With the wild gyrations in the markets lately, a slew of books are now here to aid you in this time of uncertainty. With a thick stack at my side, I was bound to find some gems.

People in their 20s and 30s are at a time when their financial decisions can have tremendous impact over a lifetime. In that vein, twentysomething Ramit Sethi's "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" delivers straightforward advice culled from his personal experience and well-read blog. He positions himself to be the next-generation, new media adviser doling out proven inspiration in easily digestible pieces. Think financial planning via Twitter.

Many of his goals are laudable as is his focus on getting young people out of debt. Sethi tells you how to build systems for saving and investing that don't require constant monitoring, intervention, and decision making. Avoiding the zero interest credit card balance transfer trap is a prime example discussed.

Unfortunately some of his quips are ill-recommended. Bonds are for fogies. Buying a home? Probably a bad idea. For most people in their 20s and 30s, their most valuable asset is their future stream of income, which can be protected by disability insurance. Yet he doesn't mention it.

Beth Kobliner's "Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties" has been through many editions and reviews, and its thoroughness and accuracy are the rewards. Insurance is covered in detail as is the "buy versus rent" decision that many in this age group experience.

The book is light on investment advice, but perhaps justifiably so as this is generally not the biggest financial concern in this age group. You could have an exquisitely designed portfolio, but without health or disability insurance it could be wiped out.

Those who have little interest in personal finance may find this book a little dry, but for many it is a trustworthy and comprehensive introduction to improving your financial health.

Perhaps most surprising was William Bernstein's "The Investor's Manifesto," written in the spirit of the recessionary times. Bernstein is well-known for authoring two well-received guides to investment management lauded by consumers and professionals alike. Readers in the past could count on being treated to sample portfolios using 15 different asset classes.

In this latest book, it's clear that seeing how individual investors have responded to the downturn has had a tremendous impact on his thinking. A practicing neurologist, it's ironic but instructive that he recently realized that our lizard brains generally take over in the midst of a market panic. He's now convinced that the large majority of people do not have any business managing their own money.

Don't worry, you will still be treated to sound advice in asset allocation, mutual fund selection, rebalancing, and other standards in a more concise delivery than in the past. Even if Bernstein doesn't believe you should manage your portfolio, this book is a helpful resource to do exactly that or at least keep an eye on the person who does it for you.

Finally, I have this horrible habit of dog-earing pages that contain useful tidbits or strategies. The "Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning" by various authors has doubled in size in its time with me with all of its useful information.

Rarely are topics such as immediate annuities, defined benefit pensions, tax-advantaged asset location, and Social Security given such an in-depth look as this. This may inspire yawns among some, but when and how to take Social Security retirement can make a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. This book stays on my shelf.

Dave Gardner is a certified financial planner with a practice in Boulder. He can be reached through his Web site at yellowstonefinancial.com.