How to get rich - Felix Dennis

Just finished reading "How to get rich" by Felix Dennis and felt compelled to write this review, both of the book and the concept.

Firstly Felix Dennis is a fine writer, and his use of words will keep you reading effortlessly, however, he is also brutally honest, a quality I like and promote, hence this review.

From the first moment that I realized I was poor, getting rich became an objective for me, and indeed had I been able to read this book forty years ago, there is a distinct probability that I would have been really rich by now, maybe not as rich as Felix Dennis, but surely richer than I would have expected to be, so if you are young, and have a real desire to get rich, I highly recommend that you read this book.

Unfortunately Felix Dennis was just another young man with ambition at that point in time, albeit already famous for his part in the OZ obscenity trial, and for spending a short time locked up for helping to publish what was for the time, an outlandish magazine.

Those were heady days, back then in history, when establishment society was being broken down by the youth revolution, a (mainly) peaceful revolution where 'we won't play by your rules' threw the established order into turmoil.

It took them five years or more to regain control, and the OZ trial was an initial part of their response to what threatened to turn the whole UK upside down.

The fact that those involved started to get rich, was the turning point, as 'hippies' gave up their tie dyed shirts for more exotic attire, and their VW Camper vans for Land Rovers to get to their farms in Wales.

Did they sell out, no, they just joined in, and Felix Dennis joined in more than most, for he had not just a desire to get rich, but it seems an obsession.

One thing I learned from Mr. Dennis, was that in truth, I never had the essential element of getting rich, for I have realised over the years that although I have been a predator in life, I was not a natural predator, I predated for need, not by instinct.

Felix Dennis is a predator supreme, an instinctive predator who will always do whatever is required to gain the 'heart and offal' from the kill, and kill you if you sought to share his victory.

So am I knocking Mr. Dennis...... not one bit, for he is a charming predator and one who openly admits his greed, and one who is refreshingly honest about his predilection with getting money, all of it, every-bodies, yours mine, as much as he can!

I like him!

I would not wish to meet him on a financial 'dark night' in a business sense, but I admire and commend his honest appraisal of his motivation. In comparison to the lying cheating folk I have met, who try to pretend that they are 'good guys' whilst all the time assessing their timing in order to rip your guts out, he is a breath of fresh air.

One comment I will make about Mr Dennis, which is that he is hopelessly and happily lost to any form of religious intent or persuasion, which I imagine is a condition that comes from having a real desire and ability to stay focussed on nothing else but getting rich.

Now I do hold to a belief in God, and more specifically through Christ, desire to spend eternity with God, Felix seems content to have his goodies in the here and now, rather than in the hereafter, which is of course the big choice that all of us make in life.... where to spend eternity, and more specifically HOW to spend eternity.

Now it may be that Mr Dennis spends his eternity as poor as a church mouse and serving all of the folk he has utilised to accrue his worldly goods, or it could be that Mr Dennis will be give charge of the 'Motivational Speaking Course' which may run for eternity in Heaven for all I know (or maybe that would be in hell?) anyhow, he has made his choice, as I have made mine, and both of us seem content with the choices made, which is another reason why I really like this guy, because unlike all those countless millions hovering on the brink of indecision, ever debating and but deciding, Felix has made his stand.

I like that as well, for it matters not whether you agree with me in my choice of saviour, what matters is that you agree with yourself, and are content to allow me my own choice without constantly bleating that MY God in some way deny's you of your right to be a selfish lord of your own domain with no regard to anybody, and promises punishment for you recalcitrance.

I have the feeling that Felix Dennis would stand his ground and try to no justify his actions, but negotiate himself out of the consequences, and who knows, maybe he would win a reprieve?

He is apparently a substantial philanthropist giving to good causes and treating his staff well, which is more than can be said for many so called pious Christian men, and he is also a poet of some note (which should count for something in front of Gods judgement seat) but I would not change places with him for all of his wealth, for in the end he typify's the expression 'gained the world but lost his life'.

Felix freely admits that he would trade all of his fortune (somewhere between £400 - 900 million, if you know how much you have, you are not really rich apparently) for his youth again, which probably says all that needs to be said about accumulating wealth..... there is a heavy cost involved, and many will find that ultimately it's not worth the cherry.

So read his book 'How to get Rich' if for no other reason than it's a great read, and in all probability it will save you years of futile effort chasing wealth that you are not determined enough to get, which may leave you with enough time to get on with the more serious things in life, like securing your eternal life and helping others to do the same.