12 books to read this year if you want to get rich

Student reading book

The wealthiest, most successful people bury themselves in books. They commit to self-education long after they've finished school.

To help make 2017 a prosperous year, we've highlighted 12 of our favorite personal-finance books — one for each month — from century-old classics to hot new releases.

No guarantees you'll get rich, but it can't hurt to kick off the new year with one of these gems.

Kathleen Elkins contributed to a previous version of this article.

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'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill

Prompted by legendary businessman Andrew Carnegie, who turned a few nickels and dimes into a fortune, journalist Napoleon Hill researched more than 500 self-made millionaires over 20 years before releasing his 1937 best-seller "Think and Grow Rich."

He boils down the "secret" to building wealth into 13 principles and reveals "major causes of failure" that hold many of us back from getting rich.

There is no mention of "money," "wealth," "finances," or "stocks" within Hill's text. He takes a different approach, focusing on breaking down the psychological barriers that prevent many of us from attaining our own fortunes.

FIND IT HERE »

'Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers' by Timothy Ferriss

Author Tim Ferriss of "The 4-Hour Workweek" fame is back with "Tools of Titans," a new book packed full of the secrets to success he's gleaned from experts and applied to his own life.

The book distills Ferriss' favorite lessons from more than 200 interviews he's conducted with a wide range of highly successful people, ranging from Navy SEALs to billionaire entrepreneurs.

What better way to get rich than to study and replicate the habits of those who have already done it?

FIND IT HERE »

'The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness' by Dave Ramsey

If you're looking for a true financial tune-up, financial guru Dave Ramsey's best-seller will do the trick. Ramsey doesn't shower his readers with quick fixes in "The Total Money Makeover." He provides a bold approach to finance matters and gets to the bottom of money problems: you.

Along the way, he debunks many money myths and attacks the idea of the American Dream.

Several success stories back up Ramsey's simple, no-nonsense approach, including a couple who paid off $110,000 of debt in two years and a family that got into $109,000 of credit-card debt while earning six figures ... and then paid it off in four years.