Priceless : Straight-Shooting, No Frills Financial Wisdom

Rating:
Summary: Basic personal finance with a lighthearted Christian slant.
Review: "Priceless" is a quick read, but it lightheartedly conveys basic financial advice that can bring long-term benefits. Like the subtitle states, Mr. Ramsey dispenses "straight-shooting, no-frills financial wisdom" that is mainly geared toward getting out of debt and becoming fiscally responsible (If you already have control of your money and are looking for information about becoming wealthy, then you might be better served reading "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko).

After looking over his other books and website, it appears that "Priceless" is merely an introduction to the author's personal finance master strategy. Indeed, it primarily contains testimonials, autobiographical anecdotes, various proverbial sayings, and Biblical verses related to money. If you desire more in-depth instruction and by-the-numbers techniques on money management using Mr. Ramsey's methods, you'll have to get his other finance books and/or become a member of his online "Total Money Makeover" club. "Priceless" is a good, inexpensive way to see if that course of action might appeal to you or not.

Even though I just read "Priceless", I had long ago implemented some of Mr. Ramsey's primary debt reduction strategies: put aside an emergency savings fund, paid off debts using the "snowball" method, and got rid of extraneous credit cards. I'm happy to say that these methodologies do help slay the debt monster, although to be honest you can find variations on them in countless books of this nature. However, "Priceless" distinguishes itself with a Biblically-based financial stewardship slant, including a challenge to use money for the glory of God and the good of others via tithing and giving. That's probably the best single financial principle Mr. Ramsey offers.

Rating:
Summary: Basic personal finance with a lighthearted Christian slant.
Review: "Priceless" is a quick read, but it lightheartedly conveys basic financial advice that can bring long-term benefits. Like the subtitle states, Mr. Ramsey dispenses "straight-shooting, no-frills financial wisdom" that is mainly geared toward getting out of debt and becoming fiscally responsible (If you already have control of your money and are looking for information about becoming wealthy, then you might be better served reading "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko).

After looking over his other books and website, it appears that "Priceless" is merely an introduction to the author's personal finance master strategy. Indeed, it primarily contains testimonials, autobiographical anecdotes, various proverbial sayings, and Biblical verses related to money. If you desire more in-depth instruction and by-the-numbers techniques on money management using Mr. Ramsey's methods, you'll have to get his other finance books and/or become a member of his online "Total Money Makeover" club. "Priceless" is a good, inexpensive way to see if that course of action might appeal to you or not.

Even though I just read "Priceless", I had long ago implemented some of Mr. Ramsey's primary debt reduction strategies: put aside an emergency savings fund, paid off debts using the "snowball" method, and got rid of extraneous credit cards. I'm happy to say that these methodologies do help slay the debt monster, although to be honest you can find variations on them in countless books of this nature. However, "Priceless" distinguishes itself with a Biblically-based financial stewardship slant, including a challenge to use money for the glory of God and the good of others via tithing and giving. That's probably the best single financial principle Mr. Ramsey offers.

Rating:
Summary: Good Information in a Small Package
Review: The book is too short to contain much in-depth information on finances/money management, but Dave Ramsey has managed to CONDENSE enough IMPORTANT information to make it worthwhile reading.

If you're the type who "zones out" when reading about money or personal finance, a book of this type may be just right for you.

Worth the money, and the short amount of time it will take you to read it.

Also, the suggestions Ramsey makes are practical and easy to do.
As the title says, the advice is straight-shooting, no frills.

Rating:
Summary: Good Light Reading Gift Book
Review: The demure size of this hardcover book, with its stylish graphics and thoughtful layout, is ideal for gift-giving or bedside reading (perhaps in a guest room).

While it is not the in-depth, hard-hitting and detailed how-to treatment of Dave Ramsey's debt-free message, such as one will find in "Financial Peace," it does cover Ramsey's essential baby steps to debt freedom.

The Priceless book can be a bit heavy in finance-related quotations, which prevents this from reaching a higher rating from this reader, nevertheless, it is a light way to get a tricky subject across to the casual reader.

This book is not detailed, nor was it meant to be. It is a fine introduction on the topic of debt-free choices and lifestyle, and a gentle way of passing along the credit free message. It contains not only finance-related quotations, but also testimonials, charts, and Dave Ramsey's own words of wisdom. While this volume does not contain new information, for those who have already completed the Financial Peace book by Dave Ramsey, it is a fine presentation of a sticky topic for the new reader, someone who would normally not pick up a heavy volume of personal finance.