Selling the Free Market: The Rhetoric of Economic Correctness

Book Description

While accusations of "political correctness" are frequently raised against liberals, there has been surprisingly little discussion of how conservatives foment the use of their own "economically correct" language. In this engaging book, James Arnt Aune examines how the rhetoric of the free market has become the everyday language of political debate in America and around the world. He illuminates the inner logic of free-market ideas, using rhetorical theory as an analytical tool. In the process, Aune confronts head on what he sees as the most serious flaw of economic correctness--its destructive impact on the lives of millions of working people and families.

Customer Reviews:

The Costly Consequences of the Free Market.......2006-09-05

I will begin this review with the obligatory act of full disclosure. I'm a former student of professor Aune's, and have learned a great deal from him, including (as I hope to show) how to constructively review and critique a text.

"Selling the Free Market" opens with three epigraphs: two from economists (Friedrich Hayek and Alfred Marshall) and the last from Cicero's "De republica," in which Cicero insists that "A commonwealth is the property of a people. But a people is not any collection of human beings brought together in any sort of way, but an assemblage of people in large numbers associated in an agreement with respect to justice and a partnership for the common good." That about says it all. Aune's book is a short but powerful defense of Ciceronian republicanism against the rational choice theorists and intellectual libertarians who want us to view this country not as a democratic republic, but (at best) as a giant shopping mall.

Part one of the book engages the rational choice theorists directly. Rational choice theory posits that human behavior can best be understood by viewing human beings as rational actors who weigh the costs and benefits of various courses of action and then choose the course that maximizes their individual utility. Aune persuasively argues that rational choice theory has become the "rhetoric" of contemporary economic policy discussions in the public realm. It is a kind of "rhetoric of economic correctness." If you don't speak in terms of costs and benefits and utility maximization you are viewed as a fuzzy-headed liberal--or worse. Aune also persuasively argues that rational choice theory simply does not do justice to the human condition. I imagine that Richard Posner, a rational choice theorist of the first rank, whom Aune discusses at length, would respond to Aune by saying: "Rational choice theory is like algebra. If you plug in the correct variables, and do the calculations correctly, it will give you the correct answer. But the variables are what they are. Rational choice theory has nothing to say about that." Aune's response is that some important human goals, aspirations, and values simply cannot be quantified, and thus cannot be "reduced" to mere "variables" in a rational choice theorist's equation. To use one of Aune's own examples, it is certainly possible to describe "labor" as a "commodity," and then to squabble over the ways in which labor unions may affect the "price" of this commodity, thus affecting a host of complex macro-economic factors. But Aune argues that if you understand labor and labor unions in this narrowly economic sense, you will not be able to understand the values of solidarity, empowerment, workplace happiness, and even fundamental fairness--all of which could also reasonably be associated with labor unions. In a final riposte, Posner might argue that the "goods" of solidarity, empowerment, and workplace happiness could--at least in some rough sense--be quantified, thus rational choice theory could still be an appropriate way to discuss policy options regarding labor unions. In his final and most important rebuttal, Aune would I think insist that even if the goods we are speaking of could in some rough sense be quantified, the *preferences* for these goods are not a "given." Rather, these preferences emerge out of debates and discussions among real individuals in real, historically situated, societies. In other words, just as advertising changes consumer desires (to some degree), and laws change attitudes (to some degree), democratic discussions change our preferences for various more or less quantifiable "goods" like happiness, a sense of empowerment, a sense of justice, and so forth--*to some degree.* Importantly, the process by which this change takes place simply cannot be modeled by rational choice theory. At this point I imagine that rational choice theorists like Posner might be likely to throw up their hands, mumble something about the unfortunate aversion to mathematics displayed by humanities professors, and then blithely continue to generate ever more complicated econometric theories on their ever more sophisticated computers.

Part two of the book extends the analysis in part one by way of a very close reading of several prominent libertarian intellectuals, including Ayn Rand, Robert Nozick, Murray Rothbard, and Charles Murray. As some of the more intemperate reviews on this site make clear, this part of the book touched a nerve, especially among the disciples of Rothbard. Although I haven't read much of Rothbard's work, I'm quite familiar with the other theorists Aune discusses. It strikes me that while Aune's criticisms are often sharp and not always amiable, he is never fundamentally unfair to his subject. Ayn Rand is a case in point. To my mind there is no more devastating critique of Rand's work than the seventeen pages you will find in Aune's book. This critique is also necessary, I think, for if my admittedly unscientific surveys of the students in my freshman college classes are any indication, it would seem that at least some of Rand's books are required reading in some American high schools. Aune argues that while Rand's hyper-sexualized, hyper-individualized worldview is consonant with a teenage male's utopian fantasy, it is utterly inappropriate in a world where one has serious and often ethically complex obligations to one's spouse, children, parents, neighbors, co-workers, and indeed one's fellow human beings. I'm somewhat surprised that the disciples of Rand have not yet posted any vicious reviews of Aune's book on this site. Perhaps their parents have restricted their internet usage, out of a justifiable worry that they are spending too much time alone in their bedrooms, engaged in role-playing games.

Part three of the book examines the political rhetoric of two notable conservatives, Pat Buchanan and Newt Gingrich, each of whom represent, according to Aune, two alternative paths that the conservative movement can take in its attempts to extend the legacy of the most successful conservative of the last half century: Ronald Reagan. The alternative represented by Buchanan would steer the conservative movement in the direction of the anti-immigration, anti-free trade, values based rhetoric that Reagan so skillfully used in the 1980s to capture the hearts and minds of the blue collar Democrats and rust-belt workers. The alternative represented by Gingrich would steer the conservative movement in the direction of a rhetoric that is brightly optimistic, in thrall to the positive potential of technology, and firmly committed to the idea that the material progress bought about by the "third wave" information economy will make life better for everyone--just the kind of rhetoric that appealed to the young urban professionals of the 1980s and 1990s. These two alternative rhetorics for the conservative movement are not directly opposed to one another, but as Aune skillfully points out throughout his book, these rhetorics are--let us say--in tension with each other. For what it's worth, I think the alternative offered by Gingrich is more viable than the alternative offered by Buchanan. Indeed, while not even a "futurist" can predict the future, it's safe to say that Newt Gingrich--a History Ph.D., a former college professor, a former Time Magazine "Man of the Year," a former Speaker of the House, and an individual whose personal life is at least as complicated as Bill Clinton's--is running for President in 2008. Aune's clever and often highly entertaining analysis of Gingrich's rhetoric gives us a head start in understanding much of what we may be hearing in the next couple of years from the Republican Party. For that reason alone, Aune's book is worth the price of an Amazon sale.

Finally, I should add that Aune's book includes a lengthy appendix, written in a prose style more academic than that of the rest of the book, which critiques the work of Deirdre McCloskey. As an economist of the so-called "Chicago School," which is known for its rigorous mathematical orientation, McCloskey gained a great deal of notoriety beginning in the 1980s by arguing that the actual writings of academic economists is often much more dependent upon persuasion and rhetoric, and much less dependent on incontrovertible numbers and mathematical theorems, than these economists would like to admit. Aune applauds this insight, but argues that McCloskey largely neglects the way that rhetoric actually brings economies into being by shaping our very selves.

All of which brings us back to the beginning of this review and to a general assessment of Aune's book. After all is said and done I would argue that Aune's principal "enemy" in this lively and often irreverent work is none other than the rational choices theorists who have virtually colonized public discussion of economic matters. Rational choice theorists view man as "Homo economicus." But as Aune writes: "No human being can for long live solely as Homo economicus, so all free-marketeers end up with elements of irrationality in their systems: disciples of [Ludwig von] Mises [Murray Rothbard's mentor] become radical neo-Confederates; Randians become love junkies; Republicans become Cold Warriors or find Jesus; and libertarians become racists or gun fanatics" (168). The prose here is surely a bit purple. But after reading this passage, I first thought of Rick Warren's now three-year long New York Times bestseller, "The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" Then I thought of the 2006 Pew Research Center report on what makes Americans happy. That report, based upon telephone interviews with a representative sample of over three thousand Americans, found that the happiest Americans are healthy, are married, go to Church regularly, have higher than average incomes (regardless of what that average is), and identify themselves as Republicans. Perhaps money--or at least *relative* wealth--can buy a bit of happiness after all. But since marriage and religion seem to obligate one in all sorts of ways, it would appear that the unrestrained individual freedom advocated by libertarians doesn't correlate all that well with happiness.

So far, fine. But as Lenin said: What is to be done? Pressing his case for practical political reform, Aune concludes with this--what I consider to be the most important passage in his book: "A new political program for a global, democratic left must emphasize the importance of the welfare state, strong unions, and regulation of the financial markets *for the preservation of traditional communities.* The classical theorists of rhetoric and their twentieth-century successors knew that human beings are a composite of appetite, spiritedness (thymos), and reason. Free-market economists are at a loss to explain the development of social norms. Only epideictic discourse, or the kind of craft knowledge--practical wisdom--that transcends the calculation of costs and benefits, can explain their development. The triumph of one-dimensional Homo economicus occurs at the expense of family, work, neighborhood, freedom, and faith--the *topoi* of conservatism at its best" (170).

Aune's political program may be laudatory; his turn to classical theorists of rhetoric as a way of recovering a fuller vision of who we are as humans is refreshing and sorely needed; and his indictment of the one-dimensionality of Homo economicus is dead on. But his dual contentions that "free-market economists are at a loss to explain the development of social norms," and that "*only* epideictic discourse...can explain their development," are both at best misleading. Free-market economic theory is not that conceptually impoverished; and epideictic discourse--or any type of discourse, for that matter--is not that powerful. I will happily admit that some type of discourse is often a *necessary* condition for the development of many (perhaps most) social norms in any society. And I'm even willing to concede that in a few rare cases discourse alone may be sufficient to establish certain social norms. But these norms usually turn out not to be particularly important, for, as I said, discourse just isn't that powerful. If it were, more than seventy years of gaseous rhetoric from any number of Soviet leaders would finally have produced the "New Soviet Man" we were promised. It did not, of course. My point is not that rhetoric is powerless to change our world. Quite the opposite. I'm one of those who believe that Ronald Reagan's powerful and unflinching epideictic discourse concerning the moral bankruptcy of the Soviet system helped to bring about the demise of that very system. But rhetoric surely does not construct, or deconstruct, physical reality. Aune taught us as much in his first book, "Rhetoric and Marxism," when he emphasized how important it was "to criticize rhetorical theory and practice from a Marxist standpoint." One key element of that criticism was directed at reminding rhetoricians that there is a material world out there that often imposes material constraints on action--constraints that cannot simply be eliminated by renaming or re-describing our world. Although I doubt Aune would want to follow me this far, I would extend his insight into the social realm as well. I agree with Aune that the "free market" is not real, in the sense that my local supermarket is real. And the "invisible hand" has neither flesh nor bone nor sinew. These economic ideas are obviously theoretical abstractions. But if, as Aune insists, these unaided abstractions cannot explain the development of social norms, neither, I would insist, can unaided epideictic discourse.

If I'm right, the question that begs the asking is: Where *do* our social norms come from? My answer is that they emerge from our evolved human nature. I believe that the boundaries of human nature are certainly capacious enough to allow for the development of a very wide range of social norms that ground a very wide range of societies, including the often heartless and economically unjust societies Aune decries in "Selling the Free Market," and the more humane, welfare-state societies Aune encourages in his book. But there are real limits that our evolved human nature puts on the development of social norms, and thus, ultimately, on the creation of viable human societies. Much as we might not like it, these limits cannot be overcome even by the most skillful epideictic orator.

Aune would doubtless respond to the above paragraph by arguing the very concept of "human nature" is as much an abstraction as the "free market" or the "invisible hand." He would also surely point out that the scientific intellectuals (generally, evolutionary psychologists and cognitive scientists) who claim to possess some special scientific understanding of human nature threaten to colonize our public policy discussions in exactly the way that rational choice theorists have colonized such discussions.

Perhaps. But in the end one must decide whether human nature is, or is not, a proper subject for theory. I think that it is. I also think that every rhetoric is grounded in a theory of human nature. I began by quoting Aune's epigraph from Cicero, and suggesting that "Selling the Free Market" is a defense of civic republicanism. Cicero was a great statesman and orator. But, truth be told, he wasn't much of a theorist. I hope that in his next book Aune provides us with a theory of human nature to ground the civic republicanism he and Cicero champion.

Intellectual dishonesty.......2006-03-28

I have to agree whole heartedly with the previous reviewer on this. It is obvious that Aune has not read very much of Rothbard's work and has focused entirely on the criticism of his work written by anarcho-socialists (who haven't even read Rothbard either). Aune's glaring errors about Rothbard's writing and Aune's tiresome descriptions of "market failure" and "oppression of the proletariat" are predictable and boring. Aune also engaged in a form of intellectual dishonesty common to marxists for the last 150 years. She did not even mention government failure or the impossibility for any collective organization to rationally organize the means of production due to the lack of a free pricing system provided by the free market. His dishonesty was that he consistently talked about the glory of marxism by discussing the evils (failure) of capitalism. There was no discussion about how a socialist society would be organized or its own "glory." Where was the discussion about the paradise of Cambodia? Or the worker's utopia of Albania? But I should not be surprised by Aune, he's just following in the footsteps of every other marxist that came before him.

a thought-provoking though controversial read.......2004-11-11

Aune, a professor of speech communication at Texas A&M University, has produced a highly readable though controversial volume about the nature of free-market rhetoric. Libertarians and economic conservatives will likely be offended by Aune's conclusions, though that is precisely his point.

Aune proceeds to systematically deconstruct libertarian economic thought and political discourse, exposing the faulty argumentative strategies of libertarians like Ayn Rand and Robert Nozick, as well as the discourse of more mainstream conservatives.

Libertarians have thin skins!.......2004-01-07

Who would have thought that the noble libertarian, whatever their school or stance, would have such thin skins and tin ears? Any way, this book is a critical analysis of the so-called `free market,' its salespeople, and the reality behind the rhetoric. It is highly recommended.

The Rhetoric of Attacking "Free Market Rhetoric".......2003-12-15

I must confess that I checked out this book from a library only to skim it for a few quotes to cite in a paper I was writing. I wound up spending an entire day reading the book cover to cover. For this reason alone, I recommend it, although I disagree completely with its central thesis.
Aune is a very rare commodity among leftist anti-capitalists: he is well versed in the writings of free-market proponents. Additionally, he is a very good writer, and Selling the Free Market is well written. His summaries of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged as well as some of the writings of Nozick, Rothbard, Murray, etc. are as clear as any I've read.
Aune is simply wrong on a few points that are not important to the overall discussion, however. For example, he claims that free market reforms have been "remarkably unsuccessful," pointing to slow economic growth and increasing income inequality (p. 1). Of course many sources reveal that this analysis is just plain incorrect. Read Norberg's In Defense of Global Capitalism (2003) or Sowell's Basic Economics (2000), for example.
Also, Aune attacks Charles Murray's claim that the Civil Rights Acts were unnecessary because (as Murray states) socio/economic progress for racial minorities would have occured in the free market anyway. Aune claims that Murray "provides no proof for this assertion" (p. 114). In fact Murray's book cites trendlines that show Blacks' economic fortunes were rising even before the Civil Rights Movement (Murray 1997, p. 51).
I could go on about Aune's errors but I believe that the overall strength of Aune's book is its overview of the free market movement--such as it is a movement. Certainly, Aune's factual errors are believed and repeated by countless other so-called liberal intellectuals. I rate this book 4 stars for readability. I really do recommend it be read.

Book Description

Italy has recently come to the attention to global strategic planners. This report puts these executives on the fast track. Ten chapters provide: an overview of how to strategically access this important market, a discussion on economic fundamentals, marketing & distribution options, export and direct investment options, and full risk assessments (political, cultural, legal, human resources). Ample statistical benchmarks and comparative graphs are given.

Book Description

Kaiser Permanente is the largest nonprofit healthcare system in the world and is a leader in integrated medical care. A team-based approach that draws on the strengths of the healthcare organization as well as on community resources, integrated care is a most cost-efficient healthcare business model. It also gives patients an all-important sense of control over their conditions and provides the kind of care they can navigate and trust. In From Chaos to Care, Dr. Lawrence shows how integrated care succeeds on both the organizational and human fronts. A blueprint for change and a manifesto for the implementation of satisfying and cost-effective healthcare for all, From Chaos to Care illuminates the path to the future of American medical care.

Customer Reviews:

Many minds make good patient care.......2007-04-10

This is an excellent book on the state of the healthcare system and provides significant recommendations to enhance the results of patient care. The author referring to medicine states, "It conducts its business with systems so archaic and incentives so perverse that the nation's education system looks almost rational by comparison." Doctor Lawrence has a well structured approach to address the issues based on collaboration of the medical, nursing team, allied healthcare workers, administrative personnel, and tools to back them up. Something most would have thought would have been in place, but to those you know healthcare is seldom available. It is said, "many hands make for a light load" like wise, "many minds make good patient care."

Measuring from chaos to care.......2004-09-14

The author eloquently describes problems faced by patients seeking care in the current environment. It is a snapshot of the quality movement in healthcare. Like a work of art, what is also interesting is what is not there or the negative spaces. A very wise man once said 'if you can't measure it you can't control it'. The word measurement is sadly missing from the index and table of contents. Measurement is central to quality improvement. Clinical laboratories have been required to measure, analyze and track the quality of their work for over 30 years. Many clinical labs have used statistical process control charts, control materials, standards etc. for decades. However, they have not routinely sought to identify root causes and corrective actions. Perhaps there will be a sequel with numerous valid measures of healthcare quality, more detailed examples of six sigma and possibly other lessons from Deming and Juran.

FROM CHAOS TO CARE: THE PROMISE OF TEAM-BASED MEDICINE.

Average customer rating:

FROM CHAOS TO CARE: THE PROMISE OF TEAM-BASED MEDICINE.
David. Lawrence
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RIINKE

Book Description

Owning and operating a restaurant is one of the most challenging endeavors an entrepreneur can take on—the hours are long and grueling, staff turnover averages 130 percent, and many fail within their first year. Streetwise® Restaurant Management walks you step by step through each aspect of opening and managing a restaurant. This guide covers the practical issues you'll face on a daily basis and offers tips from an experienced restaurateur about the risks and rewards of restaurant management.

Is owning or managing a restaurant right for you? It can be if you have Streetwise® Restaurant Management as your ready reference for creating front-of-house ambience and back-of-house efficiencies. Learn how to:

·Select the right location for your restaurant
·Develop the menu
·Attain appropriate permits and licenses
·Manage staff
·Market and promote ideas to generate a positive buzz
·Operate more profitably

Evaluate Your Market
·Do you have a concept or menu that stands out?
·Can you live the life of a restaurateur?
·Can you critically evaluate your marketplace?
·Do you know your budget?

Recruit and Retain Staff
·Interviewing and selecting
·Communicating expectations
·Utilizing motivational tools
·Awarding promotions
·Adapting appropriate training materials
·Practicing customer service philosophy
·Coping with employee turnover

Know the Cost of Doing Business
·Inventory and food costs
·Fixed/variable payroll
·Benefits
·Employee welfare/education costs
·Seasonal changes
·Tax considerations
·Pricing

Plan Ahead and Get Organized
·Develop your business plan
·Find the right people: lawyers, bookkeepers, insurance brokers
·Create a timeline
·Know your mission

The restaurant business demands creativity and flair, as well as practical know-how. Streetwise® Restaurant Management explains all you need to know to run a successful restaurant—from what to do to how to fix it. Streetwise® Restaurant Management is your one-stop reference to running a restaurant resourcefully.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing book.......2004-01-27

Quite disappointed with the content and writing.Bad jokes were littered around here and there.Not a very practical book, too much theory and talks a lot on things that most people already know. Language used is too flowery.

Book Description

A renewed wave of anti-corporate activism is underway, particularly targeting the apparel industry and other areas of consumer manufacturing where the brand, usually American, uses off-shore (that is, third world or lesser-developed) countries for sourcing. This is a reputation issue of the highest order. For some, the issue may be one of brand preservation. Lukaszewski provides helpful insights, key facts, major lessons, productive ideas for helping your organization move out of the bull's eye.

Moving Out of the Target Zone: What to Do When the Activists Attack (Monograph)

Average customer rating:

Moving Out of the Target Zone: What to Do When the Activists Attack (Monograph)
James E. Lukaszewski
Manufacturer: The Lukaszewski Group Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Anti-corporate activism has become a globally coordinated activity involving all areas of corporate pursuit. The target(s) is a brand, usually American, using off-shore (that is, third world or lesser-developed) countries for sourcing. This is a reputation issue of the highest order. For some, the issue can be brand preservation. Some global institutions, such as the World Bank, have become constant symbols and targets. How do you move out of the bull's eye when activists attack? Jim Lukaszewski provides helpful insights and 12 key facts with useful commentary and lessons to guide you. Moving out of the target zone is becoming increasingly more challenging because: • Activist campaigns are becoming more sophisticated than corporate response capabilities. • Activist campaigns are becoming less focused and dependent on the “media” and more focused on creating trade barriers, creating market barriers such as boycotts, impeding access to capital through pressure on institutional investors, and directly attacking individuals and organizations who are the end users rather than consumers. • Activist campaigns are building a substantial track record of success. Target companies are recognizing that direct action against them is powerful and can be successful (largely because they respond too late). According to Lukaszewski, getting and staying out of the target zone essentially means: • Committing to principled, open behaviors that address issues promptly, directly, and positively. • Getting to the high ground fast. • Putting yourself in the activist's shoes, as well as the shoes of other major stakeholders. Act from their perspective. Start doing it today. • Focus on clear, useful, positive goals that can be “given away” to others for the credit • Be cautious in building phony coalitions on issues that matter. • Recognize that response to activism basically feels defensive and protective.

Average customer rating:

Incredible planning / problem solving tool

Simple, but not simplistic

Rapid Problem Solving with Post-It Notes (Purchased on 11/12/2006

Very good tool

Constantly recommending this book to others

Rapid Problem Solving with Post-It Notes
David Straker
Manufacturer: Fisher Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Book Description

Problem Solved!

Uses your favorite top-drawer tool—the Post-it® Note. Great for individuals, great for groups—large or small.

Problems come in all shapes and sizes, yet most have common characteristics that can be addressed with the techniques found in this book. Rapid Problem-Solving with Post-it® Notes shows you how to use six types of techniques:

The Post-up—Provides methods for getting information into chunks
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More than 70 diagrams and examples for solving everyday problems.

This refreshing book reminds us the simplest ideas are often the most effective.

Solve problems, create solutions and find answers fast—all with the help of Post-it® Notes. Tens of millions of Post-it® Notes users can now learn how to do far more with these great little tools. Post-it® Notes can be used to help solve difficult problems because they:

Are the right size to hold one piece of information from a problem Are easily to attached to flat surfaces and stay put Can be moved and reattached many times

Customer Reviews:

Incredible planning / problem solving tool.......2007-06-07

Really great reference book for identifying and solving problems, planning and information mapping. Takes several management systems and combines them in a practical, time-effective method for working individually or in teams.

Simple, but not simplistic.......2007-05-06

This book offers problem solving techniques that may be used well in the suggested sequence, and may be used independently, as well. And, of course, each technique employs Post-It Notes.

At first glance, it may seem that Straker's techniques are almost too simple -- simplistic. They are not. In fact, they reflect a deep understanding of the problem solving, and how to profitably involve groups in that process.

The book is short, well-organized, and clear. Reading it cover to cover won't take long and is time well spent. However, you can cherry pick his chapters and still benefit.

My partner and I recently introduced Straker's method (and book) to a client -- a Washington think tank. They were immediately able to reach faster, better solutions that included a broader range of input. They have become, in their words, "sticky note zealots." Well, me too.

Highly recommended.

Rapid Problem Solving with Post-It Notes (Purchased on 11/12/2006.......2007-01-11

I have not recieved the book. I vant you to find out why te delivery is so slow.

Very good tool.......2006-11-07

This is an easy tool to follow the rules for problem solving. It has helped to reduce the time of response in hard difficult working situations. To maintain the level of usage, the students read it for present information in class in other ways, in more understandble way.

Constantly recommending this book to others.......2006-11-03

I'm the author of "Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques," and other books on creative thinking. As such, I read pretty much everything that's published that can be useful in facilitating creative thinking workshops and seminars. I find the ideas in this book fun,useful and extremely effective. I'm constantly recomending it to people looking for ways to become more creative in their personal and business lives.

Average customer rating:

Rule #1: Use cheap glue to publish your book...

Out of Date!!!

Worth the look

A real gift to those of us a bit spooked by money

An excellent intro to understanding personal finance terms.

The Green Magazine Guide to Personal Finance: A No B.S. Money Book for Your Twenties and Thirties
Ken Kurson
Manufacturer: Main Street Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Sensible, jargon-free financial advice for people in their twenties and thirties -- from the publishers of the critically acclaimed Green magazine.
-- What's the difference between a stock, a bond, and a mutual fund?
-- Should I invest in a company that guarantees fifteen percent returns or pay off that credit-card balance I've been carrying for six months?
-- How do I get a loan to buy a bungalow or a BMW?
-- What's so great about compound interest anyway?
-- Can I deduct the cost of this book from my taxes?

Providing answers to these questions and sensible money advice for anyone who doesn't want to wade through lots of B.S., "Green Magazine's Guide" contains savvy, straight-up guidance that demystifies all types of personal financial matters, including every flavor of investing, retirement planning, credit-card debt, student loans, first-time home buying, insurance, and taxes. It also includes plenty of valuable information on learning to live within your means, dealing with deadbeat roommates or spend-thrift boyfriends, or putting on a cheap wedding.

What sets "Green Magazine's Guide" apart from other personal financial books is that it addresses every issue in a way that is easy to understand. Author Ken Kurson's engaging yet always pragmatic money-speak is enlivened with examples, pie charts, comics, and dead-on humor. His advice doesn't sound like Dad, but it is every bit as solid. "Green Magazine's Guide" is the only book that speaks to all those whose cynicism toward money does not exclude them from seeking their fortunes.

Customer Reviews:

Rule #1: Use cheap glue to publish your book..........2007-08-16

(I wasn't even halfway finished with the first chapter when the book began to fall apart!)

This book, like so many others, has the elitist belief that the reader already has money and simply does not know how to handle it.

Here's MY situation: I'm a part-time student/full-time employee in a dead-end job, barely making ends meet. I would like a personal finance book that shows me how to survive in my current situation and save money to put myself into a better situation.

Does anyone out there have any ideas?

Out of Date!!!.......2007-06-20

I liked the book in general, however, this book is way out of date. The turn of the century added a whole lot of changes to our world and unfortunately this book does not account for those changes. Generally this book is pretty good but I would recommend something more recent.

Worth the look.......2002-04-05

I got this book for my boyfriend who isn't interested in investing issues, but he did pick it up and read it!... I also found myself looking in it and learning a few things. I've ordered a few money matters type books and this is the first one that I've read that isn't geared towards a total moron. It doesn't explain the obvious like "If your credit cards are to the limit try not to use them anymore..."

A real gift to those of us a bit spooked by money.......2001-01-17

I received this book as a gift from my girlfriend, who keeps trying to persuade me to save money for retirement, invest in a 401k, blah, blah, blah. I can't help it - I have a mental block about money, it just intimidates me. Well, it did until I got this book. It's written in normal english and it explains everything, not just the concepts, but WHY my life will improve if I understand this stuff. My only regret is not having the book about five years ago. Have already read it twice, and am already dispensing advice to my friends now, and even a little to my girlfriend. Really good job by the author.

An excellent intro to understanding personal finance terms........1999-10-04

If you really want to get started taking charge of your own financial situation, this book is a must-have. I've highlighted sections of mine and can go back and refer to it because everything is in plain English- but the author doesn't talk down to you. I'm going to give this to all of my younger family and friends as a college graduation present. The analysis of different types of investments, insurance plans, terminology, and etc. is excellent and now I have enough confidence in my own knowledge to move to the next step of actual money management.

Book Description

Uses case studies to show how smart business owners make sure the right people take over.

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