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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
How to get Rich, 5 Sep 2006
This is not the book to buy if you are expecting a step by step guide to making money. Felix Dennis has undoubtedly amassed a fortune in a somewhat unconventional manner and shares a number of his somewhat unique tactics in a very readable and interesting book. It will probably not appeal to those who haven't already got a business background as some of the references assume familiarity with finance, corporate share dealing, boardroom behaviour and negotiating tactics. In places it also has a distinctly American feel to it and the mixing of transatlantic terminology sometimes confuses.
Dennis, like all self made men is extremely single minded, in his case to the point of paranoia about never diluting his share ownership of any business and an obsession with wealth.
What also comes across is a man who has a chequered background and has indulged in binge spending on drink, drugs and women. In his defence he does acknowledge this openly and regret these errors. On the other hand he makes no apology for not giving a damn about what other people think. He is insistent that you can't become rich if you seek popularity and praise.
He is highly critical of the tax system operating in the country which he sees as far too complicated and and indicator of the perverse nature of the type of capitalism practised in the UK. "Foolish, self-defeating and cowardly" is his description of our tax laws, descriptions that could never be applied to the author.
A fascinating read but more for an insight into one of our entrepreneurs than a blueprint for others to follow.
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57 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hardhitting, and not nice, but probably true!, 25 Aug 2006
I read this book this week, and can't work out whether I loved it or hated it.
To put things in perspective, I've had reasonable financial success, I was able to retire in my 30s (the first time round), but then got very bored, so went back into forming several companies.
On the love side, it was absolutely intriguing. I have had reasonable financial success, but nothing like that of Mr. Dennis, and every few pages I hit something that made me think hard about how I've run my businesses over the last 10 years.
On the hate side, the Times described him as "an engaging monster", and I can pretty much go along with that. I suspect that I'd enjoy his company (even if I just met him in a pub and didn't know he was richer than Croesus), even while I was outraged with him.
Which takes me to the central "problem" with this book. You most definitely WILL learn from it - I have... but you may well come away deciding that actually you don't want to be rich. As Mr. Dennis himself says, there are rather more worthwhile things to do in life, and rather more enjoyable ones.
Whether I end up deciding the book was hideous, or whether I end up deciding it was stunning, then I'm certainly glad that I bought it and read it.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent read, and a vital guide to running a business, 11 Sep 2006
"How to get rich" is a brilliant, down-to-earth, honest, and often very funny guide to running your own business; what works, what doesn't, what to do, what not to do, all straight from someone who's absolutely been there and done it... all.
The author makes no attempt to hide the difficulties involved in being a success, in fact the opposite is true - you'll probably find more reasons not to go for the level of 'filthy rich' than reasons to drop everything and go for it, but I suspect that's partly the point of the book; the playing field is laid out for you; if you want to get filthy rich, this book will tell you exactly what's involved, and then you can decide whether you want it or not!
However, in my mind it's possible to take the advice given and apply it to simply running a successful business, even if the end aim isn't specifically to get filthy rich - and for that, I think this book is fantastic.
Last point to make is this book is written in a very casual way; it's not a business manual by any stretch of the imagination; it's more a mixture of anecdotes, poetry (yes, poetry!), brilliant quotes from brilliant people, and a well-constructed series of pieces of advice, written in Dennis's own inimitable style.
Take for example his advice when it comes to spending the money you've earnt: "If it flies, floats or fornicates, always rent it, don't buy it - it always works out cheaper in the end"...
Thanks Felix - I know my own business will benifit greatly from your wisdom, and it's joined Semler's 'Maverick' and Goldratt's 'The Goal' in my list of 'must reads' for people starting their own business.
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