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A review by inkerly
The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money: Thirteen Ways to Right Your Financial Wrongs by Jill Schlesinger
3.0
Well rounded
I got this book from my local library on a whim, so I can’t say I expected much. Though I was eager to know the “13 mistakes” smart people make with their money, and got just that, in a more long winded way.
A lot of the advice reaffirms the standard money advice I’ve read in other books, but with other books, there’s usually a lot more number crunching and step by steps to lead the reader, while this book admits that it’s not intended to be a personal finance guide in any way, and the best surmountable evidence for its talking points are anecdotes from scorned retirees or vague University studies. I won’t get into too much detail but while I appreciate the simplicity of the book, since that was the case I would’ve appreciated it if the book was at least under 150 pages: Each of the 13 points without the hard hitting “next steps” advice that traditional PF books take could’ve been explained in 10 pages or less!
I think the criticism that the examples used in the book mostly consistent of the author’s well to-do clients and upper echelon friends is valid. However, their stories were an interesting window into the financial lives and predicaments of 6- and 7-figure-naires who screw up like the rest of us. I just wish there were examples of younger people in their 20s and 30s and not people in their retirement years with nest eggs to rely on.
That isn’t to say any of the advice is bad . It’s well rounded and i will follow up. But I will probably hinge on a PF book for more step by step knowledge and feedback
I got this book from my local library on a whim, so I can’t say I expected much. Though I was eager to know the “13 mistakes” smart people make with their money, and got just that, in a more long winded way.
A lot of the advice reaffirms the standard money advice I’ve read in other books, but with other books, there’s usually a lot more number crunching and step by steps to lead the reader, while this book admits that it’s not intended to be a personal finance guide in any way, and the best surmountable evidence for its talking points are anecdotes from scorned retirees or vague University studies. I won’t get into too much detail but while I appreciate the simplicity of the book, since that was the case I would’ve appreciated it if the book was at least under 150 pages: Each of the 13 points without the hard hitting “next steps” advice that traditional PF books take could’ve been explained in 10 pages or less!
I think the criticism that the examples used in the book mostly consistent of the author’s well to-do clients and upper echelon friends is valid. However, their stories were an interesting window into the financial lives and predicaments of 6- and 7-figure-naires who screw up like the rest of us. I just wish there were examples of younger people in their 20s and 30s and not people in their retirement years with nest eggs to rely on.
That isn’t to say any of the advice is bad . It’s well rounded and i will follow up. But I will probably hinge on a PF book for more step by step knowledge and feedback