Wealth: Grow It, Protect It, Spend It, Share It-book review

Wealth is written by an heir to a vast fortune in the US, giving advice mainly to other families in the ‘dynastic wealth’ bracket. I really didn’t think I was going to enjoy it very much, but it was recommended by a friend so I picked up a copy and persevered through it.

Before I read this book, I thought dynastic wealth was immoral and harmful to society. After reading the book, I still think so.

However, I enjoyed the different take on wealth management that the book gave. It has enough general principles in it to be useful to normal people like me, and also gives a look at the completely different world the heirs to vast fortunes live in.

The author seems a decent enough person and emphasises giving back to society as a privileged family. However, he also expresses the (perhaps more honest) desire to keep as much of the family fortune safe from taxation and grow it as much as possible.

This is what I have a problem with: an aristocracy of unearned wealthy who have the power to influence politics and manipulate laws in their favour. I can’t see them as anything other than parasites. 

The book was good though 🙂

I’d recommend Wealth if you like reading books about personal finance and money management, and you’ve already read everything on the resources page.