I'm recommending both a movie and a book. And trust me: Both will have you rethinking the deep dependence so many of us have on credit.

The twofer this month is the feature-length documentary "Maxed Out" and a companion book, "Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders" (Scribner, $24).

The movie opens in select markets beginning Friday. To find out if the film is playing in a city near you, go to http://www.trulyindie.com and search under "Coming Soon." I think every high school at least should show the film to its student body.

James D. Scurlock, author and director of "Maxed Out," hopes to do with the overselling of credit what former vice president Al Gore has done for global warming -- elevate people's consciousness about a terrible threat to our existence. In this case, it's our financial well-being.

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