Money 911

January 4, 2010
Veteran editor, columnist and personal finance author Chatzky (Talking Money) produces another clear-cut, straightforward, highly-informative self-help, this one meant to quell distress over the recent financial crisis by increasing readers' understanding of banking, saving, investing and managing money. Using a Q&A format, the jargon-free text is simple to comprehend but complex enough to be actually useful; readers deciding whether to lease or buy a car, for instance, are given main points to consider ("what will the car be used for?"), a list of pros and cons for each choice ("no worry about maintenance," "extra charges for any damage"), a "watch out" section on leasing contracts, and a series of follow-up Q&As (helpfully titled "I Also Need to Know"). Also included are resource guides like "A Quick Guide to Common College Savings Tools" and practical worksheets. In addition to the typical topics that readers expect from a book on personal finances (budgets, planning for college, investing, insurance), Chatzky includes chapters on keeping your family safe online, identity theft and scams, marriage, work and generational milestones.