Acres of Diamonds (Paperback)

~ R. H. Conwell (Author) "WHEN GOING DOWN the Tigris and Euphrates rivers many years ago with a party of English travelers I found myself under the direction of an..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Ali Hafed, John Jacob Astor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Profound, yet easy to read, this self-help classic addresses the relationship between spiritual and material desires. Delivered as a lecture thousands of times by the founder of Temple University, it provides practical advice on opening your mind and making the most of your circumstances to find riches in your own backyard.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Russell H. Conwell, the founder of Temple University in Philadelphia, was described by the great John Wanamaker as a student, schoolmaster, lawyer, preacher, organizer, thinker and writer, lecturer, educator, diplomat, and leader of men. Conwell was also the founder and pastor of Baptist Temple, one of the largest Protestant churches in America during his day and time. He also founded two hospitals in the City of Brotherly Love. His famous Acres of Diamonds speech helped countless individuals to come into the knowledge of the meaning of true wealth and how to attain it without getting sidetracked by selfishness and greed. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Jove (October 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 051509028X
• ISBN-13: 978-0515090284
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #229,223 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Invisibility of the Obvious, January 6, 2003

By	Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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Toward the end of his life, Russell H. Conwell (1843-1925) observed, "I am astonished that so many people should care to hear this story over again. Indeed, this lecture has become a study in psychology; it often breaks all rules of oratory, departs from the precepts of rhetoric, and yet remains the most popular of any lecture I have delivered in the fifty-seven years of my public life. I have sometimes studied for a year upon a lecture and made careful research, and then presented the lecture just once -- never delivered it again. I put too much work on it. But this had no work on it -- thrown together perfectly at random, spoken offhand without any special preparation, and it succeeds when the thing we study, work over, adjust to a plan, is an entire failure." He then went on to explain to each audience that "acres of diamonds are to be found in this city, and you are to find them. Many have found them. And what man has done, man can do. [They are] are not in far-away mountains or in distant seas; they are in your own back yard if you will but dig for them." These comments provide an excellent introduction to Conwell's book. As I read it, I thought about Dorothy in L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz. Only after a series of adventures far from Kansas did she realize that "there's no place like home." What Conwell has in mind involves far more than such appreciation, however. The tale he shares in this book, concerning a wealthy Persian named Ali Hafed, demonstrates that almost everything we may seek elsewhere is already in our lives and available to us.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly, highly recommended, February 1, 2001

By A Customer

As a child my father gave me this book to read and I didn't quite understand it all. 15 years later I pulled it out and decided to read it again. I'm so glad I did. My copy is battered, so I'm buying a new one to have to give to my children in the future. This book is incredibly inspirational while remaining logical and lighthearted. An excellent book for a young adult who is on the verge of having to make lifelong decisions. Short and simple to read.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Small Gem Everyone Should Read, May 19, 2002

By	Frederick M. Segrest (Huntsville, AL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is small, eloquent, and easy to understand. It is about life, success, money, and priorities, what these things are and aren't, and will continue to challenge the way most of us choose to live our lives for years. Read this one instead of "Who Moved My Cheese."