The economic downturn has forced nearly everyone into a life of limited means, but author Laura Lee was broke before it was cool. She wont tell anyone to clip coupons or forego their morning lattein fact, she wont give any guidance on how to be saved from a dark financial destiny. Instead she provides readers with a psychological how-to full of fun tidbits. Broke is Beautiful is an insightful compendium of history, inspiration, facts, and humor that all celebrate the lack of money as a gateway to more serenity, self-awareness, and yes, even security. In the tradition of Alain de Bottons How Proust Can Change Your Life and Eric Wilsons Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy, here is an unconventional take on a subject that is relevant to us all. It is quirky comfort for the (literally) poor soul: offering historical and geographic perspective, ponderings on consumerism and credit scores, and even recipes for ramen noodles.

Author Biography

Laura Lee is the author of ten books including "The Pocket Guide to Aggravation," "The 100 Most Dangerous Things in Life," and "The Elvis Impersonation Kit." She has been a regular contributor to the "Times Union" in Albany, "Reader's Digest," and other newspapers and magazines. In addition to her writing career, she has sustained her less-than-stellar financial state with stints as a morning radio DJ, an improvisational comedian, a professional mime, and public relations director for a Russian Ballet Company. She lives near Detroit, Michigan.