Rating: 
Summary: A simple financial Parable and Primer
Review: "The Wealthy Barber" is a financial primer written in the form of a fictional story with characters who grow in the area of financial management and independence. I would describe it as sort of a financial parable. There is a lesson to be learned here and instead of telling the lessons in either a boring, or too-technical book, this author has chosen and woven a fictional story with a lesson or a parable. Cathy, Tom and Dave get together with the local barber, Roy who shares his years of wisdom. There are chapters in the book involving wills, life insurance, retirement planning, personal residence, saving, investments and income tax. The lessons are basic and conservative. No day trading here or get rich quick schemes. Seasoned investors will probably find this book too elementary and simplistic. But some knowledgeable investors might find it to be a refreshing, thought provoking, simple overview. The primary reader target is really the novice or the uninformed. For this group I would heartily recommend the book. I would even recommend it for teenagers curious about investing and financial subjects. There are so many people that don't have a financial clue, for them this book would be excellent. The message is easy to read, simple and easy to follow. After reading this book an excellent follow on would be "The Millionaire Next Door" which expands some of the same themes of conservative saving and investing being a path to financial security, independence and a comfortable retirement. The book does not have an index, which I consider a shortcoming for the reader's future reference. I would also recommend as a companion read "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" by Andrew Tobias.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent first principles
Review: This is the book I generally recommend to anyone interested in their future financial state or looking to get started in investing. It really is simple, and its innovative style (revolving around a few trips to the local barber-slash-investment guru) makes it a real pleasure to read. The simple steps and clear suggestions in each chapter give you an easy checklist of how to get started, rather than just putting it off. I really like the writing style and characters, but the strong investment advice is definitely an added bonus! The only qualm I have is that the book doesn't relate money and possessions to the rest of one's life - a real strength of a book like 'Neither Poverty Nor Riches ' by Blomberg. But overall, an excellent read for all would-be investors...
Rating:
Summary: The Wordy Barber
Review: There are true gems in this book and even though they are buried in a lot of irrelevant drivel, they are there! Do not let the silly modern 'reader friendly' fad of making any topic "easier", ' idiot proof' and 'for dummies' by the use of a conversation that is utterly off putting and idiotic, stop you from gathering the gems of knowledge in this book. Rise beyond that and get the BENEFITS!Unlike some recent popular drivel that masquerades as ' a road to financial freedom' etc, after you have read this book you have a detailed blue print that you can follow immediately and get yourself on tract to a secure financial future. As I said.. wordy, so 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: The sooner you read this, the better!
Review: Okay, I'll admit it. Before I read this book, I knew very little about money, how to save, what a mutual fund was, how to invest, why to invest ... all the information I needed to know in order to secure my financial future. This book may seem a little corny or oversimplistic at times, but I'd rather have things explained to me in really simple terms, than to be left *thinking* I understood, but not being sure... I also learned how important it is to start putting money into my 401(k) NOW. I don't make a lot of money, but I recognized the importance of time in saving, so I now put 15% of each paycheck into my 401(k), and I put about $100 per month into a mutual fund. I already have almost $2000 in my 401(k), and much more in my mutual funds. I know I have a long way to go to retirement, but I want to retire early, and I intend to do it. One of the most important lessons in the book is that it is never too late to start saving - nor is it too early! Help yourself, your friends, and especially the young people in your life learn how to save and invest, and you'll have given them a tremendous gift.
Rating:
Summary: Well-balanced advice
Review: If you cannot decide whether you should own or rent a place to live in, the barber discusses this issue very thoughtfully, and this discussion will help you make the better decision. The barber does believe that it is possible to make money in stocks. If you have discipline and courage, he thinks you can actually buy low and sell high. The barber tells you to buy undervalued stocks and then sell them later for a higher price when the real value of the stock is recognized by the market. The author does warn you that you do have to be able to tell the difference between an undervalued stock and one that is unhealthy. This is tough to do. So it is not the barber's fault if you lose money because he leaves it there for you to figure out. What about buying low and selling high in real estate? On page 178 Mr. Chilton writes that sometimes it is possible to "buy it [real estate] at any price, sell higher." But in other parts of the book he writes that real estate prices won't always keep going up. The 10% solution is not enough, it won't get the job done for many readers. There are signs that inflation, after a long absence, is on the way back. It should be a 15% solution. I deduct one star because the book does not have an index. I think an index is very useful, and adds value to a book. However, on page 44, after discussing all the pros and cons of owning versus renting, the author says that buying the condo was a good idea. I became so happy that the barber put the new condo owner on the right track, I gave him back the star.
Rating:
Summary: Solid advice that anyone can understand
Review: Yes, the humor is corny, but I can live with that! Contained in this book is all the information the average person needs to make a lifetime of good financial decisions, presented in a clear, non-intimidating style. I'd read several other personal finance guides but Wealthy Barber seemed to pull all the information into a much clearer focus for me. Should be required reading for high schoolers, college grads, newlyweds, retirees and credit card junkies. Highly recommened. (P.S.: Reccommended by T. Rowe Price's Investor Newsletter as "one of the top 5 financial planning books available").
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, easy to read introduction for managing finances.
Review: Chilton's book is a must read for anyone over the age of 10. Written as a novel, Roy the Barber takes clients through easy steps to create wealth. He discusses everything from the new Roth IRAs to home buying, mutual funds, compounding intereset, investment strategies and how to save money necessary for achieving financial wealth. His advice is practical, sound, and realistic. Unlike most financial books, The Wealthy Barber is free from technical jargon, and encourages readers to take action now to be smarter about money issues. Even seasoned financial wizards benefit by discovering better ways to explain finances to others. Read it, and pass it on to your spouse, family, children and friends.
Rating: 
Summary: All I have to say is get on with it!
Review: I almost didn't make it through the first part of the book.
The first two chapters are a waste of time unless you are a Detroit sports fan. (And I live in Detroit)
The next two chapters talk about wills and life insurance and have some useful information if you don't know anything about either of these two areas.
Start on Chapter 6 for retirement
If you are already a home owner, invest in a 401k or some other type of IRA, and have some idea of what you do with your disposable income then skip this book. IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT, I must say this book has much more "real" concrete financial advice than a book like Rich Dad Poor Dad. If you had to pick between the two, select this one
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Idea Fails Miserably
Review: The 'basics' of financial well-being is an important subject matter to millions of people. However, the message is lost in the hundreds of unnecessarily words. The book (3rd edition) describes how the main character, who finds out his wife is pregnant, has an 'epiphany' and realizes that he needs to learn the basics of financial well-being (due to his growing financial responsibilities). The story centers on the main character, his rich sister, and a friend as they collectively seek the counsel and wisdom from a 'lowly' barber, who happens to be one of the richest people in town. Each month, while the barber applies his craft, he (and the associated peanut gallery) educates everyone (inclusive of the reader) on one important aspect of financial well-being such as saving periodically, the need for wills, how to determine the right amount of life insurance, etc. So allow me to cut to the chase without falling into the same drivel trap like the author. While the book does educate people on the important financial issues, it can be accomplished with 50 pages rather than 211 pages. By employing a story format, the book helps those individuals seeking entertainment value while gaining financial advice, but alienates those individuals that wanted simple, factual answers in a more commonsense approach. My recommendation would be to buy another personal finance book that communicates the fundamentals of financial well-being directly while covering more areas. The basics of financial well-being is living within one's means and investing wisely, i.e. the old tried and true concept of thriftiness and prudence.
Rating:
Summary: Great for a college reading class
Review: My take on this book is a little different from others. I use it as a text in a developmental college reading course. I use the book to give weekly objective reading quizzes. But, I also use this book because I want my students to see reading as something that can affect their daily lives. My students do relatively well on the quizzes, but what's really exciting is hearing my students talk about mutual funds, insurance, and saving for the future. The book really speaks to students who otherwise might not give their financial future much thought.
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