Rating: 
Summary: Sigh... her we go again.
Review: I was fairly critical of Ramsey's first book Financial Peace, stating in my review of that title that Mary Hunt's DEBT PROOF LIVING was better. I said Dave is good at inspiring you and has great ideas for getting out of debt, but Hunt does a much better job of HOW to do it. So, as a Dave Ramsey radio listener, I was excited to hear him say that this one gives us the how. Alas, it was not to be. All he did was take the best parts of Financial Peace and expand it with lots of testimonials (read "fillers"), giving the same good but too-often-flawed advice. He still doesn't tell you HOW to save for items like cash for cars or that new sofa (Hunt does), and he's way too fond of stuff to be giving advice to broke people. Also, I still don't trust his advice because he doesn't always tell you the whole story. Example 1: He often tells us not to borrow money on our homes to invest in mutual funds at 12%, because we must factor in risk, which, along with taxes, brings the return closer to 8 or 9%. Then, he turns right around and tells us NOT to prepay for college because inflation for college has been historically around 7% (has he looked at tuition inflation lately?). Seems to me that the same logic should apply in both situations. Example 2: I question his whole "average 12%" figure for growth of mutual funds (read "stock market"). I checked the history of the S&P 500. He MUST be factoring the Insane Nineties into that average. There are entire decades (1960s and 70s, for a start) where the return is much closer to 3 and 4%. Some analysts are predicting something like 5 or 6% at most for this decade. I do agree with what others have said about simplistic. The substance of this book could have been said in about 50 pages and a few good chapters. Then he could have gone on to give us some real substance about investing or real estate (in which he claims to be an expert.) That said, if you haven't read Financial Peace, then read this instead. Because it is better, despite my negative rants. Read this as a companion piece to Hunt's book. If you HAVE read his first book, then don't read this one. Just go back and read about the Baby Steps in his first book, followed by Hunt's book. Ramsey will inspire you to spend less, get out of debt and save, Hunt will tell you how to go about getting out of debt and spending less, so you CAN save. Take what you like from each plan (I like Dave's aversion for cars by credit, and I love Hunt's Freedom Account), throw them together with what works best for you, and you can't go wrong. You will be debt free and on your way to wealth before you know it! Lastly, don't buy ANY of these books until you have read them. Borrow them from your library, instead. If your library doesn't own it, ask about interlibrary loans. Then, if you like it so much you want to highlight stuff and dog-ear it and refer to it over and over, then buy the book. That's the kind of advice you get from Mary Hunt. Dave's advice? "Buy more of my stuff."
Rating: 
Summary: A little bit of good, but mostly fluff and common sense
Review: I was given this book by a friend who believes Dave Ramsey hung the Sun and Moon. After reading throught this book, I was glad I hadn't paid for it. It does have a very good message that too many Americans aren't getting: DON'T OVERUSE CREDIT CARDS AND DROWN IN DEBT. However, that is common sense and if Dave truly cared about his followers' debt problems, he wouldn't be constatly trying to sell them his junk when that money could go toward debt. Once you get past the credit is evil song and dance, you don't get much more than establish an emergency fund and buy term insurance. Dave Ramsey is selling hope, a little common sense, and a lot of snakeoil, not financial advice. You can pay him $20 for a book of hope ($25 for an autographed copy), $35 for an afternoon of hope at one of his seminars, $90 for a few weeks of hope at one of his taped programs at your local church, or $260 for a home course of hope. Ramsey sells his wares in churches (Moneychangers in the temple anyone?) and even stoops to selling a $40 set of CHILDRENS BOOKS with a his same message that anyone with some self-control and an 80 IQ should know. If you must read this book, borrow it (his legions are everywhere and will be happy to lend you one) or get it from the library. Please don't feed his greed machine any further. Everyone has the right to market themselves and make a good living, but taking advantage of those stupid enough to run up huge debts in the first place, and then wrapping yourself in relgion, is taking it too far.
Rating: 
Summary: Great read! Awesome book!
Review: I'd never heard of Dave Ramsey until about 6 months ago when my mentor suggested I read his book. I found out later that he also had a radio show. I know, I know...I live under a rock. :) (We don't have a local affiliate where I live that carries his show.) Anyway, this book gets you to think, which is the most important thing that it does. Does it give all of the most intricate details? Not always, but it doesn't need to. If you can't make your mortgage payment this month and don't have food on the table, do you really care about the intricacies of the ROI of a particular mutual fund? Hell, no! The most important thing this book does is give you belief. He MAKES the reader analyze their situation and does a darn good job of it. The stories of success written by Dave's faithful listeners are what solidifies this book, not just Dave's messages. I know I would not be as read to commit to fixing my own problems if it wasn't for these stories. They are key...injections of belief. God Bless Dave Ramsey and his audience for this great read. I'm re-working our budget right now! :)
Rating:
Summary: Straight talk and a proven plan from this radio star!
Review: If you're thinking about passing on this latest book from financial guru Dave Ramsey because you've already read his first New York Times bestseller Financial Peace, think again. Financial Peace is "what to do." Total Money Makeover is a step-by-step, nuts and bolts "how to do" kind of book. Dave takes the seven key principles of a healthy financial plan from Financial Peave and gives them a shot of adrenaline and a ton of muscle! He walks with you through each of the seven "baby steps" and shows you exactly how to accomplish each one. Along the way Dave shares dozens of stories from people who are working on or have completed their own Total Money Makeover. The result is a book that could replace all others on personal finance. Reader beware: If you're looking for the next "get rich quick" book from a guy with a calculator and no experience, this is not the book for you. But if you want an uplifting and encouraging book that will show you exactly how to build true wealth and will give you loads of stories from people who have done just that, pick this book up today! Dave knocks it out of the park with Total Money Makeover, and your personal finances could be doing the same very soon.
Rating: 
Summary: IT GIVES HOPE!!!!
Review: Mr. Ramsey has 'mixed it up a bit'. The straight forward way he presents this book keeps even the shortest of attention spans enthralled. Even the "Stupid Math" and "Myths" get you 'pumped up'. The greatest advantage to this book in contrast to the Revisited is that it offers REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE. This in-turn, give more REAL HOPE FOR LIFE! This isn't a book that just sits on the shelf. It's marked up, loaned out, and unlike most financial books READ!!! For some, you have to beat them over the head with the simplest of concepts. That is why he is on the air day after day, yes, after day. He is giving the same information but some still don't get it. There is always that one chance that one person will pick up this particular book or turn on the show....for the first time. You've just got to be brave enough to take that first step, "live like no one else..."
Rating:
Summary: Motivation mixed with common sense
Review: My husband and I LOVE Dave Ramsey and his 7 babystep plan! We heard about him a few years ago when Financial Peace was *the* book to read, and got very serious about getting out of debt (got sick and tired of living with it). We got ourselves on a budget, and spent the next 2 years doing his babysteps 1 ($1000 emergency fund) & 2 (debt snowball) - in other words, got focused, and got rid of over $25,000 in debt, and are now debt-free (except for the house). We are now working on babystep 3 to build our big emergency fund. It WORKS! No, he didn't invent all of the stuff in his books (he admits that openly on his radio show), but he packaged it in a way to appeal to the average person. He tells you exactly what to do and in what order. If you follow it you can't lose! The Total Money Makeover is the best book yet! It covers not only the whole babystep plan, but also spends a decent portion of the book exploding the myths most people buy into. He also has lots of encouraging testimonies to keep you motivated. Dave is a tough love kinda guy. He has the heart of a teacher and knows that while the truth hurts, it also heals. Dave, you're a winner in our home! Thanks for all you do to help people become debt-free! Keep talking!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Personal Finance Book!
Review: My wife and I are both studying Finance at a midwestern university. This book opened us both up to issues that were never even superficially taught at school! Highly recommended for anyone that is interested in personal finance.
Rating: 
Summary: Save Your Money
Review: Nothing new here. Weak and as they say in the world of marketing, "all sizzle ... no steak." You can take the first step to your own money makeover when you don't buy this book and save your money instead.
Rating:
Summary: Good Advice
Review: Some readers may find Dave Ramsey's writing style a little too "preachy" for their taste, but, if you can get past THAT, you'll find that the steps he outlines in this money makever are good ones. I enjoyed Ramsey's "Financial Peace", and I think this book repeats much of the advice he gave there, but he manages to do it in a way that is entertaining and engaging. His Money Makeover steps are by no means easy or painless --you're going to have to work at these steps!-- but if you follow them, chances are good that you'll achieve the money makeover you're looking for.
Rating:
Summary: Get it! Read it! Live it!
Review: The absolute best book you can get regarding finances! More than anything, this book offers hope. Applying these amazingly simple principles will forever change your life and your family tree.
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