Book Description
"
Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to Understanding Images is now in its third edition and it has become the standard in photo criticism and theory courses throughout the United States. The book contains an elegant pedagogical apparatus founded on the four critical activities that Terry Barrett so ably illuminates -- describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing.
Moreover, Barrett's analytical categorization of photographs into ideal types including the aesthetically evaluative and the interpretive (to cite two examples) has provided readers with a highly original and useful way to think about how photographs are made to function in the world." Louis Kaplan, Southern Illinois University
Customer Reviews:
Goes on and on.......2006-04-30
Includes miles of intellectual blather. Fits well into sexually charged point of view of photography. Uses most horrific and grotesk as examples. On page 33 in third edition author mentions head decapitation as one photographer's "external" influences. Uses sexual pictures as examples. Generally a politically correct lightly negative type discourse on photography. I feel sorry for the students subjected to this pulp.
Excellent introduction........2004-10-15
Having never taken a course in art appreciation, I found this book to be an excellent introduction to interpreting photographic images. The comment above about this book serving as a framework is a good one. Essentially any photograph will fall into one of the categories, giving the viewer a frame of reference within which to interpret and appreciate the meaning of the work. It forces you to slow down and think about each photograph you encounter, ultimately enriching the viewing experience. I highly recommend it for photography aficionados and photographers alike.
Criticisng Criticism.......2002-06-11
A look at the subtitle to this book, "An Introduction to Understanding Images", might lead one to believe that it is about photographs and what makes them good or bad (or if there are such things as "good" and "bad" photographs). But instead it is about photographic criticism, primarily written. And even then it really doesn't tell you very much about how to write criticism yourself, or how to interpret what you read, or how to develop patterns of thought that would enable you to criticize in a useful fashion. Instead most of the book is concerned with the pigeon holes into which different kinds of photographic criticism can be put.
An unstated thesis of this book seems to be that the criticism of photographs is an art form itself. Certainly anyone who has read something like Walter Benjamin's "the Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" might agree. But if it is an art, then it has both form and content, and any book claiming to teach one about the art (I almost said craft) had better address those points. To know that there are theoretical schools like Postmodernism or Feminist Theory is useful to those trying to organize photographic criticism and may be helpful to the photographic critic who is trying to decide what his own approach is, but knowing that these schools exist does not help a critic as much as a knowledge of how to look at a picture and organize a written commentary.
Fortunately, the book has a number of examples of written criticism, including several examples of different critics addressing the same picture. Unfortunately most of the criticism addresses the content of the photograph without considering how the form relates to the content or how, as Mark Schorer has said, technique leads to discovery. For example, Ansel Adams' photographs rely upon the range of light from the whitest whites to the blackest blacks to make their statements about the grandeur of the American wilderness. Unfortunately, nothing in this book considers photographic technique for the critic, although there are plenty of opportunities. For example, there is an ambiguous picture by Robert Doisneau taken in a Paris Café showing a younger women and an older man. The picture is grainy and the depth of field shows the women more sharply then the man. Both of these techniques should contribute to the possible interpretation of this photograph, and yet they are not mentioned.
I think the photo critic who wants to improve his art would be far better served by learning something about photography, and then reading actual criticism, like John Szarkowski's "Looking at Photographs". "Criticizing Photographs" should only be considered as a supplement to such studies.
useful and excellent book for students of photography.......2000-12-26
I have read Persian (Farsi) translation of the 2nd. edition of this book. Thanks to Mr. Barrett and the translators of the book. It helped me to understand how to criticize photographs and I found it a unique book in this field. After searching in Internet I found out that Mr. Barrett Has revised the book in ashort periodof time. I suggest, as a student of photography in university, to all studentd in the world to read the book. Again thanks to Mr. Barrett.
"It takes more time to make a picture than to appreciate it".......2000-11-21
This is an excellent book.
These are some questions the book deals about: How a photograph is made? What are its purposes? How should its context be considered? Was that photograph made or taken?
In this book several criteria (even opposite ones) about photographs are also analyzed and compared, leaving to the reader the decision about the one(s) to take. The process of understanding a photograph is not simple, but this book is a nice guide to follow.
At the end of the book, examples of reviews are included, as a reference not only for students, but also for the person who simply would want to talk about a photograph. Moreover, advice concerning the redaction is also given.
Product Description
Criticizing Photographs helps students of photography increase their understanding and appreciation of photographs by applying the principles of criticism. This book provides a framework for critically considering photographs through describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
The Cure opens with schools using thought detectors to get rid of people.
After having his evidence destroyed, Spider must gather more, to take another shot at the President. With all filthy assistants armed with bowel disruptors, he sets out ot do this in his manic, though ill and wobbling fashion.
The Smiler declares fake emergencies to extend his powers to do as he sees fit, ignoring laws to do what suits him politically.
Best Series Ever!.......2006-04-18
This series, for those of you who don't know, is very radical, creative, amusing, astonishing, bewildering and just plain exiting. Spider Jerusalem, the main character, is based on Hunter S. Thompson (who, if you don't already know of, you should do some reading about, or just think back to Johnny Depp's performance in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas").
Spider is a journalist (just like the real, and late, Hunter S. Thompson) who has a real problem with the way his city is being run. The series starts with a very hairy Spider who had just been living in the mountains for five years just to escape the city and "The Beast" who runs it.
The city is very futuristic, but is very much like the world we live in (if advertising strategies, body modifications and the availability of pornography and weaponary were multiplied by 10).
This is my favorite graphic novel of any I've ever read, and recomend it to every person on the planet (well, anyone who has a brain). I'd give this book 12 stars if I could, but my options are limited by Amazon here.
If you like graphic novels, Hunter S. Thomson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, rebellion, jounalism, body modification, futuristic technology concepts, sex, drugs, violence, humor, or just one of thee above, start yourself off by getting Volume 1: "Back on the Street" which is the first 3 comics in one paperback. I promise you won't regret it.
The end is here.......2003-12-16
After taking us n the ride of our life, Warren Ellis is finishing of with a tone non can ignore.
IN the last attempt to find the truth and expose "the smiler" Spider Jerusalem is doing what he does best, recovering the truth no matter what may be the consequences.
The comic reads like a hurricane, jumping from scene to scene and bringing the chaos that rose with the election of "the smiler".
Spider Jerusalem is fighting against time, against his decaying brain and against forces that hold almost all of the cards.
Holding to the truth, his fists, his bowl disrupter and the chair leg of truth Spider is giving the fight of his life.
A marvellous ending to a brilliant work of literature and art
Ziv
Book Description
Ann Spangler has collected the funniest stories from today’s funniest women between the covers of one book.
Customer Reviews:
Lives up to its title!.......2007-09-30
This book is not only funny but it has many inspirational moments as well. It is very much worth its price.
HILARIOUS.......2004-09-17
Picked this book up by chance and just started reading. I found myself in the middle of the book store with tears rolling down my face; from laughter that is!! I've called friends and family members just to share some of the stories - I believe in spreading the "best medicine"!! Definitley a quick pick me up. I suggest this book to any woman who needs a good laugh. You'll wear it well when you get to "Look'n Good" - Damn those panty hose!!
JOY IS MEDICINE FOR A WEARY HEART!.......2003-04-08
I absolutely love this book. In fact, I am online here trying to find copies to send to all women family members and friends! I honestly have not read one book all the way thru in years, BUT, I have read this one in a week and a half. This is saying a lot-the stories grab your attention. Each story is quirky and you'll find yourself laughing out of your seat!
Enjoy this book don't let it slip you by!
Fell on the floor laughing.......2000-04-08
If you are looking for a healing of your soul and heart, then I suggest this book. I laughed so hard at most of the stories I woke my husband up and couldn't stop roaring! This book will heal a place inside of you that may have been lost for a few weeks or a lifetime. Laughter is truly the best medicine. This is A MUST READ!
Customer Reviews:
So Funny.......2007-04-02
I thought this was one of the funniest romances I've ever read. When a fever leaves their father witless, Syrah and Eben of the 9th House, find their home invaded by their awful cousin Gyp. Gyp produces a forged bethrothal and attempts to force himself on Syrah. Syrah sends three missives to the king of the Dominion and when he fails to help them she stages the drowning of Eben, several servants and herself until she can form a plan to retake their house. That plan ends up being to kidnap Crown Prince Jibril whom Syrah has always secretly loved for enough gold to hire a mercenary to rid them of Gyp. Syrah, Eben and their very imaginitave and dramatic maid manage to actually kidnap Jibril by drugging his wine and then sneaking him out in a coffin with the dreaded plague markings on it. Using their wits they manage to elude capture and hide him away on the Island of Lost Souls. When Jibril finally comes around he realizes that a small group of amateurs (two women and a young boy) have kidnapped him and his pride is wounded. He knows he is in no danger and is intrigued by the lady who leads the pack. Although they all wear hoods he is intrigued by her and after his release when he realizes who is captor was, he decides he will track her down and marry her. The only problem is his father decides to use Syrah and her brother Eben to bait the evil Gyp into showing his hand. When it appears as though Jibril has betrayed her, Syrah's heart is broken. When she realizes she is being used as bait, Syrah decides to have the last laugh and save the day her own way.
the characters in this book are so funny I couldn't stop laughing. Eben's outrageously imaginative stories get them out of more than one bind and Syrah's maid Mayenne's wild fantasies of ravishment and torture are hilarious. I loved this book.
Lots of Chuckles in this Debut - Fun Read.......2005-03-29
In her delightful debut, Klassel has created a middle ages historical setting in the kingdom of Dominion comprised of lesser twenty-seven different domains called Houses. This story centers on Lady Syrah, the eldest daughter of the Ninth House, who has made repeated requests of the king to protect her and her brother from the evil machinations of their cousin, who has used the debilitating illness of her father as an excuse to move in and take over their castle and domain. After the cousin makes attempts to force himself on Syrah, using a forged betrothal document her addled father doesn't remember signing, she escapes along with her brother, father and a couple of loyal family retainers. Dropping out of sight, they concocted a ruse that made it look as though the family had perished at sea.
Determined to regain the family estate for the young brother Eben, whom she felt responsible for, the two siblings devised an elaborate and wholly amusing plan to kidnap Jibril, the crown prince of Dominion and ransom him back to the king whom Syrah believed had forsaken her. The plan was to raise enough funds to hire a mercenary to oust her evil cousin from their home and regain it for her brother. The fact that Jibril had been the love of Syrah's young life (charmingly described in the prologue) ever since she met him at the age of 13, her treatment of him as her prisoner was a total joy as they matched wits against one another in both games of chess and love!
*** In reading SHE WHO LAUGHS LAST, the debut novel for Jennie Klassel, it was certainly easy to see why she was the winner in the National Contest sponsored by Romantic Times Bookclub and publishing. She created dynamite characterizations from the lead protagonists right down to the lowliest of guards and maids who were so totally endearing that it would be hard to say just who you liked the best - and believe me there were an enormous amount of secondary characters here to choose from as well as the two totally delightful leads. I have to admit that the 14-year-old brother Eben with his tall tales, usually centering around dromedaries, was so funny I often found myself chuckling out loud. Lady Syrah was a totally divine lead who was fashioned brilliantly with intelligence, a lovely sensual aura, and a charming sense of humor. The entire ensemble of supporting characters, a beautiful plot, and vivid sensual emotions, made this a fun read and a book that I can highly recommend. --- Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---
A wily heroine, gold, and chamber pots--a lot of fun!.......2004-04-14
I enjoyed this book very much. Historical romance that moves along a a fast clip, and keeps you guessing what will happen next. The characters are superbly written and that's what made the story so appealing--I was rooting for Lady Syrah from page one. Any story that can make such humorous use of stinky chamber pots has my vote! Only a few flaws kept this book from being perfect for me.
I wanted to like this book, but..........2004-01-01
I liked the pseudo-historical world the author built. I initially found the characters and the plot engaging. That said, I really had a problem with some of the heavy-handed attempts at humor. There were humorous moments in the story, certainly, but there were quite a few others that just fell flat. The author would have the characters laughing and rolling around on the ground, but the humor just wasn't there. It felt forced. And the bits where the characters were saying things like "Har, har, har" and "Hee, hee, hee" were plain dumb.
Worse, though, was the fact that the author spent the whole book building up the heroine as a tactical genius just this side of Alexander the Great -- and making sure that the other characters acknowledged it -- only to have the hero and his allies do everything BUT enlist her help for the last half of the book. Yes, she's a woman, but that excuse fell flat as soon as they told her dim-bulb maid what was going on but still didn't tell the heroine. It just didn't make sense that they would go to such pains to keep her in the dark. It did nothing to increase her safety, nor did it make their plans more likely to succeed. In fact, by deliberately excluding her -- and, since she's this genius, of COURSE she's gonna figure it out -- they made her much likely to go off on her own and do something they totally won't expect. I know that we needed to have a bit more tension between the hero and heroine at that point, but to artificially preserve it in this way ruins the story.
I wanted to like this book, and some of the characters were quite interesting. But its flaws REALLY annoyed me.
BRAVA, BRAVA MS. KLASSEL.......2003-08-10
What a pleasant and great surprise to find this debut novel. Set in the middle ages somewhere (probably near Constantinople??), this is an adventure/romance with a super hero and absolutely great heroine. The plot involves the struggle of Lady Syrah to regain her family lands and title for her younger brother. In order to get the necesary funds to hire mercenaries for the job, she kidnaps Crown Prince Jibril of the realm (with whom she has secretly been in love with since meeting him when she was 13) and holds him for ransom. An so the fun begins...
This is a great novel, with fully-realized supporting characters, including Syrah's 14-year-old brother Eben (who spins hilarious detailed tall tales), wily and wise King Ahriman, an African "mercenary" Zebengo, and a lady's maid who has hysterical sexual fantasies at every moment.
But the star of this book is Syrah...who play's an expert game of chess...I won't say more - JUST READ THE BOOK!!
Average customer rating:
- An American Entertainment Pioneer
- Small but good book
|
Mae West: She Who Laughs, Lasts (American Biogrraphical History Series X)
June Sochen
Manufacturer: Harlan Davidson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Arts & Literature
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ASIN: 0882958917 |
Book Description
Written by a foremost authority on popular culture, Mae West: "She Who Laughs, Lasts" is a biographical study of a very popular, even legendary, twentieth-century figure that places her in the larger context of the changing times spanned by her fifty-year career. West's life and work offer information and insight into women's history as well as the history of popular culture. Her experiences as an independent woman with bold views of women's sexuality were a kind of barometer of America's changing values. Financially independent and generally unattached, she offered women an unusual model for life. Her celebrity status gave her public exposure beyond the expectations or desires of most entertainers. Her struggle with censorship provided a continuing public stage for her as an individual of indomitable will. As a writer and performer, Mae West was well ahead of her time.
Customer Reviews:
An American Entertainment Pioneer.......2006-11-25
June Sochen's "Mae West: She Who Laugh's Last," published in 1992 in a paperback edition, comprised part of an American Biographical History Series. Aimed at a sophisticated audience, Schon made the point, "West was not a social activist, an organizer, or a member of any women's group. The only group she belonged to was the Mae West Fan Club. She was an American pioneer: She created herself, became a rugged individualist and permanently imprinted her image on the American imagination."
Highly recommended for the serious Mae West scholar.
Small but good book.......2001-09-04
Well researched and written. A little book, part of a series I think, but worth buying. No photos unfortunately, but a good addition to a Mae West book collection.
Average customer rating:
|
She Who Laughs, Lasts
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0310242126 |
Average customer rating:
- A Great Book!
- Television Horror Movie Hosts
- Too Shallow
- WE NEED MORE BOOKS LIKE THESE
- Dont Be Afraid: Television Horror Hosts Won't Hurt You!
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Television Horror Movie Hosts: 68 Vampires, Mad Scientists and Other Denizens of the Late Night Airwaves Examined and Interviewed
Elena M. Watson
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Ghoulardi: Inside Cleveland Tv's Wildest Ride (Ohio)
ASIN: 0786409401 |
Book Description
Midnight, 1954. A striking woman in a torn black dress slinks down a cobwebbed, candelabra'd corridor. She stops, shrieks hysterically into the camera, then solemnly says, "Good evening, I am Vampira." Her real name is Maila Nurmi and she was the first in a long line of television horror movie hosts, commonly seen on independent stations' late-night "grade Z" offerings dressed as some zany ghoul or mad scientist. This book covers the major hosts in detail, along with styles and show themes. Merchandise tie-in and fan reactions are also chronicled. The appendices list film and record credits.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Book!.......2007-03-15
The late Ms. Watson made a wonderful reference book of horror host history.She truly wrote the book on why we love these wonderful hosts and also gives a fantastic history on some of the "well known and remembered" hosts. Even though, the book is pretty "brief" as most reviewers would say about the book, you have to understand the "gathering" of information that was out there on horror hosts, which, at the time in the early 90s there wasn't much to go by (compare to today), so, i have to give Ms. Watson kudos for going by in what she had and as she said, she guessed there were at least 200 (horror hosts) altogether, but, only did 70 of them to have something of a decent book to write about. Anyways, please dont over look this great book, if you are a huge horror host fanatic, then you'll love it..highly recommended!
Television Horror Movie Hosts.......2007-01-20
I ordered this book on Dec 16, 2006 but I have still not rec'd this book. As of today, Jan 19, 2007. I actually purchased this book as a gift for my son, I am sure he will love it if and when he receives it. We are very anxious to receive this book.
Too Shallow.......2006-12-02
I will be the nay-sayer among the high praise reviews. Yes, it is fun to have a book collect and describe the late night horror hosts. I do not want a Ph.D. thesis on that subject, but Ms. Watson's book is so brief in its descriptions and analyses that I am very dissatisfied.
WE NEED MORE BOOKS LIKE THESE.......2004-07-07
It's hard to fathom a time when this was the best medium for innocent fun and Friday night entertainment. I had long sought a book that covered the lives of horror movie hosts but always turned up empty handed or given perplexed looks from book buyers,book merchants and the industry as a collective whole. It all began with the coming of age and fascination of these films and the people behind them that my interest grew. Overall, Elena M. Watson does a nice job putting together the brief histories of some of the genre's most notable figures however, there isn't so much about her as writer nor how she herself feels about them. It would have been nice to read some of her input as a fan because one cannot deny her passion after reading this. I really wish that more people jump on the bandwagon and write more books about this genre. This is a dying art thanks to video games and other useless forms of entertainment. I do indeed recommed this tasty book of who's who to anyone out there interested in the unsung heroes of horror movie hosting. I also recommed to read about them on line starting with the one and only Miss Vampira (Maila Nurmi)
Dont Be Afraid: Television Horror Hosts Won't Hurt You!.......2001-05-28
During the late 1950's, and early 1960's, television was still in it's infancy. (Some people still think that it still hasn't grown up!) Through the magic of television, the major movie studios particularly Universal Studios, found a new life for their old movies, and a way to recycle them to the new generations that never had the opportunity to see them. Universal Studios packaged a large percentage of their pre-1948 horror films, and distributed this bundle as Shock Theatre. Along with this package, they encouraged the local television stations to have a macabre host in hopes that they would expand viewership, and increase their ratings. Movie hosting, which was once popular on radio, initially crossed over to television, (Remember "The Twilight Zone", and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents?" You do? Then you're old!) Some of these movies were good, some were bad, some were just plain awful, but they were very inexpensive, and they made for great padding on those hard to fill time slots particularly, late Friday and Saturday nights. The mating of movie, and host proved to be a huge success, with the host achieving local star status. This was all long before video games, VCR's, and all of the things we have clamoring for our attention span today. As a kid growing up in Los Angeles, I lived for those Friday, and Saturday evenings when the likes of "Jeepers Creepers", "Seymour," and later "Elvira," creeped me out, as they cracked me up. This same thing was happening all over the country to the local television stations that had this horror movie package, and the ones that didn't, soon did, when they saw the popularity that their rivals were achieving. Often imitated, always unique, and different, these local weird hosts provided a special place for many of us growing up in that era. Elena M. Watson, in her book, "Television Horror Movie Hosts," has chronicled a piece of television history, that may seem trivial on the surface, but has proven itself unforgettable to those of us who were a witness to it, and in thinking about it, you realize the long term influence that these hosts has had on television, and it's generations of viewers since then.
Book Description
An internationally renowned and beloved music festival, Tanglewood is summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and site of the Tanglewood Music Center, a prestigious academy for advanced studies in classical music. Set on spacious lawn overlooking the picturesque Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, this idyllic place attracts thousands of picnickers and concertgoers for music under the stars.
Yet Tanglewood's tranquillity masks the many challenges facing the festival as it strives for success and survival in the coming years. This provocative work explores the dynamics affecting Tanglewood within the larger context of recent trends in American musical life, including dwindling audiences for classical music and growing commercialism in the arts. Andrew L. Pincus begins his lively narrative with an account of Tanglewood's rich history, from founder Serge Koussevitzky's vision of a great music festival and academy, to Seiji Ozawa's controversial tenure as BSO director. He describes the construction of the acclaimed Seiji Ozawa Hall and the publicity glitz surrounding its gala opening in 1994 as both a turning point for Tanglewood's passage to a new era and a link to its past. Pincus traces Ozawa's demanding conducting career, fully exploring mounting criticism of his repertoire and commitment to the BSO and Tanglewood, and recalls how Leonard Bernstein and other important figures influenced Tanglewood's legacy.
Against this backdrop of the festival's evolving relationship between tradition and transition to the innovative and unknown, Pincus examines recent clashes among leaders and artists over both programming decisions and the direction of the Music Center. The staging of highly-publicized events and gala performances to attract larger and broader-based audiences raises thorny questions about whether or not serious art is being compromised for the sake of commercial success.
This fascinating book illuminates the ways in which Tanglewood represents both the best and the worst aspects of musical culture. It also captures the enduring spirit that will lead this extraordinary festival into the next century.
Customer Reviews:
Readable peek behind the curtain.......1998-07-24
A very readable account of behind-the-curtain politics at Tanglewood. Generally well-written and thoughtful. Suffers somewhat from Pincus' advocacy for the NEA; his argument does not follow from the facts he presents. Still, a good read for anyone with an interest in Tanglewood and the BSO.
Customer Reviews:
"Inspiring" should have been left out of the title!.......2005-09-26
I'm glad I didn't pay full price for this book or I'd have been even MORE disappointed! There were only a few projects presented, & in my estimation they were neither inspired nor inspiring.
Book Description
Dave Ramsey knows what it's like to have it all. By age twenty-six, he had established a four-million-dollar real estate portfolio, only to lose it by age thirty. He has since rebuilt his financial life and, through his workshops and his New York Times business bestsellers Financial Peace and More than Enough, he has helped hundreds of thousands of people to understand the forces behind their financial distress and how to set things right-financially, emotionally, and spiritually.
In this new edition of Financial Peace, Ramsey has updated his tactics and philosophy to show even more readers:
€ how to get out of debt and stay out
€ the KISS rule of investing-"Keep It Simple, Stupid"
€ how to use the principle of contentment to guide financial decision making
€ how the flow of money can revolutionize relationships
With practical and easy to follow methods and personal anecdotes, Financial Peace is the road map to personal control, financial security, a new, vital family dynamic, and lifetime peace.
Customer Reviews:
Possessing Financial Peace.......2007-09-24
I've read Financial Peace a couple times before but this time was in conjunction with going through Financial Peace University. Both the book and the course have some great information on personal finance.
The driving principles behind Ramsey's philosophy are live on a budget, pay off debt as quick as possible, build an emergency fund, and get rich slow through diversified investments rather than trying get rich quick schemes.
He describes 7 baby steps (a phrase borrowed from the movie "What About Bob?") to financial peace. The first is to go crazy to build up a $1,000 emergency fund. This will allow you to take care of true emergencies while getting out of debt. (Things like going out to eat, new clothes for school, Christmas presents, etc. would not qualify as emergencies.) This emergency fund also allows you to cut up credit cards and never use them again. Since funds are available to cover unexpected expenses credit cards are no longer necessary. (And yes you can purchase anything online, rent a car, or book a hotel with a debit card. Anything you can do with a credit card can be done with a debit card)
He quotes studies by Dunn & Bradstreet indicating that consumers purchase 12-18% more when using a credit card versus using cash. Having to look Uncle Benjamin, Abraham, George, and Andrew in the eye and tell them that they'll being going to live with someone else is an emotional experience and has an ouch factor to it that swiping a card just doesn't have. McDonald's has also done studies indicating the people paying with credit cards end up buying around 30% more than those paying with cash. So yeah, even for those paying off their card every month and getting "skymiles" or "1% cash back," you likely bought 12 to 18% more by using that credit card. Hope you enjoy the "free flight."
The second baby step is to list all debts from smallest to largest and pay minimums on all except the smallest one regardless of interest rate. Once the smallest one is paid off you would roll that money into the second smallest one and so forth. The concept is referred to as a debt snowball.
Mathematically it might seem more advantageous to pay the highest interest card first and on paper this is accurate. However, personal finance is 80% behavior and only 20% head knowledge. When you start seeing the traction and progress you're making you get excited and more focused "gazelle intense" and start really attacking the debts which result in getting out of debt quicker.
Ramsey encourages selling so much stuff the kids start hiding 'cause they think they're next and naming the dog "eBay." Picking up extra side jobs whether that be delivering pizzas, cutting grass, babysitting, cleaning houses or some other hobby which generates money is also encouraged. He also advocates paying only cash for cars not only to stay out of debt but also to avoid the beating in value you take when driving the car 10 feet off the lot.
After paying off all consumer debt not including the house if a home is owned, baby step number 3 is increasing the emergency fund to 3-6 months of expenses. This emergency fund should be placed in something that's extremely safe such as a money market or savings account. One good reason to have this amount of an emergency fund is in cases of losing a job you would have a solid 3 to 6 months to look for one without the pressure of paying bills with no income.
After building the emergency fund to 3-6 months of expenses, you then move on to baby step 4 which is investing in a retirement plan through work if they match a percentage of your contribution and then through a Roth IRA. If there is no matching from the employer in a 401k, 403b, or TSP, you would start with the Roth IRA which grows tax free. Using mutual funds with solid 10 year track records is a great diversified investment strategy for a retirement account. One would also want to spread money around to various mutual funds such as a growth & income fund, an aggressive fund, an international fund, and a value or balanced fund. The goal is to invest 15% of a paycheck into retirement.
You then move on to baby step 5 which is funding education for children. This can be done through a couple different tax defered accounts such as an Education Savings Account (ESA) or a 529 plan. Only after building up retirement should one start on the kids college. Kids can get scholarships and work to help pay for college but retirement is not something that should be put on hold. You really don't want to be eating dog food in retirement.
After all 5 of these steps are in order, you would then pay everything else down on the house as quick as possible.
Once the home is free and clear, you win and have true financial peace. At this point, you invest in 100% paid for real estate as well as continuing to invest in solid mutual funds. You can now live the life you've worked so hard for and give lots of money away.
I highly recommend this book and the Financial Peace University class to anyone. Even those who already know a good bit about personal finance can benefit from them.
OPRAH GET THIS BOOK IN YOU CLUB !.......2007-09-20
WOW what book! dave is powerful in his methods
but it very "common sense" what an idiot i was
with my spending habits the book talks right to you
because dave was one of us doing the exact same thing!
i loaned this book to a stuggling friend of mine two weeks later
she was very excited and now is on her way to freedomland!
but she loaned it out to other girlfriends i guess i can write the
book off as a lost cause,but as long as im helping others i'll buy
another one its well worth it! YOUR THE MAN DAVE !!!
This book is a life saver!.......2007-09-08
I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with finances! I was sick of living pay check to pay check. And I was sick of trying to decide wich was more important- the mortgage or food? My husband and I bought this book and commited ourselves to follow the steps. It was a little hard at first but it changed the way we live. We now have our priorities in order and don't have to worry so much anymore! We are by no means rich but are building a good savings 'just in case'! It is an easy read and the steps are easy to follow. The hard part is the self discipline!
Good advice, Easy to read.......2007-08-28
This book deals with getting out of debt (and staying out), building wealth, and being at peace with your money & finances. It contains good personal financial advice that I plan to put into practice. It is also easy to read, since it is written in an informal style. The content is something that applies to all adults (and even teens). The book includes sample letters & forms to help with taking control & planning your spending, with collection agents, and with credit report problems.
THE BEST.......2007-07-09
DAVE HAS HELPED ME GET OUT OF DEBT...HE IS VERY MOTIVATIONAL..LISTEN TO HIS SHOW ON THE RADIO...
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