Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire [Hardcover]

Thomas J. Stanley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2009

The bestselling author of The Millionaire Next Door reveals easy ways to build real wealth

With well over two million of his books sold, and huge praise from many media outlets, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley is a recognized and highly respected authority on how the wealthy act and think. Now, in Stop Acting Rich ? and Start Living Like a Millionaire, he details how the less affluent have fallen into the elite luxury brand trap that keeps them from acquiring wealth and details how to get out of it by emulating the working rich as opposed to the super elite.

• Puts wealth in perspective and shows you how to live rich without spending more
• Details why we spend lavishly and how to stop this destructive cycle
• Discusses how being "rich" means more than just big houses and luxury cars

A defensive strategy for tough times, Stop Acting Rich shows readers how to live a rich, happy life through accumulating more wealth and using it to achieve the type of financial freedom that will create true happiness and fulfillment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Now Millionaire co-author Thomas Stanley is back with a dose of financial tough love for high-spending wannabes in Stop Acting Rich … and Start Living Like a Real Millionaire." (Better Investing Magazine, January 3, 2010)

"This is all fascinating stuff and Stanley presents it in a very readable style. Stanley has written two other best-sellers on millionaires. It seems he's done it again." (The Star-Ledger, January 3, 2010)

"…not only is this a book that everyone should buy, it's a book that every parent who loves his or her kids should buy for them—and bribe them to read it." (WalletPop, October 7, 2009)

"Contains some surprising data that makes for a convincing argument supporting a simple lifestyle as a path to security." (Associated Press)

"After reading through Stanley’s engaging anecdotes about how the other America actually lives, you may come to feel that perhaps you don’t need to impress the other guy so much. This in itself is no small thing. Your wallet will thank you. And you may end up happier." (Smartmoney.com)

"Thomas Stanley has written a fascinating book that is based on years of research into how the truly wealthy live. Stanley’s main contention is that those with millions aren’t among the nation’s hyper consumers. Rather it’s the "aspirationals," those seeking recognition as members of the moneyed set, who are loose with a buck. It’s a hypothesis offered often, but the difference is Stanley’s research. He has packed his book with oodles of statistics — and not just the usual numbers. For example, 75 percent of millionaires pay $19.79 or less for a bottle of wine. When it comes to a dinner, 75 percent pay $24.53 or less and 95 percent keep the tab to less than $40. This is all fascinating stuff and Stanley presents it in a very readable style. Stanley has written two other best-sellers on millionaires. It seems he’s done it again." (The Star-Ledger)

"If you’ve read the 1996 best-seller The Millionaire Next Door, you already know it’s hard to identify the truly affluent based on appearance. . . Now Millionaire co-author. . .Stanely is back with a dose of financial tough love for high-spending wannabes. . . offers surprising insight. If your goal is long-lasting wealth and not just the appearance of affluence, start reading ASAP." (BetterInvesting magazine)

“Stanley is right in advising people to have a re-look at their spendthrift ways and to avoid getting trapped by symbolism. “If you spend in anticipation of becoming rich, you are unlikely to become truly wealthy,” he quips.”(Personal Finance Magazine Moneylife)

"Stanley's research does a great job of proving there's a big difference between income and net worth. Many pretenders have become very good at generating income and enjoying a high standard of living. But take this Stanley gem to the bank: ‘Those who are among the least productive in transforming their incomes into wealth are in the higher-status occupations.’ Don't be a great pretender, pretending you're doing well when you only look the part. Read this book and find out how to emulate real-deal millionaires." (The Washington Post, Michelle Singletary)

From the Inside Flap

With the financial crisis, high unemployment, and tight credit, you may be saying to yourself: who is acting rich these days? We're barely making ends meet.

You would think that our wastrel ways are over, we're erasing debt, and stocking up on savings. The reality is that not only are we spenders who barely understand the concept of frugality, we are big spenders on expensive elite brands, and we do it in an attempt to emulate the rich people we see on television, in magazines, and down the street. The recession may have caused us to take a breather, but every indication is that we will pick up right where we left off when gentler economic winds blow again.

Before you spend another dime, read this book and understand how to become rich instead of act rich. Stop Acting Rich . . . And Start Living Like a Real Millionaire will upend every assumption you have about wealthy people: where they shop, what they buy, and most shockingly, where they live (it's not where you think).

Did you know that three times more millionaires live in homes valued at under $300,000 than over $1 million? Would it stun you to learn that more millionaires drive Toyotas than BMWs? How about a second home? Not for the millionaire.

Bestselling author of The Millionaire Next Door and The Millionaire Mind and leading authority on the wealthy, Dr. Thomas Stanley uncovers the truth about spending to show you how you can really live rich.

It all starts with where you live. Live in a prestige neigh?borhood and you will spend more on everything from your car to your watch. Real millionaires understand that living in communities where their neighbors have less net worth than they do naturally leads to spending less. It's easier to be rich when keeping up with the Joneses hardly costs anything.

Dr. Stanley's research also uncovers what makes rich people happy. Life satisfaction comes not from cruising down the highway in a chunk of your net worth, but from having the financial resources to choose—to spend time with family and friends, to volunteer, to pursue interests.

Stop Acting Rich . . . And Start Living Like a Real Millionaire rips the lid off just about every assumption we have about what rich looks like. Few people become rich by way of a high income, and even fewer high-income people are truly rich. The good news is that almost anyone can become wealthy—even without a super high income—if you would just stop acting . . . and instead start living like a rich person.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470482559
• ISBN-13: 978-0470482551
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Thomas J. Stanley is the author of six award winning books concentrating on America's wealthy population. His seventh book, Stop Acting Rich, was published in September 2009 by John Wiley and Sons. He began studying the affluent in 1973. Dr. Stanley wrote The Millionaire Next Door, in 1996. Over 2,000,000 copies of this New York Times bestseller have been sold. In 2000, he published The Millionaire Mind, which explored America's financial elite and how they became so. The Millionaire Mind debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. Dr. Stanley's first book, Marketing to the Affluent, was selected as a top ten outstanding business book in America by the editors of Best of Business Quarterly. The author lives in Atlanta, holds a doctorate of business administration from the University of Georgia in Athens and was formerly a professor of marketing at Georgia State University. Visit Dr. Stanley at www.thomasjstanley.com for more information.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

463 of 466 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating insights, backed by empirical data. The best personal finance book I have read., November 11, 2009

By 

Avinash Sharma "MBA, M.S., Knowledge Worker" (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire (Hardcover)

I read Thomas Stanley's The Millionaire Next Door three years ago and was thoroughly impressed by the insights and research. While reading it I wished the author had published a revised edition with updated numbers - the book was published in 1998. This book (Stop Acting Rich...) covers similar themes as the book I previously mentioned. However, it has updated numbers and includes insights gained from the financial crises of 2008-2009.
The central theme of this book is that there is a difference between those that are genuinely rich and those that act like they are rich. This book details the differences between these two groups of people - what they wear, drive, eat, drink, etc. These differences, presented throughout the book in the form of several tables and lists, are backed by empirical data that are drawn from the author's extensive research on the affluent.
We live in a culture of hyperconsumerism. It is far easier to act rich than to become truly rich. All we have to do is to buy the luxury goods/services that we think the rich buy and we get the feeling that we are rich. But this kind of excessive consumerism is detrimental to our net worth. The author explains that most rich people become wealthy and stay that way by being frugal and by being investment oriented as opposed to consumption oriented. As for wealth and happiness he warns, "those who think that acting rich must be predicated on hyperconsumerism are likely to end up on the short side of both the wealth and happiness scales".
Throughout the book many myths about the rich are dispelled. Their consumption habits are described and compared with those of the pretenders. What brands of shoes, suits, watches, etc do they wear? What wines and spirits do they consume? What motor vehicles do they drive? Where do they shop? And how much do they pay for the goods listed above? The insights are illuminating and thought provoking.
During the financial crisis of 2008-2009, many articles were published regarding the benefits of frugality and the dangers of excessive consumption. In many ways the root of this crisis (sometimes referred to as the Credit Crisis) was excessive borrowing and consumption. I share the author's belief that as soon as the economy improves, people will resume their spendthrift ways. This is most unfortunate since it could lead to a repeat of the crisis we just experienced.
Bottom line - I highly recommend this book as the single best personal finance book I have read. You cannot save the whole of society from this disease of hyperconsumerism. But by educating yourself, you can simplify your lifestyle so that you can be truly rich as opposed to just acting like you are rich. If my review was helpful to you, I request you to select "Yes" so that the rating is improved and more readers will get to read it.

175 of 179 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stop Acting Rich: The Paradox Of This Book, September 28, 2009

By 

Dan Danford (St. Joseph/Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire (Hardcover)

I'm a big plan of Tom Stanley's research and books. I first encountered Stanley at a trust conference many years ago, and I've read and recommended his books to dozens of clients and prospects. His insights are helpful and entertaining.

His newest book, Stop Acting Rich: And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire, reveals the differences between what we say and what we do. He chronicles the spending patterns of genuinely rich people, and the lifestyles they enjoy. It's interesting, because there are two groups of people with serious money: the glittering rich (think Donald Trump or Bill Gates) and the millionaires next door. And, as you'd guess, they consume differently.

Spending by the glittering rich, well, glitters. These are the few folks with so much money that spending really doesn't matter. They own multiple cars, multiple timepieces, and they tend to entertain lavishly. We all know who they are and they set a remarkable standard for living.

Other rich people are remarkable for differing reasons. As Stanley has recorded previously, they stand out for their modesty and good sense. These millionaires drive Toyotas, wear Seiko watches, and surround themselves with value-oriented merchandise. We know who these neighbors are, too, but we probably don't realize how financially successful they truly are. They set a different kind of standard.

Here's the paradox of this book. Almost everyone else (and that's a huge chunk of our society) dwells in yet another culture. This is the culture of false wealth. Where looking rich is more important than being rich. It's the world of luxury goods sold to high-income buyers. But, sadly, that spending pattern yields no genuine wealth. The simple act of buying those goods, by itself, is financially counterproductive.

These are residents of mini-mansion neighborhoods. And owners of luxury automobiles and Rolex watches. They send their children to private schools and belong to expensive country clubs. They buy Brooks Brothers suits and shop at exclusive department stores. They are glittering rich wannabes, and they spend most of their income on a prestige lifestyle. There's nothing left for saving.

The depressing truth is this book won't change much. Most of us would rather look rich than be rich. We like those luxury goods and that luxury lifestyle, even if we can't afford them. We can see how sensible living might bring stability and success. We know Tom's right, but we don't want to live in sensible neighborhoods or drive sensible cars or wear sensible clothes.

That's the paradox of Stop Acting Rich. We don't want to.

101 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great message but too repetitive, November 3, 2009

By 

T. Murphy (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire (Hardcover)

I looked forward to reading "Stop Acting Rich" but I found it to be too repetitive. Although the book is 200+ pages, I felt as though the first chapter covered the ultimate message and the remainder of the book only served to reiterate the concepts without significantly furthering them. Sure, some examples and data in later chapters further reinforced the message but one could easily get the message within the first few pages, skip the rest of the book, and still understand the point that less consumption, decreased spending, and more frugal living is more likely to help you gain wealth than buying fancy cars, expensive clothes, and enormous homes. I liked the book but felt a bit short-changed when I found the chapters to be so repetitive.