Book Review: Financial Literacy and Adult Education. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 141 by Forté, K. S., Taylor, E. W., & Tisdell, E. J.

Abstract

Forte, K. S., Taylor, E. W., & Tisdell, E. J. (Eds.). (2014). Financial Literacy and Adult Education. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 141. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 112 pp. ISBN: 978-1118-85003-9 (paperback) With the recent economic downturn, high unemployment rates, changes in employer retirement plans, increased health care costs, and decreased savings, it is now more important than ever that individuals be financially literate. The purpose of Financial Literacy and Adult Education, edited by Forte, Taylor, and Tisdell (2014), is to highlight how adult education theories and ideas can be utilized to teach financial literacy, thus improving an individual's financial stability. They draw from scholars in the fields of adult education and financial literacy to illuminate the opportunity to inform one another. The first four chapters highlight factors that affect financial learning. In Chapter 1, Forte encourages financial educators to consider sociocultural issues when developing adult financial education programs. She suggests financial educators engage in culturally responsive teaching, which emphasizes learning about learners, matching the materials and lessons to learners' needs, demonstrating cultural caring, and building a learning community. Buckland, in Chapter 2, examines how financial exclusion (e.g., being unable to rely on mainstream banks for financial services) creates structural barriers that can reinforce poverty. He illustrates how situated learning theory could provide a foundation for understanding adults' learning and recommends improving community relationships, providing greater access to mainstream banks and financial tools to create a better learning experience and ultimately assist low-income individuals. In Chapter 3, Way explores the theory of reasoned action, the theory of planned behavior, and the transtheoretical model of change as tools to assist educators in structuring financial education to yield more productive results. Way details the impact of financial interventions focusing on interpersonal interactions, community and organizational settings, and policy and systems, and presents an ecological model that illustrates how interventions can modify behavior. Jarecke, Taylor, and Hira, in Chapter 4, explore financial literacy education for women and suggest instructional strategies to meet their unique needs. English, in Chapter 5, urges adult educators to examine their own assumptions and to critically reflect on financial education programs. …