The Total Money Makeover

Author: Dave Ramsey
Genre: nonfiction, self-help
Publication info: Thomas Nelson, 2007 (originally published in 2003)
Pages: 223

You know what they say: the only thing better than a book on finances is a free book on finances. My sister and her husband sent copies of this book as gifts to everyone in my family. It had changed their life, and they were excited to see it change ours too. I think it has changed mine. Anybody surprised?

I think everyone should read this book and live by it. Now, Dave Ramsey isn't exactly the best writer. He uses the same expressions over and over again (I suppose with the aim of pounding them into the reader's head. He loves to use exclamation points! And once in a while he has some interesting mixed metaphors, which I can't help noticing after the last book I read.

Nevertheless, the principles Dave (everyone calls him Dave) gives in this book are wonderful. They are profound. They are simple. They are brilliant. They will change your life, if you let them. I haven't yet been able to put these principles into action, but I'm glad my sister gave me this book while I'm still young so I have the chance to make the most of it.

So what is this book about? It comes down to some basic things: get out of debt, become financially secure, invest for retirement, and build wealth. For none of these things does Dave give some magical formula or special trick. It's all common sense, which, in Dave's words, isn't so common anymore. It's all about dispelling myths about debt and wealth. It's all about investing for the long term. It all makes perfect sense.

I'm excited to get going on the things Dave talks about. It's never been a serious goal of mine to be rich, but I want to provide for my future family and be able to have a good retirement. However, it looks like anyone that really applies Dave's principles will eventually come off with a fair amount of money (emphasis on eventually). Toward the end of the book, Dave lists three things you can do with your money when you're wealthy. You have fun. Most people wouldn't have a problem with that. You invest. It's a little more work than the first thing, but by that time it should be a habit. And you give. That's the one that excites me the most. To be able to help other people substantially and not have to worry about my own well-being---I can't think of many things better.

Read this book. Yes, even you. No matter what your financial status is, you can benefit from this book. My sister told me I could read it all in one afternoon. It took me a little bit longer than that, but not by much. And all that time was worth it.