Customer Reviews

The Greatest Money-Making Secret in History!

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Generally speaking, I do appreciate Dr. Joe Vitale, but this time I have reached a conclusion that this book is merely a marketing trick. I think I know what I am speaking of, havinv read almost 200 books on this subject.

There is really no reason to buy this particular book. This is little bit like downloading a demo version of the full software product. You can test it, but very soon you will notice it has its limits..and all those functions you are really interested in are missing.

So instead of buying this particular book, go with Darel Rutherford's "Being The Solution" or Joe Vitale's other products.

Each chapter in the book does cover some interesting things, but after finishing reading this book I felt like "what's the purpose of old good Joe to write this book?" If he wanted to really help people, he would have dwelled in each subject more throughly, but this book leaves more questions than gives answers.

With all due respect, I think Joe Vitale has potential for writing AWESOME books. This man knows how to write, he has so much to say, but this time he blew it. If I were a book publisher -- I would have never published this particular item. If you are completely new to spiritual living, then you might catch few new ideas. Otherwise the book is repeating only what you already know by having read any spiritual book.

Anyway.. it is not that much.. Do buy it if you feel compelled.. or ask a friend who has bought the book because Dr. Vitale added a comment that the book may be shared with your friends...

First, let's start by saying that the underlying principle of this book is an excellent one: If you give and do so in a giving spirit, you will, in turn, be given much more. Mr. Vitale posits that this principle is a universal one; in fact, he seems to claim it is a universal law. That being said, Mr. Vitale takes a decent idea that probably only merited an article and tries to stretch it into a book length work. And, unfortunately, not a very good one at that.

The chapters are all essentially short vignettes, and not all of them are even by Mr. Vitale. Many of them are repetitious and almost condescending in tone. For example, Mr. Vitale at one point addresses the problem of why someone who gives would not receive anything in return. Naturally the answer is: you didn't give in the right spirit so you received nothing in return.

Part of what bothers me here is that Mr. Vitale is taking a concept found in many religions and acting as if he has discovered some secret that no one else was previously aware of. As a Christian, I almost find his method of co-opting the concept of "it is better to give than receive," and turning it into a money-making proposition, insulting. But I don't wan to turn this into a religious argument, so let's move on.

I've had a curiosity about Mr. Vitale and his status as a marketing genius for several months. His name started turning up in my e-mail from some writing buddies of mine. He apparently now is "Dr. Vitale," (I guess he picked up a doctorate or something somewhere) and he has the nickname "Mr. Fire." I think it is a self-declared nickname, but even if so, it's not necessarily a name that has any real meaning. He also advocates "spiritual marketing" and "hypnotic writing."

Well, the writing in this book is pretty basic and if it is hypnotic in some way, I guess I'm just too dumb to be hypnotized (no doubt, if any of his fans reply to this review they'll jump on that statement). The spirituality is pretty loose and rootless (although one of the other authors of a chapter does at least give credit to God) and all of it seems to be aimed at one thing: making money. His message just seems disingenuous in that everything is built around gaining wealth.

Given the hype I had read about Mr. Vitale, particularly from a writer I know who swears by him, I had expected much, much more. I guess unless you are an adherent of Mr. Vitale, there's just not a whole lot of substance here. Sorry, Mr. Vitale, perhaps one of your other works will change my mind.

This "book" is a collection of short writings by Joe Vitale sprinkled with VERY short "essays" by other fellow internet marketers that are friends and associates of Joe Vitale. Most of these chapters by others are there so that they can plug themselves with their web address at the end.

As is typical of Joe Vitale books, they are simply ways to scratch the backs of other marketers. All of these people have mailing lists that they continually plug the works of other "experts." This is how they sell copies of their tomes.

There are much better sources of this type of information out there. Nothing new here--just a catchy title. But if you read anything by Mr. Vitale, you realize that he isn't about substance, really; rather "hypnotic" writing and catchy phrases and titles to get people's attention. Never mind if there isn't any substance once you stop to read the results.

By the way, the "Dr." in Dr. Vitale is a doctorate of Metaphysical Science.

I'm glad Joe Vitale considers himself one of the great marketers. I have read and studied him for awhile and I have grown more and more disgusted. I don't see a lot different in his techniques and those of a snake oil salesman.

Harsh...maybe. But people like him are making lots of money every day because they are counting on people like you to be persuaded to buy their works, the contents of which can be had for free from the library or internet or other books.

Save yourself from the hype. This is a rip off of a book.

This book can be summed up in one sentence:

"Give away money in the form of 'tithing' and you will receive money back from the Universe from various 'unexpected' avenues, usually ten-fold."

And THAT'S IT!

Vitale goes on to say that you'll get back what you give. If you give time, you'll get time. If you give books, you'll get books. You get the picture.

He goes on to say that you should give from the bottom of your heart and not just to give to get something on the backend. He talks about how you don't need to tithe money to a church only but perhaps a charity that's very important to you or a school to benefit children. Give to whatever makes you feel good and never feel obligated otherwise it's wrong.

It's a powerful concept but if he wanted to drag it out he should have included examples, stories, illustrations, and perhaps some other types of attraction laws to "beef it up" a bit.

If you like your books simple and easy to read, then this short book may well be suitable for you. Personally I prefer books with more content and substance.

If you are looking at personal wealth issues then I would highly recommend the following three books:

Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth
The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity by Catherine Ponder
The Miracle of Tithing by Mark V Hansen

These three books contain the 'secret' that Joe Vitale writes about - but also lots of additional information and guidance.

I've been discussing your book, The Greatest Money-Making Secret in History on my yahoo group, Imagination Science. That group by the way, was inspired by me reading your book, "Spiritual Marketing." There's been a lively debate. Since reading some great stuff on giving, in 1987 I've always believed in it. But I wasn't practicing it properly. I also didn't realize how I could actually get more money by giving. Even though I was in a state of very low finances, it didn't matter. I just had to give something. I'll explain the results a little further below.

I also realized that giving is the greatest marketing secret. I read your emails Joe because there is usually something valuable for me in your messages. I must admit that I don't read many other newsletters. I just don't have the time. Giving seems to me to be one of the Ultimate Secrets of the Universe. It's also the easiest success principle to put into action. It quickly gets me outflowing and I'm amazed at its power and results.

Here are some of the amazing things that happened to me because of giving, in several different areas of my life.

My weekly income has gone up 113% in the last week. This is my best week financially of the year. New clients started calling me from all over the place. I've never had so many new customers in a week. Also one customer tripled her weekly sessions with me. I just gave her son a small gift worth about $2.00, after his lesson. In fact, I felt I had been too hard on him and was quite sad. I thought he wanted to quit. Instead I started doing sessions with him twice a week and then twice a week with his sister.

I've gotten all sorts of clients and client leads. I've decided to give my coaching and support service away. I've offered anyone who's contacted me via email or telephone a free consultation. One person I bought a dessert for at a local event. He was so happy that he immediately asked me for my business card and planned to call me. It turns out he was looking for someone who offered the exact service I was offering. The previous week and this week, he was asking me in a joking way to buy him dessert. So this week I did it. I've been on the telephone with him giving him free advice for three nights. He's having wonderful success and he's probably going to become a client.

By giving I don't have to use any manipulative sales techniques. It is the easiest and most effective marketing I've ever done.

Everything is starting to come in an abundant flow. I'm doing more of the things I like. This idea of giving seems like a miracle to me. I've given food to the homeless. Given money to someone who was down on his luck. I never did stuff like this before. I figured it couldn't hurt. At least I would feel good about myself. Whatever I have given seems to have come back multiplied.

The spirit of giving has changed my internal flow of energy and things come to me with ease. I even got a birthday gift from a friend that was 5 times bigger than what he would usually give me.

Now I can't prove any of this scientifically. But I can feel the difference. It is without a doubt because of my varying efforts at giving.

For me this is a miracle technique and has reminded me of what I once knew and practiced. But I never realized it had so many financial implications as well. Joe I have to congratulate you on this book. It is short and delivers a potent punch. I've read other books on this topic but yours was the most influential in my life. Your book, "Spiritual Marketing," had a similar effect in my life. It clarified many concepts for me in the field of manifestation or New Thought.

I feel that giving is the mechanism that fuels soul. By giving we increase in spirit and in happiness. I'm also amazed to see that I'm increasing in wealth. This has got to be the best book I've read this year, and I've already read 24 books this year so far. It has changed my life and happiness within a matter of days. I'll be rereading this book many times to remind me to keep on giving.

I think the giving principle applies to relationships as well. I see the world from a new perspective. The giving technique has magically removed many of my previous inhibitions. Now I don't try to take, instead I think of giving and everything flows naturally.

It is amazing how far reaching the effects of this technique are. It will help people in virtually all areas of their life. It is now one of my top three personal development techniques. These are: The Art of Asking Better Questions: What I call Magic Questions, The Raw Food Vegetarian Diet, and of course the Principle of Giving.

Thanks again for a life changing book and an enjoyable read.

"Soul exists forever by giving"

I am amazed at this. I downloaded this as a free e-book, and I still feel ripped off. The supposed secret to making fortunes is by pursuing the televangelist mantra: give money and you will get money.

Perhaps I approached reading this book with too much of a skeptic's viewpoint rather than just another sheep, but a collective series of anecdotes and questionable observations do not create a compelling case for a pattern of behavior. Moreover, to try to convince people that his case is valid, he brings some BS about the "universe's forces" coming together to act in a karmic fashion. It is the 21st century and there are still people that believe tripe like that.

While giving is one of the best things any person can do to benefit other people, society as a whole, and even the giver (if for only the good emotions), to give simply to pursue riches is the epitome of selfishness. One should give without expecting to receive anything in return.

This is one of the books that I ordered in January 04 and arrived on March 7th. No problem as I am aware that it takes time to ship it to the Philippines.

I will start with the positives:

1. It stressed the fact regarding the law of tithing and giving.
2. It contains chapters written by 12 different people including: John Milton Fogg, Dr. Robert Anthony, John Zappa, Richard Webster, etc. so you get a glimpse of what they have been through and you can relate it to your own experience.
3. It also looks beyond tithing as another form of "tax from God" because it's not the amount or the giving that counts, it all boils down to your attitude and heart whenever you give.
4. If you love stories and testimonials about giving, you will like this book.
5. If you are a newbie to the act of giving, this one is for you too.
6. This book (or booklet?) contains 29 very short chapters that you can read this in two hours or less.
7. Handy book that you can bring anywhere. Just 103 pages long.
8. I like what Mike Dooley said on page 50 that "your job is not to out-maneuver the competition, to play into the hands of future clients and customers, or to reinvent the wheel. Your job is to define your dream, to imagine the end result, and to move with your hunches and instincts- that's it."
9. Some of the principles such as tithing and giving are also Biblical- but there is also a twist of new age. If you are into new age spirituality and teaching. This is also for you.
10. This is an inspiring book on giving and the attitude in giving money.

Next comes the CONS:
1. If you are already aware of the blessings in giving or have been practicing tithing and giving a portion of your income- you might find this book non-essential because it will not give you the tools on HOW to make money aside from giving.
2. If you are looking for tips on business, how to start something, saving money, making money on your ideas, etc. None. Nada. You will not find it here.
3. It has a catchy title but no substance when it comes to business and professional tools.
4. Is it worth the $12.55 + shipping that I paid Amazon for? After reading it twice and having to practice what he is advocating for a long time. I think yes and no. Next time, I will remember to read reviews first before I order something.
I was mesmerized by the title so I guess, I can conclude that he can make words so intricately beautiful and enticing for you to buy this book.

Overall on a rating of 1-10. I would rate this book a 7.5

The secret is out. Indeed, it was out about 2000 years ago with the words, "Give and it will be given unto you." The amazing thing is that more of us don't apply this universal principal. So Joe Vitale has put together a gentle reminder for us in his little book. His personal stories and words of wisdom from friends help guide us to apply this natural law so that we have a greater chance of reaping its financial rewards.

First, he introduces the premise that the more you give, the more you have. I've always known this is true for love. But I must admit that I haven't done actual tests to find out if what Joe says about money is true: if you give a little, you get a little; if you give a lot, you get a lot.

But who to give to? If you expect a financial return (which of course we should never be thinking of at the time of giving), you'll want to give especially to those who offer you spiritual nourishment, who inspire and bring out the best in you. Joe suggests that we not give just because someone needs it, or because you think you should, but only because it feels good to give. When you donate from a heart filled with gratitude, you send a message to yourself and the world that you are prosperous and in the flow. Thus the flow continues to bring prosperity back to you.

Being "in the flow" seems to be a critical part of Joe's money-making secret. To help stay in the flow, Joe suggests forgiveness, especially of those who owe you money. We should remember that money doesn't come from these people anyway; it comes through them. Also, forgiveness brings a feeling of being at peace, and inner peace keeps us in the flow. Sounds good to me.

Being in the flow also means receiving as openly as giving. Although this concept was given only a few lines in his book, Joe may have hit the biggest obstacle to prosperity for people in our profession. Networking is gifted with "do-gooders," people who love doing for others, being in service. But allowing others to do for us? And enjoying receiving as much as giving? The greatest challenge to receiving may simply be our resistance to it.

More food for thought came from the 4-page chapter about industry leaders John Milton Fogg and Tom "Big Al" Schreiter. How might their stories of giving away what they wanted to sell, and as a result selling more than they ever dreamed of, apply to our own businesses?

Allen D'Angelo sums it up in his chapter when he says that "somehow in the vast scheme of life we are rewarded in direct proportion to the value we create for others....as a value creator I must give sincerely, abundantly, effortlessly, with absolutely no expectation of direct immediate reward."
In contrast to the depth of the classic "Think and Grow Rich," Joe Vitale's fast, easy read could aptly be called "Give and Grow Rich."

Great Book.

Based On Universe Rule of giving & Receiving.

I read Entire Book in One Sitting.

storys Were very much Intresting & Inspiring.

But I dont Give To Recieve now.I give just for the pleasure of

giving & I think thats the way it works better.