5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky delivery of essential credit card basics, March 8, 2010
This review is from: The Skinny on Credit Cards: How to Master the Credit Card Game (Perfect Paperback)
QUICK SUMMARY: This quirky, mildly humorous, quick-reading book provides a wealth of information for anyone willing to spend an hour reading it. Taken to heart, the information and tips could save you or someone you love a lot of money and heartache. Highly recommended!
*** What I LIKED:
- The book succeeds in helping ANYONE understand credit cards
- In spite of the low-tech stick figures it employs, the book succeeds in creating a storyline that keeps the reader reading
- It humorously delivers its important messages
- It can be read in about an hour, yet the information and wisdom it imparts can guide a person for a lifetime
- It explains the "Rule of 72" and the FICO credit score
- It's up-to-date with the recent federal law changes that were passed in 2009
- It defines words like "median" and "algorithm", so it doesn't talk over the reader's ability to understand
- It takes a neutral stance on the debate whether people should EVER use credit by presenting a variety of viewpoints from well-known gurus like Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman and Liz Pulliam Weston.
- It has a good "Further Reading" section at the end of the book
- It concisely names "15 Important Points" about credit cards at the end of the book
*** What Could Be Better:
- The book sometimes cites its sources for the statistics it shares, but often times, it doesn't. I like to know the source of any statistic.
- It lacks an Action Plan at the end of the book that tells the reader the next steps to take (especially if the reader is in credit card debt)
- No index. Even this book would benefit from an index.
- Stick figures are, quite simply, unimaginative and boring to look at!
I plan on requiring my 14yo son to read this book, so we can talk about credit cards now, in his formative years, so he is well-equipped to use and understand how credit cards work and the danger of misusing them.
Highly recommended!
Full Disclosure: As an Amazon Top Reviewer, I received a free copy of this book title. However, my reviews are always my honest reflection of a product, and the publisher made no effort to influence my review.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read About the Credit Card Debt, November 7, 2010
This review is from: The Skinny on Credit Cards: How to Master the Credit Card Game (Perfect Paperback)
This weekend I read six of Jim Randel's "Skinny on" books--creativity, credit cards, direct sales, the housing crisis, real estate investing (part 1) and networking.
These books use the Japanese writing style known as Magna. The author researches his topics and reduces the subject down to a one to one and a half hour read that simplifies the concepts in easily understandable stories. Following the illustrated stories he provides a quick summary of the points to remember. He then lists a further reading section and recommends specific books for those that want the fine details.
The Skinny on Credit Cards: How to Master the Credit Card Game should be prior to accepting any credit card agreement. It provides easy to understand useful information that can keep the reader out of credit card troubles before it happens and detailed information on how to get out of credit card debt. The author provides useful websites for those looking for help in reducing their credit card debt.
This book is extremely informative, a time savers and a fun read. Don't be fooled by the stick figured illustrations. This is a serious book about a complex subject written in an easy to understand format.
I am so glad I read The Skinny on Credit Cards. I will take the author's tips and will recommend this book to my friends and family.
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