I read all three books from the David Pogue series - Technology, Life, and Money. The Technology one was probably my favorite.

The Money book is from 2016, which is a bit dated. Some products and websites no longer exist. However, it still has some valuable tips, but I think of them as more shopping savings than money advice. There is a savings ballpark calculation by each tip, although some seem inflated for an average user.

One tip, in particular, I had an issue with—advice to paying everything with credit cards (i.e., insurance, taxes, etc.). You can get more cashback or points, but it can lead to a high credit card balance, high interest, and penalties for some people. Additionally, you have to use a third-party service that charges fees to pay taxes via credit card. If the fee is less than cashback you receive, you may 'save' $50 or so, but you are exposing yourself to the danger of high CC balance and the hassle of setting this up.

All tips are short, to the point, and it is a straightforward and fun book. The book is nicely formatted, with great use of white space, font, and color. I like books that are a delight to read.

Total 5/5
Readability - 4
Scope - 2.5
Depth - 2
Format - 4
Clarity -3.5

Read this book if:
You want quick and easy savings tips.
You don't want to read an in-depth book on money savings.
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It's a "save-money-on-everyday-items" book. Quick read. Skim through it and pick out whatever money savings apply to you. Don't have to even read the whole thing. And ignore the "annual savings" at the end of every category because those are all estimates anyway and your situation may be different anyway.
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In Pogue’s Basics: Money, we are introduced to many money saving techniques and methods that you may or may not have heard of. It even discusses the psychology of certain sales and comparisons. For instance, it explains that people are bad with numbers. This may not be news to me or to many that read the things I read, but that isn’t the point. The point is that it tries to give someone defense against such techniques by explaining them.

Right off the bat in the introduction Pogue talks about what he will not be covering, and that is the obvious advice and the illegal advice. For example, Pogue mentions libraries as one of the so-obvious-it-does-not-need-to-be-mentioned things.

The book is certainly well-done, but many of the hints and tips were familiar to me. It’s not that it’s bad per se, but I suppose it is slightly disappointing. You buy such a book expecting world-shattering tips, and many of them were like that, but I was familiar with way too many.

I did enjoy the book anyway though. David Pogue has a breezy, conversational style that is sometimes quite witty.
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great book with lots of great advice. ( )

This is the second Pogue's book I have read and like the first was useful and in this case saved money. His style is easy flowing and the layout likewise. Simplifying or saving time and money are great life enhancers and Pogue puts it out there in spades. A worthwhile read. ( )