Audiobook7 hours
All the Money in the World: What the Happiest People Know About Getting and Spending
Written by Laura Vanderkam
Narrated by Karen Saltus
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
()
About this audiobook
How happy would you be if you had all the money in the world? The universal lament about money is that there is never enough. We spend endless hours obsessing over our budgets and investments, trying to figure out ways to stretch every dollar. We try to follow the advice of money gurus and financial planners, then kick ourselves whenever we spend too much or save too little. For all of the stress and effort we put into every choice, why are most of us unhappy about our finances?
According to Laura Vanderkam, the key is to change your perspective. Instead of looking at money as a scarce resource, consider it a tool that you can use creatively to build a better life for yourself and the people you care about.
For instance, the average couple spends $5,000 on engagement and wedding rings, making these pricey purchases largely because everyone else does. But what if you decided to spend $300 on rings and apply the rest to future date nights, weekend getaways, and thinking-of-you bouquets over the next ten years? In he long run, what would bring more joy to your marriage? Likewise, will owning a home with a pristine lawn and a two-car garage-the American Dream-really make you more satisfied? Or are you saving up for this investment just because financial planners tell you it's worth it?
Vanderkam shows how each of us can figure out better ways to use what we have to build the lives we want. Drawing on the latest happiness research as well as the stories of dozens of real people, Vanderkam offers a contrarian approach that forces us to examine our own beliefs, goals, and values.
Among her advice:
Laugh at the Joneses: It's human nature to compare yourself to those around you, but you can create lifestyle hat rings you personal satisfaction without copying your neighbors.
Give yourself the best weekend ever: Studies show that experiences often bring more pleasure than material goods. With a little planning and creativity, you can give yourself a memorable getaway without leaving town or going broke.
Embrace the selfish joy of giving: Giving back not only helps you build karma, it also helps you build a community-which is much more fulfilling than a tax deduction. All the Money in the World is a practical and inspiring guide that shows how money can buy happiness-if we spend it wisely.
According to Laura Vanderkam, the key is to change your perspective. Instead of looking at money as a scarce resource, consider it a tool that you can use creatively to build a better life for yourself and the people you care about.
For instance, the average couple spends $5,000 on engagement and wedding rings, making these pricey purchases largely because everyone else does. But what if you decided to spend $300 on rings and apply the rest to future date nights, weekend getaways, and thinking-of-you bouquets over the next ten years? In he long run, what would bring more joy to your marriage? Likewise, will owning a home with a pristine lawn and a two-car garage-the American Dream-really make you more satisfied? Or are you saving up for this investment just because financial planners tell you it's worth it?
Vanderkam shows how each of us can figure out better ways to use what we have to build the lives we want. Drawing on the latest happiness research as well as the stories of dozens of real people, Vanderkam offers a contrarian approach that forces us to examine our own beliefs, goals, and values.
Among her advice:
Laugh at the Joneses: It's human nature to compare yourself to those around you, but you can create lifestyle hat rings you personal satisfaction without copying your neighbors.
Give yourself the best weekend ever: Studies show that experiences often bring more pleasure than material goods. With a little planning and creativity, you can give yourself a memorable getaway without leaving town or going broke.
Embrace the selfish joy of giving: Giving back not only helps you build karma, it also helps you build a community-which is much more fulfilling than a tax deduction. All the Money in the World is a practical and inspiring guide that shows how money can buy happiness-if we spend it wisely.
Author
Laura Vanderkam
Laura Vanderkam is a contributing editor at Reader's Digest and is the coauthor of Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds. She lives with her husband in New York City.
More audiobooks from Laura Vanderkam
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings-and Life (Intl Ed) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend: A Short Guide to Making the Most of Your Days Off Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings-and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What the Most Successful People Do at Work: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to All the Money in the World
Related audiobooks
Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bad with Money: The Imperfect Art of Getting Your Financial Sh*t Together Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Refinery29 Money Diaries: Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Your Finances... And Everyone Else's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Choose FI: Your Blueprint for Financial Independence Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Go Where There Is No Path: Stories of Hustle, Grit, Scholarship, and Faith Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What the Most Successful People Do at Work: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unsubscribe: How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distractions, and Get Real Work Done Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Are Awesome: How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Small Move, Big Change: Using Microresolutions to Transform Your Life Permanently Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pick Three: You Can Have It All (Just Not Every Day) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Remote, Inc.: How to Thrive at Work . . . Wherever You Are Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Do What Matters Most: Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fringe Hours: Making Time for You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/524/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feel Better in 5: Your Daily Plan to Feel Great for Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Personal Finance For You
Think and Grow Rich Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Manage Your Money When You Don't Have Any Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Millionaire Fastlane, 10th Anniversary Edition: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Baby Steps Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth--and How You Can Too Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Intelligent Investor Rev Ed. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Breaking Free from Broke Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Change Your Paradigm, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rich Dad's Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Principles: Life and Work Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Intelligent Investor Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant: Guide to Financial Freedom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need: Revised Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career, and Win at Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets Of Americas Wealthy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths that are Destroying Your Prosperity Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Entreleadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy’s Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest In, That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for All the Money in the World
Rating: 3.6486486486486487 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
37 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Very US oriented, mainly for women. I would save a 20% and the minimalism part.
Money can buy happiness? I am not really convinced at the end - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5What would you do if you had all the money in the world - not literally, but all you wanted - what would you change about your life? Laura Vanderkam is contemplating getting, spending, and sharing money in her book All The Money In The World - the main premise being that you can buy happiness!Sharing her own experiences and those of people who one day decided they'd rather spend their money on this instead of that, the book will not advise you on how to safe money, but instead encourage you to reconsider just how to spend it to make your life happier. Admittedly I liked the underlying idea from the start. If I had the choice I'd rather travel the world for the money a diamond ring would cost, and I'm sure my adventures would make me happier than that ring could.Smoothly and quite entertainingly written the book luckily does not read as if it came straight from the self-help section of a bookstore. On the downside, there's also a lot of statistics and fluff which I ended up finding a bit distracting. Vanderkamp is often rambling on and already half way through I got the feeling that an essay would have been sufficient to communicate the essence of the whole book. Still, don't let this discourage you, because the intriguing idea presented here is definitely worth exploring!In short: How would you spend money to take a step towards a happier life?
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All the Money in the World is a thoughtful series of essays on earning and using money to maximize your happiness. It’s full of interesting thought experiments, facts, and questions that will make you think about money in ways you never have before. The writing is great, reminding me of Malcolm Gladwell’s many books or Mirroring People, and definitely meeting my criteria that it be clear and concise. Although the chapters could be read as stand-alone essays, the interesting topic kept me reading one after another. My favorite parts were the fascinating personal anecdotes, but it was also important to me that the author cited research studies to back up her advice. Finally, there are actionable suggestions throughout which are collected into a useful worksheet at the end of the book. This was exactly what I look for in a self-help book – interesting, research-based, well-written, and useful.