Cynthia's Reviews > Your Money or Your Life

In short: A worthwhile read.

The longer version:

Frankly, I found some of the "transformative" concepts to be common sense. Having forgone more lucrative career paths -- much to my parents' delight -- to work on issues that I care about, I have already faced decisions about the lifestyle and social circles that I am comfortable with.

However, it is never a bad idea to get new ideas on how to ensure your approach to money, work, consumption, etc. are in line with your values. And there are some good ideas in here -- the book breaks down a set of questions on values, actual enjoyment per dollar spent, etc., that facilitate a more thoughtful approach. And calculating the true cost of your job (and therefore your true hourly wage) is just a good exercise, in general.

A few critiques: while the writing is accessible, in some places it is far too cute and dumbed down. I realize this book has to compete with the various TV and radio personalities that publish four books a year on how to get rich in America, so the language has to be somewhat punchy. But people who choose this book are a self-selecting group who are seeking something more thoughtful. In this vein, I would suggest skipping the introduction since it almost put me off the book entirely.

Also, some of the ideas are more geared towards the upper-middle-class-mid-life-crises set: I don't need to be constantly reminded that happiness isn't necessarily achieved through sports cars, trophy wives, and luxury vacations. Please file under: problems I'll never have. I could say more here, but I'll hold my sarcasm and feelings of superiority.

On the same token, there aren't a lot of personal stories in the book that read, "Angie was a single mother of three with a dependent elderly mother, barely getting by on her two jobs at walmart and the local laundromat. But Angie's REAL PASSION is interpretive dance. By following the advice in this book, she was able to quit both her jobs and support her family by forming a dance troupe with her three kids and touring around rural Ohio." Why? Because that doesn't happen. Because the vast majority of working poor simply don't have a whole lot of options with the economy in the tank, no universal healthcare, and a government intent on systematically dismantling the social safety net.