The Secret Life of Money: How Money Can Be Food for the Soul (Paperback)

~ (Author) "IN THIS ERA of extraordinary inventions, many of our grandparents knew a world where horses reared at the first glimpse of an automobile, recordings of..." (more)
Key Phrases: existential debt, inner richness, vegetative world, Debtors Anonymous, King Midas, Reb Nochemke (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This study of money by the president of Allworth Press in New York City appears indebted in equal measures to Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell and sundry classic tales (e.g., The Wizard of Oz). After dispensing with the standard economic definition of money as a medium of exchange, which must be freely accepted, offer a measuring device to evaluate goods and services and exist in a storable form, Crawford considers money's deeper symbolism and concludes that it represents life forces, especially fertility; money serves us, in other words, as a kind of energy. Crawford analyzes sacrifice, hoarding, inheritance, debt, credit cards, the stock market and the society of consumerism, tying all to his central thesis. Readers may observe strain in Crawford's close analysis of classical tales in economic terms, but the book should also enlighten those who tend to view money only in the most literal terms.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Crawford, an attorney and author specializing in issues related to the visual arts, observes that individuals often become mistakenly preoccupied with the accumulation of physical wealth by pursuing the things that money represents rather than seeking inner harmony independent of physical wealth. He draws from literature and mythology to support his personal conviction that monetary wealth lies in the perfection of individual talents and abilities. There are some interesting historical facts about the origin of coins and paper money, but Crawford's literary interpretations tend to be subjective. Ultimately, this book is more suitable to self-help collections than business collections.
Joseph Barth, U.S. Military Academy Lib., West Point, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (October 10, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188055951X
• ISBN-13: 978-1880559512
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,362,219 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to find spiritual life through understanding money, October 10, 1999

By A Customer

A fascinating look at the spiritual, mythological, and psychological aspects of money, replete with terrific stories, that leads the reader on a journey that places money in service to life and not vice versa. An outstanding book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great overview, December 1, 2005

By	Michael Thomas "mthomas1776" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Secret Life Of Money (Hardcover)

This is a casual but deep reflection on the meaning of money. Too often people start thinking about this question as if money were pure greed. To really wrap your mind around such a complex concept find a copy of this book and read it. The antecdotes really bring out some of the more subtle meanings between the way people react to one another, which is the basic role of money. From aztec human sacrifice to modern unemployment there is a connection which explains how society makes difficult choices.