What a great book. You will love the authors connection through his
creative and easy to understand language. You get the feel throughout that
the author doesnt try to impress you but rather provide honest advice based
on both experience and research. No doubt, hands down the best and most
enjoyable financial book available. The value of this book over a lifetime
is immeasurable. Thank you.
I picked this book up at the library and did take my time over it
(renewed once) but that is after reading the first few main chapters. Ane
reading other stuff inbetween. It IS easy to become more financially set. To
save money, live with a reasonably priced car and house (below your "means")
and bank the differences. Short term deferment results in long term gain,
don't keep up with the Joneses. Timeless quotes are given from experts
through history. Humor makes this a good read.
Basic math classes in our public schools would do us a world of good if they
just taught these basic concepts!!! But it took me to age 40 (like the
author) to learn this. Do I really need all this junk in my life?
Definitely a good graduation present for any young person -- if they read
it. I know in my head that putting a little away each pay will add up, but
it is that immediate gratification that can ruin such a plan. Any
intelligent person will see the basic, logical reasoning given here. I hope
people can be persuaded to put it into practice. Yes, you can cut up your
credit cards, or at least pay them off monthly. Thank you for a great book!
P.S. Buying this on the gooddebt website will give a donation to childrens'
autism research.
I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of eye opening information in it
and walks you through step by step. This book really makes you stop and
think about all aspects of your life and where you've been and where you're
going and where you want to be. We all have to start somewhere and sooner is
most definitely better but we can all still do it.
I will be purchasing a couple copies of this book to give to my sister, who
is recently divorced, and my future daughter-in-law. I feel that it is
something that should be passed along.
While I strongly agree with the message of this book, I cannot recommend
it. The theme of the book is that you need to save part of your income and
invest it to create wealth for your old age. This agrees with the research
in the book "The Millionaire Next Door," cited by Mr. Hanson. That book,
through personal interviews, shows that most self-made multimillionaires
lived on part of their income and invested the rest for high return.
The main weaknesses of "Good Debt, Bad Debt" are repetitiveness and
overwriting. The author Jon Hanson says he wanted to be an author for many
years. When he told this to an English teacher, he says she laughed
uproariously. He would have done well to have called her in to help with the
volume. The book could be, in my judgment, about one-third as long with
judicious editing and still convey most of the information contained. I
found it hard to read the last one-third. Also, the author self-consciously
and seemingly proudly coins new words and phrase, as well as "10 second
lessons."
The writing itself is clear and there are very few typos.
The message is fine: reduce your consuming-being in the "consumerati"-and
then invest, with real estate being favored. The author also shares some of
his personal history, including his own weakness in following this advice.
There are some brief descriptions of people who have good and poor savings
patterns. I'd like to see more-detailed case histories of people who changed
from poor to good financial management and the results. Because of the
repetitions, some readers might find some ways of saying things a little
clearer than others.
Overall, while I like the message, I don't recommend reading this book to
get it.
Oh, why does my review different from earlier ones? I feel this author got
shills to give him excellent reviews which, in my view, are not deserved.
Only one of the four other reviewers have reviewed other books than this
one. And two of the three apparently shill reviewers are in the same state
as the author, suggesting people who know him. So, I recommend you ignore
earlier reviews.
first of all, EVERYONE can use this advice - I think the debt load in
America averages about $8,000 for each and every adult in this country!
Hanson's book is awesome: it injects a little (much-needed) humor into one
of the most depressing and stress-inducing problems in the world: DEBT! The
"math" part of eliminating bad debt is easy, but getting a grip on the
difference b/n good debt and bad debt - and then feeling strong and
confident enough to actually do something about it - are areas where most of
us fall short. Jon Hanson will definitely give you a kick in the butt, and
will make you smile AND think! He's taken the best lessons from Rich Dad,
Automatic Millionaire, and a few other best-of-breed books and gone one step
further: his book is actually FUN! Definitely get it, and start climbing out
of bad debt today - don't wait!
Twenty years ago I had the opportunity to hear Jon Hanson speak. His 20
minute presentation helped set a financial course for the comfortable
lifestyle I enjoy today. I am thrilled that Jon Hansons philosophies are
finally in print. By following the principals in his book you will be well
on your way to a life of financial independence.
First of all I don't own this book. I just skimmed through it today at a
brick and mortar store. I was very pleased to see some one had written down
many of life's lessons that I've been learning the hard way. I make $35k a
year and feel like a slave. And that I am, a slave to my past spending
habits. Fortunately I am only 29.
Despite the fact that I've already learned the hard way many of the lessons
in this book, I still really enjoyed it as it confirmed many of the
observations I've made about where my spending habits came from and the
criticisms/cynicisms that I've formed of the advertising industry and our
consumer culture in general. He uses great imagery, a rare and invaluable
talent. Yes, we are very much like cows being milked for all we're worth by
greedy executives. However we are not really cows, so we have a choice of
whether to be milked or not.
I only regret that the author did not realize these insights 10 years ago
(before I had entered the job market). But such is life! There is a lot in
here that is central to the pursuit of hapiness, which I gather many people,
like me, have backwards. I am defintely one of the people whom he identifies
in the book whose possesions own the person instead of the other way around.
Perhaps it is a little too revealing as I put it back on the shelf after
skimming it, knowing that it would still be there whenever I decide I want
to part with some cash to give it a permanent space on my own personal
bookshelf. (I say that toungue in cheek)
Bought Jon's book on Friday and read it this weekend, cover to cover.
What a gift he has! I absolutely loved it. I only wish this book had come
out years ago. There are so many concepts that I am going to put into
practice to better my financial position.
I'm going to buy two more copies: one for my daughter and one for her fiance
(since they're not in the same town right now) with the instructions to read
it from cover to cover and then talk . . . alot. I don't want them making
the same financial mistakes I made and already I see that happening. Part of
the "me now, right now" generation!
This is Life 101 - Required re4ading for EVERYONE with a pulse.,
February 14, 2007
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Overlong and Overwritten. The message is good., September 7, 2005