Top Ten Recommended Reading List
Our recommended reading list is based on authors who have had a great deal of influence and served as inspiration for us here at Citywide Accountants. The titles are not just for investors or accountants; the concepts and ideas are universal no matter your field of expertise. Here are a few titles that we believe can change your life and perspective on investments and risk-taking.
1. The Richest Man in Babylon – George S Clason
Clason dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set 8,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. Core ideas such as saving 10% of your income, decreasing your expenses, investing in areas that you are knowledgeable, to keep learning to invest and to insure your properties. A video summary is available here: The Richest Man in Babylon – Best Ideas Summary
2. Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert T Kiyosaki
This book advocates the importance of financial literacy, financial independence and building wealth through investing in assets rather than liabilities. It is an autobiographical style self-help book following Kiyosaki’s childhood growing up with a ‘Rich Dad’ role model and his own ‘Poor Dad’. It introduces the idea of truly discerning the difference between assets and liabilities, and creating your own passive income through those assets instead of just working harder at your 9-5. You can also look at the video summary here: Rich Dad Poor Dad Summary (Animated)
3. Building Wealth through Investment Property – Jan Somers
“Building wealth through investment property is the answer to your dreams.” This book tells you everything that you need to know to secure your personal financial independence and it does so in a very simple, easy-to-follow way without any of the financial jargon.
4. More Wealth from Residential Property – Jan Somers
This book shows you how to build more wealth than you ever thought possible through long-term investment in residential property. In essence, this is achieved by diverting some of your current income into assets that will provide an income in retirement. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme, nor are the principles new – but it is one of the surest paths to personal wealth.
5. Count your Blessings – Dr. John Demartini
You could lead the life you’d love, if only you lived the one you’ve been given! Are you really living or barely breathing? Do you feel sick, run-down, anxious, or low? In Count Your Blessings, Dr. John F. Demartini reveals the connection between health and state of mind.
6. New Zealand Real Estate Investors Secrets – Graeme Fowler
The huge popularity of the first edition of this book, and the feedback from readers that continues five years on, is testimony to the successful approach it’s taken – practical, honest,
warts-and-all accounts from successful investors across a number of regions that show just what can be achieved and how to do it. The second edition, updated five years after the original was written, takes this a step further. Of the 10 case studies, six have been updated showing what has happened – good and bad – five years on. And four new chapters, from new property millionaires, have been added. This is a practical no-nonsense book from a successful New Zealand investor. He has lived his own dream, and gives practical advice on how you can too.
7. How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
In Carnegie’s book you will learn:
- Three fundamental techniques in handling people.
- The six ways to make people like you.
- The twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking.
- The nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.
This is a classic book that has changed our lives. It has fundamental principles that will change your thinking about others, and once you pick up this book you will never truly put it down. Its principles are ones that we at Citywide Accountants try to model our company on.
You can find a video summary of the book here: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie ► Animated Book Summary
8. Notes from a Friend – Tony Robbins
Robbins offers advice on taking control of your life. He draws on his own experience as a successful entrepreneur, and shares anecdotes about people who share his positive approach. He introduces his basic techniques and discusses the power of decisions. This book is a lesson in perseverance and humble beginnings. Robbins talks about decision making and the life-changing effects it can have on your life.
9. The Present – Spencer Johnson
The Present is an engaging story of a young man’s journey to adulthood, and his tireless search for The Present, a mysterious and elusive gift he first hears about from a wise old man. This Present, according to the old man, is the most valuable gift a person can receive. Why? Because it is the one thing that doesn’t change in changing times.
10. You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 Days – Dr. John Demartini
In this book, you’ll find 60 inspiring laws that show you how to live an amazing life. It is essentially a guidebook designed to take you through a powerful 60-day process of creating a new life. During the 60 days that you spend with this book, you’ll receive messages and visions, and you’ll find yourself thinking of ways to fulfill your destiny. This special book is for those whowould truly love to live a free and amazing life, for those who feel inspired or called from within to be someone extraordinary, and/or create something astonishing.