Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter Great introduction to how to spend less and invest more. There are many books in the series, and all cover slightly different aspects of wealth-building.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Investing by Douglas Gerlach How to buy and sell stocks online by yourself. It just reminded me why I prefer the ease and time savings of mutual fund investing.
The Future for Investors by Jeremy Siegel Why a buy-and-hold investment strategy will do better in the long run than chasing stocks based on news reports. He also explains world markets and traditional investment theory.
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne Provides great motivation, support and easy-to-use steps to help you believe that you deserve to be rich and retire early -- or anything else your heart desires.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Guide on how to get rich by setting goals and providing a valuable service that will enable you to earn enough to reach those goals.
The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century by Paul Krugman Collection of op-ed pieces by this noted New York Times Columnist and economics professor. The result is a painless education on economic events and policies of the last five years.
Three Billion New Capitalists by Clyde Prestowitz Why the the balance of economic power is shifting to China, India and the Far East.
America in the World
Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden A journalist's description of what did happen in Somalia in 1993 - how the highly prepared and patriotic Rangers and Delta Forces were trapped and humiliated by poor planning on our side and an under-estimation of the other side.
Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis by Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin U.S. history and foreign policy as viewed through the authors’ perspective that our country behaves like an empire - and one that is declining. Explains why we irrationally keep getting into wars despite an unsustainable budget deficit.
A Reporter's Life by Walter Cronkite America in World War II, the Cold War and the Nixon years, from the man who covered it.
Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende Long before Michelle Bachelet, there was Ines Saurez who helped found Chile. Written by ex-President Salvatore Allende's relative, this gripping story describes the cruelty and hardship that came with the Spanish conquest in the1500's.
Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway Kris's friendship with a midwife in Mali while a Peace Corps volunteer really helped me appreciate how it feels to live in a third-world country.
Nine Hills to Nambokaha by Sarah Erdman Sarah's rewarding two years as a health care worker in Cote D'Ivoire, and her struggles to help villagers cope with infant mortality, AIDS and female circumcision.
No Man's Land: A Novel by Duong Thu Huong A Vietnamese woman is caught between duty to her war veteran husband who returned after 14 years in the jungle and happiness with her current husband. A good description of what the legacy of the Vietnam War is like for those who live there.