by George S Clason

Reading The Richest Man in Babylon, you may not believe that it was only written in 1926. Its style is more like a biblical tale than a modern guide to finances. In fact, the parables presented are set in ancient Babylon - 5,000 years in the past. Babylon was the richest city in the world, and well-known for its affluence. It was also where most concepts of money and property were developed: money, property rights, lending and borrowing. When George S Clason decided to write some financial advice, he decided to set it in this ancient land - demonstrating the timeless principles of money management. Not everyone in Babylon was rich. Many struggled to pay their expenses. One man named Arkad - the richest man in Babylon - was well known for his generosity and charity, yet his wealth increased year on year. One day, he is approached by two old friends and asked how he has become so wealthy, whereas they are still poor. Arkad explains that he is not 'lucky', but simply applies the laws of wealth. The (simplified) 'Five Laws of Gold' are: Save 10% of everything you earn Invest your savings wisely Invest your savings with wise people Don't invest in things you are not knowledgeable of Trying to make money quickly will simply loose you money quickly -- The Richest Man in Babylon is written in a style that may put some people off - it is not always easy to read. But the wisdom is timeless.