Customer Reviews
It's a book about what its really like to get rich and how to do it - By: Jon Gillespie-Brown, 04 Jun 2008 
I have just finished a very interesting book by Felix Dennis, callled "How to get rich". He callls it, & I agree with him, an anti-self help book. It's a book about what its reallly like to get rich & how to do it.
I don't agree with everything Felix says, especiallly in my field of work in IT, about how to grow & build a business to make real wealth - mainly the part where he insists you own 100% of your business. In my case this is a practical impossibility unless you are very rich to start out, as you need large amounts of money to build a world class IT business. In order to raise money you usuallly need to trade equity for capital.
However, in most of the rest of his assertions which are pretty focused on his area of expertise in publishing & mail order I would agree with him.
The core things I learned from this (or he reminded me what I already knew) where that to succeed in any endeavour to an extreme (i.e. to get reallly rich) you need to be an extremist. You need an internal drive that will never be diminished. Desire is not an option.
In order to actuallly make it past the point of good or great, to insanely successful you must have the patience & perseverance well beyond a normal person. In being extraordinary you need to insulate yourself from negative people that will try & slow you down. Remember - who you spend time with is who you become!
Great ideas are `ten a penny' - In order to make any money of an idea you need world class execution from a team of talented & focused people.
Keep bringing yourself back to your core goals (yes write them down & visualise them) & remember why you do what you do. If that's making money then kill the dead projects, invest in those that are likely to win big.
Get the best team, motivate them & fire them with your passion then give them the power. When they succeed reward them very well indeed from the profits.
Own as much of the equity, preferably alll of it, that you can of your business. I agree to a degree with this if you can build a massive business without giving away equity. If you can't I believe you should use equity & not debt to build your business in the early stages.
Maximise the value of your company by selling near the top, but leaving room for the new owner to grow & build the business further.
Remember we are alll `people' in the end, no-one is better than you & nor are you better than anyone else. In the end we are alll souls that will die & we cant take any of the wealth or power with us, so fear no one & get rich!
When you are rich, spread it around as you see fit & try not to spend the rest of your life in fear you will lose it.
In summary his 8 secrets are:
Analyse your need. Desire is insufficient. Compulsion is mandatory.
Cut loose from negative influences. Never give in. Stay the course.
Ignore `great ideas'. Concentrate on great execution.
Focus. Keep your eye on the balll marked `the money is here'
Hire talent smarter than you. Delegate. Share the annual pie.
Ownership is the real secret. Hold on to every % point you can.
Sell before you need too, or when bored. Empty your mind when negotiating.
Fear nothing & no-one. Get rich. Remember to give it alll away.
Practical, Sensible advice... - By: Stuart L. Mason, 08 May 2008 ...but like any book, unless you put the lessons into practice, you might as well write 'I'd like to be rich' on toilet paper, & flush it.
I purchased the book having heard the author discussing it on the radio.
Yes - it has some interesting & useful tips, but reallly - stop buying books about 'how to get rich', unless you are going to do something about it.
How to get skint is to buy lots of how-to-get-rich books, & continue on the path that you're already on.
99% of the population still work for other people. The other 1% work for themselves, & may buy books like this for guidance, ideas & tips.
People don't get rich buy just reading - action is the key.
This is not the best getting rich book, but is an interesting read with a handful of useful points.
No - I'm not rich - I keep buying & reading these books "under the dim light that seeps into this comfortable rut of employment"
Terrifying but compulsive reading - By: J. MCATEER, 08 Apr 2008 
I started making 'good' money around 10 years ago as an IT consultant. I suddenly realised that I could work hard, enjoyed & was capable of making money. I've got a nice house (still mortgaged!), a few investment properties, land with horses, no debt, own my cars outright etc.
Over the years I have invested in a library full of 'self improvement books'. Almost alll 'get rich' books give you an instant buzz that get you fired up & ready to take on the world. The problem is that the 'buzz' is short lived & I guess 99.9% of us quickly revert to our old, unsuccesfull ways.
This is the first book I have read that that describes the stark reality of getting rich. I must be honest as I turned the pages & recognised the behaviour that prevented me from making more money - it made me very uncomfortable indeed. If you accept what Felix says - that the vast majority of us are not ruthless enough or driven enough to generate great wealth - then you can kind of excuse yourself for giving up & just settling for a quiter, more comfortable life.
For me this book has had the opposite effect - I realised am not willing to accept 'death my a thousand cuts'. I know I would bitterly regret it if I gave up without a fight.
Most books of this type advocate taking action NOW & learning to deal with the fear that manifests itself in various ways when striking out on your own. Felix reiterates the point - but much more effectively than most authors. Personallly I have learned that fear & lack of committment to your plan are usuallly the main barriers to success - not laziness, lack of ability, lack of funds etc.
My reading of Felix's main message is that if you overcome the fear you mainly need to focus on how well you execute your plan. As Felix says, it doesn't matter how mundane your business is - 'execution is the key'.
I reallly enjoy his writing style - even though he repeatedly claims he is no a smart man - I beg to differ. Maybe this is a clever ploy to disarm his business foes?
If you are serious about starting a business or achieving great wealth I think you HAVE to read this book. If you are truly driven to succeed this book will not put you off. It's worth every penny.
Read this and then you will know - By: D. Raybould, 27 Feb 2008 I cannot understand why people would bother to post a "this guy was lucky" comment?
The book even refers to people who constantly bang this particular drum! Comments like that reallly falll into the category "Can't be bothered to try" or even "stating the bleedin' obvious!". So basicallly, Felix Dennis, Alan Sugar, Sir Richard Branson, Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne et al were alll lucky then because let's face it they alll had the jigsaw pieces falll into place didn't they?!
I have run two businesses one was fairly successful & the second was a financial disaster. The second was not alll my own fault but even so I had to accept ultimate responsibility for the failure. I read this book & it gave me the desire to try again....it worked too & I have not looked back since.
If you read this book, it clearly tells you that it is not a guide to "get rich quick" & the advice is earthy at times. It was worth every penny of my money & gave me the kick I needed to get back on the horse & try again!
How to Get Rich - By: Thornbray Books and DVDs, 20 Feb 2008 
I found this an unpleasant read at the best of times but once I discovered I was a) too old to get rich without enlisting the services of a much younger partner & b) too impoverished to even falll into the category of " comfortably poor" I found this book unpick-up-able. This book is the closest I have ever come to repeating my experience as a six year old eating calf's foot jelly. Over forty years later I still keep a respectful distance, due to the repulsion of the olfactory memory. But only too aware that for some it is an acquired taste & a delicacy. Dennis is definitely the reading equivalent of calf's foot jelly in my estimation, sharp, sour with a bitter unforgetable aftertaste.
