The Courage to be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance (Paperback)

by Suze Orman (Author) "was stopping them? The same thing that no doubt is stopping you: financial obstacles..." (more)
Key Phrases: financial clutter, current offering price, index annuity, Social Security, Ginnie Mae, United States (more...)

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
This financial expert and best-selling author (The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, LJ 5/1/97) has produced a thoughtful work about money. Orman believes that fear, shame, and anger keep many people from handling their cash effectively, so she urges them to respect money and stop buying things that become clutter. The tapes are enlivened by characters telling their financial stories and the author's own narrative, which is delivered with feeling. Among the many topics discussed are marriage, divorce, death, homebuying, bonds, IRAs, and charitable giving. One could question whether it takes primarily courage to be rich, rather than discipline or financial know-how. Still, this excellent work is filled with sound advice. Highly recommended for all libraries.AMark Guyer, Stark Cty. Dist. Lib., Canton, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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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 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (139 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,347 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 108 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.

62 of 62 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$$.

68 of 69 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..