Unlimited Wealth: The Theory and Practice of Economic Alchemy (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pilzer's upbeat, jargon-coining manual is a mix of questionable assertions, glib pop economic analysis and sweeping proposals, some on-target. His "theory of alchemy" holds that we live in a world of unlimited economic resources, circumscribed only by our inability to take advantage of the best technology available for a given production problem. "Alchemists" devise new goods or new services, orchestrating change and exploiting technological gaps. The author, adjunct professor of finance at New York University, has served as an adviser to the Reagan and Bush administrations. His proposals for a restructuring of public and private education (including government tuition grants to every child) and for a national child-care program seem at once far-reaching and impractical. He also recommends a flexible immigration policy that would admit up to three million additional immigrants yearly to fill "a critical shortage of labor." Equally controversial is his analysis of a Japan that he sees heading toward economic disaster.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The coauthor of Other People's Money ( LJ 11/15/89), a history of the savings and loan industry, here turns his attention to more general economic questions. Standing traditional economics on its head, Pilzer argues that the true problem is not lack of resources but lack of demand. Technology has abolished resource scarcity, he asserts, and become the driving force shaping demand, economic wealth, and progress. He discusses the impact of this development on education, immigration, and the U.S. relationship with Japan. Ultimately the book is not so much a direct challenge to current economic thinking as a call for a change in emphasis. Useful for large libraries seeking complete collections.
- Richard C. Schiming, Mankato State Univ., Minn.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 226 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1 edition (January 9, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517582112
• ISBN-13: 978-0517582114
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,573 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for Business Leaders, March 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Unlimited Wealth: The Theory and Practice of Economic Alchemy (Audio Cassette)

"Unlimited Wealth" by Paul Pilzer is a very interesting read. A fresh alternative to economic theory that is insightful and thought provoking. His take on "economic alchemy" gives specific references to the state of the USA and how it reached the point where it is in the global arena. This book is not a lot of fluff with tons of jargon that only financial experts can relate to. It consists of a very logical breakdown of how productivity is generated. There are some excellent ideas within this book that illustrate how issues like immigration and education are and should be addressed. Mr. Pilzer keeps the reader very interested by quoting some very astounding and possibly overlooked facts to prove his points. While his theory may not be watertight to many economists, his notions of alchemic principles should not be overlooked. This book offers a strong theory behind the growth of nations to the generation by individuals of enormous wealth and prosperity. For instance, who knew that a man could make a $56 billion dollar fortune selling software before he made it happen. Also, back at the beginning of civilization, who knew that the world population could grow to consist of 6 Billion people. Someone somewhere must be creating something from what used to be nothing.

On a final note, if you are someone who is chasing the American Dream. The dream of independence, freedom, and the realization of your own personal dreams, goals, and desires, I would recommend this book.

P.S. This book gives a detailed analysis on the strengths and flaws of the Japanese economy. Written back in 1990, could it have predicted the recent asian financial crisis? Comments?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forward looking economic theories, December 4, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Winnipeg, Canada) - See all my reviews

An excellent work changing the way the world will look at resources - they are unlimited, due to the fact that as soon as something starts to become scarce, technology will create it's replacement - it's abundant replacement.

In a time, where we were once worried about oil reserves, hydrogen fuel cells have bust onto the scene and are just another indication of how right Mr. Pilzer's theories have shown themselves to be.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a unified field theory for wealth, May 10, 2003

By	wayne (long island, ny United States) - See all my reviews

This book describes how to build wealth broadly enough so you can apply its principles to anything. its main principle is technology unleashes your ability to build wealth and by applying dormant but existing technology to resources will create enough value for you to achieve wealth. ie using the latest version software could dramatically improve your bottom line.
Probably the most inspiring principle for me is the statement: The faster you process information the faster you will achieve your goals. This makes total sense because if knowledge is power the most important knowledge is the knowledge that allows you to get more of it. I know alot of people who are determined to succeed but they learn so slowly that by the time they figure everything out it will be too late. With the rate of change today one of the skills you've got to have is the ability to learn rapidly!