Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book -- keep on bookshelf
Review: This is an excellent book, with a very detailed coverage of several topics. I especially liked the description of mutual funds, index investing etc. Her coverage of insurance, bonds, etc. is bang on. Her comments about stock splits are also OK. The book is a little long -- but you don;t have to read all of it, only the parts that you need. Seeing the one stars given to this book by other reviews made me wonder a little -- but a quick perusal seems to indicate that a lot came from the same person or persons: same address in some instances, same (often wrong) points, same alternatives and in many cases, same bad grammar. In any case, a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Especially valuable as a reference
Review: I have a lot of financial books on my shelves, and this one is the most comprehensive. Others may go into more details, but Quinn gives basic information about many useful topics. She also equips readers to function without expensive advisors. She's one of the reasons I feel on target for retirement.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I consider this book to be very much worthwhile. An excellent book, with very detailed information. As far as the "out of date" information -- there's very little thats out of date - maybe names of some of the mutual funds is all. I think the negative comments here come from brokers, insurance agents, financial advisors etc who don't like Quinn's suggestions on using index funds, being careful about brokers, not regarding insurance as an agent etc.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book with so many enemies!
Review: This was my first personal finance book and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to take control of their finance and investment. Initially, I borrowed it from a friend. After I finished reading it, I had to buy it for myself. I cannot believe myself to see so many people rating it as one star out of five. They must be people involved in the financial business who are afraid of people reading this book. Since my first reading of this book, I've moved to "Millionaires Next Door" and "Truth About Money", but I still think very highly of this book. I still recommend it to anyone who is interested in personal finance.
Rating:
Summary: it worked for me
Review: In 1992 I read an earlier edition of this book and was persuaded by it to invest in stocks -- something that was not such an obvious choice at that time. It was also something that I would not have done but for Ms. Quinn's careful presentation of the evidence for the superior performance of stocks over other investments. That pearl of advice has earned me enough to permit me to contemplate retirement at age 45. Enough said?
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, unbiased advice by a financial expert
Review: I strongly suspect that most brokers and insurance agents will hate this book. For years they've whined because Quinn has exposed the flaws in the investments they foist on unsuspecting consumers--including hidden fees, misleading promises, and conflicts of interest. But the kind of stuff brokers hate is what makes this book valuable: Quinn tells readers what they need to know to make basic financial decisions, and tells people how to avoid getting taken advantage of. People who are looking for quick-buck schemes (which don't exist) or financial psycho-babble won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive basic book
Review: Use this book as an excellent starting point for IRA's, insurance, stocks, etc. Only complaint, sometimes not enough detail (For example, the details about filing annual tax forms for non-deductible contributions to IRA, there is a brief warning though). I'd easily recommend the book to anyone who doesn't even know what an IRA or retirement plan is. Take other on-line reviews with a grain of salt, Quinn has little mercy for stock brokers and salesman. If you want to read a more aggressive book, like Given's "Financial Self Defense" and "More Wealth without Risk", do so, but beware there is some risky advice mixed in with some good. Also highly recommend "Millioniare Next Door" and I think Quinn would too.
Rating: 
Summary: Behind the Times
Review: Do yourself a favor, skip this book and read Ric Eddlemens books instead. Ms Quinn may have good intentions, but her information is very, very misleading and can be hazardous to you wealth!
Rating:
Summary: Too Generalized and Too Long!
Review: Jane Bryant Quinn knows something about marketing; pack a lot of generalized, basic information into a huge book and whammoo, suckers buy it. I know, I was one of the suckers. On the surface I thought I would be getting a lot of useful information, really, it was more like a overinflated balloon--just a lot of air. Even a neophite to financial education like my 15 year old son found this not very stimulating. Conversely, I bought "The Truth about Money" and "The Millionaire Next Door" and found these to be true five star material! I feel that financial writers like Jane Bryant Quinn are probably well meaning, but boring and probably broke people who are living paycheck to paycheck just like a lot of other people.
Rating:
Summary: Should be a novel, not a financial book!
Review: Jane Bryant Quinn s one of those well meaning, underpaid financial people who writes financial articles and books, and usually gives incorrect advice. If you like to read and don't mind blowing a wad, buy it, read it, and enjoy it as you would a novel. But don't follow her advice. That would be like hunting for "fools gold"
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