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Summary: Grass Roots Personal Finance Monster!
Review: Grass Roots level explanations and advice that anyone can understand. This book HAS changed the way I handle money and view personal finance. Ramseys concepts REALLY DO WORK!
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Summary: Wisdom of The Ages
Review: A great book of common sense and financial wisdom. After I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down. It made me realize all of the financial mistakes and un-wise choices that I had made through the years. It help give me the strenght to believe that their is a light at the end of the dark tunnel of debt and that I could get out into the light of debt-freeness. I am now well on my way to being debt-free and this book helped give me the inspiration to tackie that great task.
I very much recommend this book for anybody that needs inspiration to get out of debt and wants to pursue a better life.
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Summary: This gave me a new perspective...
Review: I would just like to note that this book has given me a whole new perspective not only about money, but about life in general. This book speaks of "stuffitis" which I never really thought about until I read Financial Peace. Dave Ramsey also has his own radio show broadcast throughout the nation and he bases his teachings and counseling on Christian beliefs which apparantley, some people have found offensive. These certain people claim he is too political on his show and speaks about God too much. I say the whining needs to stop and the station can be turned. This is America and Dave Ramsey is proud of his First Amendment right and he will express it as much as he chooses to do so without the fear of offending someone! There is one thing you can count on about Dave Ramsey...he is very honest. Sometimes brutally honest but he doesn't beat around the bush and try to sugar coat anything in fear of offending someone. I can't believe that when you run out of stuff to complain about, you have to attack his radio station sponsers. I guess that makes him a hypocrit in your eyes. Whatever. He has what is called a business. He works. He gets paid. He gets radio sponsers. What Churchill Morgage advertises and what Dave Ramsey advertises are two seperate companies and ideas. People call his show. People tune to his radio station and listen. No one asked you to do that. If you don't like it, then too bad. Go whine somewhere else. Check out your local preschool. I'm sure that several 3 year olds would like to join in with you. Back to the point...the book is great. I highly recommend this "new perspective on life" book. I feel that I have become more confident within myself to become successful and to accomplish financial peace.
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Summary: Apparently money can't buy peace
Review: I'll start this by disclosing that I am neither a Christian or someone on the right of the political spectrum (both of which Ramsey is) however, I do own Financial Peace. It is a good bare-bones basic primer for those who are drowning in debt and are looking for a first step into sanity. I also listen to Ramsey's radio show and find that despite his somewhat abrasive personality, he has good advice to offer people. Recently, however, he had been spending a good deal of program time ranting about taxes and the politicians. I thought he should get the show back to its personal finance focus, and sent him an e-mail telling him so. Not more than five minutes later, he read my e-mail on the air in a childish voice and proceeded to throw a temper tantrum about how this was his show and he could talk about whatever he wanted and if I didn't like it I could just turn the radio off. Which I did. I was sorry to find out how little regard Ramsey has for the opinions of his listeners. And while this doesn't change the value of the information contained within his book, it does give me pause. Financial peace? Yes. Personal peace? It seems he has a long way to go.
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Summary: Problematic
Review: Dave Ramsey is similar to Robert Kiyosaki, in that he offers quick, low-on-content, financial advice to his readers. Much of the book is comprised of cheerleading, such as "tackle that debt" etc. The program is basic, somewhat useful, and easy to follow. He strictly asserts that debt is evil, that one must not heavily finance purchases, and that being debt-free is important. Great, but be careful! While Kiyosaki makes no bones about being a businessman, Dave Ramsey takes on a religious persona, maintaining that his vocation is a "ministry." The book mentions God frequently, and in his radio show, Dave says "there is no peace without the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus." This is "problematic" because Dave's advertisers are in the mortgage banking and insurance industry, hardly the people to help you out when you are in debt, and certainly not companies affiliated with churches. Dave has a program that he mentions called "Endorsed Local Provider" which he says is a investment firm which "invests his way." There are dozens accross the country. This means they promote only no-load mutual funds, and never insurance products. But call one of these places; they ARE insurance companies, which push Variable Annuities, and loaded-funds on the people that Dave refers to them! Dave has been (and I believe still is) in the Real-Estate business. He has an affiliation with a company called Churchill Mortgage in TN. In "Financial Peace" Dave asserts that one must only take out 15 year fixed mortgages after putting down 20% or more, yet Churchill specializes in "combo loans" and sub-prime products for low-income families. In other words, 100% financing. On their website, next to a picture of Dave, they say "don't let anyone tell you that you need to put down 20%!" nice As with Robert Kiyosaki and others, Dave is not qualified to instruct people how to invest. He is not a CFA, or CFP, and has no University training in money management. He has a program that "certifies" people on how to open a for-profit money-mangement advisory firm that instructs others on how to follow the "Dave Ramsey Way." The pre-requisites for getting the certification? Just pay Dave a hefty sum of money -anyone gets in. The business world is full of these guys, and they all look alike when one learns how to recognize them. No formal training, little background, comes out of nowhere, speaks ex-cathedra about subjective topics, solicits endlessly with a huge basket of products, etc. What makes Dave even more insidious, is the religious message he has wrapped up with his corporation. This message is necessary, because he has to appeal to the Bible-belt, and adding God to your message allows you to sell more product.
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Summary: Financial Peace
Review: This is a great book. Finally a finacial book that is for the little people that make less than six figures a year. Dave even includes people on a fixed income. To really get the best out of this book, you need to go to one of his live events or even his Financial Peace University. He holds nothing back. He will tell you that you didn't get in debt overnight and you are not going to get out of debt overnight, but you can get out of debt. Listen to his radio show too! Dave has given me hope!!
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Summary: I can't cancel it
Review: I did not order it yet it's part of my order and 8 hours later I can't cancel it.
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Summary: Very very good book, BUT...
Review: Mary Hunt's Debt-Proof Living is better. I like Dave Ramsey and enjoyed this book. It is a very good beginning primer for getting out of debt and on the road to wealth, but it is simplistic. Mary Hunt's book is much more specific and detailed, not to mention better written. An example would be the envelope system and saving for things like car repair. Dave is very vague about it. Hunt gives very specific details. Dave comes off as your typical business major, and is far too politically conservative for my taste. Hunt doesn't appear to care what your political beliefs are. She also comes off as very very bright. Another difference is the level of trust I have in the information they give me. Dave isn't always completely honest about things and appears to only tell half of the truth when it suits his purposes, using statistics selectively to prove his points. I trust Hunt's advice entirely. She also does not come off as arrogant, something I can't exactly say about Ramsey. Still, I recommend Ramsey's books. They are quick and easy to read. Good beginning books. I just recommend Hunt's more.
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Summary: Lots of P.T. Barnum, not much J.P. Morgan
Review: An average book at best. It addresses the most common financial problem among most households (spending more than you earn), and provides a common-sense plan for getting out of debt. The book does a good job of articulating the problems that debt can cause. And it has an empowering, straightforward message- there are no tricks to getting rich, but if you have a plan you can make it happen. That said, don't go looking for much new here. The book is basically a rah-rah "lets get out of debt" diatribe. And as a finance MBA I'm not convinced the financial footing of the investment portion is sound. For example, few finance professors would assert that you can beat the market by buying mutual funds based on past performance as Mr. Ramsey recommends (this is the "efficient market" concept of basic finance). If you are looking for thoughtful insights on specific aspects of personal finance (detailed tax or investment strategies, etc) look elsewhere. But if you are in debt and need some inspiration, you might like this book.
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Summary: A life-changing Book!!
Review: This book has literally changed my life. His approach is simple but very effective. I was up to my eyes in debt and in 2 1/2 years I paid off all of my debt except my house. His approach is common-sense and straight forward and I have given this book to 4 people as a gift. God bless Dave Ramsey.
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