Stein has characteristically taken an unlikely path in his “How to Ruin Your Financial Life,” out later this month. He doesn’t intend for readers to actually follow his advice. Instead, he says, “I thought I’d say what not to do, and if you recognize yourself doing a bunch of these things, maybe you’ll do the opposite.” Sample rules: “Collect as many credit cards as you can” and “compete with your friends to see who can own the most expensive and high-status possessions.”
There’s other stuff about buying stocks and the like. But readers hoping to get more than a laugh out of Stein’s 144-page book may be disappointed. Take out the “don’ts” and you’re left with the basics of diversifying your investments and planning for retirement. Good advice, yes, but probably nothing you haven’t read before.
