I have read a lot of books on self help, success, and other topics related to personal growth. It wasn’t until I read “The Science of Getting Rich” that all I had read really started to make sense.
Although Rhonda Byrne, the author of “The Secret” says that “The Science of Getting Rich” is was one of the books she was influenced by, she missed some crucial points about what Wallace Wattles had to say.
1. The Science of Getting Rich is practical.
It’s not about thinking positive thoughts, and it doesn’t matter if you are a positive person or a negative person. This book is about getting rich first. It’s about following specific principles. It’s not about dealing with your baggage or changing your mindset in a way that you become a more positive person.
2. This is not a study of metaphysics, and you don’t need to know how it works to make it work.
It’s like using a computer. You learn how to use a computer, but you don’t have to know what hardware or software is in order to make it work. You also don’t need to know the internal workings of a computer to learn how to operate your computer.
3. Faith is a crucial part of the process.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
In order to make the “Science of Getting Rich” work, we first have to have faith. We have to believe something is true before seeing it come true. God won’t violate our free will. If we don’t believe, if we don’t have faith first, then what we want can’t become a reality.
This goes against conventional wisdom which says “seeing is believiing.” Wattles says you must first see it in your mind before you see it in reality.
4. To understand the underlying philosophy of the “Science of Getting Rich” you may read the writers he recommends.
Although Wattles doesn’t mention it, Wattles was a minister. He was Christian. He studied philosophy, as well as the Hindu religion. Wattles doesn’t say that much of the universal human truth outlined in his book is in the Bible.
What he does say is that you don’t have to study philosophy or Hinduism and its influence on Western culture in order to understand what he is trying to say.
5. It’s more important to read “The Science of Getting Rich” than to read the philosophy behind it.
Although reading the philosophy will help you understand how Wattles arrived at his conclusions, doing what the book tells you to do is the real secret to finding true riches in life.
Wattles approaches riches from the point of view of the mind, body, and spirit. We must satisfy all three areas of our lives to enjoy the riches we attain. If any area of our lives is out of balance, it will affect our happiness and create obstacles to our enjoyment of life.
6. The “Science of Getting Rich” is scientific not metaphysical.
I mentioned metaphysics earlier. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality. Wattles isn’t concerned with this. Wattles is concerned with how the rules of the universe operate and how to use those rules to become rich.
Whereas metaphysics deals with theories about reality, the rules of the universe have been tested and are a fact. This brings Wattles into the realm of science, with proven rules and processes that work. By applying these rules and processes to our lives, we achieve measurable results.
7. Action is crucial to success.
If you don’t take action, nothing will happen. Wattles says to read the book and do exactly what it tells you to do. Ultimately, this book becomes a blueprint for achieving what you want.