Master Your Money Type

March 1, 2006
Consult Goodman for radical money sense. A former long-tenured " Money" magazine reporter, he tackles the money issue endemic to Americans according to six psychological types--Strivers, Ostriches, Debt Desperadoes, Coasters, High Rollers, and Squirrels. Each profile is based on the emotional effects of money, whether that involves indifference, its use as a measure of success, or high tolerance of risk. So these psychological examinations feature strengths as well as weaknesses, initial attitudes and suggested changes, individual/couple financial snapshots and anecdotes in narrative and in sidebars, quizzes, and summaries of actions to take. Names are unusually descriptive; Debt Desperadoes are measured by the number of maxed-out credit cards, whereas Squirrels are averse to any spending no matter the reason. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)