How to Speak Money

November 15, 2011
As financial reporters and anchors on CNN, Velshi and Romans have worked closely together for 10 years. They each approach money very differentlyVelshi is a risk taker who likes to spend, while Romans is a saver who invests conservatively and hates to part with her money. Money and financial planning are topics that everyone needs to address yet no one wants to talk about. Such authors as Suze Orman are constantly producing guides on how to invest, buy a house, and create a budget, and although the basics of these topics are covered here, the operative word is speak: the authors emphasize the importance of learning the language of money to have meaningful conversations with one's spouse or significant other, learn the skill of negotiation when it comes time to ask for a raise at work, and understand the personal impact of globalization on our education and career choices. Motivating readers to set financial goals and formulate plans of action is a laudable undertaking; however, one has to wonder: Why such a slim volume, considering the combined experience of the authors?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)