This is the ultimate demonstration of GIGO (garbage in; garbage out). They start with defining all readers as a stereotypical babyboomer husband and wife team who are so work driven they get nothing out of life. Authors as lawyer-savior-savant advise them to quit their jobs, or at least think as if they quit, tear up their credit cards and work the rest of their lives while spending all they have and dying broke. Not every baby boomer, much less average American, is what they describe as the party to whom they are giving advice. While there is good advice in some of the book, the idea of proceeding from a stereotypical description of a person leads to a conclusion that might be of value only to that stereotypical person. The conclusions and advice given cannot apply to most people, much less all people. There remain in the society hard workers and slackers; brain surgeons and dullards; computer programmers and ditch diggers; driven producers and fourth generation welfare recipients. Ovbiously, this book is not for food stamp recipients or clients of the welfare system. Never the less there is good advice that is worth taking and understanding. The credit card system, whereby one obligates himself to pay without the pain of shelling out hard earned cash, allows one to build debt without feeling it. This book is really for those much too busy to read it.

My opinion of this book changed a few times while I was reading it.

First, I thought that this book was pretty good in that it gives a "radical" new approach to personal finance. I enjoyed this book because of this. It takes a topic that can be very vanilla in its ways, and gives a brand new thought process. I guarantee you that you will see some ideas that totally contradict what other personal finance consultants would say. For example, the author actually makes an argument for leasing instead of buying a car. Seeing that argument was a first for me, especially in this type of book.

Then, the author became very repetitive, and actually started to use examples and paragraphs that were previously used in this book. This was quite annoying.

Finally, the book finished it's 4 part radical plan, and began to add commentary about various topics in personal finance. After being annoyed, this section kind of got me back on track. Again, it was interesting to read opinions that were not necessarily mainstream, on topics that have been discussed to death in other books.

Overall, I would say that people should give this book a try. Beware of the redundancy, and go in with an open mind.

You won't read about having to live under your means, or about how accumulate the most wealth to give to your heirs. Instead, you will see how to make the most of you money, live at your means, die broke, and leave people a minimal estate. Through the use of annuities, insurance, and reverse mortgages, one can have money till the day they die. However, the book does come up short when it talks about actually implementing this program. For example, there was no mention on the typical price of an annuity, nor how one would actually purchase these annuities with a minimal savings account. If it was mentioned, it was given the justice it deserved.

Enjoy!

Die Broke is an extremely seductive book. Stephen Pollan's idea is that you'd be a fool to save your money for a rainy day. He says spend it now, which is contrary to what evey other personal finance expert advises. Take a round-the-world cruise, buy that new Mercedes, or better yet, lease it. This advice goes against the grain, and I found myself fascinated by such an original approach. It's tempting to adopt his methods and live for the present, but my advice is listen to the book, but don't take it too seriously.

This book was a total waste of money. It was written by a lawyer who admits to not being an expert on careers. "Let me say right up front: I'm not a career counselor" (page 2). If you are miserable in your current career, as am I, then do not expect any help or guidance with this book. It was vague and useless.

I enjoyed scanning the review. I would be interested in seeing more similar publications to the one that I just reviewed.

While I was initially attracted to the basic concept, layout, and the presentation of the color schemes in this book, many of the actual interiors seem extremely dated. I think that the color swatches at the back of the book are a useful resource, but for actual interior design ideas there are other books on the market that I feel are far superior.

Most people are afraid of death - of their own, or of someone they love. Stephen Levine is not afraid to look death in the face. His words remind me that by embracing death, I can fully embrace my life.

This journal would be a helpful tool for anyone who is confronting illness and/or searching for healing at an inner level. There is nothing superficial here. His words cut to the core, to the essence of what is true.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from this journal: "Experience each breath as though it were your last. Enter each moment, each conversation, each lovemaking, each meal, each meditation as though there may never be another."

I recommend this journal for anyone who is willing to go deep.