David Pogue

I read all three books from the David Pogue series - Technology, Life, and Money. The Technology one was probably my favorite.

The Money book is from 2016, which is a bit dated. Some products and websites no longer exist. However, it still has some valuable tips, but I think of them as more shopping savings than money advice. There is a savings ballpark calculation by each tip, although some seem inflated for an average user.

One tip, in particular, I had an issue with—advice to paying everything with credit cards (i.e., insurance, taxes, etc.). You can get more cashback or points, but it can lead to a high credit card balance, high interest, and penalties for some people. Additionally, you have to use a third-party service that charges fees to pay taxes via credit card. If the fee is less than cashback you receive, you may 'save' $50 or so, but you are exposing yourself to the danger of high CC balance and the hassle of setting this up.

All tips are short, to the point, and it is a straightforward and fun book. The book is nicely formatted, with great use of white space, font, and color. I like books that are a delight to read.

Total 5/5
Readability - 4
Scope - 2.5
Depth - 2
Format - 4
Clarity -3.5

Read this book if:
You want quick and easy savings tips.
You don't want to read an in-depth book on money savings.
… (more)