The Richest Man in Babylon - Book Review

Im sure that we all understand the benefit of reading. It can inspire, motivate and at minimum educate. Our own performance, in life and work, can be influenced, and given this lets review some highly recommended business and personal enrichment books. Think of it as your Business Book Club! Read along and why not leave your own review or opinions in the comment section!

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon.

Originally a set of informative leaflets distributed by banks and insurance brokers, the leaflets were then collected and bound together and published in book form in 1926.

Since then it has become known as a classic in financial literature, and if you are looking for advice on the pursuit of wealth, this book has become the go to recommendation and even appears on the top ten recommended books list of Warren Buffett. When it comes to the pursuit of wealth I?'ll happily take advice from Mr. Buffett.

So along to the bookshop I popped to purchase this weeks read and first off I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is not only a nice concise little book rather than some Dickensian style manifesto that was now going to dominate the next six months of my life, but that also it was a very reasonable 49dhs to purchase. Perhaps not a surprise for a book that started life as a series of leaflets but none the less a very reasonable investment to receive the greatest financial advice of all time.

And so, to the tales.

The parables read like traditional biblical tales, we meet slaves and camel-traders, brick layers and money-lenders, soldiers and scribes.

Each parable is short, simple, and could be summed up at the end with a single lesson.

The book is a really easy read and explains its advice in the most understandable form possible. There is certainly no need to be a banking whiz to follow the advice you're being given.

Having said that, there is also nothing included here that is all together that revolutionary or unknown to most of it's likely readers. Though I concede that in 1926 when Mr. George S. Clason released his leaflets, this would have not been the case and the lessons shared could have formed the basis of developing solid financial habits that to this day are the foundation of building personal wealth.

Since 1926 countless publications and guides would have you, the reader, believe that they, and they alone are the standout resource in personal wealth accumulation and management. However, I would be bold enough to wager that all of them hold a foundation in the simple and effective lessons laid out by Mr. Clason in 1926. Save part of your income without fail, live on less than you earn, and invest your money wisely so that it may make you more money.

The Richest Man in Babylon may not teach you anything you don?t already know in 2016, but it is a nice easy read, and in all honesty, who among us couldn't? use a bit of a reminder and push to prioritise the basics. A saying that everyone who grew up in the UK at least will be all to familiar with seems ever so relevant and the ideal way to sum up our review - ?Look after the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves!?