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Acres of Diamonds January 29, 2007

Posted by The Probabilist in : [Books], Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, Commodities, Vision, Wealth, Assets, History , 2 comments

Dr. Russell Conwell’s Acres of Diamonds is actually a lecture that he is recorded to have held over 6,000 times. Summing up at 40 pages, this book can also be found as a free e-book at various personal development internet sources.

It starts off with several stories where the main character is ignited with a spark of trying their luck to find wealthy lands filled with resources like gold, diamonds, oil or silver. In every single case, no matter from where this person starts out or where he ends up seeking treasures, he fails miserably. However, the successor who takes over the farm or homestead of the person that sold it all in order to leave and strike it rich, finds loads of the very same form of riches in that particular area of land that was left behind. The moral of these stories is that one should first take a look at what one has, because the acres of diamonds might be there right under our noses.

Continuing on, Conwell expresses his thoughts and responses to the common questions, objections and misconceptions about wealth. Among them he points out that:

98 % of rich people are honest and you should be too.

You should own your own home and pay for it yourself.

Money empowers everything it can be used for.

Poor people are so of their own making, so don’t sympathize.

There’s nothing noble or righteous about being one of Lord’s poor.

The love for money, as stated in the Bible, is the root of all evil.

Earned money is the manifestation of provided value.

It is your duty to get paid for the need you fill and the value you provide.

It doesn’t always take money to make more money.

Don’t let a rich kid get spoiled by wealth, or they’ll never be rich.

Research and invest in human needs and the money will follow.

While every word in the book is that of wisdom, I discovered something of a minor flaw in the introduced stories. Whenever a person went to seek a fortune and left behind a piece of land that turned out to be filled with riches, the successor that discovered the riches actually did the very same thing! They didn’t stay where they were, they were in the lookout for something better as well. They just happened to strike it rich just as the main characters envisioned for themselves. I don’t believe in hiding facts and exploiting opportunities by scheming, but there were nothing of the sorts involved in these stories. Nevertheless, I say wealth can be created anywhere, but there’s a great deal of experience to be gained if one travels the world a bit as well. AoD is a good read, although I suggest you try find this copy someplace for free.

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Tao Te Ching January 21, 2007

Posted by The Probabilist in : [Books], Consciousness, Emotions, Philosophy, Beliefs, History , 1 comment so far

Lao Tsu is estimated to have written Tao Te Ching somewhere in the 6th century B.C. in China. It comprises of 81 single paged musings or lessons of wisdom explaining the way of the Tao. The Tao, which more correctly is without a name, is according to my interpretation a spiritually guided code of behaviour, mind-set, understanding and source of the origin and continuity of all there is. Surpassed only by the Bible, this book is the most translated work in history.

Starting off, I had some trouble getting into a suitable reading mood and way of thought to become receptive to Tsu’s message. I’m guessing it’s because I’m a fairly decisive, rational and definite thinker of things. Nevertheless, I slowly sunk into the text and its meanings with further depth and found some valuable insights along. However, I found quite a similar amount of questions and slight objections running through my mind as well.

I’ll only explain one major question mark in this review that raised the biggest conundrum in me. I spent most of my life in the consciousness level of neutrality, which is noted by a very care-free, indifferent and action-free state of mind. Surpassing that stage I began to care more for my surrounding, taking action and genuinely wanting to make a difference. Conversely, I interpreted Lao Tsu’s words saying that enlightenment means not doing anything, not interfering with the universe and just accepting everything to happen as it does - Fatalism. While I did fancy that way of thinking in the past, I just couldn’t see it aligned with having a purpose of existing.

Tao Te Ching is not meant to give the same impression to every reader. While everyone comes from and with a different environment, upbringing and personality, it is still meant to be a guide to understanding the true nature of the unseen reality - that which exists regardless of what the tangible reality consists of or is governed by. Even though I wasn’t personally touched or surprised by the contents to a great degree, I can imagine that it might be and do those things to others. The overall impression is still a very healthy one as this book directs much attention to inner feelings that guide behaviour as well as interrelated actions between humans. Do give Tao Te Ching a read through if you can’t seem to find meaning or balance in the universe.