On my way to church today, while on the bus, we got stuck in traffic and this one guy selling books came by the bus, advertising his books. He was very particular about Phineas’. I was compelled to get the book but judging by his looks, I felt he wasn’t practicing what the books said even though I had read none. So I asked him if he’d read any of the books he’s shoving in my face. He was surprisingly truthful and said no.
How could he sell a book he referred to as a gem, one he said would transform my mindset and shoot me to wealth in a few months, but he hadn’t read it himself? He looked rather malnourished and I guessed he was just trying to make the day’s money, at least for food. Well, I advised him to read the book first because if I looked at him and he looked like ‘money’, I would have gotten the book without second thoughts.
Anyway, the title of the book kept ringing in my head even after I alighted from the bus, so I got it from Apple Books.
No Spoilers
I am not one to be easily drawn to self-help or money-management/financial books so I honestly have no idea why I was drawn to this particular one. Reading it felt like having an old, wise uncle sit me down and talk about life, work and money without sugarcoating anything. P. T. Barnum’s words are over a century old, according to my later findings, yet they sound like they were written yesterday. The man was blunt, witty and strangely relatable. He doesn’t talk about overnight success or lucky breaks; instead, he preaches the gospel of honesty, diligence, and discipline, the kind of values that don’t seem to expire.
One thing that really got my attention was how practical the advice was. He writes about choosing the right business, not the popular one, but the one you truly understand. He insists that chasing trends or copying others often leads to failure.
“Whatever you do, do it with all your might,”
he says in chapter 27 and I found myself nodding at how true that still is today.
He also talks about the importance of saving money. I guess we all know that but this time, you save in a way that isn’t stingy. In a smart, self-respecting way.
“It consists simply in expending less than we earn;”
he says, and I could almost hear him pointing directly at our generation’s impulsive spending habits. His tone is both encouraging and cautionary, like a father giving financial advice over tea in the early hours of the day.
What I loved most is that Barnum doesn’t separate wealth from character. He believed that integrity, politeness, and good manners were essential parts of success. He warned against deceit and extravagance, calling honesty “the best policy in business.” And that hit me. We live in a time where everyone wants fast money, but this man’s message, written in 1880, still stands tall against the tide of greed and shortcuts.
The language is old-fashioned, sure, but it’s rich with wisdom. Every chapter comes off like a short, golden rule. Very concise, sharp and pretty much memorable.
By the time I was done, I kinda understood why that man at traffic was so eager to sell it, even if he hadn’t read it. The book really is a gem. I think I have developed an ardent admiration for Barnum’s artistry.
If you’ve ever wanted a book that teaches money management and self-mastery without preaching, I absolutely recommend this book. It’s worth every page.
Rating: 4/5
PS: it’s just 55 pages. You can read it all in one sitting.