Money Sucks: A Memoir on Why Too Much or Too Little Can Ruin You

By Michael Baughman

A funny and touching story about how to deal with the struggles of adulthood, how to live a good life, and how money can complicate it all.

Michael Baughman’s hope was to send his oldest grandson off to his first year of college in the fall of 2012 with an informed and thoughtful attitude toward what has long been a powerful American fixation: the frantic quest for money. Complicating the issue was the fact that income disparity in America was increasing alarmingly, and a political campaign featuring a wealthy Republican presidential candidate who told transparent lies on a daily basis was well underway.

Baughman, now an emeritus professor of English, has visited forty-nine states. As a youth he attended Punahou, the private Honolulu prep school that graduated Barack Obama. During subsequent travels he washed dishes, pumped gas, butchered meat, sold women’s lingerie at Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and served as an enlisted man in the Army.

Because of these diverse experiences, Baughman’s friends and acquaintances have included the very poor as well as the very rich. Throughout most of his adult life his own income has been close to the national average. He brought all of this, and more, into his parting conversations with his grandson Billy.

Money Sucks is the culmination of those discussions, rumination on the haves and the have-nots and a frank, thought-provoking look at some of the toughest questions life throws our way: What makes us happy? How much is enough? Funny and inspiring in equal measures, it’s a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of their children, grandchildren, and the friends and family they love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Release date: Jun 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781628739862

Michael Baughman

Michael Baughman was born in Buffalo and raised in western Pennsylvania and Hawaii. After college, he served in the US Army in Germany, after which he returned to teach and write. He is the author of seven books. Baughman lives in Ashland, Oregon, with his wife of fifty years, children, and grandchildren.

Reviews for Money Sucks

[joeydag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author as grandfather writes this as a memoir of his advice to his grandson during the short period of late senior year in high school as the grandson preps to go to college. Straight from the shoulder opinions - easy read - not too deep. People can find happiness without becoming "greed freaks" (also jocks should avoid the trap of becoming anti-intellectuals and intellectuals should avoid being patronizing to athletes - athletes come in many different shapes and characters.)