Review by MirageP -- The Billionaires’ Handbook
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Review by MirageP -- The Billionaires’ Handbook
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Billionaires’ Handbook" by Andrew Stevenson.]
The Billionaires' Handbook: A User's Guide to Wealth and Power by Andrew Stevenson is a satirical look at the economy and how the wealthy elites manipulate it for their personal profit. Written in the form of a self-help book, it promises to give the reader some rules which will help him become a billionaire. In fact, it is a darkly humorous take at the underhanded practices of the "cream" of the society.
The book begins with a brief, interesting history of the various economic systems. Next, the author tells us the "new rules that govern the global economy today." Hard, ugly truths, things we all know but fail to actually understand. Like the fact that money influences politics a lot. Stevenson says, "the most profitable investment (people with money and power make is) in politicians." The author, aptly, calls this new economic system "cynicism."
As the title suggests, this "handbook" consists of more such rules for would-be billionaires to learn and follow, the most important one being, "we make up the rules."
I absolutely loved The Billionaires' Handbook, not only because the author has turned a personal development book into an entertaining, enlightening book about socio-political issues, but also because he has done so lucidly, humorously, and yet unflinchingly.
The format of the book elevates its level completely; each rule is accompanied by an illustration on the adjacent page. Not only do the illustrations explain the text, but they also emphasize the impact of that rule in our minds. For example, rule 28 says, "Never raise wages." I might have passed by this rule, thinking it to be self-explanatory, had it not been for the heart-rending picture which made me stop and think. It shows a man, dangling from one hand from a steep precipice, holding his wife with his other hand, his two children barely hanging on to to his wife's legs; while a billionaire is about to push a heavy load labeled "stagnant wages" on top of them. Families can barely afford rent because somebody in a position of power refuses to do the right thing.
The only problem I had with this book was that one of the sub-sections containing 25 rules had some kind of a formatting error. Most of the illustrations did not match their accompanying rule, but seemed to portray the previous one.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is well-written and professionally edited. It introduces relevant, serious economic topics to the masses in an enjoyable, easily digestible format. I'd recommend it to non-fiction readers interested in politics, economics, humor, satire or current affairs.
******
The Billionaires’ Handbook
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Billionaires' Handbook: A User's Guide to Wealth and Power by Andrew Stevenson is a satirical look at the economy and how the wealthy elites manipulate it for their personal profit. Written in the form of a self-help book, it promises to give the reader some rules which will help him become a billionaire. In fact, it is a darkly humorous take at the underhanded practices of the "cream" of the society.
The book begins with a brief, interesting history of the various economic systems. Next, the author tells us the "new rules that govern the global economy today." Hard, ugly truths, things we all know but fail to actually understand. Like the fact that money influences politics a lot. Stevenson says, "the most profitable investment (people with money and power make is) in politicians." The author, aptly, calls this new economic system "cynicism."
As the title suggests, this "handbook" consists of more such rules for would-be billionaires to learn and follow, the most important one being, "we make up the rules."
I absolutely loved The Billionaires' Handbook, not only because the author has turned a personal development book into an entertaining, enlightening book about socio-political issues, but also because he has done so lucidly, humorously, and yet unflinchingly.
The format of the book elevates its level completely; each rule is accompanied by an illustration on the adjacent page. Not only do the illustrations explain the text, but they also emphasize the impact of that rule in our minds. For example, rule 28 says, "Never raise wages." I might have passed by this rule, thinking it to be self-explanatory, had it not been for the heart-rending picture which made me stop and think. It shows a man, dangling from one hand from a steep precipice, holding his wife with his other hand, his two children barely hanging on to to his wife's legs; while a billionaire is about to push a heavy load labeled "stagnant wages" on top of them. Families can barely afford rent because somebody in a position of power refuses to do the right thing.
The only problem I had with this book was that one of the sub-sections containing 25 rules had some kind of a formatting error. Most of the illustrations did not match their accompanying rule, but seemed to portray the previous one.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is well-written and professionally edited. It introduces relevant, serious economic topics to the masses in an enjoyable, easily digestible format. I'd recommend it to non-fiction readers interested in politics, economics, humor, satire or current affairs.
******
The Billionaires’ Handbook
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"I've realised that anyone can be a critic but it takes a remarkable person to offer praise."
-Louise Penny, in the acknowledgements section of "Still Life"
-Louise Penny, in the acknowledgements section of "Still Life"
Latest Review: Hello God Where Are You by Sherryann Philogene
