This was a useful manual when I needed to learn a lot quickly, at a time in my life when I knew nothing, and it was time to get the overall picture of how personal finances worked. This book fit the bill really well. It was helpful to read just the chapters I needed, since some things can wait until later. It's very accessible, but the format is a little too "For Dummies" for me. Hanging onto my copy, as it is a useful reference.