Book Review: The Science of Getting Rich

‘The Science of Getting Rich’, by Wallace D. Wattles, as the book says, is a practical manual for men and women whose most pressing need is for Money. At the beginning itself it says, ‘this book is for those who want to get rich first and philosophize afterwards'. And that suited me very well.

It begins with a catching observation while discussing great philosophers. “If you want to learn how they arrived at their conclusion, read their books; if you wish to reap the fruits of their writings, read this book”, an indication to the wealth of ideas, one can expect. Proclaiming that the right to be rich should be considered as the most fundamental of all rights, the book mentions of the existence of a particular way of doing things that can always result in adding to ones wealth. Simultaneously the author dispels any doubts regarding scarcity of opportunities by declaring that nature is an inexhaustible storehouse.

Then comes the discussion about the science of getting rich. How one can get chances to increase ones wealth, how one should use ones will power to control ones thoughts while desisting from directing others’, how people can become rich by creation and not by competition, and how, ones actions should complement these thoughts.

I found this quite valuable as an abstract discussion on a large number of issues that can arise in societal transactions. Though this is an old book (published in 1910), many of the discussions are quite relevant to today’s world. More than that, advices like, “do not wait for a change of environment, before you act; get a change of environment by action” or, “he must give to every man a use value in excess of the cash value he receives” are suited equally well, for introducing orderliness as well as progress, in each and every aspect of our social life. Gems like “The men and women who practice the foregoing instructions will certainly get rich”; and “the riches they receive will be in exact proportion to the definiteness of their vision, the fixity of their purpose, the steadiness of their faith, and the depth of their gratitude” are contained at many places in this book. The idea that every human being has the power to conceive, believe and achieve financial success using thought, willpower and visualization and, the author’s aversion to competitive and unethical paths do show the readers that great success is possible in a cooperative and collaborative way.

A rich collection of progressive thoughts!