The basic principle of “life planning”—that to succeed at managing your personal finances, you have to incorporate personal elements like your values and beliefs—seems reasonable enough, but rushing to B&N or Amazon to buy yet another financial advice book sure feels an awful lot like more of the same. However, since this excerpt is basically the preface to the book, we thought it was worth sharing. It’s like browsing in a bookstore without having to leave your desk! $avings!

You can find more excerpts from the book at Amazon, but almost no reviews. We’re not sure if this means the book is a dud or if it means the authors have a bad publicist, but if any of you have read it, feel free to let us know your feelings.

“Control your finances and you control your life” [MSNBC]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.