Comments on: 52 Books, 52 Weeks: The Top Ten

By: Ram

Ram — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:23:28 +0000

Trent,
How do you schedule your time for Reading several books a week? or even if it is one book a week, I find it challenging unless I keep 2 hours or more per day to read that particular book during the week. My trend has been about 3 to 4 weeks to read one book. I am not a fast reader but not slow either. At times the books I borrow from library had to be renewed or returned without completing them. I am amazed that you also manage to make notes and provide your review on time every week.

I am interested to know (and learn) your reading techniques or any other skills that you use.

thank you,

By: Mark Baker

Mark Baker — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:20:06 +0000

Wow. FANTASTIC list! Now I definitely need to spend some time reading these…

By: ruth foster

ruth foster — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 06:11:02 +0000

This is a great service – and great ideas for “stocking stuffers” for my 3 almost grown children (and me!). The kids each have an investment account set up by their grandfather when they were small. They have no idea about what to do with those accounts. Also one child has a newborn and is struggling on the father’s income. The 2 boys are now in college and I think they need some guidance that I can’t give.

Also I was wondering what they thought about Suze Orman’s (sp?) books and advice. She is on Oprah occasionally. And thanks to the poster who talked about the original book rather the “new and improved” version. Maybe I can find that in the used bookstore!

By: cjop

cjop — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:01:25 +0000

Not on the list but as good as most is The Seven Laws of Money by Michael Phillips. Your Money or Your Life is certainly deserving of the number one spot. I currently have two copies as I buy it at garage sales and give it away to friends.

By: tightwadfan

tightwadfan — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:52:40 +0000

The Tightwad Gazette is my #1, that book changed my life. I discovered it (in the library of course) in my early 20s when I was making very little money, had students loans and some credit card debt, and was feeling sorry for myself. Amy’s philosophy and ultimate tightwad examples showed me how to distinguish between needs and wants, how to figure out the absolute lowest amount of money I could comfortably live on and use the rest to get out of debt and start saving money. Best tips were the price book, cooking from scratch, and buying clothes from yard sales/thrift shops. Even now that I am financially comfortable and no longer need to use the hardcore tips I retain her philosophy towards money. I think she has the most integrity of the financial authors I’ve read – she refused to merchandise, and when she had reached her financial goals she retired ( I too wonder what she’s doing now but admire her for not starting a line of tapes and lecture series ).

I read Your Money or Your Life because it was mentioned in the Tightwad Gazette, it’s also good. The 10-step method in Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover is very useful but I really distrust his constant product pitching.

By: jthomas

jthomas — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:39:22 +0000

No room for ‘The Intelligent Investor’?

By: luvleftovers

luvleftovers — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:00:07 +0000

I recently bought used copies of the Tightwad Gazeette, Vols I, II and III. I’ve only read part of the first, but it’s great. Not everything will pertain to everyone of course, but I’ve already saved $ from some of the ideas. Now I have to get the rest of the books…

By: sunshine

sunshine — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:52:43 +0000

I’m with fecundity! The semester’s almost over, so I’ll be checking these out at the library. I’ll be sure to refer to this list as a place to start. The Tightwad Gazette is great! I bought mine many years ago and, for some retarded reason, got rid of it. I think I’ll be putting this on my Xmas list, right after Getting Things Done!

Thanks again!

By: Kim in Spokane

Kim in Spokane — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:09:30 +0000

“Your Money or Your Life” is the only book on this list I’ve read. (I checked it out of the public library, of course!) It truly changed my life, because it enabled me to leave the military even though I was within sniffin’ range of retirement. The post-military life I’d planned didn’t work out because the man I expected to spend the rest of my life with died unexpectedly. A decade later, I’m now in law school, very deep in debt ($130,000 in student loans), but very committed to working in public service. Because of my frugality, I will be able to afford to pay on my loans (it’ll probably be in the $1,000 a month range) while earning about $40,000 a year. “Your Money or Your Life” made me realize much of my spending was reflexive. I admit to the occasional I’ve-had-a-bad-day-and-deserve-to-buy-myself-dinner days, but largely, money is not my master. I credit that book. (Of course, it’s also possible that the lessons my parents, both Depression-era babies, tried to drum into my thick, self-important skull might have finally sunk in when I found myself homeless and broke at the age of 30. Every time I try to give them credit, they give me the credit for having the sense to listen … even if it took a few decades!)

By: jtimberman

jtimberman — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:34:20 +0000

At least now I’m out of debt[1] and have money to spend on these books :-p.

[1] Except the house, of course ;). And all thanks to following the advice of Dave Ramsey.

By: Along

Along — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:33:51 +0000

Thanks for the list, Trent. Been a fan of your site for quite some time and I must thank you for getting me into the habit of listing down my expenses and fidning out ways to reduce it every month.

Will definately buy/borrow The Tightwad Gazette. Sounds like fun!

By: MossySF

MossySF — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:22:48 +0000

2 of the authors of the #3 book post often at Diehards.org. A great place if you want to learn more about investing or have specific questions.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:20:04 +0000

Excellent list. I’ve either read, or heard about, nearly all the books on your top ten list and I think they are all good choices. The books I haven’t read I think I’ll try to pick up in the coming months.

By: Mark Dykeman

Mark Dykeman — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:36:24 +0000

Glad to see that the Wealthy Barber made it on your list!

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:46:41 +0000

I recently read America’s Cheapest Family and was surprised to see it on the list. I really enjoyed it! The once-a-month grocery shopping is more than I can handle, but I did extend my grocery shopping from one week to two weeks! I especially liked that it wasn’t written 10 years ago, so the info was very current :)

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:46:14 +0000

The Tightwad Gazette is my go to guide for life. Amy Daszcyn is a very interesting writer and gives voice to living frugality.

I have had Your Money or Your Life on my Amazon booklist forever and request it every year for Xmas. I am now officially going to buy it if I don’t get it– think I could cash in my penny jar at work for Amazon credits and be at least halfway there!

I have America’s Cheapest Family on library request– but I don’t think I’ll be all that amazed and stunned by the life choices made. After all- my OWN family is a family of 6 living on my $37K take home.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:09:48 +0000

Simply fantastic. Thanks Trent. I’m excited to get started on many of these. Think I’ll ask “Santa” for the Complete Tightwad Gazette.

By: Matt Wolfe

Matt Wolfe — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:57:26 +0000

This really is a great list. Thanks for taking all that time to review all of those. It’s been very helpful and about to order my copy of Boglehead’s guide to investing off Amazon…

By: Chef

Chef — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:53:25 +0000

Note to wife: see above for Christmas list

By: Fecundity

Fecundity — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:46:16 +0000

Thanks, Trent. I’ll be adding your top ten and a couple of the others to my list of orders at the library. Once I’ve read them, I’ll decide whether or not I want to buy some of them.

This was a very helpful series, and a great couple of summary posts.