Interesting and motivational. ( )

Easy read. Good storytelling to visualize the setting, interviewees, and journey without being distracting. Great "from the field" tips on making and keeping wealth from some of the richest people in America. Great concept. I'm glad D'Agostino came up with this novel approach and carried through. It is a must read. ( )

Synopsis: A writer/reporter goes door-to-door through some of the country's richest zip codes trying to persuade local residents to share their secrets to wealth creation.

Conclusion: Although the premise is interesting, this is just one more book that would have been better as a magazine article or a simple essay.

As the book progressed, my impression was that the interviewees were, at the very best, only tolerating the author. D'Agostino himself comments on their toleration more than once.

I would also like to point out that these were not "rags to riches" stories. These were more "somewhat rich to really rich" stories. It's not that it isn't interesting to hear how people better themselves. But, in general, poor to really rich is more impressive and interesting to read about. Character actors that become high-end booksellers just aren't as inspiring as shoe-shine men that become tycoons.

Finally, these interviews, including a couple with property investors, were done between 2005-2007. So, even though the book was published in 2009, the information contained was gleaned during the height of the property and investment bubble. I would very much like to hear what these people have to say now about their investment strategies, their capital and their thoughts about the future.

Overall, I felt that the writing in its styled glossiness was more appropriate to a magazine article and the content underwhelming and uninspiring. I tired very quickly of D'Agostino's continual references to his aching feet, his weariness and his less-than-stellar hotel accommodations. ( )

This is an interesting book. It's basically a collection of interviews with rich people, gathered by a guy who went door to door in the richest neighborhoods in the US, knocking on doors and asking people their secrets. He broke down what he learned into five basic lessons, each with its own chapter: open your eyes, luck doesn't exist, the economics of obsession, the myth of risk, and humility. I liked it, but mostly what I got out of it is that I probably don't have enough drive at the right things to make it rich. You have to get really, really obsessed to make a lot of money, and the things I'm obsessed with aren't things that pay. That was a useful lesson, though -- I'd rather stick to the things I love and work at an ok job to support my hobbies than try to find something I love that will pay and do it 70 hours a week. I just don't want to be rich badly enough. And that's ok.

I honestly didn't finish this book. The premise sounded good, but it uninteresting quickly. I gave to my mother who, after reading it, called it "sophmoric" and that it seemed like a high school journalism project.
The writing was at a level lower than it seem it should be.

No new ideas for becoming "rich like them are" apparent. Inherit it, marry it, fall into it, steal it, or work hard for it. ( )