Book Review: Dream Big

Book name: Dream Big

Author: Dr. Mukesh Jindal and Anuraj VS

Genre: Non-fiction

Standalone/Series: Standalone

Publishing Date: August 15th 2017 by CNBC TV18

My ratings:

Blurb:

Thirty six year old Vaibhav, the ever-smiling symbol of new age Indians, started his career as a driver. Today, he is the owner of a flourishing taxi service business and is scouting around to buy a Mercedes Benz...not on a loan but with the wealth he has amassed over the years!

How did he get from being a driver to a millionaire? Three simple secrets - he had the courage to dream big, learn about financial planning and implement what he learnt. Now, while you don't need anyone to help you to dream big, here is a book that will teach you everything that Vaibhav learnt. All you have to do is find the tenacity to implement it.

Everything, from the importance of saving and investing and the need for life and health insurance to various investment products like mutual funds, SIP, PPF etc. that can enable you to build wealth, is explained in this book in simple and jargon free language. It helps you to choose instruments that are most suitable for you and explains why you would be better off without others.

Dream Big simplifies and breaks down common financial planning principles such as risk profiling, asset allocation, portfolio construction, rebalancing etc. and explains the tax implications of various investment decisions. It also contains sections on planning for retirement and a legacy, and financial planning for women, divorced individuals, defence employees, senior citizens, etc. 

This book review is a part of "The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program and Blog Tours", for details log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.in. All thoughts and opinions are my own and unbiased.

MY REVIEW

We are taught everything from mitochondria being the powerhouse of a cell to the complex problems of differentiation in school, things not actually used in real life, in my opinion. But what we are not taught are some of the basics for survival in this world once we get out. Financial planning is a topic which is never talked about in school, unless you opt for the particular subjects but financial education is something that every person should know about. It isn't necessary to have a degree in the subjects, but the basis should be clear to everyone for better planning of the future. I, personally, had very less financial literacy before reading this book, and had the perception that things like mutual funds, debit funds, insurance and the kind are for old people but no! After reading this book I feel as if it's a must for the young generation to know about these things and participate too, and that too for their own benefits.
I felt that this book was written in a very friendly manner and the intimidating topics were explained in very easy language for beginners like me. The author begins with telling about the importance of investments and some new concepts like inflation are elaborated, making the reader understand why investments are important to survive in this world.

After establishing the importance of investments in the readers mind, the author reveals the world of mutual funds, debt funds, insurance, equity funds, legacy planning and the like. The reader is able to understand these complex topics, thanks to the simple language used in the book, very well. These topics are broken down and explained in some detail, such a not to overwhelm the reader, but at the same time, understand that this is a serious topic of importance.
Many people go for expert help for managing their finances, but I felt that this book succeeds in giving a basic idea regarding various topics we might need to use at various stages in our financial life. This book has something for everyone. Since financial needs are relative from person to person, so is the respective financial planning.
If you'd like to get a basic idea about these topics then this book is for you. I'd recommend this book to you if you are a fresher int his field, or if you are a school or college student not having the subjects of finance or thinking about getting these subjects.
This book taught me a lot about how to invest our money in the right direction and I think I can say that buying this book will be an investment. :)

HAPPY READING EVERYONE!

Top 7 books/series of 2017

First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I hope 2018 is better than 2017 in all aspects and you reach your reading goal too! Well that one is more for me than you as  I got in a slump around the beginning of November and couldn't complete my reading challenge. Anyways I am gonna tell you guys my top 7 reads of 2017 (including series).

So these are all those aWesome books (in no specific order) (NO SPOILERS):

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

This was such a big surprise right huhuhaha? This series is literally the best that I have read till date. The world created by sjm, the characters , their relationships, everything is just phenomenal and this series is so close to me heart I can't even tell. My favourite book in the series is Queen Of Shadows jusT because of one faVourite scene. People say there are a lot of problems in this series but I feel sjm is working towards those and we are going to see much more representation in the coming books. 

2. A Court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas

Another big surprise for you all! I just love love LOVE this series and the charachters omg are literally THE best! I just love the phenomenal writing style of sjm, she is a queen for me. Also the increasing representation in the third book (ACOWAR) is just aMazing!(I can't tell because sPoilers) but go read it if you haven't already (after finishing reading my post but) Also I can't wait for the upcoming books in the series GAHHH

3. All the bright places by Jennifer Niven

Okay but you neEd to read this aMazing book! I just can't explain the impact this bok and the writing, the charachters just everything about this book had on me! The ending had me crying so hard and time and again I find myself thinking about it flipping through the pages. Just READ IT OKAY! Also, I have a full review for this book (here)

4. Six Of crows by Leigh Bardugo

This is a duo logy that wrecked me. The characters feel so strongly and the best thing about this book is the representation in it. The feelings of the characters are so real, what we say is different from what we think or want, just amazing. This journey was one of THE best for me and you need to go on that journey of ships and sail in the sea (ik my pun game is strong huhu)

5. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

I just finished the last installment (the raven king) few days back in 2018 only AND I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND THIS SERIES BY SHOUTING FROM THE TOP OF EVEREST (if I ever go there that is to say). The magical world created in the real world, seriously hands off to Maggie stiefvater! The characters are just so AMAZING! I just loved her writing style and I now some people have problems with it but I LOVED IT! This book is the epitome of aesthetics really and the real gems are between the lines which I loved the most. JUST READ IT OKAY!

6. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I know I know I am very  late at reading it but I read it at the beginning of 2017 aNd FELL IN LOVE WITH the series! The biggest surprise was Catching Fire. Seriously the ending just blew my mind. The movies were also pretty good but ofcourse I liked the books better. In the last book during the ending there is a line (Part of a line actually)- 'but there are much worse games to play' and I was like BAMM WHATTTT!!! What can I say except READ IT!

7. Perks Of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The simplicity and yet the deepness of this book is the best thing about it. I have a full review of the book (here) where I tell why I LOVED the book. I don't know how to explain it now, its just beautiful and that is the only word I cam think of when I think about this book- Beautiful. So GO AND READ THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK OKAY? OKAY!

....AND THAT'S IT! You should totally go and read all these books and wreck yourself and if you have read any of then then FANGIRL/BOY WITH ME ABOUT THEM PLUHHH-EEEEEZ!!!!