Everyone knows that money is simply a tool that gets us what we want. The things we want come with a price. But not every price denotes currency. And money is nothing without the value we ascribe to it. So what makes money worth having? And how relevant is it to our daily lives?
W.D. Wattles, an author of an over-a-century old book called The Science of Getting Rich, answers the two aforementioned questions in his unique way without being so philosophical yet calling on its notes and qualities. He broadly explains why the poor are poor and the rich are rich. His words suggest a check on individual behavior, that is, shifting from negative thought to positive thought.
The Science of Getting Rich
In the preface, he emphasizes the importance of not reading anything that would distort the wisdom he imparts, and claims that the formula to becoming rich is embedded and told in various ways throughout the book.
I would argue his stance is valid. As there is a science to everything, Wattles illustrates a unique way to speak of the science of getting rich without necessarily explaining what that science is. This may seem contradictory. It’s rather paradoxical. The reader is expected to trust this paradox. The likelihood of financial improvement in trusting this paradox is with the heavens.
Initial readers may find this book an enigma, or perhaps the man himself. But every journey is littered with obstacles and challenges, things may or may not often be what they seem. The answer to this mystery lies in reading the book, the reader finding the answer at their own pace.
Take Charge
Filled with honesty and prophetic encouragement, Wattles calls on the reader to take charge of their life. It’s implied that one’s first business in life is self-care. He doesn’t speak of self-development like our contemporaries, such as changing to a healthy diet or exercising to promote optimal sleep, although that isn’t discouraged here. The author challenges the reader’s perception of reality, how one is wired to engage with money and money-making opportunities–even if earnings aren’t immediate.
Wattles calls this method of getting rich a “Certain Way”, a mindset characterized by self-control and vigilance interlocked with the science of getting rich. His implication that getting rich has nothing to do with money is compelling. This implication permeates and enlivens the book. It contains the “secret” in manifesting an abundant spirit.
Some readers will find The Science of Getting Rich aligned with the spiritual, for it invokes the old maxim, “All is one, one is all.”, that being from the same source of life (no matter one’s religious or spiritual belief) qualifies everyone for financial success.
And that’s what makes it worth the read. It considers the deceiving and sincere on the same plane in light that no one is more deserving nor less deserving than another to get rich. The prerequisite for getting rich is simply being alive in a world full of abundance; getting rich comes with adopting this Certain Way of being.
In other words, we are a token of a better future version of ourselves. The creative mindset thwarts the competitive mindset. As Wattles states, “If you are selling any man anything which does not add more to his life than the thing he gives you in exchange, you can afford to stop it.”
Conclusion
Any book that takes us away from ourselves and to another plane of thought deserves examination, an experiment–and not for the sake of confirmation. This book isn’t concerned with morality. Hence it’s about the science of getting rich. The whole personal gamut of trial and error is beautified in this resourceful work. If taken seriously, one is lined up for mental transformation–and better income.
Ready to get rich?