PDF Summary:The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D. Wattles
Book Summary: Learn the key points in minutes.
Below is a preview of the Shortform book summary of The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles. Read the full comprehensive summary at Shortform.
1-Page PDF Summary of The Science of Getting Rich
There is a science—a guaranteed method—to becoming rich. Anyone can learn this science, regardless of circumstance and talent, because it harnesses the natural tendencies of the matter of the universe.
Everything in the universe is made up of the same matter, and by nature, this matter favors the advancement of life. To advance, you need resources, and to get resources, you need money. Therefore, it’s in God’s and matter’s best interests to make you rich. All you have to do is act in harmony with the universe and harness its fundamental tendencies. Learn to use the power of your thoughts, your will, and your actions to achieve wealth.
(continued)...
The second step to the science of getting rich is to follow a three-step process called the “Certain Way.” The three steps are:
- Think. Original Substance is influenced by thoughts, so whatever you hold in your mind, it will send your way. Make sure to think about a very precise vision of what you want.
- For example, if you want a house, consider how many windows it might have, what color it would be painted, and so on. Imagine yourself living in the house.
- Will. Will yourself to focus on your vision at all times. You must constantly be thinking about your vision in order to transmit it to the Original Substance.
- Act. Do your best at all the actions you undertake every day so that you will be prepared to receive your vision when it arrives. You don’t know exactly how Original Substance will send it, so do even small things well. Make sure all of your individual transactions improve the lives of others more than they improve your own.
- For example, if you sell a hunter a gun for $100, he’s going to use the gun to hunt, and then sell his meat for more than he paid you for the gun. The gun will also help him provide food for his family, which, again, is worth more than the $100 you paid him.
The final element of the science of getting rich is to understand its application on a global scale. There are two concepts:
- Dispense with myth. The only reason people are poor is that they’re not following the Certain Way. There are no other reasons.
- Become rich yourself. If you follow the Certain Way, you’ll improve the lives of others as part of the “Act” step, and you’ll lead by example. Once others see that the Certain Way is the one path to riches, they’ll follow it too.
Want to learn the rest of The Science of Getting Rich in 21 minutes?
Unlock the full book summary of The Science of Getting Rich by signing up for Shortform.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being 100% comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you don't spend your time wondering what the author's point is.
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
Here's a preview of the rest of Shortform's The Science of Getting Rich PDF summary:
PDF Summary Introduction: The Science of Getting Rich
...
(Shortform note: The Science of Getting Rich was originally written in 17 chapters. We have rearranged the information for concision and clarity.)
PDF Summary Chapter 1: Why It’s Important to Be Rich and Other Truths About the Universe
...
There are plenty of resources for everyone, and if the planet ever did run out of something, Original Substance could simply create more. If there are existing channels for creation, Original Substance will work through these. For example, diamonds are formed by applying heat and pressure to carbon, and Original Substance works through this existing process to create diamonds. If there is no existing method for creating something, the Original Substance creates it from its own substance.
Competition vs. Creation
Because Original Substance is limitless and there’s more than enough to go around, no one has to compete with anyone else to become rich.
In fact, competition is an unfavorable method for becoming rich. The Original Substance will never give you things by taking them away from others. Therefore, if you compete, you can only succeed via luck, and your success won’t last.
Creation is the guaranteed method for becoming rich. Instead of competing with someone for something, go in a different direction. Original Substance will favor you with opportunities. For example, if you’re the employee of a railroad company, don’t try to become the owner. Instead,...
PDF Summary Chapter 2: The Certain Way
...
You must have a precise, coherent idea of what you want in order to transmit it to the Original Substance. If your want is vague, the Original Substance won’t know what to do with it—transmitting a vague thought would be like sending someone an email containing the letters of the alphabet and then expecting them to create the message.
- Vague: You want to be rich so you can help people.
- Precise: You want a car. You imagine the color, the paint, the make and model, the interior, and every last detail.
You must have conviction that you will achieve what you want. You should have so much purpose and faith in your convictions that you act like you already have your vision.
- For example, imagine you’re driving your new car and believe that you already own it. Talk about your car as if you have it. Don’t dream about having it, be convinced that you do have it. This also helps you practice gratitude in advance.
You must constantly be thinking about what you want. The specific mental picture should always be present in your mind, the same way a pilot is always keeping an eye on her instruments. If you really want something, it shouldn’t be difficult to...
What Our Readers Say
This is the best summary of The Science of Getting Rich I've ever read. I learned all the main points in just 20 minutes.
Learn more about our summaries →PDF Summary Chapter 3: Universal Enrichment
...
- Leading by example. If you become rich, you show others that following the Certain Way is the guaranteed (and only) way to become rich. You also demonstrate that being rich is natural and noble, aligned with the Original Substance’s goal of continuous advancement.
- Improving yourself inherently improves others. Recall the “Act” step of the Certain Way. Whenever you interact with others in the pursuit of your own advancement, you give more than you take. Therefore, your advancement advances others.
Why are Shortform Summaries the Best?
We're the most efficient way to learn the most useful ideas from a book.
Cuts Out the Fluff
Ever feel a book rambles on, giving anecdotes that aren't useful? Often get frustrated by an author who doesn't get to the point?
We cut out the fluff, keeping only the most useful examples and ideas. We also re-organize books for clarity, putting the most important principles first, so you can learn faster.
Always Comprehensive
Other summaries give you just a highlight of some of the ideas in a book. We find these too vague to be satisfying.
At Shortform, we want to cover every point worth knowing in the book. Learn nuances, key examples, and critical details on how to apply the ideas.
3 Different Levels of Detail
You want different levels of detail at different times. That's why every book is summarized in three lengths:
1) Paragraph to get the gist
2) 1-page summary, to get the main takeaways
3) Full comprehensive summary and analysis, containing every useful point and example