The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum [PDF]
by InfoBooks
The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum distills a lifetime of entrepreneurial experience into twenty clear rules for building and keeping wealth. Published in 1880, it remains one of the most direct and practical financial guides ever written.
Download the free PDF and discover Barnum's no-nonsense advice on everything from choosing your profession to mastering the art of advertising and avoiding debt. Every chapter is packed with real-world wisdom that still applies today.
Few people know this book, but once you read it, you will understand why Barnum was far more than a showman. Give yourself an hour with these pages and see how much still rings true.
The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum
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Information: The Art of Money Getting
- Author: P.T. Barnum
- Publication Date: 1880
- Main Characters:
- Perseverance: Barnum's most repeated principle: sticking with a chosen path through setbacks is the single greatest predictor of financial success.
- The Right Vocation: Choosing work that matches your natural talents and interests, which Barnum considers the essential first step to wealth.
- Advertising: Barnum devotes significant attention to the power of advertising, drawing from his own legendary promotional skills to show how visibility drives profit.
- Avoiding Debt: A recurring warning throughout the book: debt enslaves the borrower and destroys more fortunes than any other single cause.
- Integrity: Barnum argues that honesty in business is not just moral but practical, as reputation is the most valuable asset any entrepreneur can build.
- Brief Summary: The Art of Money Getting presents twenty rules for accumulating wealth, drawn from P.T. Barnum's decades of business experience. Barnum discusses the importance of selecting the right vocation, avoiding debt, practicing perseverance, and using advertising wisely. He emphasizes that integrity, hard work, and careful money management are the true foundations of financial success. The book also warns against common pitfalls like speculation, lending carelessly, and living beyond one's means. Written in a conversational and anecdotal style, it reads more like a fireside chat than a dry financial manual.
- Thematic Analysis: The central themes of the book are entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and financial discipline. Barnum repeatedly stresses that honest dealing and persistence matter more than luck or inherited advantage. He also explores the relationship between personal character and professional success, arguing that habits like sobriety, focus, and generosity directly influence one's ability to earn and retain wealth.
- Historical Context: Published in 1880 during America's Gilded Age, the book reflects a period of rapid industrial growth and expanding opportunity. P.T. Barnum wrote it at the height of his fame, having already made and lost several fortunes through ventures including the American Museum and his famous circus. The advice captures the spirit of 19th-century American self-made enterprise, yet its core principles transcend the era.