This book consists largely of straight feature explanations--what to click when, what data to enter into which boxes, and what procedures to follow to achieve specific results. You'll find clear statements of how to account for specific events, such as stock splits and payments, to creditors. The book's coverage doesn't extend far beyond the standard uses of Quicken's features, though. You won't find anything about the tricks you can use to track the values of equity options with the program, for example.

On top of its software documentation, this book provides a personal-finance primer that explains such things as how to reverse home equity loans work and what fees to expect when closing on a mortgage. There's also some advice on reducing debt and saving for major expenses. The author provides paper worksheets in this section, along with some in-depth explanations of how to use Quicken's reporting features to gauge your monetary health. --David Wall