Wisdom Daddy Taught Me: A Path from Poverty to Prosperity

Rating:
Summary: Heart-Felt and Clear-Headed Advice
Review: As I read this book I realized that its title is quite appropriate and yet I am concerned that it could deter others from reading it. True, Suzanne Short does share "wisdom" received from her father, Sam Potter, wisdom which is well worth sharing. However, she addresses a number of issues which are relevant to male as well as female parents, especially single-parents. Moreover, in ways and to an extent I did not anticipate, Short shares some solid strategies and tactics by which to achieve and preserve substantial net worth.

What sets her book apart from those written by Suze Orman (The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom) and Thomas Stanley (The Millionaire Next Door) is its intensely personal, indeed autobiographical context. Also, as clearly indicated in her Dedication, her thoughts and feelings are anchored in a strong religious faith. According to Short, "This book is about parenting and conditioning. It illustrates how one parent with very limited time can exert a strong and positive influence on a child....[It] shows how an environment can be created to influence the development of a child....[and meanwhile] allow the reader to view the interplay between heredity and environment on three main topics that were the focal points of my dad's parenting: character, attitude, and money....The principles of honesty, commitment, and respect for others were themes of my dad's instruction.....Financially successful people embrace, understand, and utilize the money concepts Daddy taught me."

Short divides her material into four sections: Who We are: Character, What We Think: Attitude, How We Survive and Thrive: Money, and The Wisdom Ends: A Eulogy & History. These are followed by five appendices ("Interesting Extras") which range from "HINTS for those that would be rich" to "Why the Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Poorer." Pages 333-343 summarize Short's "Lessons" which are listed in alphabetical order. Although no index is provided, the alphabetical order of lessons gives the page numbers of where to find them.

One of the substantial value-added benefits of this book is the abundance of quotations which Short includes. Each is eminently appropriate to the context within which it is placed. Here are five representative examples:

Relative to behavior: "Children have never been good at listening to their elders; but they have never failed to imitate them." (James Baldwin)

Relative to being honest: "I always tell the truth. I cannot be bothered to lie -- You need such a good memory." (Sophia Loren)

Relative to patience: "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them." (Henry David Thoreau)

Relative to negative power: "Life doesn't reward quitting. You are the only one that does that." (Phillip C. McGraw, Ph.D.)

Relative to success: "What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down." (Mary Pickford)

Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? As suggested earlier, I highly recommend it to male as well as female parents, especially those without a spouse. Moreover, I also recommend it to recent school and college graduates (married or single, with or without children) who lack a solid grasp of basic money management principles. They are especially vulnerable to abuse of credit cards, living from paycheck to paycheck, impulse shopping, etc. Finally, I recommend it to any others (regardless of age, gender, or circumstance) who have never had a Sam Potter in their lives and thus lack the practical wisdom needed to locate and then remain on a "path from poverty to prosperity."

Rating:
Summary: Wisdom Daddy Taught Me: A Path from Poverty to Prosperity
Review: I love this book! It 's full of good sound advice that I seemed to have missed growing up in a single parent home. It's also full of lessons I needed to relearn at this point in my life. This book came along just in time as I am just starting to save for my retirement.
Thank!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I loved this book, it was very easy and fun to read. The short story format is excellent for people with limited reading time, and conducive to reading important sections again. As a child whose parents did not teach me about money, I am reminded of the basics by this book, and I look forward to using this book to raise my children. I plan on giving this book of wisdom as a gift to important people in my life this holiday.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I loved this book, it was very easy and fun to read. The short story format is excellent for people with limited reading time, and conducive to reading important sections again. As a child whose parents did not teach me about money, I am reminded of the basics by this book, and I look forward to using this book to raise my children. I plan on giving this book of wisdom as a gift to important people in my life this holiday.

Rating:
Summary: Angie's Review
Review: I thought Suzanne's book was a wonderful assortment of short stories that are easy to read and understand. I felt the Money portion was most interesting, especially for young adults because a majority of parents do not talk about finances with their children and Suzanne's book touches on some simple ideas that can help parents approach the subject with their kids and some easy savings ideas to put into practice while they are young. Overall, it is an easy read that will definitely leave you thinking and would make a GREAT gift for family and friends!! I thoroughly enjoyed every page!

Rating:
Summary: Angie's Review
Review: I thought Suzanne's book was a wonderful assortment of short stories that are easy to read and understand. I felt the Money portion was most interesting, especially for young adults because a majority of parents do not talk about finances with their children and Suzanne's book touches on some simple ideas that can help parents approach the subject with their kids and some easy savings ideas to put into practice while they are young. Overall, it is an easy read that will definitely leave you thinking and would make a GREAT gift for family and friends!! I thoroughly enjoyed every page!

Rating:
Summary: Respecting your Money and Yourself
Review: This book is a wonderful composition for young and old. I encourage you to read the book and encourage your children to read it too. It made me remember the enjoyment I had when I listened to my Grandparents tell me stories and speak to me about encouragement and good character. I wish there were more books and writings of this type available for young people and that books like these were a required reading material in school curriculums. The content is very honest,insightful and useful.

Rating:
Summary: For Children, Teenagers, and Even Adults all over the world.
Review: This book is amazing. The biggest problem parents have is getting children not to repeat the same financial mistakes that they made and this book will guide you along the way.

It's by far one of the top books in my library.

Bob Smith

Rating:
Summary: Wisdom Daddy Taught Me: A Path from Poverty to Prosperity
Review: This is a marvelous book. I highly recommend it for your children and at the same time I found tremendous joy in the reminescent sayings of my early youth. If you're an adult, you'll feel a sense of nostalgia having heard your parents or grandparents sharing their pearls of wisdom. Certainly, it's worth reading and recommending to others. Thus, my recommendation to you...is to get it, and you'll experience this book as you read it.
Jerry Capehart
President...

Rating:
Summary: Life and Financial Planning with Heart for Young and Old
Review: This is a marvelous book. I highly recommend it for your children and at the same time I found tremendous joy in the reminescent sayings of my early youth. If you're an adult, you'll feel a sense of nostalgia having heard your parents or grandparents sharing their pearls of wisdom. Certainly, it's worth reading and recommending to others. Thus, my recommendation to you...is to get it, and you'll experience this book as you read it.
Jerry Capehart
President...