“This is a stimulating journey deep into
the psychology of money management,
with more practical advice fit into eighty-some
pages than most bloggers could
write in a lifetime!”
Waiting for Adam Baker to release his first eBook was like waiting for the grass to grow, but after reading it, I can see why this masterpiece took so much effort. It was well-worth the extra few months of anticipation! (Note: This post is entirely non-affiliate, so the theory goes you’re supposed to trust me and go buy Adam’s book now!)
Unautomate Your Finances packs in some serious information for $17. Check out what you get:
- An 83-page eBook, featuring three distinct sections on the theory, science, and application of Unautomation.
- A 27-minute interview with Leo Babauta (Zen Habits).
- A 29-minute interview with J.D. Roth (Get Rich Slowly).
- A printable budgeting system discussed in the eBook.
- An Excel template for making the budgeting system digital.
- 6 months of upcoming updates!
This is just pure awesome sauce. I had a chance to preview Unautomate before it was released to the public, and I had a couple of observations:
- The writing is undoubtedly Baker: bold, straightforward, and easy to understand. The writing style makes this eBook as accessible to the beginner finance user as it is to long-time fans of Man vs. Debt.
- Everything oozes with honesty, transparency, and passion. It’s evident that Baker cares about the readers of the eBook, not only for the $17 they just spent, but as a continuing relationship to make their financial lives better together.
- The whole thing is very polished. Too often, you’ll read an eBook that feels like it was put together in a couple of weekends. This is far from that kind of eBook, in fact–I am amazed at how this only took the months of work that it did.
- There is a ton of practical advice that you can extract and run with immediately. Baker doesn’t only cover the theory of what he’s done to unautomate, but actually shows us how to follow in his footsteps.
If you’re wondering what Unautomation is all about, Baker defines it as based on three simple principles:
- Consciousness: The ability to earn, spend, and save deliberately.
- Sustainability: Rejecting consumerism, bucking lifestyle inflation, and ditching clutter.
- Focus: Ditching the “you have to do everything” mentality.
The end result of following those principles is simplicity, and according to Baker, “the more you simplify your financial life, the easier it is to take back control.”
I’m digging it, and if you like my blog, I have a feeling you’d enjoy this eBook as well. Check it out!
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“Focus: Ditching the “you have to do everything” mentality.” Sounds like a chapter I need to read. I love his blog, I just may have to check it out!
myfinancialobjectives´s last post: The Ultimate Motivator: Compounding Interest
It’s something that I learned from Leo @ Zen Habits, and found it to be so true in my own life. We want to accomplish so much, but trying to do it all at once just spreads you way too thin. Patience & a good mental “trash can” are essential!
“We want to accomplish so much, but trying to do it all at once just spreads you way too thin.”
Exactly.
myfinancialobjectives´s last post: The Ultimate Motivator: Compounding Interest
I’ve purchased my copy! I haven’t had time to delve into just yet, but I am very excited about doing so!
Lakita (PFJourney)´s last post: Manners & Money: Gift Registries
Is the author saying people don’t earn deliberately?
I’m not sure how one would earn otherwise.
Baker suggests that we stop and become aware of what we’re doing, rather than just going through the motions. One example he cites is calculating your real hourly wage:
“…examine the “sneaky” expenses that are associated with your work…You may be shocked at how much money you are actually bringing home for an hour of your time.”
I think we can all agree that we are at work “deliberately.” We got up that morning, put on our clothes, and drove to the office. But I would say that the majority of us do this without actually considering the bigger picture. And that’s what I believe Baker is driving at.
Thanks for the review. I saw that the book had been released and don’t think I am in the position to buy anything for a few months (keeping a really tight ship whilst I build an emergency fund) but it’s something I may grab when things loosen a little…
Forest´s last post: Garbage City – Now That’s Entrepenuralism
I could use a lesson on “you don’t have to do everything”. I think that’s a huge issue for lots of folks. Looks like a great read, thanks for sharing!
Tracy´s last post: The retirement horse…rounding the bend