The price tag on this book should be your first clue that this is not your run of the mill self-help or get rich quick book. This is a well-researched and comprehensive survey and analysis on the study of the mental processes of saving as it has developed through history and how it is presently understood and measured.

The author begins by showing the philosophical underpinnings of both psychology and economics and then shows how the two fields have come together on the subject of saving. Next the author presents and describes modern theories of saving followed by the research that has been done on various populations. The influence of expectations and uncertainty on decision-making is examined, as are attitudes, motives, and personality, including the context of social settings, on saving behavior. The author then evaluates and attempts to integrate the various theories and concepts within savings research. Lastly, the author wraps up with suggestions for policy-makers, consumers and researchers. The book contains a superb bibliography.

This is college level book that has a lot of theories, concepts, and historical background which, while well-written, made for tough reading. The first chapter was by far the most difficult to get through. While I see the logic in choosing to put the historical foundations of economics and psychology at the beginning of the book, I think readers might have been better served had this chapter been included as an appendix. The following chapters were much more closely related to the subject at hand, and grew increasingly more fascinating as I progressed through each one.

Is this book worth spending a hundred dollars? For most readers, probably not. There are much easier and less-expensive ways to learn how to save money, and certainly self-study should be capable of illuminating many of one's own mental machinations in the save/spend decision-making process. I certainly recognized many of my own thoughts in this book. Yet, am I glad I own it? Absolutely. I have never come across such a comprehensive, concept-laden tome on mental savings behavior as this one. I have learned a great deal by reading the study of others and I expect that this book will serve me well, not only as I further consider my own mental processes, but also as a springboard to locating and reading further works in this field.