The Wealthy Barber: Everyone's Common-Sense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent

About the time each person gets her or his first full-time permanent job, it would be helpful to be economically literate about what one's future economic needs and risks are, and the best ways to provide for them. Unfortunately, most people never get this lesson because no one around them knows the lesson to teach them. This book fills that void to help overcome the ignorance that can create stalled thinking. The great strength of this book is that it is both simple and thorough. Most books about personal economic issues are either simple and superficial or complex and thorough. I was impressed by how well the combination of simplicity and thoroughness was achieved. The book covers a wide range of subjects including what areas you need to save for, how much to save, what to do with the savings, how to protect yourself and your family from risks using insurance and wills, buying a home, reducing taxes, and handling retirement and children's education. That's a lot for one book. I am familiar with these subjects both as a trained lawyer and as someone who works with investments, and I found that the advice was accurate and up-to-date. The book was particularly good at telling you when you need to get professional help and when you don't. The format of the book is outstanding. Almost all of the action takes place in a barber shop, with ordinary people discussing ordinary issues that most of us have. The story keeps your interest, and the variety of characters gives you the ability to consider how different needs and preferences can affect the decisions that you make. Everyone will be able to relate to these characters. My recommendation would be to share this book with anyone you know when they take their first permanent job. Then follow through by sitting down with the person to share your own experiences, both your successes and not-so-successes to add even more perspective. That would be a great gift for you to give! Live long and prosper!

There are a lot of books on how to manage your money. Most are too thick, few leave a lasting impression and almost none of them are fun to read. One of the first exception is "The Wealthy Barber" by David Chilton. It is really fun. You read this book like a novel with a trouble putting it down. But by combining the common sense and humor this "novel" in its dialog style shows that sound financial planning is pretty simple stuff. And it actually makes personal money management understandable and attainable.I believe, plenty of years from now "The Wealthy Barber" could be remembered by readers. And they could remember Mr. David Chilton not as best-selling author, but as the guy who inspired hundreds of thousands of people to save their way to prosperity. In fact, for many readers, "The Wealthy Barber" is possibly the only book they need. If ever a financial planning was written for those without any financial backgrounds, this is it - "The Wealthy Barber".

This is an excellent book for the beginning investor. I read it, then went and bought six copies for the young sailors I work with.