Rich Like Them

My Search for the Secrets of Wealth in America's Richest Neighborhoods

By: Ryan D'Agostino

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Ryan D'Agostino wanted to know how the extremely wealthy in America got that way. So he asked. Knocking on 500 doors in 20 neighborhoods in the most affluent ZIP codes in America, D'Agostino met with 50 regular (but very rich) men and women who welcomed him in and shared some of their most difficult financial decisions, toughest setbacks, greatest strategies, most triumphant moments, and deepest insights into what it means to have money.

D'Agostino covers a range of businesses, from real estate, flower selling, and credit card processing to art dealing, advertising, and even bookselling, gleaning lessons from which everyone can benefit.

In Rich Like Them, D'Agostino weaves together what he learned and organizes the text with maxims for achieving wealth, including "Never let pride get in the way of profit" and "When you fail miserably, rejoice." Filled with inspiring stories and straight-up advice, Rich Like Them is a lively and practical get-rich guide that any reader can follow.

©2008 Ryan D'Agostino (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

""Rich Like Them not only proves wealth is within the grasp of us all, it also provides a blueprint for how you can make it a reality." (Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D., author of Nice Girls Don't Get Rich)
"Readers will get a certain voyeuristic pleasure in peering into some of America's richest homes, and they may pick up some useful tips for personal financial success." (Library Journal)

Wonderful and Informative

There are a number of books, academic and popular, covering the material this book sets out to describe. Some accomplish that task a little better perhaps, but this book is entertaining. The reading is wonderful, the content worthwhile, and the prose entertaining. The author is a great story teller.

Mindset tune-up for wannabe & gonna be wealthy ppl

Great job capturing the encouraging stories of each victor! Each person interviewed had either - worked & built a business at the same time, worked until they could start or buy a business, found a niche within a business that made it cash flow better, built their wealth through real estate, stewarded family money well, or used one vocation to create masterful art or material goods that were of high value. Each person interviewed felt the pressure of make or break decisions which shows that it takes confidence and courage. The best part about it is that you got the perspective of families from many parts of America: Westport, Connecticut; New York City; Palm Beach, Florida; Seattle, Washington; Beverly Hills, California; Tennessee; Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and more.

very nice

Very nice book, gave me good ideas of business and how the big ones made it to the top! Its a good buy

weak story

While listening to the book, I kept asking myself...where's the beef? Sadly, there was none. Just a handful of shallow stories about financially successful folks. So much of the text was incidental to the stories that at times, I found it difficult to keep track of the D'Agostino's thought pattern. Narration was solid.

Intermittently dull and interesting

I found the material interesting but the writing pedantic. D'Agostino spends too much time describing his own quest (which I found dull and uninteresting) and the discussions he had with the rich people he found (which were interesting). I preferred The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley & William Danko.