Thank you, Finlit Publishing, for providing this book for a voluntary review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Financial and Economic Literacy is an educational and easy read that nicely summarizes topics in personal finance (Part One) and key concepts in economics (Part Two).

In Part One, the discussion starts with an explanation of inflation and how it erodes purchasing power followed by the concepts of saving and investing with the goal of building a nest egg for retirement. The topic of spending is covered next along with the importance of establishing a personal budget and keeping debt levels at a reasonable level and bringing awareness to the dangers of gambling and scams. Such information would be beneficial to anyone who is starting their careers (e.g., new college graduates who are now supporting themselves).

In Part Two, the discussion turns to the economics of the US economy, specifically income distribution, housing, healthcare, taxes, and the public debt. The authors provide examples of published research and analyses to describe trends, the tradeoffs of economic decisions, and the difficulty of determining causation given the many factors impacting the economy and provide a solid foundation on which one can build by following up with more advanced treatments of macroeconomics.

While the content of Financial and Economic Literacy wasn’t new to me and not as in depth as I would have liked, I do recommend the book to everyone. If these topics are new to you, you will come away with a better appreciation of managing your finances for a comfortable retirement and living within your means. You will also gain a high-level understanding of issues impacting the US economy and the topics that are frequently discussed in the news, particularly during election years, such as taxes, inequality, housing affordability, healthcare, and the US deficit. Financial and Economic Literacy has something for everyone, whether it be a primer or refresher course.