Rating: 
Summary: A once-good book falls quickly into irrelevance
Review: This was actually the very first personal finance book I'd ever read, back in 1996. It was a good introduction to the subject and got me on my current saving-and-investing kick.But in light of the enormous financial changes this past year, I would only recommend this book to absolute novices. There has been no new edition since before the Roth IRA was introduced. The boom in online investing invites a chapter of its own, warts and all. If the author were to update this every so often, it might be a winner. As it is, what would be a five-star book in 1996 loses one star for each year without a new edition.
Rating: 
Summary: A great book, right on target
Review: Kobliner knows her stuff and her audience. She manages to communicate what are often boring, technical or tedious ideas in clear, entertaining and thoughtful ways. Whenever people ask me to recommend a one-stop shopping book for personal finance advice, I tell them to "Get A Financial Life."
Rating:
Summary: The first step on the road to stability.
Review: This book gave me the common-sense advice I needed to keep my finances on track in my twenties. The advice Ms. Kobliner gives can save you! I speak from experience... My wife and I are buying a $200000 home at age 26 thanks to rational management of or money in our early twenties!
Rating:
Summary: Good for all ages
Review: Its simply a spanking good book for beginners of all ages. Every beginner needs a place to start and that's where this book shines, and that's why it is so important. I recommend it without hesitation to all beginners of any age.
Rating: 
Summary: Good step-by-step financial manual...
Review: ...but that's pretty much it. While useful, may become outdated in couple years. Financial planners might be interested in it, because of the easiness of explanations they can present to the clients. Also, it can be one of the short books to read, if you don't have time or not interested in something more extensive like Ric Edelman's The Truth about Money...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide to getting a good financial start in life
Review: Getting a good financial start in your twenties and thirties can save lots of grief in your forties and fifties. Personal finance writer (and Gen Xer) Beth Kobliner covers it all: handling debt, banking, investing, insurance, home buying, and taxes. In a chapter called, "Living the Good Life in 2030," she also makes a persuasive case for getting started early on retirement planning. There's even a "crib notes" section that summarizes the book for busy folks -- though a savvy reader will press on for all the valuable advice that follows.
Rating:
Summary: One long and trite magazine article
Review: I was thorougly disappointed in this book. The information presented sounded as if it came from blurbs from brochures. It's as if Kobliner was trying not to be too technical or financial; she shot herself in the foot by being too topical and adding no depth. I would recommend this to young women in high school who read Seventeen magazine. That's the level of person at which the writing is aimed. In addition, the sub-title states that it's a book for people in their twenties and thirties. If that's the case, why does the author pretty much say that if you start when you're 35, which I am, it's too late; I guess I've missed the boat. Last time I checked being 35 still constituted being in your thirties. I feel cheated, too, by the fact that the book is very dated. It's the type of book that needs to be revised every year. It needs Web addresses, email addresses. The age of phone numbers is over. Don't buy this book if 1) you're halfway intelligent; and 2) you've reached Kobliner's middleage mark of 27.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read and not too technical.
Review: This book is excellent! It is conversational, and while it covers a huge amount of basic tips, it does not take on a condescending air. I would recommend this book to anyone who is just starting to think about finances, but who isn't really too sure how all of the institutions in our country really work. I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: A great resource
Review: I agree with all of the positive reviews of this book so far, and would like to add a couple of my own. This book is a great resource for anyone who doesn't know where or how to start saving. She includes several phone numbers and addresses where you can get more information on everything from no-load mutual funds to credit card companies that give the lowest rates. This book is outstanding in every aspect for someone just starting a career who doesn't know much about personal finance, insurance, saving, or taxes.
Rating:
Summary: An amusing guide for those who want a financially sound life
Review: I just finished this book last night. It took me only three nights of bed-time reading to knock it off and I am already saving money based on Kobliner's tips! I spent a couple hours yesterday and, using her suggestions, selected a health insurance plan that, based on my history, will likely save me thousands of dollars over the next 10 years over my current plan. I also have started a search for a better bank checking account and know exactly what to look for based on her advice. I came online today to purchase copies of this excellent and amusing guide for my sister, brother and a couple of friends. This book is obviously for those of us who haven't studied much in the way of personal finance (However, if you want another take on the intended audience, see the review by David Trust who felt patronized by the author.) Personally, I'm not embarassed to say I didn't know squat about money management before reading this book! Now, having read the book I will have to! tal confidence shopping for my first money market fund and first stock mutual fund, searching for a better checking account, negotiating better terms with my credit card bank, and selecting the appropriate insurance policies. I can now map concrete steps toward my financial goals of home-ownership & a healthy retirement fund. I look forward to the excitement of balancing high-risk with moderation in my future investing. If you don't know much about money and you want the security and independence of financial knowledge, reading Kobliner's book is a painless and fun way to learn. It will also most assuredly become a well-worn reference in my home for years to come.
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