5 comments about Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty.

1. This audio book was absolutely wonderful. I found it really inspiring and engaging. I was really surprised by how interesting it was, I was afraid it would be a little dry but that wasn't true at all. I enjoyed every chapter. This book really did make me want to change my life, it gave me a lot to think about that I'm still working with. In fact I hope I never stop thinking about it and the issues it opened up.
   
   The reader was very good, he had enough inflection in his voice to keep it interesting, but did not over play the words. It was the sort of narration that provided a similar feeling to reading myself, where I could put my own emphasis and voice to the words and not be distracted by the an overly dramatic narrator.



2. Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty
   This is a life changing book! This book will change the way that you think about poverty and how to end it. In this book, Professor Yunus tells of his own journey in first recognising that the University in which he lectured in Economics, needed to impact his local community, and secondly, doing something about it. The book has all of the elements of a good novel, humour, romance, and drama, but it is so much more. Buy this book, read this book, and then join Kiva.org to make a difference.



3. A well written book about how Yunus successfully lent money to impoverished people in Bangladesh and, in so doing, empowered them to create better lives for themselves. The pages echo Yunus's faith in the human spirit, his dedication to eradicating poverty, and his tenacity to succeed in the face of naysayers cries. He talks about the origins of the banks name, The Grameen Bank and notes that Grameen derives from the word gram, or village.
   
   Yunus denounces typical methods of poverty reduction, such as those that tie funds to skills training. And he acknowledges that he has critics in this regard. He writes, "I firmly believe that all human beings have an innate skill. I call it the survival skill. The fact that the poor are alive is clear proof of their ability. They do not need us to teach them how to survive; they already know how to do this. So rather than waste our time teaching them new skills, we try to make maximum use of their existing skills. Giving the poor access to credit allows them to immediate put into practice the skills they already know - to weave, husk rice patty, raise cows, peddle a rickshaw." (p. 140).



4. On a recent flight, I read an outstanding book called Banker to the Poor Microlending and the Battle Against World Poverty by Muhammad Yunus. Muhammad taught economics at the University of Bangladesh and saw the poverty around him and felt that that his theoretical work at the university was not solving the problem. What he saw was the small amounts of money loaned to people to allow them to start their business or raw materials could have a huge impact.
   
   He started Grameen Bank and started making micro-credit loans to people in groups using the social pressure to make sure everyone repays their loans. His first loans he saw that 42 people needed $27.00 to buy raw materials and this was his first loan. He had tremendous success repaying the loans and has since grown to almost 2,000 branches and a staff of 11,000 which has loaned $3.9 billion with a recovery rate of 98%.
   
   Impressive results with limited resources.
   
   This is a true book of hope and definitely worth reading.



5. This books shows us that the lack of access to credit for the poorest of the poor is possibly as bad as lack of food. Without some access to credit they have absolutely no chance to ever get out of the revolving situation that will absorb then and their children. It's a vicious cycle of poverty that will be perpetuated unless they are given a chance to break it. And they all want to break it. Not for themselves, but for their future generations, which will incrementally improve their situation.

5 comments about Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.

1. A wonderful little book, and easy to read. This reflective little book looks into what "God's will" means in a practical modern life through a personal exploration of the author's own life. If you are looking for an insightful meditation on vocation and work, you will very much enjoy this book!



2. A fantastic book!
   
   This book has been my default purchase for people that are going through tough times, or people that are at a point of change in their lives (or should be). It is free of the "you-can-do-it-all" fluffiness. It brings a real, truthful and deep approach to life.
   
   This is the kind of book that you not only read the words, but the spaces between the words. Great, great stuff. One of my all-time favorites.



3. Books make great gifts. This is the one I give most often. I love Palmer's writing style and his message. As with his other books, Let Your Life Speak is well-organized and the concepts well developed.
   
   In this era, in this culture, there are countless forces that urge us to ask the wrong question-- What should I do with my life? That question and related ones are evidence of the distorting, external pressures (oughts) that surround us. A more organic approach is, in Palmer's words, "Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you."
   
   "Vocation," or calling, is a birthright gift to be received, not a goal to be achieved. Enabling its receipt requires that we listen to the voice inside each of us. True identity results from listening well, with effective service the extension of that knowledge.
   
   The search for true self must not end with one's gifts. The journey into darkness, one's shadow, must be undertaken to complete the quest for authentic self. Those that befriend what they discover become whole and are least likely to project onto others. Finding one's vocation benefits everyone.
   
   Palmer rightfully connects authenticity with social movements. Having found and united with other authentic individuals, those in a movement "refuse to sit at the back of the bus." The perturbed system yields to the logic of the movement, with many benefiting from the shift. The individual path toward true self not only rewards the pilgrim, its positive effects radiate in every-widening circles to even influence nation states.
   
   I highly recommend this wisdom-filled book.
   
   --Jack H. Bender, author of Disregarded: Transforming the School and Workplace through Deep Respect and Courage



4. I read this book at the suggestion of a counselor who is helping me through depression and lack of interest in my career. While I was touched by his insights and authenticity, I was nagged by the practical aspect (or lack thereof) of letting your life speak. Palmer seemed to have an endless amount of time and resources to find his true calling in life. How does this apply to people who struggle just to put food on the table, who lack the means to get a higher education, or who have a family to support? Palmer's journey seems to be a luxury that many can't afford. Also, he seems to gloss over the difficulties involved in discovering that you picked the wrong path- not only for the self, but for all the others involved (spouse, children, friends).
   
   A lovely book, but too "pie in the sky" for me.



5. When Parker Palmer wrote Let Your Life Speak, I doubt he expected me to endorse its message of differentiation. In fact, he probably wasn't thinking of his effort being cast as an entrepreneurial tool of any sort.
   
   That's because the book is intended to help readers take on spiritual issues, such as finding a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives.
   
   It's not a "how to" manual. There are no step-by-step instructions, nor pages titled "The Four Things You NEED TO KNOW about Vocation." Instead, the book is mostly about him: the zig-zags his life took as he learned (many times, the hard way) the nature of his true self. He uses his own personal journey to illustrate the nature of vocation, and the conflicts that confront us as we seek to understand it.
   
   It's quite a journey -- he leaves UC Berkeley to become a Washington D.C. based community organizer, and from there goes on to become a Quaker, and then a writer, speaker, and activist.
   
   If you're going through a period where you're asking questions like why you're here on this earth, his reflections will be meaningful to you.
   
   If you're trying to figure out how to get more leads and sell more stuff, you've come to the good part. He writes:
   
   Our problem as Americans... is that we resist the very idea of limits.... Our national myth is about the endless defiance of limits.... We refuse to take no for an answer.
   
   Perseverance is vital, and it's important to know real limits from apparent limits. But, unless we take some time to reflect on who we are, of what we do well, and what we're passionate about, our temptation (and cultural inclination) is to try to be all things to all people.
   
   Many years ago, Jack Trout wrote Differentiate or Die.
   
   What I'm writing, right now, is that your differentiation must harness your passion. If you're not sure what it is or where it's coming from, you could do much worse than to spend some time reading this 109 page book.

5 comments about Investing For Dummies, Fifth edition.

1. I bought this for my daughter, who is taking this a college course.
   She seems to be happy with it. She asked for this book it as the instructor told her she needed it for the class. Sorry I can't give you more info but I am sure it's a good book.
   
   Kathy in Las Vegas



2. I wanted to start investing and read somewhere you should first do some studies. That's when I came across this book. Very well written, and in simple to understand language. I used to dread 401K, IRA, Mutual Funds, Bonds. Now I am confident I know about them and what I am investing into.
   Showed new ways to look at debts, as to if I clear my debt sooner, I am investing in something which gives be interest equal to the interest I pay the bank.
   
   I would recommend this book to all who want to get into investing but are hesitant or don't know where to get information from.



3. I've read several "for Dummies" books, and in general the entire series is well written, concise, and gives you what you really need. However, I was very disappointed in this one. The book is really dedicated to the three methods of building wealth: equity (stocks, mutual funds, etc.), real estate, and small business. But there isn't enough info on any of the three subjects to do much with. You're better off getting a separate book on real estate if you plan on pursuing that. And nothing he says regarding small business is of much use to accomplish anything. That leaves stocks, bonds and mutual funds, which is what most users would purchase this book for. Regarding that, if you are completely new to mutual funds then this is the book for you as it will explain the basics. However, if you are beyond the very basics (i.e.; "What is a mutual fund?"), and are looking to seriously invest, then I think you'll be disappointed. And if you are looking to get into buying stocks directly, then this book seriously falls short. The entire section on stocks really just explains a canned stock report from a given company. Utterly useless unless you plan on subscribing to that service. No talk of forward PE's, valuation, etc.. Also, the author's continual insistence that you should stay in mutual funds because you "can't beat the market" since there are so many pros out there is utterly ridiculous. There are many gurus out there that have proven track records of generating higher than average returns. Just emulating Warren Buffet's portfolio will do that.
   
   I was looking for a book to dig more into stock valuation, company analysis, etc. and this book barely even touched on any of that beyond definitions. I wouldn't even call it Finance 101, since there is very little about monetary policy, bonds, interest rates, etc.. If you've picked out at least one mutual fund in your life (or purchased a stock directly), then this book is way too simple. If you tremble at the thought of picking a mutual fund and have no financial sense whatsoever, then this is your book.



4. Great book, lays it all out in terms I can understand. I started investing based on this book, and I refer to it often.



5. I didn't think reading about money/investing could ever be this fun or interesting. Straight talk and clear definitions for all the finance jargon.

5 comments about Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest in, That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!.

1. Excellent book for starters on the way to financial freedom or people who would prefer to be inspired by common sense approach intellect that provides a base to slingshot their financial freedom and start getting out of the rat race



2. Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest in, That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!
   
   Robert Kiyosaki has openned my eyes: after being 15 year working for several companies as Corporate Treasurer, Senior Operations Controller and responsible for starting-up several buisness units for my employer, I finally was inspired by Kiyosaki's Guide to investing and how you can create your own money, creating assets without buying them, going through a transformation process "trash to cash".
   
   I look at Financial Statements from a different perspective, not as a means of informing someone else of the company's performance, but as someone who would be an inside investor.
   
   This book is really great!!



3. I really liked this book. If you liked Rich Dad, Poor Dad, then you should get this book. It is very informative and interesting.



4. I like Robert Kiyosaki's idea of an eight-part model for a business. He calls it the BI Triangle, which says that a business is a system of systems. The BI Triangle is a big leap forward for all aspiring entrepreneurs. It establishes finite boundaries on what it takes to run a successful business. As far as I know, no other writer has been able to express these boundaries so succinctly.
   
   The BI Triangle's power comes from its unprecedented combination of comprehensiveness, finiteness and simplicity. Before Mr. Kiyosaki, nearly all business books were written by two categories of writers:
   
   1)Overly-specialized, non-comprehensive-thinking employee-or-consultant-gurus who couldn't see the forest for the trees, or
   2)Overly-generalized, non-educator-entrepreneurs who could see the forest but couldn't describe it in a way that was understandable to others.
   
   Seldom (if ever) is a business book written by an entrepreneur who also happens to be an educator. As a result, the business sections of most bookstores are vast collections of specialized "marketing" books written by self-proclaimed marketing gurus, "strategy" books by strategy gurus, "sales" books by sales gurus, and so on. None of these overly-specialized authors have been able put the entire concept of business together into a universal, comprehensive and succinct package - none except Robert Kiyosaki.
   
   This lack of succinct comprehensiveness within the business world is the main reason why entrepreneurship has been so scary for so many. This must have been how the mariners of Europe felt before the voyages of Columbus. Starting a new business, just like sailing off into the sunset, used to seem like a never-ending dangerous quest into an unknown (and unknowable) abyss. That's why most mariners used to stay within sight of the shore. To them, the risk of sailing into the sunset was infinite because the scope of possible outcomes was also infinite. This isn't surprising since many of them thought the earth was an infinitely-extended flat plane.
   
   But something amazing happened when Columbus returned from his adventures. He proved to his fellow mariners that the earth was finite, not infinite - he showed them that the earth was actually a sphere, and not an infinitely extended plane. The others quickly understood the meaning. That is, a spherical earth meant that it was now impossible to sail off into oblivion. In one swift stroke, this knowledge massively reduced the risk (and the fears) of sailing into the sunset. What was unknown and unknowable became knowable and most importantly, doable.
   
   Robert Kiyosaki is the Columbus of the business world. He has shown that a business, like the earth, is also a finite entity. Just as there are definite boundaries to the earth itself, there are also definite boundaries to a business. This is a monumental finding - don't be fooled by its simplicity.
   But there is an important difference between the boundaries of the earth and the boundaries of a business: the former is mainly physical, and the latter is mainly metaphysical. In other words, the boundaries of the earth can be apprehended by the senses; the boundaries of a business can only be apprehended by the mind.
   
   The key to understanding Mr. Kiyosaki's ideas is the ability to see with the mind's eye. The business world of the Information Age is a collection of inherently invisible, inaudible and weightless principles. To apprehend them we must learn how to transcend the obvious physical inputs from our senses. For example, it's "obvious" that the sun "moves" across the sky. It's "obvious" that the earth is flat. But is that really happening? The mind's eye reveals a different reality. If you want to succeed in business, then learn to embrace the version of reality from the mind's eye, not from the senses. Robert Kiyosaki's books are an excellent place to start.
   
   If you really want to understand the way Kiyosaki thinks, then I suggest you read Buckminster Fuller's books as well.



5. I have read most of the books in the Rich Dad series, and this last one has been on my bookshelf for seven years. I finally read it this week, looking for some insight into the current (10/10/2008) stock market and financial crisis.
   
   This book was harder to understand and less complete than the other books in the Rich Dad series, and the chapters on the different classes of investors was basic to me, but that is probably because I've attended a half-dozen Rich Dad seminars over the years, read the other books in the series and I've played the Cashflow game, which I highly recommend.
   
   However, I don't particularly recommend this book. This is the only Rich Dad book in which I found the writing to be stilted and phony, particularly when Kiyosaki is recreating his childhood and young adulthood interactions with his 'Rich Dad.' Instead of speaking to me deeply as the earlier books did, I found the first part of this book to be highly irritating, preachy and annoying.
   
   Any other Rich Dad book is worth buying, except for this one. Rich Dad Poor Dad will set your life on fire and change the way you think about wealth and money. This one will put you to sleep.

5 comments about Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk.

1. Risk Management has always been interesting to me, and learning about the history of it through this book has increased my understanding tremendously. The book is written very well, and it reads very easily for the material being discussed. I was pleasantly surprised as I delved further and further into the book.



2. There are two things that I really liked about this book, and one thing that I didn't. The good things:
   
   1) The author's vast knowledge of the financial markets, from most of a century of experience.
   2) His extensive and entertaining history of risk analysis.
   
   The bad thing:
   
   His attempts to explain math concepts that he apparently doesn't understand very well.
   
   His history of risk analysis was a pleasure to read -- from Fibonacci and Cardano, to Markowitz and Sharpe. My favorite, was his coverage of Francis Galton, the man who measured everything.
   
   Above all, the greatest value in this book is that it's packed with the author's knowledge of finance, from 63 years of experience. He's 89 years old now, and appears to still be going strong.
   
   This book is well worth reading.
   
   My favorite quote from the book:
   Today's hero is often tomorrow's blockhead.(pg 297)



3. Against The Gods is a popular account of the history of financial risk management. The author takes us through a journey of discovery spanning almost a thousand years, from the introduction of Arabic numerals and the concept of zero, to the most sophisticated derivative instruments of modern finance. At each point in history when a great leap forward was made, the personalities involved are introduced, and the advances they are credited with are explained. All throughout, mankind's age-old struggle to measure and control uncertainty is seen to stumble time and again against the same, seemingly insurmountable problem: There is no guarantee that what happened in the past will continue to happen in the future.
   
   The book is highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand the origins of modern risk management and what the concept of risk really means.



4. My friends and colleagues have a hard time believing that one of the most entertaining books I have ever read is about risk management and probability. Yet, Peter Bernstein's masterpiece bestseller is just that. By tracing the development of risk through the ages, he sets the personalities of the key innovators against the background of the times, and shows the practicality of what they did and how it changed the way we look at the world.
   
   Most of my favorite mathematicians are profiled here, in witty and digestible bites of prose that often read more like a novel than a business book. The chapter titles themselves bear witness to the delightful style of the author: The Man with the Sprained Brain, The Measure of Our Ignorance and The Fantastic System of Side Bets are just a few examples. The segues between chapters and sections are also very well-done - creating a bit of suspense and making this quite a page-turner.
   
   With apologies for seeming trite, there is a high probability, at little risk, of reaping a great reward from the story told by Mr. Berstein.



5. I read this when it came out and thought it was pretty good. The first half, about how people figured out how probability worked, was really entertaining. The end, about how the geniuses on Wall St. conquered risk, is so wrong it's hilarious. Bernstein is a victim of what Taleb calls the ludic fallacy -- mistaking well-defined games like craps for the truly unpredictable.
   
   So go read "The Black Swan" or "Fooled by Randomness" instead.

5 comments about Stock Investing For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)).

1. Like it says, it's stock investing for dummies. Not only will you get explanations for key terms that you will encounter, you also will be taught how to look at numbers on a balance sheet, and decode what story the balance sheet is telling you. The way this book is written is very novice-friendly, you won't have to worry about being lost or not being able to understand some words. I can see how the more "advanced" investors might flip through the pages going "I already know that...." But like the title says, It's for dummies. If you know nothing about investing and want to know more, this is a great start. However, If you want to take it to the next level, I recommend a successful mentor.



2. This book is fantastic. It covers all the basic fundamentals, provides resources to learn more about every area, and covers every broad aspect of evaluating a company. You learn about company fundamentals, accounting formulas, economic indicators, political signs, trends, and much more. Probably the best beginning book on stock trading I've read, and I have read many.
   
   Not only that, but the author's results speak for themselves. The 1st edition was written in 2005, and he made several predictions, every one of which came true. In the book he mentioned that according to his research silver would be in very high demand in the next few years - then showed the indicators to prove it. Silver then went on to go from $7 to $17 currently, over 30% annual growth. He accurately predicted the internet stock bust in 2001, the housing bust, the rise of silver, the rise of oil, the collapse of financial service companies, and the rise of commodities.
   
   Obviously results alone don't mean anything, but when taken with the strategies he teaches, it's very clear that this guy knows what he's doing.



3. I liked the book and thouht it was really good, some stuff I didn't think about was menioned in this book, even though its for Dummies :-)



4. It has basiclly very much everything to know about stocks. For newbie like me, I'm glad that I got this book. It shows u from buy to sell stocks and what matters would happen.



5. Time is an important asset. Invest your time in this excelent masterpiece, it will be your first good investment of many.
   
   Two considerations:
   
   Specalutors are not welcome here, this is pure investment for dummies. Aggresive tactics only in a conservative macro-enviroment.
   
   Investment could be very hard if you like, but like all things in life, it is best to keep it simple. Paul's book will be always in your hands when your strategies became too complex, heping advanced investors return to the basics.
   
   
   (Sorry for my english, is not my primary language)

5 comments about The Interpretation of Financial Statements.

1. Yes it is a classic but it is also old and outdated - this is what you are buying when you buy this book. A new book entitle Warren Buffett and the Interpretation of Financial Statements is far more timely book.



2. A short, concise explanation of financial statements by one of the all-time great investors/teachers - Ben Graham. A bit dated today but much of it is still relevant. Since Graham occasionally assumes a knowledge of investing which may be somewhat beyond the novice investor, HOWEVER, if you can't follow the book you're NOT ready to begin investing (go back and get a simpler text until you can understand ALL of this short work - THEN you're ready to put good money at hazard in the Financial Markets).



3. A book that really makes you think. Benjamin Graham does it again. After reading The Intelligent Investor I had to find something else written by Graham. This book is full of everything you would need to know to start your analyzation of a companies books or balance sheets. Very informative!



4. This book is a brief summary of how to interpret financial statements. While the book has some good points my main complaint is with its brevity. It also appears this book is best suited for those already familiar with the subject, perhaps as a short reminder of what to look for in financial statements.
   
   I think this book would have been better if it had been expanded somewhat and possibly also if it had been included in either the book Security Analysis or in The Intelligent Investor. You should also note that this book is from 1937 and both accounting terminology and standards have changed somewhat since then, as have the types of businesses that exist.
   
   If you are looking for a book that explains accounting really well at a beginner's level then I would instead recommend: Financial Statements by Thomas Ittelson. If you are looking for a book that reviews in more depth the interpretation of financial statements I would recommend: Analysis for Financial Management by Robert Higgins.



5. "In 1984, [Warren] Buffet returned to Columbia to give a speech commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of "Security Analysis". During that speech, he presented his own investment record as well as those of Ruane, Knapp, and Schloss [other successful investment managers who were students of Graham at Columbia]. In short, each of these men posted investment results that blew away the returns of the overall market. Buffett noted that each of the portfolios varied greatly in the number and type of stocks, but what did not vary was the managers' adherence to Graham's investment principles."
   
   It is difficult to encapsulate Benjamin Graham's investing style in a few sentences or paragraphs. Readers are strongly urged to refer to his "The Intelligent Investor" to obtain a more thorough understanding of his investment principles.
   
   In brief, the essence of Graham's value investing is that any investment should be worth substantially more than an investor has to pay for it. He believed in thorough analysis, which we would call fundamental analysis. He sought out companies with strong balance sheets, or those with little debt, above-average profit margins, and ample cash flow. (For more insight, see Introduction To Fundamental Analysis and Testing Balance Sheet Strength.)
   
   He coined the phrase "margin of safety" to explain his common-sense formula that seeks out undervalued companies whose stock prices are temporarily down, but whose fundamentals, for the long run, are sound. The margin of safety on any investment is the difference between its purchase price and its intrinsic value. The larger this difference is (purchase price below intrinsic), the more attractive the investment - both from a safety and return perspective - becomes. The investment community commonly refers to these circumstances as low value multiple stocks (P/E, P/B, P/S).
   
   Graham also believed that market valuations (stock prices) are often wrong. He used his famous "Mr. Market" parable to highlight a simple truth: stock prices will fluctuate substantially in value. His philosophy was that this feature of the market offers smart investors "an opportunity to buy wisely when prices fall sharply and to sell wisely when they advance a great deal."

5 comments about Financial Peace Revisited.

1. Ramsey offers some good thoughts, but the examples offered are at best questionable. First, I agree that debt is a burden when used incorrectly, but Ramsey seems to tag debt itself as an immoral product of lenders. Debt does not have a moral character; debt is a tool, much like a pick or shovel, when used correctly it has benefits, when incorrectly it can create problems. Ramsey offers this advice when buying a car without cash to purchase. Buy a '$5700' car to arrange for payments of $100, rather than a new $23,000 car with payments of $300. Invest the difference, $200, for seven years to save for the next car. Ramsey uses an investment return rate of 10%. I can't think of any reasonable investments that will yield an average of 10% a year for seven years, especially with an initial investment of $200. Nearly all cars in a recent search of AutoTrader.com in such a price range had well in excess of 100k miles and many were nearly 10 years old. Maintaining a car with age or mileage such as these would be an expense that would likely exceed the savings of $200 per month, unless you are good at car repair. Nor does Ramsey comment on the fact that lenders charge much higher rates on older used cars, rates of 18% (or more) are likely. A much better alternative would be a newer used car, especially one without the bells and whistles, that would have factory warranty remaining. Accelerate the payments, if the payment is $350, pay $450 in order to retire the debt with as little cost as possible, when the loan is repaid, direct that payment to savings. Take care of the car and keep it until repairs exceed the value of the vehicle.
   
   Ramsey recommends investing in mutual funds as a primary investment vehicle. He then gives examples of the poor return when investing in the NYSE, stating that a dart board approach for picking stocks is nearly as effective as professional investors (he is right about this, because of the short time frame allocated the investment). I don't know who he thinks invests the money placed in mutual funds or what they invest in, but he again assigns the NYSE almost a moral character. Mutual funds usually have expensive 'loads' and have ongoing fees assessed against your investment. If you don't have the time to investigate your investments with some detail, mutual funds are okay, but a better approach is investing your money in the market based on YOUR research. There are many resources to help you do this that doesn't require a great deal of technical knowledge. Investing in anything requires your due diligence and on going follow up. Stock in solid firms that pay a dividend offer the opportunity for a good reward for long term investors.
   
   Buy 'The Richest Man in Babylon' and a good investment book, you will be better served.



2. Dave Ramsey makes everything so simple. I just wish I would have had this information in my 20s or even younger. It is changing my life. It gives me hope and promise.



3. I took the Financial Peace University class and received this book along with the class materials. Dave Ramsey is a special financial adviser in the way that his advice focuses on changing financial management behavior first and then getting into the more in-depth details later.
   
   There are a lot of reviews and descriptions here, so I'll keep my thoughts on this simple: check out the book, take the program, and you will not regret it. This works if you apply it from my experience and the experiences of those I know who took the class. This isn't a quick fix: it'll take you a couple months to get the hang of things and some time after that to get your finances in order.
   
   If you're serious about changing your financial future, you should really take the class, too. It's cheap and they are conducted throughout the country.



4. First, I feel that most of Dave's advice is perfectly solid, and almost guaranteed to get anybody out of debt. The debt snowball and gazelle methods are right on. You have to be extremely motivated to get ahead financially, especially if you are tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in the hole. His worksheets for budgeting, managing debt etc are simple, straightforward and will get the job done. Nevertheless, I have no choice but to ding the rating on this book, and give it only 3 stars because of one chapter that I find completely unfocused and potentially very damaging: the "Only Buy Big, Big Bargains" chapter. Here's the thing: I've never been in the kind of debt Dave and his listeners have experienced. Never. The reason being: I come from a frugal Scots-Irish family and materialism was always discouraged in my family. Frugality was always praised and rewarded. These are lessons I absorbed in my baby formula. My father's two uncles were bachelor farmers who accumulated a legendary FORTUNE by living simply, frugally and not letting themselves get sucked into the acquisitive, materialist mindset that started taking over this country from the 1950s and onward. Since they were the only rich people I ever met personally, I have based my own financial decisions on their example and folk/inherited wisdom. The number one thing they (and I) would NEVER DO is pay even a cent more than we have to for any type of depreciating asset. The chapter on Big Bargains in Dave's book rambles on for pages on how to get a great deal on a luxury car (that you would STILL end up paying 5 figures for!), implying that you don't *really* have to make any sacrifices to make his system work. This is just like telling a room full of alcoholics that they can still have an occasional beer, as long as they water it down with some ginger ale first. ABSURD. I have to tell Dave's readers that if you want to be wealthy, and teach your children to be wealthy, you MUST adhere strictly to the "Rich Dad Poor Dad" principle of investing in ASSETS, not LIABILITIES. Spend the least amount possible on a depreciating asset like a car, without actually buying a lemon. There aren't many individuals or families that couldn't get by with a secondhand Toyota Corolla, and you can probably get one with about 20 to 30 thousand miles on it for under 10K. NEVER spend more than FOUR digits on a car. That should be GOSPEL. My great uncles drove their pickup truck until it rusted and fell apart and they had no choice but to buy another one, to run the farm. They paid cash for a new truck at that point, although the dealer sneered at their ragged overalls and thought they weren't customers worth his time. Boy was he ever wrong! They were without a doubt the richest people he probably ever met in his pitiful life. You can get rich too, but NOT BY PURCHASING DEPRECIATING ASSETS. If you like "nice things" the way Dave does, then learn to like "nice things" that typically APPRECIATE IN VALUE: paintings, antiques, fine oriental rugs -- NOT CARS. Buy only barely enough car to meet your transportation needs. That's it. Ignore Dave when he gushes about a luxury care he got such a great deal on. He is totally brain farting on this one.



5. Every parent should make this a must read book for their child before he or she goes off to college or graduates high school. It will save them from many problems that face so many in this economy.

5 comments about How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else.

1. This is a quick, easy read. It is relentlessly positive and borders on corporate PR for Starbucks. I do give the auhtor great credit for his enthusiasm and embracing a corporate culture and hard work even when it might have been embarrassing or difficult.
   
   I came away, ultimately, with a tremendous respect for Starbucks, but not much regard for Michael Gates Gill.
   
   His great tale of being a normal working man came after he had no one to support but himself. I saw his Starbucks adventure as a second adolescence for him -- just him, his chosen path, and no other responsibilities. Was this really that different than his self-indulgent career at the advertising agency and the absentee fatherhood it brought with it? The author seemed to miss this parallel entirely.
   
   The author's great tale of personal victory came after he had already cheated and failed his family. How do you not tell your wife you're having a baby with another woman until after it's happened? Gill talked endlessly of the steps Starbucks took to respect its employees, but the steps he took to mend things with his family -- talking to them for a few minutes when they visited his store, seeing his son play lacrosse a couple times a year, emailing his daughter now and then -- seemed to fall far short of the standard Starbucks set for interpersonal relationships. Gill's coworkers showed Gill more respect and care than Gill showed his own family. He was never apologetic about his absenteeism and infidelities, citing his sexual needs and a cold marriage in an off-hand manner, as if that was plenty of explanation. At least he managed to feel sorry on a basic level about the apathy he had shown for his children's lives, but that was as far as his reform managed to get.
   
   I don't go to Starbucks, so I have no rooting interest. But I came away from this book with a solid respect for their organization and the way they treat their employees. I wish I could say the same for the author.



2. I really enjoyed the book and as a previous reviewer noted, it gives you a great amount of appreciation for Starbucks. The book is really about how a self-centered yuppie learns that it is better to give than to receive. It is more fulfilling to serve others than to be served by others. I never thought that a book about learning how to be a coffee barista would be so engaging and interesting, but it was.
   
   However, M. Douglas is certainly right when he notes that Gill has always been more devoted to his work than to his family. That holds true in Gill's second life: He is more devoted to his Starbucks family than to his flesh and blood family.
   
   Gill also skims over the topic of his marriage and makes no apology for being a adulterer and a cheater, though he does express remorse for not being a better dad.
   
   Gill's personal flaws and his seeming unawareness of them mar what is otherwise a very enjoyable book.



3. 
   About: Biography of Gill, an ad exec who gets fired, has an affair, gets his mistress pregnant, gets divorced and gets offered and accepts a job as a barista at Starbucks.
   
   Pros: Mostly enjoyable, positive, light and easy read.
   
   Cons: Switches from the present to tales about the past often and it can get confusing. Name drops famous people he has met (although this may have been done to set up a contrast between "then" and "now" in his life). Chapters a bit long. Says coworker Anthony is 19 and notes that Frank Sinatra died before Anthony was even born. This isn't true, Sinatra died in 1998. Epilogue would have been nice.



4. PUH-LEASE! Spare me the all too predictable story line. Educated yuppie loses high powered job- obtains employment at retail foodservice (in this case, coffee) outlet- learns to appreciate and live like the 'wage slave' schlubs. GIVE ME A BREAK! Anyone in their right mind, who has worked long and hard for a higher education, with excellent job experience and pay to boot, who has to radically 'downsize' to a lowly, servile teen job, would be in the throes of a major depression and highly dissapointed in his/her misfortune. But apparently not this buffoon... unless, of course, he can capitalize on it by concocting a bunch of B.S. in order to write a book about an unconventional topic! Like P.T. Barnum said, "there's a sucker born every minute." Don't be that sucker and read this drivel!



5. I loved this book! I could put it down once I started reading it. I am from Brazil and pick it up on a bookstore only for curiosity, but I loved it. Great reading.

5 comments about Quicken Willmaker Plus 2009 Edition: Estate Planning Essentials (Book with Software).

1. Ideally, one would use an actual lawyer for an estate of any real value instead of using a computer program to write one's will. However, folks will find this book and software program useful for small estates and for items such as Living Wills, Living Trusts, Health Care Directives, and final arrangements for burial or cremation, caskets or urns, and even epitaphs. The book comes with software and an extra eBook for Settling a Loved One's Estate or Trust. State by State guides included in the book. Large enough print for easy reading, and bullet examples and step by step instructions make it easy to understand.



2. Nolo Press publishes excellent legal products to help us avoid over priced con artist lawyers. This is no exception. We produced all the Estate Planning paperwork we need for just a few dollars. Granted, if you have a very complicated situation it might not be for you. But even then, you could do a lot with this and then have a lawyer look it over and save you money by doing a lot of the paperwork yourself.
   Besides, most people with complex situations have the dough to hire a lawyer!



3. This review is for the Quicken Willmaker Plus 2009 Edition: Estate Planning Essentials (Book with Software), and I will try to keep it simple:
   
   1) The software is easy to load, use, and understand. I do not do much work with software programs, and the programs didn't give me any problems.
   
   2) I was thrilled with the bonus executor cd-rom. I am the executor of my mother's estate, and I don't have any previous experience with those matters; it will also be a help to our executors, should the need arise.
   
   3) We like to be prepared for any emergency, and have back-up plans for our back-up plans, so the extra forms were right up our alley. For example, we travel without our dogs, so we need to authorize their caretaker to make medical decisions in an emergency, which also makes things easier for our vet.
   
   4) The book itself is extremely detailed and well-organized, so I was able to find answers to my questions without a hassle.
   
   We used another source to create our original will, but we used Nolo to make updates, and create the other forms that are useful to us.
   
   I think anyone would find what they are looking for in this package, but I highly recommend this to parents who are worried about their children's future in any scenario. You may also want to read Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law: Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions.



4. Writing a will is one of those things that I know that I should do but never get around to doing. It's not that I don't understand the importance of it, but I could never just sit myself down and do it. Besides a will, there just seems to be too many documents that needed to be completed besides a will - Health Care Directives, Power of Attorney Documents - you name it. For my situation (single home owner) which documents do I need?
   
   At first glance, this book can seem daunting - at over 600 pages, there's a lot of information there to look over. And the title of this book ("WillMaker") is misleading - creating a will is covered by about a third of this book. The remaining chapters of this book deal with trusts and all those other legal documents that you hear about but aren't sure whether you need them or not.
   
   I started the entire process by skimming the book - let's face it - if I'm iffy about spending the time to write a will, do I really want to spend the time to read about 200 pages of text? I'm glad to say that the book is an easy read - it doesn't talk down to you, yet is easy to understand. There are clear examples of situations to help you to understand the concepts.
   
   After skimming the book, I decided to install the software. I have a Windows computer with XP and found that the software installed very easily. After installation, I was given the option to register (and received a $10 coupon for my next Nolo product - thank you). The software also checks for updates (if you ever used TurboTax - it works exactly like that - every time you open the program, it wants to check for updates), and if it finds any updates from its website, downloads and installs those updates.
   
   The software makes creating documents easy. A simple question at the start of the program helps the program determine which documents you need. You can then create these documents as you wish. What I liked is that it uses a split screen - on the left side of the screen it asks you a question (i.e. do you have pets?) and on the right side there is online help that provides guidance as to what the question entails and what you need to do. Just answer the question and click Next.
   
   Included with this book and software is a CD that contains an eBook for people who are Executors of other people's estate. It's a 500+ page book in PDF format that while I don't need, is a very nice-to-have.
   
   All in all, this product can help you to overcome your hesitations in creating those needed legal documents. Nicely done!



5. I really liked receiving the book along with the CD. It was a great bundle. It has helpful advice especially when helping someone else prepare a will, which is my intended purpose in getting this program. It was saying that you need a witness to verify that you only typed what the person wanted you to rather than typing your own thoughts. I had no idea I needed a witness to prepare my father's will. I learned something in the first 5 pages of the book.
   
   The program loaded without a problem on my windows xp system. I did not try to load it on my windows vista as I've had nothing but trouble with windows vista and didn't want one more headache.
   
   There were all the forms we needed and able to print out. This program was not good in Louisiana. It was convenient to be able to plan one's thoughts and getting it on paper without having the stress of finding an estate attorney much less paying for one. Overall a good investment.