Total Money Makeover (and More November Reads)

I finished five books in November: Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover plus four others.

You may notice that several of these titles are on the topic of money and finance. That’s because one of my adult sons was sponsoring a research project on that topic where he and his wife invited parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews to read books on stewardship and investing and report back on what they learned. He even put us some hefty cash prizes!

So, I finished several books on that topic in November (and a few more the first of December, which I’ll review next month). Read on for my impressions of each book I read last month.

The 5 books I read in November

• Humility by Andrew Murray

  This Christian virtue gets little attention, but if we take seriously the call to be “imitators of Christ,” we must humble ourselves just as He did. Jesus Himself bids us to “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

  Andrew Murray’s Humility is a short buy challenging study. I got the audio-version I listened to from ChristianAudio’s free monthly download program. The first of every month, they pick a new title readers can download for free — no strings attached. It’s a terrific way to build your own audio library with thought-provoking books on a wide range of topics — all from a distinctively Christian worldview.

• The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach

  You can’t rely on your good memory or your self-discipline to pay off your mortgage early or set aside funds for a rainy day or invest for your retirement.

  David Bach’s advice: Don’t even bother trying to budget. Instead, make it as easy on yourself as you possibly can by automating the process entirely.

  Step-by-simple-step, the author walks readers through a proven, hassle-free method for becoming financially independent. He tackles what might have otherwise been a dry, boring topic with such confident enthusiasm, inspiring anecdotes, and detailed action steps as to make the whole process as pain-free as possible.

  Spend a little time upfront arranging for automated emergency savings, mortgage payments, payroll deductions, retirement account funding, and the like, then let compound interest work its magic without having to give your system any additional thought.

• Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

  Listening to the audio version of Total Money Makeover (read by the author), I often winced at the Dave Ramsey’s tone. He seems unnecessarily abrasive and condescending at times, but there is no arguing with the wisdom of his cash-on-the-barrel approach to finances. There is a reason he is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His methodology is straightforward, and it works: You will never go broke if you consistently avoid spending money you don’t have.

  But what if it’s too late? What if you are already buried deep in debt? Is there hope of ever digging yourself out of the financial pit you’ve created for yourself? Dave’s answer is a resounding yes! As a self-made millionaire who lost everything in his late twenties and had to struggle through bankruptcy to slowly rebuild his nest egg to what it formerly was, Dave knows firsthand that it can be done. What’s more, he has helped countless others achieve financial freedom with the same no-nonsense, cash-only approach to budgeting.

• 12 Things Jesus Said About Money by the B&H Editorial Staff

  During his earthly ministry, Jesus had a lot to say about money. The authors have compiled and organized Christ’s teachings on this topic into twelve short chapters covering such related concepts as priorities, contentment, faith, humility, goals, greed, generosity, and comparison.

  Each chapter includes a lengthy list of scripture references—so you can read our Savior’s words for yourself—and discussion questions. As one might expect from a book based on Christ’s teachings, the principles presented are well-balanced and speak to many of the money struggles we see in society today.

• Joy to the World by Jennifer Flanders

  As I do every year once Thanksgiving is over, I pulled out my faithful old Christmas journal, Joy to the World, and started reading through it cover-to-cover again last month.

  Than I’ll spend the month of December adding to it — jotting down thoughts and reflections on advent, completing a few more word studies, paraphrasing notable passages of scripture and applying them to my life, and coloring in some of the beautiful vintage artwork that adorns every page.

  If — in the midst of all the myriad distractions swirling about you this time of year — you would like to find a way to slow down, re-focus your attention, and savor the real Reason for the season, I highly recommend this devotional journal. Granted, I’m a little biased, but those worthy goals are exactly why I created my Joy to the World journal in the first place. So check it out!

Do you love to read as much as we do? I’ve gathered all my best resources for bibliophiles into this post, or you can read more of my book reviews by following this link.

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