Rating: 
Summary: Knowledge is power
Review: Personal finance is a subject rarely taught in schools, and so it's understandable that many may be uncomfortable when they have to face their financial situations. This book is for those people who feel as though they don't have control over their money and financial goals, and don't know where to turn to in order to get that control. There are many other books out there, mainly motivational, that prey on such readers, but they hardly give any practical or useful advice. Rather, they tell you what you already know intuitively, and make you think that you're hearing it for the first time. You don't gain any more understanding, and you don't change your bad habits.Eric Tyson helps you to learn about ways to save, invest, and buy insurance. He doesn't fluff up the book with lame, tangential stories. He doesn't try to sound profound when speaking simple truths. He sounds more like a teacher who is just trying to explain the basics of sound financial behavior. If you know a lot about personal finance, there may not be much that is new here; it's a "dummies" book after all. But all the advice is well grounded and he explains it well. Of course, some people will disagree with some things. Perhaps you don't want to invest in mutual funds (which he enthusiastically recommends) and would rather play the market by researching individual companies on their own or day trading according to message board tips. But to advise that would be ridiculous. For all the time and hassle involved, the average person may not realize any returns doing that. For the average person, mutual funds are a very good way of earning healthy returns in the long run, without much effort. I found his chapters on retirement accounts and insurance to be most helpful, but only because I didn't know much about the topics. He doesn't get too in-depth, understandably, but he covers the topics with enough detail to enlighten a financial dummy into acting wisely. I highly recommend this book to those who want to learn safe and conservative ways to handle their money and want to gain a clear understanding of how to evaluate their own financial health. It's a good place to start, but don't stop your financial education here. Keep reading! And even if you do think you know everything, skimming through this at the library might still be useful. I'm reviewing the 2nd edition, by the way. The 3rd edition appears to have about 70 more pages, and I'm looking forward to reading it soon.
Rating:
Summary: A solid overview of the basics
Review: This book is the financial equivalent of a weight loss book that rejects fad diets and instead advises you to stick to the fundamentals, such as getting regular exercise and eating more lean foods like fruits and vegetables. In this book, Tyson lays out the basics of personal finance, namely, eliminate "bad" debt, reduce frivolous spending, invest wisely, and start saving for future expenses such as retirement, home ownership, and children's education. He has no agenda to push, so he is free to warn his readers of the risks of taking investment advice from those who do. And it is written in a clear style that is easily understood by even the least financially savvy reader. Of course, some of his advice will meet with resistance in consumer happy America. For instance, he recommends never buying consumer items such as cars on credit, because the car itself (unlike a house) has no investment potential, and the interest you are paying on the loan is not going to further your own long term financial health. In theory, this makes perfect sense, but in practice, most people simply cannot afford to buy their first car with cash (not if they want a new one) and a used car can be a maintenance nightmare if the previous owner didn't take care of it properly. Other advice is questionable, such as buying your groceries only at "club" stores like Sam's Club. Well, that's nice if you're feeding an army, but most young, single people don't want to buy their peanut butter by the barrel and lug these huge packages up several flights of stairs to their apartments, and will gladly pay a bit more for the convenience of getting goods in quantities they can actually use. But these minor nitpicks aside, this is a fine introductory work. There are so many books out there on investing and personal finance, and it is a relief to find one that sticks to basic, common sense fundamentals instead of trying to entice you into the latest investment fad. In short, this is a terrific place to start for a person who wants to get started on the path to smart long term money management.
Rating:
Summary: Well-organized with easy-to-find, sensible answers
Review: I'm no dummy, but finance is not my field. Tyson writes with this in mind, as it is with all of the IDG Dummies books. I went to college. I've taken lots of grad coursework. I bought a computer on a credit card. I freelanced for a few years. (read: worked very little while learning my chops) Good move? Bad move? Who knows? I can say, I needed some answers. I was in over my head financially. With this book I am learning getting out of credit card debt and saving money sensibly is not as intimidating as I thought. I also learned I'm in much better shape than I thought. I learned to be wary of uncredentialed wolves looking to legally scam the financially vulnerable. You can't tell from its humble cover, but the book is packed with well-organized, easy-to-find answers for figuring how much money you've got and what you can do with it. There is a general chapter outlines, but there is also a detailed outline. You'll have no difficulty going straight to the question at hand. While the book is certainly for beginners, Tyson gives meat. Good debt? Bad debt? Does my consumer debt equal less than my yearly income? Renter's insurance? Collectibles as an investment vehicle? There is enough personal finance information to take the reader past the basics and into buying a house, saving for retirement, investing, buying insurance. He says loud and clear to avoid the personal finance counselor scam, that overall it is a sham and provides advice to benefit the counselor, not you and me. He explains how there are different kinds of investment counselors, but there are those who have interests vested that are about their bottom line, not yours. I fully recommend this book. Whether you are looking to manage a little money or a lot, "Personal Finance for Dummies" by Eric Tyson is a great place to learn. Anthony Trendl
Rating:
Summary: A really helpful guide for regular people
Review: I borrowed this book years ago after thumbing through my friends copy while in his car. What I didn't expect was the amount of useful, real-life, common sense advice this book has to offer. Later, I decided to buy the book for myself. When I feel like my financial life is somewhat out of control, I have found this book to give some refreshing advice about beating debt, help with taxes, and sound advice for investing. If you are an average person who wants to do better with what money they have, please consider reading this book. It's really worth every penny. It's one of those books you wish you had read sooner in life. :)
Rating:
Summary: A great book for those getting started in the "real world"
Review: I bought Personal Finance for Dummies just after getting married, and I found it to be a very useful tool for setting up my household finances and preparing my financial future. Although the book does not cover things in great depth, it touches on the many aspects of personal finance and gives you a good foundation for more topic-specific books like Investing for Dummies, Home Buying/Selling for Dummies, Taxes for Dummies, etc. I strongly suggest reading this before diving into these and other finance-related books; you'll come out with a working knowledge of the basic terms and concepts used by other financial resources.
Rating: 
Summary: Take charge of your finances
Review: This is one of those book that people ought to read if they want to get a better understanding of their financial situation and consequently taking control of their lives.. rather than giving control to credit card companies. This book is written in a clear style and does a lot of explaining about all the financial concepts and terminology a lay person need to know. There aren't any get rich quick schemes in this book. If you are serious about getting control of your finances, you probably know by now that it all starts with getting rid of high interest paying credit card debts. This book tells you how to save and plan so that you can pay off that debt and only then invest in a true sense. It covers all of you investment options such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, retirement funds and DRIP/DSP etc. A must read along with the Motley Fool books on this subject matter.
Rating:
Summary: Eric Tyson Does it again!
Review: Usually every time I read this book, I'm on the train heading home from work. Almost every time I'm reading this book, I notice a seatmate nearby reading over my shoulder. Why? Because this book has something for everyone who wanted to know about how to manage their money. Who wants to manage their money better? Everybody I know could use a little help. For those of you who have asked questions like "what kind of insurance should I by for life, auto, etc?" or "Should I be investing in Aggressive Mutual funds, or something more passive?", you must buy this book!
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Summary: It could change your life!
Review: If you have just landed your first "real" job or are trying to get your financial life in order, this is the book for you! Tyson uses plain English and entertaining anecdotes to outline the basics of investing, mortgages, taxes and insurance. I first read this book in 1996, and Tyson's strategies have kept me from making numerous stupid financial decisions (and helped me save a lot of money). Tyson's book was like a Personal Finance 101 class from which I went on to read Jane Bryant Quinn's "Making the Most of Your Money" and then more complex books about the stock market, investing and taxes. He provides a solid foundation without the bias of so many finance books. There is so much hype out there (mostly from people who are trying, directly or indirectly, to sell you something) that it can get confusing and intimidating. Tyson cuts to the chase and gives you the tools to put your financial house in order. You'll sleep better at night!
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Summary: Tyson does it again!
Review: Eric Tyson does an excellent job of providing factual (and personal advice) concerning all aspects of finances and investing. He has again made it easy to understand and fun to read!
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Summary: Awesome for Resolving Bad Habits
Review: This book was pivotal in stabilizing my families financial future. Eric Tyson gives you practical suggestions and handles most common objections to changing your bad financial patterns. If you want to recover financially, READ THIS BOOK.
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