George S. Classon’s timeless classic won’t tell you how to pick the latest breakout stock, nor will it teach you any fancy trading strategies. In fact, it has little in the way of specifics or modern strategies on anything. None of that changes the fact that the Richest Man in Babylon is one of the greatest investing books of all time.

Books on finance and investing are not generally known for their entertainment value. That’s what makes the Richest Man in Babylon so unique. Rather than a turgid textbook full of figures, arcane terminology, and writing to make your eyes glaze over, like many investing books, Classon teaches the foundations of success in the markets and in life through a collection of fables about old Babylon. His depiction of everyday life on the streets on the great, ancient city are fascinating for their own sake, and the reader can hardly guess he is learning about how to handle money at the same time.

The book is geared toward the beginner, and as such it is the ideal book to give to kids to start their financial education. Yet its wisdom is sound, enduring, and timeless, and is an excellent dose of reality for old pros who have become absorbed in whatever trading technique is presently in favor.

To that end, your editor re-reads this lovely little book every year. Pure pleasure would be reason enough, but the inspiration and wisdom to be found in these pages make it all the more rewarding.

We also highly recommend the audiobook version. The voice performances on these discs are as entertaining as the text. Perfect for long car rides.