Ron Lieber

Yes! Finally someone who puts onto words the reasons I am very uncomfortable with voluntourism. Besides this, there were many eye opening sections. My children are young and I appreciated the many ways to have conversations about money with them. The author uses examples of many different kinds of families and I think while many situations might seem extreme or foreign to the average reader, there will probably be at least one story that hits home.

While the book seems aimed at the upper class, most people living in America with electricity, clean water, and free public education need to remember that they are rich compared to a majority of the world's population. So many parents could use the advice to have conversations about needs versus wants, and about answering questions about the costs of things and each family's priorities in spending, saving and giving.

I do think the book could have been even better with some more grounding in psychology and sociology research. Some studies are referred to but a few times the author makes broad sweeping statements about the nature of children without anything to back it up and made my footnote-loving self cringe. But overall, the book is not a scholarly examination of human nature and economics but that's ok. It is a big bag of compelling stories, intriguing questions, and tricks to try.… (more)

This practical guidebook written by Lieber, a personal finance columnist and father, is a blueprint for the best ways to handle the important lessons of money matters with your children. From the basics of the tooth fairy, allowances, chores, charity, saving, birthdays, holidays, cellphones, checking accounts, clothing cars, part-time jobs, to college tuition, he shares how to help parents raise kids who are more generous and less materialistic. This is a book that will start many important conversations, no matter what age the child.… (more)