Best Personal Finance Books for Twenty Somethings: 4 Compared

Your twenties set your money habits for life, and the best personal finance books for twenty somethings are the ones written for the exact problems of that decade: student loans, first jobs and starting from zero. We compared four books by audience fit, practicality, length and credentials, using only what each listing publishes. A millennial-focused guide leads, followed by an award-winning stewardship book.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Broke Millennial by Lowry	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Resolve by Will Ertel	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Personal Finance in Your 20s	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Richest Man in Babylon	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Broke Millennial by Lowry

Erin Lowry·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A guide for cash-strapped 20- and 30-somethings, book 1 of 4 in the Broke Millennial series, 288 pages.

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Pros

• Written for 20- and 30-somethings stated
• Book 1 of 4 series stated
• 288 pages stated

Cons

• 288 pages, not the shortest
• 2017 publication date stated
• No certification is stated

2

Resolve by Will Ertel

Will Ertel·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A stewardship guide for twentysomethings from a planner with 25-plus years of experience, 138 pages.

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Pros

• Written for twentysomethings stated
• Multiple 2023 awards stated
• 138 pages stated

Cons

• 138 pages, brief by design
• Stewardship framing is specific
• No certification is stated

3

Personal Finance in Your 20s

Eric Tyson·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The For Dummies guide to money in your twenties, 288 pages covering loans, debt and investing.

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Pros

• For Dummies format stated
• 288 pages stated
• Student loan and debt coverage stated

Cons

• Content matches the prior release stated
• 2016 publication date stated
• No certification is stated

4

Richest Man in Babylon

George S. Clason·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The 1926 classic in an easy-to-read edition with a study guide, 228 pages.

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Pros

• More than two million copies sold stated
• Study guide included stated
• 228 pages stated

Cons

• Not written for twenty-somethings
• Parable format is not for everyone
• No certification is stated

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More picks to compare

• Personal Finance for Your 20s158 pages, 2023Check on Amazon
• Twenties in Your Pocket199 pages, 2018Check on Amazon
• Everything in Your 20s190 pages, 18+Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs audience fit for twenty-somethings, practicality of the advice, length and author credentials. None of the four state a warranty or certification, which is normal for books. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best personal finance books for twenty somethings

Written for your decade or for everyone

The Lowry is written for cash-strapped 20- or 30-somethings and is book 1 of 4 in the Broke Millennial series. The Ertel is written for twentysomethings getting serious about stewardship, drawn from 25-plus years of planning experience. The Tyson is the For Dummies entry for the twenties, covering student loans, debt and investing strategies for young investors. The Clason is the 1926 classic in an easy-to-read edition with a study guide, not age-targeted but widely recommended as a first money book.

Length, tone and credentials

The Ertel lists multiple 2023 awards including first place in business finance categories. The Clason states more than two million copies sold since 1926, with a new study guide and introduction. The Tyson notes its content matches the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. For younger readers, see our personal finance books for teens.

Before you buy

• The Tyson content matches the prior release, per the listing, so buy whichever printing is cheaper.
• The Ertel is grounded in biblical stewardship principles, per the listing.
• The Clason is the easy-to-read edition with a study guide, not the original text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book here is written for twenty-somethings?

Broke Millennial by Erin Lowry and Resolve by Will Ertel are both written for twenty-somethings.

Which won awards?

Resolve by Will Ertel lists multiple 2023 awards including first place in business finance categories.

Which is the shortest?

Resolve by Will Ertel states 138 pages.

Which is the classic?

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, first published in 1926, in an easy-to-read edition with a study guide.

Still deciding? Our top pickBroke Millennial by Lowry

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Related lists

See every Business and Money list and all Nonfiction Books lists. Also see our best personal finance books for teens. Also see our best finance books for young women.

More lists: browse business and money books, books on finance and every nonfiction list.