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Renowned American personal finance author and lecturer Robert Kiyosaki reveals his unique economic perspective in this popular book. The disparate influences of his own father, highly educated but always fiscally unstable, and the father of his closest friend, a multi-millionaire eighth grade dropout, have left an indelible mark on the way he perceives money and how it should be used.

This book lays out Kiyosaki’s philosophy and his relationship with money.

A relationship where money should be working for you, rather than the other way round.

A relationship where you don’t suffer from the constant demands of too many bills chasing too little money.

A relationship where you are free of the kind of financially instabilities that plagued his father.

A relationship that will allow you to retire early, just as Kiyosaki himself was able to retire at 47.

For some British tastes, the capitalist mantra in the early part of the book may be grating, but this does not detract from what Kiyosaki has to teach. He speaks with the unwavering belief of an evangelist that wants to empower people and help them regain control of their lives.

Never sermonising, Kiyosaki stresses again and again the value of taking charge of your finances and your life. And it is this repetition that makes this book, as with others in the ‘Rich Dad’ series, so effective. It is this easy-to-understand format which enables the reader to put what they have learned into practice.

Kiyosaki also keeps it simple. There is no high-powered investment jargon here. This is a down to earth book written in simple English, albeit American English. Whilst the book is staunchly American, everything he says is equally applicable to the UK.

The thorny subjects of assets and liabilities, the burgeoning mountains of personal debt and the sheer lack of financial literacy being taught in schools are issues which need to be addressed on both sides of the Atlantic.

The book also shows that having money, or even being rich, is not some mystery. There is no Get Rich Quick system. But there is a Get Rich Slowly, a Get Rich Methodically and a Get Rich Smart system. Freedom from the money stresses that burden us all is achievable. It is down to you and how you make the most of what you have. Kiyosaki shows how anyone can do it.

For many readers the book is life-changing, it is as simple as that. For others it is purely a motivational tool. Acting as a catalyst by generating the reaction necessary for the changes to be made. Either way, ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ does contain something for everyone and provides the building blocks for a much more secure and debt free future.

Known to millions from the BBC TV series ‘Your Money or Your Life’, Alvin Hall brings his exuberant style of personal money management alive in this very popular book.

In well over 200 pages, Alvin guides you to a debt free and more secure future. There’s no financial gobbledegook here. Alvin’s style is simple and straightforward. This is common sense, but with a huge chunk of personality. . . personality a la Alvin.

And it is Alvin’s personality that makes for a witty and informative read. His message goes far beyond “Don’t spend what you haven’t got”. It is about being in charge of your finances and making the most of them. Knowing what you are actually paying for the credit you use and ensuring you get the best returns for the money you have.

By keeping this book jargon free, the reader is able to absorb what Alvin has to say at their own pace. With chapters covering: reducing debt, credit cards, investing, budgeting and buying property it is easy to dip in to it as and when you need a little extra advice Alvin-style.

The witty style, so popular with his television fans, is repeated here. And just as in the series, he challenges you to address your financial problems. Also familiar to his tv fans are the case studies. Examples of clients whose financial situations are so precarious that even the gentlest of breezes could topple their house of cards.

At the start of each chapter there are handy questions to help you identify your own ‘financial personality’, a boon for those who are still hesitant when it comes to unearthing the horrors that may be buried in their finances.

But with Alvin’s help you will be able to confront all lingering evils. With his expert tutelage you can get your life back. You can be debt free and be in charge of your finances.

By following his common-sense approach to financial planning anyone can extricate themselves from any financial black hole, no matter how big or black that hole may be.

American money coach, writer and speaker Deborah Knuckey, provides the perfect down-to-earth book for the world’s indebted 20- and 30-somethings. Known from her internet money advice column and her regular appearances in the media, Knuckey has produced a book designed to help foster the Conscious Spending philosophy for which she is so respected.

As this American book says, “Over the course of your life, you will probably earn more than a million dollars . . . How will you spend it? Will you consciously use it to live out some of your dreams, or will you unconsciously spend it just living? Will you consciously choose your lifestyle, or will you unconsciously drift into it?”

This is the reality of life for the majority today. No matter how much money you have coming in, it always seems to be just not enough. Bonuses and wage increases somehow seem to be frittered away. And life just isn’t being lived the way you’d hoped.

This is where Conscious Spending comes in. By helping you focus on getting the most out of your money, Knuckey guides you to achieve your goals and dreams without the repression and austerity demanded by lesser books. This innovative approach allows the reader to refine the philosophy to their own needs and wants using the resources they have.

The book also includes some inspirational case studies which will not only instruct you, but help to equip you as you put into practice its teachings. Teachings that will help you:

• Manage your money so that you have enough left after your bills to do the things you want;
• Keep sight of your big goals, even when the daily grind bites;
• Develop easy and painless habits to stay on track.

Whether you are an over-spender, an irrational spender or a compulsive spender, Conscious Spending is about helping you change your spending habits. Enabling you to concentrate your spending on what you enjoy most without wasting it on non-essentials which bring you no pleasure.

The upshot is a book which is written in a friendly coaching style. Free from judgements, it focuses on helping you to define your goals and use what you have to move towards them. Ginita Wall CPA, CFP, Director of the Women’s Institute for Financial Education (WIFE.org) wrote, “I found Deborah Knuckey’s book both informative and interesting. Her Conscious Spending approach can help every woman, in every financial situation, to be more aware of her money habits”.