I'm thinking that if you are a person who has found your way to these boards, there is not a lot in YMOYL that will make a big deal to you.
But if you are a person, mired in credit card debt, living the American lifestyle, feeling empty, yet being surrounded by others just like you, and hopeless to conceive any other way to live, that book can be a bombshell in your life.
Just realizing that there IS a way out is a major big deal to a lot of folks. If you're the kind of person who can have that kind of epiphany on your own, that's great, but there are a lot of people out there who have had their lives changed by reading that book.
Us.....we were doing YMOYL living before that book was even written. We were among the lucky ones who figured it out on our own. All are not so lucky.
We definitely do not agree with their "put it all in Treasury bonds" scenario, but other than putting our faith in a well diversified portfolio with some protection against inflation, instead, the basic tenets of the book are sound and of great use to many.
But, I agree, if you're here, you're probably way past what that book has to offer. Just don't denigrate it for those who are hopelessly mired and need to be shown a path out.
And that principle of getting to FI so that you can REALLY live your life doing stuff that makes your heart sing.....that part is priceless. For people to realize that they have enough control over their own lives to achieve that goal.......it's a great book. IMHO
LooseChickens