The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin is America’s first book on personal finance and in the opinion of many, probably the best.  Originally written as a preface to the 1758 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanac 25 years after its debut, The Way to Wealth collects the best of the adages and advice first published there.  As Franklin often did, he structured the piece as a tale, introducing it as below.

I have heard, that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate, to you. I stopped my horse lately, where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean, old man, with white locks,"Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied, "If you would have my Advice, I will give it you in short; for A word to the wise is enough, as Poor Richard says." They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows.

Father Abraham then proceeds to clearly and concisely deliver a secular sermon on the benefits of the consistent application of thrift and hard work to endeavors great and small.  His counsel has been compelling, as the book has been printed in countless editions and sold millions of copies.

Play sample:

Download a PDF datasheet