The publisher specializes in business books; the book is categorized as “personal finance,” “budgeting & money management,” and “retirement planning.”<\/p>\n

But it’s a memoir<\/strong>. Sure, there’s room for advice in a memoir, but it’s certainly not a classic business or financial planning book.<\/p>\n

Some discovering this book while searching Amazon for personal finance top sellers who saw it has a ton of reviews and didn’t read the book description might buy it expecting to get all kinds of personal finance tips.<\/p>\n

Part 3: The definition of “average”<\/h2>\n

The author described her household income as “average.” Yet, their move to the country involved selling the Cambridge, Mass., home they bought for $460,000. Many “average” income earners in Middle America can’t afford a home valued at nearly half a million dollars.<\/p>\n

In addition, Amazon one-star reviewer “A B” reports that “According to public records, Nate made $225,000 in 2014 and $271,000 in 2016 working as a non-profit executive.” (Nonprofits are required to report this information.)<\/p>\n

Reviewer A B had to search for the information online because it’s not in the book. That seems like a key point — something to share in a “personal finance” book. As a reader, before I’m impressed with what you’ve accomplished, I need to know your starting point.<\/p>\n

Why is it missing? Probably because the author is trying to hide it.<\/p>\n

A few other one-star reviewers singled out income as a key reason they were disillusioned after reading the book, too. Thames’s blog led them to believe her family is “just like us.” For many, though, they aren’t.<\/p>\n

“Average” is relative, of course. You might argue that a nearly $300,000 income in Cambridge, home of Harvard University,\u00a0is<\/em> average. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual income for millennials is $36,000.<\/p>\n

A household income that exceeds $271,000 isn’t “average.”<\/p>\n

Part 4: The definition of “retire”<\/h2>\n

A key selling point of this book is that the couple “retired” when the author was 32.<\/p>\n

She “retired” only if you use the definition you have in mind when you say, “I don’t feel well, so I’m going to retire to my bed.”<\/p>\n

They aren’t living off their savings for the rest of their lives. They’re working from home. Yes, they have more financial independence than many, but they aren’t “retired” from earning a living. They’re “retired” from their previous lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Part 5: The key to success<\/h2>\n

The key to success, according to this book, is that to save a lot of money, you have to have a lot of money to save.<\/p>\n

It reminds me of an old (OLD!<\/em>) Steve Martin joke from his stand-up comedy routine, “You Can Be a Millionaire.” Steve says, “First, you get a million dollars.”<\/p>\n