Pound Foolish

{{Short description|2012 finance book by Helaine Olen}} {{For|the animator Pound Foolish |David Silverman (animator)}} {{Infobox book  | name = Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry | image = Pound Foolish.jpg | image_size = | caption = | author = Helaine Olen | illustrator = | country = United States | language = English | subject = Personal finance | published = 2012 (Portfolio/Penguin) | media_type = Print (hardback, paperback) | pages = 292 | isbn = 9781591844891 | oclc = 809989018 }}

'''''Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry''''' is a 2012 book by Helaine Olen. In it Olen critiques the industry and the rise of "financial gurus".

==Contents== Source:<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/809989018 |title=Pound foolish : exposing the dark side of the personal finance industry |via=worldcat.org |publisher=OCLC |oclc=809989018 |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref> :What Hath Sylvia Wrought? :The Tao of Suze :The Latte is a Lie :Slip Slidin' Away :The Road to Pas Tina :I've Got the Horse Right Here :An Empire of Her Own :Who Wants to be a Real Estate Millionaire? :Elmo is B(r)ought to You by the Letter P :We Need to Talk About Our Money

==Reception== A review of ''Pound Foolish'' by ''The Economist'', although critical of the book's lack of an international perspective, found it an "excellent book, a contemptuous exposé of the American personal-finance industry."<ref>{{cite news |date=January 12, 2013 |title=Business Books Quarterly - Personal Finance: Ghastly Gurus |url=https://www.economist.com/news/business-books-quarterly/21569369-best-advice-keep-your-wallet-closed-ghastly-gurus |newspaper=The Economist |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref>

The ''New York Times'' called it "a realistic and readable book", noted the "inclusion of many women's voices", and the book's criticism of "financial gurus".<ref>{{cite news |date=December 29, 2012 |title=Business Day: Off the Shelf - Personal Finance Advice, Taken to the Woodshed |author=Caitlin Kelly |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/business/pound-foolish-eyes-problems-of-personal-finance-advice.html |newspaper=New York Times |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref>

''Pound Foolish'' has also been reviewed by CBSN,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-review-pound-foolish/ |title=Moneywatch - Book Review: Pound Foolish |author=Larry Swedroe |quote=This book has many positive aspects, but in the end, it comes up short of helpful. |date=September 10, 2013 |website=cbsnews.com |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref> ''Kirkus Reviews'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/helaine-olen/pound-foolish/ |title=Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry |quote=A nice takedown, particularly in its acknowledgement that the deck is always stacked against “participants in a vast experiment” of the deregulated marketplace—namely, the little guys. |date=November 4, 2012 |publisher=Kirkus Media LLC |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref> the ''Journal of Financial Planning'',<ref>{{cite journal |year=2013 |title=Book Review - Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry |author=Barbara O'Neill |quote=.. unlike many scholarly books reviewed in this journal that have primarily a “just the facts” approach, ''Pound Foolish'' is controversial, as well as insightful, and takes aim at a wide array of targets ranging from Suze Orman, David Bach, and Dave Ramsey, to financial education programs, to the Jump$tart Coalition surveys of youth financial literacy. Not surprisingly, its content, both what is included and what is not, provides ample fodder for critical analysis and commentary. .. Consider reading this book for the interesting insights that it provides but be prepared to disagree with some of its content and/or underlying assumptions. I cannot help wondering how different Pound Foolish might have turned out it Olen had talked to some of the country’s top financial counselors, planners, and educators.|url=https://www.afcpe.org/assets/pdf/v24_2_86-90.pdf |journal=Journal of Financial Planning |publisher=Financial Planning Association |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=89–90 |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref> ''Publishers Weekly'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-59184-489-1 |title=Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry |quote=Though her intention is to provide an exposé, not financial advice, her own observations are commonplace. One can enjoy her glimpses of the world of financial celebrity while remaining skeptical about the scope of her proposed remedy. |date=October 15, 2012 |website=Publishers Weekly |publisher=PWxyz LLC|accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref> ''USA Today'',<ref>{{cite news |author=Kerry Hannon |date=February 2013 |title=Review: Dark side of personal finance industry |quote=Olen's book is dark, as billed. Simply put, the former financial journalist for the Los Angeles Times has written a deeply reported and compelling account that is disturbing. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/02/09/pound-foolish/1899693/ |newspaper=USA Today |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref> ''The Denver Post'',<ref>{{cite news |date=January 5, 2013 |title=Business - Book Review: ''Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of The Personal Finance Industry'' |quote=It’s a take-no-prisoners examination of the ways she (Olen) says we have been scared, misled or bamboozled by those purporting to help us achieve financial security. |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2013/01/05/book-review-pound-foolish-exposing-the-dark-side-of-the-personal-fniance-industry/ |newspaper=The Denver Post |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref> ''Booklist'',<ref name=buffalo/> and ''Choice''.<ref name=buffalo>{{cite web |url=https://bepl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1881092/ada |title=Pound foolish : exposing the dark side of the personal finance industry|website=buffalolib.org |publisher=Buffalo and Erie County Public Library |accessdate=October 1, 2017}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== :[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/809989018 Library holdings of ''Pound Foolish''] :[https://web.archive.org/web/20130501161823/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865579176/QA-with-Helaine-Olen-author-of-Pound-Foolish.html ''Deseret News'' author interview about the book]

Category:2012 non-fiction books Category:American non-fiction books Category:English-language non-fiction books Category:Books about investing Category:Penguin Books books