Acquiring wealth
Introduction
The richest man in Babylon is an ancient book written in an old-style with ten chapters by George S Clason. It may be a turn off for many people due to its ancientness and the many years that the story is about, but after reading it, you will realize the benefits. Financial benefits accrued from the reading are not just how to make money but also how to keep it. George S Clason, the author of the richest man in Babylon, wrote the book based on stories of people who had money struggles and applied the laws of money, and their lives were transformed. For example, a boy who asked one of the wealthy people for advice on how to be wealthy and ended being his mentor who ensured advised the boy and showed him the ways until the boy became rich. Aside from making money and providing a continuous flow of money, the book also discusses the impacts that money will have on one’s life and how to deal with it. The paper is a book review aiming at giving the reader a quick summary of the book, the richest man of Babylon.
In the book, the richest man in Babylon, the book narrates Arkad, a man who decided to follow a rich man for advice and show him how to acquire wealth. The rich man Algamish, who was the original riches man of Babylon, gave Arkad the three laws of gaining and keeping wealth. Arkad gave the three rules to Bansir and Kobbi, who were having trouble understanding why they had such bad luck despite working so hard to get rich. Furthermore, Arkad narrates his story to King Sargon, who is facing a rough time, as his country is getting poorer. From the story, the King can understand the seven secrets of the lean purse. In the book, Arkad says, ” the more you learn the more you earn.” he goes further to say that in life, to achieve, you have to be ready to take advantage of opportunities even before they come.
The book advises on several laws that must be followed to acquire and keep the money. People need to know that to achieve your dreams to fulfillment, and one must have money. Unlike many people who hide, that money is not an essential tool in life, the richest man in Babylon tells that one must work to earn money and learn to make even more. People should not run for a large lump sum of money but instead search for the continued flow of funds to ensure riches. A human being with any earning must save and remember always to pay yourself. Ten percent of the money you earn must be preserved and ensure you have the cash bringing in more money. More so, do not take advice from anyone but only to those who are experienced and competent. According to George, the laws of money are always unchanging and assured to exist.
Another critical lesson that Arkad shares are the seven secrets that ensures a lean purse. The mysteries are; insure future income, make of thy dwelling place, always multiply your Gold, avoid losses at all cost, learn to make more, save at least ten percent, and control your expenses. With the seven secrets, an individual is assured of having money. Hence, be in a position to control and eradicate poverty not just as an individual but also as an organization and country, like King Sargon. He has narrated the story and applied it to save his country, which was getting poorer. Nomasir, son to Arkad, talks of the five laws of Gold. From the rules, it is evident that advice, investment, saving, and wise are essential factors to ensure continued multiplication of the Gold.
Character details
In the book, the richest man in Babylon, the main character is Arkad, who is also the richest man in Babylon. However, he learned from Algamish, who is the original richest man in Babylon. Arkad narrates the secret to many assisting many characters such as Kobbi and Bansir, King Sargon, and many others, including his son. The latter is asked to choose between money and Gold and says that a man needs to be wise to earn more money and manage it as well. In the later chapter, we find other characters such as Rodan and the gold lender, Rodan, who has acquired a few Gold. He decides to seek advice from an experienced gold lender who advises him that if he wants to lend people money or property, he should not consider the amount they need to give but rather focus on the guarantee of repayment. In chapter nine, the tablet with secrets of wealth is found by Alfred Shrewsbury, an archeologist who writes to professor Caldwell and telling him that he, together with his wife, has started to follow the laws on the tablet and they have been helpful. On the tablet is Dabasir’s return to Babylon and how he managed to repay his debts.
Themes and plot
George S Clason begins the book by telling about Arkad being tired of poverty and decides to ask Algamish to mentor him, who, in turn, completely changes his life. Algamish, who was the richest man in Babylon, leaves Arkad with the laws of money, which helps him to build himself. Although Algamish scolded Arkad whenever he made mistakes, he made him realize the importance of following the money laws. In return, Arkad also took the initiative to advise whoever came to him for advice like Kobbi, Bansir, and so many others, including his son Nomasir. The book is continuous with numerous scenarios of people who desire to be rich but end up not being because they do not follow the laws of money. They get inspired by the advice offered to them passed from one person to the next on the secret to acquiring wealth and keep it.
The book is covered with five major themes. The theme of hard work, the book encourages hard work, insists that we all must value hard work, and remember that it always pays. For instance, in chapter ten, Haddan is touched by Sharru’s spirit to work hard, and he is convinced that if he works hard, he will succeed. The other theme depicted in the book is saving; Arkad says that were must pay ourselves at least ten percent of every earning we make. By so doing, we learn to appreciate the hard work that we had to endure to reach certain levels. Also, not just saving but ensure to use the saving money to make more money. Besides, the theme of investing is observed in the book in almost every chapter. Spending is ensuring that money works for you and that the money you make multiplies. Although investing is essential, according to Arkad, one must invest wisely and never fear to ask for proper advice. Getting advice from an experienced person is also a vital secret for ensuring wise investing is achieved.
Additionally, continuous learning is a necessary key to acquiring wealth. Arkad insists that a person must always keep learning. Learn how to make more money, learn new ideas, expand your education levels, etc. finally avoiding debts, to archive this, it is advised that one must not leave beyond what they earn and also must differentiate between expenses and desires.
In conclusion, many people want to be rich in life but fail to achieve their dreams for various reasons. IN HIS BOOK, George S Clason, the richest man in Babylon, clearly states the reasons people fail. Following the three laws of money and know the seven secrets to achieve a lean purse is an essential way of getting wealth. Paying your self-being the hardest but the most necessary as it gives you the chance to make more money and invest. It also gives you the discipline you need to ensure that your expenditure is not beyond what you earn. By reading the book, one will agree that the book deserves a five-star rating when it comes to financial advice. Like the laws of gravity, the book clearly states that the rules of money also do not change and will always ensure success if correctly followed to the latter.