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mandalor3960's review against another edition
1.0
I believe this is a great speech in explaining how every man can start a business with nothing and even in his own area. I enjoyed the talk about traditional values, understanding the value of money, and the dangers of inheritance. But I can't agree with his underlying core belief in how Christianity supports capitalism. Take for example one of his arguements refering to a pious man:
"I have no more right to sell goods without making a profit on them than I have to overcharge him dishonestly beyond what they are worth."
Really? This just blows my mind. I don't think there's anything wrong in not making profit. It's almost like charity.
It seems like he goes to far at times in deeming how capitalism is a God-given right and "God is telling you know to go and get rich". Sounds an awful lot like manifest destiny...
In supporting man's God-given right to Capitalism, he does interpret one Bible verse, 1st Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
He makes the argument that the verse is referring to greed. That someone can pursue different avenues in expanding his business without being greedy. Is that so? I find it very interpretative and subjective.
Rating Update 3/12/2019 - 3 to 2 stars. I was too generous with the 3 stars. I didn't really enjoy it.
Rating Update 4/6/19- 2 stars to 1 star. Just the whole biblical support for Capitalism put me off. It's a lecture and I didn't enjoy reading 30 pages and felt it could've been shortened.
August 31, 2019
Update
With the adoption of my new rating system, a one star rating is befitting. The original review and rating updates conform to the new rating system. The main reason behind retaining the one star rating is because of the rating update from April 6, 2019. For further support for this rating choice, read the original section of the review.
"I have no more right to sell goods without making a profit on them than I have to overcharge him dishonestly beyond what they are worth."
Really? This just blows my mind. I don't think there's anything wrong in not making profit. It's almost like charity.
It seems like he goes to far at times in deeming how capitalism is a God-given right and "God is telling you know to go and get rich". Sounds an awful lot like manifest destiny...
In supporting man's God-given right to Capitalism, he does interpret one Bible verse, 1st Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
He makes the argument that the verse is referring to greed. That someone can pursue different avenues in expanding his business without being greedy. Is that so? I find it very interpretative and subjective.
Rating Update 3/12/2019 - 3 to 2 stars. I was too generous with the 3 stars. I didn't really enjoy it.
Rating Update 4/6/19- 2 stars to 1 star. Just the whole biblical support for Capitalism put me off. It's a lecture and I didn't enjoy reading 30 pages and felt it could've been shortened.
August 31, 2019
Update
With the adoption of my new rating system, a one star rating is befitting. The original review and rating updates conform to the new rating system. The main reason behind retaining the one star rating is because of the rating update from April 6, 2019. For further support for this rating choice, read the original section of the review.
autumnhab's review against another edition
3.0
Very quick read, very dated in the verbiage. Nonetheless a good read with a good lesson.
beebliobibuli's review against another edition
4.0
Everything you want to do lies within you, all the sources and the forces are in you..
" Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office, but really consists in doing great deeds with little means and the accomplishment of vast purposes from the private ranks of life."
" Let every man or woman here, if you never hear me again, remember this, that if you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and what you are, in Philadelphia, now. He that can give to his city any blessing, he who can be a good citizen while he lives here, he that can make better homes, he that can be a blessing whether he works in the shop or sits behind the counter or keeps house, whatever be his life, he who would be great anywhere must first be great in his own Philadelphia"
" Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office, but really consists in doing great deeds with little means and the accomplishment of vast purposes from the private ranks of life."
" Let every man or woman here, if you never hear me again, remember this, that if you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and what you are, in Philadelphia, now. He that can give to his city any blessing, he who can be a good citizen while he lives here, he that can make better homes, he that can be a blessing whether he works in the shop or sits behind the counter or keeps house, whatever be his life, he who would be great anywhere must first be great in his own Philadelphia"
kargoforth's review against another edition
3.0
I took time to read this book, read some in-between. The idea if this book is that a person CAN be and do something if they want to. One does not sit around waiting for something to happen nor expect others to fulfill that action or promote her.
Published in 1915, it is dated but the concepts are timeless. The references to women are a bit biased but if read in context, it is interpreted as the message “you can if you will.”
This is a decent self-help book, seminar book, or one for those struggling with a sense if worthlessness. The reader must be aware, of course, that it is dated so the reading my be foreign at times.
Published in 1915, it is dated but the concepts are timeless. The references to women are a bit biased but if read in context, it is interpreted as the message “you can if you will.”
This is a decent self-help book, seminar book, or one for those struggling with a sense if worthlessness. The reader must be aware, of course, that it is dated so the reading my be foreign at times.
jason1234's review against another edition
3.0
The book I read had an initial brief biography of the author, then the speech that is ' acres of diamond'.
It is an old speech and that may have been the reason why I felt it was over-rated. Liked a couple of points in it and the biography. Hence the 3 stars.
It is an old speech and that may have been the reason why I felt it was over-rated. Liked a couple of points in it and the biography. Hence the 3 stars.
maknag's review against another edition
5.0
Nice little book. I feel Alchemist by Coelho was inspired by this book
levlev444's review against another edition
1.0
I went into this book guessing the contents of it. I happen to be right. This book had nothing new to offer me, and that is the good part at that. The language Conwell uses here made me cringe and bit my lip way more than I ever expected. In short, just read the premise of it, you don't need to read further, a complete waste of time.
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