The Science of Getting Rich Book Summary

Book Summary

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Brief Summary

The universe wants the best for you and has your greatest desires in mind. As long as you embrace your true intentions and put in the effort to make them reality, you will fulfill your natural wish to be rich. Your body, your mind, and your soul will be grateful for the nourishment you provide. If you follow these principles, you will live a life of abundance of joy.

About the Author

William Wattles was born in 1860 and lived for 51 years before he passed away in 1911. Wattles grew up on his parents’ farm in Nuna Township, Illinois where he spent much of his youth as a farm laborer. Born to parents who were a gardener and a housekeeper, Wattles had no siblings.

In addition to writing The Science of Getting Rich, Wattle also published The Science of Being Well. Both books were released in 1910.

Wattles, a Christian socialist, also ran for public office.

Topics

Money & Investments

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Key Insights

When we think of wealth, we often regard it in a literal sense. While Wallace Wattles does not shy away from discussions about the material value of money, he also encourages readers to consider the idea of ‘becoming rich’ through a philosophical lens with an emphasis on the importance of gratitude and the power of one’s own mind. It is only through nurturing our body, our mind, and our soul that we can truly achieve sustained wealth.

We are all indebted to the Original Substance, the foundation on which all things are built.

By tapping into our innermost thoughts, we have the ability to turn our desires into action items. Without effort and faith, our dreams are only dreams. With effort and faith, we have the ability to fully realize them.

Material Wealth

Human life, in its most basic form, is composed of three key elements: mind, body, and soul. Experts believe that in order to achieve optimal success, an individual must nurture each area equally.

But how?

By seeking material wealth.

Let’s break it down.

If you want to grow your mind, you need access to resources that allow you to acquire and maximize knowledge. Typically, this includes a computer, a phone, and books not to mention the education and technical competence necessary to use these tools to the fullest extent possible.

If you want to nourish your body, you need to have healthy food, comfortable clothing, and a safe place to sleep. Things like fast food, which is often the cheapest option for sustenance, will not provide your body with what it needs, but if you lack financial means, you may not have an alternative. The same can be said for shelter and clothes.

If you want to feed your soul, you need the capacity to give and receive love. This cannot be done in isolation--an inherent requirement in maintaining fulfilling relationships is the interaction between multiple parties. As such, in many social scenarios, material gifts are not only accepted, but they are a key aspect of various traditions. Think about Christmas!

Wealth is not finite. We are not splitting money from one financial pot. There is always more to be uncovered and having rich parents or a unique talent are not the only ways to strike it rich.

The bottom line? Nobody is poor because there is a lack of resources on the planet. People are poor because they do not understand the power of the resources that are all around them.

Gratitude Keeps it Going

Before you can be rich, you need to think rich.

Our thoughts have tremendous power and it is up to us as humans to leverage them to the best of our ability.

And, we must keep two key beliefs in mind:

Original Substance

The original substance refers to the substance from which all things are made. Essentially, every form and process you observe in nature is a visible manifestation of the substance.