How Much Is Enough?: Making Financial Decisions That Create Wealth and Well-Being

by Andrew Ford and Arun Abey

Book Overview

How can millions of readers come to grips with their financial situation at a time when nothing seems to be enough? Arun Abey and Andrew Ford believe that the answer lies beyond the balance sheet in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1929774834
• ISBN13: 9781929774838
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
• Length: 226 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Everything you should already know, but probably don't

It is said that when Thomas Huxley first heard Darwin's presentation on the theory of natural selection, his reaction was: How foolish of me not to have thought of that! If you, like me, are a professional in the field, Arun Abey's work will likely provoke a similar response in you. If you are not a professional advisor or planner, your reaction will probably be a little different, something along the lines of: Why hasn't someone else told me this before? Abey's approach is well off the beaten track, but it makes so much sense that we have to think that, like Darwin's work, Abey's will also become the beaten track by and by. He emphasizes happiness over wealth, which is not in itself novel (though it is rare enough); what is special is his ability to understand and digest the current research in the field of positive psychology (and evolutionary theory, speaking of the devil) and to bring it all down to practical insights and advice. Most helpfully of all, Abey explains and illustrates why our natural tendencies often work against both our own happiness in everyday life and our success in the investment markets. By understanding these forces, we have a chance to repel them, and to enable ourselves to become both reasonably happy and reasonably affluent. No matter who you are, you will learn a lot from this book. I speak as co-founder of the Association for Integrative Financial and Life Planning, and I read a lot of books more or less in this line. Many of them are very good, and some are ground-breaking in their own ways, but none of them do what Mr. Abey has done. I highly recommend "How Much Is Enough?" to anyone who is tired of the thin kind of advice you get in the financial press, and from most advisors, and who wants something robust, thought-provoking, and (if you take it to heart) potentially life-changing.

A book that changed my life

At 40 years of age I read the first version of this book and wished that I had read it 20 years earlier. It changed my life. Even though I owned a multi-million dollar business and outwardly was very successful, I realised that a lot of what I was doing in my personal life and wealth accumulation was based on peer pressure. My vulnerability to this pressure began at high school when my parents in Ireland, which had a very high unemployment rate, decided to send me to an elite school that they could barely afford. For 5 years I was relentlessly bullied because my house wasn't big enough, my clothes weren't cool enough and my parents weren't rich enough. I began a 20 year journey to get back at the bullies by becoming as rich as I could. My ambition was realised and I was living in one of the nicest suburbs with all the trappings in terms of cars, clothes and so on. But on the inside I knew something was wrong. I was a stranger to my kids, had plenty of acquaintances, but few real friendships and didn't feel I was converting the money to financial security or wellbeing. As I read How Much Is Enough? all the lights went on. I realised that I was still a victim of bullying. I hadn't developed the confidence to live my own life. The book provided me with a framework, knowledge and tools to look within and find out what was truly important to me. Above all it inspired me to change. It changed my life.

Excellent practical integration of money, happiness and life tips

I have read some good investment books, and some on happiness and well-being, but this book integrates several fields very well, with practical tips on how to improve your money and your wellbeing - it helps put the money and investment part of your life in good perspective. The chapter on children was also terrific, with lots of good counsel on how to help my kids become responsible with money and develop self-esteem and reliance. I found myself re-reading some of the chapters to get the most of the valuable strategies described.

One of the most important books I've read

How Much is Enough? by Arun Abey and Andrew Ford is one of the most important books that I've read. This is a practical guide to mastering the three most important personal finance topics; money, time and happiness. Becoming financially free is 20 per cent knowledge and 80 per cent behavior -- and it's here that the book excels -- helping bridge the gap between our thoughts and actions. The authors are respected financial advisors who present a framework for making better investment decisions. It's had a measurable impact on both my thinking and my investing. As someone who is both a published author, and avid reader of business books, I give this my highest recommendation. Buy this book!

Personal discovery comes before financial freedom

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (4/09) The introduction of "How Much is Enough?" by financial advisors Arun Abey and Andrew Ford proclaims "...becoming master of your mind, you can have it all." According to the authors it all stems on making choices, maximizing our personal potential, and finding happiness within rather than through money. Using fables, stories, questions, exercises, reading resources, and charts, the authors give a concise and informative plan to create our own prosperity and abundance. Of course, like with any plan, setting goals is the foremost and most important exercise. But, in this case, the authors have the reader focus on his or her personal attributes, such as: What motivates you? What causes you stress? What are your hobbies? They have a complete section on strategies for your own well-being. Part two of the book addresses wealth habits and part three addresses wealth and well-being. In the end, the authors give the reader the opportunity to look at their own lives again and re-visit career choice, as well as apply strengths and financial strategies. Abey and Ford have created a timely resource book, not only for financial freedom but for personal discovery. "How Much is Enough?" addresses our individual lives and thoughts, the most important aspects of achieving any dreams, not only personal but financial. To my knowledge, there is no other personal finance book on the market that actually places our personal selves before our financial selves.