Comments on: 50 Prosperity Classics in a Nutshell

By: Barnabas Poehler

Barnabas Poehler — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:41:57 +0000

I think the “Law of Attraction” as far as most people were exposed to it (through snake oil programs like The Secret) give a bad name to an innocent concept.

The mistake they make is in eliminating a person’s role in the process. Once you put the person back in it, it isn’t magic, it’s just common sense. But it IS effective. Think positively, get your mind saturated on something, your life will be more about that and you won’t get in your own way with doubt, and tada it happens.

By: Mike Bahr

Mike Bahr — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:56:13 +0000

I am impressed to see Ayn Rand on that list. She is indeed a polarizing figure, but I have found that her pro-capitalist philosophy proves itself every day (and that her detractors disprove theirs through their conduct concordantly). For a person seeking not only to live frugally but to truly nourish the value of one’s own life, family, and wealth, the writings of Rand are an invaluable asset, if one possesses a sufficient capacity for honest self-reflection to allow themselves to learn from her.

By: Emma Anne

Emma Anne — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:34:52 +0000

I think the one most valuable concept I got from Your Money or Your Life was the concept of “enough.” They claim that there is an optimal amount of a pleasure or treat or consumer item, such that this optimal amount gives you great enjoyment, but more doesn’t give you more enjoyment - in fact if you really push it you get less enjoyment.

I found, for example, that I really enjoy Starbucks lattes - about once a week. If I have them more often, they stop being a special treat. Once a week is the optimal amount for my enjoyment. Similarly for going out to eat or going to movies or a lot of other things - more really isn’t better. Less isn’t depriving myself. But you have to be paying attention to realize this, and YMOYL got me paying attention.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:52:53 +0000

What a great list of books! I’ve read about a handful of them, but now have a whole bunch more to add to my list. I’m actually in the middle of the Richard Branson one now, and when I return that to the library, I’ll have to pick up some of these. Thanks.

By: J.D.

J.D. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:03:15 +0000

Writer's Coin There's much more to this book then just these tiny one-sentence nutshells. Each book has three to five pages of commentary. I highly recommend 50 Success Classics. Borrow it from your public library. If you like that and want more, move on to 50 Prosperity Classics.

By: J.D.

J.D. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:02:01 +0000

Daedala, you sort of have my position right. I am 100% in favor of developing a “prepared” mind, of being able to take advantage of opportunities as they occur. I think this is something that people can and should do. I also think that the act of preparation makes one more aware of existing opportunities.

However, I do not believe that “wishing will make it so”. I don’t believe any amount of positive thinking is just going to make the opportunities happen. There must be thought and action.

So, yes, I’m more with the “if all you have is a hammer all you see or nails”, though I’d rephrase my own position as “if you have a hammer in your toolbox, you can pound a nail when you need to”.

Does that make sense?

Some of these books — like Secrets of the Millionaire Mind — can be read that way. Others — like The Secret — cannot. (At least not by me.)

Anyhow — I’m not much into “attracting” wealth. Being mentally prepared to create wealth? I’m all over that. But not attracting it.

By: Alex Shalman

Alex Shalman — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:32:32 +0000

@Writer’s Coin - right, now that JD make this list it’s much easier to just look on line. Thanks again JD

By: Writer's Coin

Writer's Coin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:30:27 +0000

I still don’t see the point to this when I can go online and get the same sentence for free. As for time, it wouldn’t take me very long — less time than going to Border or the library to pick these books up.

By: Alex Shalman

Alex Shalman — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:31:59 +0000

I really appreciate this list. Thanks for taking the time to put it together!

By: Daedala

Daedala — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:26:34 +0000

Your review of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind seems to describe something that is much more about being mentally ready to make the most of opportunities that happen than it is about making the opportunities themselves happen through the Law of Attraction, sympathetic magic, or similar. Is it an exception, or did I misread the review?

I see the former as very, very different from the latter. The former is a lot like Maslow’s very reasonable “If all you have is a hammer, all you see are nails” [paraphrased]. The latter is a lot like “If you think about money, checks will fall from the air.”

Of course, the former can be presented like “There aren’t really any nails,” or “If you see them, you deserve them,” and that’s dumb, too.

By: Shanel Yang

Shanel Yang — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:20:01 +0000

Great score for your readers, J.D.! Thanks a bunch!