Book Review: Financial Intimacy by Jacquette M. Timmons

I am a firm believer in Sankofa, the belief held in an Adrinka symbol from Ghana which when translated via Wikipedia's definition, means taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge.

With that said, I am pleased to recommend Financial Intimacy: How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate by Jacquette M. Timmons. The style with which Ms. Timmons chose to author her first book was very comforting to me personally in that the book is laid out in such a way that it presents not only stories from other people sharing their personal stories in Part 1 but Ms. Timmons also encourages the reader to also look at their own, through very useful and non intimidating exercises. The overall presentation is political, socio-cultural and economically based.

By encouraging the reader to take a review of the "how did I get here?" question, Ms. Timmons also offers wonderful solutions to either taking the first steps of the journey or getting back on the path to an intimate and honest view of the intermingling of intimacy and finances. It can be tricky due to one of our social no-no's of mixing finance with romance. In my opinion, it is an unavoidable collision and if prepared it can be the sweetest kind due to the honesty that is necessary in reaching the goal of true intimacy.

Since I am a visual creature by nature, I was appreciative of the visuals in Part 2 of the book: Your Story. I am both embarrassed and pleased to confess that Part 2 of my copy is one heck of a mess with markings, notes and declarations. And the quote from Toni Cade Bambara at the top of the chapter "Revolution begins with the self, in the self" could not be more appropriate because it is often, the too easy route of blaming our parents which is avoided in this section which I admire the most. It is YOUR story. Yes ladies and gentleman, Ms. Timmons takes you back to your youth and the habits of your parents, leading you to the choices you make as an adult. Sankofa.

Part 3 is for your partner, if you have one and if you don't, I suggest allowing yourself to stay in your dream state of finding one willing to go the distance of Part 3 with you. Financial Intimacy: How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate by Jacquette M. Timmons is 217 pages short and yet full of information to save yourself from what might appear to be an unmanageable situation to a glorious story of revivification. It equips you with the tools for forecasting yourself to your intended bliss.Although the subject(s) and target audience of the book is geared towards women, it is my belief that this is a read for all audiences, graduating seniors of both high school and college included! And because I attended one of the book signings in October of this year, 2009, I have it on good authority that the second book may indeed be geared towards men based on the lively discussion generated during the Q&A portion of the evening. I suggest not waiting...