Comments on: The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Bringing Back the Book Club Edition

By: Megan

Megan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:36:57 +0000

I just got “Never Eat Alone” from the library and started reading it. I got far enough to know that a) I wanted to get a copy that I could write in, and b) that I would need to be able to talk about it with people when I was done (or throughout) because I love the concepts, but it’s hard to see how I could make his ideas work in my life.

My vote is for “Never Eat Alone.” If that weren’t obvious. :D

By: ESH

ESH — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:33:05 +0000

I’d vote Never Eat Alone.

Like others have mentioned, I love your site for the variety. Breaking down the book into chunks as little as you did for previous books makes it too slow. Perhaps do a chapter or two per week – one or two posts.

By: BB

BB — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:32:15 +0000

GTD and two posts a week

By: Georgia

Georgia — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:10:58 +0000

Trent – I only read your reviews and wouldn’t be interested in the book club. I am not into investing or networking, as I am retired and where I want to be – debt free and saving and tithing and giving. As my late husband said, “You never feel poor if you have something to give to others.” We made that a part of our life, even when we were deep in debt and it helped us work harder to be debt free and able to give more. Thanks for all your great work.

By: Dana Booth

Dana Booth — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:22:01 +0000

Interested in the book club, but clueless as to what book. Especially interested in trying to save when barely make bills as is (yes, I’m looking for another job, but is there any outside of the box thinking book?). Also, newbie investing. For example I don’t even know if I’m supposed to have our retirement evenly distributed by number of shares of each stock or amount of money in each stock (I would assume the later.). Just some thoughts; whatever book you go with I’ll try and read, but I do hope it’s available at the library :)

Thanks!

By: Curtis

Curtis — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:07:35 +0000

I’d love a book club on Getting Things Done.

By: Jeanelle

Jeanelle — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:06:14 +0000

I’ve only been reading your blog for a few months, so I am not familiar with how the book club and postings would work. But I would love to do Total Money Makeover or Getting Things Done. Both are on my reading list. Thanks.

By: Celeste

Celeste — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:27:14 +0000

Any of these books would be good. Even though I’ve read some, I’d be interested in other people’s perspectives. Haven’t participated in anything like this before. Curious to see how it goes.

By: SB

SB — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:41:44 +0000

All sound great! I would love to see more on “Debt is Slavery”.

By: Ellen Kay

Ellen Kay — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:07:13 +0000

I think once a week report would be better that three. I just read Monday Morning Choices and will read this again immediately!

Second vote is for Getting Things Done.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:05:41 +0000

I’ll vote for Never eat alone, 4-hour workweek or Getting things done.
I’d really like to read your detailed views on these – I got quite a bit out of the intelligent investor series, though I didn’t comment much, and I like the fact that it’s a resource I can come back to at need.
Thanks!

By: Brian C.

Brian C. — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:55:02 +0000

My vote is for Green With Envy, or Never Eat Alone.

2 posts per week for 1 month would be good length.

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:58:37 +0000

I think that this is a great idea! I would be interested in reading and discussing Total Money Makeover. Like others have written before, three posts a week might be a bit much. Maybe one or two instead?

By: Will

Will — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:36:33 +0000

Sounds goods, I’m in…

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:12:47 +0000

I agree with Joanna – could not get into GTD. Perhaps if you distilled it for me, I’d be able to use it, or some parts of it. On the other hand, perhaps it’s just not right for me. I’m not tidy by nature.

I read most of the Intelligent Investor posts – again a book I couldn’t get into, partly b/c I already learned a lot of his points through trial & error. He was preaching to the choir.

And Andy, it’s not always about “lack of sophistication.” I have an MBA, and I had to read some awfully dry, abstract stuff en route to that degree. Now that I don’t have to write a book report or pass a test, I can choose not to read authors whose style just doesn’t appeal. So in my case, perhaps laziness?

In any case, the same content in your hands was more palatable.

BTW, my hypothesis about the Intelligent Investor not being popular is that it was long, dry, long, technical, long comprehensive and long. I didn’t finish War and Peace, either.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:14:07 +0000

I think any of these books would be great to discuss. I am new to finance books and just finished Your Money or Your Life and loved it. I would be happy to read others based on your suggestion and discuss.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:59:23 +0000

Debt is Salavery 1st pick, Total Money Makeover 2, I have no interest in 4 Hour Workweek or Never Eat Alone. I’d like time to purchase (or more likely, get from the library) the book you choose so I could follow along. If I’m not interested in your choice, I’ll do what I’ve done previously & just scan/skip over that part of The Simple Dollar.

By: David

David — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:44:27 +0000

Trent:

For what it is worth, I enjoyed The Intelligent Investor.

@Sabine: if you disagree with Andy’s observation (”a BIT too sophisticated” {my emphasis}), do you propose an alternate hypothesis on why Trent’s review of it was less well-received than other book reviews he has done?

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:56:41 +0000

I vote for the Total Money Makeover; that book seems to have changed a lot of lives!

By: Esther Ziol

Esther Ziol — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:23:23 +0000

I would be interested in Getting Things Done.