The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

I've read so many self-help books lately that all seem to follow the same formula. Insert a weaseley looking guru on the cover of your book with his arms crossed, perfectly coifed hair, and a freakishly large smile that screams slick salesman and then fill the book with a bunch of generic, probably made up stories, and advice that doesn't come close to fulfilling the outlandish claims on the cover. I honestly was about to give up on this whole genre of books when a few websites I frequented recommended this book and stated that MJ was the anti-guru who laid out a no b.s. strategy / philosophy to wealth. I'm happy to say those reviews were spot on.

This book doesn't mess around and MJ quickly punctures holes through the old belief of finding a good job, saving 10% of your income, being frugal to the point of insanity, and maybe, just maybe you'll have a fortune (albeit small) when you retire at the ripe old age of 65 with hope that you won't be wearing diapers when this all goes down. His opinion is that this is a slow strategy and will only work if everything goes according to plan which over the span of fifty years (which is usually how long this slow lane strategy to wealth takes) is damn near impossible. We've been sold a philosophy that is woefully inefficient at best and MJ's opinion is that instead of focusing on this slow lane strategy we should be putting our thoughts and effort into ways that can make large increases in our income.

The plan he lays out is hard to discredit and unlike the Tim Ferriss' and Robert Kiyosaki's he doesn't ever state that exploding your income will be easy. On the contrary he states that for a relatively short period of time (years instead of decades) you're going to have to get damn near medieval on your business to get it where it needs to be to where it either generates passive income or at the very least you sell it liquidation style.

This book is really much more than I'm letting on though. There are very entertaining and personal stories that MJ talks about in this book that are pure gold and I absolutely love how a lot of what he says is very unconventional, politically incorrect, and at the very same time makes you think long and hard about the choices you've made previously and how those choices will change your future as well. To make a long story short, buy this book if you're tired of all the empty promises of four-hour work weeks, and the tales of Rich Dads, And Poor Dads. This book will not sell you sugar coated crap. It will tell you exactly what is required to build wealth and from there it is up to you to make this plan a reality. I look forward MJ's future books if he ever decides to write another one.

I read the best, and the worst, reviews before buying this book. They are both right. This book will not divvy out the details on how to be successful. The magic formula is not spelled out and handed to you. Sorry. However, it will erase the errors of your thinking and open your eyes so that you can see the path to success clearly. That information is straight forward, and more often than not, a punch to the gut. This book has the advice I have always yearned for, from the successful best friend that I never had. It's not a comforting massage telling me how easy things can be, or what great qualities I have - it is the unvarnished truth. I am picky. I choose my books carefully. Most of the time I skim them and sift out the few nuggets of wisdom I find. Sometimes I don't finish them at all. Sometimes, but rarely, I absorb them from cover to cover. And very very rarely, sometimes I hold them close to me and reread them many times to fully understand all that they have to offer. This is that rare book. This book is perhaps the best of the best that I've ever read, and I have read a lot. Yes, it's that good. If you want your eyes opened, and to be trained by a ninja of success, then you need this book. No matter how much you think you know already, it will change the direction of your life and how you think. How many books, or anything else, can claim that? My only regret is that I wish I would have had this book twenty years earlier.

Yet, I do. Whole heartedly.

The author uses the language of slimy, get rich quick schemers for just way too long at the beginning of the book. He gets a bit more serious further on. I get the impression that DeMarco has determined that he needs the salesman language up front to "hook" the reader. Whatever. I almost stopped reading.

Next, he hammers on the "driving" metaphor to emphasize every point he makes. Great literature this is not. In fact, it is just plain horrible. But what the hell do I know? DeMarco has a bestseller. I don't. He is probably doing exactly what is required to hit his market.

Lastly, I agree with every point he made. I read this book after a lifetime of successful entrepreneurism. He really nailed it. This book is blunt and dead on truthful. But, oh man, the writing is cheesy. Im going to assume that DeMarco knows what he is doing and that the language he used works for the majority of his audience. It doesn't work for me, but the content still stands. If you like his style, great. If it makes you cringe, just grit your teeth and make sure you understand the message he is getting across. It really is good, and is really the ONLY path to a successful life as an entrepreneur.

If you feel like you need a shower after reading this book, then I recommend balancing it out with the entrepenureial podcasts "Entrepeneurship Part X" found on "TheVoluntaryLife.com". The message there is really the same as that found in this book, but it is delivered by a "proper" UK entrepeneur. It's a different cup of tea. Pick what works for you.