The Courage to be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance [Paperback]

Suze Orman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2001

With honesty, empathy, and a dazzling knowledge of how money works, Suze Orman invites us into a realm where our lives and finances can prosper in harmony. Practical, spiritual, and above all financially sound, The Courage to Be Rich takes us through the financial milestones of our lives and shows us how to:

* Clear away financial clutter
* Break debilitating patterns
* Protect finances when entering marriage or romantic partnerships
* Start over after divorce or death of a spouse
* Differentiate between good and bad debt
* Invest for the future
* Give generously, live richly
* Learn and teach the value of money


"Orman prods the fearful, the angry and the impoverished to dig deep into the pockets of their souls for spiritual and financial riches. [A] holistic approach...Orman offers sound advice on money market funds, IRAs, estate planning and financing big-ticket items such as homes and autos, but her most compelling advice hits us in the emotional pocketbook." (USA Today)

"The reigning shaman and high priestess of personal finance... The Courage to Be Rich is another blockbuster." (San Francisco Examiner)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Talk about an audacious title! But Suze (pronounced "Suzie") Orman means business in this anecdote-rich compendium of tips on 401(k)s, marriage, homes, and happiness. The PBS star/financial adviser has made plenty of the mistakes she warns against, like getting a 30-year mortgage instead of a cheaper 15-year, using Visa cards as magic carpets to calamity, and losing $20,000 in borrowed bucks to bum investment advice. Then she became a Merrill Lynch broker and an author capable of selling 10,000 books in 12 minutes on QVC.

Orman's point--in this and her No. 1 bestseller The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom--is that you'd better face fiscal facts and avoid fear, denial, and the self-fulfilling low expectations the novelist William Wharton called "the Poverty Mind." America is a nation of check-bouncing, late-fee-incurring, guilty bad planners. How long will it take to pay off that $3,000 Visa bill with minimum payments? Thirty years, you poor, dear fool! What would you gain if you bought stocks instead of your daily latte for 30 years? $165,152! Her book might've been titled The Courage Not to Be a Self-Sabotaging Neurotic.

Orman is the Andrew Weil of money health--she yearns to enrich your life emotionally, too. If you can't stand discussions of the psychological origins of fiscal decisions, or self-help lingo like "money is attracted to people who are strong and powerful, respectful of it, and open to receiving it," you'll want a more nuts-and-bolts adviser. If you want pep talk, true tales of woe and makeovers, and a jolt of a true pop culture phenomenon, Suze is for you. --Tim Appelo --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Having shown us The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, Orman now explains how we can achieve both financial and spiritual well-being simultaneously.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade; 1st edition (December 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573229067
• ISBN-13: 978-1573229067
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (141 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Suze Orman has been called "a force in the world of personal finance" and a "one-woman financial advice powerhouse" by USA Today. A two-time Emmy Award-winning television host, #1 New York Times bestselling author, magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today, Orman is undeniably America's most recognized expert on personal finance.

Orman has written seven consecutive New York Times bestsellers and has written, co-produced, and hosted six PBS specials based on her books. She is the host of the award-winning Suze Orman Show, which airs on CNBC and XM and Sirius radio, and a contributing editor to O: The Oprah Magazine.

Orman was twice named one of the "Time 100," Time magazine's list of the world's most influential people, and was the recipient of the National Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign. In 2009 she received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Orman, a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, directed the Suze Orman Financial Group from 1987 to 1997, served as Vice President--Investments for Prudential Bache Securities from 1983 to 1987, and was an account executive at Merrill Lynch from 1980 to 1983. Prior to that, she worked as a waitress at the Buttercup Bakery in Berkeley, California, from 1973 to 1980.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courage to be Rich will make you rich, February 23, 2001

By 

carl breyers (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Courage to Be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance (Hardcover)

Suze Orman has written a excellent book. First, she focuses on the brass tacks for success---the mental state. This is much different and better than other psycho babble books about the mind(one exception is Miracle Power for Infinite Riches by Joseph Murphy) Most people are and stay broke because of what is going on between their ears. Many of the people I come across are either savers, earning less than 10% per year or spendthrifts with overactive lifestyles. Both groups end up broke.Far too many people put control in the hands of other people; brokers, financial planners, insurance agents and investment counselors. Suze puts empahasis on being your own financial planner. Great advice! I've done it and am wealthier as a result.I used to be one of those millions of Americans who couldn't wait for that once per year tax refund and felt so good about getting my own money back (interest free) from the IRS. STUPID!!! Why loan your money interest free to anyone especially the IRS? I don't anymore. That is new found money to invest in mutuals and stocks. I used to be a saver getting those impotent 2%-6% returns in "safe" places like savings accounts, savings bonds and cd's. After reading Courage to be Rich I now have the courage to invest in real investments that actually produce a profit. I also opened a money market mutual fund.I had a whole life insurance policy on myself. After careful examination, I took Suze's advice and dropped the whole life policy and switched to term. I agree 100% with Suze [now] that whole life is a rip off and only makes insurance companies rich. I also contend that most bank products are essentially dead money products (zero% checking, 2%-6& on savings, money market accounts and cd's and are only good investments for the bank, but total ripoffs for the customer.Six months ago, I never would have said that. I was a saver and encouraged banking. I was also broke and just making the bank rich. Not anymore. Now I use a bank cheking account just as a means of transferring money to my funds and securities.I would have liked to have seen more information on investing, perhaps that will come in a future book.Nevertheless, this book turned me around. I also recommend in addition to the aforementioned "Miracle Power", Business Buy the Bible and Wall Street Money Machine. Suze has turned me into a student of personal finance and personal development. I would not recommend books by the self serving Anthony Robbins. People I have talked to who used his system said that results were both "limited" and "temporary".Start with this book. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom is also a must read. Then Miracle Power and Business Buy The Bible and if you want cash flow, Wall Street Money Machine is excellent.

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Courage to Be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance (Hardcover)

I like the way Suzie teaches you to take control and overcome the main misconceptions of money. While parts are a repeat of her earlier work, none the less--a good book. Besides, repition is the mother of skill. I would also suggest reading, in fact they are must reading, "The Millionaire Next Door" by Stanley and Danko and "More Wealth without Risk" BY Givens. These are must reading for anybody for is serious about financial succe$$.

69 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Common sense is not always common knowledge, June 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Courage to Be Rich: The Financial and Emotional Pathways to Material and Spiritual Abundance (Audio CD)

A nice sequel to Suze Orman's first two books, yes some is repeated, and yes it is a lot of common sense, but common sense is not always common knowledge. I liked the way that Suze taies in the right mental attitude about financial success. Overlooked by many other authors. I have to admit, at first I was taken back by Suze Orman, my wife is one of her biggest supporters and has constantly pestered me to read her books which I NOW HAVE. I also highy suggest three other financial books; The Millionaire Next Door, More Wealth without Rsk and Financial Self Defense..