I read a lot of books - financial books, real estate books, stock books, life books, etc. Most I think are just OK. Infrequently do they give me what I am looking for. Only rarely would I say that a book gives you meat and potatoes. Substance. Real concrete direction.

I just finished - The Simple Path to Wealth (Revised & Expanded 2025 Edition): Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life Hardcover – May 20, 2025 by JL Collins (Author) $22.00 and I enjoyed it. You can read it in 2 days.

I feel most of us on this forum are older and real estate centric in our thinking. The short version of this book is a simple life philosophy which we all know (but not everyone does) - spend less than you make, save and invest excess money, and try not to do dumb things. Ultimately his advice is to buy the Vanguard total market fund (VTSAX) and a Vanguard bond fund (VBTLX) in a 75/25 percent split and let it rip tater chip. Statistically you'd be wealthy 96% of the time. Average returns of 12% over the life of the fund.

Now most of us would not get a lot out of this book (since we love real estate and think the stock market is snake oil) but I think it is excellently written for a young person. It provides a clear and concrete path to wealth. It provides reason and direction in a simple format to guide a newbie like a grandchild, or niece/nephew. It is NOT a complex discussion on P/E ratios, Expense Ratios, or technical analysis. It is a simple straight forward guide on how to map out your wealth building future using the stock market and conservative life choices.

Consider getting it, reading it, and then passing it on to some young pup. No, it's not about real estate but then again not everyone is suited to that path and often times you need money to get into real estate. Saving money can allow that young pup to move into real estate if that is the path they chose.

I have no financial interest in the book and I do not know the author and I once stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

I heard something that alarmed me today on the local radio station. The average Amercian Dream life will cost you just over $5,000,000. At first I thought that is awesome as I have passed that over and thought about the trip there.

Bonanza, thank you i put it on my list.

Thanks Bonanza. I just got it used from Amazon for $14.99. My husband is setting up an investment account for our oldest grandson for his 13th birthday. Grandson has noticed that we're good with our money, and financially secure; he'll probably enjoy the book. After we've read it, and maybe gotten our daughter and son inlaw to read it. Maybe it'll make the rounds of both our kids' families.

I send that book to every young person in my family, along with two others, I Will Teach You To Be Rich and The Millionaire Next Door.

ThanksLisa. I added those two. I need to spend some time reading soon. Those sound like good reads, and I'll pass them on.

Thanks Lisa for those books I'll read them too.

My family started out poor and my mom's goal was to have her house paid off. Not a lot of financial advice other than go to college, get a good job, and save your money.

I wish some one had given me a road map to wealth when I was younger. I wish I had gotten into real estate much earlier than I did. It has worked out but I am trying to help the younger generation at least be exposed to these ideas. Strangely no one listens to the old guy who has made lots of mistakes, they just listen to the tik tock videos that tell you these 3 magic beans will make you rich in 30 days!

What I am hearing is that Bonanza is going to start making Tik-Tok videos.

I do not have an account there but I will get one to see him bounce around, point at funny things and maybe sing or something.

The Millionaire Next Door is an oldie but goodie. My daughter really liked that one. The other one is written by a younger guy (or he was at one point) and so is appealing to the younger crowd.

My nephew calls me know for financial advice and my daughter has always been wise enough to do that. My son on-the-other-hand is a financial disaster and one thing he can never do is blame it on nobody ever teaching him anything.