The 10 best personal finance books (because nobody likes financial damnation)

This New York Times best seller has spawned a whole series of Rich Dad books and is a lot friendlier than your financial textbook counterparts.

The idea behind this guide is not to let yourself rest in the slow lane. The slow lane leaves you hoping and placing your trust in uncontrollable and predictable markets. Turn on your indicator, take charge, and move into the fast lane. It's here that where you'll discover your wealth. It's likely going to take you 5-10 years of damn hard work, but with DeMarco's guidance, you'll get to the finish line, with some pretty prize money in your hands which you'll get to keep. For a lifetime.

Originally penned in 1998, this is the revised 21st century version of the best-selling financial help-book. It teaches you that so long as you have a steady job, you too can amass a wealth. The answer is in seven simple rules, what they are, you'll have to read this to find out.

For those skeptic about "get rich, quick" schemes, or harbour a fear of financial failure, Jim Cramer's Get Rich Carefully is a substantial read to lead you into financial fitness without the stress and worry of the money gamble. His high-yield, low-risk investment strategies are the product of over 35 years of being a Wall Street veteran, and is written in a simple and entertaining way. No waffling, here. Just the straight facts and techniques you need to employ to get rich.

One personal finance book that is notorious for dominating the "best finance book" lists, is George S. Clason's The Richest Man in Babylon. It reads of inspirational stories and Babylonian principles still relevant to modern-day financial planning. This is an easy-to-read modern classic, and a staple for every investor's bookshelf.

The idea behind this one is that millionaires think differently from those who don't have as much money, or are incapable of holding onto money. Eker calls this a person's money "blueprint". This is something embedded into us from childhood, and dictates how we handle money. With his help, Eker teaches you to tap into and discover your blue, and inevitably, learn how you can change it, for your financial benefit.

Are you a parent looking to put your kid through the best education possible? Stupid question of course you are. And so was father of six, David Gillespie. When it came time to choose a high school for his kids, Gillespie, like many parents, thought private school was the way. And then he began to do some research...

Sound a bit like you? It's kind of a right of passage to be a poor student, but it's never too early to start paving your way to being young, fabulous, and wealthy.

The title alone sounds pretty good to us. If you think so too, then read on. Mundis uses tried and tested techniques of the national Debtors Anonymous program to pull you out of the debt trap in a sound and logical manner. Some of the techniques he discusses includes: designing realistic and painless payback schedules, coping mechanisms for debt-related anxiety and stress, and negotiation tactics to help deal with collection agencies.

The answer to those niggling questions e.g. How can I reorder my material priorities to life big for less? Can I save the planet AND save money, too? And that all important: how can I get out of debt? They're all resolved here in a nine-step program that aims to transform your relationship with money into a healthy bank account and a wealthy future.

The term "tightwad" doesn't have to uphold the negative connotations its so privy toward. Think of it more in terms of a savvy saver who knows how to prioritise without compromise and you'll be on the mark. Dacyczyn's read is full of sensible advice, tips, tricks, and strategies to cut down your bills, reuse and recycle old materials, and save those pennies for the big and important things.

While other personal finance books teach strategies and outline plans to save and bury your love affair with debt, Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes! and How to Correct Them takes a varied approach, preferring to look at the psychology behind irrational economic behavior and breaking common patterns of thinking that are financially unviable. By understanding our money behavior, we can better understand and rectify our responses and actions to make good, rational financial decisions that lead to profitable futures.

The wide and public availability of market data coupled with the low cost of online trading makes for an inviting investment opportunity. But while the data is there, strategies do need to be implemented to work it to your advantage and avoid deals that could turn sour for you.

Over a million sold copies can't be wrong, as Benjamin Graham delivers advice on value investing. Although penned in the 1940s, his long term strategies on how to be profitable on the stock market are still very much relevant for today's investor.

Those not quite up for Common Sense on Mutual Funds quite yet should buy into A Random Walk Down Wall Street. Consider it your introduction to the market, teaching you how to build your first investment portfolio.

Author of some of the most fundamental textbooks for financial courses (e.g. The New Finance: the Case Against Efficient Markets, and Modern Investment Theory - both highly recommended reads), The Inefficient Stock Market follows Haugen's theory that today's markets are inefficient. It's witty, it's humorous, it's inciteful, and it'll make your noggin work overtime considering just how rational economic behaviour truly is.

Written with the serious investor in mind, Goetzmann and Ibbotson explore historical data over the last two centuries to provide a well-rounded assessment of equity risk premium. The authors look at critical issues in stock market investing, contribute advice on how (if at all) history can predict future equity returns, and the importance of influence of emerging markets on equity risk premia.

Let's talk super. We haven't done that yet in this list, and everybody who's had a job in their life has some super to their name. As the cover of Clitheroe's book suggests, this is your nest egg and you should treat it well so that come retirement age, you'll have a healthy bit of gold to live on.

So you've decided to invest in property. That's a great start. Now what? Ask Steve McKnight. He's the author of Australia's highest selling real estate book and if his track record of owning 130 properties in 3.5 years is anything to go by, he knows the real estate market.

Investors, consider this your bible. First released in 1999, this updated edition of Common Sense on Mutual Funds discusses the structural and regulatory changes that have developed over the decade in the mutual fund industry.

Edleson first penned his guide to Value Averaging in 1991, where it quickly became a rare and unusual find. The value of this investment guide was not lost for long, however, and was reintroduced to the world in 2006, complete with advice on how to deploy lump sums of money into investments for heady returns and financial success.

The approach that Murray and Goldie take is that each investor must make five fundamental decisions before investing. By considering your options and making the correct decisions for you, regarding (amongst other things) whether to invest alone or with a professional, and when to sell and buy assets, you'll be on your way to a profitable investment portfolio in no time.

Otherwise sub-titled: The New Way to Retire Early, Clyatt proves that early retirement is a possibility - with the right mindset and spending habits, naturally. His pointers include: sticking to index funds in your retirement accounts to let it work for itself, and strategically withdrawing a certain percentage from your account to save enough to see you through your retirement years.

From the genius who brought us the financial classic: A Random Walk Down Wall Street (see above) comes another fundamental financial read: The Random Walk Guide to Investing. This is a ten-step guide to investing, and a great starting point for anyone seeking to plant the seeds of a healthy investment portfolio.