This is actually the second time I have read this book - I read it years ago and didn't remember much so thought I would try it again. With the economy where it has been the past year and a half and getting closer to retirement all the time, it seemed like a good idea.
Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin wrote "Your Money or Your Life" back in 1992 and I believe I have seen where it has been updated lately. It really is an excellent book and I have really noticed a huge shift in the way I think about money, the acquisition of "things", and life energy - also known as time, since I read this in the mid-1990s. That book, along with the simplicity books by Elaine St. James, has been incredibly influential to me. While we didn't run out and get rid of everything, quit our jobs and sell the house, we did make the decision to stay in place and not to buy a bigger home when most of the people around us did. We decided to continue to purchase nice, middle-priced cars rather than luxury cars and to keep them much longer than most of the people at our income level. These are just two examples of many that have helped us save for retirement and to scale back our lifestyle so that we have more time for what is important.
"Getting a Life" is a book written by a couple who read the same book and then wrote about their implementation of the financial program outlined there. Not everyone is going to relate to their story; however, it does provide food for thought and shows how real people applied the principles to their lives and what the results were. They also include information about other people and the choices they have made after reading YMORL and deciding to implement what they learned.
You really need to read "Your Money or Your Life" first or this book won't make much sense. As a follow-up book it was good and provides more food for thought on this topic. I would like to see it updated since it was published 13 years ago and I would like to know where they are now and what things worked for them and what didn't over a longer time horizon. A good read and helpful, but not great --