Capitalism for Kids: Growing Up to Be Your Own Boss [Paperback]

Karl Hess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1992

"Capitalism for Kids" is an introduction to entrepreneurship. Karl Hess stresses how a person can earn a profit in business while maintaining the highest possible standards of honesty and integrity. Includes a self-test to help the reader determine how enterprising he/she really is, as well as an excellent chapter on "Capitalism and Other Isms" that clearly defines capitalism, democratic socialism, socialism, and communism. Although written with young people in mind, many adults will benefit by reading this book, especially the section which was written specifically for parents and teachers. Highly recommended. Ages 10 up.

"Entrepreneurs, even young entrepreneurs, know that every new day is a new challenge. They know that learning must go on throughout life. They know that learning is not just something you do in school. They know that you do it every day, with every experience, if you are alert and thoughtful. They know that the ability to think includes the ability to change, to adapt, to use new tools and information. Change, which may seem such a threat and a danger to some people, will just seem a challenge and an opportunity to the entrepreneur." Karl Hess, author.

For an excellent companion volume see "Common Sense Business for Kids" also available through Amazon.

Table of Contents for "Capitalism for Kids"

Introduction
For Parents and Teachers
1. Money and You
2. What Kind of Person Are You?
3. Capitalism and Other Isms
4. The Wonderful World of Work
5. Opportunity and the Computer
6. The Family That Works Together
7. Investing Time and Dollars
8. Are You a Volunteer?
9. Education, Experience, and Enterprise
10. Laws, Liability, and Licenses
11. Words of Wisdom
Resources for Young Entrepreneurs
Index

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'Capitalism for Kids' is an outstanding introduction to entrepreneurship. I highly recommend this book." Richard J. Maybury, author of the Uncle Eric series of books

"...definitely the best book I have ever seen directed to children on the theory of how to go into business for yourself... this book is really absorbing reading." Mary Pride, The Teaching Home

"I don't want to just half-heartedly recommend this book among thousands of others out there that are worth reading. I want to urge you, as strongly and sincerely as possible, to buy it and read it first for yourself. Only then give it to a kid you like. Karl's book crystallizes thoughts that most people have had, but haven't thought out fully. It washes away the foundations upon which fears and guilt are constructed over a lifetime; it replaces them with ideas you always believed in intuitively but weren't quite sure how to defend. This book is really great. Make sure it is available to your kids and yourself." --Douglas Casey, author of Investing In Crisis (on the 1st edition of "Capitalism for Kids")

"I don't want to just half-heartedly recommend this book among thousands of others out there that are worth reading. I want to urge you, as strongly and sincerely as possible, to buy it and read it first for yourself. Only then give it to a kid you like. Karl's book crystallizes thoughts that most people have had, but haven't thought out fully. It washes away the foundations upon which fears and guilt are constructed over a lifetime; it replaces them with ideas you always believed in intuitively but weren't quite sure how to defend. This book is really great. Make sure it is available to your kids and yourself." --Douglas Casey, author of Investing In Crisis (on the 1st edition of "Capitalism for Kids")

"...definitely the best book I have ever seen directed to children on the theory of how to go into business for yourself... this book is really absorbing reading." --Mary Pride, The Teaching Home --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Karl Hess was an entrepreneur, journalist, solar home builder, welder, and sculptor. He was a ghostwriter for several government people. He was a former editor of "Newsweek" and wrote articles for "Harper", "National Review", "Mother Earth News", "New York Times", and "Rolling Stone". He spoke at virtually all of the major U.S. universities and colleges. He appeared on such television programs as "The Today Show", "Good Morning America" "Donahue" and "60 Minutes". Mr. Hess wrote several books. Among them: "Science of Nature", "In a Cause That Will Triumph", "Dear America", and "Neighborhood Power". --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 247 pages
• Publisher: Enterprise Pub (August 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0942103068
• ISBN-13: 978-0942103069
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,212,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the budding entrepreneur, December 8, 2004

By 

P. Murray (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitalism for Kids: Growing Up to Be Your Own Boss (Hardcover)

Hess intends to turn young people onto economic freedom and inspire them to be entrepreneurs. One way he does this is by engaging the reader in some soul searching so that the youngster may consider whether he is the adventurous type that might want to start a business or the risk-averse type that might prefer to work for someone else, or worse, blame others for what he doesn't have. The reader will encounter a positive attitude toward work. Hess writes about various things a kid might want to work for. "But the fact that you can work", he proclaims, "is one of the good things about living in a country as free as ours."

The book is not a collection of specific projects that kids can do for fun and maybe earn a few bucks from adults who have encouragement or charity in mind. In fact the author devotes a few pages to explaining why a lemonade stand might be "something that would teach a bad lesson rather than a good one for a kid who wants to start a business." In a chapter addressed to parents, Hess also states that "This is not a book to recommend that the only impulse to nurture in a young person is the specific impulse to make money." Homeschoolers might find the book useful. "The truth of the matter," says Hess, "is that the main burden of getting a youngster to think about economics as something important, real, and lively is going to have to be a family project, not a school one."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!, January 8, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Capitalism For Kids: Growing Up To Be Your Own Boss (Paperback)

Outstanding book on starting your own buisness while you're still young.

I recomend this to anyone who is interested in learning the basics of buisness.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for local public school, May 25, 2011

By 

J. Martin "Libertarian4Life" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Capitalism For Kids: Growing Up To Be Your Own Boss (Paperback)

Send a copy to your local government K-12 school. Most schools don't

have classes on starting your own business sadly. This is a great

easy to read book for kids and adults will learn plenty too.