Book Review:The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son Perspectives

I've recently delved into 'The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son Perspectives,' a compelling exploration of the life and wisdom of John Rockefeller, a figure often attributed as the first American billionaire.

Upon acquiring this book, I found myself utterly engrossed, unable to put it down. More importantly, I've made it a part of our family time, reading it with my three sons, aged 14, 13, and 10. The lessons I've gleaned from this insightful work are truly worth sharing:

Personal Agency: "The founding belief of the United States of America is that all human beings are created equal, but this equality is only present in the context of rights and laws. It has nothing to do with economic and cultural advantages." In my interpretation, it underscores the idea that your economic redemption and salvation lie within your grasp. NoOn taking action: “succeed. I firmly believe that our destiny is determined by our actions, not by our origins.”

Talking about success won’t make you succeed, planning your success won’r make you succeed the only thing that will make you a winner is taking massive action. You must participate in your own economic redemption and salvation. Nobody is coming to the rescue.

Here’s a poem that sums up this point

“ Preparing to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing.

Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing isn't doing the thing.

Writing a banger tweet about how you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Hating on yourself for not doing the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on other people who have done the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing isn't doing the thing.

Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Reading about how to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading about how other people did the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading this essay isn't doing the thing.

The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing.”

On luck: “ I admit, just like a person cannot have no money, a person cannot have no luck.?However, if you want to make a difference, you cannot wait for luck to patronize you.”

You can increase the surface are upon which luck lands upon by taking more action for in the words of the English poet and writer John Milton “ Luck is the residue of design” The more you work or the more actions you take the luckier you become. So send that DM, send that email, make that call.

On life: “ You need to know that we live in a jungle where the weak are prey to the strong, where you either eat people or risk being eaten by someone else.”

On family values: “

Refuse to be weak. Strengthen your body, mind, spirit and pocket

On his mother: “ When I was a child, my mother implanted the virtues of frugality, independence, diligence, trustworthiness and unremitting entrepreneurial spirit into my bones.” The bible says that parents should leave an inheritance for their children please permit to believe that the kind of inheritance is not only material goods but values like hard work, industry, determination and Holiness. As a father to three children i live aware of this mindset, my mother was not rich until she died at the age of 90 recently but she imparted the fear of God and the power of prayer into my soul that i still use

On greed: “ No force can stop me from lifting the ban on greed because I pursue success. Success achieved under greed is not a sin. Success is a noble pursuit. If you can achieve success with noble behaviour, you will contribute far more to mankind than what can be done in poverty. I did it!” I used to associate the word ‘greed’ with negativity but this book just made me realize that greed simply means aspiring for more. Humans are the apex predators we always want more

On Human Nature: “But I know that there is a kind of power hidden in human nature, one that grows in places lacking ability and will, that is jealousy. When you surpass them, they will hate you, accuse you using derogatory words, fabricate lies to slander you, and at the same time they will be very arrogant in front of you – in my opinion, that is not arrogance, it is just weakness. What's interesting is that when you are far inferior to them, and your life is unbearable, they will laugh at you again, for being incompetent, stupid, and even belittle you to the point that you have no human dignity. My son, this is human nature! “

This is where i’ll leave it for now. I truly love this book at the level i loved the 318 page biography of Winston Churchill i just finished. Have a great week and i will write to you soon.

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Watch my video review of the book: Vidoe review