The Joy of Accounting: A Game-Changing Approach That Makes Accounting Easy Paperback – September 21, 2020

For over a decade, I have been teaching finance and accounting to leaders and managers, who have backgrounds in other disciplines. These people are smart and understand that you only earn respect at the top if you understand how money flows in and out of the organization you serve. They need to know the risks and opportunities that finance presents – and how the best decisions combine scientific and technical considerations with financial ones.But it often stops there. Nobody was able to explain finance in a way that made sense to them.When I discovered the method described in The Joy of Accounting, all of that changed. People who dreaded being told to take an accounting course as part of their leadership development program began to compete to get a place in the classes we offered; they described the courses as “the best professional development course I have ever taken”; and, my favorite, “this course should be compulsory for all high-school kids.”There was only one thing missing – a book that described the course so that they could take it home, digest it, review it, and, most effective of all, explain what they had learned to someone else, which is, incidentally the most effective way of consolidating your own understanding of anything.Happily, the “inventors” of the course, Peter Frampton and Mark Robilliard, have come up with a book that is an excellent resource for anyone who:• Needs to understand the basics of finance and accounting, but can’t get to a course• Has taken the course, but would like a reference book so that they can review what they have learned• Is taking an accounting class where concepts are being badly explained• Teaches finance and accounting and finds their learners have a hard time grasping basic concepts.Perhaps the notion of “basic concepts” is what distinguishes the approach from other texts I have seen. Sadly, many texts follow a definition-oriented approach: learn the definitions of basic concepts, and it will all come together! It doesn’t! The approach described in The Joy of Accounting focuses on explaining ideas without worrying, at first, about precise definitions although these come later. Relying on “educational and transitional definitions,” the authors make basic accounting concepts so clear that they seem obvious.But no concept has value without practical application. The authors deal with that in two ways.First, they guide the reader through transactions and explain how these will affect the balance sheet and income statement. Initially, using color to guide them, learners don’t worry about whether something is a debit or a credit – they think in terms of “green effects” and “orange effects.” Once these effects are mastered, the transition from “green” to “debit” and “orange” to “credit” becomes clear. Beginners are often bewildered because they do not focus on the perspective of a transaction – whose story is being told, a point that is masterfully explained early in the book by showing that a transaction can equally be explained as a purchase or a sale. It depends only on perspective.Second, a series of case studies at the end of the book provide robust example of how applying the principles explained in the book can solve real business problems.If you want to understand the basics of accounting and finance, buy this book. The learning is profound; the approach is simple; and the methodology achieves the M&M nirvana in learning – it’s Meaningful and Memorable.

The previous version of this book (Color Accounting) was my most recommend book in this category. The reason for that was the content was truly unparalleled in truly starting from the beginning with basics of accounting and then building upon that foundation by balancing the detail of accounting with the context and usefulness of accounting.Now, honestly, the previous kindle version of this book wasn’t well formatted for kindle and, I think, there could have been an even deeper dive of more practical accounting considerations. But, it was very easy to look past these things in the previous version because it’s content was still so rich and so refreshingly unique.However, this new version is even more incredible. Not only is this version of the book so customized for the kindle, but it also provides some great new illustrations as well as adds some super helpful additional content (like practical case studies, discussing separate legal entities versus personal finances, and other micro-topics).As a CPA and adjunct accounting professor, I get asked about recommended resources for accounting.... often. This book is my new number one. There isn’t another book that comes close in my mind when it comes to building a foundation accounting and finance.In summary, I highly recommend this book to not only people who want to be a greater confidence in accounting, but I also highly recommend this book to accounting and finance professionals who want to to better describe, teach and discuss accounting with their clients, teammates and others in their sphere of influence.

A well written concise book about basic & some advanced accounting of how to properly fiscally operate a business. The book explains very well on how money comes in, stays & leaves a business. The book also adds example analysis of business's that practice all types of accounting, from how Walmart manages it's inventory to how Lehman brothers liquidated their assets, I'm very impressed with this book. As a creative type myself, this books give an amazing color identification process of explanation of expenses, assets, liabilities, equity, income etc. A fun read as well, I couldn't put it down. I wish the author could come with a follow up book on the same color coat basis but for advanced accounting like "The Joy of Accounting 2 business addition" or "high finance addition". I will be the first in line to purchase it. The book is must have for every person or families book shelf on the joy of organizing your books and seeing you business grow. Love this book.

Great book, I love how it slowly walk you into accounting practices, using words and structures you can imaging and practice. Then explain the names of the concept. For example using colored boxes to explain debits and credits.