Comments on: Reader Survey: Which Personal-Finance Books Should I Review?

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:30:01 +0000

I won a copy of the Family CFO book on another finacial blogger site. I liked the book but decided that there is no way on earth that most people can do everything she says. I would be interested in your take of the book since you are in the business of personal finance. I look forward to your posts every day.

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By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:45:45 +0000

My vote is for The Paradox of Choice.

It’s crazy that we live in a world of so many choices! It can get overwelming!

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By: Candice Churchwell

Candice Churchwell — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:34:46 +0000

1. Guide to Investing in Gold and Silver
2. How to Be the Family CFO

Happy New Year, J.D.!

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By: Steve Selengut

Steve Selengut — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:40:30 +0000

Has anyone read “The Brainwashing of the American Investor”? subtitle is “The book that Wall Street does not want you to read.

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By: Rubenberg

Rubenberg — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:09:20 +0000

The Motley Fool Million Dollar Portfolio.

Thanks!

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By: KJ

KJ — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:09:18 +0000

I vote for “Enough” by John Bogle.

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By: mlsphd

mlsphd — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:49:49 +0000

The Motley Fool Million Dollar Portfolio

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By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:13:59 +0000

Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery by Gail MarksJarvis

and

Enough by John Bogle

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By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:02:36 +0000

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. Like you, J.D., I have an ever-expanding library of personal finance books that vie for my attention. I checked out Kessel’s “It’s Not About the Money” from my local library and I highly recommend it as the next book for you to review. Kessel explains archetypes that seemed relevant and meaningful to me. What I really liked, however, was his focus on balance and education. Individuals who fit neatly into one of his archetypes are encouraged to adopt characteristics of an archetype that might be the polar opposite. The opportunity to understand and empathize with people who approach money in ways completely different than I do was refreshing and, in my experience with personal finance literature, somewhat unique.

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By: Bill Winterberg

Bill Winterberg — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:35:11 +0000

You can supplement Barry Schwartz’s The Paradox of Choice book review with his video that appears on Ted.com.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html

I asked Mr. Schwartz to speak at the FPA Mid Winter Conference in February 2009, but he has to teach that week! It would have been great to hear his presentation in person.

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By: Sherry

Sherry — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:15:47 +0000

This isn’t on your list and it’s not 100% financial, but I would love to read your take on Sharon Astyk’s book “Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front.” I don’t think we’re headed for a Depression (or at least hope not), but her views are interesting. I know you like gardening, thereby saving money, too. She’s also got an interesting blog at http://sharonastyk.com/

She says about her book: “I focus on how families can adapt to climate change, financial crisis and peak energy, with an emphasis upon finding ways to keep a high quality of life while using radically less energy. The book suggests that we should focus our adaptive energies towards the things we’ve always cared most about – education, health care, food security and giving future generations a real future.”

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By: Aline

Aline — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:14:59 +0000

I’ve been wanting to read Predictably Irrational, so that’s my choice for you. To think that we act irrationally in predictable ways is fascinating, and I’d like some insights so that I can be less predictable and more rational – why oh why do I buy clothes I really don’t need because they’re on sale?

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By: BPT - MoneyChangesThings

BPT - MoneyChangesThings — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:08:19 +0000

I’ve only read 2 on the list. Paradox of Choice is fun and counter-intuitive. I’ve met barry schwartz, and he’s a great guy. However, the book expounds quite a simple premise – the more choices people have, the more stressful decisions become, which actually DECREASES their sense of happiness and well-being. (this, I am convinced, is one of the attractions of shopping at Costco.) So you can read a chapter and skim the rest, since it just builds on the case he makes. It’s quite a slim volume to begin with.
I also read Gilbert’s Happiness book. His point is that people miss-guess what will make them happy, but since it’s not a self-help book, I just found it left me mystified. People are stupid about doing what will make them happy, but there’s no simple solution to this problem. Great…. So don’t spend a lot of time on Gilbert!
Given the new economy, where assets are all devalued and no one knows what’s coming next, my hunch is that very few financial books are going to make any sense.

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By: Will

Will — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:01:40 +0000

I vote for “The Motley Fool Million Dollar Portfolio by David and Tom Gardner”

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By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:49:31 +0000

I am interested in a review of the Motley Fool book…

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By: Carly

Carly — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:44:27 +0000

Hi J.D.,

I’m torn between #1 and #2. I like the thought of finding out exactly how to save enough while still living pretty comfortably but I’m a sucker for psychology. Out of all of them, I would definitely say one of the first two.

Good luck!

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By: Ragnorok

Ragnorok — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:26:17 +0000

What?! No “Rich Dad…”?

Heh. Just kidding…

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By: J.D.

J.D. — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:19:44 +0000

Interesting. It looks to me as if you folks are interested in the same books that I’m interested in, for the most part. Like me, you’re not as interested in the traditional personal-finance stuff. There’s just a ton of it out there.

Up until this comment, the following books have the most votes:

The Paradox of Choice: 15
Stumbling on Happiness: 8
Predictably Irrational: 8
Overcoming Underearning: 7
How to Be the Family CFO: 6

I do like the idea of having readers review certain books. I’ll e-mail a couple of commenters to see if they’d like to review a book. If you’d like to do a review, drop me a line at the tips address and specify which book (doesn’t have to be on the list) you’re interested in. If you can convince me you’re a good choice for the job, GRS (the business) will send you a copy to review.

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By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:55:38 +0000

I’m interested in hearing about The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less.

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By: Moneyblogga

Moneyblogga — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:10:59 +0000

Your office looks fabulously organized! Just by the by, I’m reading “Hetty: The Genius and Madness of America’s First Female Tycoon” by Charles Slack. Not really a PF book per se but more the workings of a billionaire mindset. Given the era, this lady achieved amazing things via smart investment and frugal (even miserly) living.

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By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:08:59 +0000

Review Daniel Gilbert’s Stumbling on Happiness. I read it last year and would like to hear your reviews and other users reviews as well. Think it is something everyone will enjoy, although it’s not necessarily about personal finance.

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By: Andy J

Andy J — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:57:50 +0000

Enough by John Bogle please! Thanks!

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By: Bruno

Bruno — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:54:43 +0000

I vote for the Paradox of Choice.

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By: John Sanchez

John Sanchez — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:33:41 +0000

My vote goes to: The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz

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By: Canadian Dream

Canadian Dream — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:26:24 +0000

Mmm, I’m seeing a similar problem with myself and reviewing books. Sometimes I get them faster than I can review them (I recall one publisher sent me a stack of five in one package).

Might I make a suggestion. If you don’t have time to review them all give some away to other bloggers to review for you. That way you still get a post done, but you don’t have to actually read all the books yourself.

The blogger then get published on your site as payment and perhaps you let them keep the review copy (up to you).

Anyways just an idea. Let me know if you want a eyeball or two to help out.

Tim

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By: TopazTook

TopazTook — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:09:32 +0000

“How to Be the Family CFO” and “Saving for Retirement Without Living Like a Pauper…” sound the most useful to me at the moment. “Buyology” sounds interesting, just because I like that sort of thing.

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By: brooklynchick

brooklynchick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:00:29 +0000

The Credit Diet: How to Shed Unwanted Debt and Achieve Fiscal Fitness.

I really loved it and would love to hear what you (and others) think of it!

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By: Glenn Carver

Glenn Carver — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:43:06 +0000

Kiyosaki wrote “Increase Your Financial IQ” this year. The five basic financial IQ’s are:
Making more money
Protecting your money
Budgeting your money
Leveraging your money
Improving your financial information

In his new 3 day course “Predict the Future” he suggests that we learn to print money (legally of course) like the FED by building our own businesses.

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By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:35:21 +0000

For those of you looking for biographies of people who lived through hard times, I recommend the late New York Times columnist Russell Baker’s book called “Growing Up.” It’s a very readable, humorous memoir of his childhood in Virginia and Baltimore during the Depression and how he and his family coped with those difficult times.

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By: Monika

Monika — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:27:37 +0000

I would be very interested to see what Status Anxiety has to say. I think the idea of appearing poor, or cheap, keeps a lot of people from driving cars older than three years, or shopping at thrift stores. Of course I’ve read a few articles lately about how more and more people are shifting that balance, due to the economy, and it’s almost becoming the “new” status quo to appear thrifty, or get more bang for your buck.

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