Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: The Little Book of Main Street Money: 21 Simple Truths that Help Real People Make Real Money (Little Books. Big Profits 23)

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From Canada

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 21, 2021

My wife was a sign of this book for one of her classes. Since I have a background in finance I was helping her with the book report. After going to the book A lot of the examples used by the author are completely irrelevant in current year. The book was written with the 2008 financial crisis in mind and the Fallout that happened in the year or two after that crisis. All of which as I said it's completely irrelevant now. The author has a lot of opinions that are contradictory even to his own opinion at times and I found the book to be overly simplistic. If you are new and you're looking to get a basic understanding then yeah this book would be a good read but if you're somebody who has a background in accounting or Finance this book is going to be pretty much useless. Not only that but because the book deals with Finance in America for anybody outside of the country you are stuck trying to figure out what is the equivalent in your own country like my wife did here in Canada. The author talks about a number of services that we don't have anything equivalent here or we had to find the equivalent that is set up completely different

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From other countries

Dan Danford

Wonderful book, painful to read ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 14, 2009

Verified Purchase

In a sense, Jonathan Clements's new book was painful to read. Clements was the long-time personal finance columnist for the Wall Street Journal, and he has a real knack for explaining investment stuff. He wrote nearly 1,000 columns for the Journal and he's forgotten more about personal finance than many brokers ever knew.

Mainstreet Money, 21 Simple Truths that Help Real People Make Real Money is an excellent book. I recommend it highly to anyone who needs a basic finance guide, or those who want a refresher course. In Clements's usual style, it's easy to read, understandable, and helpful. I'll add this to our website's recommended reading list.

Clements once famously noted that there are only seven real stories in personal finance, and he cites them in his introduction. I won't list them all here, but one is "simplicity is a great financial virtue." I agree with his other six, too, but as a practicing advisor, this one stands out as genuine wisdom. There are few absolutes in economics or finance, but that comes pretty close!

It tracks that his 21 Simple Truths follow this theme. He tackles everything from portfolio construction to the merits of saving. Each chapter illuminates a different topic, and offers explanations, ideas, and suggestions. All in that comfortable and engaging style he's known for.

I especially like his tenth chapter, where he offers ten reasons why it's so tough to beat the market. This is heresy in many hallowed halls of Wall Street, but he does a nice job of explaining why so many smart people abandoned that game. "The harder you try to beat the market, the more likely you are to fail, thanks to the investment costs involved."

Why, then, was my reading painful? Another simple truth is that every thinking adult should already know much of this stuff. Seriously, folks, this isn't nuclear physics and these truths aren't obscure. These are the pots and pans of personal finance and every home should already have a basic collection. It just hurts to acknowledge (again) that - as a people - we're rich in things, but poor in basic money knowledge.

People should already know the merits of diversification. They should already know that every investment (every single one) has risks. They should know that tax deferral is smart and that today's retirement can last many decades. If they don't, then this little book makes those powerful and productive points. And, in many ways, Clements makes them and others better than anyone else could. He has a gift.

I like Jon Clements and I recommend his book highly. I just wish that it wasn't necessary.

64 people found this helpful

David Urbon

A solid read on the finances of the average person

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

Solid discussion on investing, retirement, savings, risk, and everything that a person should and needs to know. Is it in depth on all topics, no. That’s because it isn’t that kind of book. In saying that I have an accounting degree and I’m a homeowner and I found a lot of useful tidbits in this book

Joseph Marn

An Excellent Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 13, 2009

Verified Purchase

Of all the people we interact with in the world, there are maybe six or seven that really change our life. Our parents make sacrafices so we are able to earn our degrees. One or two teachers make a strong impression on us. Our spouse shares their life with us. Perhaps there is a religious person who helps us understand the concept of God. In my life Jonathan Clements is one of these people.
As a young man I spent money buying the latest hot mutual fund in an effort to beat the market. I paid huge fees, and last year's hot fund turned out to be this year's loser. Jonathan's book lays out the framework for investing using index funds with low fees to build a strong financial base.
Equally important is his advice not to buy too much house, too much car, and too much stuff. We can have a good life, but we cannot do everything. His comments on health, diet, happiness, and physical fitness also add perspective. I highly recommend this book. Buy copies for your children also.

7 people found this helpful

A. R.

Why this book?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 16, 2009

Verified Purchase

This is Jonathan Clements' best writing yet, and I've been following his financial advice since 1992. Out of all the works of respected financial authors I've read, none have proved to be as provoking or as true over the years as his. There is something about his clear-headed approach and British wit that inspires me to keep doing better. (It's one thing to know what to do; and then it's a second thing to actually do it. This book helps the reader in both.) The bottom-line is that reading this book helped me firmly acknowledge my true priorities (financial and otherwise) and inspired me to sally forth with the gumption to stick to them. The book also clears up the thorny financial questions a typical investor has. I am giving copies of this book as gifts to people I care about, and I recommend it to everyone who wants to get ahead financially and otherwise. And after you read this book, you'll see clearly what the "and otherwise" means in relation to your finances.

16 people found this helpful

James C. Megas

Deceptively wise "little book."

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 30, 2009

Verified Purchase

The title "The Little Book of Main Street Money" is a deceptive title for this wise, precious, little gem of a personal finance book. Much clever advice, and a powerful distillation of valuable knowledge from an unusually wide variety of souces incorporated in this highly useful and immediately practical book. I'm an avid reader of personal finance and lay economics books, and Jonathan Clements is of the finest minds and best writers in the business. This book covers a wide variety of topics, and it covers them all well. Clements never talks down to the reader, and he often provokes thought far beyond the printed words. In short, his "little book" contains a critical mass to start a fusion reaction of knowledge about finance. I am confident that I will be referring to it frequently. I have already been applying the information to my financial transactions, and I have only just finished reading the book.

Allan S. Roth

High Expectations that Delivered

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 26, 2009

Verified Purchase

This is a biased review since I confess that I've missed Jonathan's Wall Street Journal columns and wished I'd knew exactly what he'd be saying about all of this current market turmoil. This book answers my question in an engaging and very useful way.

Don't think this book is only about investing. This book is also about a relationship - our relationship with money. How we manage this relationship will have an enormous impact on our happiness, which is my favorite part of this book.

Yes, investing really is as simple as Jonathan notes. He also explains why simple is anything but easy.

I had extremely high expectations of this book. Jonathan easily delivered. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in money or happiness or both.

How a Second Grader Beats Wall Street: Golden Rules Any Investor Can Learn

5 people found this helpful

James Lange

If you take some of the top ideas from his 18 year plus career as principal personal finance writer for the Wall Street Journal

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

Jonathan Clements is the top financial writer in the country. If you take some of the top ideas from his 18 year plus career as principal personal finance writer for the Wall Street Journal and organize them into an easy to read book, The Little Book of Main Street Money is what you get. This gem contains some of Jonathan's best ideas. It goes way beyond money too. For example, Jonathan advocates buying experiences rather than things. I personally many copies and give them to my clients because I think it is such a great resource. I highly recommend you purchase this book.

One person found this helpful

Horatio Hornblower

Buy and read this book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 24, 2010

Verified Purchase

I have worked in investments and money management for a long time. I am a big fan of Jonathan Clements. I think this is a terrific book. The advice and information in this book are excellent. chapters are short, the points he makes are clear and practical. You can read a chapter in a few minutes and get valuable insights. You can read the whole book in a relatively short time and get a good overview of most of the important issues regarding your personal finances. Almost everyone can benefit from reading this book. I have gotten copies of this book for several of my friends and relatives. Buy it and read it,you will have a hard time finding a more rewarding way to invest your time and money.

5 people found this helpful

Owlsview

Great common sense financial advice

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 14, 2010

Verified Purchase

A book everyone should own. Clements, the longtime WSJ columnist, is one of the best financial writers in America. His common sense insights debunk Wall Street myths and demystify money management. This book covers not only investing, but the need to save; the advantages, and disadvantages, of home ownership; paying off debt; estate planning and insurance. A great introductory book, but also a different perspective on many topics that would benefit anyone, especially those who want to take control of their financial lives. As a financial planner, I have purchased multiple copies of this book for my adult children as well as clients. Buying this book just might be the best investment you make this year!

2 people found this helpful

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From Canada

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