The Richest Man in Babylon, Review

The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason

I realized yesterday that I was dropping the ball. Not on purpose, per se. I’m on chapter 11 of the 1,100-page Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I’m also a little more than halfway through How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler. Not to mention the short read The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum that I only read on nights my youngest asks me to lay with him while he goes to bed. He’s been very mommy-centered these past few weeks, so that light read is slowly getting forgotten about. So, as you can see, I haven’t dropped a new review lately because I’ve been bogged down by the sheer size of some of these epic fantasies. That said, I decided to reach into the "already read" bag and hit the random number generator. The lucky winner? The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason.

There are a handful of books that have earned a spot on my desk. These books don’t see the bookshelf that all of my other trophies share. My desk books are the ones I’ll flip through occasionally. Maybe not a full reread, but I can skim a few pages, grab a quick insight, and move on with my day. Some of these books include Raising Men by former Navy SEAL sniper Eric Davis, Ikigai by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. That is just to name a few. As you can see, these are some power hitters and The Richest Man in Babylon is one of them.

If you want to understand basic financial strategies that have stood the test of time, this one’s for you. It doesn’t get lost in stock tips or retirement formulas. Instead, it delivers timeless wisdom through parables set in ancient Babylon. That simplicity is what gives it staying power. The advice isn’t complicated: pay yourself first, live below your means, make your money work for you. But it's surprising how often people forget the basics.

Clason’s brilliance is in the packaging. The lessons are framed as stories, not lectures. You’re not being scolded for your spending habits; you’re being shown how a poor man became the richest in the city, using principles anyone can follow. These parables make it feel like financial advice your grandfather might give over coffee: direct, calm, and clear.

This isn’t a book about getting rich quick. It’s about building wealth slowly, methodically, and wisely. Whether you’re just starting your financial journey or recalibrating after years of trial and error, this book is a grounding reminder of what really matters: spend less than you earn, save consistently, invest with care, and protect what you build.

Author Note:This is a financial book. You're going to have to find your own quotes.