Customer Reviews

The Motley Fools You Have More Than You Think: The Foolish Guide To Investing What You Have (Motley Fool Books)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have bought investiment and financial planning books throughout the years, but never got past the first chapter or two. But I read this book from beginning to end in one sitting. The difference? This book presents dry, boring financial information in a witty and humorous way that makes you want to keep reading because it is so funny. But it also educates...I am going to follow their investment strategies after speaking with others who have used it and prospered. Anyway, if you want to laugh and have fun learning about the stock market, get this book. By the way, the fools say that they can make investing fun for you and they did....even more fun then spending and I love to shop!

I did this backwards, reading the other two volumes in the "trilogy" (TMF Investment Guide & TMF Rule Breakers, Rule Makers) prior to this, the beginning volume. I realized this was the "basics" but wanted to complete the set. Boy, am I glad I took the time! This is the most easy to read volume on the fundamentals of money management, and basic investment, not to mention very lighthearted. I intend to buy this, a primer in finances, for both my teenage children, and, a couple of friends at work who I know will benefit tremendously from this, if only they take the time out to read it! I will certainly urge them to do so. Great job Gardner brothers. Keep up the enlightening work. O' yes, I have put all the investment strategies to work, and am enjoying much success. I started late in life, if only I had been able to understand this when I was twenty! Don't wait!

To the Atlanta reviewer who opined that the Motleys are just exploiting the financial ignorance of the American public......HUH? Tom and David write a beginner's guide to personal financial stability, regular financial planning, and PERSONAL control of one's investments. It is designed to prevent the professional financial world from exploiting the ignorance of the public by convincing them that investing and financial planning and the stock market are too complicated for "outsiders." Though it is written in simple terms, is admittedly repetitive, and may be too basic for some, it is ideal for beginners. From consumer debt and credit card use to major family purchases to equity investing, it drives home the point that YOU CAN DO IT financially. I gave this as a gift to a couple of graduating high school senior honor students. They read it like a novel in a couple of days and said it was the best educational experience they ever had. Don't be fooled- though simply stated, the principles in this book are worth reviewing by money managers of ANY educational level. I have a business degree and a doctorate- I loved it!

Investment books are rarely entertaining. The Gardners and Andy Tobias are the exceptions. If you can't bear to read about investing and know nothing, you should give this book a try. You may find it to your taste.

The weakness of the book is a bias towards encouraging you to be out of debt and into common stocks, based on formulas and your professional knowledge. If the financial markets were at an average or below average price level, that would be all right. But the financial markets are at an all-time high, so future returns should be below par.

There is a historical ratio between household wealth in stocks and housing that favors buying housing right now rather than stocks. Few will be able to buy a home without a mortgage.

The most frequent path to major wealth in this country has been to found one's own business. Few can do this without incurring reasonable debt to finance receivables and other needed investments. The Gardners don't really address this investment opportunity.

The formula the Gardners propose for buying high yield stocks in the Dow has had to be revised every few years to be a good way to invest. This formula probably won't work well in the future either, because too many people follow the formula. Markets are bested by only a small percentage of all investors over time, and this rule is no exception going forward.

The advice about avoiding credit card debt, saving wherever you can, and so forth is quite good. You'd find it in any decent investment book.

If you decide you want to go into the stock market, I suggest you also read John Bogle's book, Common Sense About Mutual Funds, to round out the perspective that the Gardners provide here before buying stocks. Be sure to consider first how much you want to do with housing and starting your own business. Good luck with your investing.

Great book. This opened my eyes to the possibility of controlling my own financial future. Easy and fun to read, the first book I've read that simplifies investing and money management. Buy two, you'll probably give one away to a friend in need.

Fool on!

The reason I said that every woman should read this book is because women are so uneasy, uneducated and uninformed about HANDLING THEIR MONEY. In an artful, informative, lively, funny and beautifully written style, the awesome and overwhleming aspects of the Stock Market become clear. In a step by step approach, intelligently presented, the content of this book becomes a primer for implementing and creating a sane and personal approach to money managemnent. I, for one, am deeply grateful. This book has been a major force in my gaining confidence to optimistically manage and profit with my money. THANK YOU BROTHERS!!!!!

This book was extremely easy to read. It was concise, yet entertaining. I held a highlighter pen in my hand the entire time I was reading and ended up highlighting the entire book! All the information was useful and pertinent. An excellent book for novice investors and those who are getting over a "full-service brokerage" hangover.

I've read the other Fool books -- this one is much more basic and covers much more than just stock picking methods. If you believe that your financial advisor is a real expert, or you have credit card debt, or you don't know how to get the best price on a car, this is a must read. I knew all the basic stuff until I got to stocks which I'm far from an expert in. What I like about the Fool books (besides the humor and light tone which is always appreciated) is that they explain in plain English the meaning behind the numbers. Want to know what a dividend percentage yield really MEANS? You get the idea. Their basic Dow 4 strategy seems a bit oversimplified, but the point is that we should all realize that WE have all the information we need to make well-informed decisions for ourselves and do not need to rely on others. That idea alone (and a common theme running through the books) is worth the price of admission.

This book was one I felt I had to read - like medicine I had to have. The title indicated it might be more fun than most medicine but I was doubtful. Once I started reading, I actually could not put the book down. I am so cross I did not know this info before. I would be rich. It is that simple. I can still make it if I follow the advice. Thank God, I am not too old to make it count. I have ordered three copies to give to my staff. If they follow the advice they will be safe forever. Can't get better than that!

The "experts" can say what they like, and whine all they want, but the simple truth for me is that this is the first book I've read on finances that related the topic within a "user friendly" context. While I'm certain there are many books that "might" be capable of encouraging the same response, this is the first and ONLY book on finances (to date) that has shaken me deep enough to take intelligent action. The Fools don't ask you to do as they do, because their investment formula is THE ultimate. No, instead they tell you what works for them, what types of things to look for, and then they demand that you think for yourself. Now I realize that's a new approach in some circles, but that's really what it comes down too. They teach you how to dig deep, do the research, develop a strategy and invest within the parameters of that strategy. YOUR strategy! If you're not an ego-inflated expert, and you're humble enough to handle a spoon full of fun and silliness mixed in with your financial medicine, this is most definitely the book for you!