5 comments about The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less.

1. I typically enjoy fiction, but the title of this book caught my attention. And soon after starting the book, Evelyn Ryan became one of my heroes! I won't offer any spoilers, but the book generated within me, and many others who have read it, genuine feelings for Evelyn, including respect, compassion, sympathy, and encouragement. If the measure of a good story is the ability to arouse that many emotions, then this is a really good story!



2. I first heard of this book on the Today Show. Then I happened to run across the movie on HBO. It is a good quick read.



3. I thought this was a wonderful book that came to my attention only after the author had died. The story revolves around a family of 10 kids, an alcoholic father and how the mother (sporadically) supports them by winning contests and jingles she (Evelyn) has written.
   
   While the story wouldn't hold up in this century - I thought it was a great slice of life of the 50's. Evelyn's journals and contest entrys are well preserved and entertaining to read. She must have kept everything!
   
   Underneath all the entrys and journals is a smart woman. She knows the power of the written word and also hooks up with a group a ladies that also enter such contests. These women are smart as whips - yet somewhat stymied by their roles in life - housewives. Contesting offers them a way to challenge their wits and writing.
   
   The father is a somewhat disappointing character - but somehow he even redeems himself, but you have to read the book to find out how!



4. I saw the movie based on the book first. Once I found out it was a book, I had to read it. I couldn't put it down.



5. This book is a real-life account of growing up in a large family with limited financial means and often rocky family dynamics. The matriarch of this clan is the prizewinner of the title. While raising 10 kids and keeping the wolf from the door, she hits upon a way to generate income by entering any/every contest that comes along. She frequently does win, of course, very often in the nick of time. The book was written by a daughter, who ably recounts the challenges and rewards of growing up in a family that lives so close to the edge. Her mother is a gritty, funny, honest-to-god domestic goddess. She is a prize-winner in so many ways--it makes this book uplifting without being sappy--good read.

5 comments about The Courage to be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance.

1. Suze Orman's Book is well written and thoughtful, that being said, she doesn't provide anything beyond common sense and basic knowledge: Stop accruing debt, live within your means, pay off those high interest credit cards, distinguish between good and bad loans, save money, INVEST YOUR MONEY. All this is the same material you will find in every beginning personal finance book, and online for free. The problem is that after peddling all these little trinkets of knowledge, with an over indulgent helping of self-pity, she doesn't help you make a plan or answer some fundamental questions. Like...HOW? This book does not provide the basic mechanics of how to do what she says, and gives no details on how (in financial basics) she got where she is. How do I redistribute my debt so I can pay it off (what is a good time horizon), how should I save money so I don't get burned out by saving, how do I mentally control my spending, and most importantly how do I invest the darn money? If you tel people to save and invest, you need to give them a hint of a plan (e.g., save 10% of every paycheck, but no more, so you grow to hate saving money) or maybe also just a single chapter on where to invest the money beyond, use your 401(k). Maybe one on why being too risk averse is bad. Ultimately, this book simply provides abstract goals, that require you to go out and get another book to help you get perspective on getting there. So just skip it, and get the next book.



2. I'm a little sorry to see all of the negative reviews this book has gotten, since I found it to be one of the most eye-opening things I've ever read and, by following some of its advice, have gotten my finances into better shape than they have been in years.
   
   Let me clarify some things. This is not a book for the financially advanced, for professionial money managers or financial advisors, or for stock brokers. The intended audience here is the "Average Person" who works at something else every day but wants to better understand how to handle their money. This person probably has credit card debt, spotty savings, and some bad financial habits. I had none of those things when I picked up this book and I still learned tons from reading it.
   
   The principal message here is that being rich begins with your thoughts. They way we think about money determines to a huge degree what we do with it, how we invest it, and how we spend it. I think no one will deny that fundamental truth, but Suze's gift is finding the ways to connect our thoughts with practical advice to change bad habits for the better. Many people could make a few simple changes in their lives and end up with a lot more money, and over time, that could mean real wealth.
   
   It is true that some of the conclusions here will seem obvious to the financially savvy. But I question the idea that this is all "repackaged common knowledge." It isn't. Her messages are of the kind that bear repeating. How many people still buy a $3.50 latte every morning, stick thousands of dollars in a bank savings account at .2% interest, and have credit card debt well beyond what they can afford? If it were so obvious that these are unwise things to do with money, fewer people would do them! Suze shows that it's not enough just to recognize financially unhealthy behavior, you must also understand your personal history with money, the way you have been taught to think about it and value it, and understand how that history influences your financial decisions. Her recognition of the emotional value of money gives her the edge over other financial how-to books, which typically assume that money is a raw numbers game. It's much more than that, and Suze is right on insisting so.
   
   Her most controversial advice is that you, and not a financial planner, must ultimately be responsible for your money, and I think a lot of the one-star ratings below are from frightened financial planners who know that Suze is onto their game. She does not, for the record, say that you should never work with one, but simply acknowledges that the ultimate responsibility for your money is with YOU and not someone you pay to organize your investments. I think she's right, and with all of the online resources available today, there's no reason to be ignorant about how money works in our society. A little more attention from you can mean a lot more peace with your money, and being responsible makes it much easier to make money grow.
   
   One of the best sections of this book comes at the end, when she talks about the importance of giving. I just loved her discussion of how important it is to give and wish everybody would read it! In our greedy world, it's a message that needs to be heard.
   
   I found this book lifechanging and hope others can too.



3. In Suze Orman's book / CD there is tons of excellent information. Listening to this CD and reading her book has helped me very much. I encourage anyone to buy this and study it throughly!



4. I won't say much but the book will help a lot of people who are lost about saving money or spend too much money. Suze's common sense is simple but it comes from personal experiences. I was surprised to learn that her father dropped out of law school to run the family chicken stand business. I knew about Suze's work at the Buttercup Bakery and her life after college. Of course, Suze does leave out her personal. It was only recently that she came out of the closet and announced her lesbianism and long-term committed relationship to her producer, Kathy Travis, known as K.T. Suze does not write about gays or lesbians at all in this book. She writes about mostly heterosexuals who have misplaced their own common sense about money. SHe writes about her own losses and mistakes along the way which has infused her with knowledge to correct herself and others from making the same mistakes. This book is to help and assist people in difficult situations. This book may help somebody out but it would be nice if she came out with her own autiobiography.



5. This is one of my favorite books and messages. I recommend it to everyone.

5 comments about The Best Investment Advice I Ever Received: Priceless Wisdom from Warren Buffett, Jim Cramer, Suze Orman, Steve Forbes, and Dozens of Other Top Financial Experts.

1. The book contains short essays from the best known financial experts of our day and it is always exciting to hear their personal comments. Having read through everyones advice, the twisted yet comfortable thought from Mike Jackson says it all; "..how exciting it is to be boring..."
   
   What I mean by that is the culmination of expert thought in this book: save early and save often and diversify your investing for the long run. Stay away from fads and short term schemes. To paraphrase Weissenstein, the more people try to hit a home run, the more likely it is that they'll strike out.
   
   Only a couple of the short essays were predictably boring - like Robert Kiyosaki and Alan Miller. However, just picking up a quote here and there from the other contributors was well worth the price of the book. I know I will be using a number of these quotes in the future.
   
   Oh yeah, my favorite quote? that goes to Alan Skrainka: "Investment decisions should be based on investment principles, not investment predictions." Continuously educate yourself so you are prepared for smart decisions and don't try to guess on highs and lows. Watching your money grow over a long period of time may sound very boring, but it is exciting to know you have invested your hard earned money based on the best investment advice you'll ever receive.



2. "Best Investment Advice I Ever Received" is a quick and easy read. It includes a lot of great advice offered by those who really know what they are talking about. Truly, these individuals have earned our respect. This is not a so-called great book. However, Liz Claman has put together a work that can be profitably read for five to ten minutes at a time. It easily deserves 4 3/4 stars out of 5.



3. I was moving cross-country and this was one of several audiobooks I purchased for the trip. I'm not a newbie to this material so perhaps that is why I almost drove myself into a ditch with boredom. Probably best for someone who doesnt read the WSJ or watch CNBC on a regular basis.



4. Dozens of authors means there is no developed coherent thought.
   
   You could read this and you might find a few gems, but you'd find more in other works. Benjamin Graham can give you better insight into value investing, John Bogle has the sell on index funds, William Bernstein will give you the low-down on asset allocation, and Jim Cramer will do a better job introducing you to market psychology and the business cycle.



5. This book provide many views on investments from many interesting people who are considered at the top of their games. It is an interesting read.

5 comments about You've Earned It, Don't Lose It : Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire.

1. I am satisfied with the quality of the product and the quick delivery.



2. Good book for young people to plan the future and what information to compile to leave loved ones.



3. Too dated to be useful in CT, but it did spur me to visit my attorney to get briefed on changes in estate planning.



4. The book was written too long ago to be of much use in this century. It needs to be updated or scrapped. It is behind the times and makes some of the information useless if not incorrect. A better choice can be found.



5. This book has sparked discussion and debate amongst my family, and clarification from my lawyer, and my desire to seek out more legal opinions and facts while I'm still young.
   
   Highly recommended for anyone who owns property, and especially for those who are nonchalant about facing the responsibilities of their estates and assets.

5 comments about Suze Orman's Financial Guidebook: Put the 9 Steps to Work.

1. Suze not only shows you how to find out where you need help, but she also makes you figure it out yourself. She gives you the guidelines to use and the task to do it with. But of course, it is up to you to do your homework



2. This is a good companion to the 9 Steps book. If you really want to take your finances in hand, the two books are a great investment. If you are only going to buy one, buy the 9 Steps and skip the workbook.
   This book changed my life.



3. Most informative I got lots of good input and I will buy more of Susie's books.



4. This book has a lot of helpful tips and exercises to help you in any area of finances!



5. I really enjoyed this book, and it has been very helpfull in gething my finances in order. I really recommended it to anyone.

5 comments about Suze Orman's Will & Trust Kit: The Ultimate Protection Portfolio.

1. I am seeing that most are upset with this product because they didn't research before purchasing. If you just do a simple search on laws for Wills and Trusts in your state, and find out what you can and cannot use or if an attorney has to prepare your documents, you won't have a problem. I found out that this kit will work great since I live in South Dakota. An attorney does not have to prepare it and I only need 2 witnesses to sign my will and does not have to be notarized, but if I want, it can be notarized/affidavit from witnesses (so they don't have to search for these 2 witnesses if I die--that may tie up my will in probate)...again, just research a bit before you buy, but for the price, this was the best choice for me and my husband (we have 2 young children).



2. The CD will not work with Mac 10.4. When I emailed the tech assistance, they just referred me to an online application of the Will and Trust Kit, which was NOT what I had wanted. I wanted to be able to use the CD in my pc. The online application did NOT update the CD to be able to use it with Mac 10.4



3. This software installed easily on my MacBookPro with OS v10.4.11. Then the application started and explained that ALL the information, including social security numbers, dates of birth, etc., etc. are stored somewhere online. You have the option of exempting certain information but you then have to re-enter it each time. As with any end-of-life planning, there is highly detailed personal information about financials, property, etc. that I am completely uncomfortable about storing in the ethers regardless of assurances of complete security. I was hoping this was a piece of software fully contained on the laptop and used the internet solely to update forms and push changes to the laptop. Further, the fact that all this personal data is stored somewhere online is not explained anywhere on the outside of the box or on any of the paper inside. Had I been aware, I would not have made this purchase. Supposedly there is a way to replicate the online stuff to the laptop but even this is only a disconnected version of what is already online. Not at all happy.



4. This was a very easy to use book. I have been wanting to make a new will and trust. I am still working on funding my trust. I had no idea what to do and she has letters that add your info. It is very worth the money.



5. I am puzzled by some of the complaints of Mac users being directed to the website for updates to the program. What is the big deal? You can opt out of storing any sensitive information and you just download and print.
   
   I am very happy with the purchase and am glad to have the powers of attorney included, as well as the choice of standard will or trust. I HIGHLY advise everyone to get this kit and get these essential documents ready. The best kit of its kind on the market!

5 comments about The Road to Wealth, Revised Edition.

1. I was drawn into one of Ms. Ormans's programs one night and was suprised to learn not one but several things that were news to me. So I went to the library and picked up several of her books. This one was the one I couldn't put down. It is makiing the rare move from being a book I've borrowed to a book I'll actually buy. I've done my own investing for years and at 50 am not a newbie. This book is a great resource.



2. I was disappointed to find that Orman seems to think of her readers as women only. The text is in question/answer format, and whenever the gender of the questioner is made evident, it's always a woman. "I plan to marry my boyfriend...", "I don't like my boyfriend's credit card habits...", "My husband died and...", "My husband is dying and...", "My husband died a year ago and...", "My boyfriend got a new credit card and...". Doesn't Orman know that books like this should be written in a gender-neutral fashion? Worse, her preference for females shows up in her example selections--it's virtually all sisters and daughters. "I'd like to reward my daughter's trustworthiness by...", "My daughter is going off to college, and...", "My daughter would like to buy...", "My sister says her husband...", "My sister loaned me $15,000...". The (very) few instances of a son shows them in a bad financial light: "My son has been irresponsible with his credit...". I read the first couple of hundred pages, but this persistant sexism began to grate on me. For that matter, probably 80% of the personal pronouns are "she" and "her". By half-way through the book, it was clear she had some kind of agenda going on. Big turn-off. I'm really surprised that the publisher let her get away with this and didn't alternate the gender when the book was edited.



3. Product never arrived.
   
   Disappointing.
   
   I give it one star because I have to.



4. I am a fan of most of Suze Orman's financial guides and also a fan of her television show. What I like about her is that she dispenses financial advice in a very uncondescending, easy-to-understand manner. Also, as a woman, I appreciate that she is able to understand the financial concerns of many women out there.
   
   In the latest 2008 revised and updated edition of "The Road to Wealth", Suze Orman covers a myriad of finance-related topics in the format of Q & A's. The book is divided into chapters - Managing Debt, Financial Intimacy, Home Ownership, Insurance, Paying for College, Retirement Planning, Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds & Bond Funds, Annuities, and Wills and Trusts. All financial jargon is explained in an easy-to-understand manner and there is an index at the end of the book that helps one navigate to topics of interest. This is like a financial encyclopedia and I don't think it's meant to be read from cover to cover though one could do that if desired. I was particularly interested in insurance and paying for college [being the mother of a young child] and so those were the topics I read first. The Q & A format works well here as you get succint answers to most financial concerns [versus some finance books that get dragged down by obscure language and wordiness].
   
   For example, under the chapter "Paying for College", there is a question "In what kind of plan or account should I be keeping my investments for a child's education?" - Suze Orman goes on define and elaborate on the different plans/accounts such as UGMAs/UTMAs, Education IRA, prepaid tution plans, 529 savings plan, Roth IRAs etc.
   
   This is a simple-to-understand financial guide, not to be confused with simplistic. It addresses important financial concerns and does so without condescension. Highly recommended!



5. As Suze Orman indicates at the beginning of this book, "The Road to Wealth" provides practical information for people who look to Suze Orman for clear, honest financial perspectives. Overall, the book is in a question and answer format with explanations of all new terms and examples which confirm the reader's understanding of the material. The chapters may be read independently if a single subject is of concern, or in order. I started at the beginning of the book and have read straight through. I've found the presentation of value personally and have insight, as well, into issues which may be ahead for me or are impacting people whom I know. This is both a reference book and an introduction to financial planning.

5 comments about The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying.

1. Great book for every person who wants to secure his financial. Sound principles and good advice for what to do next.



2. This book is very helpful. I am a 'new' investor, due to Suze Orman, and this book is essential for me to 'look up' questions I have. Lots of information all in the same interesting style in which she speaks.



3. The book has some very valuable information for everyone. From beginning to save with a 401K or any savings plan, to Wills and other necessary documents one should and must have drawn up, its very informative. Suze refers to situations in her experience which can show us why we do or do not prepare for retirement as we should and how emotions from the past cause us to deal with money. I recommend this book for everyone to read.



4. As I have read many of Suze's books, I have tried to look for the common sense approach. While I have found this in many of her books, I have also seen a very broad blanket statement being told through out her books. That statement is to not trust Financial Advisors. While it is true that there are some financial advisors that are not honest. This is true of any profession. But this does not mean that every advisor is out to just make a commission.
   I have been an advisor for quite some years now. I have my Series 7, 65, 63 and Series 6. I am licensed in Life, Health. I also have the designation of CFP. I specialize in estate planning and wealth accumulation strategies. One of the biggest issues that I have with my profession is when some one "whips out the Suze Orman Fan Club Card". She makes blanket statements that many people do not understand. It makes my job 10 times as hard to help my clients. When they do repeat a statement that Suze has said, I many times have to go back and re-educate them as to the meaning of what she said.
   Now is Suze just spouting non-sense? Of course not. Some of her advise is very good for the very common, starting from the bottom person. But it does not provide good sense for everyone.
   If you are going to work with an advisor, do your home work. Ask them what they are licensed in. Ask them to explain to you why this is the best option and how it's going to benefit you. Ask about what their commissions are. They legally have to tell you. Do the research on each one and if they don't pass the "sniff test", kick them to the curb.
   But please, do not believe everything that Suze writes. Not all of it is true and much of it is taken out of context. Your best bet is to educate yourself with someone who has been licensed (Suze is not licensed in securities) and has written books.



5. This book is simple to understand- well put! This is a must read for everyone--makes you look at your money in a whole new light.

5 comments about The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke.

1. Suze Orman's book is about teaching young people how to value and respect money, a common theme throughout all of her work. She uses real-world examples to show why it's so important to a) get into a career that we love,and b) use this knowledge to move into a job that we can be happy with so we are not job-hopping. She also talks about the necessity of saving for retirement right now and not waiting until we are much older. At the end, I could definitely see where I didn't value money or myself.
   The best thing that I could you as to why you should read this book is that you will find yourself questioning your financial decisions and if you follow Suze's advice, you should do all right and hopefully be content someday with your money.



2. I'm a college junior and only on the second chapter and am already impressed with this book. My mom's a Suze fan and I needed to learn more about my finances, so this book was a perfect fit. The only reason I gave it a 4/5 instead of 5/5 is because it seems to be geared perhaps a little more towards people who have already graduated and already having to deal with mortgages and debt etc instead of people like me who are simply trying to get a head start. However, that being said, this book really is amazing. It's a step-by-step financial process with an online supplement to boot. It also has a glossary with a lot of financial terms, just to make sure the lingo isn't over your head.
   
   It's really a great investment, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about money who's looking to safeguard their finances...oh, and who's young, fabulous, and broke.



3. not to bad. not a lot of info i didn't already know. anyone whose in financial trouble i.e. prospective buyers likely already have the knowledge they would get from the book. want to skip the book? pay off your highest damaging loans asap. if you've done that...get a roth ira.
   
   not bad though, and it's only what 15$? cheap...although it's my thinking like that that is likely the cause for me needing financial planning books...



4. This is a great gift for high school graduates. It's my standard gift and I often get great feedback from the kids.



5. Not full of super detailed stuff, but you get a general understanding of the full financial spectrum of life.

5 comments about Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny.

1. Suze Orman hammers home that women need a will, an irrevocable trust and a durable power of attorney. This is information that she discusses in each one of her books. In some of her books, she goes more in-depth but this book, I found the information more basic, just that in this book, she targets women. She talks about how to come up with a 12-month plan to get your finances in order but I found her overly confident in her belief that her methods are going to work in EVERY situation. Unlike her other fantastic books, The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous and Broke and the 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, I found most of the information in this book to be common sense financial advice. I understand, though that she needs to rehash this information because not everyone will read all of her books, however, she could have easily limited this information to a single chapter in one of her better books.



2. For women who have little or no working knowledge about how finances and investments should be ran, this book is an excellent place to start. It definietely takes the blinders off--especially since women can no longer go under their spouse's credit rating should things happen that aren't forseen. In my case it was a divorce, but this book gave me a wealth of info that I fully intend to apply.
   
   For those of you going through a separation of some sort, this is a good book to start with. She doesn't come out and mention death and/or divorce, but paints out scenarios that often leave women holding the bag and fending for themselves. There are a lot of preventative measures that can be taken also. The bottom line is that we no longer live in an age where women can rely on the spouse or significant other to provide--something has to be set aside just in case the unforseen occurs.
   
   This book is a good investment. I strongly urge women to read it.



3. This is a great book for all women about financial planning. Suze gives you great advice on how to save and how to change your bad habits to allow you to save more money. I would reccommend this book to women of all ages.



4. I love Suze's books and her show and recommend it to all my friends and co-workers.



5. After clicking through Suze Orman's TV program called Women & Money, I decided to give this book a try. Generally, these types of books do not seem to help me, but immediately as began reading this book the lightbulb went off in my head. I have to say that I am really happy that I bought this book. It is giving me some tools that I will need in the future as my business grows. (I even bought the book for a friend of mine.)