★ A 20-year classic that stands the test of time – Celebrating 20 years with a fully revised edition, widely recognized as the definitive beginner’s guide to the wealthy mindset. Distills timeless wealth principles from legendary figures such as Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, John Templeton, and Jim Rogers.
★ Bridges economics and the humanities to reveal the true logic of wealth – No tips for chasing hot stocks. Instead, this book examines the investment philosophies and life views of great investors through both economic and humanistic lenses. It emphasizes that “how you do it” matters more than “what you do,” helping readers build the foundational mindset of the wealthy.
★ Breaks psychological barriers with contrarian thinking – Devoted chapters analyze the cognitive obstacles that hold ordinary people back: loss aversion, comparison mindset, and herd mentality. Offers actionable contrarian principles – “buy when there’s blood in the streets,” “go against the media,” “let time be your ally” – to cultivate the courage to invest against instinct.
★ Historical perspective and cross-cultural wisdom for a multi-dimensional investment lens – From 17th-century Dutch speculation to real estate cycles; from the Jewish 78:22 rule to Chinese resilience; from Keynes to Picasso. Demonstrates that great investors are first and foremost great thinkers, and that wealth is a byproduct of deep thinking.

“Want to get rich? Start by learning how the rich think!”
Wealth principles never go out of style, even as times change – 20th Anniversary Edition.
Personal finance, investment, and financial freedom have become necessities, not choices. People chase the next hot stock, the next real estate boom, the next crypto rally. But chasing money like a moth to a flame will never get you where you want to go. Haven’t we learned that there is no one-size-fits-all secret to personal finance?
Yet some people consistently achieve remarkable returns and build real wealth. What makes them different?
The Rich Person’s Private Library begins right here. This book analyzes the investment philosophies and life views of legendary investors – Warren Buffett, John Templeton, Charlie Munger, Jim Rogers – from both economic and humanistic perspectives. It highlights a common thread: all of them are voracious readers. Drawing on their experience and wisdom, the author explains the basic principles of making money in a clear, accessible way.
That is why, even 20 years after its first publication, this book remains widely recognized as the definitive guide to the wealthy mindset and a must-read for beginning investors. This 20th anniversary edition proves that some principles never change – no matter how much time passes or how the environment shifts.

Lee Sang-gun
Lee Sang-gun is the Director of the Mirae Asset Investment Retirement Center. Widely recognized as one of South Korea’s top investment experts, he is known for making complex investment strategies accessible to everyday readers. He graduated from Sogang University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and worked as a reporter at Dongbu Life Insurance and Hankyung Wow TV, as well as serving as the Finance and Personal Investment Team Leader at the economic weekly Economist. His books, including The Rich Person’s Private Library, Reading the Mind of the Rich, and Some People Really Do Make Money, have been highly popular among investors. He has also edited Korean editions of Peter Lynch’s One Up on Wall Street, The Secret of Value Investing, and Just Keep Buying.

Preface

Chapter 1: The Principles of Capitalism – Start Here
Chapter 2: Overcoming Psychological Barriers – The Mind of the Rich
Chapter 3: Cultivating Contrarian Strength – A Counter-Current Life View and Investment Principles
Chapter 4: Learning from History – Real Estate Investment Principles
Chapter 5: The Wisdom of Jews and Chinese – Bouncing Back from Anything
Chapter 6: Great Investors Are Great Thinkers – Unique Views on the World and Life