Rags to Riches: Motivating Stories of How Ordinary People Achieved Extraordinary Wealth

by Gail Liberman and Alan Lavine

Book Overview

Who wants to be a millionaire? Who doesn't? From magician to manufacturing magnate, financial columnist to real estate investor, poet to college dropout, here are the profiles of 17 ordinary people... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0793133920
• ISBN13: 9780793133925
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Dearborn Trade
• Length: 227 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Live your dream

I was somewhat skeptical when I started this book: what kind of useful advice could a successful golfer or a poet give me, since I'm not likely to make my fortune in either of those fields? I soon realized, however, that the message of this book is not a short-sighted "Follow these steps and you will become rich," but rather, "Do what you want to do, be willing to take risks, and anything can happen." What all the subjects of the profiles have in common is an individual vision and a willingness to sacrifice in order to reach it, and that is a message everyone can profit from. An inspirational read and a good lesson for life.

Inspiration for everyone

This is one of the best personal-finance books that you could read. "Rags to Riches" takes you beyond the usual advice, while including useful wisdom of wealth accumulation. The authors provide something much more compelling than the standard retelling of how to save, grow and protect your money. The best thing about "Rags" is that it brings the reader face-to-face with real success stories, told with a true feeling for the people behind the pocketbooks. For those of us who hope to succeed, the stories in this book are inspirational. And what's even better, these successful people are just like you and me. There's an affinity there that can't be matched by headlines about Donald Trump or George Soros. This book makes a perfect gift for college or B-school grads, mid-career folks and even someone nearing retirement age. These strategies could even work for those second- or third-career folks.

Rags to Riches

Finally, I found a book about real people, including some celebrities, and the innovative ways they made their millions. Their climb to financial independence is told with interesting anecdotes and in their own words. Most compelling are the stories about Jay Thiessens, who overcame illiteracy; Lisa G. Redshaw, who once lived in and chased rats in a parking garage and now operates a $28 million dollar string of Maryland parking garages, and Joe L. Dudley, born black with a speech impediment and failed to pass two grades but managed to create a multi-million-dollar cosmetic company. It's a fast, inspiring read.

Rags to Riches gave me valuable insights and courage

I could not put this book down. I am a successful businessperson, but the tips I got after reading about each individual's triumphs encouraged me to trust my instincts. In the few short weeks since discovering this handy guide, I have been able to see new possibilities.

Riches Can Be Yours

Most books that focus on people with money ignore some basic traits on how they got that way. This book not only explores the human side of wealth, it illuminates what you can do to achieve it. If you want some real-life advice on building a nest egg that doesn't involve hot stocks, the Internet or Warren Buffet, this is the book for you. After reading this book, you may well conclude that you will never have to buy another book on personal finance.