Scan barcode
A review by sedgewren
How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis
funny
informative
medium-paced
2.75
Although the main message of this book could have been an email (making lots of money is really not worth it for most people; if you want to make money, start and own a business), I thought learning from Dennis's life experience was interesting (even if I disagree strongly with his political takes — he literally quotes Margaret Thatcher. Basically encapsulates his attitude towards wealth: individualistic and ruthless. At least he admits that capitalism is "a rotten and debased system of managing human affairs").
I appreciate the pep talk style, but it is a bit roundabout and sometimes infuriating. The poetry is honestly kinda bad, but it adds a bit of character (and padding) to the book.
I think his advice applies well to me individually but he doesn't have any empathy or understanding of the structural limitations — he says "money isn't prejudiced, people are" but it's precisely these people who are your potential customers, investors, colleagues, connections, advocates. It's not as simple as "if you want it enough, you can have it" — your average cis het white man doesn't need to "want it" as much as other people without those privileges.
However, this book is basically a call to do what you want, and not listen to what other naysayers say. It's a reminder to me that a fear of failure is the fear of embarrassment from failure, and recognising that makes me realise that although I can't often control if I fail, my reaction is something I can control.
His analysis of Steve Jobs' failings misses the mark — it is the jealous guarding of its operating system and other integrations that has led to Apple maintaining its exclusive status. Sure, if Apple built mediocre products, nobody would buy into its ecosystem, but Apple products consistently wow in UX and design. Also, the whole description of Steve only allowing someone else to take the reins "over his dead body" really didn't age well.
All in all, a book with helpful tips grounded in reality but it is infuriating at times.
I appreciate the pep talk style, but it is a bit roundabout and sometimes infuriating. The poetry is honestly kinda bad, but it adds a bit of character (and padding) to the book.
I think his advice applies well to me individually but he doesn't have any empathy or understanding of the structural limitations — he says "money isn't prejudiced, people are" but it's precisely these people who are your potential customers, investors, colleagues, connections, advocates. It's not as simple as "if you want it enough, you can have it" — your average cis het white man doesn't need to "want it" as much as other people without those privileges.
However, this book is basically a call to do what you want, and not listen to what other naysayers say. It's a reminder to me that a fear of failure is the fear of embarrassment from failure, and recognising that makes me realise that although I can't often control if I fail, my reaction is something I can control.
His analysis of Steve Jobs' failings misses the mark — it is the jealous guarding of its operating system and other integrations that has led to Apple maintaining its exclusive status. Sure, if Apple built mediocre products, nobody would buy into its ecosystem, but Apple products consistently wow in UX and design. Also, the whole description of Steve only allowing someone else to take the reins "over his dead body" really didn't age well.
All in all, a book with helpful tips grounded in reality but it is infuriating at times.