I Will Teach You to Be Rich – 6-Week Program to Financial Freedom (2nd Edition)

10 reviews for I Will Teach You to Be Rich – 6-Week Program to Financial Freedom (2nd Edition)

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Goodie7 – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   This book keeps it real about money. It covers EVERYTHING!…even talks about prenups!!(whoa!)

   First, let me start off by saying that I’ve read a lot of different books on personal finance. So I’m very familiar with Dave Ramsey’s method of personal finances and a bunch of others. I’ve read tons of articles, blog posts, etc… on paying off debt and investing, etc…So this topic isn’t new to me.So when I got this book (I got an advanced copy of it)I was figuring that I would read this book and probably wouldn’t learn anything new.I was thinking “ohhhkaaay…so it’s gonna probably talk about how to get out of debt by reducing your spending to almost nothing, eat beans, rice and ramen noodles…cut coupons..and do this for several years then you’ll be able to start living your life”I figured it would be the same old information that I’ve read in all the other personal finance books….yaaawn!Boy oh boy…was I ever wrongI honestly have to say, that this book was the complete opposite of everything I’ve ever read.For you parents, it’s like having two kids.You know..your first child is usually calm, relaxed, quiet, well mannered and well behaved.Then you have child #2…expecting things to be pretty much the same…only to find out your second child is the complete oppositeChild #2 is a wild child. Crazy, loud, eats dirt…touches the bathroom handles in public washrooms and then the next minute has their fingers in their mouthWell, Ramit’s book is like your second child.LMAO.It’s fun and actually really interesting to read! ( I know…I know..who says that about a dry topic like paying off debt, investing and saving?).It’ll make you laugh in some parts(fo real!).And…it gets you motivated and makes you want to start taking action as soon as you’ve finished the chapterHe gives you action steps at the end of each chapter that you can start implementing right away!And…it’s real! He keeps it sooo real that he even talks about his discussion with his wife when bringing up the topic of having a PRENUP!! (ohhhh snaaaapp!! …bring out the popcorn cuz it’s about to go down!!)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Ok…so here’s what I really liked about this book and thought was friggin awesome![1. Conscious Spending]Ok…so we’ve all heard about “having a budget”. And when we hear that..we automatically think “cut back on everything. Use water instead of milk in your cereal. Grow your own coffee beans at home in your backyard and make your own coffee to save a couple of dollars a day”…right?But Ramit goes about this in a TOTALLY different way. And I love his approach to it. It’s such a small shift in your mindset, but it has a HUGE impact!!So basically, he’s telling you this. Instead of thinking of your budget as a way to cut back and not enjoy life..think of it like a plan.It’s your plan where you are CONSCIOUSLY choosing how to SPEND your money each month.But not only that… this is YOUR life! And to live a “rich” and “happy” life – you get to choose to spend on the things that make you happy.So why not cut back on the things you hate – so that you can spend on the things you love!As he says in Chapter 4 on Conscious Spending “conscious spending isn’t about cutting your spending on everything. That approach wouldn’t last two days. It is, quite simply, about choosing the things you love enough to spend extravagantly on—and then cutting costs mercilessly on the things you don’t love.”(BOOOM!! MIC DROP!!)[2. Scripts to use to save you money]You ever get nervous when calling up a financial company (like your credit cards) and then you don’t know what to say.Maybe you don’t know how to negotiate, or you just get nervous and forget what to say.Well…not to worry.Ramit gives you WORD FOR WORD scripts that you can use to waive annual fees on your credit cards, and even get fees waived on your bank accounts!I know…when I read that I was like “hoollld up..wutcha talkin bout Willis!”I told you that this book was the complete opposite of other personal finance books. What other personal finance book is giving you exact scripts to use on how to call up your credit card and get annual fees waived?!It’s these small details that the average person wants to know cuz let’s be real…who likes paying fees? Right?![3. Open and Honest]What I really liked…which I’ve never seen before….was the willingness to be open and direct with the reader.Ramit laid all the cards on the table and he mentionsa. the exact credit cards he usesb. the exact bank accounts he usesc. the exact online brokerage account he usesd. the investments he puts his money inWho else does that?But not only that….like I said, he GOES THERE and talks about the very very very touchy and sensitive topic of having a prenup.In Chapter 9 LOVE & MONEY – he talks about how he had this difficult conversation with his wife. He also talks about why he decided to do it and should you sign one or not?Also in this chapter, he covers difficult topics around money likea. How to help parents who are in debtb. Should you tell your parents and friends how much money you havec. Talking Money with your significant otherd. How to handle money when your spouse makes more than youe. How to handle planning for a weddingf. Negotiating your salary at workand more and more…I’m telling you…Chapter 9 is where it all goes down!Just keepin it real with ya…this is the stuff that we REALLY want to know about. This is the real life stuff we deal with on a day to day basis that NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT!!I mean, sure…we want to know how to pay off debt, invest, etc… But let’s be real. That part is boring.That’s like reading the first few chapters of a hot & steamy novel..like 50 shades of gray. It’s necessary to build the story, but the REAL juicy stuff happens later on…. and that’s the part you want to get to.We’ve all had a difficult convo with someone about money (spouse, fiance, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc..)Don’t you wish you knew how to handle it better…well now you will! Now you’ll have a plan[4. He’s very specific]For example, in Chapter 7 he talks about investing. And he recommends setting up your asset allocation using David Swensen’s recommendation. Swensen manages Yale’s endowment for more than 30 years and has an amazing 13.5% annualized return.He even gives you the exact percentage’s to use30 percent—Domestic equities15 percent—Developed-world international equities5 percent—Emerging-market equities20 percent—Real estate investment trusts15 percent—Government bonds15 percent—Treasury inflation-protected securitiesI like this because it takes the guess work out of it for youJust do exactly what he’s laid out – and boom! You’ve got a successful investing plan in place.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>WHAT’S DIFFERENTHere are some things that I found different with this book vs other personal finance books[1. Focus on Big wins, not small wins]So for example, instead of chasing small percentages by getting introductory rates for high interest savings accounts, focus on your asset allocation and what you’re invested in. Your time is much better spent focusing on that, and it will have much bigger returns in the long runRamit continues to remind us that it is better to use your time working on things that will have a big impact on your life (i.e. setting up your automated investing) vs spending hours or days looking for the perfect credit card.[2. Word for Word Scripts]As I mentioned, he gives you exact scripts you can use to save money and get fees waived[3. Automating your finances]Let’s be real..who REALLY enjoys paying bills? Who really enjoys reading over investment statements and managing their money? No one!..that’s who! Not even Ramit (he even admits this in the book)Plus – we’re all lazy. We don’t really want to set aside time to look at our investments. We say we will…but let’s be honest..most of us don’t.So in Chapter 5 – he shows you how to automate your finances so that you can get on with your life. He shows you how to setup a system so that your bills get paid automatically and your investment accounts get funded automatically.And when it’s all setup and done…you basically only have to spend 1hr a month looking over your finances, so that you can get on with the more important things in your life[4. Conversations around money]He talks about things that others don’t talk about…like the judgement you get from friends and family when you spend money on certain things you like…or how we may judge others on things they spend..but we don’t know the full context.Or I’m sure we’ve all had that one friend who says to you “why do you still have that old iphone? Don’t you think it’s time to upgrade?”This was very eye-opening to me and it was great to see someone finally be honest and talk about these things. I have never read a personal finance book that talks about these real life situations this way before>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>WHAT IS MISSINGHere are some things I found that were missing from the book[1. Real Estate Investments]I’m actually kind of surprised that he didn’t talk about investing in real estate (residential or commercial)This is such a hot topic, and there are TONS of Real estate related TV shows now about flipping homes, or agents finding these multi-million dollar homes for their clients.I think it’s a topic that many people are also interested in.Also, just based on regular “street knowledge”…the average person probably has an easier time understanding real estate and owning property vs understanding how the stock market and index funds work.They probably feel more comfortable with real estate because it’s a physical asset, whereas the stock market may feel like black magic to a lot of people.He talks about Cryptocurrency, so I thought for sure he’d talk about investing in real estate.But he didn’tI wish he had touched on Real Estate as an investment and mention at least what percentage of your portfolio should be allocated towards real estate and how to go about investing in it in a strategic, methodical manner. Kind of like how he explained how to invest in the stock market[2. Saving up and paying cash for your car]I found it odd that he didn’t talk about the option of saving up and paying for a car in cash.He does talk about how to buy a car, but it involves getting a loan.Which – I found ironic because Ramit is completely against debt.So it didn’t make sense to me why he is telling us to get a loan for a carHe mentions how to save up for other big ticket items (like your wedding, etc..) but he doesn’t give you a plan on how to save up for your car and use cash so that you can avoid getting into debt and getting a car loan.I’m not sure what the reason is behind this…but this was very surprising to me.[3. Investing in blue-chip stable companies]Ramit is against picking and investing in individual stocks. He recommends investing in Index Funds instead. And for the average person, I understand whyAnd..he explains why in the book (Chapter 7)But – at the same time, I think there could have been an opportunity to mention in the book how to invest in well known, stable, big name companies that have been around for many decades that produce dividends and can be a good addition to your portfolioI’m not saying that they should make up the majority of your portfolio, but perhaps a small percentage.Ramit is very methodical – and I believe he could have given some sound advice on some criteria to look at for blue-chip companies that have been around forever, and would be solid investments.One company that comes to mind that Warren Buffett publicly admits he likes is Coca-Cola. It’s not an exciting company but it has a history of being stable and producing dividends for the investor.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MAIN TAKEAWAY FROM THE BOOKThe main theme of this book is all about living your Rich LifeAnd of course, living a Rich Life will mean different things for different people.For one person, that might mean always upgrading their seats on a flight to the seats with extra leg room…for another, that might mean always buying the VIP section tickets at concerts but also that person could care less about eating out at lunch so they always pack their lunch.In Chapter 9 (A Rich Life) …Ramit says :”it’s about not having to think about money all the time and being able to travel and work on the things that interest me.”this pretty much sums it all up right here.I realized that life is more about enjoying your money, and using it to do the things that bring you joy and make you happy. Whatever those things are for you. You will have to decide.I already had a mindset of doing the things I enjoy…but this book helped me to get more clarity on exactly how to do that on a daily basis.This book helped me to have a plan to set aside a specific amount each month towards things I love. And more importantly, how to NOT feel GUILTY about spending on things I enjoy (like upgrading my seats on flights or buying courtside basketball seats) because I am cutting back on things I don’t like as much (like paying a cable bill)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>WHO SHOULD GET THIS BOOKThis book is for the person who1. hates manually paying their bills each month2. wants to have simple and easy investments that they actually understand3. wants to not feel guilty about spending on things they love4. wants an easy to understand plan on how to pay off debts and still enjoy life (without eating ramen noodles and cutting coupons)5. wants tips for having real life awkward conversations with friends and family about money6. wants to enjoy their money and know that in the background their money is growing and they will have enough to retire7. is tired of the regular boring personal advice that they’ve read for years and yearsRamit’s approach is like that one friend who tells you how it is. They call you out on your B.S. and you appreciate them for it cuz they always keep it real with you and you know that they want nothing but the best for ya.If you like that quality in people, then you will most definitely enjoy this book!also…just being honest…I would’ve given it 4.5 stars, but there was no way to do so. I think 5 stars is for absolute perfectionAnd since Ramit left out the topic of Real Estate Investing, he didn’t discuss the option of saving up and paying cash for a car and I think he could’ve touched on investing in blue chip stable companies – I would say it’s 4.5 stars (in my opinion)It’s still an awesome book and by far the best most COMPLETE book I’ve read on personal finances because it handles those real life topics around money that happen to all of us, but no one else is talking about.

   1,251 people found this helpful
2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Betsy Valdes – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   A Must-Read for Young Professionals!

   This book is a game-changer if you’re starting out in your career and want to get your finances in order. Ramit Sethi lays out a step-by-step plan for saving, investing, and spending smarter—without being boring or preachy. His advice is super practical, easy to follow, and perfect for building long-term wealth. If you want to stop stressing about money and start making real progress, I Will Teach You To Be Rich is a great place to start. The three things I changed immediately after reading this book were 1. I moved my savings into a high yield savings account 2. I set up all my bills to autopay 3. I changed my credit card to one that is more aligned with my goals. This book is powerful and a great reference. Highly Recommend.

   One person found this helpful
3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   A. Wixtrom – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Excellent actionable advice, informative, no-nonsense, and often humorous

   This book is a great encapsulation of the core principles necessary to build a Rich Life, and what that means to you specifically. Obviously the financial management strategies themselves are why you would pick up something like this book, but what was refreshing and somewhat counter intuitive for a book with this title was the focus on NOT obsessing over spreadsheets, extreme frugality, and depravation until some lofty future time when you finally “made it” and can actually spend on things you want. The author uses humor and entertaining analogies to highlight the value of spending on things you care about and bring you joy, while still taking meaningful steps to set yourself up for future financial stability and success. There are no fancy or convoluted schemes to follow, just solid, straightforward, immediately actionable plans on how to start or redirect your journey to financial independence, and once you do so, enjoy life as Ramit says “outside the spreadsheet.” This was a great read and a phenomenal resource for anyone interested in taking control of their financial future and ensuring long term success, while still living their best Rich Life in the present.

   3 people found this helpful
4. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   M. DunlapM. Dunlap – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   I read this book and $50K appeared in my mailbox (not related, but also not kidding)

   I love this book because the author manages to take some of the driest material know to man – topics like how to ramp up that compound interest (Oh Boy!) and funding a 401-K (Hotdiggity!) and make it both hilarious and powerful. Ramit Sethi delights in puncturing the hot air balloons we all fill with our self-defeating money scripts. His irreverent wit has a way of allowing us to laugh at ourselves as he makes fun of our behaviors with money.Much like when I read well-written nutrition books and somehow find the pounds peeling off, I found money making its way into my accounts just by reading Ramit’s book. The book touts simplicity and automation, which offers a life raft to those adrift in a sea of confusing advice about market timing and paying an expert to help you “beat” the market. It’s the financial equivalent of “Set it and forget it”. He delves into more complex and time-intensive investing strategies as well, but while doing so he constantly reminds you that it’s much easier, and probably more profitable, to stick your investments in an index fund and let it ride, just as Warren Buffett does in his will.I read the first version of this book in 2009, soon after I had lost about $20K in student loans by investing it in the stock market (market timing unfortunately works in both directions … for and against you). I took some of Ramit’s advice to heart – automating much of my finances and opening several accounts in ING.com, an online bank that was eventually sold to a larger online bank, where many of my accounts still reside. Mint tells me that my net worth went from less less than $30K in 2009 to over $300K today. When offered an opportunity to join a private study group led by Ramit himself, and to read an early copy of the 2019 version of the book, I jumped at the chance. I realized from reading this 2nd Edition that although I had followed some of his ideas in the 1st Edition, I had neglected others. The most painful one being that I have spent way too much time in the last decade reviewing my finances and tinkering with investments. The target the book sets (after setting up everything to be automatic) is one hour per month to review finances; it’s embarrassing to admit that in the previous 10 years, I have been closer to an hour per day than I have been to an hour per month. This new book strengthens my resolve to build more wealth by doing less.The 2019 version is also unique from the 2009 version by the fact that the author is now a married man. Ramit is no longer just the brash renegade telling it like is, speaking truth to power, and backing down from no one. He is still all of that, but he also must now manage personal finances in relationship with his fiance and new wife. They reveal candid discussions and personal details of painful money conversations, surprising to no one in a committed relationship. What is surprising, and downright juicy, is that he pulls back the veil on the taboo subject of asking for and eventually arriving at a prenuptial agreement with his fiance. The bravery to bring those discussions out into the light, while exposing himself to potential ridicule and criticism, is commendable. It also provides a valuable resource for those seeking advice (and scripts) not only on discussing a prenup but also for other difficult money conversations.In the first meeting of Ramit’s private class to discuss the 2nd Edition, one of his first questions to the group was “What would you do if someone handed you a check for $10K?”. He then proceeded to make good-natured fun of all of our grandiose puritanical responses about starting an orphanage, investing in stocks, paying off credit card debt, etc. His point was that most likely we would do the exact same thing with that $10K that you had been doing previously with your money. If you had spent too much and were in debt, you would probably continue to overspend and go into debt. It’s not the money itself that changes your life, it is changing your attitudes towards, and your behavior with, money. Setting up systems and automating your finances is one very convenient way to change your behavior, because you intentionally set it only once, and then you forget about it and move on with your life, outside of the spreadsheet.On the day before this book came out (May 13), I literally received a $50K check in the mail, totally unexpected. My aunt had come into a surprise inheritance from a distant relative and chose to share some of it with my family. Well-played universe, well-played indeed. Because of this book and the opportunity to discuss it with 150 like-minded individuals from all over the world and all kinds of financial backgrounds, I have full confidence that my family will do spectacular things with that money, but also that we will do it much more simply and automatically by following the systems laid out in this remarkable new book.

   279 people found this helpful

   

5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Allison – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   My favorite book – nothing has compared so far!

   This is my favorite book that I return to over and over again. It is the one I gift the most frequently to friends, family, and recent grads. From my own experience, I disagree about this book not being for people under 20 (while simultaneously agreeing, so let me explain).I read most of the book when I was 18 as an undergrad and revisited a couple time till I graduated college and got my teaching credential at 25. I both read and scanned, sometimes without fully comprehending and without being able to implement, well, really any of the recommendations. And yet, the guidance was still super useful because I didn’t make financially unsavvy decisions that would delay my being able to set up a savvy, automated financial system upon graduation and earning an income.For example, I saw a lot of my peers making decisions such as buying a new car upon receiving their first paycheck or two because they could afford the payments (or even prior to graduation) – the payments that would put their fixed costs at 90% of their income and cause them to live paycheck-to-paycheck with a ton of stress!!This book gave me the vague and general understanding of what I was going to try to set up before I had the means to do so, before I was even earning a real income.It helped me determine and sort out my financial values and figure out how I wanted to live my life.It helped me choose a financially responsible spouse who also read the book. Ramit’s guidance helped us arrive at similar financial values and systems from the start. We’re so glad we have the tools to talk about money without stress. We’ve had many friends speak to us about how they have such a hard time talking about money with their partners because the partner just shuts down about it. We sympathize, and as a result of their transparency about their own struggles, we don’t take for granted how empowered we are because of this book. (And how brilliant of Ramit to supplement with his podcast of the same title to listen to couples have these conversations)The book is easy(ish) to follow. I would recommend just accepting that you won’t understand everything the first time through, but I realized later that I understood more than I thought and rereading sections really helped. I love the way it is organized into “weeks.”Each “week” has steps that are actionable and gave me *the* guide to set up my finances. What’s great is you can sort of “pause” at certain weeks when it takes longer to set up what you need to. For example, I graduated with about $4,000 in credit card debt. I read on so I know what was coming, but I had to pause after Weeks 1-3 as I prioritized paying off that CC debt (which I did within 4 months). I was able to create a debt payoff plan: I chose to use my student loan grace period to pay off the CC aggressively, then start paying off my student loan debt with minimum payments while building up the funds to open my Roth IRA at Vanguard, and so on.I automated everything and literally one day looked at my Roth and was like, “How did I get so much money?!” And that’s on a teacher’s and adjunct university lecturer’s low pay! I’m not kidding when I say it’s almost like it happened by accident – I set up everything immediately after college graduation and never felt like my life was limited or lacking from putting aside money each month. I was able to determine which order to pay things and how to allocate my paycheck. I’ve been able to keep my fixed costs low and build up a nest egg so I am under little financial stress, even through my periods of low pay and job insecurity.I just can’t say enough good things. Read it now even if you can’t implement. Read it even if it doesn’t make sense to you (yet!). It’s so worth it.

   53 people found this helpful
6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   smc – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Just buy the effing book already! Best $12 you’ll ever invest.

   It doesn’t matter how much money you do or don’t make. It doesn’t matter how much you have or haven’t saved. It doesn’t matter how much you are or aren’t in debt. Just buy the effing book already!I was lucky enough to be part of a group program with Ramit and 150 other people who got an early copy of the IWT book. What happened during the 4-weeks we worked together blew. my. mind.I’m a 37 year old entrepreneur who is in good financial shape. I have no debt, I max out my Roth IRA, and overall I felt like I was doing fine. What more was there? How much better could I do? Well, I wasn’t sure. But since I’m a big nerd and over achiever, I decided to give this book a go.WTFI have been missing out on SO many simple investing opportunities over the years that could have been building my wealth while I sleep. I have been stuck in financial mindset hell (save save save, never spend on anything!) for most of my life.Now, I don’t have an amazing rags to riches “I got out of $54k in debt” story like some may have. But that’s why this book is so amazing. It’s for more than people who are in debt. It’s for anyone and everyone who wants to take control of their finances in a way that FEELS good for them. No more scrimping and skipping lattes. Enjoy your life, enjoy your money, and set up systems to automatically save and earn while you sleep. It’s not magic, it’s math.Whether you need to get out of debt, want to have more $$ in retirement and in day to day life, get blurry eyed when you look at your investment accounts, or just feel like there’s something you’re missing (or could be doing better), this book is for you.The IWT book has slowly been changing everything for me. I say slowly because you’re not going just read it and *poof* things will magically happen for you. You’re going to have to put in the work. It can be hard at times. You’ll dig your heels in thinking “but oh, my current system works and it seems really hard to change all these things!” STOP THAT. Just go through the process and do what the book says. Move your accounts. Set up new ones. Automate things. It takes some effort, it takes some discomfort, it takes some courage. But the outcome is brilliantly worth it.You will FEEL better. You will FEEL more in control. You will HAVE more money. You will ENJOY spending it and you will ENJOY saving it.If you’re serious about this, I highly suggest you get some sort of accountability buddy. I was in a private FB group with 150 others and if it weren’t for that, I most likely would have read the book, felt good that I did that much, and then moved on. You have to actually DO THE WORK. Find a friend, spouse, or coworker to do this with you. Talk about your experience. Talk about your feelings (they will come up, after all most of finances is emotional + psychology — deal with that sh!t!). GET THROUGH THE WORK!Stop being lazy. Every good thing in life takes some work, including your finances and getting through this book. Just do it already!Oh, and P.S. In true Ramit style, it’s written in a total no B.S. format with specific examples and actual advice you can use today. No fluff, no generic inspiration, no sh!tty advice that makes you wonder “how the eff do I apply that to my situation?!”. If you want genuine step by step guidance that you can understand and that actually works, you’ll find it in this book.

   46 people found this helpful
7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Greg S – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Focusing on the correct things to create wealth

   Great book, I have tried to teach my teenage and adult children the content. One of my adult sons has followed the advice; he now has enough money to buy a house by himself, and he still has money to spend on his passion. The best parts are what to invest your money in, to create wealth, how to take advantage of your retirement savings (had to translate this a little bit for my country) and making a budget that as long as you have contributed to your investments allows you to skimp on the things that don’t matter so you have money to spend on your individual passion.I believe it is a must-have for every family or individual looking to improve their life financially.

   One person found this helpful
8. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Dawn Casey Rowe – August 18, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Buy two copies. Read one, gift one. This should be a graduation requirement.

   When I was teaching, this was the most stolen book off my desk, ever. And this book’s never on sale. If I invested all the money I’ve spent on re-purchasing and gifting copies of I Will Teach You To Be Rich, I’d be naming buildings after myself.Unlike most things that are stolen, this book would always come back with a different kid. They were passing it around and recommending to friends, then someone would return it and say, “Why don’t schools teach this stuff?!” These were book-haters reading a financial literacy book. That’s big.”I teach this stuff,” I’d say, “Take my class.” But most kids don’t have access to this. Not all schools offer financial literacy or if they do, they offer “Here’s how you balance a checkbook.” The education is outdated and intimidating–most adults don’t have optimized financial knowledge. So, Ramit is a good read for anyone age fifteen up, the younger the better.Anyone can benefit from this book–if you’re a teen or in your 20’s, you’re just starting your journey. Even if you’re in your 30’s or 40’s and you feel you’ve messed up–you can read this book, repent, and get started achieving your goals now.Ramit’s updated edition is even better than the first. The original edition was before tap-to-pay, interest rates were low, and pre-dated Klarna and Affirm–today, you can literally finance your underwear. Every checkout flow asks you to finance. He needed to update this book. Even if you’ve read the original, the second edition is a must.In addition to basics like automating your finances, negotiating, treating money with respect, and investing, You will learn to think about your attitudes toward money–these are generational in some cases–learn to define and live your rich life.Before you say, “This works for other people, not for me,” at least watch Ramit’s show or listen to his podcast. Thinking about financial wellness is for everyone. We can all improve. This version of I Will Teach You To Be Rich is the textbook. You’ll want it in print, not Kindle, because this is a “write in the margin” book.Bonus: Ramit writes well. This is not boring. If I could get non-reading teens to become viral fans of a book about finances, you will love this, too. Even if you’re financially sophisticated and won your journey, you can read this and gift it to the next teen or 20-something in your life and have a great discussion.
9. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Claron O’ Neale – August 18, 2025

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   Great foundation

   Great foundation on managing money and conscious spending. My only issue is that it speaks directly to persons in developed countries when it comes to investments. In the Caribbean, the US market is not as accessible and we don’t have 401 ks and the wide array of retirement plans
10. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Erik Shirley – August 18, 2025

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Good Book for a Select Audience

    I’ve been reading a lot of reviews that blast this book for its focus on younger adults, generalized investment advice, or the omission of some hyper-specific tax code or asset allocations strategy. Some of these are valid critiques, though I think they miss the point of the book. I do think that Ramit should’ve titled and marketed the book differently to reflect its target audience, but for that audience, the advice is valuable.As one of those 22 year-old recent college grads who grew up with financially inexperienced parents, this book provided me with excellent foundational knowledge. It’s not overly technical (perhaps to a fault), but hammers broad principles that will contribute to financial success: the importance of debt and credit health, making smart investments, and automating your finances. Specific advice about choosing banks, optimizing credit cards, buying cars, etc. is a welcome addition, and even financially literate readers will find a few nuggets in this book to optimize their situation.The real strength of this book lies in altering your psychological relationship to money. At the end of the day, the concept of “living outside the spreadsheet” is what should be emphasized. The goal is not to save and grow money for its own sake, but to accumulate wealth to do things which you enjoy. Reading with the idea that Ramit will provide you with globally optimal investment returns for your particular financial situation is to ignore the core principle of the book itself. Furthermore, following all of his (note: very general) advice should be discouraged. After reading, consideration must be made towards your personal situation and goals — particularly when deciding how you’ll distribute retirement contributions and defer taxes. This book should be the foundation of your financial plan, not the singular piece of literature that informs all your financial decisions.In spite of its helpful, accessible advice, I can’t rate this book more than four stars. As most of the critical reviewers will point out, Ramit spends a significant portion of the book complaining about things or admonishing people for making financial mistakes. The tone of the book swings wildly between breezy and helpful to condescending and arrogant; the brief section on cryptocurrency is an example that comes to mind. There’s a general unawareness to his own privilege and a good bit of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” sentiments, which tend to sound insincere and ignore larger issues that originally place younger people in financial strife. Additionally, a significant chunk of the book is testimonials from readers of the first edition. All told, this book could be about 20% shorter if these were left on Amazon’s review page where they belong.Bottom line: I Will Teach You to be Rich contains invaluable advice for younger, financially inexperienced people in an easily digestible format. The book provides a good foundation for the average person to grow their wealth, ease financial anxiety, and align their money with their personal goals — just be sure to consult other investment literature after you finish reading. If you can get around the narration and deal with the constant self-advertisement, this book is worth your time and money.

    49 people found this helpful