- Financial blogger Celine Nadolny gives five book recommendations for the summer, including financial guides and self-help books.
- Nadolny claims to have read over 800 books and is known for her blog “Book of Finance”.
- Her favorite book is 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho, which she would also recommend everyone to read.
Summer is the perfect time to pick up a book. Busy people in particular are more likely to find time to read a good book under palm trees than in their stressful everyday lives.
Business Insider asked finance blogger Celine Nadolny for her five book recommendations for this summer. Nadolny is known for her blog “Book of Finance,” in which she writes book reviews and presents favorite books by experts in the financial industry. She says she has now read over 800 books.
Nadolny gives us these reading tips without a fixed ranking:
1. “The Mountain is You” by Brianna Wiest
After discovering and loving the authors last year, one of their many books had to be included in this list:
Brianna Wiest's “The Mountain Is You” is a profound guide to recognizing, understanding and overcoming self-sabotage. The author makes it clear that self-sabotage is widespread and often due to unmet inner needs. She offers valuable solution strategies and emphasizes that self-sabotage is not a character weakness, but a coping strategy.
The book encourages you to critically examine yourself and work on yourself in order to achieve personal growth and self-empowerment. Wiest cleverly uses the metaphor of the mountain to illustrate the challenge of self-development. Her clear, sensitive writing style makes the book accessible and inspiring for anyone who strives for inner peace and personal growth.
1. “Thinking about money” by Nikolaus Braun
This book has now been published in its second, completely updated and revised edition and is still more than worth reading:
A fresh approach to the world of financial advice. Instead of dry investment tips, the author focuses on the influence of money on our lives and how smart decisions can lead to a better quality of life.
The book begins by asking why money is important to us and explores how our attitudes toward money affect our quality of life and relationships. Braun emphasizes that the goal is financial independence and composure in dealing with money, not simply being rich.
A central theme is a transparent, simple and long-term manageable wealth strategy that unmasks empty promises from the financial industry and offers a personal strategy in line with life goals. In addition to wealth creation, Braun also covers emergency and succession planning, powers of attorney and wills, as well as smart budget planning.
3. “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
Even after reading over 800 books, this is still my favorite book and simply cannot be missed:
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho is ideal for people who are looking for direction in a hectic world and can help in difficult phases of life. The book encourages the reader to listen deeply to themselves, to question their actions and to search for goals and happiness. It inspires to pursue dreams, make decisions and trust in fate.
The story follows Santiago, a Spanish shepherd boy who has a recurring dream of a treasure near the pyramids. His journey takes him through Andalusia, via Gibraltar to Egypt. It is about the daily struggle between fear, hope, desire and the true goals in life. Santiago learns that life holds valuable treasures that do not always have to be material.
4. “The 10 most important questions in life answered in a nutshell” by Gregor Eisenhauer
My book of last summer. I have rarely cried so much while reading and thought about myself, my life and death:
Gregor Eisenhauer's book deals with the essential questions of life and encourages readers to reflect on themselves. In ten chapters, each of which examines a central question such as the meaning of life or the existence of God, Eisenhauer invites readers to find their own answers instead of offering ready-made solutions. His laconic and ironic style, peppered with literary references and anecdotes, is thought-provoking and emotionally touching.
The book calls for personal reflection and focuses on relationships and the relationship to oneself, drawing attention to the finiteness of life. Eisenhauer's unconventional perspectives as a long-time obituary author and his captivating writing style leave a lasting impression and inspire one to live life more consciously.
5. “Sovereign Investing for Beginners” by Gerd Kommer
What would the financial world be without Gerd Kommer? It would certainly be an even louder, more thoughtless place, full of testosterone and overconfidence. That is why his introductory work cannot be missed here:
This book helps beginners avoid the most common mistakes when investing and better understand the financial industry. It is intended for people who have little to no investment knowledge and are looking for support in getting started in wealth creation.
It offers a complete and immediately implementable investment strategy without the need to read his advanced books. Kommer emphasizes that passive investing with ETFs is uncomplicated and more successful in the long term than other investment strategies. He bases all of his statements on scientific findings.