Personal Finance Books Rise In Popularity
As the recession grips, one section of the publishing industry which is flourishing is not surprisingly, self-help financial books.
Online book retailing giant Amazon has reported a significant uplift in sales of personal finance books. High-street book seller Waterstones reports the same trend.
But what marks this recession is not so much get-rich books, although they are still selling well, but more conservative tombs on how to cope with a recession and how to save money. They are more survival and self-help books, than get-rich schemes.
One proving popular is written by ‘Dragon’ Duncan Bannatyne’s How To Be Smart With Your Money. He of BBC Dragon Den’s fame is a successful businessman who has built a business empire out of hard graft, as well as financial acumen. In his book, written with the credit crunch in mind and how Brits should cope with the crisis, he provides a guide to all the key personal finance areas, including budgeting, earning, spending, saving and borrowing. His tips are useful and based on common sense, such as how to effectively buy a car. He also guides his readers through getting a loan. And there are no get-rich ideas, or schemes, which reflects the Dragon’s belief that its hard work that makes money, not dreams. Published by Orion at around £12.99, it can be bought for a lot less online (maybe the first money saving tip for people on the look out for such books).
In contrast, self-help author Robert T Kivosaki has written Rich Dad, Poor Dad (published by Sphere for around £8.99) which bases his penmanship on an allegorical tale of two fathers: one works hard all his life for a company and dies penniless, the other runs his own business, invests money and low and behold dies a multi-millionaire. Some might find this book a touch ‘twee’ and simplistic, but for others it might just be the inspirational take they require to cope with the current troubles. Much of his formula for success is based on property ownership.
Author Richard Templar is, like Bannatyne, more down to earth and his book How to Spend Less Without Being Miserable (published by Pearson for £9.99) is also geared to helping people through the recession. He provides money-saving tips, although some of his suggestions might appear a little odd, such as tricking loved ones into thinking they are eating more expensive food products than they think. But for those looking for some good advice, it’s not a bad place to start.
A get-rich quick variety of book which is still proving popular after 80 odd years is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Published by Vermilion at around £8.99 this first saw the light of day in 1937. Modern readers might struggle with the author’s vagueness when it comes to imparting his secret for success. The book’s a curious mixture of amateur psychology, self-help mumbo jumbo and positive thinking. Still, a quick read might be an amusing anecdote to the recessionary blues.
So, if you can afford to buy a book, be very careful which one you decide to purchase. Some can save you a packet, others will prove pretty pointless and a waste of money.
Guest Article by Neil Camp
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My name is Alan Potts and I'm the Editor of the BUYability web site and Managing Director of BUYability Limited. You can connect with me or keep up to date with new posts on this blog via the following social media sites: 
