The Motley Fool: You Have More Than You Think - The Foolish Guide to Personal Finance

by David Gardner, Tom Gardner

The Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of the New York Times Bestseller That Focuses on Personal Finance for Every Budget -- and Every Stage of Life
Taking control of your personal finances is the first -- and most important
-- step toward successful investing and a secure future. The Motley Fool You Have More Than You Think, now fully updated and expanded, provides guidance for anyone trying to balance lifestyle aspirations and financial realities. The latest edition of this Motley Fool bestseller covers topics such

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Personal Finance, Business, Money, Self Help, Reference

319 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Tom and David Gardner cofounded The Motley Fool, a multi-media financial education company, in 1993. Since then they have co-authored four New York Times bestsellers, including The Motley Fool Investment Guide and The Motley Fool's Rule Breakers, Rule Makers.


Librarian note:
Ther is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Marilynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introduction to diy investing in the stock market. I noticed this on my bookshelf and decided to finally read it! It's 20 years old, but I found it mostly still good advice. These fools make investing interesting and also provide some humorous anecdotes. I'll be on the lookout for more like this!

[Lorena Zorrilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first read of finance

Taking control of my finances, late in life. This has been a very useful and enjoyable read. Learned many good advice for beginners. Now need to do follow up as this book was written many years ago. Still the advice applies perfectly. Excellent read.

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good-humored and solid book on getting your financial life in order and starting to invest in your future.

[Elijah Ewarawon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book...if you want to skim the basics of the stock market.

[Dewayne Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it I like their sense of humor and the fact that they know how to invest.

[Philip Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and easy listen to reach my annual reading goal. Some great investment suggestions

[Brynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

i mean it was an interesting finance book ig!

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT READ. So, here in the good ol' US of A, we don't do much in the way of educating our children about how to save and spend money. Therefore, even as a college graduate, I felt like I had *absolutely no idea* what to do with my income. Of course, I knew that blowing it all on Twinkies and DVDs was a bad idea, but I did not know what was a *good* idea. After reading this book, I felt like I had it all figured out.

The Motley Fool is all about living your life, and using your money wisely. If you save the right way when you're young, you won't have to worry about being poor when you retire. *And*, you don't need to pay some schmoe a bunch of money to manage your money for you. You can do it all yourself, and you don't need to be a hyper-genius. Shoot, if you invest wisely, you don't even need to check in on your investments but once or twice a year, if that.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who feels lost about money, and doesn't want to have to worry about it anymore.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I just like these guys. And in business, like most fields, likeability is king. However, if you can't produce, likeability won't get you much further. These books, by and large, are short and to the point. And they come from the two down home Gardner brothers who tell it like it is. These guys still look like two college kids looking to make good. And these books are good. Buy 'em all and get educated about a topic that our educational and financial institutions drop the ball on but is more important than most the stuff you learn in school that you'll never use. How many use geometry, algebra, chemistry, etc.? While we ALL need to know finances. And if you look at the current state of finance and what the gov. and your local financial institutions AREN'T doing . . . well, then you'll begin to see the necessity of the books that these fine, clean, young gentlemen bring you. Hell, they look like the kind of guys you'd be glad your daughter brought home. Thanks for reading.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

a easy reading investment book that starts off with getting people to save and pay off their credit card debt. Then it quickly explains some important keys to investing such as the fact that mutual funds do not beat the market average so index funds may be a better way to go. They also explain a few other ways one can invest such as with DRiPS, but their most worthy point is explaining how important compounding interest is. The book definitely got me to realize the short term investing I have been doing the last few months is silly, and that investing in the market is only worthwhile for an investor like me if its long-term. A good starting book for someone new to investing as I was, though some parts could easily be skipped like the silly entrepreneurial section and the credit card sections, which some people certainly need to hear.

[Derek Emerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay -- I read a finance book and am alive to talk about it. Overall I really liked the book, but some material was dated. However, they act like you don't know anything about finances and since I don't, it was good. Best advice -- don't try to save money by brushing your teeth with your fingers. Live a comfortable life and go after the big money issues. I learned a lot about the stock market as well and it was all commonsense. Another good piece of advice: skip being tied to your budget since it probably provides more detail than needed. Pay yourself, pay your bills, and life should be good.

[Eugene Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read. Picked this book up at a second hand bookstore and it's contents, though written in the context of America, can be applicable to that in Singapore. You might want to skip the section on home mortgage though.

It was also interesting to read on America's 401k pension plans.

Overall, the principles & lessons in personal finance were conveyed in a writing style that is doused in humor & makes for easy reading.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little uncertain how to rate this because for a finance book, it is quite entertaining and easy to read. But, compared to a non-finance "fun" read, it is on the boring side. So, if you want to read a finance book, this is a great one with more of light hearted and easy to read approach. If you want something entertaining to read while riding the bus, choose something else.

[Claire Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to retire with an ample nest egg should read this book! With its help, I made a really informed decision about my 401K at work. No one I know in their early twenties.thirties is well enough informed about smart finance.

[Saadiq Wolford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very solid introduction to investing and personal finance management. After reading, I have a much greater understanding of my previous (and current) mistakes and what steps my wife and I need to take to build a secure financial future.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this, but my husband raved about it. Found it to be the most helpful book in terms of investing and stocks. Inspired him to take over our stocks and manage it himself. Highly reccomended.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that this book is for people like me who know nothing about the stock market. It is a light-hearted approach that convinces you that you can understand investing. It did get a bit repetative though, but gives a lot of great pointers for beginners.

[Rusty N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The style of writing is very exciting and fast paced. Yet somehow they teach you a lot. It really covers the foundations and principles behind good money management, making big purchases and the basics of investment.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, gives some good advice without going into too much detail for those of us who don't want it.

[Mike Nilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave some great pointers about the importance of watching your dollars instead of pinching pennies

[Phildiggety · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights into financial attitudes/tactics.

[Janna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book on personal finance that offers some practical advice.

[Mark Woodbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book gave simple ideas on how to do little things that allow you to hold onto your money.

[Austin Spears · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like these guys. They really know their stuff. If you want to put money into the market, read all of there books.

Austin

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books out there for investing beginners...and these guys actually know how to write.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good cheerleading, but if you buy an older version of this book, IGNORE the Foolish Four strategy! It's been proven unsound.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The numbers are all pretty dated and the concept are pretty basic but worth a look if you haven't read much on the topic (investing) before.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it is a few years old, the information is still pretty accurate. Very informative without being overwhelming.

[Alberto Lopez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basic.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great financial money book. I just love these. I feel like a sponge trying to hold onto the information. Some techniques may be out dated now, but the principles remain.