Naked Finance, David Meckin

Published by Nicholas Brealey

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Business finance pure and simple

David Meckin is a Member of the Chartered Management Institute, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and his clients include FTSE-100 companies and international household names.

Despite this he manages to make finance interesting, simple and very nearly enjoyable.

Aimed mainly at non-financial managers – those are the ones expected to have a grasp of budget preparation, be able to understand financial reports and handle cash flow issues with absolutely no training - the book presents complex concepts in plain, almost jargon-free English. To his credit (non-financial) David explains the jargon when he has to use it.

Using simple illustrations of his arguments, he teaches us the skills necessary to manage sales and costs, to make sure cash is there when needed and to manage long term projects. Along the way he also reveals how you measure financial success, how to make real profits and which of the many figures you need to pay proper attention to.

The book is written in a straightforward style that makes it easy to read while still providing a thorough and practical guide to the essentials of business finance.

A worthwhile introduction to the topic that should be on pretty well every manager’s bookshelf.

The Three Most Important Lessons You’ve Never been Taught

Vermillion - £4.99

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

"If anyone can help, it’s this man."

So says Justin Rowatt of Panorama about probably the Book of the Year 2008. (Yes, I know there are eleven months of books yet to come, just bear with me.)

Why is this book so important, at least if you live in the UK? Simply because the nation is drowning in unsustainable debt and doesn’t know what to do about it. Martin Lewis does know what to do and here he passes on his knowledge – for £4.99 a copy with all his royalties going to charity.

If you’ve never heard of Martin Lewis, power up your computer and go to http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/, subscribe to his newsletter and start getting even with the people who are taking your money.

But back to the book. It will take you half-an-hour to read and a good few hours to do the money makeover and budget exercises. Believe me, it will be worth it.

Mr Lewis was challenged to turn a bunch of schoolchildren into money saving experts for a TV show in the middle of last year. 12 pupils went on to save their families £5050. And out of that little experiment comes this book.

The three lessons are explained in a forthright manner in just under 100 pages. The entertaining story of the junior money saving experts is covered with similar economy and the details of how to win at the personal finances game takes up the rest of the book.

If you spend money – mortgage, credit card, cash – or try to save, you need this book.