Publishers Weekly
12/13/2021
De Leon, founder of the financial firm the Hell Yeah Group, debuts with a zippy guide to “see your relationship with money in a new light.” De Leon begins with a breakdown of “why we’re weird” about money (classism plus confusion plus “limiting beliefs”), then gets into the basics of personal finance, offering an introduction to saving (aim for 10% of take-home pay), investing (if it’s an intimidating concept, “not feeling like you belong has its perks”), and credit scores (“Yes, kids, just like with social media, we are the product. Surprise!”). She digs into debt and how to get out of it (“spend a long weekend with your student loans,” she suggests), and is at her strongest when explaining how emotionally charged money can be, attributing anxieties around it to “gaps in information” and “inequality,” and assuring readers how empowering it is to have a handle on one’s financial situation. Often-funny drawings help to illustrate the points, and De Leon’s breezy tone marries well with her practical advice. Readers beginning to tackle their personal finances will find a welcome guide in de Leon. Agent: Jenny Stephens, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
One of Fortune's Most Anticipated Books of 2022
"Paco de Leon wrote a book on finance that makes me both excited to learn and ready to take action. De Leon's take-no-shit attitude mixed with illustrations and metaphors ranging from whiskey to explain inflation to plants to explain student debt makes this is one of the most approachable financial books I've ever read." —Refinery 29
"Part therapy, part finance 411, this how-to is a great way to approach financial literacy." —New York Post
"Finance for the People is a potent mix of deeply practical and wonderfully empathetic, with a much needed dash of cynicism about our financial systems. You will be better off in your financial life for picking up and reading this book." —Erin Lowry, author of the Broke Millennial series
“Taking a more hands-on approach to personal finance, Finance for the People asks readers to reflect on their beliefs and experiences with money in a variety of exercises and includes more than 50 illustrations and diagrams to make the concepts accessible.” —Fortune
“Every generation has its definitive money guru’s book handholding upper-class, middle-aged Americans through the complicated terminology and mathematical formulas of personal finance. Yet many of us do not see ourselves reflected in those books. FINANCE FOR THE PEOPLE is different—it’s a soothing balm and some needed real talk to those of us who are tired of being told that oat milk lattes are what's standing between us and homeownership or a healthy relationship with money. Paco de Leon actually sees systemic inequality, cognitive biases, childhood insecurity and deep fear as the powerful forces that hold so many people back from their financial destiny. This book is funny, practical and will remind the reader that like with all things worthwhile, being good at money requires intention, an examination of our beliefs and past experiences...and ultimately just showing up for ourselves.” —Aminatou Sow, New York Times bestselling co-author of Big Friendship
“What a relief to have some personal finance advice that addresses rampant inequality, offers a healthy dose of skepticism about the financial industry, and actually takes emotions into account. Reading this book is like sitting down with an extremely knowledgeable and non-judgmental friend.” —Ann Friedman, New York Times bestselling co-author of Big Friendship
"Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances is a refreshingly original contribution to this crowded field, and one her fellow millennials will find especially valuable as they contemplate the decades of decisions that will shape their financial futures...Dealing with money is one of life’s inescapable realities, and for most people there will always be some amount of pain associated with it. Having a friendly guide like Finance for the People can help the journey become both more bearable and more profitable." —BookPage
“Many people are interested in how to make money—and how to keep it. But money can be a a taboo topic, so conversations are not held in the open, putting financial health at risk. Author de Leon...provides essential tools for reconfiguring readers' financial existence...The author's empathy and humor throughout the book provide a digestible roadmap for the financially perplexed. A must-read for financial planning.” —Booklist
"[De Leon] is at her strongest when explaining how emotionally charged money can be, attributing anxieties around it to “gaps in information” and “inequality,” and assuring readers how empowering it is to have a handle on one’s financial situation. Often-funny drawings help to illustrate the points, and De Leon’s breezy tone marries well with her practical advice. Readers beginning to tackle their personal finances will find a welcome guide in de Leon.” —Publishers Weekly
