Comment

The Opposite of Spoiled

Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money
haklh
Sep 26, 2018
I was pleased and relieved to have found this book because it sounded like it would address the exactly problem I was mulling over - how to teach children to be sensible with money, and not be too materialistic. I did enjoy the book, which contained many anecdotes and tips from families the author had interviewed over many years. Much of the advice was enlightening; some of it challenged my current thinking (such as detaching pocket money from doing chores) but Ron Lieber's arguments are logical and persuasive. This book is very much aimed at well-off, earnest professional families; the issues discussed here are very much "First World Problems". So while it aims to minimise any arrogance or sense of entitlement arising from living privileged lives, the earnestness can feel quite cringey at times. Or perhaps I am just feeling jealous and inadequate because I haven't thought of those great ideas myself. My only other criticism is that some of the situations/advice can appear quite geo-specific, for example, money worries surrounding college tuition, 401k, and health insurance is not such a big deal in my country (even though inequality is growing). Overall, an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, a welcome addition to the range of topics discussed within the Parenting genre. I will be sharing this with my pre-teen children.