These books are for anyone starting to manage money or perfecting their financial strategy - from mindset & budgeting to investing & building wealth. Below are brief summaries (with actionable takeaways) to get you started taking control of your financial future.

1. Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

Based on ancient parables, Clason introduces such powerful financial principles as pay yourself first, expense control and investment. Readers will read about Babylon's richest man Arkad to see how these habits can lead to prosperity.

Key Takeaway: Building wealth requires disciplined saving, judicious spending and consistent investing. Clason has timeless advice that even complete financial newbies can understand.

2. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Kiyosaki compares his "rich dad" - a mentor - and his "poor dad" - his biological father - and stresses the need for financial education, knowing assets versus liabilities and creating passive income.

Key Takeaway: For financial independence focus on assets vs liabilities. Kiyosaki's insights urge readers to become financially literate and use income to build lasting wealth.

3. Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

Robin and Dominguez show how to relate money to life goals and offer a nine-step program for tracking expenses, cutting back on nonessential spending, and achieving financial independence.

Key Takeaway: Money should enhance your life - not define it. Mindful spending can give you financial independence and a happier life.

4. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

Based on research that most millionaires are thrifty, self-made and save more than they spend on flashy lifestyles.

Key Takeaway: Wealth is generally created via a quiet lifestyle of disciplined saving, investing and work. The book suggests a frugal, wealth-building mindset.

5. The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins

This plain-spoken guide to FI recommends index fund investing, financial simplicity and the benefits of compounding over time.

Key Takeaway: A simple, low cost long term approach using index funds can give you financial freedom. Complex investing principles are made easily accessible by Collins.

6. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

This value investing classic teaches stock analysis, intrinsic value analysis and decision making. Graham suggests taking a measured approach to building wealth.

Key Takeaway: Investing takes discipline and patience and a sense of value. Graham's approach gets investors to make rational decisions and avoid emotional ones.

7. I Will Teach You How to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Sethi's six-week program covers automation, debt elimination, optimized spending and investing. His straightforward style attracts young professionals looking for practical financial improvement.

Key Takeaway: Automation and a focus on big wins makes financial success possible. Sethi says spending consciously makes financial growth sustainable and pleasurable.

8. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Housel's book explores how psychology and behavior affect financial decisions - showing how emotions, experiences and biases affect wealth-building.

Key Takeaway: Many times financial success is based on behavior, not knowledge. Understanding your psychology and weighing risk versus reward may improve long-term outcomes.

9. Financial Freedom in Five Years by Grant Sabatier

Sabatier recounts going from broke to independent, including side hustles, aggressive saving and smart investing.

Key Takeaway: Multiple income streams, optimized savings and high-growth investments might fast-track financial independence. Sabatier's tips let the wealth-building begin for the motivated.

10. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

A self-help classic first published in 1937, Hill focuses on mindset, goal setting and tenacity. Hill studied successful people to find principles behind wealth and success.

Key Takeaway: A positive mindset, clearly defined goals and persistence are necessary for financial success. Hill offers tools for wealth-building through visualization and resilience.

Using These Summaries for Financial Success

Identify Core Principles: Each book focuses upon key principles including:

• Saving
• Disciplined spending
• A growth mindset

Pick those that fit you and use them to guide your financial moves.

Set Financial Goals: Use insights from these summaries to set concrete goals (for achieving financial independence, generating passive income, or investing, maybe).

Build a Reading Routine: Start with a book appropriate for your stage. The Richest Man in Babylon is one to start with for newcomers; investors could do worse than The Intelligent Investor.

Apply and Review: Persistent action leads to financial success. Key Concepts & Review your financial plan, adjusting for changing goals & what you've learned from these reads, periodically.

Each of these summaries provides a map to financial success, and every book has concrete lessons about saving, investing and wealth-building. You learn from experts how to become financially independent and secure. Read full versions of these books for more detail. Each provides you knowledge to change your financial practices and take control of your money.