Customer Reviews

The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need: Newly Revised and Updated

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
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Not only does Andrew Tobias suggest that readers save and invest, but also shows real ways that people can spend less (through conservation, stocking up on essentials at warehouse prices, saving money on insurance (auto, life, etc), paying yourself first, etc). Additionally, he explains investment vehicles in simple layman terms while divulging his personal opinions. All of this is done in a humorous, witty and quick read...a pleasant surprise to those of us picking up Investment Guides. Tobias truly covers it all, from savings accounts, to options and everything in between such as treasuries and annuities. He also discusses the merits of self-directed investing. It is telling that he dedicated the book "To my broker -- even if he has, from time to time, made me just that." This is a must read for those seeking entry-level knowledge of the ins and outs of investing or simply a witty read on the topic.

Like The Millionaire Next Door, the utility of this book is that it emphasizes saving money, rather coming up with some brilliant investment to make you rich. If you don't save, you'll have nothing to invest. If you save and get a market return over a long period of time you'll amass a lot of money. Stop worrying about finding the next Microsoft, and start worrying about how to cut your expenses. And stop checking what the market is doing every ten minutes--it does you no good whatsoever.

I have read too many books about investments and the stock market. "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" has all the ideas I read in all books together, and more. The book has very useful investment tips, including tax strategies, IRA, life insurence, and more. However, don't buy this book first if you know nothing about the stock market. I recommend "How to Buy Stocks" by Louis Engel as a first step in learning the stock market terminologies and how it works. Then, read this book by Tobias. I beleive those two books are good enough for any first time investor

This reasonably short book summarizes the basics of personal finance in an easy to read witty style. It's aimed at the intelligent but beginning investor looking for practical advice and guidance on investing and money management. Although it does discuss buying options, day-trading, etc. readers looking for detailed comprehensive information and advice on these and similar topics probably should look elsewhere (or perhaps they should look here first-- after reading this book they might think twice about investing in more complicated schemes). For those looking for sound unbiased advice and information on basic investing and money management however this book will be very helpful. And as an added bonus, its actually fun and enjoyable to read.

This book is always fresh, valuable and insightful: Partly because Andy Tobias updates the book whenever new technology or financial instruments appear that require serious consideration, and partly because he uses his own advice, and has done quite well. Mr. Tobias believes that each of us can control our future to become wealthier. He also believes that it is important to keep it simple. The joy of this book is that you can do all of your financial "cooking " with one reference. He covers stocks, real estate, IRAs, and a myriad of other investments. He is also humorous, fun and easy to read. He encourages us to invest ourselves, not to be "stalled" by thinking that professionals can always do better, or investing is too complicated, or you can never make real money anyway. To read more about these bad-thinking habits that hold you back and how to overcome them, you should read a new book by Donald Mitchell, Carol Coles and Robert Metz called The 2,000 Percent Solution. You can get rid of your stalls to succeed way beyond your expectations. To succeed in investing, let Andy Tobias help you with The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need.

If you are expecting to learn everything you need to know about investments from this book, you will probably be disappointed. But this book is funny and entertaining while at the same time it is packed with sound investment advice that can benefit everyone. It was a delightful read. And now my only wish is to have some money to invest! I really enjoyed reading it and learned a lot. It's a great book for a beginner who wants to know more. If that's you, you'll be satisfied after you read it.

Some things in life are worth the money. Today I save my money for those things. One of them is peace of mind. I read the book and incorporated its basic message into my daily life. Especially important is calculation of the value of saved money: a dollar (or Russian ruble) saved is one that has escaped taxes and the demands of living. As he puts it, a penny saved is two pennies earned. I remember this message as I walk through stores in Moscow. Now most of our stores in Russia are looking absolutely the same as in Western Europe.

Enjoy the book and start enjoying saving! Informative as well as entertaining, this could be the best twelve bucks you'll ever spend. Andrew Tobias makes a good introduction reading about personal finance for everybody.

I read the original and incorporated its basic message into my daily life: When you know how to save money, you free yourself. There are those who would make you think that consuming beyond your means is acceptable, even expected. Reading and remembering this book will help you protect yourself from believing them. Especially important is his calculation of the value of saved money: a dollar saved is one that has escaped taxes and the demands of living. As he puts it, a penny saved is two pennies earned. Saved money is pure payload; it is free to work for you. Budgeting does not diminish you, it frees the fruits of your labor from being consumed. I remember his message as I walk through stores, when I contemplate taking on consumer debt, when people try to make me feel embarrassed about being thrifty. Yes, some things in life are worth the money. I save my money for those things. One of them is peace of mind. Tobias reminds us that no matter how much we make, we have choices: what we buy, or not to buy at all; to master money, or let it be our master.

By the way, Tobias is hilarious. I can't forget a line from the original classic, something like, "Most futures traders wouldn't know a pork belly if they hit one with their car." Enjoy and start enjoying saving!

Andrew Tobias knows his stuff and he lays it out in clear and simple terms. Whether you know very little or a lot about investments this book is a good investment. To complete your financial library I would also recommend a book by NPR's Personal Finance Correspondent, Nancy Lloyd.

In "SIMPLE MONEY SOLUTIONS: 10 WAYS YOU CAN STOP FEELING OVERWHELMED BY MONEY AND START MAKING IT WORK FOR YOU" Nancy puts on paper more of the savvy advice that she regularly shares with Bob Edwards on "Morning Edition." While every one else in the financial press is telling consumers to switch from a credit card to a debit card, to stop writing checks and start using online bill-paying services, and to swap their credit card debit for a low-interest rate home equity loan, Nancy is the only one telling about the costly downsides and increased risks that you will take on with these money moves. Both books are eye openers.

BOTTOM LINE - If you are new to finance buy this book. There is no better book that I have ever read on personal finance. This book covers it all; from buying in bulk to insurance to investing in under 300 pages. Better than that, Andrew Tobias is fun to read. I have given this title to many friends through the years, in large part because I feel very comfortable with the advice it contains.

This is really a life guide to financial planning. There are bigger books, bigger names, and tons of approaches to finance. What I would say is this should be the 1st and maybe the only (if you hate finance) book to buy before making a major financial move.

I'm just starting out learning about investing. This is the second book about money I read. I really enjoyed reading it and learned a lot. It's a great book for a beginner who wants to know more. If that's you, you'll be satisfied after you read it. I was. Now I can't wait to find more investing books. I have a big stack that I'm already reading. I'll keep this one on my bookshelf to look at again and again, though.