Writers & editors

Books recommended by Ben Carlson

Financial writer and wealth manager

Writes the personal-finance and markets blog A Wealth of Common Sense and co-hosts the Animal Spirits podcast.

12 books from 1 source

On lists:Actors

Fiction & literature Philosophy & how to live Science Psychology & decisions History

This is a selection of sourced recommendations, not a complete list of everything Ben Carlson has read or praised. How we choose.

Recommendations

Books Ben Carlson recommends

12 books from 1 source. Each one links to the place where Ben recommended it.

The Best Books I Read in 2023

Blog post · A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · View source ↗

Ben Carlson's year-end post on the best books he read in 2023.

Thirteen

Henry Cooper · 1972
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

Listed in the source as “Thirteen: The Apollo Flight That Failed”.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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60 Songs That Explain the 90s

Rob Harvilla · 2024
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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The Good Life

Robert Waldinger and Marc Shultz · 2023
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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American Prometheus

Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin · 2005
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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The American Dream is Not Dead

Michael Strain
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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Judgment Prey

John Sandford · 2023
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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The Last Good Kiss

James Crumley · 1978
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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Storm Watch

CJ Box · 2023
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin · 2022
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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This Time Tomorrow

Emma Straub · 2022
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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Ghosts

Dolly Alderton · 2020
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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My Annoying, Irritating, Always-in-the-Way Shadow

Ryan Russell · 2023
Year-end favourite
On Ben Carlson's list of the best books he read in 2023.

The Best Books I Read in 2023 Blog postawealthofcommonsense.com A Wealth of Common Sense · Dec 2023 · checked 12 Nov 2026

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