The Richest Man in Babylon

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Summary: Common sense is not necessarily common knowledge
Review: I have to chucle when people say that outstanding books like this one by George Clayson are just "good old fashioned common sense" and are complaining because of the books brevity. You missed the whole point!Common sense is not necessarily common knowledge.I used to work for a millionaire who credited the principles in this book for helpin create his fortune which was in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Save a dime out of every dollar. That is all it takes to start your fortune. But how many actually will do it?

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Summary: Basic Book About Personal Finance
Review: "The Richest Man In Babylon" is a very easy to read book about the very basics of personal finance. It's written partly in biblical style, part story, and part Socratic style. It wouldn't be a bad book to give to children/teenagers to teach them a bit about being financially conservative. That said, those knowledgeable about finance and investment won't find anything very new here.

A lesson reads: "For every ten coins thou placest within thy purse take out for use but nine. Thy purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in thy hand and bring satisfaction to thy soul." (Save 10% or more of your income. Don't forget to reinforce your suspenders.)

The book continues: "Make thy gold multiply.... put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as the flocks of the field and help bring to thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into thy purse." (Invest your money). Each coin produces little coins that can make more coins (compounding).

Of course, the opportunities for investment by a shield maker or spear maker were different than those for today's computer programmer or businessperson. But, the book explains, (with more thy's and thee's) that you probably shouldn't have the baker buy rare gems for you. Only invest in businesses run by people who know the industry. And, be industrious. If you've got a shield to repair that can earn you some coins, don't sit around on your purse bemoaning your lack of coins. Get off your duff and mend the shield. And, of course, increase your ability to create wealth by increasing your skills. Maybe, bigger opportunities like in chariot repair.

"The Wealthy Barber" is another good book with a somewhat similar style, but set in the modern world.

Rating:
Summary: Worth reading
Review: Very pedagogical. The author organizes the book as if telling the legend of the richest man in Babylon. It makes the material more accessible.
The principles outline are good too. Of course, I won't really know until later in my life but they seem sensible and have had what I consider a good impact on my life.

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Summary: The Richest Book On Shelves
Review: The Richest Books On Shelves

In George S. Clason's "The Richest Man in Babylon," vital ancient secrets are told on how to get rich. This book represents the valuable information in a series of stories, which in turn make the book more interesting and easier to follow. As an example, one of the most useful tactics about money in this book is "The Seven Curses for a Lean Purse" (22). These seven curses become more evident to one once read through their daily lives, as they are not so common sense traps that everyone falls into.
Along with the great secrets and stories, is the choice of words presented in the text. A clever mix of modern English and biblical style make the book an easier read while adding onto the stories. On a scale from 1-10, this book would definitely receive an 8 if not better, due to its secrets told and guidelines presented in it such as "The Seven Curses for a Lean Purse" (22) and "The Five Laws of Gold" (57). If one liked "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki or other books similar to it, one will enjoy this book. Once taught and told the secrets of this book, one's financial ways will differ and improve. Recommendations for this book go out to anyone and everyone who wants to get out of financial debt, and learn more about how to manage their money.

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Summary: Back to Babylon
Review: What a book? It is a 1 day reading that can change your life.

I wish I could have read before.

Read it, save something and make the money working.

Ciao

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Summary: Awesome advice for financial stablity.
Review: This book is absolutely amazing! Very good information and easy to understand. This book is overflowing with parables from the Bible, one of my favorites- the Workers in the Vineyard. This has to be one of my favorite books of all time. I recommend this book to anyone seeking financial stability, this book will really help out.

The principles of money management are taught in this book. Such as how much of your money you keep and where the rest of it goes.

This has got to be one of the best Christmas presents I have ever received....

This book is awesome!!!!

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Summary: Hast Thou the Soul of a Free Man?
Review: ...or the soul of a slave? The illuminating wisdom of this book will answer that question for you and, if you are a slave, will give you the foundational motivation and a plan to set yourself free. The number of notable authors and businessmen who recommend this book (and/or incorporate its principles into their own writings) is high enough to warrant its reading. The book begins with the desire for financial liberation in Chapter 1 (and those needing liberation must have this desire in order to benefit from this book) and, through the use of storytelling via Babylonian characters and King James English, introduces you to the rock-bottom, enduring principles of finance. The foundational principle of Chapter 2 ("A part of all you earn is yours to keep" - the principle of saving) is reiterated in the first of the Seven Cures for a Lean Purse (Chapter 3; "Start thy purse to fattening.") and the first of the Five Laws of Gold (Chapter 5; "Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family."). Notice how some of the other "Cures" and "Laws" also complement each other (same principles worded differently). The principles of Chapter 4 ("Men of action are favored by the goddess of good luck.") and Chapter 8 ("Where the determination is, the way can be found.") complement and reinforce each other and are demonstrated, along with some of the other principles, in the captivating story of Chapter 10 (titled "The Luckiest Man in Babylon"). Chapter 9 provides a financial plan as a demonstration of the truths in Chapter 8. The plan is to consistently apply the following percentages to your earnings: 10% keep, 20% pay debts; 70% live on (some would modify this to allow a tithe to God or charity). Also notice how being honest and consistently faithful to one's debtors, even those who complain, eventually pays off. Yes, this book does contain some elementary principles that those more advanced in Financial Intelligence already know (and should be wise not to forget!), but for those who have ignored the basics and gotten themselves into financial bondage due to a lack of discipline, this book will serve as a friendly reminder and, for some, will be a "master key" to opening one's (mental) shackles and setting oneself financially free. "Hast thou the soul of a free man or the soul of a slave?"

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Summary: Probably the best book to give to your kids and friends
Review: The stories in the book are extremely motivating. The best thing about this book is that you can give it to your kids and get them started in building a habit that will help them the rest of their life. I gave this book to some of my friends and after reading it they became so motivated that they made a habit of saving a tenth of what they earned.
I have read tons of books on the importance of saving and investing but not even one comes close to explaining the philosophy in a way this book does. This is one of my all time favorites.

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Summary: A Lean Purse is Easier to Cure than To Endure
Review: My title is a maxim that Clason wrote in the inside title page of this book.
This is truly my favorite book on how to handle money in your life! Clason uses the language of the King James Version of the Bible (although this book is not at all biblical) to create anecdotes set in ancient Babylon that tell you (the modern-day reader) how to handle your money. The amazing thing is that the advice is not at all outdated. It's right on the mark and shows money knowledge that hardly is taught in school. It's easy to read and understand and highly entertaining. In fact, one of its stories, "The Luckiest Man in Babylon" is almost enough to bring you to tears.
It is shown in this book that when you are in debt, you are a slave to what it is that you agreed to go into debt for and you must pay it off to regain your freedom (are you a five-year slave to a car [or the institution that financed it] like I was?). Look at the state of the nation's economy and you'll see we live in a nation of slaves.
That's why you must get the reverse into action; make money a slave that is working for you.
Many people have heard the popular phrase from this book, "pay yourself first." I highly suggest you read this book first so you can see how you should go about paying yourself first; there is a method to it.
This book is truly a classic and should be required reading for all classes on money or for anyone going into business for oneself. If you're getting into Network Marketing then you've really got to read this book.

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Summary: A must read for those experiencing financial difficulty!
Review: Like most people, I was confused on how some people accumulated great wealth while others(including yours truly) did not. I DECIDED to do something about it and purchased this book and Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. THESE BOOKS HAVE CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER! The examples given, the practicality of the theories, and the relevance to today makes The Richest Man in Babylon and Think & Grow Rich compelling reads. Changing the way you think of money, ways to attract money, and ways to build wealth are some of the key points addressed. It has opened my eyes and motivated me to become wealthy, something that I previously thought was an immoral goal or something to be ashamed of. Read it, apply it, and reap its' rewards. It works!