Review: The Wealthy Spirit

By Chellie Campbell

This is a fabulous book. Chellie is an amazing story teller with great practical lessons.

I loved learning about sharks, dolphins and tunas. Goodbye tunas! Hello, richest man in Babylon. This book set me free to take action.

I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in high conflict couples and couples with young children. I have always had my own psychological issues about money probably because my dad often joked when I was in my teens that if it weren’t for his four lovely daughters, he would be a millionaire by then. When I confronted infertility in my 20′s, I felt I ashamed like I should be a millionaire already because we didn’t have kids.

As a result I had read a ton of books about money: personal finance, (don’t-buy-lattes-daily books), biographies of successful financiers, books on financial planning, the stock market, teaching kids about money and books on one’s deep psychological issues about money. This book is different.

This book finally cured my money issues. I became happy and stress free about money in my life. I couldn’t believe it. It even made me a better therapist.

Chellie not only gets the solid practical aspects of personal money management, she gets the psychological aspect of truly permanent attitude change about money with affirmations and stories. And her stories stick. Her book’s page-a-day format works great with my clients who don’t like to read or feel just plain too busy.

I read this book 7 years ago and it keeps on giving. My finances have never been better and more importantly my husband who had different big money issues than mine can now talk with me about money without feeling shame.

Recently, I finished Chellie’s Financial Stress Reduction workshop. The time was well spent as I got a lot more insight and handy tools for helping us make better financial decisions and make money stress free in our life. To purchase this book, click on the cover above or click here Wealthy Spirit

Review: Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich

By Robert T. Kiyosaki
Clearest, Simplest Explanation of Money and Finance for the Lay Person I Have Ever Seen

I have read a lot of Robert Kiyosaki’s books and this one, in particular, does a great job of consolidating, condensing and covering much of his familiar material and relating it directly to the present economic situation. In fact, I would say his presentation of money and finance for the lay person is the simplest one I have ever seen. And his understanding and explanation of basic financial rules is excellent.

As a clinical psychologist, I find that this book—or any of Kiyosaki’s books—is very valuable for couples where one person really doesn’t understand investing or saving and another comes from a family where there is a lot of investment and saving and understands it well. Kiyosaki summarizes the tax system and tax consequences of different kinds of working situations. This information is also covered in previous books, but here again, the author has managed to present it in the clearest and simplest of terms.

Many couples continue to struggle with different financial philosophies without an awareness of the big picture. So it is very important for families to learn what he is talking about and to understand and consciously select which one of Kiyosaki’s four styles of approaching income and wealth that best suits them.

He wrote the book online and it includes comments from readers, giving it a very interactive quality. To be perfectly honest, most editors would probably cringe at his writing style. He is very repetitive in the way a good teacher is very repetitive. Some people find that frustrating. But if the contents are new to you, you will find the repetition helpful to give you a deeper level of clarity on the first reading. In other words, the redundancy may be irritating or annoying for anyone who likes well-written books. On the other hand, the way this author brings complex material to the average person with crystal clarity is amazing! To purchase the book, click on book cover at top left, or on this link: Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money

Review: Positive Discipline

I can assure you -- Jane Nelsen is the Real Deal
By Jane Nelsen
In my practice as a clinical psychologist, I’ve been recommending Jane Nelsen’s book for 20 years now and I can assure you – she’s the real deal.

Nelsen teaches parents how to use good discipline that teaches kids and helps them grow – it’s not just punishment. She espouses discipline that teaches. Using her techniques, the child is constantly learning and growing. Her key to discipline is that it is based on mutual respect – not punishment.

By creating mutual respect, your kids want to hear your opinion and advice. They are curious about it. Nelsen also focuses on how to let kids have control over some of their decisions and letting them experience consequences.

Positive Discipline is the main book that outlines the key principle. Other books in the series, such as Positive Discipline for Teen Agers and Positive Discipline for Toddlers, are extremely on point about the practical day-to-day dealings that you have with the child at the age that each particular book focuses on.

Her books keep getting updated and republished because they are practical and very loving. I just can’t recommend Jane Nelsen highly enough … and the whole series.  Click here or on Book Cover to order Positive Discipline

Review: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

This is a book that really helps people to change the way they approach their kids.
By Elaine Mazlish
This book is a classic, a real gem. I first discovered Elaine Mazlish when my sons were three and four. My mother-in-law, who raised five sons herself, used to watch my kids once a week when they were small. We both read it and loved it. And then we would both re-read it whenever we started drifting off course and going back to our old bad habits.

I gave my sister a copy. She posted the reminder cartoons (great cartoons, by the way) and chapter summaries on her bathroom mirror. Her friends kept taking the copies so she had to keep re-copying the summaries!

Twenty years later, I still give the book away regularly to my clients. It’s a book that really helps people to change the way they approach their kids. I have used it with people who were child abuse survivors and as a result have had no parenting models. They all love it, too because it really helps them change.

Twenty years later, the one thing most people say about my two sons—who are very different in almost every way—is how polite and respectful they are to people. My mother-in-law and I attribute it to this book.

Early on, I discovered that Elaine Mazlish's book works on husbands, too! My husband is a better listener as a result of the techniques that I learned from this book. With enduring value and no updates needed, this book is a classic. It is part of a series, by the way, and each book in the series is just as wonderful as this one!

REVIEW: The Sex-Starved Wife

Many women have a higher sex drive than their husbands and this book provides great therapy for those facing this situation.

By Michele Weiner Davis

For certain clients this book is a lifesaver. Many women—some say up to one third—have a higher sex drive than their husbands and are very uncomfortable talking to other people about this. It doesn’t rise to the level of something you go to therapy about; plus you worry that it will embarrass your husband.

Reading about the subject and especially other people’s stories and all the things that can cause this—both psychologically and physically—provides great therapy for those facing this situation.

Michele Weiner Davis really knows her stuff and she writes about it in a very approachable way. I highly recommend this book and all her books. I think Michele’s work is especially valuable because she gets you to think about your part in the situation. She doesn’t make it just about the husband. Click here or on book cover to order.