uh design your future right and like you can hear me quoting his exact phrasing there but that's what's so cool is like there's nothing that says you need to leave your job”
Where to get it
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Retire Often
Jillian Johnsrud's book Retire Often was featured on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett, Ginger, and Aubrey Williams. Brad recommended the book and its release date to listeners seeking background on mini-retirements, while Ginger and Aubrey referenced it to illustrate finding courage to live outside expected norms and experimenting with starting businesses.
Discussed“Yeah, it does require courage and I think it's something like it is something we talk about a lot in this community, you know, like I'm even thinking of I just finished Jillian John's book retire often.”
Where to get it
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Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement
Throughout multiple episodes of ChooseFI, Brad Barrett discussed and praised 'Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement' by Cody Garrett and Sean Mullaney. In September 2025, Barrett introduced the authors and celebrated their newly published work. He later returned to the book in January 2026, March 2026, and September 2026, consistently lauding its breakthrough success, high sales volume, and compelling approach to financial planning within the independence community.
Recommended“As we mentioned, your book, tax planning, two and through early retirement, it's incredible. It's hard stop to end a story. I think it's pretty hard to make a book about tax planning really interesting and compelling and a must read.”
Where to get it
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The Gap and The Gain
Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan's book The Gap and The Gain was highlighted on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett and guest Ron Babcock. Barrett discussed how the book reframed his mindset to focus on progress rather than perfection, while Babcock shared how its principles helped him reduce feelings of regret and shift away from negative gap thinking.
Discussed“I was reading that I think I found out about it through the the email newsletter but that Gap in the gain book”
Where to get it
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Armas de titanes
Armas de titanes by Tim Ferriss was discussed on ChooseFI across several episodes between 2016 and 2023. The hosts frequently referenced Tim Ferriss's written works and podcasts—including his broader bibliography like The 4-Hour Workweek—crediting them as major personal inspirations and foundational resources that originally sparked their ideas for launching online businesses and pursuing financial independence.
Recommended“he wrote the four-hour work week he wrote the four hour body and different books and his blog and his podcast have definitely had an impact on my life”
Where to get it
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Can't Hurt Me
David Goggins's Can't Hurt Me was recommended on ChooseFI by Brad Barrett and Jonathan. The hosts praised the book and enthusiastically highlighted the audiobook version as an exceptional production, describing the author's remarkable physical and mental transformation driven by willpower.
Recommended“it's hard to remember all the books I've read so can't hurt me by David Goggins get the audiobook for everybody out there”
Where to get it
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Dave Ramseys Complete Guide To Money The Handbook Of Financial Peace University
On ChooseFI, Dave Ramsey's book 'Dave Ramseys Complete Guide To Money The Handbook Of Financial Peace University' was discussed across multiple episodes. Teresa shared that her cousin's church offered Financial Peace University, providing a foundational framework for her. Brad Barrett read a listener email about teaching the class, and Jesse Mecum credited reading the book at age fourteen with establishing his strict stance on avoiding student debt.
Discussed“my cousin David, his church was offering Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and he sponsored me or someone at the church sponsored me to take that class”
Where to get it
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Good to Great
On ChooseFI, Jim Collins's book 'Good to Great' came up in various contexts across multiple episodes. A speaker mentioned discovering Collins's work through a blog series that later evolved into a published book. Grumpus Maximus discussed being inspired by an interview with Collins regarding financial independence. Additionally, Jonathan introduced 'Good to Great' as the primary inspiration for the theme of moving from good to great in episode 342.
Recommended“he is a brilliant series called the stock series I think I'm not sure at last counties probably up to about 30 different blog posts in that particular series and he's actually turned it into a published book called The Simple path to wealth”
Where to get it
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Grit
On ChooseFI, guests Ryan Carson and Allison Goddard, along with Brad Barrett, recommended Angela Duckworth's book Grit. They discussed how the book's core themes of hard work, perseverance, and a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset deeply resonated with their personal stories and pursuit of success.
Recommended“especially I think it's Angela Duckworth and her book grit and the fixed mindset versus growth mindset from Carol dweck”
Where to get it
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How to Win Friends and Influence People
On the ChooseFI podcast, Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People was highlighted as a transformative read. Host Brad Barrett and a previous guest, Nick True, discussed the book, with True explaining that reading it during his freshman year of college profoundly impacted his empathy and understanding of human connection. Barrett also referenced Ryan Carson's philosophy on adding value to others, which was influenced by Carson's perspective on Carnegie's work. The hosts discussed the enduring impact of the book's principles despite its seemingly modern, marketing-oriented title.
Discussed“and it reminds me actually of a quote that you said on a podcast I listen to when you're talking about uh the book How to Win Friends and Influence People”
Where to get it
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Influence
On ChooseFI, Alan Donegan recommended Robert Cialdini's book Influence as a foundational text for learning negotiation and human interaction. Brad Barrett also brought up the book across multiple episodes to explain psychological triggers such as the rule of reciprocity during salary negotiations.
Discussed“where that's most significantly featured is in Robert cialdini's book influence”
Where to get it
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Just the Good Stuff
On ChooseFI, the podcast hosts and guests repeatedly discussed the investment framework known as 'the simple path to wealth' authored by Jim Collins. Participants referenced the advice laid out in the book regarding low-cost index fund investing, controlling fees, and the foundational tables detailing the history of the four percent rule.
Discussed“if you look at the tables and the simple path to wealth that Jim puts at the back of the book showing where the 4% rle came from”
Where to get it
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Keys to a Successful Retirement
On ChooseFI, host Jonathan and Brad Barrett repeatedly recommended Fritz Gilbert's book Keys to a Successful Retirement. Brad introduced Fritz as a guest on the show to discuss retirement bucket strategies and promote his new release. Later, Laura also mentioned receiving and reading the book, noting that it focuses on finding purpose and passion projects after retirement.
Discussed“and not the financial side but Fritz Gilbert his book he sent it actually because I think Eric and Jason had him on their podcast and then he sent me his book keys to a successful retirement and that covers sort of like once you retire”
Where to get it
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Mindset
Mindset by Carol S. Dweck was recommended on ChooseFI by hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan, as well as guest Justin David Carl. The speakers endorsed Dweck's exploration of personal development, highlighting the core concept contrasting a fixed mindset with a growth mindset. The book was frequently cited as a valuable resource and takeaway for listeners focused on overcoming setbacks and pursuing personal growth.
Recommended“so I'm a huge fan of growth mindset by Carol D I'm pretty sure she's part of Stanford alumni”
Where to get it
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Predictably Irrational
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett frequently referenced Dan Ariely's Predictably Irrational. He praised the book and discussed how its chapters on social norms and decoy pricing provided actionable consumer psychology insights for everyday situations within the financial independence community.
Discussed“I actually immediately thought back to like Jonathan you're saying about learning and pulling out these actionable techniques about this book that I read by Dan ariely called predictably irrational and there was a chapter there that was incredibly powerful on social norms”
Where to get it
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Smart Couples Finish Rich
On ChooseFI, David Bach's book 'Smart Couples Finish Rich' was discussed across several episodes. Jillian mentioned reading the book years ago to introduce the 'be, have, do' framework, while Brad Barrett highlighted it as a formative personal finance read from his early days that does not receive enough airtime in the personal finance space.
Discussed“for me another one was smart couples finish Rich by David Bach who doesn't really get enough airtime in the personal finance”
Where to get it
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The 5 Love Languages for Men
On ChooseFI, guests Larry Hagner and Jillian Johnsrud recommended Gary Chapman's book The 5 Love Languages for Men as a valuable framework for understanding partner needs and improving communication. Host Jonathan and Brad Barrett also discussed the profound personal impact of the book on relationships and communication.
Recommended“and just in a short version you have to understand what the five love languages are and you have to understand how she needs to be loved and you also have to understand your love language so you can communicate to her your needs I swear if every married person had that book and they read it and they implemented”
Where to get it
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The Body Keeps the Score
On ChooseFI, host Brad Barrett referenced Bessel van der Kolk's book The Body Keeps the Score across multiple episodes. He brought up the work to explore the connection between physical health and mental well-being, specifically how the human body stores trauma, stress, and fear.
Discussed“and we're talking about about the body keeps the score and I have a longer quote here but I think it's a good one he said”
Where to get it
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The Infinite Game
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett and the podcast hosts frequently referenced Simon Sinek's book 'The Infinite Game' across multiple episodes, including 'There's Water In The Cup', 'Join the Rebellion', and 'Emergency Fund for the Zombie Apocalypse'. Brad Barrett brought up the title to help conceptualize long-term decision making, encouraging listeners to think in terms of decades rather than short-term results and applying these foundational principles to both personal relationships and financial independence strategies.
Discussed“and Jonathan you and I have been reading a book called The Infinite game by Simon sinek”
Where to get it
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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
On ChooseFI, the host Jeff and guest Dominick Quartuccio discussed Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Jeff explained that he wrote an article about decluttering and evaluating material things based on whether they spark joy after reading Kondo's paradigm-shifting work, while Quartuccio used the book's philosophy metaphorically to suggest organizing one's information consumption habits.
Discussed“so that article that I wrote I wrote that after reading the Marie Marie condo book that's called the uh the life-changing magic of tidying up”
Where to get it
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Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow was highlighted on ChooseFI by multiple speakers. Coach Carson mentioned purchasing the book as a recent splurge and bringing it to Ecuador, while Annie Duke described it as a central piece of decision-making literature that everyone should read. The host also noted the massive influence Kahneman's work had on their life.
Recommended“well I love the idea of doing a follow-up on this because sincerely I would love to go into all of the books that I love and encourage people to read those books but for now I will say that Daniel Conor women has had a huge influence in my life and partly because of his work but also because”
Where to get it
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Unstoppable
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett and Jonathan promoted the book while previewing and conducting an interview with the author. They discussed the core themes of health, fitness, decision-making frameworks, and the author's personal journey of striving for balance.
Discussed“David one of the things that comes through when I'm reading your book is that you have this OCD component to your life that just drives you in all these different areas”
Where to get it
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Wisdom from Rich Dad, Poor Dad
The book Wisdom from Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki was referenced across multiple episodes of ChooseFI. In May 2023 episodes, guests like Zeona McIntyre mentioned reading the book in her youth, which sparked her interest in real estate and wealth building. Joanna Penn noted that the book addressed her own lack of financial education, and Chris shared that reading it early on led him to focus on real estate before discovering the ChooseFI community.
Recommended“so I've always had that Fascination and I think I thought that might turn into being like a real estate agent or something when I was younger but it didn't go that route so I think I've always had it in the back of my mind that like I was gonna try to figure out how people do that and”
Where to get it
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48 Days to the Work You Love
On ChooseFI, Jonathan Mendonsa referenced 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller to illustrate the concept of finding work that aligns with one's passions. Jamie Masters also mentioned reading Miller's book when she was trying to figure out her own career path.
Recommended“Dan Miller uh has has a book in in a popular podcast series and it's you know it's 48 days to the to the work you love”
Where to get it
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A Pattern Language
On the ChooseFI podcast, A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray Silverstein was recommended during the hot seat segment when Gretchen Rubin named it as a favorite book that she often gives as a gift, describing it as a fascinating work on how to look at spaces by a rogue architect. A listener from the UK also recommended the book, which the host noted was a second endorsement following Gretchen Rubin's suggestion.
Recommended“Second the recommendation that Gretchen made for a pattern language which is another really great book”
Where to get it
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BiggerPockets Wealth Magazine, Volume 2 Issue 4
On ChooseFI, Brayden mentioned BiggerPockets Wealth Magazine, Volume 2 Issue 4 as his favorite platform and resource during the hot seat segment. In a separate episode, Brad Barrett also referenced BiggerPockets as an example of a valuable resource for real estate investing case studies.
Recommended“loving bigger pockets so I'm starting to kind of dabble in real estate actually our first real estate investment is going to be solar panels so we're kind of thinking that as a as a real estate investment so Bigger Pockets is a lot of fun”
Where to get it
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Changing Your Money Mindset
Vicky Robin's book 'Your Money or Your Life' was discussed on ChooseFI. On August 25, 2024, guest Kyle Nolan referenced the book as an influential work that shaped his perspective on financial independence. Later, on February 23, 2025, Cody Garrett brought up the title while discussing how to calculate the true worth of one's time against the hassle of managing savings accounts.
Recommended“I think about Vicky Robins book your money or your life really like if you were to calculate how much your time is worth is it worth the hassle of chasing down some of these high yield savings accounts”
Where to get it
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Common sense on mutual funds
On ChooseFI, Frank Vasquez recommended John C. Bogle's Common Sense on Mutual Funds, referred to as Common Sense Investing in speech, pointing listeners to chapters 18 and 19 to learn about macro allocation. In another episode, the guest Ed, known as the Millionaire Educator, mentioned coming across Bogle's book on mutual funds while living in Saudi Arabia, which helped him understand the importance of low-cost and passive investing.
Discussed“I came across bogle's um uh what was it on mutual funds and that's where I understood the importance of low-cost investing and also passive investing”
Where to get it
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Digital Minimalism
On ChooseFI, Cal Newport's book Digital Minimalism was recommended by a guest named Court as part of a reading list. Additionally, Brad Barrett discussed how the book highlights members within the financial independence community.
Discussed“and I think in his new book digital minimalism he highlights both Pete from Mr Money Mustache and Liz and Nate from Frugal Woods which is really really cool”
Where to get it
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Essentialism
On ChooseFI, Essentialism by Greg McKeown was recommended by guests like JT Alstead, who read it annually to center himself, and by Jillian, who related the book to intentional living and financial independence. Host Brad Barrett also expressed his fondness for the text during discussions about the disciplined pursuit of less.
Recommended“yeah absolutely so I I love essentialism by Greg MCU it's like a yearly read for me right”
Where to get it
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Factfulness
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett recommended Factfulness by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund to David Hauser. Barrett also mentioned reading the book previously to illustrate his point that the world has arguably never been better than it currently is.
Recommended“yeah I've got one that I've read recently called factfulness which is actually very similar to that if you haven't read that I'd highly recommend it”
Where to get it
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Financial Feminist
Tori Dunlap's book Financial Feminist was featured on ChooseFI in two episodes. In From Vision Board to Action: A FI Success Story | Rakesh, a guest named Rakesh recommended the book as wonderful and helpful. Later, in Money is Your Best Form of Protest | Tori Dunlap, Brad Barrett introduced Dunlap by highlighting her best-selling book and her website focused on investing and money management.
Discussed“she's the author of The New York Times best-selling book Financial feminist and her site her first 100K docomo for getting started with investing and putting a money plan together”
Where to get it
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Finding Flow
Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalhi was recommended on two ChooseFI episodes. In The Hot Seat: Community Edition, Ginger described the book as a shorter and more accessible version of Flow. Ginger also recommended Finding Flow in episode 415 | Four Thousand Weeks | ChooseFI Book Club to align with a broader discussion about achieving flow states.
Recommended“this month I finished the book flow by sent me hail and we talked about him before and his book finding flow which I've read several times and I'm very familiar with it's kind of the more accessible short version”
Where to get it
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Flow
On ChooseFI, the host recommended Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book Flow during community and book club episodes. The host discussed finishing the book and encouraged listeners who had not yet read it to pick it up while exploring concepts related to lifestyle, mindset, and flow states.
Recommended“this month I finished the book flow by sent me hail and we talked about him before and his book finding flow”
Where to get it
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From Strength to Strength
On ChooseFI, Frank Vasquez recommended Arthur Brooks's book From Strength to Strength to listeners interested in navigating the second half of life. Later, Frank reflected on having previously read the book and discussed his interest in another recent work co-authored by Arthur Brooks and Oprah Winfrey.
Recommended“Another one's called Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks.”
Where to get it
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Get Good with Money
Get Good with Money by Tiffany the Budgetnista Aliche was enthusiastically recommended and discussed on ChooseFI by Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett. Jonathan compared the book favorably to Dave Ramsey's work for a new generation, urging listeners to buy it for guidance on financial wholeness. Brad Barrett highlighted inspiring quotes from the book and noted its role as a companion to Tiffany's new workbook.
Discussed“and this is a companion to her book get good with money which is actually what we talked about on episode 310 the last time she was on”
Where to get it
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Goodbye, things
On ChooseFI, the hosts and guests discussed Fumio Sasaki's book Goodbye, Things. A guest initially recommended the book as a favorite fire-related title, and later, Brad Barrett hosted a dedicated book club episode focusing on the text, detailing its background and the Japanese author's minimalist journey.
Book club“Today I am talking with Liz from Liz Gets Loaded about the book "Say Goodbye to Things" by Fumio Sasaki.”
Where to get it
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GRIT The Power of PASSION and PERSEVERANCE
On an episode of ChooseFI featuring guest Ryan Carson, the book GRIT The Power of PASSION and PERSEVERANCE by Angela Duckworth was explicitly recommended to listeners interested in perseverance and internal motivation. Later in the podcast's run, Allison Goddard also brought up Duckworth's book during a hot seat segment, noting that its core message about the value of hard work over natural talent deeply resonated with her personal journey.
Recommended“there's a book I'd recommend everybody it's called grit by Angela Duckworth”
Where to get it
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How to Decide
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett recommended Annie Duke's book How to Decide alongside her other work, stating they would positively impact readers' lives. Barrett later referenced the book to explain how to properly consult others for advice without biasing them by keeping them as close as possible to the decision-maker's original state of knowledge.
Discussed“and and yeah as Annie said in her book how to decide she said you want them quote as closely as possible into the same state of knowledge that you were in at the time you made your decision”
Where to get it
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I will teach you to be rich
On ChooseFI, guest Rishi Vamdatt shared that his parents were reading Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich when he was six years old, which sparked his early interest in practical money management. In another episode, host Jonathan brought up Sethi's book while discussing contrasting mindsets on frugality versus earning more.
Discussed“My parents were reading a book on personal finance. It was I will teach you to be rich which is about practical money management.”
Where to get it
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Millionaire Women Next Door
On ChooseFI, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley's book was referenced by host Brad Barrett in two episodes. In February 2017, Barrett mentioned Millionaire Women Next Door while emphasizing the importance of playing both offense and defense in achieving financial independence. Later, in May 2023, Barrett brought up the author's more famous related work, The Millionaire Next Door, while discussing guest Rocky Lalvani's background and his embodiment of the archetypal millionaire next door.
Discussed“so Rocky in one of our early conversations you mentioned to me that you are The prototypical Millionaire Next Door and I'm a huge fan of the late Dr Thomas Stanley who wrote the book The Millionaire Next Door”
Where to get it
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Mutual funds for dummies
On ChooseFI, Dr. Jim Dahle discussed discovering Eric Tyson's Mutual Funds for Dummies at a bookstore after realizing he owned inappropriate loaded mutual funds, noting it was the first real financial book he read. Brad Barrett later recounted this story to highlight how Jim, now known as the White Coat Investor, took control of his finances.
Discussed“and he literally went to a bookstore and bought mutual funds for dummies that's amazing to think of where Jim the white code investor is now and not all that long though he bought mutual funds for dummies”
Where to get it
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Never Eat Alone
On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett mentioned that he had been reading Keith Ferrazzi's Never Eat Alone to improve his networking practices. Barrett referenced the book again in a different episode while discussing hosting dinners and building connection events.
Recommended“actually I don't think I mentioned this to you Jonathan but I've been reading a book called Never Eat Alone it's by an author named Keith farazi and so it's Never Eat Alone in other secrets to success one relationship at a time”
Where to get it
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Never Split the Difference
On ChooseFI, Aaron mentioned Never Split the Difference as a book he read recently that helped with negotiation, while Julia Harder also recommended the book as one of her favorites during the hot seat segment.
Recommended“as for a podcast or book that I've read recently I'd have to say never split the difference it's not specifically a financial book and I do read quite a few of those”
Where to get it
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Playing with Fire
On ChooseFI, Ginger mentioned seeing Vicki Robin in the documentary Playing with Fire, noting that she loved the book of the same name by David J. Schlafer. Additionally, Brad Barrett shared an email from a listener named Cameron, who stated that reading Playing with Fire via Hoopla led him to discover the ChooseFI podcast.
Discussed“I loved that book and since reading it, I've heard Vicki on many podcasts and enjoyed seeing her in Playing with Fire, a great documentary that you should all check out.”
Where to get it
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Playing with FIRE
On ChooseFI, Kim recommended Scott Rieckens's book Playing with FIRE while explaining her method for testing out new locations during geoarbitrage. In another episode, Rakesh mentioned the book to describe how it directly influenced his decision to move to a lower cost of living area.
Recommended“so I'm going to borrow this from the Playing with Fire book where you make your list of the top 10 things you do every week that make you feel happy”
Where to get it
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Poor Charlie’s Almanack
Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charles T. Munger was recommended across multiple ChooseFI episodes. In 525 | Travel Builds Connections and Unlocks Rewards, Brad Barrett suggested the book for developing a mental framework and clear thinking. Earlier, in the episode 034R | What’s Your Risk Tolerance?, Barrett also recommended the compilation of Charles T. Munger's wit and wisdom as part of a personal development reading challenge.
Recommended“if you haven't read this it's a similar in a in a weird way so poor Charlie's Almanac which is basically the wit and wisdom of Charles TM so Charlie Munger”
Where to get it
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Quit Like a Millionaire
Quit Like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung came up on multiple episodes of ChooseFI. In the episode Breaking the Mold: How Lexi Redefined Her Financial Goals with ChooseFI, Lexi recommended the book as a recent favorite, praising the author's writing style, voice, and informative content. Additionally, in the episode 148R | FI101 | Expense Ratios and House Hacking, Jonathan referenced Shen's journey from rural China, noting that education was the critical factor that lifted her out of medical waste heaps.
Recommended“Oh, I think my favorite one recently was the Quit Like a Millionaire. I know it was from a while ago, but I loved her writing style. I loved her voice. I thought the information was amazing. I just really enjoyed it quite a bit.”
Where to get it
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Reset : How to Restart Your Life and Get F. U. Money
David Sawyer's book Reset: How to Restart Your Life and Get F. U. Money was discussed on ChooseFI during episode 141 and its follow-up 141R. Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mond recommended the book, noting its universal value and specific usefulness for UK listeners seeking financial independence. Barrett and Mond discussed the full subtitle of the book and referenced reviews, such as one from the UK blog Monovator, which described Reset as an elegant synthesis of personal finance strategies.
Recommended“this book is a book that will be universally helpful for anybody but I think also if you're one of our friends across the pond you're going to get so much value from both this episode and the book reset”
Where to get it
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Sapiens
On ChooseFI, guest David Hauser recommended Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari as one of his favorite books that fundamentally changed his viewpoint on many things. Later in the series, Frank Vasquez and Brad Barrett discussed the book, exploring the cross-section of ideas and the overarching theme that human beings are storytelling animals.
Discussed“I'm always looking for the cross-section of different ideas that come to the same conclusion. Have you read like Yuval Harari's Sapiens? I certainly have read portions of it, yep!”
Where to get it
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The $100 startup
Chris Guillebeau's book The $100 Startup was mentioned across multiple episodes of ChooseFI. On September 18, 2023, Nathan Barry noted that Guillebeau wrote the book to help shape perspectives on increasing income. Earlier, on June 4, 2023, Vincent Pugliese also mentioned the book while discussing a recent encounter with the author.
Discussed“he wrote a great book called The 100 startup it's written a bunch of other things too”
Where to get it
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The 4-Hour Body
On ChooseFI, Timothy Ferriss's book The 4-Hour Body was discussed by guests who highlighted its personal impact. James Lowery shared that his obsession with fitness led him to read The 4-Hour Body before The 4-Hour Work Week to see how Ferriss gamified fitness. Alan Donegan also mentioned The 4-Hour Body, crediting it alongside Ferriss's other works, blog, and podcast with positively influencing his life and helping him lose weight.
Discussed“And I know yeah I I even still go back to your 4-hour body Tim it's hilarious I'm still doing the uh the myotic crunch and the cat's vomit...”
Where to get it
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
On ChooseFI, Vincent Pugliese recommended Stephen R. Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to illustrate the concept of focusing on work that is important rather than urgent, which is quadrant two in the book. Later, Dr. Bobby Dubois mentioned the same book, explaining that starting with the end in mind came out of its business literature and that reading it decades ago changed how he looked at things.
Discussed“Starting with the end in mind came out of the business literature by Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and I read his book, I don't know, 20, 30 years ago, and it changed my life in terms of how I look at things.”
Where to get it
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The big short
On episodes of ChooseFI, hosts Brad Barrett and Paula Pant brought up Michael Lewis's book The Big Short. Barrett compared high-frequency traders setting up fiber optic cables to the business models described in the book, while Pant reflected on the housing market and praised both the book and its cinematic adaptation.
Discussed“and what you're describing with their entire business model reminds me of Michael Lewis's book The Big Short right where these high frequency Traders I mean they are setting up at least in my recollection they're setting up these crazy fiber optic cables to get into these stock exchanges nanoseconds earlier”
Where to get it
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The E-myth
On the June 2, 2023 and May 25, 2023 episodes of ChooseFI, Joe Saul-Sehy and Michael Kitces respectively recommended The E-myth by Michael E. Gerber. Kitces cited the book as having one of the most profound impacts on his professional life, while Saul-Sehy praised it as an essential read for both business owners and employees aiming to understand core business principles.
Recommended“totally you know listen to people like John wurillo and his uh built to sell podcast and his book his fantastic book read the e-myth I think the e-myth even if you work for the man if you work for somebody else I think the e-myth is a fan fantastic book to read about what's really important in a business”
Where to get it
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The E-Myth Revisited
Michael E. Gerber's book The E-Myth Revisited was recommended on ChooseFI by guests Joe Saul-Sehy and Larry Hagner. Appearing on episodes in May and June 2023, both speakers endorsed the book as an essential read for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Recommended“so anybody who owns a business that's listening to this or think about going into business totally you know listen to people like John wurillo and his uh built to sell podcast and his book his fantastic book read the e-myth”
Where to get it
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The Happiness Trap
On ChooseFI, Russ Harris's book 'The Happiness Trap' was recommended across multiple episodes by Jasper Lee and Brad Barrett. Jasper Lee suggested the title as a helpful self-help resource utilizing acceptance and commitment therapy, prompting Brad Barrett to add the book to his cart during the recording because it provides useful tools for evaluating thoughts.
Recommended“And the book that he mentioned, the happiness trap, is one that I actually went out and purchased. And one of the things that they present you with is this thought helpful?”
Where to get it
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The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
On the ChooseFI podcast, Brad Barrett recommended John C. Bogle's The Little Book of Common Sense Investing across multiple episodes, including discussions on investment fees. Barrett cited the book as a brilliant educational resource that shaped his understanding of low-fee index fund investing and the Vanguard model.
Recommended“and so then I moved on to a book called the little book of Common Sense investing by John Bogle the founder of Vanguard right I mean it's it's brilliant”
Where to get it
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The Miracle Morning
On ChooseFI, Dominic Quartuccio recommended The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod for establishing an optimal morning routine, while Bill Powell discussed reading the book and modifying its strict structure to fit his own lifestyle. Brad Barrett also referenced the text to warn against letting perfectionism become the enemy of good habits.
Discussed“there was a book I read it was the miracle morning yeah and it was a good book and you know I read it and I tried to force the structure on myself and it it it was square peg round hole”
Where to get it
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The Nature Fix
On ChooseFI, Amanda recommended The Nature Fix by Florence Williams as a recent book she enjoyed about how humans are connected to nature. Greg also cited the book in another episode as a fantastic resource to learn more about the science of nature exposure and its benefits.
Recommended“podcast book or blog that I've enjoyed recently that would be the nature fix by Florence Williams it's all about how we humans are fundamentally connected to Nature”
Where to get it
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The Paradox of Choice
Barry Schwartz's book The Paradox of Choice was discussed on ChooseFI by hosts Brad Barrett and Martin. The hosts brought up the book to illustrate their approach to living simply as satisficers rather than maximizers, and to explain how having an overwhelming number of options can cause mental fatigue and decision paralysis.
Recommended“we are like the prototypical satisficers if you've ever read the book The Paradox of choice like we are not the maximizers”
Where to get it
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The Power of Passion and Perseverance
On ChooseFI, Ryan Carson and Allison Goddard discussed The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth, commonly known as Grit. Carson recommended the book to listeners, while Goddard brought it up during a hot seat segment, noting that its core message about working hard rather than relying on natural talent resonated strongly with her personal journey.
Recommended“there's a book I'd recommend everybody it's called grit by Angela Duckworth”
Where to get it
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The Richest Man in Babylon
On ChooseFI, Travis Shakespeare shared a humorous anecdote about reading The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, recalling that he misunderstood its savings advice by saving 10 percent of his income, which accidentally accelerated his savings rate. Stephen Heptig also mentioned reading the book as part of his early self-education journey after reaching a point where his bank account hit zero.
Discussed“my biggest Financial mistake was that early on in my financial education I read the richest man in Babylon where he says that you're supposed to save 10 of your income right you're supposed to pay yourself first and save 10”
Where to get it
Guests who recommended books
- Dominick Quartuccio (20)
- Frank Vasquez (14)
- Brian Feroldi (13)
- Alan Donegan (12)
- JL Collins (8)
- Vicki Robin (7)
- Grumpus Maximus (7)
- Allison Goddard (7)
- Kyle Nolan (6)
- Joanna Penn (6)
- Chris Hutchins (5)
- Dr. Bobby Dubois (5)
- Rachel Camp (5)
- Becky Heptig (5)
- Travis Shakespeare (5)
- Mary Kate Williams (5)
- David Hauser (5)
- Gretchen Rubin (5)
- Ron Babcock (4)
- Kyle Homson (4)
- JT Alstead (4)
- Chad Carson (4)
- Vincent Pugliese (4)
- Joe Saul-Sehy (4)
- David Sawyer (4)
- Jamie Masters (4)
- David McKeegan (4)
- Ava Wetrick (4)
- Dan Sheeks (4)
- Paula Pant (3)
- Tim Ferriss (3)
- Ryan Brennan (3)
- Bill Powell (3)
- Jack Lewars (3)
- Nathan Barry (3)
- Ryan Carson (3)
- Mrs Adventure Rich (3)
- Paul Merriman (3)
- Annie Duke (3)
- Julia Harder (3)
Latest mentions
“And in that book, the author Bill Perkins talks about exactly this, gifts to your children. And it's like, do you wait to do this until you've passed and it goes through your state when maybe you're in your 90s and your kids are in their 70s.”
“As we mentioned, your book, tax planning, two and through early retirement, it's incredible. It's hard stop to end a story. I think it's pretty hard to make a book about tax planning really interesting and compelling and a must read.”
“Today I am talking with Liz from Liz Gets Loaded about the book "Say Goodbye to Things" by Fumio Sasaki.”
“We've all seen in the last couple of weeks the author of Outlive who a lot of us would have considered one of the pinnacle people in the longevity movement is essentially a total scumbag, right?”
“So, even somebody as well-meaning as Morgan Housel, who we talk about the psychology of money all the time, this is at its essence, he is a FI guy, but when you hear him on podcasts, he actually talks down about the FIRE movement and it's it's just out of ignorance.”
“They have a new book called parent like a millionaire and I really dove deep into specifically what those in the FI community could take away from from their experience from my own experience and I love their book cuz it's it's kind of like a Trojan horse on getting people outside the FI community into the FI community under”
“And it was fascinating because I was listening to an old episode with JL Collins, the original episode he did on Choose a VI about the simple path to wealth.”
“hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life. Yeah, it's Jerzy Gregorek. Jerzy Gregorek. I just wanted to say Gregorek. All right, there it is. I think that's how you pronounce the last name, but [laughter] that's how it's spelled. Now now I'm questioning, but yeah, he wrote a book called The Happy Body.”
“So she wrote a book called Thinking in Bets, which I think is just an absolutely essential book for just living, basically.”
“We then started reading through the simple path to wealth together and it has been a special time for both of us.”
“JL Collins lesserknown book, How I Lost Money in Real Estate Before It Was Fashionable, is a great quick read that solidified for both of us that owning a house is a lifestyle choice more than an investment.”
“And the book that he mentioned, the happiness trap, is one that I actually went out and purchased. And one of the things that they present you with is this thought helpful?”
“My parents were reading a book on personal finance. It was I will teach you to be rich which is about practical money management.”
“one of the first books that I read after I will teach you to be rich was blue chip kids which I also think is was really important in getting me interested.”
“A friend of mine named Rob Felin, who's a great friend of the show, has a book called M is for Money, which is another one that I recommend.”
“So that's uh Chad Carson, our great friend, has a book called The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor. And I think this is fantastic.”
“All right. So what we're actually doing is we're talking about the book which is called the top five regrets of the dying by Bronny wear and okay you guys here's how I want to start.”
“Well, the research you're talking about comes from Philip Zimardo, who's a famous Stanford psychologist who passed away last year, did all kinds of other interesting research, but this comes from a book called The Time Paradox that I I don't know read like 15 years ago.”
“There is a reason why it continues to have currency and has been picked up by other people who have looked at other aspects of this in more of that analytical framework like somebody like Daniel Crosby has done in like the soul of wealth recently.”
“Yeah, it does require courage and I think it's something like it is something we talk about a lot in this community, you know, like I'm even thinking of I just finished Jillian John's book retire often.”