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Publication Date: April 1, 2009 | Series: Skinny on
The Skinny on Credit Cards, How to Master the Credit Card Game. Finally, someone has written a book which is clear, concise and comprehensive on the subject of credit cards. The Skinny on Credit Cards will be helpful to everyone from the young adult getting his or her first card to the older adult who has used cards for years and never really totally understood the rules of the game. The Skinny on Credit Cards is a compilation of all the books and articles that have been written on the subject. All the experts were consulted. The Skinny On™ presents all the relevant information in an entertaining and easy-to-digest fashion. The credit card world is willing to lend you money. They want money back in return in the form of fees and interest. In some ways, the use of a credit card is a big game. Your job as a consumer is to play the game well so that you get more out of the relationship than do the credit card issuers. The Skinny on Credit Cards will teach you how to win the game!!
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"I love this book, what a terrific job. This book can literally save you a fortune!" --Gerri Detweiler, Ultimate Credit Solutions Inc
"The Skinny on Credit Cards discusses a complex financial matter...in a way that even someone with no credit history can easily understand. This is no small achievement." --Curtis Arnold, Founder, U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc., Author
"Written in an easy to understand style, and with a good dose of humor, The Skinny on Credit Cards gives the reader everything he/she needs to know to use credit cards more responsibly. A must read for teens and adults alike." --James Roberts, Professor, Baylor University
About the Author
Jim Randel, a graduate of the Columbia University College and Law School, has made his living as an entrepreneur. During his 30-year career, Jim has been the lead investor in many real estate and business deals. He has been a guest speaker at Harvard and NYU Business Schools, annual conventions for national organizations, and investor sessions in every large city in the United States. He has also appeared on numerous networks as an expert on investing. Recent engagements include ABC, CBS, Fox, Fox Business and BetterTV.com. <BR><BR> Throughout his career, Jim's passion has been to teach and write. His first book, The Real Estate Game (CCH), was published in 1986 and received national recognition from investors and critics. From 1988 to 1990 he was a daily commentator on the Financial News Network (now CNBC). In 2006 he wrote Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur (McGraw-Hill) which reached #1 in several Amazon categories. <BR><BR> In 2008 Jim founded Rand Media Co, which, under the imprint The Skinny On™, publishes a revolutionary line of illustrated non-fiction books. <BR><BR> The first book in this series, The Skinny on the Housing Crisis, was awarded First Prize in the prestigious Robert Bruss Real Estate Book competition sponsored by NAREE, a group of 600 journalists who cover business and finance. This was quickly followed by 8 more titles: The Skinny on Willpower, The Skinny on Credit Cards, The Skinny on Success, The Skinny on Real Estate Investing, The Skinny on Direct Sales (also available in Spanish as The Skinny on Venta Directa), The Skinny on Time Management, The Skinny on the Art of Persuasion, and the newest in the series, The Skinny on Networking. <BR><BR> Jim lives and works in Westport, Connecticut with his wife Carol. They have four grown children and two grandchildren.
Product Details
Perfect Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Rand Media Co; 1st edition (April 1, 2009)
Jim Randel, a graduate of the Columbia University College and Law School, has made his living as an entrepreneur. During his 30-year career, Jim has been the lead investor in many real estate and business deals. He has been a guest speaker at Harvard and NYU Business Schools, annual conventions for national organizations, and investor sessions in every large city in the United States. He has also appeared on numerous networks as an expert on investing. Recent engagements include ABC, CBS, Fox, Fox Business and BetterTV.com.
Throughout his career, Jim's passion has been to teach and write. His first book, The Real Estate Game (CCH), was published in 1986 and received national recognition from investors and critics. From 1988 to 1990 he was a daily commentator on the Financial News Network (now CNBC). In 2006 he wrote Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur (McGraw-Hill) which reached #1 in several Amazon categories.
In 2008 Jim founded Rand Media Co, which, under the imprint The Skinny On™, publishes a revolutionary line of illustrated non-fiction books.
The first book in this series, The Skinny on the Housing Crisis, was awarded First Prize in the prestigious Robert Bruss Real Estate Book competition sponsored by NAREE, a group of 600 journalists who cover business and finance. This was quickly followed by 8 more titles: The Skinny on Willpower, The Skinny on Credit Cards, The Skinny on Success, The Skinny on Real Estate Investing, The Skinny on Direct Sales (also available in Spanish as The Skinny on Venta Directa), The Skinny on Time Management, The Skinny on the Art of Persuasion, and the newest in the series, The Skinny on Networking.
Jim lives and works in Westport, Connecticut with his wife Carol. They have four grown children and two grandchildren.
For more information on Jim Randel, go to: www.JimRandel.com. For more information about the Skinny on series, go to: www.TheSkinnyOn.com.
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.
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.
In easy to understand non technical terms Jim Randel discusses the complex issues associated with credit card financing. "The Skinny of Credit Cards" helps the reader understand how to avoid the pitfalls of incurring credit card debt and how to make the credit card a tool for enhancing their lifestyle.
Jim Randel narrates the story of Billy and Beth, a typical young couple, who have run up $ 25,000 in credit card debt. Using the familiar format of the "Skinny On" series the book uses illustrations created by Malinda Nass to accompany the narrative with stick figure drawings, humorous dialog, and summary statements which give concise, yet a comprehensive distillation of hours of research and reading. The quotes and references are well documented and include a list of resources for future reading or study.
Key principles are presented, reviewed, and reiterated in summary statements. I am impressed with the amount of information I have assimilated and retained in each of the "Skinny On" books which I have read. I find the books ideal for ready reference in my home office library.
I highly recommend "The Skinny On Credit Cards" for anyone wanting to: Escape from credit card debt, improve their credit score, lower their interest rate, avoid paying fees, and identify credit company tricks. I consider reading and applying the principles presented in the book as an investment in peace of mind.
