How to Be Rich
by J. Paul Getty
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Book Reviews of How to Be Rich
Book Review: It's about working
Summary: 5 Stars
J. Paul Getty lays a clear map for guiding yourself to richness. Early on, Getty asserts that being "rich" is not a number, but truly a state of mind. In his view, there is no magic potion, mantra or affirmation that will garner you more goodies. If you want money, get out and work for it. If you want to be rich you must work for yourself. And once you hire people, even though you bear all responsibility for what happens, encourage your competent employees to think and act as if they are running their own company.
Getty got rich because he understood the fundamentals of economics, thanks to his parents. Getty reasoned that the whole point of economic growth is to enhance your own life, as well as the lives of those around you.
Wealth and wealth seeking is made to seem loathsome in some altruistic circles. Yet, within the pages of "How To Be Rich", you find a man who consistently laid his ego aside and sweated alongside oil-workers. As his standard of living rose, so did that standard of living of numerous other people around him.
It may appear as if Getty encourages trickle-down economics. Getty worked fast and hard so as to turn any trickle into a gushing spring. If things didn't go his way, Getty maintained a "calm", and thus more productive demeanor, and found solutions. He admits to his screw-ups and delineates characteristics that promote success. In short, Getty delivers a worthwhile read for any aspiring person.
Book Review: Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
Summary: 5 Stars
History has not been kind to this man. Perhaps it is because he was interpreted as being a "penny pincher" or maybe because he was a friend and admirer of Adolf Hitler. Whatever the reason, even though he was at one time the world's richest man, his triumph seems to have faded into the books. This book is one of them.
If I had to pick a favorite book written by a successful businessman, this has to be it. Does it tell you how to become a billionaire? No. What it does teach you is how to succeed, not only financially, but as a person.
It explores the creation of his own wealth, as well as valuable lessons from the construction of his vast oil empire. Also, it covers the things that are greater than wealth, such as health, charity, and personality. Towards the end, it also becomes a sort of social commentary, on man's degradation of morality and kindess, on the disappearance of art and classical music from the mainstream, and on his general dissatisfaction with similar affairs at that time.
It would be difficult to write a thorough review as to why you need to buy this book, because it is so unlike what you have read before. But take my word for it: you will be a better person for reading this book. It may not make you rich, but it will make you wealthy.
Book Review: Excellent! How to Create a Business!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was written quite some time ago and it's easy to see how doing business today has changed. However, putting that aside, the processes J. Paul Getty used can still be used very effectively today. He describes how he and his father started working together, and how his businesses and fortune took off from there. He talks about the importance of staying personally in touch with those who worked for him (he literally worked right next to them) and how it helped those who worked for him make the shift from feeling they were his "employees" to feeling they had part ownership in the company - giving it their best ideas and collaboration. He speaks of their sharing of thoughts with him, discussions that ensued and the great solutions that were chosen as part of his knowledgeable, "smart" team, which is quite different from the emails, texting and remote work forces (i.e. offshoring) that are used in business today. The book continues on as Getty's business processes change, but still remain the same. It's worth reading every word. Don't wait to get it.Book Review: Really Surprising and Entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
How To Be Rich surprised me in many ways. J. Paul Getty offers a lot of advice to executives rising through the ranks and those looking to. There's plenty of very entertaining historical coverage of Getty's rise to legendary status starting with the first chapter, How I Made My First Billion, along with other first-hand accounts and stories of his colleges from the era interspersed throughout the book. The book's focus is on how "to be" rich, i.e. the responsibilities thereof, rather than how "to become" rich. Of course, in Getty's case he simply took the skills he learned from working with his father, went out on his own to drill a few holes in the ground, and started pumping oil. There are also chapters regarding investing on Wall Street, in real estate, and in fine art, the later being a particularly interesting chapter. The chapter Art of Individuality is a must-read for anyone who is utterly depressed by the total lack of creativity in today's corporate cubicle conformist culture.Book Review: Defining Wealth in Terms of Dollars and Cents
Summary: 4 Stars
Jean Paul Getty is the epitome of the American entrepeneur -resourceful, industrious, focused, innovative, and ambitious.J. Paul Getty tailors his message and shares his wisdom and business acumen for YOU, the aspiring entrepeneur.
J. Paul Getty's "How to Be Rich" contains a variety of subjects --how to acquire wealth, how to succeed in everday business, internationaol trade, etc.-- addressed in a candid and intelligible approach. Also, if you're an aspiring executive, you should acquaint yourself with Getty's "millionaire mentality" and espouse a "cost-concious" and "profit-minded" business perspective.
I strongly recommend this book, especially for aspiring entrepeneurs and business executives. Although reading this book will certainly not make you a wealthy person(that requires hardwork and zealous determination), Getty's "How to Be Rich" will certainly en[rich] your knowledge.