Recommended Reading Order and Where to Start
Because Clark Howard writes non-fiction consumer guides, personal finance manuals, and resource books, there is no narrative storyline to follow. You do not need to read his books in any specific chronological or publication order. Instead, the most practical approach is to start with his most recent and comprehensive works, as financial regulations, technologies, and economic environments shift over time.
We recommend starting with Clark Howard's Living Large in Lean Times (2011) and its follow-up Clark Howard's Living Large for the Long Haul (2013). These two books provide his most modern, structured advice on budgeting, investing, smart shopping, and long-term financial health. Once you have digested these, you can look back at Get Clark Smart (2002) for the timeless, foundational rules of consumer advocacy and money management that established his "Clark Smart" philosophy.
The Consumer Advocate vs. The Crime Writer: A Crucial Distinction
When searching for books by Clark Howard, readers frequently run into confusing search results. It is important to know that there are two prominent authors named Clark Howard:
- Clark Howard (Consumer Advocate, born 1955): The host of The Clark Howard Show, founder of Clark.com, and author of the personal finance and consumer survival guides listed below.
- Clark Howard (Crime & True-Crime Writer, 1932–2016): A highly decorated mystery novelist, short story writer, and true-crime author. He wrote gritty fiction such as The Arm, Dirt Rich, and Zebra, as well as acclaimed true-crime books like Six Against the Rock and Love's Blood.
If you are looking for tips on saving money on car insurance, buying a house, or building a budget, stick strictly to the consumer books listed in this guide.
Clark Howard's Books in Publication Order
Here is the chronological order of the books published by the consumer advocate Clark Howard. All of his major guides have been written in collaboration with co-authors who help compile his radio show advice into structured chapters.
1. Consumer Survival Kit (1993, Revised & Expanded 1995)
Co-authored with Mark Meltzer and published by Longstreet Press, this was Clark Howard's first major breakout book. It compiled the consumer protection strategies, shopping advice, and financial warnings that Howard popularized during the early years of his syndicated radio show. A multimedia CD-ROM version was also released in 1994, which was highly innovative for its time.
2. Get Clark Smart: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rich From America's Money-Saving Expert (2002)
Co-authored with Mark Meltzer and published by Hyperion, this book became a major national bestseller. It introduced the "Clark Smart" framework, giving readers actionable rules for buying homes, negotiating credit card bills, financing cars, choosing 401(k) plans, and avoiding common consumer traps.
3. Clark's Big Book of Bargains (2003)
Co-authored with Mark Meltzer and published by Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books), this volume focuses specifically on shopping strategies, bargain hunting, and reducing day-to-day household expenses. It provides detailed advice on how to shop for groceries, clothing, travel, electronics, and home services without paying premium retail prices.
4. Clark Smart Parents, Clark Smart Kids (2005)
Co-authored with Mark Meltzer and published by Hyperion, this guide shifts the focus to family finance. It provides parents with strategies for teaching children financial literacy, managing allowance, saving for college, and navigating the consumer pressures directed at kids and teenagers.
5. Clark Smart Real Estate (2007)
Co-authored with Mark Meltzer and published by Hyperion, this targeted guide was released just before the late-2000s housing market crash. It offers practical advice on buying, selling, renting, and financing residential property, helping readers make rational housing choices and avoid predatory lending practices.
6. Clark Howard's Living Large in Lean Times (2011)
Co-authored with Mark Meltzer and Theo Thimou, and published by Penguin Books, this is arguably Howard's most popular and comprehensive guide. Released in the wake of the Great Recession, it offers over 250 specific, actionable ways to save money, trim expenses, manage debt, and find hidden bargains in a tough economic climate.
7. Clark Howard's Living Large for the Long Haul (2013)
Co-authored with Mark Meltzer and Theo Thimou, and published by Penguin Books, this companion to Living Large in Lean Times focuses on long-term wealth building, retirement planning, and financial resilience. It features real-life case studies of everyday Americans who achieved financial freedom using Howard's advice, combined with practical steps to secure long-term financial health.
Practical Reader Advice and Caveats
When reading Clark Howard's back catalog, keep the following guidance in mind:
Watch out for outdated details: Because personal finance is heavily tied to technology, tax codes, and specific corporate services, many details in Howard's older books (pre-2010) are now obsolete. For example, references to dial-up internet, specific banks, older investment platforms, or historical interest rates will no longer apply. Always verify his older recommendations against current financial realities.
Focus on the underlying principles: While specific brand recommendations may age, Howard's core principles are timeless. His warnings against buying extended warranties, his emphasis on low-fee index funds, his advice to buy reliable used cars instead of new ones, and his strategies for building an emergency fund remain as valid today as they were in the 1990s.
Supplement with Clark.com: To get the most out of Clark Howard's guides, use his books as a structural foundation for your financial mindset, and then visit his official consumer portal, Clark.com, for real-time updates on deals, credit card reviews, scam warnings, and travel bargains.