A couple months ago Suze Orman, New York Times bestselling author and famous female personal finance guru, appeared on Oprah. She offered a free download of her latest book, "Women & Money: Owning The Power To Control Your Destiny". Millions of women downloaded the book. I wonder how many actually took the time to read it.

I finally sat down with the book myself, and here's what I think it does (and doesn't do) for women.

Let me begin by saying that I'm not emotional and I'm not touchy-feely. I personally don't subscribe to all the "universe" and "attraction" and "respecting your money" talk that goes on in personal finance circles these days. I think it's really just common sense packaged as "motivational-speak". It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you spend more than you earn, you'll never get ahead.

However, if you have serious issues with money, and you know you're in denial about your financial situation, I'm sure you'll find it helpful to read the beginning of "Women & Money", where Suze tries to explain why women today--more powerful and successful and wealthy than ever before in history--still don't have a good relationship with money. She makes some good points about how the very things that make us tick as women are what hold us back from being good managers of our money. I found that although Suze tends to be painfully honest about what women do wrong and why, her narrative is positive and hopeful, keeping that cycle of guilt from being kickstarted yet again.

After telling readers what's likely holding them back, Suze gets right into the meat of her book, the "Save Yourself Plan". It takes five months and covers five very basic but incredibly important personal finance areas: banking and saving, credit and debt, retirement investing, must-have documents and estate planning and protecting your family and home. For each topic, Suze provides a list of goals she'd like her readers to achieve that month. She then provides terrific, easy-to-read and understand information and advice. At the end of the month there's a handy, not-so-overwhelming checklist anyone can follow that corresponds with that month's goals.

I was happy to note that most of Suze's advice is exactly what I personally believe and follow in my own financial life. I didn't find anything radical or risky, in my opinion. Most of it is common sense and much of it is what most personal finance experts prescribe. However, Suze does it in a way that reminds you of your best girlfriend sitting you down and telling you like it is. Then she becomes your best advisor and simply tells you what to do, in no uncertain terms.

As a woman (and wife and mother and daughter and sister and friend), there were a few statements Suze made that affected me in a powerful way, from my own experience. She mentioned early on that many women volunteer over and over, spending all their scarce, leftover time and energy on activities that don't pay dividends in terms of money or happiness. Why? Because we care way too much about what other people think of us. Our time is worth money, and we need to prioritize.

Another point Suze made that resonated wit me is that you shouldn't put saving for your kids' college ahead of saving for retirement. Your kids have plenty of options for financing their higher education. Not so with the retirement gig. If you save for retirement in a Roth IRA, you may be able to do both. My friends are always talking about saving for college; never for retirement. I wonder if they'll really be okay when the time comes.

The only parts of Suze's book I had trouble with were the "empowerment" statements directed towards married women. I understand the need for women to manage money so that they aren't dependent on a husband who may be not around tomorrow, but at the same time, I don't always think it's necessary to put a feminist spin on the management of family finances. It's a delicate balancing act. At what point are you empowering yourself to make wise decisions, and at what point are you putting yourself ahead of your partnership? Personally, I think couples gain the most benefit from making financial decisions together, but creating a framework where both spouses manage bills, savings and investments, so that neither is caught unawares should the worst occur and a spouse is suddenly no longer there.

Overall, Suze's book is really a one-stop guide for getting anyone's finances in order. Great for women, yes, but I think it would also be terrific for couples who want to work on their finances together.

You can pick up a copy of "Women & Money" at Suze's website (http://www.suzeorman.com) or at Amazon.com.