Fred and Valerie

Lee Eisenberg’s “The Number: What Do You Need for the Rest of Your Life and What Will It Cost?” is terrible. I couldn’t make it much beyond the first 100 pages because it’s all just hypothetical drivel that constantly returns to one common theme: You think you know your Number so that you can retire safe and sound, but I have 100 ways to prove you wrong!

I kept waiting to read some shred of advice about how to actually determine my “Number” and finally got fed up and skipped to the end. What’s all the build up for? So the author can tell you that there’s no real way to calculate an actual Number. It all depends. It depends on when you retire, if you’re going to work during retirement, how old you live to be (the biggest factor!), and countless other things.

I could have written this book in one sentence: Stop obsessing about a made-up Number and just put away as much money as you can into retirement accounts and be ready to go back to work if you need to and/or live to be older than 90!

This book actually contains some interesting statistics, but beyond that it’s pointless.

Next Up: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I’m reading the last book of the Harry Potter series again to get a good foundation for where the story ends. After that, I’ll reread the entire series from start to finish. This will be the third read for books one through four (and, eventually, seven) and the second read for books five and six.

Overall, Gordon Ramsay: The Biography is a very good book with a good amount of detail about the life and career of the world-renowned chef. The book takes readers from the trials and tribulations of Ramsay’s childhood, through his teen years and beyond as he perfects his skills as a culinary expert.

Most people will be surprised to read about Ramsay’s early career as a professional footballer (soccer player) as well as his unique marriage to wife Tana. Most will also be surprised to read about his drug-addicted brother, abusive father, and out-of-the-kitchen softer side.

Page after page, those who only know Ramsay from television will learn more about a man they likely didn’t know existed. And, at the end of his biography, it’s easy for one to gain a great respect for the man and the methods he uses in an endless pursuit for culinary perfection. Often written off as a “celebrity chef” critics, Ramsay proves over and over again that his primary concern after his family is his food.

Next Up: The Number: What Do You Need for the Rest of Your Life and What Will It Cost?