Sorry for this late entry. But, the website is in a state of transition and, at this time, there will be no more posts to Dr. Rivera's Book Blog.
But, it has been my pleasure to share with you my thoughts and feelings about books that I have found to be meaningful. My hope has been that these books would be helpful to you on your road to success.
Conscious Spending For Couples: Seven Skills For Financial Harmony
In this presentation, I will consider the book entitled Conscious Spending for Couples: Seven Skills for Financial Harmony. This is a book written by Deborah Knuckey which is geared not only towards couples who are already in a financial quagmire, but also for people who are early in the process of combining their financial lives.
The author presents a number of ideas that can help couples become clear on what they have, what they want, and how to go from what they have to what they want. Described in the book are the “Three Rules for Financial Harmony,” “Seven Skills for Financial Harmony,” and “Four Lifestyle Decisions That Make or Break Your Finances.” There is also a section about the different “money styles” that combine in a relationship. Combinations include the Spender/Spender couple, the Saver/Saver couple, and the most common; Spender/Saver couple. A test is provided to help you determine the money style of both you and your partner.
Developed by the author is the “Conscious Spending Model” which is an interesting take on what is recognized by most people as the Food Pyramid. There are a total of seven categories with “Security” at the bottom as the foundation of the pyramid. The next level up includes “Shelter” and “Sustenance.” The next level up is “Self and Family.” Above that is “Social” and “Society” and at the tip of the pyramid is the category “Soul.”
Putting together a budget or what the author calls a “spending plan” can be daunting to some people because it can be complex, but there also may be little motivation to do a budget because there seems to be little significance about what the figures actually tell you. The categories used in the Conscious Spending Model provide more meaning to the numbers. There can be more awareness on how money is spent and whether or not it meets the financial goals that have been set. Intriguing is the category “Soul” which, at the tip of the pyramid, is described as “All the added extras in life that fall outside the other categories and are consumed to add to the quality of life.” This category includes money spent on hobbies and vacations. Many people would consider this category lower on the pyramid as it would be perceived as more of a necessity than a luxury.
“Security” is defined as “Savings, investments, and insurance that ensure that you can weather financial storms and be financially independent in your later years.” By placing “Security” as the foundation of the pyramid, this model places an emphasis on what may be the most important factor to financial “peace of mind.” In these times when people are living beyond their means and given the uncertainty of the job market and the stock market; this model can help people better understand and plan for their financial future.
Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success.
Life Strategies: Doing What Works Doing What Matters
In this presentation, I will consider the book entitled *Life Strategies: Doing What Works Doing What Matters. Also, please go to “The Word Is…” on my website for an audio presentation reprise on “Goals.”
This book is written by Phillip C. McGraw, Ph.D. who, as a TV personality, is better known as “Dr. Phil.” Dr. Phil is a Psychologist and in the book he provides a number of exercises geared towards increased self-knowledge. His first exercise, to list “…the top five things in your life that you have simply failed to fully and completely acknowledge to yourself” (p.19) may seem especially daunting. There is another exercise in the chapter entitled A Guided Tour of Your Life. This, too, is difficult (and time-consuming.) But, if completed, the reader would certainly gain clarity. As is true of all the other exercises presented, the exercises serve to bring awareness to people as they go about their daily lives and to confront what may not be working.
There are Ten Laws of Life presented in the book which Dr. Phil describe as “…the rules of the game” and is essential towards taking control of your life. (p.32) He goes on, “You can ignore them and stumble along, wondering why you never seem to succeed; or you can learn them, adapt to them, mold your choices and behavior to them, and live effectively.” (p.32) These Laws include Law #3: People do what works and Law #8: We teach people how to treat us.
Other sections include the ten factors present in successful people such as having a vision for what they want and having the ability to take risks. Lastly, but no less important, Dr. Phil describes his Seven-Step Strategy for realizing one’s goals.
Dr. Phil can be described as “no-nonsense.” He is direct and eschews the victim mindset. He rallies everyone to take control of their lives and helps them do so with the exercises and information presented in the book. As stated by Dr. Phil: (p.15)
Most people…cheat themselves by not asking themselves the hard questions, not facing their true personality and behavior, and therefore not addressing the nitty-gritty issues undermining their efforts to succeed. My position is this: Let the rest of the people live in a fog of self-deception. You take off the blinders and deal with the truth, and you’ll leave them in the dust.
Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success. *Note this review is based on the 1999 edition of the book.
Also, please go to “The Word Is…” on my website for an audio presentation on “Suze’s Christmas message.”
In the book, the important concept of cashflow is discussed. There is also a graphic entitled the Cashflow Quadrant where individuals are categorized into four groups depending on their cashflow or how money comes in and how money goes out.
Cashflow is the flow of money on a periodic basis. Cashflow can be tracked by a family via a monthly household budget. The importance of having a budget is in bringing awareness to how money is handled. This is especially important for people who at the end of the month wonder where all their money has gone to. Having a budget will help to develop control over one’s finances. Observing how much money comes in and how much money goes out will show where changes may need to be made.
Of note is Robert’s discussion of the common assumption that having a home is an asset. He contends that a home is actually many times a liability because having that home takes money out of your pocket. Specifically, there is money paid out for the mortgage, repairs, and maintenance. However, if the house is rented and the rent is enough to pay all these expenses and bring some money into your pocket, then it would be considered an asset. According to Robert, “So a house could be an asset or a liability depending on the direction of the cash flow. If the cash flows into your pocket, it is an asset, and if it flows out of your pocket, it is a liability.” He goes on to explain with graphics that, in most situations, the house is actually an asset for the bank (mortgage holder). It then becomes apparent that having a mortgage may indeed be a liability.
Robert believes in helping people understand the basics about money. In this book, he explains the concept of cashflow as a way to help people improve their financial literacy. His hope is for everyone to eventually be financially free.
Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success.
*Note this review is based on the 1999 edition of the book.
The Laws Of Money, The Lessons Of Life: Keep What You Have And Create What You Deserve
In this presentation, I will consider the book entitled *The Laws of Money, The Lessons of Life: Keep What You Have and Create What You Deserve by Suze Orman. This is the second post of a financial book because of the current high level of fear associated with the extensive loss of jobs, homes, and savings. And another Suze Orman book is reviewed because of her popularity as a financial expert.
Also, please go to “The Word Is…” on my website for an audio presentation on “I can’t give up everything I have!”
In the book, Suze describes five Laws of Money and pairs it with several life lessons. For example, Law Number 2: Look at What You Have, Not at What You Had pertains to the inability to move beyond the financial loses of the past. And, unfortunately, for many people the losses may have been quite recent and quite severe. Suze notes that several lessons must be learned from such an experience of loss such as “In hundreds of circumstances and dozens of ways, people hang on to the past to the detriment of their future,” and “If you live in yesterday, you will never be able to get to where you want to be tomorrow” (p.52). Understanding these lessons is helpful in being able to refocus and take action steps for a better financial future. It may be difficult to move beyond the past due to unresolved feelings such as guilt. “Tears are God’s way of forgiving you” (p.13) were the words of an old friend remembered by Suze when, as described in an earlier chapter, she began to cry uncontrollably after realizing her spending had became out of control. These words eventually helped Suze to forgive herself which in turn, allowed her to move on with her financial life.
Suze also presents a Guidebook which includes a number of exercises for all of the Laws of Money along with its associated life lessons. For Law Number 2, the exercise encourages an analysis of the past and then a way to reframe it. This is a powerful exercise that can be used in any situation.
Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success. Please contact me if there is a particular book that you would like me to read and review.
*Note this review is based on the 2003 edition of the book.
The 9 Steps To Financial Freedom: Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying
In this presentation, I will consider the book entitled The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying. This is a book written by financial guru Suze Orman. *Although printed many years ago, I think reviewing this book now is timely given the current financial environment and the fear associated with it among the general public.
Also, please go to “The Word Is…” on my website for an audio presentation on “People first, then money, then things” which is a mantra of Suze Orman.
In the book, Suze writes extensively about financial matters such as retirement plans, insurance, and investment choices. As indicated in the title of the book, there are 9 steps. Some are more practical such as Step 3: Being Honest With Yourself where you are asked to look at your cashflow; what comes in and what goes out on a monthly basis. I am not a financial expert and do not intend to critique the financial issues which are discussed in the book. I want to add, however, it is important that you improve your financial literacy and strive to keep up to date with financial issues as they appear to be changing quickly.
Other steps include Step 6: Trusting Yourself More Than You Trust Others and Step 7: Being Open to Receive All That You Are Meant To Have. In these steps, Suze asks you to have a positive attitude towards money and to take charge of your money so you are less dependent on others to handle your money.
I think the most important steps to your financial foundation are the first 2 steps on her list; Step1: Seeing How Your Past Holds The Key To Your Financial Future and Step2: Facing Your Fears and Creating New Truths. There are some people who have a positive attitude towards money and there are some people who feel negatively towards money. The first step helps people understand why one feels one way or another by looking at what Suze calls “money messages.” Although taking action steps to deal with any fears one may have about money is necessary, having the insight to know why the fear is there in the first place will add another tool to fight the fear. Suze gives several accounts of her own life throughout the book. But, the most moving and eye-opening is that of an early childhood experience that involves her father which is in the opening chapter What Do Yo Want From Your Money? This story allows for a greater understanding of the meaning of money in her own life and was the basis for an epiphany when she later became a stock broker (pp. 3-4):
I was rich, richer than I could have imagined. And I realized I was profoundly unhappy; the money hadn’t bought or brought me happiness. So if money wasn’t the key to happiness, what was? It was then that I began a quest, which has taken me deep into the meaning of life-and the meaning of money.
Suze’s quest brought her to understand that we are inherently of value. As she states in Step 9: Recognizing True Wealth: (p.281)
True financial freedom lies in defining ourselves by who and what we are, not by what we do or do not have. You are the person you are right now. We cannot measure our self-worth by our net worth.
Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success. Please contact me if there is a particular book that you would like me to read and review.
*Note this review is based on the 1997 edition of the book.
In this presentation, I will consider the book entitled When Bad Things Happen To Good People. This is a book written by Rabbi Harold Kushner after the death of his son who suffered from progeria which is a condition in which aging is accelerated, but growth is stunted. It is a terminal condition and death occurs before reaching adulthood. Also, please go to “The Word Is…” on my website for an audio presentation on “Belief in a Just World.”
In the book, Rabbi Kushner presents some of the reasons people give to the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Some people believe that the person afflicted with a disease, loss, or other tragedy deserved it because the person suffering is really “bad” and is being punished by God. Some people believe that there is a greater purpose; that it is “God’s plan” for which we cannot comprehend. Others may believe that there is a lesson to be learned. The lesson may be to slow down and appreciate life or to be a model of strength and courage for others. And others may believe that there is no reason; the universe is random and chaotic. To the question of “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I humbly respond, “I don’t know.” But, a more important question which was raised by the author and one with which I agree is “Now that this has happened to me, what am I going to do about it?”
Rabbi Kushner mentions a book entitled Elementary Forms of The Religious Life written in the early 1900’s by a French sociologist named Emile Durkheim. Based on his research into the religions of the native people of the South Pacific, Durkheim found that these religions were not focused on the relationship of human beings with God, but rather on the relationship of human beings with each other. The purpose of the rites of these religions was to increase human bonds. Related to that research is the admonition of Rabbi Kushner that the response to those suffering is to be a source of support and comfort instead of focusing on answering “Why do bad things happen to good people?” It is in such a milieu that people who have suffered can get beyond tragedy. They can process the myriad of emotions that accompany tragedy, such as anger and feelings of guilt, and then go on to make new meaning in their lives.
Rabbi Kushner chose the title of his book with the intent to move people beyond tragedy instead of remaining mired in it by questioning why tragedies occur in the first place. I don’t know if all people suffer from a personal tragedy. But, I have seen how debilitating it can be for people if not able to move beyond it. If you cannot get beyond a tragedy in your own life, seek a source of support and comfort and take action to process your feelings and make new meaning in your life.
Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success. Please contact me if there is a particular book that you would like me to read and review.
